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Figure of the Year Dingmao

Yangming Dryness Metal governs the Heaven (Si Tian), Shaoyin Ministerial Fire governs the Earth (Zai Quan), and the middle movement is Shao Jiao Wood Movement. The annual movement is insufficient, so the qi transformation operates later than the celestial timing (Hou Tian). The Wood movement coincides with the Mao position, which is called "Sui Hui" (Year Meeting), belonging to a year of balanced qi (Ping Qi). The qi transformation operates synchronously with the celestial timing (Tong Tian). This is referred to as the "Fu He Zhi Ji" (Era of Spreading Harmony). The virtue of Wood circulates universally; Yang expands, Yin distributes; the five transformations are open and peaceful. Its qi is upright, its nature is compliant, its function is flexible (bending and straightening), its transformation manifests as prosperity. Its administration is dispersing, its climate is mild, its command is Wind, its category is Wood and Grass, it corresponds to Spring, its grains are Hemp, its fruits are Plums, their flesh contains pits, its insects are Hairy ones, its domestic animals are Dogs, its color is Cyan, its taste is Sour, its musical note is Jue, its number is Eight, its objects are solid in the center. In humans, its zang organ is the Liver, its orifice is the Eye, it nourishes the Sinews. Its diseases are abdominal tension and flank/fullness distension. This is the transformation of the annual movement.

Heaven and Earth Qi: The upper position sees Yangming Dryness Metal, the left interstitial qi is Taiyang Cold Water, and the right interstitial qi is Shaoyang Ministerial Fire; thus, the heavenly qi is urgent and its administration is severe. The lower position sees Shaoyin Ministerial Fire, the left interstitial qi is Taiyin Damp Earth, and the right interstitial qi is Jueyin Wind Wood; thus, the earthly qi is bright and its command is violent. Yang monopolizes its command, heat and summer heat prevail, objects become dry and hard. Pure wind is governed, wind and dryness move horizontally and flow into the intersection of qi. There is much Yang and little Yin; clouds gather at the rain mansion, damp transformation begins to spread. When dryness reaches its extreme, it transforms into moisture. Clear qi arrives first and is vigorous, causing hairy insects to die; hot qi arrives later and violently, causing shelled insects to suffer. Metal and Fire combine their virtues, corresponding above to Taibai (Venus) and Yinghuo (Mars). Its grains are White and Dan (Red/Cinnabar); the intermediate grain is named Tai Zheng (Dan color). Its depletion affects white-shelled and feathered species. Hibernating insects appear, flowing water does not freeze. Cooling qi persists at the intersection of qi. People may suffer from cough, throat obstruction, sudden onset of chills and fever, tremors, strangury, and retention. However, Yangming Dryness Metal is above, and Shaoyin Ministerial Fire is below. Fire overcomes Metal, making the heavenly qi deficient and the earthly qi abundant. When heavenly qi is insufficient, one should nourish the source of transformation to assist Metal qi. If the annual Wood movement is already balanced, the Shang Metal of the heavenly qi is the same as the regular Shang Metal, so no assistance is needed. It is suitable to eat White and Dan colored grains to calm the qi, and eat intermediate qi grains to dispel evil. Regulate the upper with Bitter, Pungent, and Warm substances; regulate the lower with Salty and Cold substances; harmonize the middle with Pungent substances. Induce sweating, clear heat, and disperse. Since the movement is similar to hot qi, it is appropriate to follow heavenly transformation.

First Qi: From the Hai hour of the Great Cold day in the Bingyin year to the You hour of the Spring Equinox day of this year, totaling sixty days and eighty-seven and a half ke. The main position is Shao Jiao Wood, the guest qi is Taiyin Earth, and the middle reveals Wood movement. Wind and Dampness meet, responding above to the Si Tian Yangming to execute the Spring command. Earthly qi migrates, Yin begins to congeal, qi becomes solemn, water freezes, cold rain transforms. People suffer from internal heat and distension, swelling of the face and eyes, excessive sleepiness, rhinorrhea, sneezing, yawning, vomiting, yellow-red urine, and even strangury. However, since this year's Wood movement governs and coincides with the Wood position, Wind-Wood is in its proper place, its qi is peaceful, Damp transformation is slight, and diseases are few. It is suitable to regulate the Taiyin guest qi by tonifying with Sweet, purging with Bitter, and relaxing with Sweet. Eat White grains to calm the qi, eat Hemp to dispel evil. Although there is Damp transformation, it cannot become evil.

