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Figure of the Renchen Year's Qi and Yun

Taiyang Cold Water governs the Heaven (Si Tian), Taiyin Damp Earth resides in the Earth (Zai Quan), and the middle interaction is Taijiao Wood Movement. The year's Wood movement is excessive, causing the Qi transformation to operate ahead of time (climate arrives early). Cold transformation is above; the Azure Wind Qi occupies the left interstitial position, and the White Clear Qi occupies the right interstitial position. Therefore, the celestial administration distributes a肃 (solemn/chilling) Qi. Sweet transformation is below; the Bright Fire Qi occupies the left interstitial position, and the Scorching Qi occupies the right interstitial position. Thus, the terrestrial Qi is tranquil, and its commands are slow. Cold descends upon the Great Void, its administration is grand, Yang Qi does not exert its command, marshes lack the solar flame vaporization, so Fire Faeces wait for the appropriate time. Shaoyang (Ministerial Fire) governs the middle, seasonal rains reach their limit, rain stops at the extreme and scatters, returning to Taiyin. Clouds gather towards the North Pole, Damp Transformation begins to spread, nourishing all things. Cold transformation number is six, Wind transformation number is eight, Rain transformation number is five; these are the degrees of correct transformation. Scaled creatures remain quiet, feathered creatures breed, which is suitable for the year's produce. Scaled creatures do not mature, Dryness Toxicity does not arise, as Terrestrial Qi controls it. Cold spreads above, thunder moves below; Cold-Damp Qi holds sway at the Qi intersection. People suffer from Cold-Damp diseases, presenting with muscle atrophy, foot flaccidity and inability to hold weight, damp diarrhea, and blood extravasation. In this year, Water is Heavenly Qi, Earth is Terrestrial Qi. Earth overcomes Water, making Heavenly Qi deficient. One should nourish the Source of Transformation to assist Heavenly Water. The annual movement is Wood; Heavenly Qi generates the movement, Wood can control Earth, causing Terrestrial Qi to become depressed, so the pathogenic factor becomes slight. One must break the depressed Earth, suppress the moving Wood, support what cannot overcome (the controlled element), and prevent excessiveness that generates disease. Eat black-colored grains to preserve true Qi, avoid empty pathogenic factors to stabilize upright Qi. The movement differs from Cold-Damp, so one should use Drying-Damp methods. The transformation above uses Bitter-Warm, the middle uses Sour-Harmonizing, and the bottom uses Sweet-Warm; this is suitable for medicines and food.

Before the midpoint of the year, Taiyang governs. If Cold Yin prevails, Cold Qi returns contrary to season, water freezes, blood changes in the interior, manifesting as carbuncles and sores. People suffer from Jue Heart Pain, hematemesis, bloody stool, rhinorrhea and epistaxis, frequent sadness, and occasional dizziness and collapse. If the movement fire burns fiercely, violent rain brings hail. Symptoms include chest and abdominal fullness, heat in hands, spasm of elbows, swelling of axillae, palpitations (Dan Dan Da Dong), discomfort in chest, hypochondrium, and epigastrium, red face, yellow eyes, frequent belching, dry throat, severe cases show dark complexion, thirst with desire to drink. The root of the disease is in the Heart. Diagnosis is via the Shenmen pulse on the hand. Treatment method: Level with Pungent-Hot, assist with Sweet-Bitter, drain with Salty.

After the midpoint of the year, Taiyin governs. If Dampness invades internally, dust obscures valleys, Yellow appears Black. At the junction of Extreme Yin, people suffer from fluid accumulation and heart pain, deafness, heavy-headedness (Hun Hun), swollen throat and bi-syndrome. Yin diseases present with blood, lower abdominal pain and swelling, inability to urinate, rebellious Qi attacking the head causing pain, eyes feeling like they will fall out, neck feeling like it will be pulled, waist feeling like it will break, thighs unable to turn, knees/shins bound like knots, popliteal fossa feeling like being torn apart. Treatment method: Treat with Bitter-Hot, assist with Sour-Light, dry with Bitter, drain with Light.

