Library

Zi Hezi said: If one does not recite the Twelve Meridians, any opening of the mouth or movement of the hands will be erroneous; if one does not understand the Five Movements and Six Qi, what is the use of examining all prescription books? When the meridians are clear, the correct location is identified; when the movements and qi are clear, the root cause is recognized. Seeking only the correct location and grasping only the root, treating a thousand people results in no harm. Here, I have compiled contents from *Suwen* (Basic Questions), *Lingshu* (Spiritual Pivot), and *Ganzhu Jing* (Sapphire Pearl Classic) to facilitate beginners in understanding the general principles.

Taiji differentiated into Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are the Way of Heaven and Earth, the general discipline of all things, the parents of change, the origin of life and death, and the residence of divine spirit. "General discipline" refers to the discipline of growth, transformation, completion, and storage; "parents" refers to that which precedes the formation of all things; "origin" refers to that from which life and death arise. There has never been anything that receives form and qi but is not governed by the Five Movements and Yin-Yang. Therefore, why does creation have no limit, and what is the primordial origin that can transform all things first? It is because it is the nurturing power of the divine spirit. The combination and dispersion are unpredictable, and generation and transformation are infinite; without the divine spirit, this would be impossible.

Thus, the generation of things is called "Hua" (Transformation); the extreme of things is called "Bian" (Change); the unpredictability of Yin and Yang is called "Shen" (Divine Spirit). Heaven and Earth are the upper and lower spaces for all things; Left and Right are the pathways of Yin and Yang; Water and Fire are the signs of Yin and Yang (Water is cold, Fire is hot); Metal and Wood are the beginning and end of generation and completion (Metal kills, Wood generates). Yin and Yang and the Five Elements flow into the movements represented by the Ten Heavenly Stems. The Qi of Cold, Heat, Dryness, Dampness, Wind, and Fire circulate throughout Heaven and Earth, becoming the origin of all things. Humans inherit this essence and are confined between Heaven and Earth, thus possessing the Zang-Fu organs to correspond to the numbers of the Five Movements and Six Qi.

The Five Movements are Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.
Wood refers to Yang Qi touching the earth and generating; Fire refers to being bright and abundant, transforming all things; Metal refers to Yin Qi prohibiting the growth of all things and gathering them; Water refers to moistening and nourishing all things; Earth refers to containing and exhaling all things, sending out those about to be born and returning those about to die.

The Six Qi are Wind, Fire, Summer-Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Cold.
Each of the Six Qi has a specific transformation. Wood transforms into Wind, governing Spring, where Yang Qi encourages, acting as the command of Heaven; Ministerial Fire transforms into Heat, governing late Spring and early Summer, issuing warm and gentle commands without intense heat; Summer-Heat is the virtue of the Sovereign Fire, while Ministerial Fire transforms into Summer-Heat, governing Summer, where intense heat prevails; Metal transforms into Clear Dryness, where cool air moves; Metal is the wife of Bing Fire, carrying the Qi of Fire, hence Dryness. Water transforms into Cold, where severe chill moves; Earth transforms into Dampness, corresponding to moist soil, where Summer-Dampness moves. Generally, where there is dampness, Earth is born; where there is dryness, Earth dies. Springs emerge from the ground, confirming the principle of Dampness transformation.

Sages look up at the five colors of clouds in the sky.
The Qi of Heaven passes through the Center, arriving at the positions of Jia and Ji, establishing the Earth Movement; Su Tian Qi (White Sky Qi) passes through the West, arriving at Yi and Geng, establishing the Metal Movement; Xuan Tian Qi (Black Sky Qi) passes through the North, arriving at Bing and Xin, establishing the Water Movement; Cang Tian Qi (Green Sky Qi) passes through the East, arriving at Ding and Ren, establishing the Wood Movement; Dan Tian Qi (Red Sky Qi) passes through the South, arriving at Wu and Gui, establishing the Fire Movement. These five colored Qis correspond to the Twenty-Eight Mansions above and the Twelve Earthly Branch positions below. Thus, ancient people observing celestial phenomena could predict where disasters and epidemics would occur. Divination should be conducted on the first day of the first lunar month: for Excessive years, observe at the beginning of Yin hour; for Deficient years, at the end of Yin hour; for Balanced years, at the midpoint of Yin hour. Green Qi represents Wind, Red represents Heat, Yellow represents Dampness, White represents Dryness, Black represents Cold. If colors are mixed, their severity must be analyzed.

