Ye Gui (1667~1746), courtesy name Tianshi, pseudonym Xiangyan, also known as Mr. Nanyang, and in his later years as the Elder of Shangjin. He was from Wu County, Jiangsu, and resided at Shangjin Bridge. His grandfather Ye Shi and father Ye Chaocai were both skilled in medicine, particularly renowned in pediatrics. Ye Gui began studying medicine under his father at the age of twelve. When his father passed away at fourteen, he apprenticed under Zhu, a disciple of his father. He quickly grasped what he was taught, often surpassing his teacher, and thus delved deeper into medical texts. He read extensively and remained humble, always willing to learn from others. Whenever he heard of a doctor skilled in treating a particular ailment, he would go to them as a disciple. By the age of eighteen, he had studied under seventeen different teachers. In addition to his family's expertise in pediatrics, he mastered various other fields of medicine. He received guidance from renowned physicians such as Wang Zijie and Zhou Yangjun. Practicing medicine, he could deeply understand the root causes of diseases, prescribe treatments without rigid adherence to conventional methods, and often achieved remarkable results. His flexible and innovative treatment methods earned him widespread fame, making him the foremost physician of his time, and he was popularly known as the "Heavenly Doctor Star Descended to Earth."

Ye Tianshi made significant contributions to the study of warm febrile diseases, particularly excelling in the treatment of diseases like smallpox, measles, and scarlet fever. His profound understanding of the theories of warm febrile diseases from various historical masters led to the development of the Weiqi and blood differentiation framework, which was based on his recognition of the patterns of disease progression from onset to conclusion. This elevated the theories and practices of warm diseases, establishing him as a foundational figure in the field. His works, such as Wenre Pian (Treatise on Warmth and Heat), Linzheng Zhinan Yi'an (Medical Cases as a Guide to Clinical Practice), Ye An Cun Zhen (Authentic Medical Cases of Ye), and Weikeben Ye shi Yi'an (Unpublished Medical Cases of Ye), were mostly compiled by his disciples based on his oral teachings and medical records. Gu Jingwen and Hua Xiuyun were among the most notable contributors. Works attributed to Ye also include Youke Xinfa (Pediatric Methods) and Benshi Fang Shiyi (Explanation of the Benshi Formulas, with a preface dated to the tenth year of the Qianlong era).