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Yin (Tiger) year, therefore the primary transformation occurs at Yin, and the opposite transformation occurs at Shen. Why does Yangming Dryness Metal govern Mao and You years? Because Yangming belongs to Metal, and You is the correct position of Metal; thus, the primary transformation is at You, and the opposite transformation is at Mao. What about Taiyang Cold Water governing Chen and Xu years? Taiyang belongs to Water. Zi Water is the opposite transformation position of Jun Fire (Ministerial Fire), so it avoids occupying this position. Chen and Xu belong to Earth; Water hides within Earth and therefore follows the function of Earth. Thus, the primary transformation is at Xu, and the opposite transformation is at Chen. What about Jueyin Wind Wood governing Si and Hai years? Jueyin belongs to Wood. Wood is born (longs) at Hai. Although Mao is the correct position for Wood, because Mao is the opposite transformation position of Metal (which overcomes Wood), the primary transformation is at Hai, and the opposite transformation is at Si.

Song on Starting the Six Qi from the Flowing Year
The Tianqi (Heavenly Qi) belonging to the current year determines the Quanqi (Earthly Qi) three branches behind it. The qi adjacent left and right of Tianqi are the Intermittent Qi (Jianqi); similarly, the qi adjacent left and right of Quanqi are also Intermittent Qi. The position preceding the Earth branch is the First Qi. The Second Qi transitions near Hai. The Third Qi completes the Heavenly phase and corresponds to the Earthly phase. The added Main Qi and Guest Qi must be carefully arranged and connected.

For example, in a Zi-Wu year, Shaoyin Jun Fire (Ministerial Fire) is Tianqi. Retreating three positions leads to You, where Yangming Dryness Metal is Quanqi. To the left of Zi is Chou, which is Taiyin Damp Earth, serving as the Left Intermittent Qi of Tianqi. To the right of Zi is Hai, which is Jueyin Wind Wood, serving as the Right Intermittent Qi. To the left of Quanqi's You is Xu, which is Taiyang Cold Water, serving as the Left Intermittent Qi of Quanqi. To the right of You is Shen, which is Shaoyang Xiang Fire (Apostle Fire), serving as the Right Intermittent Qi. Counting clockwise indicates the left sequence, while counter-clockwise indicates the right sequence. Taking the position preceding Quanqi's You, Xu serves as the First Qi, which is Cold Water; the Second Qi is at Hai; the Third Qi combines with the Heavenly Qi at Zi (Jun Fire); the Fourth Qi is at Chou; the Fifth Qi is at Yin; and the Final Qi is at Mao. Applying the previous song allows one to deduce the corresponding Qi. This refers to Guest Qi (Ke Qi). Each year begins the First Qi from the Great Cold (Da Han) solar term of the previous year, adding the six Main Qi: Wind, Fire, Summer Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Cold. Wind Wood connects after the previous First Qi, with Taiyang Cold Water added upon Jueyin Wind Wood. At the Spring Equinox, the Second Qi transitions at Hai, with Jueyin Wind Wood added upon Shaoyin Jun Fire. At Xiaoman (Grain Buds), the Third Qi transitions at Zi, with Shaoyin Jun Fire added upon Taiyin Damp Earth. At Dashu (Great Heat), the Fourth Qi transitions at Chou, with Taiyin Damp Earth added upon Shaoyang Xiang Fire. At the Autumn Equinox, the Fifth Qi transitions at Yin, with Shaoyang Xiang Fire added upon Yangming Dryness Metal. At Xiaoxue (Minor Snow), the Sixth Qi transitions at Mao, with Yangming Dryness Metal added upon Taiyang Cold Water. It then returns to start the First Qi from the Great Cold of the following year. This is the method of Qi addition and transition.

Song on Guest Qi Transition Days
First Qi begins at Great Cold; Second Qi transitions at Spring Equinox; Third Qi settles starting at Xiaoman; Fourth Qi transitions at Great Heat without delay; Fifth Qi begins at Autumn Equinox; Sixth Qi establishes its rule at Minor Snow. Each Qi governs for sixty days. One must observe the subtle details of the added Main and Guest Qi.

Song on Annual Main Qi
The First Qi of each year begins with Wood; the Second and Third Qi are linked by Ministerial and Apostle Fire; the Fourth Qi is Earth, often dominant; the Fifth Qi generates Metal, and the Sixth Qi completes Water.

Song on Annual Guest Qi
Retreat two positions from Tianqi to find the direction of Guest Qi. Count forward from Heaven to Earth. The Third Qi combines with Heaven and concludes corresponding to Earth. The rise and fall of Main and Guest Qi determine weakness and strength.

