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Diagram of the Year Dingyou

Yangming Dryness Metal governs the Heaven (Si Tian), Shaoyin Ministerial Fire governs the Earth (Zai Quan), and the middle movement is Shaojiao Wood Movement. The Wood Qi of the year is insufficient, so both the Qi transformation and movement operation lag behind the season. Dryness Qi is above (governing Heaven), with the left intercalary position undergoing Taiyin Dampness Earth transformation and the right intercalary position undergoing Taiyang Cold Water transformation; therefore, the Heaven Qi is urgent and its administration is strict. Heat Qi is below (governing Earth), with the left intercalary position undergoing Jueyin Wind Wood transformation and the right intercalary position undergoing Shaoyang Ministerial Fire transformation; therefore, the Earth Qi is bright and its decree is violent. Yang Qi exclusively holds its command, scorching heat prevails, and all things become dry and hard. Pure wind is governed, wind and dryness move horizontally and circulate, flowing into the intersection of Heaven and Earth Qi. There is much Yang and little Yin, clouds tend toward the Rain Mansion, and Dampness transformation is spread. When Dryness reaches its extreme, it transforms into moisture. Clear Qi arrives first and is vigorous, causing Hair-bearing creatures (Mao Chong) to die; Heat arrives later and is violent, causing Shell-bearing creatures (Jie Chong) to suffer disaster. Metal and Fire combine their virtue, corresponding upwards to Taibai (Venus) and Yinghuo (Mars). The corresponding grains are White and Dan-colored grains; the intercalary grains are those belonging to the Tai Zheng Fire movement. The consumed items are White shell-bearing and Dan-colored feathered creatures. The Clear transformation and Heat transformation share the same victory and revenge patterns, which is referred to as the days of Evil Qi transformation. There are nine days of Dryness transformation, three days of Wind transformation, and seven days of Heat transformation, which are referred to as the days of Normal Transformation. Shell-bearing creatures remain quiet, feathered creatures breed; this is called the suitability of yearly substances. Shell-bearing creatures are depleted, and Cold toxicity does not arise; these are all restricted by Earth Qi. The Clearing and Heat-dispelling Qi holds fast at the intersection of Qi. People are prone to cough, throat obstruction, sudden onset of aversion to cold and fever, tremors, and strangury. Metal is the Heaven Qi, and Fire is the Earth Qi. Fire overcomes Metal, making the Heaven Qi deficient. One should nourish the source of transformation to assist Metal Qi, stabilize the Wood movement, and prevent it from being affected by evil. Eat White and Dan-colored grains to stabilize Qi, and eat intercalary Qi grains to dispel evil. Treatment for the year should employ Salty, Bitter, and Pungent flavors to induce sweating, clear, and disperse. The movement corresponds to Heat, so one should make greater use of Heaven transformation methods; this is the way. Its transformation above (during the Heaven-governing period) should be slightly warm with Bitter flavor, in the middle (middle movement) should be harmonized with Pungent flavor, and below (during the Earth-governing period) should be cold with Salty flavor; this is the suitability of medicines and foods.

Before the middle of the year, Yangming is in charge. If Dryness overflows and wins, then trees will flower and fruit late, grasses and plants will grow late, internal changes will occur in sinews and bones, and people will suffer from pain on the left side of the hypochondrium, internal cold and clarity, and malaria upon contracting pathogens. Great coolness alters the climate, causing cough and borborygmus in the abdomen, diarrhea with loose stools. Noble trees contract their vitality, life force stagnates below, and grasses wither at the top. Sudden severe pain occurs in the heart and hypochondrium, making it impossible to turn sideways. The throat becomes dry, the face appears dusty, there is lower back pain, blurred vision, ulcers, acne, carbuncles, and furuncles. The disease originates in the Liver, and diagnosis is focused on the Foot Taiyong Pulse (Taichong). The method should be to level with Bitter-Warm, assist with Sour-Pungent, and purge downward with Bitter.

After the middle of the year, Shaoyin is in charge. If Heat overflows internally, flames float on rivers and marshes, and dark places appear bright. People have constant borborygmus in the abdomen, Qi rushing up to the chest, panting unable to stand for long, aversion to cold and fever with skin pain, dizziness, toothache, and throat swelling. They experience chills and fever like malaria, pain in the lower abdomen, and abdominal distension. The treatment should be with Salty-Cold, assisted by Sweet-Bitter, astringed with Sour, and dispersed with Bitter.

