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Figure of the Year Geng-Yin

The Shaoyang Ministerial Fire governs the Si Tian (Heavenly) Qi, the Jueyin Wind-Wood governs the Zai Quan (Earthly) Qi, and the Central Yun (Movement) is Tai Shang Metal Movement. The Metal Movement of the year is excessive; its Qi transformation operates prior to the natural timing (arriving early). Fire transforms into the dominant Heavenly Qi, Su Hua (Dryness Transformation) serves as the Left Intermittent Qi of the Si Tian Qi, and Rou Hua (Wind Transformation) serves as the Right Intermittent Qi. Therefore, the Heavenly Qi is upright and its administration is strict; Suan Hua (Sour Transformation) serves as the dominant Earthly Qi, Zhuo Hua (Scorching/Heat Transformation) serves as the Left Intermittent Qi of the Resident Qi, and Zang Hua (Storage/Cold Transformation) serves as the Right Intermittent Qi. Therefore, the Earthly Qi is disturbed and its orders are chaotic. Thus, fierce winds rise suddenly, trees fall and sand flies; blazing fire flows; Yin Qi moves within Yang Qi and transforms into rain, with rainfall occurring at the appropriate time; wind and heat are distributed together, clouds and phenomena boil and surge; Taiyin Wet Earth Qi flows horizontally, cold arrives on schedule, and cool rains arise together. Fire and Wood share virtue, corresponding above to Yinghuo Star (Mars) and Suixing Star (Jupiter). The corresponding grains are red and green/blue. The number for Fire transformation is seven, for Qing Hua (Clear/Dryness Transformation) is nine, and for Feng Hua (Wind Transformation) is three; these are the degrees of Zheng Hua (Correct Transformation). Feathered creatures are quiet, hairy creatures breed; this is called the suitability of yearly substances. Armored creatures are depleted, clear toxins do not generate; all this is constrained by Earthly Qi. The people suffer from Han Zhong (Cold in the Middle), external development of sores and ulcers, and internal diarrhea and fullness. The sages, encountering this, adopt harmony without contention. When pathogens recur, the people suffer from cold-heat malaria, diarrhea, deafness, blindness/dim vision, vomiting, upper body oppression with swelling and color changes. In this year, Yang represents Heavenly Qi, Yin represents Earthly Qi, and Metal Movement is in the center. Heavenly Qi penalizes the Movement, and the Movement penalizes Earthly Qi. Heavenly Qi is full, Earthly Qi is deficient. One should, before the year begins, first select the Source of Transformation to calm the Fire Qi, preventing the Movement from becoming depressed; next, suppress the excessive Metal Movement, assist what it cannot overcome (Fire), preventing Wood Qi from becoming depressed; break the stagnant Qi, then violent diseases will not arise, and harsh ailments will not occur. For this year, salty, pungent, and sour flavors are suitable, combined with methods of draining, purging, soaking, and inducing sweating. Since the Movement differs from Wind-Heat, Cold Transformations should be used sparingly. Its transformations: Upper part should use Salty-Cold, Middle part Pungent-Warm, Lower part Pungent-Cool; this is suitable for medicines and food.

Observing the Qi: Before the middle of the year, Shaoyang governs. If Fire Qi is excessively victorious, warm Qi circulates, Metal governance is unbalanced, and the people suffer from headache, fever, aversion to cold, and malaria; heat rising causes skin pain, complexion turns yellow-red, the condition transmits to become edema, body and face swell, abdomen is full, breathing requires lying on back, diarrhea with red and white discharge, sores and ulcers, cough with spitting blood, vexation and heat in the chest and heart, and severely, nasal obstruction and epistaxis. The disease root lies in the Lung. Diagnosis is via the pulse at Tianfu (LU3). The method should be to level with Salty-Cold, assist with Bitter-Sweet, gather with Sour, disperse with Bitter, and restore with Sour. After the middle of the year, Jueyin governs. If Wind Qi is excessive internally, Earthly Qi becomes unclear, plains are dim, grass blooms early. The people suffer from shivering chills, frequent stretching and yawning, heartache and limb fullness, tightness in the two hypochondria, inability to swallow food, obstruction in the diaphragm and throat, vomiting after eating, abdominal distension with frequent belching, feeling relieved like recovery after defecation or passing gas, and heaviness of the whole body. The method should be to treat with Pungent-Cool, assist with Bitter, ease with Sweet, and disperse with Pungent.

