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Chart of the Bingwu Year

Shaoyin Junhuo (Ministerial Fire ruling the Heaven) governs the Si Tian (Heavenly Qi), Yangming Zaojin (Dryness Metal governing the Earth) governs the Zai Quan (Earthly Qi), and the middle movement is Taiyu Shuiyun (Great Water Movement). The water qi of the year is excessive, and its transformation operates prior to the natural timing. The transformation of heat is above, the transformation of softness is on the left, the transformation of movement is on the right, the transformation of pungency is below, the transformation of darkness is on the left, and the transformation of brightness is on the right. Therefore, the administrative distribution of the heavenly qi appears bright, while the earthly qi is solemn, and its command is sharply cold. Cold and heat alternate; heat adds to dryness; clouds race in the rain mansion, and the transformation of dampness proceeds, causing seasonal rains to descend. Metal and fire combine their virtues, corresponding above to Yinghuo (Mars) and Taibai (Venus). The grains are red and white. The number for heat transformation is two, for cold transformation is six, and for clear transformation is four; this is the degree of correct transformation. Feathered creatures remain quiet, shelled creatures breed; this is called the suitability of yearly substances. Hairy creatures decline, and damp toxins do not arise; all these are constrained by earthly qi. Water, fire, cold, and heat interact at the junction of qi, becoming the beginning of disease. Heat diseases arise from above, clear/cold diseases arise from below, and cold and heat invade each other and contend in the middle. The people suffer from cough and asthma, blood effusion, blood discharge, nasal congestion, sneezing, red eyes, and skin sores. Cold jue enters the stomach, causing heart pain, lower back pain, abdominal distension, dry throat, and edema spreading upward. In this year, fire is the heavenly qi, and metal is the earthly qi. Fire overcomes metal, and the heavenly qi is full. One should draw upon the source of fire's transformation. Since water movement is in the middle, fire pathogenic factors become slight. One must suppress the excessive water movement, support the yearly overcoming qi, and prevent it from exploding excessively to cause disease. Eat red and white grains to preserve true qi; eat grains of inter-qi to ward off empty pathogens. Use salty flavors to regulate the upper part; if severe, use bitter flavors to disperse. Use sour flavors to astringe and calm the lower part; if severe, use bitter flavors to drain. The movement shares the same qi as the earth, transforming with warmth. Its transformation above is salty-cold, in the middle is salty-hot, and below is sour-warm; this is appropriate for medicines and foods.

Before the midpoint of the year, Shaoyin governs, and its administration is hot. If heat dominates excessively, stifling heat arrives, and fire exercises its administration. The people suffer from vexation and heat in the chest, dry throat, fullness on the right side, skin pain, aversion to cold and fever, cough, and asthma. When heavy rain is about to arrive, there is expectoration of blood, blood discharge, nasal congestion, epistaxis, sneezing, vomiting, and changes in urine color. In severe cases, sores and swelling occur, pain in the shoulders, back, arms, and the supr clavicular fossa, heart pain, lung distension, and abdominal fullness with bloating, cough, and asthma. The root of the disease lies in the Lung. Diagnosis involves the pulse at Chize (LU5). The treatment method should be balanced with salty-cold, assisted by bitter-sweet, and using sour flavors to astringe.

After the midpoint of the year, Yangming governs, and its command is dryness. If dryness dominates internally, fog becomes clear and dim. The people suffer from frequent vomiting with bitter taste, frequent sighing, pain in the heart and hypochondrium preventing turning over. In severe cases, dry throat, dusty complexion, lack of luster in the body, and reverse heat in the outer foot occur. The treatment should be bitter-warm, assisted by sweet-pungent, and using bitter flavors to purge.

The yearly movement of water is excessive, recorded as Liuyan (Flowing Expansion), which is called sealing and storing. Cold governs the transformation of things; heaven and earth are strict and condensed. The storage administration is distributed, and the growth command does not rise. Its transformation is biting, its qi is firm, its administration is tranquil, and its command flows and pours. Its movement is drifting, leaking, and surging. Its virtue is condensing, grim, and cold. Its change is ice, snow, frost, and hail. Its transformation combines with what it overcomes (Earth), and its disease is distension. Thus, it is said that when yearly water is excessive, cold qi prevails, heavy rain arrives, dust and fog stagnate, and evil harms Heart Fire. The people suffer from body heat, vexation, restlessness, palpitations, yin jue, cold in the upper and lower parts, delirium, and heart pain. Cold arrives early; in severe cases, abdominal distension, leg swelling, cough and asthma, night sweats, and aversion to wind occur. Treatment uses entirely salty-hot methods.