Heavenly Stems determine the Movements; Earthly Branches determine the Qi. There are ten Heavenly Stems, combined into Five Movements; twelve Earthly Branches, opposed into Six Qi. This is because Heaven has Yin and Yang, and Earth also has Yin and Yang.
Heaven has Yin, so it descends; Earth has Yang, so it ascends.
Heaven uses Yang to generate and Yin to grow; Earth uses Yang to kill and Yin to store.
Growth is the Way of Heaven; Storage and Killing are the Way of Earth. Heaven's Yang governs generation, so it uses Yang to generate and Yin to grow; Earth's Yin governs killing, so it uses Yang to kill and Yin to store.
Yang contains Yin, and Yin contains Yang. Humans exist within the intersection of Qi. The upper half of the body belongs to Heaven, governed by Heavenly Qi; the lower half belongs to Earth, governed by Earthly Qi.
Its generation involves five categories, its Qi involves three realms (Heaven, Earth, Human). Three realms constitute Heaven, three constitute Earth, three constitute Human. Three times three equals nine; Nine-Nine regulation creates nine apertures and nine Zang organs.
Heaven has 365.25 degrees; humans have 365 joints. Heaven has Five Elements governing five directions, producing Cold, Heat, Dryness, Dampness, and Wind; Humans have Five Zang organs transforming Five Qi, producing Joy, Anger, Worry, Thought, and Fear. In Heaven, it is Mystery (Xuan), Mystery generates Spirit; in Humans, it is Dao, Dao generates Wisdom; in Earth, it is Transformation, Transformation generates Five Flavors. Spirit in Heaven is Wind, in Earth is Wood, in Humans is Anger; Spirit in Heaven is Heat, in Earth is Fire, in Humans is Joy; Spirit in Heaven is Dampness, in Earth is Earth, in Humans is Thought; Spirit in Heaven is Dryness, in Earth is Metal, in Humans is Worry; Spirit in Heaven is Cold, in Earth is Water, in Humans is Fear. The Five Qi of Cold and Heat alternate, each having its precedence. If not in its proper position, it becomes Pathogenic; if in its proper position, the Divine Spirit of Yin and Yang cannot be seen. Only the traces of Stems and Branches can be sought.

Heaven and Earth's Yin and Yang are manifested through images, not numbers; only by deducing Stems and Branches can they be measured.
Heavenly Qi begins with Jia, Earthly Qi begins with Zi; their combination is Jia-Zi. Thus, Jia-Zi is the start of Stems and Branches. Heavenly Qi ends with Gui, Earthly Qi ends with Hai; their combination is Gui-Hai. Thus, Gui-Hai is the end. Yin and Yang alternate, Gang and Rou require each other. After Jia-Zi comes Yi-Chou; after Ren-Xu comes Gui-Hai. Thirty years make one Ji (Cycle); sixty years make one Zhou (Period). There are Principal Movements (Zhu Yun) and Guest Movements (Ke Yun); Principal Qi (Zhu Qi) and Guest Qi (Ke Qi). Principal Movement and Qi remain unchanged for millennia; Guest Movement and Qi change annually.

Speaking of the order of Heavenly Stems: Jia and Yi belong to Eastern Wood; Jia means plants breaking through the shell; Yi means Yang is still constrained.
Bing and Ding belong to Southern Fire; Bing means things are bright and strong; Ding means Yang is strong and combines with Yin.
Wu and Ji belong to Central Earth; Wu is Yang Earth, where things grow out and harvest in; Ji is Yin Earth, doing nothing yet achieving itself.
Geng and Xin belong to Western Metal; Geng means Yang continues to renew; Xin means Yang reaches its peak here and becomes Xin.
Ren and Gui belong to Northern Water. Ren is the birth of Yang Qi, being a fetus in Ren, similar to Zi; Gui is the closure and storage of all things, pregnant beneath, sprouting visibly, following the Way of Heaven.

Thus, Wood is the First Movement, Fire the Second, Earth the Third, Metal the Fourth, Water the Fifth. This is the Principal Movement.
Poem: At Great Cold, Wood Movement begins; three days before Qingming, Fire Movement resides; three days after Mangzhong, Earth Movement is set; six days after Liqiu, Metal Movement is calculated; nine days after Lidong, Water Movement lies dormant, cycling eternally.
Question: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water rotate left in Heaven, a natural order. But Sovereign Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Ministerial Fire, and Fire generates Metal. What is the meaning? Ministerial Fire cannot exist without Earth; fire cannot gather in void. Metal in ore cannot emerge without Fire. Thus, in Hetu, Fire 7 is in the West, Metal 9 is in the South, showing mutual achievement. Carefully studying Five Elements and Six Qi reveals they are essentially One Qi. Wood burns to become Fire; squeezing yields Water; striking metal/stone yields Fire; melting yields Water. Rivers rush within continents; firelight rises in seas. These are inherent qualities. Why doubt Fire in Earth or Metal in Fire?