The yearly movement is Metal Excessive, recorded as "Jian Cheng" (Firm Completion), which is called "Shou Yin" (Gathering and Pulling). Heavenly Qi is clean, Earthly Qi is bright, Yang Qi follows, Yin governs transformation, Dryness Qi exercises its administration, objects mature according to their nature, Gathering Qi spreads profusely, but transformation does not complete. Its completion forms, its Qi is weakened, its administration is solemn, its order is sharp and cutting. Its movement manifests as sudden fractures and infectious sores. Its virtue is misty dew and desolation. Its change is solemn killing and withering. Its transformation combines with what it overcomes (Wood). Its disease is wheezing and drinking, chest reliance and back-breathing. The Upper Manifestation is the same as Zheng Shang. Its generation is uniform, its disease is cough. Thus it is said: When Metal Movement is excessive, Dryness Qi circulates, Liver Wood suffers evil. The people suffer from pain in the lower hypochondria and lower abdomen, red and painful eyes and sores, hearing loss, and severely, wheezing, coughing, and reverse Qi, shoulder and back pain radiating down to the thighs, knees, hips, and feet, all suffering. Treatment should use Pungent-Warm.

First Qi: From Shen hour of Da Han day in Ji-Chou year to Wu hour of Chun Fen day in this year, totaling 60 days and 87.5 ke. Main Position is Shao Jiao Wood, Guest Qi is Shao Yin Fire, Central sees Metal Movement. Fire overcomes Metal, Earthly Qi migrates, Wind wins and shakes, Cold departs, climate becomes greatly warm, grass and trees bloom early, Cold comes but cannot kill the warmth, Warm Diseases arise. Its disease is Qi oppression above, blood overflow, red eyes, coughing and reverse Qi, headache, blood injury with hypochondriac fullness, sores in skin and pores. Treat the Guest of Shao Yin with Salty to tonify, Bitter to drain, Sour to gather. Year grain should be red, intercalary grain should be beans.

Second Qi: From Wu zheng (noon) of Chun Fen day to Chen zheng (morning) of Xiao Man day, totaling over 60 days. Main Position is Tai Zheng Fire, Guest Qi is Taiyin Earth, Central sees Metal Movement. Fire generates Earth, Fire is counter-depressed, white dust rises everywhere, clouds move to rain house, Wind cannot overcome Dampness, Rain falls, people are healthy. Its disease is Heat depression above, coughing and vomiting, sores developing inside, chest and throat obstruction, headache and body heat, drowsiness and pus-sores. Treat the Guest of Taiyin with Sweet to tonify, Bitter to drain, Sweet to ease. Year grain should be red, intercalary grain should be hemp.

Third Qi: From Si chu (early morning) of Xiao Man day to Mao chu (dawn) of Da Shu day, totaling over 60 days. Main Position is Tai Zheng Fire, Guest Qi is Shaoyang Fire, Central sees Metal Movement. Fire occupies its position, Heavenly Administration spreads, hot summer arrives, Shaoyang descends from above, Rain stops. People suffer from Heat in Middle, deafness, blindness, blood overflow, pus-sores, cough, vomiting, nasal obstruction and epistaxis, thirst, sneezing, yawning, throat bi, red eyes, prone to sudden death. Regulate the Guest of Shaoyang with Salty to tonify, Bitter to drain, Salty to firm (Note: Original text has a gap here, interpreted as 'firm' based on standard texts). Year grain should be red, intercalary grain should be beans.

Fourth Qi: From Mao zheng (morning) of Da Shu day to Chou zheng (night) of Qiu Fen day, totaling over 60 days. Main Position is Shao Gong Earth, Guest Qi is Yangming Metal, Central sees Metal Movement. Qi and Movement are the same, this is called Si Qi. Coolness arrives, hot summer alternates and transforms, White Dew falls, People's Qi is peaceful. Its disease is heaviness of the whole body. Treat the Guest of Yangming with Sour to tonify, Pungent to drain, Bitter to drain. Year grain should be green/blue, intercalary grain should be millet. For this Qi, use coolness but avoid excessive coolness, do not violate the coolness of Si Qi.

Fifth Qi: From Yin chu (early night) of Qiu Fen day to Zi chu (midnight) of Xiao Xue day, totaling over 60 days. Main Position is Tai Shang Metal, Guest Qi is Taiyang Water, Central sees Metal Movement. Metal occupies its position and generates Water, Yang departs, Cold arrives, Rain falls, Gate of Qi closes, rigid wood withers early. People avoid cold pathogens, gentlemen are meticulous. Treat the Guest of Taiyang with Bitter to tonify, Salty to drain, Bitter to firm, Pungent to moisten. Year grain should be green/blue, intercalary grain should be broomcorn millet.

Final Qi: From Zi zheng (midnight) of Xiao Xue day to Xu zheng (evening) of Da Han day, totaling over 60 days. Main Position is Shao Yu Water, Guest Qi is Jueyin Wood, Central sees Metal Movement. Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood, Earthly Qi is upright, Wind arrives, All things regenerate, Mist moves. Its disease is closure without control, heart pain, Yang Qi not storing leading to cough. Treat the Guest of Jueyin with Pungent to tonify, Sour to drain, Sweet to ease. Year grain should be green/blue, intercalary grain should be rice.

The transformations of yearly Qi, victory and revenge alternate. One should assist with what is beneficial, harmonize with what is suitable, stabilize the Main and Guest, adapt to cold and warm. What is same, oppose it; what is different, follow it. This is the method.