母乘子曰虚邪（乘，胜也，克也），如心火热，乘脾土也。
子乘母曰实邪，如肺金燥，乘脾土也。
妻乘夫曰微邪，如肾水寒，乘脾土也。
夫乘妻曰贼邪，如肝木风，乘脾土也。
自病曰正邪，如脾土自病湿也。
五脏腑同法（各以类推）。
微、实、正、虚、贼，从微至甚也。
此亦大略之言，细而推之，各有微甚。
甲己合为“土运”甲刚木，克己柔土，为夫妇成土运。
乙庚合为“金运”乙柔木，嫁庚刚金。
丁壬合为“木运”丁阴火，配壬阳水。
丙辛合为“水运”丙阳火，娶辛柔金。
戊癸合为“火运”戊阳土，娶癸阴水。
阳刚夫为太过；阴柔妻为不及。
此其略也。凡六十四年而周甲子，其中有岁运同司天曰天府，同岁支曰岁
会，孟年同曰支德符，岁运同司地，刚为同天符，柔为同岁会。凡此二十九岁，
太过司天克之曰天刑，及年前大寒交气日，反时程与运程为夫妇曰程德符，皆非太过、不及，乃
年运之气也。申、子、辰年寅初交；巳、酉、丑年巳初交；寅、午、戌年申初交；亥、卯、未年亥初交气也。
六气为本，三阴三阳为标。
子午少阴“君火”（暑）丑未太阴“湿土”
寅申少阳“相火”（主大热）卯酉阳明“燥金”
辰戌太阳“寒水”巳亥厥阴“风木”
When the mother element overcomes the son element, it is called Deficient Pathogenic Factor (Xu Xie, 虚邪; "Cheng" means to overcome or suppress). For example, excessive Heart Fire (Xin Huo) overcoming Spleen Earth (Pi Tu).
When the son element counter-overcomes the mother element, it is called Excess Pathogenic Factor (Shi Xie, 实邪). For example, excessive Lung Dryness Metal (Fei Jin) overcoming Spleen Earth.
When the wife element overcomes the husband element, it is called Slight Pathogenic Factor (Wei Xie, 微邪). For example, excessive Kidney Cold Water (Shen Shui) overcoming Spleen Earth.
When the husband element overcomes the wife element, it is called Robbing Pathogenic Factor (Ze Xie, 贼邪). For example, excessive Liver Wind Wood (Gan Mu) overcoming Spleen Earth.
Disease arising from oneself is called Correct Pathogenic Factor (Zheng Xie, 正邪). For example, Spleen Earth suffering from internal Dampness (Shi).
The principles for the Five Zang Organs and Six Fu Organs are the same (each can be inferred by analogy).
Slight, Excess, Correct, Deficient, and Robbing represent a progression from mild to severe.
This is a general statement; upon detailed deduction, there are variations in severity for each.
Jia and Ji combine to form the "Earth Movement" (Tu Yun). Jia is Yang Wood, which controls Ji Yin Earth, resembling a husband and wife jointly establishing the Earth movement.
Yi and Geng combine to form the "Metal Movement". Yi is Yin Wood, marrying Geng Yang Metal.
Ding and Ren combine to form the "Wood Movement". Ding is Yin Fire, pairing with Ren Yang Water.
Bing and Xin combine to form the "Water Movement". Bing is Yang Fire, marrying Xin Yin Metal.
Wu and Gui combine to form the "Fire Movement". Wu is Yang Earth, marrying Gui Yin Water.
Yang-Gang Husband represents Excess (Tai Guo); Yin-Rou Wife represents Deficiency (Bu Ji).
This is a general overview. In every sixty-four-year cycle completing a Jiazi period, there are years where the Annual Movement coincides with the ruling Qi of Heaven (Si Tian), called Heavenly Treasury (Tian Fu); those coinciding with the Annual Branch are called Year Meeting (Sui Hui); those in the first year of a triad coinciding with the Branch Virtue are called Virtue Symbol (De Fu); those where the Annual Movement coincides with the Qi of Earth (Zai Di), Yang years are Same as Heavenly Movement (Tong Tian Fu), and Yin years are Same as Year Meeting (Tong Sui Hui). Of these twenty-nine years, if the Excess Qi is controlled by the Si Tian Qi, it is called Heavenly Punishment (Tian Xing). Also, on the day of Qi exchange at Great Cold before the new year, if the contrary seasonal climate forms a husband-wife relationship with the movement climate, it is called Cheng Virtue Symbol (Cheng De Fu). None of these are truly Excess or Deficiency, but rather the Qi of the annual movement. The Qi exchange occurs at the beginning of Yin month in Shen, Zi, Chen years; at the beginning of Si month in Si, You, Chou years; at the beginning of Shen month in Yin, Wu, Xu years; and at the beginning of Hai month in Hai, Mao, Wei years.
The Six Qi constitute the Root (Ben), while the Three Yin and Three Yang constitute the Mark (Biao).
Zi and Wu years: Shaoyin "Monarch Fire" (Shu/Summer Heat); Chou and Wei years: Taiyin "Damp Earth".
Yin and Shen years: Shaoyang "Minister Fire" (Zhu Da Re/Major Heat); Mao and You years: Yangming "Dry Metal".
Chen and Xu years: Taiyang "Cold Water"; Si and Hai years: Jueyin "Wind Wood".