The first qi period begins from Shen hour on the day of Great Cold in the Yisi year until Wu hour on the day of Spring Equinox in this year, totaling 60 days and 87.5 ke. The main position is Taijiao Wood, the guest qi is Taiyang Water, and the middle sees Water Movement. The qi and movement are the same. Earthly qi shifts, dryness departs, and cold begins. Hibernating creatures hide again, water freezes, frost descends again, and wind arrives. Yang qi is depressed, and people instead wrap themselves tightly; joints become stiff and fixed, and waist pain occurs. As summer heat approaches, sores and ulcers appear inside and outside. One should treat the Guest of Taiyang: tonify with bitter, drain with salty, firm with bitter, and moisten with pungent. Yearly grains should be red, inter-grains should be Setaria italica (Ji). Although cold evil exists, it cannot cause harm. Regarding this qi, avoid using cold medicine during cold times; do not violate the cold of the governing qi.

The second qi period begins from Wu zheng (noon) on the day of Spring Equinox until Chen zheng (morning) on the day of Grain Full, totaling over 60 days. The main position is Shaozheng Fire, the guest qi is Jueyin Wood, and the middle sees Water Movement. Water generates Wood, Yang qi spreads, wind moves, spring qi is correct, and all things flourish. Cold qi arrives at times, and the people harmonize. Their diseases include strangury, closed eyes, and red eyes; qi stagnates above generating heat. One should treat the Guest of Jueyin: tonify with pungent, drain with sour, and relax with sweet. Yearly grains should be red, inter-grains should be Oryza sativa (Dao). Although wind evil exists, it cannot cause harm.

The third qi period begins from Si chu (early morning) on the day of Grain Full until Mao chu (dawn) on the day of Great Heat, totaling over 60 days. The main position is Shaozheng Fire, the guest qi is Shaoyin Fire, and the middle sees Water Movement. Two fires add together, supported by Water Movement. Heavenly administration spreads, great fire moves, myriad species proliferate and are fresh, and cold qi arrives at times. The people suffer from qi jue and heart pain, alternating cold and heat, cough, asthma, and red eyes. One should treat the Guest of Shaoyin: tonify with salty, drain with sweet, and astringe with sour. Yearly grains should be red, inter-grains should be beans. Although heat evil exists, it cannot cause harm.

The fourth qi period begins from Mao zheng (dawn) on the day of Great Heat until Chou zheng (early morning) on the day of Autumn Equinox, totaling over 60 days. The main position is Taigong Earth, the guest qi is Taiyin Earth, and the middle sees Water Movement. Earth occupies its position and can overcome water. Humid heat arrives, heavy rain frequently occurs, and cold and heat alternate. The people suffer from cold and heat, dry throat, jaundice, nasal congestion, epistaxis, and fluid retention disorders. One should regulate the Guest of Taiyin: tonify with sweet, drain with bitter, and relax with sweet. Yearly grains should be white, inter-grains should be Sesamum indicum (Ma). Although damp evil exists, it cannot cause harm.

The fifth qi period begins from Yin chu (pre-dawn) on the day of Autumn Equinox until Zi chu (midnight) on the day of Minor Snow, totaling over 60 days. The main position is Shaoshang Metal, the guest qi is Shaoyang Fire, and the middle sees Water Movement. Fire overcomes Metal, supported by Water Movement. Fearful fire arrives, summer heat returns, yang transforms, and all things grow and flourish. The people are healthy. Their disease is warm disease. One should treat the Guest of Shaoyang: tonify with salty, drain with sweet, and [text missing/obscured] with salty. Yearly grains should be white, inter-grains should be beans. Although fire evil exists, it cannot cause harm.

The final qi period begins from Zi zheng (midnight) on the day of Minor Snow until Xu zheng (evening) on the day of Great Cold, totaling over 60 days. The main position is Taiyu Water, the guest qi is Yangming Metal, and the middle sees Water Movement. Water movement takes its proper place, and dryness command operates. Residual fire is internally blocked, swelling occurs above, cough and asthma are severe, even to the point of blood effusion. Cold qi rises frequently, causing foggy obscuration. Disease arises in the skin and pores, resides internally in the hypochondrium, connects downward to the lower abdomen causing interior cold. The earth is changing. One should regulate the Guest of Yangming: tonify with sour, drain with pungent, and drain with bitter. Yearly grains should be white, inter-grains should be Panicum miliaceum (Shu). Although dryness evil exists, it cannot cause harm. This is the transformation of the six qi.

At the intersection of yearly qi, if heavenly qi dominates, there is a retaliation of Taiyang; if earthly qi dominates, there is a retaliation of Shaoyang. Treatment follows each according to the method of dominance and retaliation. Cold is treated with heat, heat is treated with cold. Do not assist the dominance, do not aid the retaliation; this is the Way.