Within a year, Main Qi is fixed according to the Six Meridians, while Guest Qi follows the four seasons. Regarding Main Qi: Wind is the First Qi, Fire is the Second, Summer Heat is the Third, Dampness is the Fourth, Dryness is the Fifth, and Cold is the Final Qi. This Qi remains constant as "Main" for ten thousand years. Regarding Guest Qi: Each Qi governs for sixty days and approximately 87.5 ke (time units). In Shen-Zi-Chen years, First Qi begins at the first ke of Yin during Great Cold; Second Qi ends at the last ke of Zi during Spring Equinox; Third Qi ends at the last ke of Hai during Xiaoman; Fourth Qi ends at the last ke of Xu during Great Heat; Fifth Qi ends at the last ke of You during Autumn Equinox; Final Qi ends at the last ke of Shen during Minor Snow. In Si-You-Chou years, First Qi begins at the first ke of Si during Great Cold; Second Qi ends at the last ke of Mao during Spring Equinox; Third Qi ends at the last ke of Yin during Xiaoman; Fourth Qi ends at the last ke of Chou during Great Heat; Fifth Qi ends at the last ke of Zi during Autumn Equinox; Final Qi ends at the last ke of Hai during Minor Snow. In Yin-Wu-Xu years, First Qi begins at the first ke of Shen during Great Cold; Second Qi ends at the last ke of Wu during Spring Equinox; Third Qi ends at the last ke of Si during Xiaoman; Fourth Qi ends at the last ke of Chen during Great Heat; Fifth Qi ends at the last ke of Mao during Autumn Equinox; Final Qi ends at the last ke of Yin during Minor Snow. In Hai-Mao-Wei years, First Qi begins at the first ke of Hai during Great Cold; Second Qi ends at the last ke of You during Spring Equinox; Third Qi ends at the last ke of Shen during Xiaoman; Fourth Qi ends at the last ke of Wei during Great Heat; Fifth Qi ends at the last ke of Wu during Autumn Equinox; Final Qi ends at the last ke of Si during Minor Snow. Generally, because Guest Qi is added above Main Qi, and Main Qi lies below Guest Qi, the irregularity of heavenly timing causes illnesses among the people. (Yu Wuting)

Any physician who treats disease without understanding the prosperity and decline of annual Qi and the deficiency and excess of human Qi, thereby releasing pathogenic factors to attack healthy Qi, resulting in reinforcing the excess and depleting the deficient, commits a medical error. ○ Any physician who treats disease against the Qi of generation, growth, transformation,收 (harvest), and storage of the four seasons, violating Heaven, brings misfortune; this is a medical error. (from *Medical Gate Laws*)

Chart of Main Transport (Zhu Yun)
Each transport governs for seventy-three days and five ke. The total number of the Five Transports amounts to three hundred sixty-five days and twenty-five ke, completing one year. It is called "Main" because it remains the same every year.
Yang years (Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, Ren) begin with Taijue (Greater Jue); Yin years (Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin, Gui) begin with Shaojue (Lesser Jue). Main Transport always starts with Wood as the First Transport, following the order of mutual generation for deduction.

[Image: Main Transport Chart]

Chart of Guest Transport (Ke Yun)
In Southern Administration (Nan Zheng), the Tianqi resides above the North Pole, facing South, with Northeast as the Left Intermittent and Northwest as the Right Intermittent. Earth occupies the central position, symbolizing the Sovereign.
Guest Transport also follows the order of mutual generation. For example, in Jia-Ji years, Earth Transport is the First; since Earth generates Metal, Metal is the Second Transport, and so on.

In Northern Administration (Bei Zheng), the Tianqi resides above the South Pole, facing North, with Southwest as the Left Intermittent and Southeast as the Right Intermittent. The remaining four directions are arranged around, symbolizing the Ministers.

[Image: Guest Transport Chart]

Chart of Main Qi (Zhu Qi)
Unchanging for ten thousand ages, hence called "Main."
Changing yearly, hence called "Guest."

[Image: Main Qi Chart]

Chart of Guest Qi (Ke Qi)
The method for Guest Qi: In Zi years, start First Qi from Xu, count forward to Hai for Second Qi; the third position is Tianqi; the sixth position, Mao, is Quanqi. The following year retreats one position for deduction. For example, in Chou years, start First Qi from Hai; in Yin years, start First Qi from Zi. The Tianqi corresponds to the Earthly Branch of that year. For instance, in Zi years, Zi is Tianqi; in Chou years, Chou is Tianqi, and so forth. The method for Intermittent Qi takes Tianqi as the reference. If Zi is Tianqi, counting forward to Chou gives the Left Intermittent Qi of Tianqi; counting backward to Hai gives the Right Intermittent Qi of Tianqi. Similarly, if Mao is Quanqi, counting forward to Chen gives the Left Intermittent Qi of Quanqi; counting backward to Yin gives the Right Intermittent Qi of Quanqi. One observes and predicts based on their transformations of Wind, Fire, Summer Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Cold.

[Image: Guest Qi Chart]

Palm Guide to Tianqi and Quanqi

[Image: Palm Guide to Tianqi and Quanqi]

The Six Qi are classified as follows: Jueyin is First Yin, Shaoyin is Second Yin, Taiyin is Third Yin; Shaoyang is First Yang, Yangming is Second Yang, Taiyang is Third Yang. Thus, remembering only the characters Jue, Shao, Tai, Shao, Yang, Tai covers all Six Qi. Jue, Shao, Tai constitute the Three Yins; Shao, Yang, Tai constitute the Three Yangs. ○ The method starts with Si-Hai, initiating Jueyin Tianqi. Therefore, the character 'Jue' is placed at Si-Hai positions, 'Shao' at Zi-Wu positions, and 'Tai' at Chou-Wei positions. Counting forward to the end yields the Tianqi allocated for that year. The remaining five Qi can be deduced in sequence.