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Chart of the Renwu Year's Qi Dynamics

Shaoyin Junhuo (Ministerial Fire) governs the Si Tian (Heavenly Qi), Yangming Zaojin (Dryness Metal) governs the Zai Quan (Earthly Qi), and the Central Yun is Taijiao Wood Movement. The Wood movement of the year is excessive, causing the Qi transformation to operate ahead of time (climate arriving early). Heat transformation becomes the Qi of Si Tian, Softness transformation becomes the Left Jian Qi, and Cang (Green/Blue) transformation becomes the Qi of Si Tian governing Earth. Therefore, what the Heavenly Administration disseminates is clear and bright; Xin (Pungent) transformation becomes the Earthly Qi, Zang Qi becomes the Left Jian Qi, and Ming (White/Bright) transformation becomes the Right Jian Qi. Thus, the Earthly Qi is肃 (solemn/restrictive) and its command is urgent. Cold and heat intersect, heat adds to dryness, clouds rush to the Rain Mansion, Humidity transformation proceeds, and seasonal rains descend. Metal and Fire combine their virtues, corresponding above to Yinghuo (Mars) and Taibai (Venus). The grains are Dan (Red) and White. Water, Fire, Cold, and Heat maintain balance at the Qi intersection, marking the beginning of disease. Heat diseases arise in the upper part, Clear/Cold diseases arise in the lower part, Cold and Heat invade each other and contend in the middle. The people suffer from cough and asthma, hematemesis, hematochezia, rhinitis, and sneezing, red eyes, skin sores and ulcers, Cold Jue entering the stomach, heart pain, waist pain, abdominal distension, dry throat with swelling extending upward. The degree of transformation is: Heat transformation 2, Wind transformation 8, Clear transformation 4; this is the standard measure. Regarding things: Feathered creatures are quiet, Shelled creatures breed; this is what suits the year's produce. Hairy creatures diminish, Wet toxins do not generate; this is restricted by Earthly Qi. At the intersection of yearly Qi, Fire is in Heaven, Metal is on Earth; Fire overcomes Metal, Heavenly Qi is full, Earthly Qi is deficient. Wood Yun assists Fire, making Heavenly Qi excessively full, and the pathogenic factor is severe. It is advisable to take the source of transformation before the year begins to level the Fire Qi, must suppress the excessive Wood Yun, nourish the conquered element (Earth), and prevent excessive violence from generating disease. Eat Dan and White grains to preserve True Qi; eat grains of the Jian Qi to ward off empty pathogens. For the year, it is suitable to use Salty flavor to treat the upper part; if severe, use Bitter flavor to induce sweating, and Sour flavor to astringe to calm the lower part; if severe, use Bitter flavor to purge. Since Yun matches Heavenly Qi, use Cold/Cool to transform it. Thus, it is said that the transformation in the upper part should be Salty-Cold, the middle part Acid-Cool, and the lower part Acid-Warm; this is appropriate for medicines and foods.

Before the middle of the year, Shaoyin governs. When Heat Yin prevails, stifling heat arrives, and Fire exercises its administration. The people suffer from vexation and heat in the chest, dry throat, fullness in the right hypochondrium, skin pain, aversion to cold and fever, cough and asthma. When heavy rain is about to fall, they experience spitting blood, hematochezia, rhinitis, epistaxis, sneezing, vomiting, and change in urine color. In severe cases, sores and swellings appear, pain in the shoulder, back, arm, and supraclavicular fossa, heart pain, Lung distension, and abdominal fullness and bloating with cough and asthma. The root of the disease lies in the Lung. Diagnosis is via the Chi Ze pulse on the hand. The treatment method should be balanced with Salty-Cold, assisted by Bitter-Sweet, and astringed with Sour.

After the middle of the year, Yangming governs. Dryness Yin within causes mist, clarity, and dimness. The people like to vomit, vomiting bitter fluid, sigh frequently, have heart and hypochondriac pain preventing turning over. In severe cases, dry throat, dusty face, lack of luster on the body, and reverse heat on the outer sole of the foot. The treatment method should be governed by Bitter-Warm, assisted by Sweet-Pungent, and purged with Bitter.

The transformation of the yearly Yun is Wood Excess. The record is called "Fa Sheng" (Initiating Growth), which means opening up old stagnation. Earth (Spleen) becomes loose and draining, Cang (Wood/Qing) Qi reaches out, Yang Qi spreads warmth and transformation, Yin Qi follows. The Generating Qi is pure and transformative, and all things flourish. Its transformation is birth, its Qi is beautiful, its administration is scattered, its command is orderly and comfortable. Its movement causes tremors, dizziness, and head diseases. Its virtue causes sounds, withering, opening, and splitting. Its changes cause shaking, pulling, and uprooting. Its disease is anger. Its transformation combines with what it conquers. Thus, it is said that when Yearly Wood is excessive, Wind Qi spreads, and Spleen Earth suffers evil. The people suffer from undigested diarrhea, reduced appetite, weight loss, mental oppression, borborygmus, and abdominal fullness. In severe cases, they become irritable, dizzy, and suffer from head diseases. Transformation Qi does not exercise authority, Generating Qi rules alone. Clouds and objects fly and move, grass and trees are not peaceful, even shaking and falling. Instead, there is hypochondriac pain and severe vomiting. Diagnosis is at the Chong Yang pulse on the foot. Treatment should use Acid-Cool.