Speaking of husband-wife combinations: Jia combines with Ji to transform into Earth; Yi with Geng into Metal; Bing with Xin into Water; Ding with Ren into Wood; Wu with Gui into Fire. Thus, in Jia-Ji years, Earth Movement governs; Yi-Geng years, Metal Movement; Bing-Xin years, Water Movement; Ding-Ren years, Wood Movement; Wu-Gui years, Fire Movement. This is Guest Movement.
Poem: Jia-Ji transforms to Earth, Yi-Geng to Metal; Ding-Ren Wood fills the forest; Bing-Xin is flowing water; Wu-Gui leaves the palace called Heart. In Jia-Ji years, the first month builds Bing-Yin; Bing Fire generates Earth, so it is Earth Movement. In Yi-Geng years, the first month builds Wu-Yin; Wu Earth generates Metal, so it is Metal Movement. In Bing-Xin years, the first month builds Geng-Yin; Geng Metal generates Water, so it is Water Movement. In Ding-Ren years, the first month builds Ren-Yin; Ren Water generates Wood, so it is Wood Movement. In Wu-Gui years, the first month builds Jia-Yin; Jia Wood generates Fire, so it is Fire Movement.

For example, in Jia-Ji years, Jia is Earth Movement. The first Movement is Earth; Earth generates Metal, so the second is Metal; Metal generates Water, so the third is Water; Water generates Wood, so the fourth is Wood; Wood generates Fire, so the fifth is Fire. Each Movement governs 72 days and 5 ke. Heavenly Stems are above and Yang, thus governing Movement.

Speaking of the cycle of Earthly Branches: Yin and Mao belong to Spring Wood; Yin means evolution. In the first month, Yang is up, Yin is down; pipe ash flies to await it, marking the start of affairs. Mao means flourishing. In the second month, Yang Qi is abundant and flourishing.
Si and Wu belong to Summer Fire; Si means rising. In the fourth month, pure Yang without Yin, things rise completely. Wu means growing. In the fifth month, Yang is not yet constrained, Yin begins to generate and dominate, things grow large.
Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei belong to Earth of the four seasons; Chen means shock/vibration. In the third month, Yang is past half, things vibrate and grow; Xu means extinction. In the ninth month, things decay and die; Chou means knot/twist. In the twelfth month, Yin still holds and twists, the boundary of beginning and end; Wei means taste. In the sixth month, things mature and have taste.
Shen and You belong to Autumn Metal; Shen means body. In the seventh month, objects are complete; You means concealment. In the eighth month, things shrink and gather.
Hai and Zi belong to Winter Water. Hai means investigate/punish. In the tenth month, Yin Qi punishes and kills all things, the Way of Earth. Zi is the northern cold water Yin position, the beginning of Yang generation. Thus, when Yin is extreme, Yang generates. Ren is the fetus, the time of Zi in the eleventh month.

Thus, Wind is the First Qi, Fire the Second, Summer-Heat the Third, Dampness the Fourth, Dryness the Fifth, Cold the Final Qi. This is Principal Qi.
Poem: Great Cold marks the beginning of Jueyin Qi; Spring Equinox marks the corner of Sovereign Fire; Minor Fullness divides Shao Yang as the Third Qi; Major Heat calls Tai Yin as the Fourth; Autumn Equinox is the Fifth position of Yangming; Minor Snow is the remainder of Taiyang as the Sixth.

From the perspective of opposition and positioning: Zi opposes Wu to form Shao Yin Sovereign Fire; Chou opposes Wei to form Tai Yin Damp Earth; Yin opposes Shen to form Shao Yang Ministerial Fire; Mao opposes You to form Yangming Dry Metal; Chen opposes Xu to form Taiyang Cold Water; Si opposes Hai to form Jueyin Wind Wood.
Sovereign Fire governs Wu. Fire is inherently hot, but at the Wu position, Yin is just beginning, so it is labeled Cold and belongs to Shao Yin. Water resides in the Zi position of the North. Water is inherently cold, but at the position of Yang's birth, it is labeled Hot and belongs to Taiyang. Earth corresponds to the Wei position of Summer. Wei is the successor to Wu, so it is called Tai Yin. Ministerial Fire governs Yin. Yin is the successor to Chou, so it is called Shao Yang. Wood resides in the East (Zhen), governing the Liver in humans, located below the diaphragm in a Yin position. Wood requires Yin to generate, so it belongs to Jue Yin. Metal resides in the West (Dui), governing the Lungs in humans, located above the diaphragm in a Yang position. Metal requires Yang to emerge, so it belongs to Yang Ming.

