Library

3. Medicine must elucidate the principles of Yin-Yang and Five Elements (Wu Xing) to understand the relationship between celestial climate and human pathology. The Five Movements (Wu Yun), Five Elements, and Five Qi transform into one another; the Six Qi (Liu Qi) arise from the changes of Heaven and Earth's Yin-Yang. Fire is divided into Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo) and Sovereign Fire (Jun Huo); Heat Qi (Re Qi) and Summer-heat Qi (Shu Qi) correspond thereto, aligning with the human Zang-Fu organs and meridians. Heavenly Stems determine the Five Movements, Earthly Branches determine the Six Qi; the number of Heaven (5) and the number of Earth (6) form a regulated pattern.

[Note] Practitioners of medicine must comprehend the principles of Heaven and Earth's Yin-Yang and the Five Elements to discern whether the celestial climate is harmonious and to understand the causes of disease among the people. Everyone knows that the Five Movements derive from the Five Elements, corresponding to five substances (Wu Zhi) and five qi transformations. However, they do not realize that the Six Qi derive from the Yin-Yang of Heaven and Earth, corresponding to six substances (Liu Zhi) and six qi transformations. The "Six Substances" refer to Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Fire as mentioned in the Classics; this constitutes the Yin-Yang of the Earth. They correspond to the processes of Birth (Sheng), Growth (Zhang), Transformation/Transformation (Hua), Harvest/Convergence (Shou), and Storage (Cang). The "Six Qi" refer to Wind, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, Cold, and Fire as mentioned in the Classics; this constitutes the Yin-Yang of Heaven, upheld by the Three Yin and Three Yang. Therefore, Fire on Earth is divided into Sovereign Fire and Ministerial Fire; Qi in Heaven is divided into Heat Qi and Summer-heat Qi. These correspond to the human Five Zang organs, Six Fu organs, Pericardium (Bao Luo), and Twelve Meridians. The Yin-Yang of Heavenly Stems combine to form five pairs, thus governing the Five Movements. Jia transforms into Yang Earth, corresponding to the Human Stomach. Ji transforms into Yin Earth, corresponding to the Spleen. Yi transforms into Yin Metal, corresponding to the Lung. Geng transforms into Yang Metal, corresponding to the Large Intestine. Bing transforms into Yang Water, corresponding to the Bladder. Xin transforms into Yin Water, corresponding to the Kidney. Ding transforms into Yin Wood, corresponding to the Liver. Ren transforms into Yang Wood, corresponding to the Gallbladder. Wu transforms into Yang Fire, corresponding to the Small Intestine. Gui transforms into Yin Fire, corresponding to the Heart. Ministerial Fire belonging to Yang corresponds to the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). Ministerial Fire belonging to Yin corresponds to the Pericardium. This describes the correspondence between Heavenly Stems and the human Five Zang, Six Fu, and Twelve Meridians. The Yin-Yang of Earthly Branches combine to form six pairs, thus governing the Six Qi. Zi and Wu govern Shaoyin Sovereign Fire, corresponding to the Heart and Small Intestine. Chou and Wei govern Taiyin Damp-Earth, corresponding to the Spleen and Stomach. Yin and Shen govern Shaoyang Ministerial Fire, corresponding to the Sanjiao and Pericardium. Mao and You govern Yangming Dry-Metal, corresponding to the Lung and Large Intestine. Chen and Xu govern Taiyang Cold-Water, corresponding to the Bladder and Kidney. Si and Hai govern Jueyin Wind-Wood, corresponding to the Liver and Gallbladder. This describes the correspondence between Earthly Branches and the human Five Zang, Six Fu, and Twelve Meridians. The number of Heaven is five, comprising five Yin and five Yang, hence there are ten Heavenly Stems. The number of Earth is six, comprising six Yin and six Yang, hence there are twelve Earthly Branches. The five of Heavenly Stems must obtain the six of Earthly Branches for regulation; the six of Earthly Branches must obtain the five of Heavenly Stems for constraint. Only then are the sixty Jiazi cycles formed, and the annual Qi complete. Thus, within one year, the Five Movements are governed by five positions over seventy-two days each, and the Six Qi are governed by six steps over sixty days each (see Figures 5 and 6).