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Figure of the Yiwu Year's Qi and Yun

Taiyin Wet Earth governs as the Supreme Qi (Si Tian), Taiyang Cold Water governs as the Subterranean Qi (Zai Quan), and the Central Movement is Shaoshang Metal. Due to the deficiency of the year's Metal, the climate and physiological operations lag behind the heavenly timing. Wetness diffuses above, while earthly qi rises upward; on the left, Shaoyang Ministerial Fire transforms, and on the right, Shaoyin Sovereign Fire scorches. Its administration is solemn, with Salty transformations below; heavenly qi descends; on the left, Jueyin Wind Wood activates transformation, and on the right, the guest qi exhibits normal transformation (Su Hua), its command being silent. Yin exclusively holds power, while Yang retreats; great winds arise frequently, the plains grow dim, white dust rises in all directions, clouds surge toward the south pole, cold rains arrive often, and objects mature late in summer. Wetness and Cold combine their virtues, causing yellow-black dust to darken the air; flowing qi intersects between heaven and earth, corresponding above to Zhenxing (Saturn) and Chenxing (Mercury). The grains are black. The inter-grains designated as Taijiao (Wood movement) experience similar victories and reversals of Heat and Cold transformations, known as days of evil qi transformation. The number for Wet transformation is five, for Clear transformation is four, and for Cold transformation is six; these are known as days of orthodox transformation. Feathered creatures are quiet, scaled creatures breed; this is what suits the year's matters. Feathered creatures diminish, heat toxins do not generate; this is restrained by earthly qi. Thus, Yin condenses above, Cold accumulates below. When Cold Water overcomes Fire, hail occurs; when sunlight fails to function, killing qi prevails. For excess years, high places are suitable; for deficient years, low places are suitable. For excess years, late planting is suitable; for deficient years, early planting is suitable; this utilizes the benefit of Earth and the transformation of Qi. The people's qi also follows this. Diseases include Cold-Dampness, abdominal fullness, body heaviness and irritability, edema, stuffiness and rebellion, cold jue with cramping. Earth represents heavenly qi, Water represents earthly qi. When Earth overcomes Water, heavenly qi is abundant, and earthly qi is deficient. One should seek the source of transformation to level Earth qi. Metal movement is in the center; heavenly qi generates movement, and movement generates earthly qi. The three qi harmonize, transformation proceeds smoothly, and evil qi becomes slight. One must supplement the year's qi to prevent evil from prevailing. Eat black grains to preserve true qi; eat inter-qi grains to protect essence. For this year, treatment should use Bitter to dry and Warm to disperse. For severe cases, use diaphoresis or purgation. If neither diaphoresis nor purgation is used, dampness will overflow externally, leading to muscle ulceration, skin splitting, and mixing of water and blood. One must assist Yang fire to resist severe cold. Since the annual movement shares Cold, it is suitable to use Hot transformations. The appropriate medicinal properties are: Upper part uses Bitter-Hot, Middle part uses Sour-Mild, Lower part uses Sweet-Hot. This is the suitability of medicine and food.

Before the middle of the year, Taiyin governs. If Dampness excessively wins, deep Yin spreads, rain changes cause withering. Symptoms include edema, bone pain, Yin Bi (Yin obstruction). Yin Bi refers to pain that cannot be elicited by pressure, accompanied by pain in the lower back, spine, head, and neck, occasional vertigo, difficulty in defecation, dysfunction of Yin qi, hunger without desire to eat, hemoptysis, a feeling of emptiness in the heart like hanging, with the root of the disease in the Kidney. Diagnosis focuses on the pulse at Foot Taixi. The method is to level with Bitter-Hot, assist with Sour-Acrid, use Bitter to dry, and use Acrid to drain.

After the middle of the year, Taiyang governs. If Cold invades internally, there is congealing, solemnity, and shivering. People suffer from lower abdomen pulling to the testicles, connecting to the waist and spine, upward rushing heart pain, bleeding, throat pain, and submandibular swelling. Treatment uses Sweet-Hot, assisted by Bitter-Acrid, using Salty to purge, Acrid to moisten, and Bitter to firm.

The annual movement of Metal is deficient, recorded as Conge and, called Zhe Shou (breaking harvest). The gathering qi is delayed, the generating qi expands, the long-growing virtue combines, Fire administration is declared, and myriad species flourish. Its qi rises, its use is restless and sharp, its movement involves Jing Jin and Mao Jue, its onset involves cough and wheezing. Its transformation involves the element it does not overcome. Diseases include sneezing, coughing, nasal congestion, and epistaxis. Observing its qi: if Summer has the command of luminous oppression and steaming, Winter will have the response of strict congealment and solemnity. If Summer has changes of scorching burning, Autumn will have retaliation of hail and frost-snow. The disaster is in the West, the organ is Lung. Internally, it resides in the chest, hypochondrium, shoulders, and back; externally, it affects the skin and hair. Due to deficient Metal, people suffer from shoulder/back heaviness, nasal congestion, sneezing, bloody diarrhea. Gathering qi is delayed; retaliation brings sudden cold rain, hail, frost, and snow killing plants. Yin jue and gridlock occur, Yang counter-rises, causing pain in the head and vertex, fever, mouth ulcers, and in severe cases, heart pain.

