气之来也,即以极而成灾;则气之乘也,必以复而得平。物极则反,理之自然也。大抵
寒暑燥湿风火之气,木火土金水之形,亢极则所以害其物,承乘则所以制其极。然则极而成
灾,复而得平,气运之妙,灼然而明矣。此亢则害承乃制之意,原夫天地阴阳之机,寒极生
热,热极生寒,鬼神不测,有以斡旋宰制于其间也。故木极而似金,火极而似水,土极而似
木,金极而似火,水极而似土。盖气之亢极,所以承之者反胜于已也。夫惟承其亢而制其害
者,造化之功可得而成者也。今夫相火之下,水气承而火无其变;水位之下,土气承而水气无
其灾;土位之下,木承而土顺;风位之下,金乘而风平。火热承其燥金,自然金家之疾;阴
精承其君火,自然火家之候。所谓亢而为害承而乃制者,如斯而已。且尝考之《六元正纪大
论》云∶少阳所至,为火生,终为蒸溽(火化以生,则火生也,阳在上,故终为蒸溽),是水
化以承相火之意;太阳所至,为寒雪冰雹、白埃,是土化以承寒水之意也(霜雪冰雹水也,
白埃下承土也)。以至太阴所至,为雷霆骤注、烈风(雷霆骤注土也,烈风下承之木气也);
厥阴所至,为风生,终为肃(风化以生,则风生也,肃,静也);申明所至,为散落、温(散
落金也,温若乘之火气也);少阴所至,为热生,中为寒(热化以生,则热生也,阴精承上,
故中为火也)。岂非亢为害则承乃制者欤?昔者黄帝与岐伯,上穷天纪,下极地理,远取诸物
,近取诸身,更相问难以作《内经》。至于《六微旨大论》,有极于六气相承之言,以为制
则生化,外别盛衰,害则败乱,生化大病,诸以所胜之气来于下者,皆折其标盛也。不然曷
以水发而雹雪,土发而骤飘,木发而毁折,金发而清明,火发而曛昧,此皆郁极乃发以承所
亢之意也。呜呼!通天地人曰儒,医家者流,岂止治疾而已!当思其不明天地之理,不足以为
When Qi arrives, reaching its extreme results in disaster; thus, when Qi invades, it must be balanced through counteraction (referring to the controlling cycle of the Five Elements). When things reach their extreme, they reverse; this is the natural law. Generally speaking, the six Qi of Cold, Heat, Dryness, Dampness, Wind, and Fire, and the forms of the Five Phases of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water: when excessively hyperactive, they harm all things; when there is succession (constraint), they restrain this extremity. Therefore, reaching the extreme causes disaster, and counteraction restores peace; this is the subtlety of Qi dynamics, clear and evident. This is the meaning of "Hyperactivity brings harm, succession brings restraint." Investigating the mechanism of Yin and Yang in heaven and earth, extreme cold generates heat, and extreme heat generates cold; these changes are unpredictable like spirits, orchestrating and controlling what lies within. Thus, when Wood is at its extreme, it resembles Metal; when Fire is at its extreme, it resembles Water; when Earth is at its extreme, it resembles Wood; when Metal is at its extreme, it resembles Fire; when Water is at its extreme, it resembles Earth. This is because when Qi is hyperactive to the extreme, the element that succeeds/constrains it becomes stronger than itself. Only those who bear its hyperactivity and restrain its harm can accomplish the work of creation. Now, below Xianghuo (Ministerial Fire), Shuiqi (Water Qi) succeeds, so Fire does not undergo abnormal changes; below the position of Water, Tuqi (Earth Qi) succeeds, so Water Qi does not cause disasters; below the position of Earth, Muqi (Wood Qi) succeeds, so Earth Qi flows smoothly; below the position of Wind, Jinqi (Metal Qi) overcomes, so Wind Qi calms down. Rehuo (Hot Fire) succeeds Zaojin (Dry Metal), naturally forming the pathology of the Metal aspect; Yinjing (Yin Essence) succeeds Junhuo (Sovereign Fire), naturally forming the manifestation of the Fire aspect. What is meant by "hyperactivity brings harm, succession brings restraint" is merely this. I have examined the *Suwen: Liuyuan Zhengji Dalun* (Great Treatise on the Correct Records of the Six Sources), which states: Where Shaoyang reaches, it manifests as the generation of Fire, ultimately manifesting as steaming humidity (Fire transformation generates, thus Fire is generated; Yang is above, so it ultimately manifests as steaming humidity); this is the meaning of Shuihua (Water transformation) succeeding Xianghuo (Ministerial Fire). Where Taiyang reaches, it manifests as cold snow, hail, and white dust; this is the meaning of Tuhua (Earth transformation) succeeding Han Shui (Cold Water) (Frost, snow, and hail belong to Water; white dust below succeeds Earth). Furthermore, where Taiyin reaches, it manifests as thunderstorms and fierce winds (Thunderstorms belong to Earth; fierce wind below succeeds the Wood Qi); where Jueyin reaches, it manifests as the generation of Wind, ultimately manifesting as solemnity/stillness (Wind transformation generates, thus Wind is generated; Su means stillness); where Yangming reaches, it manifests as scattering and warmth (Scattering belongs to Metal; warmth if overcome by Fire Qi); where Shaoyin reaches, it manifests as the generation of Heat, with an intermediate manifestation of Cold (Heat transformation generates, thus Heat is generated; Yin Essence succeeds from above, so the intermediate manifests as Heat). Is this not "hyperactivity brings harm, then succession brings restraint"? In ancient times, Huangdi (Yellow Emperor) and Qibo explored the heavenly records to the utmost, the geographical features to the end, took examples from distant objects, and from nearby human bodies, questioning each other to compose the *Neijing* (Inner Canon). Regarding the *Liweizhi Dalun* (Great Treatise on the Micro Principles of the Six), there are statements about the succession of the Six Qi reaching extremes, asserting that restraint allows for generation and transformation, distinguishing excess and deficiency externally; harm leads to disorder, and generation/transformation leads to major diseases. All Qi coming from below that overcomes [the preceding element] serves to break down its superficial excess. Otherwise, how could Water activation bring hail and snow, Earth activation bring sudden gusts, Wood activation break branches, Metal activation bring clarity, and Fire activation bring obscurity? These are all manifestations of depression reaching its extreme before erupting, serving to succeed the hyperactive Qi. Alas! One who understands Heaven, Earth, and Humanity is called a Confucian scholar. Do medical practitioners only treat diseases? One must reflect that without understanding the principles of Heaven and Earth, one is insufficient to be...