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Figure of the Renxu Year's Qi and Fortune

Taiyang Cold Water governs the Heaven (Si Tian), Taiyin Damp Earth governs the Earth (Zai Quan), and the middle movement is Taijiao Wood Movement. The year's Wood is excessive, so its Qi transformation operates ahead of time (climate arrives early). Taiyang governs the Heavenly Qi; its left intercalary Qi is Jueyin Wind Wood, and its right intercalary Qi is Yangming Dryness Metal. Thus, the Qi distributed by the Heavenly Administration is austere and severe. Taiyin governs the Earthly Qi; its left intercalary Qi is Shaoyang Ministerial Fire, and its right intercalary Qi is Shaoyin Sovereign Fire. Thus, the Earthly Qi is tranquil, and its commands are slow. Cold descends upon the Great Void; its administration rises greatly, so Fire erupts awaiting its time. Shaoyang governs in the middle, and seasonal rains reach their limit. Clouds gather at the North Pole, Dampness transformation spreads, and moisture flows to all things. The number for Cold transformation is six, for Wind transformation is eight, and for Rain transformation is five; these are the degrees of normal transformation. Scaled creatures remain quiet, feathered creatures breed; this is the suitability of yearly produce. Scaled creatures do not form, and Dryness toxins do not arise, because Earthly Qi (Damp Earth) controls them. Cold spreads above, thunder moves below; Cold-Damp Qi holds sway at the Qi intersection. People suffer from Cold-Damp diseases manifesting as muscle atrophy, foot weakness and inability to grasp, damp diarrhea, and blood extravasation. In this year, Water is Heavenly Qi, and Earth is Earthly Qi. Earth overcomes Water, so one should nourish the source of transformation to assist Heavenly Qi. Furthermore, encountering a Wood movement year, Wood can control Earth, causing Earthly Qi to stagnate, making its pathogenic factor slight. One must break the stagnant Earth, suppress the moving Wood, support what cannot overcome (the controlled element), and prevent excessive violence that generates disease. Eat black grains to preserve true Qi, avoid empty evil Qi to stabilize upright Qi. The yearly movement differs from Cold and Damp; it is suitable to resolve with drying and dampness-dispelling methods. The transformation above uses Bitter-Warm, the middle uses Sour-Harmonizing, and the bottom uses Sweet-Warm; this is appropriate for medicines and food.

Before the midpoint of the year, Taiyang presides. When Cold invades excessively, Cold Qi arrives, water freezes, and blood changes within, leading to carbuncles and ulcers. People suffer from jue-type heart pain, rhinorrhea (qiu), epistaxis (nu), frequent sadness, and occasional dizziness and fainting. The root of the disease lies in the Heart; diagnosis focuses on the pulse at Shenmen. The method is to level with Pungent-Hot herbs, assist with Sweet-Bitter herbs, and drain with Salty herbs.

After the midpoint of the year, Taiyin presides. When Dampness invades excessively internally, mist and haze darken the rocks and valleys, yellow appears but turns black. At the junction of Extreme Yin, people suffer from fluid accumulation and heart pain, deafness, dizziness and vertigo (hunhun), swollen throat and bi-syndrome, lower abdominal swelling and pain, rebellious Qi causing headache, and pain in the eyes, neck, waist, and thighs. The method is to treat with Bitter-Hot herbs, assist with Sour-Light herbs, dry with Bitter herbs, and drain with Light herbs.

At the Qi intersection, Wood movement is excessive, named "Ji of Generation" (Fa Sheng Zhi Ji), also called "Qi Chen" (opening the array). Earth Qi is dispersed, Azure (Green) Qi reaches, Yang Qi warms and transforms, and Yin Qi follows. Generating Qi is pure and transformative, and all things flourish. Its transformation is generation, its Qi is beautiful, its administration is scattered, and its commands are smooth and comfortable. Its movement causes trembling, dizziness, and head diseases. Its virtue is sounding, withering, opening, and splitting. Its image is Spring, its change is shaking, pulling, destroying, and uprooting. Corresponding grains are hemp and rice, fruits are plums and peaches, livestock are chickens and dogs, insects are hairy and shelled types, objects are hard inside and out, colors are green, yellow, and white, tastes are sour, sweet, and pungent, meridians are Foot Jueyin and Foot Shaoyang, zang-fu are Liver and Spleen. Diseases involve anger. Thus, when yearly Wood is excessive, Wind Qi spreads, and Spleen Earth suffers evil. People suffer from undigested diarrhea (sun xie), reduced appetite, weight gain, vexation, intestinal rumbling, and abdominal fullness. Severe cases involve sudden irritability, dizziness, and head diseases. Diagnosis focuses on the pulse at Chongyang. Treatment uses Sour herbs to harmonize.

