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Danxi stated in *Gezhi Yulun* (Treatise on Cultivating Understanding): In the four chapters regarding etiology in *Shengqi Tongtian Lun* (Treatise on the Connection between Vital Qi and Heaven), the three sentences "yu ru yun shu" (desire like a rotating pivot) under the first chapter's "yin yu han" (due to cold) do not connect with the preceding context and are all interpolations (superfluous text). The two sentences "ti ruo fan tan, han chu er san" (body hot as burning charcoal, scattered by sweating) from the second chapter under "yin yu shu" (due to heat) should be moved below "yin yu han". Mr. You Zaijing, who deeply comprehends the meaning of the Classics, did not study this treatise thoroughly. In *Dushu Ji* (Records of Reading), he claimed that Danxi's reordering of the chapters for "due to cold" and "due to heat" was correct. I hold that the sentence "yu ru yun shu" under "yin yu han" need not be called an interpolation. Rather, the two sentences "qiju ru jing, shen qi nai fu" (daily life startled, spirit qi floats) and the following two sentences "ti ruo fan tan, han chu er san" are mutually misplaced. By simply swapping these four sentences, reading them as "yin yu han, yu ru yun shu, ti ruo fan tan, han chu er san. Yin yu shu han, fan ze chuan he, jing ze duo yan, qiju ru jing, shen qi nai fu," the meaning becomes coherent. This implies that for those affected by cold, like a pivot turning, the cold qi dissipates naturally, similar to methods such as washing, warming, and massage mentioned in *Neijing*. If cold stagnates and transforms into heat, resembling burning charcoal, it must be dispersed through sweating, similar to formulas like Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) by Zhang Zhongjing. For those affected by heat, it is a disease caused by Ministerial Fire, hence presenting with spontaneous sweating, panting and shouting, excessive talking, and sudden startling in daily life leading to floating spirit qi. Both Danxi and Zaijing inherited this error.

In Volume 2 of this collection, Mrue Xue Yupiao's *Rijiang Zajiji* contains this note but lacks detail. After the book was published, many students asked about this theory, so I elaborate here.

This originates from *Suwen Yipian · Cifalun* (Supplementary Chapters of Suwen · Treatise on Needling Methods). Although Zhang Jingyue classified explanations under the section on rigidity and softness losing their positions (Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, Ren are five years of Yang, characterized by rigid qi; Yi, Ding, Xin, Ji, Gui are five years of Yin, characterized by soft qi. When they should exchange but fail to administer governance, it is called losing position), it remains unclear. Combining my own insights, I clarify it in detail. Suppose it is the Jiazi year: if the first half of the year has much wind and little warmth, it is because the previous year's Si Tian (Heavenly Governance) Qi, Jueyin Wind Wood, did not withdraw its position, and the current year's Si Tian Qi, Shaoyin Ministerial Fire, did not advance to its position. If the second half of the year is cool, it is because the Zai Quan (Earthly Governance) Qi, Yangming Dryness Metal, holds its position. The Zai Quan of Jiazi is Yangming Dryness Metal (The Heavenly Stem of Zai Quan is deduced by combining with the Heavenly Stem of Si Tian, e.g., Jia combines with Ji, Yi combines with Geng. The Earthly Branch of Zai Quan is deduced by matching Yin-Yang among Si Zheng, Si Pian, and Si Wei relative to Si Tian's branch, e.g., Zi and Mao are one Yin and one Yang in Si Zheng, Yin and Si are one Yin and one Yang in Si Pian, Chen and Wei are one Yin and one Yang in Si Wei, etc.). With the previous year's Si Tian overseeing the current year's Zai Quan, it results in Upper Gui and Lower Ji, indicating disharmony. Jia loses its position, termed Wood Excess and Earth Deficiency (Jia-Ji transform to Earth). Wood excess inevitably triggers Metal retaliation (referring to the next year Yi-Geng transforming to Metal). Once Metal retaliates, Wood recedes slightly, allowing Shaoyin Ministerial Fire of the Zi year's Si Tian to arrive. Wood assists Fire to overcome Metal, making the retaliation weak. Consequently, both Jia-Ji Earth loses its position. Long-standing Earth stagnation eventually transforms into epidemic diseases (Yi). Early in Bingyin year, late in Dingmao year, Earth Epidemic arrives (In Bing-Xin years transforming to Water, stagnant Earth finally overcomes and causes disease; in the subsequent Ding-Ren years transforming to Wood, Wood overcomes Earth, causing disease due to hyperactivity. Earth epidemic is damp epidemic, akin to modern Shiwarmth). The severity of the epidemic depends on the prosperity or decline of the year's Si Tian and Zai Quan. Furthermore, if the first half is warm, indicating Shaoyin Ministerial Fire governing, and the second half is warm with little coolness, indicating the previous year's Zai Quan ShaoYang Ministerial Fire did not withdraw and the current year's Zai Quan Yangming Dryness Metal did not advance, then the soft Qi of Jimao does not descend (Current Zai Quan belongs to Yangming, explanation of Jimao above). Thus, the rigid Qi of Jiazi stands isolated above, also constituting Earth deficiency, later transforming into Li Qi (Plague/Killing Pestilence). Whenever Si Tian loses position, it transforms into Yi (Epidemic); whenever Zai Quan loses position, it transforms into Li (Plague). Yi refers to plague; Li refers to killing pestilence. As Earth Epidemic approaches, fearing damage to the Kidney, one should first tonify Shenshu (Kidney Transport) acupoint, then drain Earth Qi to remove stagnation, and avoid night walking or long journeys (The classic discusses needling methods, hence mentioning transport points; physicians using herbs can follow this principle). Details are recorded in *Leijing*, no need to repeat. Other years follow this pattern.

Epidemics typically occur in Yang years, except for the six Tianxing (Heavenly Punishment) years, totaling twenty-four years (Gengzi, Gengwu: Ministerial Fire punishes Metal transport; Gengyin, Gengshen: Ministerial Fire punishes Metal transport; Wuchen, Wuxu: Cold Water punishes Fire transport. These six years are not excessive, hence no epidemic; others are overly rigid Yang, thus causing epidemics). However, this refers to Yang transport overcoming without external pathogen injury. If rigidity and softness alternate in losing their positions, and the four seasons are irregular, it is called "losing alternating positions," generating major epidemics (Si Tian fails to govern when it should, Zai Quan fails to govern when it should; even in Yang years, this constitutes insufficiency, not requiring three years of stagnation to trigger epidemics).