First Qi period: From Shen hour on the day of Great Cold in the Xin Si year to 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 Central Yun is Wood. The Yearly Yun is in position, Cold Water resides there. Earthly Qi migrates, Dryness is about to leave, Cold begins. Hibernating creatures hide again, water freezes, frost descends again, wind arrives. Yang Qi is depressed, and the people feel closed and tight. Joints are stiff and fixed, waist pain occurs. As hot summer approaches, sores and ulcers appear inside and outside. It is suitable to treat the Guest of Taiyang: tonify with Bitter, drain with Salty, firm with Bitter, moisten with Pungent. Year grain should be Dan, inter-grain should be Ji (Millet). Even if there is Cold pathogen, it cannot cause harm.

Second Qi period: From Wu hour on the day of Spring Equinox to Chen hour on the day of Grain Full, totaling slightly more than 60 days. The Main Position is Shaozheng Fire, the Guest Qi is Jueyin Wood, and the Central Yun is Wood. Qi and Yun are the same. Yang Qi spreads, Wind moves. Spring Qi is correct, all things respond with prosperity. Cold Qi arrives at times, and the people harmonize. Their diseases include strangury, eye closure, and red eyes. Qi stagnates in the upper part and generates heat. It is suitable to treat the Guest of Jueyin: tonify with Pungent, drain with Sour, relax with Sweet. Year grain should be Dan, inter-grain should be Dao (Rice). Even if there is Wind transformation, it cannot become evil.

Third Qi period: From Si hour on the day of Grain Full to Mao hour on the day of Great Heat, totaling slightly more than 60 days. The Main Position is Shaozheng Fire, the Guest Qi is Shaoyin Fire, and the Central Yun is Wood. Fire resides in the Fire position, Wood transformation aids it. Heavenly administration spreads, Great Fire moves. All kinds of life are numerous and fresh. Cold Qi arrives at times. The people suffer from Qi Jue and heart pain, alternating cold and heat, cough and asthma, red eyes. It is suitable to treat the Guest of Shaoyin: tonify with Salty, drain with Sweet, astringe with Sour. Year grain should be Dan, inter-grain should be Dou (Beans). Even if there is Heat pathogen, it cannot cause harm.

Fourth Qi period: From Mao hour on the day of Great Heat to Chou hour on the day of Autumn Equinox, totaling slightly more than 60 days. The Main Position is Taigong Earth, the Guest Qi is Taiyin Earth, and the Central Yun is Wood. Earth resides in its position. Muggy heat arrives, heavy rain flows frequently. Cold and heat alternate. The people suffer from cold and heat, dry throat, jaundice, rhinitis, epistaxis, and fluid retention leading to edema. It is suitable to treat the Guest of Taiyin: tonify with Sweet, drain with Bitter, relax with Sweet. Year grain should be White, inter-grain should be Ma (Sesame). Even if there is Humidity transformation, it cannot become evil.

Fifth Qi period: From Yin hour on the day of Autumn Equinox to Zi hour on the day of Minor Snow, totaling slightly more than 60 days. The Main Position is Shaoshang Metal, the Guest Qi is Shaoyang Fire, and the Central Yun is Wood. Wood generates Fire. Feared Fire arrives, summer heat returns. Yang transforms, all things grow and flourish. The people are healthy. Their disease is Warmth. It is suitable to treat the Guest of Shaoyang: tonify with Salty, drain with Sweet, [text missing] with Salty. Year grain should be White, inter-grain should be Dou (Beans). Even if there is Fire pathogen, it cannot cause harm.

Final Qi period: From Zi hour on the day of Minor Snow to Xu hour on the day of Great Cold, totaling slightly more than 60 days. The Main Position is Taiyu Water, the Guest Qi is Yangming Metal, and the Central Yun is Wood. Metal overcomes Wood, Dryness command operates. Residual Fire is internally blocked, swelling occurs in the upper part with cough and asthma. In severe cases, blood spurts. Cold Qi rises frequently, causing mist and obscuration. Disease arises in the skin and pores, enters internally to the hypochondrium, connects downward to the lower abdomen causing interior Cold. Earthly Qi is changing. It is suitable to treat the Guest of Yangming: tonify with Sour, drain with Pungent, purge with Bitter. Year grain should be White, inter-grain should be Shu (Millet). Even if there is Dryness pathogen, it cannot cause harm. This is the transformation of the Six Qi.

At the intersection of yearly Qi, if Heat Qi prevails, there must be a Rebound of Taiyang. If Dryness Qi prevails, there must be a Rebound of Shaoyang. Treat them according to the methods of their prevalence and rebound.