First Qi: From Hai hour of Da Han day in Jiawu year to You hour of Chun Fen day in this year, 60 days and 87.5 ke. Main position is Taijiao Wood, Guest qi is Jueyin Wood, central sees Metal movement. Wood occupies its position, earthly qi shifts, cold departs, spring qi is correct, wind arrives, life spreads, things flourish. People's qi is smooth and comfortable. Wind and Damp contend, rain is delayed. People suffer from blood overflow, tendon network stiffness, joint disadvantage, body heaviness, and tendon flaccidity. It is suitable to regulate Jueyin guest qi: tonify with Acrid, drain with Sour, soothe with Sweet. Annual grain should be black, inter-grain should be rice. Although wind exists, it cannot become evil.

Second Qi: From You hour of Chun Fen day to Wei hour of Xiao Man day, 60+ days. Main position is Shaozheng Fire, Guest qi is Shaoyin Fire, central sees Metal movement. Two Fires occupy positions and overcome Metal movement. Great Fire is correct, things receive transformation, people are harmonious. Epidemic febrile diseases prevail widely. Dampness and steaming contend, rain falls timely. Suitable to regulate Shaoyin guest qi: tonify with Salty, drain with Sweet, collect with Sour. Annual grain should be black, inter-grain should be beans. Although heat transformation exists, it cannot become evil.

Third Qi: From Shen hour of Xiao Man day to Wu hour of Da Shu day, 60+ days. Main position is Shaozheng Fire, Guest qi is Taiyin Earth, central sees Metal movement. Fire generates Earth, heavenly administration spreads, dampness descends, earthly qi rises, rain falls timely, cold follows. Contracting Cold-Damp, people suffer from body heaviness, edema, chest/abdominal fullness. Suitable to treat Taiyin guest qi: tonify with Sweet, drain with Bitter, soothe with Sweet. Annual grain should be black, inter-grain should be sesame. Although damp evil exists, it cannot harm.

Fourth Qi: From Wu hour of Da Shu day to Chen hour of Qiu Fen day, 60+ days. Main position is Taigong Earth, Guest qi is Shaoyang Fire, central sees Metal movement. Fire overcomes Metal, Feared Fire arrives, humid steaming transforms, earthly qi rises, heavenly qi is blocked, cold wind blows morning and evening, steaming heat contends, grass/trees condense smoke, dampness does not flow, thus white dew spreads yin to complete autumn command. People suffer from pore heat, sudden blood overflow, malaria, heart/abdominal fullness, hot distension, severe cases edema. Suitable to treat Shaoyang guest qi: tonify with Salty, drain with Sweet... Annual grain should be black, inter-grain should be beans. Although fire evil exists, it cannot harm.

Fifth Qi: From Si hour of Qiu Fen day to Mao hour of Xiao Xue day, 60+ days. Main position is Shaoshang Metal, Guest qi is Yangming Metal, central sees Metal movement. Qi matches movement, occupying its position. Severe command acts, cold dew descends, frost falls early, grass/trees yellow/fall, cold reaches body, gentlemen are careful, people suffer from skin/pore issues. Suitable to regulate Yangming guest qi: tonify with Sour, drain with Acrid, drain with Bitter. Annual grain should be black, inter-grain should be millet. Although dryness transformation exists, it cannot become evil. This qi, administrative qi is Cool, use Cool without offending.

Final Qi: From Mao hour of Xiao Xue day to Chou hour of Da Han day, 60+ days. Main position is Taiyu Water, Guest qi is Taiyang Water, central sees Metal movement. Metal generates Water, cold rises greatly, dampness transforms greatly, frost accumulates, Yin condenses, water freezes hard, sunlight fails. Contracting cold causes joint rigidity and lower back pain. Cold-Damp persists in qi intersection causing disease. Suitable to regulate Taiyang guest qi: tonify with Bitter, drain with Salty, firm with Bitter, moisten with Acrid. Annual grain should be black, inter-grain should be broomcorn millet. Although cold transformation exists, it cannot become evil.

At the intersection of year qi, if Dampness wins, Jueyin retaliates; if Cold wins, Taiyin retaliates. Observe the arrival of qi and apply treatment: Dry the Damp, Warm the Cold, Clear the Warm. Then qi becomes balanced. This is the general principle of treatment.