Thus, in Zi-Wu years, Sovereign Fire governs; Chou-Wei years, Damp Earth governs; Yin-Shen years, Ministerial Fire governs; Mao-You years, Dry Metal governs; Chen-Xu years, Cold Water governs; Si-Hai years, Wind Wood governs. This is Guest Qi.
Poem: Zi-Wu Shao Yin Sovereign Fire in Heaven, Yangming Dry Metal in the Spring (Quan); Chou-Wei Tai Yin Damp Earth above, Taiyang Cold Rain continuous; Yin-Shao Shao Yang Ministerial Fire prosperous, Jueyin Wind Wood linked in Earth; Mao-You reverses Zi-Wu, Chen-Xu and Si-Hai follow suit. In Mao-You years, if Yangming is Si Tian (Heaven), then Zi-Wu is Zai Quan (Earth); if Mao-You is Zai Quan, then Zi-Wu is Si Tian. Chen-Xu and Chou-Wei are reversed; Si-Hai and Yin-Shen are reversed.

Suppose Zi-Wu years with Shao Yin Sovereign Fire Si Tian (Wu position) and Yangming Dry Metal Zai Quan (Zi position). Upper Qi moves right: Tai Yin Damp Earth is the Left Intercalary of Heaven, Jueyin Wind Wood is the Right Intercalary of Heaven, facing South to name positions. Lower Qi moves left: Taiyang Cold Water is the Left Intercalary of Earth, Shao Yang Ministerial Fire is the Right Intercalary of Earth, facing North to name positions.
One Qi above governs the Heaven of the year and the first half.
One Qi below governs the Earth of the year and the second half.
Two Qi on the left, two Qi on the right. They govern humans and all things.
The Left Intercalary of Earth is the First Qi.
Key Rule: Retreat two branches annually to find the Guest direction. If Zi is Si Tian, two branches later is Xu; Taiyang Cold Water is the First Qi, Hai is Second, Zi is Third, Chou is Fourth, Yin is Fifth, Mao is Sixth. Year by year, day by day, all are named Si Tian.
The Right Intercalary of Heaven is the Second Qi; Si Tian is the Third Qi; Left Intercalary of Heaven is the Fourth Qi; Right Intercalary of Earth is the Fifth Qi; Zai Quan is the Final Qi. Each Qi governs for 60 days, 87.5 ke plus.
In Mao-You years: Yangming Si Tian, Shaoyin Zai Quan. 1st Qi: Taiyin; 2nd: Shaoyang; 3rd: Yangming; 4th: Taiyang; 5th: Jueyin; 6th: Shaoyin.
In Chen-Xu years: Taiyang Si Tian, Taiyin Zai Quan. 1st: Shaoyang; 2nd: Yangming; 3rd: Taiyang; 4th: Jueyin; 5th: Shaoyin; 6th: Taiyin.
In Chou-Wei years: Taiyin Si Tian, Taiyang Zai Quan. 1st: Jueyin; 2nd: Shaoyin; 3rd: Taiyin; 4th: Shaoyang; 5th: Yangming; 6th: Taiyang.
In Yin-Shen years: Shaoyang Si Tian, Jueyin Zai Quan. 1st: Shaoyin; 2nd: Taiyin; 3rd: Shaoyang; 4th: Yangming; 5th: Taiyang; 6th: Jueyin.
In Si-Hai years: Jueyin Si Tian, Shaoyang Zai Quan. 1st: Yangming; 2nd: Taiyang; 3rd: Jueyin; 4th: Shaoyin; 5th: Taiyin; 6th: Shaoyang.

These Earthly Branches are below and Yin, thus governing Qi. However, Guest Movements have Excess (Tai Guo) and Deficiency (Bu Ji). Excess years are the five Yang Stems: Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, Ren. Deficient years are the five Yin Stems: Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin, Gui. Excess arrives early, connecting 13 days before Great Cold, called "Xian Tian" (Prior Heaven). Deficiency arrives late, connecting 13 days after Great Cold, called "Hou Tian" (Post Heaven). Balanced years connect exactly on Great Cold day, neither early nor late, called "Qi Tian" (Equal Heaven).