At the Qi intersection, Wood movement is excessive, belonging to the Ji of Generation (Fa Sheng Zhi Ji), called Qi Chi. Earth Qi excretes, Azure Qi reaches, Yang warmth spreads, Yin Qi follows, generating Qi is pure and transformative, all things flourish. Its transformation is generation, its Qi is beautiful, its administration is dispersing, its command is smooth and comfortable. Its movement causes tremors, dizziness, and vertex diseases. Its virtue is rustling, rotting, opening, and splitting. Its change is shaking, tearing, destroying, and uprooting. Its transformation combines with what it overcomes. Its disease is anger. Thus, it is said that when Wood movement is excessive, Wind Qi circulates, Spleen Earth suffers evil. People suffer from undigested food diarrhea, reduced appetite, body heaviness, vexation and grievance, borborygmus, and abdominal distension. Severe cases involve sudden irritability, dizziness and vertex disease, contralateral hypochondriac pain, and severe vomiting. If Chongyang pulse is absent, it is untreatable. Treatment method: Harmonize with Sour.

First Qi period: From Yin hour of the day of Great Cold in Xinmao year to Zi hour of 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. Annual Wood is in position, Ministerial Fire resides there. Terrestrial Qi migrates, climate becomes very warm, grass blooms early, people suffer epidemics, warm diseases arise, symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, skin and interstices sores. Treat Guest Shaoyang: Tonify with Salty, Drain with Sweet, [text missing] with Salty. Annual grain should be black, interstitial grain should be beans. Although Fire Pathogen exists, it cannot cause harm.

Second Qi period: From Zi hour of Spring Equinox to Xu hour of Grain Full, totaling 60+ days. Main position is Shaozheng Fire, Guest Qi is Yangming Metal, middle sees Wood movement. Metal overcomes Wood, great coolness returns contrary, people feel miserable, grass encounters cold, Fire Qi is suppressed. People suffer from Qi stagnation and middle fullness, Cold begins. Treat Guest Yangming: Tonify with Sour, Drain with Pungent, Drain with Bitter. Annual grain should be black, interstitial grain should be millet (Shu). Although Dryness Pathogen exists, it cannot cause harm.

Third Qi period: From Hai hour of Grain Full to You hour of Great Heat, totaling 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, abscesses and dysentery, heart heat and confusion. Untreated leads to death. Treat Guest Taiyang: Tonify with Bitter, Drain with Salty, Firm with Bitter, Moisten with Pungent. Annual grain should be black, interstitial grain should be broomcorn millet (Ji). Although Cold Pathogen exists, it cannot cause harm.

Fourth Qi period: From You hour of Great Heat to Wei hour of Autumn Equinox, totaling 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 and foot flaccidity, dysentery with red and white discharge. Treat Guest Jueyin: Tonify with Pungent, Drain with Sour, Relax with Sweet. Annual grain should be [missing], interstitial grain should be rice. Although Wind Pathogen 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 Shen hour of Autumn Equinox to Wu hour of Minor Snow, totaling 60+ days. Main position is Shaoshang Metal, Guest Qi is Shaoyin Fire, middle sees Wood movement. Wood generates Fire, Fire overcomes Metal, Yang recovers and transforms. Grass grows, transforms, and matures, people feel comfortable. Regulate Guest Shaoyin: Tonify with Salty, Drain with Sweet, Astringe with Sour. Annual grain should be [missing], interstitial grain should be beans. Although Heat Pathogen exists, it cannot cause harm.

Final Qi period: From Wu hour of Minor Snow to Chen hour of Great Cold, totaling 60+ days. Main position is Taiyu Water, Guest Qi is Taiyin Earth, middle sees Wood movement. Terrestrial Qi is correct, Damp command acts. Yin condenses in the Great Void, dust obscures suburbs. People feel miserable, cold wind arrives. Those who reverse die in gestation. Wood movement controls it, Earth Qi becomes depressed. Treat Guest Taiyin: Tonify with Sweet, Drain with Bitter, Relax with Sweet. Annual grain should be [missing], interstitial grain should be hemp. Although Damp Pathogen exists, it cannot cause harm. This is the transformation of the Six Qi.

At the junction of annual Qi, if Heavenly Qi prevails, there is Taiyin Rebound; if Terrestrial Qi prevails, there is Jueyin Rebound. Treatment should follow the method of Prevailing and Rebounding.