The yearly movement is Wood Insufficiency, recorded as Weihe, which is called "Shengsheng" (Victory over Life). The Generating Qi does not administer policy, so the Transforming Qi rises. The Growing Qi naturally levels out, and the Harvesting Command comes early. Cool rain falls on time, wind and clouds rise together. Plants flourish late, turn pale and wither, fruits are elegant and solid, and flesh fills internally. Its Qi condenses, its function gathers. Its movement involves spasms and laxity, its eruption involves fright and alarm. Its transformation combines with the influence of what it cannot overcome: if Spring has the transformation of rustling branches and smooth flow, then Autumn has the administration of fog, dew, and coolness; if Spring has the victory of misery and cruelty, then Summer has the revenge of blazing heat. The disaster occurs in the East, the associated organ is the Liver, the disease resides internally in the hypochondrium and externally in the joints. Overlying Yangming, the Upper Shang is the same as the Regular Shang. The disease manifests as limb paralysis, carbuncles, ulcers, and sores. The associated insect is the Gan Chong (sweet-tasting insect); evil injures the Liver.

The First Qi begins from the Si hour of the Day of Great Cold in the Bing Shen year until the Mao hour of the Spring Equinox of this year, totaling sixty days and eighty-seven and a half ke. The Main Position is Shaojiao Wood, the Guest Qi is Taiyin Earth, and the Middle sees Wood Movement. Wind and Dampness meet to execute the Spring Command. Earth Qi migrates, Yin begins to congeal, Qi becomes solemn, water freezes, and cold rain transforms. People suffer from internal heat and distension, swollen face and eyes, excessive sleepiness, rhinitis, epistaxis, sneezing, yawning, and vomiting. Urine is yellow and red, and in severe cases, strangury. One should regulate the Guest Qi of Taiyin, tonify with Sweet, drain with Bitter, and relax with Sweet. The yearly grain should be white, the intercalary grain hemp. Although there is Dampness transformation, it cannot become evil.

The Second Qi begins from the Mao hour of the Spring Equinox until the Chou hour of the Grain Full, totaling more than sixty days. The Main Position is Taizheng Fire, the Guest Qi is Shaoyang Fire, and the Middle sees Wood Movement. Two Fires add together, and Wood Movement harmonizes. Yang spreads, people feel comfortable, and things grow luxuriant. However, epidemics arrive greatly, and people are prone to sudden death. One should treat the Guest Qi of Shaoyang, tonify with Salty, drain with Sweet, and soften/astringe with Salty. The yearly grain should be white, the intercalary grain beans. Although there is Fire evil, it cannot cause harm.

The Third Qi begins from the Yin hour of the Grain Full until the Zi hour of the Great Heat, totaling more than sixty days. The Main Position is Taizheng Fire, the Guest Qi is Yangming Metal, and the Middle sees Wood Movement. Metal overcomes Wood, Heaven's administration spreads, coolness proceeds, and dryness and heat mix. Dryness reaches its extreme and transforms into moisture. People suffer from alternating chills and fever. One should treat the Guest Qi of Yangming, tonify with Sour, drain with Pungent, and drain downward with Bitter. The yearly grain should be white, the intercalary grain millet. Although there is Dryness evil, it cannot cause harm.

The Fourth Qi begins from the Zi hour of the Great Heat until the Xu hour of the Autumn Equinox, totaling more than sixty days. The Main Position is Shaogong Earth, the Guest Qi is Taiyang Water, and the Middle sees 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, ulcers, malarial chills, bone atrophy, and bloody stool. One should treat the Guest Qi of Taiyang, tonify with Bitter, drain with Salty, firm with Bitter, and moisten with Pungent. The yearly grain should be Dan-colored, the intercalary grain Ji (millet). Although there is Cold evil, it cannot cause harm.

The Fifth Qi begins from the Hai hour of the Autumn Equinox until the You hour of the Light Snow, totaling more than sixty days. The Main Position is Taisang Metal, the Guest Qi is Jueyin Wood, and the Middle sees Water Movement. Qi and Movement are the same, the Administrative Qi undergoes Cang transformation (Wood), and the Spring Command acts in reverse. Grasses and plants grow luxuriant, people's Qi is peaceful. One should regulate the Guest Qi of Jueyin, tonify with Pungent, drain with Sour, and relax with Sweet. The yearly grain should be Dan-colored, the intercalary grain rice. Although there is Wind transformation, it cannot become evil. For this Qi, when using Warm remedies, stay away from Warm times; do not violate the warmth of the Administrative Qi.

The Final Qi begins from the You hour of the Light Snow until the Wei hour of the Great Cold, totaling more than sixty days. The Main Position is Shaoyu Water, the Guest Qi is Shaoyin Fire, and the Middle sees Wood Movement. Water generates Wood, Wood generates Fire, the transformation is smooth, Yang Qi spreads, the climate becomes warm instead, hibernating insects appear, flowing water does not freeze, and people are healthy and peaceful. However, the disease is Warmth. One should treat the Guest Qi of Shaoyin, tonify with Salty, drain with Sweet, and astringe with Sour. The yearly grain should be Dan-colored, the intercalary grain beans. Although there is Heat evil, it cannot cause harm.

At the intersection of yearly Qi, if Heaven Qi wins, Shaoyang revenges; if Earth Qi wins, Taiyang revenges. Treatment should follow the respective laws of victory and revenge.