Library

16. Identify the correct Qi of cold, heat, warmth, and coolness of the Five Movements (Wu Yun); examine the superimposition of the Six Qi (Liu Qi) for excess, deficiency, and peace. If the Six Qi arrive in great force, they all transform into pathogenic factors; if the Five Movements lose harmony, disasters and diseases arise. When the movements are weak or strong and arrive suddenly out of season, observe which seasonal Qi transformation they coincide with. If encountered simultaneously with a deficient year and an empty month, and subject to double pathogenic invasion, the syndrome will be severe and not light.
[Note] "Movement" refers to the Five Movements, governing the four seasons. In heaven, there are the correct commands of cold, heat, warmth, and coolness; on earth, there are the correct transformations of growth, flourishing, harvesting, and storing. "Qi" refers to the Six Qi, governing the six steps. As the dominant Qi, there are the fixed normal patterns of wind, heat, fire, dampness, dryness, and cold. As the superimposed Qi, there are different responses of excess, deficiency, and peace in the superimposition of the Six Qi. Whenever the Five Movements and Six Qi arrive, if they come in due season without being weak or strong and are harmonious, they are all called Peaceful Qi (Ping Qi). Even if they arrive in due season, if the Six Qi arrive in great force, or the Five Movements are weak or strong, or they arrive at an inappropriate time, or arrive suddenly, these are all pathogenic transformations, unharmonious, and unpeaceful Qi, which primarily harm things and people. One only needs to see with which seasonal Qi transformation the disease coincides, and then carefully consider the appropriate treatment to govern it. If one contracts illness by violating this, and further encounters a year of deficiency and a month of emptiness, suffering from double pathogenic invasion, then the syndrome will inevitably be severe and not light.

17. Wood is called Fuhe (Spreading Harmony), Fire is called Shengming (Ascending Brightness). Earth is called Beihua (Complete Transformation), Metal is called Shenping (Judicious Peace), Water is called Jingshun (Quiet Obedience); these are all Peaceful Movements (Ping Yun). The Excess Wood Movement is called Fasheng (Promoting Growth), Fire is called Hexi (Blazing Radiance), Earth is called Dunfu (Thick Mound), Water is called Liuyan (Flowing Overflow), Metal is called Jiancheng (Firm Completion); the Deficient Wood Movement is called Weihe (Withered Harmony), Fire is called Fuming (Hidden Light), Earth is called Beijian (Low Supervision), Metal is called Congge (Following Change), Water is called Helou (Dried Stream).
[Note] Excess that is suppressed, or deficiency that is assisted, are both called Peaceful Movements. Wood is named Fuhe, spreading harmonious Qi to generate all things. Fire is named Shengming, its nature is ascending, and its virtue is brightness. Earth is named Beihua, Earth is the mother of all things, transforming everything without exception. Metal is named Shenping, Metal is judicious and peaceful, not executing punishment recklessly. Water is named Jingshun, its body is quiet and its nature is obedient, preferring calm waves. Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, Ren are Yang years, all called Movements of Excess: Wood is named Fasheng, Wood Qi is excessive, promoting growth vigorously; Fire is named Hexi, flame and sunlight are abundant; Earth is named Dunfu, thick and high mounds, Earth Qi is particularly abundant; Metal is named Jiancheng, firmness completes things, Metal Qi is excessive; Water is named Liuyan, Water Qi is excessive, flowing and overflowing. Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin, Gui are Yin years, all called Movements of Deficiency: Wood is named Weihe, harmonious Qi is weak, promotion of growth is scarce; Fire is named Fuming, Fire's virtue is not manifest, light is hidden on the ground; Earth is named Beijian, Earth Qi is deficient, transformation is low and supervised; Metal is named Congge, Metal Qi is deficient, following Fire to change; Water is named Helou, Water Qi is deficient, drying up its flow.