In Shen-Zi-Chen years: First Qi connects at 1st ke of Yin hour on Great Cold Day; Second Qi at end of Zi hour on Spring Equinox; Third Qi at end of Hai hour on Minor Fullness; Fourth Qi at end of Xu hour on Major Heat; Fifth Qi at end of You hour on Autumn Equinox; Final Qi at end of Shen hour on Minor Snow. This is "One-Six Days."
In Si-You-Chou years: First Qi at 1st ke of Si hour on Great Cold; Second Qi at end of Mao hour on Spring Equinox; Third Qi at end of Yin hour on Minor Fullness; Fourth Qi at end of Chou hour on Major Heat; Fifth Qi at end of Zi hour on Autumn Equinox; Final Qi at end of Hai hour on Minor Snow. This is "Two-Six Days."
In Yin-Wu-Xu years: First Qi at 1st ke of Shen hour on Great Cold; Second Qi at end of Wu hour on Spring Equinox; Third Qi at end of Si hour on Minor Fullness; Fourth Qi at end of Chen hour on Major Heat; Fifth Qi at end of Mao hour on Autumn Equinox; Final Qi at end of Yin hour on Minor Snow. This is "Three-Six Days."
In Hai-Mao-Wei years: First Qi at 1st ke of Hai hour on Great Cold; Second Qi at end of You hour on Spring Equinox; Third Qi at end of Shen hour on Minor Fullness; Fourth Qi at end of Wei hour on Major Heat; Fifth Qi at end of Wu hour on Autumn Equinox; Final Qi at end of Si hour on Minor Snow. This is "Four-Six Days."

Guest Qi ascent and descent have Zheng Hua (True Transformation) and Dui Hua (Opposite Transformation). Zheng Hua years are Wu, Wei, Yin, You, Chen, Hai. Dui Hua years are Zi, Chou, Shen, Mao, Xu, Si. Zheng Hua is real command, follows the Root (Ben), using Generation Numbers (Sheng Shu). Dui Hua is empty command, follows the Mark (Biao), using Completion Numbers (Cheng Shu).

Water 1, Fire 2, Wood 3, Metal 4, Earth 5, all paired with Yin and Yang. Deep meaning: Water generates from 1. Before Heaven and Earth separated, before things formed, everything appeared in Water first. Plant seeds, human/insect embryos are Water. When Water gathers into form, Yin and Yang are complete, then things form. Small bitter-tasting things are omens of Fire. Mature things are sweet, the taste of Earth. Extreme sweetness becomes bland, returning to the source. Humans inherit Yin and Yang, generating two Kidneys first. Plant seeds vary in size but contain two parts combining, like human kidneys. Thus, all things cannot transform without Yin-Yang union. Hence Fire is second. After Yin-Yang union, Spring generation and Autumn completion occur. Hence Wood is third, Metal fourth. Water, Fire, Wood, Metal all rely on Earth to form. Hence Earth is fifth. Three Yin and Three Yang: Zheng Hua follows Root, using Generation Numbers; Dui Hua follows Mark, using Completion Numbers.

Take Jia-Zi year: Jia is Earth Movement, governing the year; Zi is Sovereign Fire, specifically governing the year. One period is 365.25 ke, exactly matching 365.25 degrees of the Celestial Sphere.

"Celestial Sphere" refers to Heaven circling Earth, not the Six Qi of Heaven. The Heavenly body is perfectly round, surrounding 365.25 degrees. Heaven moves vigorously, completing 365.25 degrees in one day and night, advancing one degree extra. Sun moves fast, secondary to Heaven, completing 365.25 degrees exactly in one day and night. Since Heaven advances one degree more, the Sun retreats one degree. Two days: Heaven advances two, Sun retreats two. Accumulating to 365.25 days, the degrees Heaven advanced exactly complete the original number, and the degrees the Sun retreated exactly complete the original number, meeting Heaven to form one year. This is one Celestial Circuit per year. Moon moves slowly, traveling 365.25 degrees in a day and night, not completing it, retreating more than 13 degrees compared to Heaven. By 29.5 days, it meets Heaven exactly. This is one Lunar Month circuit.

Five days make one Hou (Decad); three Hou make one Qi (Climate), i.e., 15 days. Three Qi make one Jie (Solar Term): Lichun, Chunfen, Lixia, Xiazhi, Liqiu, Qiufen, Lidong, Dongzhi. These eight Jie divide the four seasons, completing the year. "Fen" (Equinox) in Spring/Autumn means Yin and Yang are equally divided, Qi differs. "Zhi" (Solstice) in Winter/Summer means Yin and Yang reach their extreme, Qi is the same. Heaven has no Hou; we verify and measure by wind, rain, frost, dew, grass, trees responding to time. Hence "Hou." Speaking of one Hou day, it is also governed by the mutually generating Qi of the Five Movements.