First Qi period: From Shen hour on the Day of Great Cold in the Xinyou year to Wu hour on the Day of Spring Equinox in the current year, totaling 60 days and 87.5 ke. Main position is Taijiao Wood, Guest Qi is Shaoyang Fire, middle sees Wood movement. Yearly Wood is in position, Ministerial Fire resides there. Earthly Qi migrates, climate becomes very warm, grass and trees bloom early, people suffer epidemics, and warm diseases arise with body heat, headache, vomiting, and skin/cicatrix sores. Treat Guest Shaoyang with Salty tonification, Sweet draining, and Salty softening. Yearly grain should be black, intercalary grain should be beans. Although Fire evil exists, 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 over 60 days. Main position is Shaozheng Fire, Guest Qi is Yangming Metal, middle sees Wood movement. Metal overcomes Wood, great coolness arrives, grass meets cold, Fire Qi is suppressed. People suffer from Qi stagnation and central fullness, cold begins. Treat Guest Yangming with Sour tonification, Pungent draining, and Bitter draining. Yearly grain should be black, intercalary grain should be broomcorn millet. Although Dryness evil exists, it cannot cause harm.

Third Qi period: From Si hour on the Day of Grain Full to Mao hour on the Day of Great Heat, totaling over 60 days. Main position is Shaozheng Fire, Guest Qi is Taiyang Water, middle sees Wood movement. Heavenly administration spreads, Cold Qi moves, rain descends. People suffer from cold turning into internal heat, carbuncles and sores, dysentery, heart heat, and mental cloudiness. Treat Guest Taiyang with Bitter tonification, Salty draining, Bitter firming, and Pungent moistening. Yearly grain should be black, intercalary grain should be foxtail millet. Although Cold evil exists, 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 over 60 days. Main position is Taigong Earth, Guest Qi is Jueyin Wood, middle sees Wood movement. Qi and movement are identical, called Si Qi. Wind and Damp contend, wind transforms into rain, things grow, transform, and mature. People suffer from high fever and shortness of breath, muscle atrophy, foot weakness, and red-and-white dysentery. Treat Guest Jueyin with Pungent tonification, Sour draining, and Sweet relaxing. Yearly grain should be black, intercalary grain should be rice. Although Wind evil exists, it cannot cause harm. For this Qi, use warmth far from warmth, do not violate the warmth of Si Qi.

Fifth Qi period: From Yin hour on the Day of Autumn Equinox to Zi hour on the Day of Minor Snow, totaling over 60 days. Main position is Shaoshang Metal, Guest Qi is Shaoyin Fire, middle sees Wood movement. Wood generates Fire, Fire overcomes Metal, Yang Qi restores transformation, grass and trees grow, transform, and mature, people feel relieved. Regulate Guest Shaoyin with Salty tonification, Sweet draining, and Sour astringency. Yearly grain should be black, intercalary grain should be beans. Although Heat evil exists, 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 over 60 days. Main position is Taiyu Water, Guest Qi is Taiyin Earth, middle sees Wood movement. Earthly Qi is correct, Damp command acts, Yin condenses in the Great Void, Cold Wind arrives. Treat Guest Taiyin with Sweet tonification, Bitter draining, and Sweet relaxing. Yearly grain should be black, intercalary grain should be hemp. Although Damp evil exists, it cannot cause harm. This is the transformation of the Six Qi.

At the junction of yearly Qi, if Heavenly Qi wins, there is a rebound of Taiyin; if Earthly Qi wins, there is a rebound of Jueyin. Treat according to the rebound method: what is Damp, dry it; what is Warm, clear it. Thus, the Qi becomes balanced.