Second Qi: From the You hour of the Spring Equinox day to the Wei hour of the Grain Full day, totaling sixty-plus days. The main position is Tai Zheng Fire, the guest qi is Shaoyang Fire, and the middle reveals Wood movement. Wood and Fire are harmonious, responding above to Yangming, Yang distributes, people feel comfortable, objects grow and flourish. Epidemics arrive greatly, and people may die suddenly. In this year, both heavenly qi and annual movement are balanced, so epidemic diseases are naturally mild. It is suitable to regulate the Shaoyang guest qi. Tonify with Salty, purge with Sweet... (Original text has a gap here, likely implying regulation with Salty). Eat White grains to calm the qi, eat Beans to dispel evil. Although there is Fire transformation, it cannot become evil.

Third Qi: From the Shen hour of the Grain Full day to the Wu hour of the Great Heat day, totaling sixty-plus days. The main position is Tai Zheng Fire, the guest qi is Yangming Metal, and the middle reveals Wood movement. Heavenly administration spreads, coolness executes, Dryness and Heat intersect, Dryness reaches its extreme and transforms into moisture. People suffer from alternating chills and fever. It is suitable to regulate the Yangming guest qi by tonifying with Sour, purging with Pungent, and draining with Bitter. Eat White grains to calm the qi, eat Millet (Shu) to dispel evil. Although there is Dryness transformation, it cannot become evil.

Fourth Qi: From the Wu hour of the Great Heat day to the Chen hour of the Autumn Equinox day, totaling sixty-plus days. The main position is Shao Gong Earth, the guest qi is Taiyang Water, and the middle reveals Wood movement. Cold rain descends. People suffer from sudden collapse, tremors, delirium, shortness of breath, dry throat with desire to drink, as well as heart pain, carbuncles, sores, malaria chills, bone atrophy, and bloody stools. It is suitable to regulate the Taiyang guest qi by tonifying with Bitter, purging with Salty, firming with Bitter, and moistening with Pungent. Eat Dan-colored grains to calm the qi, eat Proso Millet (Ji) to dispel evil. Although there is Cold transformation, it cannot become evil.

Fifth Qi: From the Si hour of the Autumn Equinox day to the Mao hour of the Light Snow day, totaling sixty-plus days. The main position is Tai Shang Metal, the guest qi is Jueyin Wood, and the middle reveals Wood movement. Wood movement matches Jueyin, called Si Qi, named Cang Hua. At this time, the Spring command reverses, grass and trees grow prosperously, people's qi is harmonious, and naturally no disease occurs. However, for the Jueyin guest qi, it is suitable to tonify with Pungent, purge with Sour, and relax with Sweet. Annual grains should be Dan-colored, intermediate grains should be Rice. Although there is Wind transformation, it cannot become evil. This qi governs with Warmth; use Warmth without violation, known as "using Warmth far from Warmth."

Final Qi: From the Mao hour of the Light Snow day to the Chou hour of the Great Cold day, totaling sixty-plus days. The main position is Shao Yu Water, the guest qi is Shaoyin Fire, and the middle reveals Wood movement. Water generates Wood, Wood generates Fire, proceeding through smooth transformation. When Yang qi distributes, the climate becomes warm, hibernating insects appear, flowing water does not freeze, people are healthy and peaceful. Their disease is Warmth. It is suitable to regulate the Shaoyin guest qi by tonifying with Salty, purging with Sweet, and astringing with Sour. Eat Dan-colored grains to calm the qi, eat Beans to dispel evil. Although there is Heat transformation, it cannot become evil.

