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Figure of the Bingzi Year's Qi and Yun

Shao Yin Jun Huo (Ministerial Fire) governs Si Tian (Heavenly Qi), Yang Ming Zao Jin (Dryness Metal) governs Zai Quan (Earthly Qi), and the central Yun is Tai Yu Shui Yun (Excessive Water Movement). The year's water is excessive, and its qi transformation operates ahead of time. With Water Yun arriving at the Zi position, this is called "Sui Hui" (Year Meeting), indicating a balanced qi state.

In a year of balanced water, it is named the "Jing Shun Zhi Ji" (Order of Quiet Obedience). Its nature is to store without harming, to govern and flow downwards well; the five transformations are all orderly. Its qi is bright, its nature is downward, its function is moist and expansive, its transformation is condensed and firm, its administration flows and evolves, its climate is condensed and solemn, its command is cold, its category is water, its correspondence is winter, its grains are beans, its fruits are chestnuts, its substance is moist, its insects are scaled creatures, its livestock are swine, its color is black, its taste is salty, its objects are moist, its musical note is Yu, and its number is six. In humans, its zang organ is the Kidney, it governs the two yin orifices, and it nourishes the bone marrow. Its diseases involve Jue (cold extremities/reversal). This is the transformation of the year's Yun.

Regarding the qi of heaven and earth: above, Shao Yin appears; the left interstitial qi is Tai Yin, and the right interstitial qi is Jue Yin. Thus, the heavenly administration spreads bright qi. Below, Yang Ming appears; the left interstitial qi is Tai Yang, and the right interstitial qi is Shao Yang. Thus, the earthly qi is solemn and its command is sharp. At the transition of qi, cold meets heat; the qi of heaven and earth adds heat to dryness. Clouds race to the rain mansion, moisture transformation proceeds, and timely rains descend. Metal and Fire combine their virtue, corresponding above to Ying Huo (Mars) and Tai Bai (Venus). Their grains are red and white. Water, fire, cold, and heat hold sway at the intersection of qi, where disease begins. Heat diseases arise in the upper part, clear/cold diseases arise in the lower part, and cold and heat clash in the middle. People suffer from cough and wheezing, hematemesis, bloody diarrhea, nasal congestion and sneezing, red eyes, and sores. Cold reversal enters the stomach, causing heart pain, waist pain, abdominal distension, dry throat, and edema above. Fire is heavenly qi, metal is earthly qi, and water movement is in the middle. Heat transformation is 2, cold transformation is 6, clear transformation is 4; these are the degrees of normal transformation. Feathered creatures are quiet, shelled creatures breed; this is the suitability of yearly produce. Hairy creatures decline, feathered creatures do not complete development, and damp toxins do not arise because earthly qi controls them.

Dryness and heat add together; heavenly qi is full, earthly qi is deficient. Although there is a balanced water year, one does not take the source of transformation but only suppresses the Yun, supporting the year's winning qi, preventing excess and causing disease. Eat red and white grains to preserve true qi; eat grains of interstitial qi to ward off empty evils. Flavors should use salty-cold to regulate the upper, and sour-warm to stabilize the lower. When Yun matches earthly qi, use warm-hot to transform. Before the middle of the year, heavenly qi is governed by Shao Yin, which has root and mark transformations, responding with balanced cold and heat. After the middle of the year, earthly qi is governed by Yang Ming, which transforms via central qi, responding with half damp and half dry. Arriving at the proper time is peaceful; arriving out of time is excessive and victorious.

First Qi: From the Yin hour of the Great Cold day in the Yi Hai year to the Zi hour of the Spring Equinox day of this year, totaling 60 days and 87.5 ke. The main position is Tai Jiao Wood, the guest qi is Tai Yang Water, and the central Yun is Water. Qi and Yun are identical, residing in the Wood position; water and wood harmonize, serving the governance of Shao Yin to execute spring commands. Earthly qi shifts, dryness departs, cold begins. Hibernating creatures hide again, water freezes, frost descends, wind arrives. Yang qi is depressed, people wrap themselves tightly, joints become stiff, and waist pain occurs. As summer heat approaches, internal and external sores appear. Treat the Guest of Tai Yang. Tonify with bitter, drain with salty, solidify with bitter, moisten with pungent. Eat red yearly grains and millet as interstitial grains, so cold does not become evil. For this qi, avoid cold when using cold remedies; do not violate the cold of the ruling qi.

Second Qi: From the Zi hour of the Spring Equinox to the Xu hour of the Grain Buds day, totaling over 60 days. The main position is Shao Zheng Fire, the guest qi is Jue Yin Wood, and the central Yun is Water. Water and wood interact favorably; yang qi spreads, wind moves, spring qi is correct, and all things flourish accordingly. Cold qi arrives, and people are harmonious. Diseases include strangury, eye closure, red eyes, qi stagnation in the upper body causing heat. Treat the Guest of Jue Yin. Tonify with pungent, drain with sour, soothe with sweet. Eat red yearly grains and rice as interstitial grains, so wind does not become evil.

Third Qi: From the Hai hour of the Grain Buds day to the You hour of the Great Heat day, totaling over 60 days. The main position is Shao Zheng Fire, the guest qi is Shao Yin Fire, and the central Yun is Water. Fire occupies the Fire position, separated by yearly water. Heavenly administration spreads, great fire moves, myriad species flourish. Cold qi arrives. People suffer from qi reversal, heart pain, alternating cold and heat, cough and wheezing, red eyes. Treat the Guest of Shao Yin. Tonify with salty, drain with sweet, gather with sour. Eat red yearly grains and beans as interstitial grains, so heat does not become evil.

Fourth Qi: From the You hour of the Great Heat day to the Wei hour of the Autumn Equinox day, totaling over 60 days. The main position is Tai Gong Earth, the guest qi is Tai Yin Earth, and the central Yun is Water. Earth occupies its position, humid heat arrives, heavy rain falls frequently, cold and heat alternate. People suffer from cold and heat, dry throat, jaundice, nasal congestion, and fluid retention. Treat the Guest of Tai Yin. Tonify with sweet, drain with bitter, soothe with sweet. Eat white yearly grains and sesame as interstitial grains, so dampness does not become evil.

Fifth Qi: From the Shen hour of the Autumn Equinox to the Wu hour of the Light Snow day, totaling over 60 days. The main position is Shao Shang Metal, the guest qi is Shao Yang Fire, and the central Yun is Water. Feared Fire arrives, summer heat returns, yang transforms, and all things grow and flourish. People are healthy. The disease is warm disease, controlled by yearly water, making the disease mild. Treat the Guest of Shao Yang. Tonify with salty, drain with sweet, soften with salty. Eat white yearly grains and beans as interstitial grains, so fire does not become evil.

Sixth Qi (Final Qi): From the Wu hour of the Light Snow day to the Chen hour of the Great Cold day, totaling over 60 days. The main position is Tai Yu Water, the guest qi is Yang Ming Metal, and the central Yun is Water. Water occupies its position and harmonizes with metal. Dryness command acts, residual fire is internally blocked, swelling occurs above, cough and wheezing, severe cases have hematemesis. Cold qi rises frequently, causing foggy obscurity. Disease arises in skin and pores, resides internally in the hypochondrium, connects below to the lower abdomen causing cold center. Earthly qi is changing. Treat the Guest of Yang Ming. Tonify with sour, drain with pungent, drain with bitter. Eat white yearly grains and broomcorn millet as interstitial grains, so dryness does not become evil.

In this year, the balance of water qi is due to Sui Hui executing commands. If evil strikes, people have lingering diseases. As the classics say, those who execute commands in the middle have slow and lingering diseases.