This year encounters balanced qi again. The qi of the four seasons is the application of virtue, transformation, administration, and command, without changes of excess, victory, or revenge. People are harmonious, and objects are relaxed, reaching the utmost of balanced qi.

Taiyang Cold Water governs the Heaven, Taiyin Damp Earth governs the Earth, and the middle movement is Tai Zheng Fire Movement. The annual Fire is excessive, so the qi transformation operates earlier than the celestial timing (Xian Tian). The upper position sees Taiyang Cold Water, the left interstitial qi is Jueyin Wind Wood, and the right interstitial qi is Yangming Dryness Metal; thus, the heavenly administration spreads, and its qi is solemn. The lower position sees Taiyin Damp Earth, the left interstitial qi is Shaoyang Ministerial Fire, and the right interstitial qi is Shaoyin Ministerial Fire; thus, the earthly qi is quiet and its command is slow. Cold approaches the great void, Cold administration launches greatly, Yang qi does not command, marshes lack Yang flames, so Fire erupts waiting for its time. Shaoyang Ministerial Fire governs in the middle, seasonal rains cease, rain scatters to the extreme, returning to Taiyin. Clouds face the North Pole, Damp transformation spreads, marshes flow to all things. Cold spreads above, thunder moves below. Cold-Damp qi persists at the intersection of qi. Water and Earth combine their virtues, corresponding above to Chenxing (Mercury) and Zhensheng (Saturn). Its grains are Black. People suffer from Cold-Damp, muscle atrophy. Foot weakness and inability to hold, loose diarrhea, blood extravasation.

In this year, Water is the heavenly qi, Earth is the earthly qi. Earth overcomes Water, making the heavenly qi deficient. One should nourish the source of transformation in the ninth month of the previous year to assist Water transformation and support the non-victorious. It is suitable to regulate the upper with Bitter-Warm, the lower with Sweet-Warm, and harmonize the middle with Sweet. Dry and Warm them, do not allow excess to generate disease. Eat Black grains to preserve true qi, avoid Cold-Damp empty evil to stabilize righteous qi. The movement differs from Cold-Damp; it is suitable to dry and transform Dampness. This is the constant method of treatment.

Before the midpoint of the year, Taiyang Cold Water governs. Its transformation follows the root and branch. The root is Cold and the branch is Yang, meaning Cold and Heat are balanced, and its qi is harmonious. If Cold invades excessively, Cold qi returns, water freezes, blood changes internally, generating carbuncles. People suffer from jue-type heart pain, hematemesis, bloody stool, rhinorrhea, sadness, dizziness, and collapse. The movement fire burns fiercely, violent rain causes hail. Chest and abdomen fullness, hand heat, elbow contraction, axillary swelling, palpitations, chest/hypochondriac/epigastric discomfort, red face, yellow eyes, frequent belching, dry throat, even black complexion, thirst and desire to drink. The disease originates in the Heart. If the Shenmen pulse is absent, death is incurable. The method is to level with Pungent-Hot, assist with Sweet-Bitter, and purge with Salty.

The transformation of Taiyin Damp Earth follows the root. Its command is Damp. After the midpoint of the year, the Fire movement also governs. Their qi is compatible, Damp and Dry act together, so their qi is harmonious. If Dampness invades internally, mist obscures valleys, Yellow appears as Black, at the junction of Extreme Yin. People suffer from fluid accumulation, heart pain, deafness, roaring tinnitus, swollen throat and bi-syndrome, Yin diseases with blood manifestation. Lower abdominal pain and swelling, inability to urinate, rebellious qi attacking headache, eyes feeling like they will fall out, neck feeling like being pulled, waist feeling like breaking, thighs unable to turn, popliteal fossa feeling bound, calf feeling separated. The method is to treat with Bitter-Hot, assist with Sour-Light, dry with Bitter, and drain with Light.

Annual Fire is excessive, sultry heat prevails, Metal and Lung receive evil. People suffer from malaria, shortness of breath, cough and wheezing, blood extravasation, bloody stool, acute diarrhea, dry throat, deafness, internal heat, shoulder and back heat, even chest pain, flank and limb fullness, and flank pain.