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[Chart of the Gengxu Year]

Taiyang Cold Water governs the Heaven (Si Tian), Taiyin Damp Earth governs the Earth (Zai Quan), and the middle movement is Taishang Metal Movement. The Metal Qi of the year is excessive, causing the transformational qi to operate ahead of time (Xian Tian). The qi of Heaven and Earth: Cold transformation is above, with Left Dynamic Transformation and Right Su Transformation; thus, the Qi distributed by Heavenly Governance is austere. Sweet transformation is below, with Left Ming Transformation and Right Zhuo Transformation; thus, the Earth's Qi is tranquil and its orders are slow. Cold descends upon the Great Void, Yang Qi does not exert its command, Cold governance rises largely, marshes lack solar flame, so Fire Qi erupts awaiting its time. Shaoyang Ministerial Fire governs in the middle, seasonal rains cease, rain disperses to its extreme, returning to Taiyin. Clouds face the North Pole, Dampness transformation spreads, nourishing all things. Cold spreads above, thunder moves below, Earth and Water virtues combine, corresponding above to Chenxing (Mercury) and Zhensing (Saturn). The grains are black. This is the standard degree of the year's Qi transformation. Insects breed, which is suitable for the year's produce. Scale insects diminish, dryness toxicity does not arise, as Earth Qi controls it. Cold-Damp Qi holds at the Qi intersection. People suffer from Cold-Damp diseases, presenting with muscle atrophy, foot flaccidity and inability to hold, loose diarrhea, and blood extravasation. In this year, Water is Heavenly Qi, Earth is Earthly Qi, and the middle reveals Metal Movement. Earth can overcome Water; Heavenly Transformation becomes deficient, governed by Metal Movement. Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water. Generation from below to above results in impure transformation. Although Heavenly Transformation is deficient, Qi movements generate each other, so pathogenic factors are slight. It is advisable in the ninth month to first nourish the source of transformation to assist the deficiency of Heavenly Qi, suppress the excessive Metal Movement, support Wood Qi, and prevent excessiveness that causes disease. Eat black grains to preserve true Qi, avoid empty pathogenic Qi to stabilize upright Qi. For the year's Qi, it is suitable to regulate the upper part with Bitter-Hot herbs, the lower part with Sweet-Hot herbs, and the middle part with Pungent-Warm herbs. Since the movement aligns with Cold-Damp, resolve it with Dry-Hot methods; this is the constant method of treatment.

If excessive winning Qi occurs: Before the midpoint of the year, Heavenly Qi is governed by Taiyang. If Cold wins excessively, Cold Qi returns, water freezes, blood changes in the interior, manifesting as carbuncles and ulcers. People suffer from Jue Heartache, hematemesis, bloody stool, epistaxis, frequent sadness, and occasional dizziness and collapse. At this time, the movement's Fire burns fiercely, violent rain turns to hail. Chest and abdomen feel full, hands are hot, elbows are spasmodic, axillae swell, the heart palpitates violently, chest, hypochondrium, and epigastrium are uncomfortable, face is red, eyes are yellow, belching is frequent, throat is dry. Severe cases present with dark complexion, thirst, and desire to drink. The root of the disease is in the Heart. Diagnosis is made at the pulse of Shenmen (HT7) on the hand. The treatment should be balanced with Pungent-Hot, assisted by Sweet-Bitter, and drained with Salty.

After the midpoint of the year, Earthly Qi is governed by Taiyin. If Dampness wins excessively internally, dust dims, valleys are obscure, yellow appears black at the junction of Extreme Yin. People suffer from fluid accumulation, heartache, deafness, pharyngeal swelling, bi-syndrome of the throat, Yin diseases with blood manifestation, lower abdominal pain and swelling, inability to urinate, headache from rebellious Qi, pain in eyes, neck, waist, and thighs. The treatment should use Bitter-Hot, assisted by Sour-Light, drying with Bitter, and draining with Light.

The transformation of the annual movement: Metal is excessive, recorded as Firm Completion, called Gathering and Pulling. Heavenly Qi is clean, Earthly Qi is bright, Yang Qi follows, Yin governs transformation, Dryness executes its administration, objects mature under its control. Gathering Qi spreads profusely, transformation does not complete. Its completion forms, its Qi is weakened, its administration is austere, its order is sharp and cutting. Its virtue is mist and dew, austere. Its movement is sudden fracture and ulceration/infectious disease. Its disease is wheezing, chest oppression, and仰息 (breathing with difficulty lying flat). Its objects possess the nature of what it overcomes. Thus, the Classic says: When Metal of the year is excessive, Dryness Qi prevails, Liver Wood suffers evil. People suffer from pain in the lower lateral costal region and hypogastrium, red painful eyes, ulcers, hearing loss. If Austere-Killing Qi is severe, weightiness and vexation occur, chest pain radiating to the back, fullness and pain in both hypochondria radiating to the lower abdomen. Severe cases involve wheezing, coughing, and rebellious Qi, shoulder and back pain, extending down to thighs, knees, hips, and feet. Gathering Qi is harsh, Generating Qi descends, grass and trees gather, green color withers and falls. Hypochondriac sudden pain, inability to turn side to side, severe coughing with blood extravasation. Diagnosis is made at the pulse of Taichong (LR3) on the foot. Treatment entirely uses Pungent-Warm to regulate the middle.

First Qi Period: From Shen hour on the day of Da Han (Major Cold) of the Jiyou year to Wu hour on the day of Chun Fen (Spring Equinox) of this year, totaling 60 days and 87.5 ke. Main Position is Shaojiao Wood, Guest Qi is Shaoyang Fire, middle reveals Metal Movement. Guest Qi overcomes Movement, Earthly Qi shifts, Qi becomes greatly warm, grass blooms early, people suffer epidemics, warm diseases arise. Body heat, headache, vomiting, skin and interstices sores. Suitable to treat the Guest Qi of Shaoyang, tonify with Salty, drain with Sweet, soften with Salty [Note: Text implies softening or similar action]. Year grain should be black, interim grain should be beans. Even if Fire Evil exists, it cannot cause harm.

Second Qi Period: From Wu zheng (noon) on Chun Fen to Chen zheng (7-9 AM) on Xiao Man (Grain Buds), totaling over 60 days. Main Position is Taizheng Fire, Guest Qi is Yangming Metal, middle reveals Metal Movement. Qi and Movement are same, great Coolness returns, people are miserable, grass meets cold, Fire Qi is suppressed. People suffer from Qi stagnation and epigastric fullness, Cold begins. Suitable to treat the Guest Qi of Yangming, tonify with Sour, drain with Pungent, drain with Bitter. Year grain should be black, interim grain should millet. Even if Dryness Evil exists, it cannot cause harm. Do not violate the Coolness of the governing Qi during this period.

Third Qi Period: From Si chu (9-11 AM) on Xiao Man to Mao chu (5-7 AM) on Da Shu (Great Heat), totaling over 60 days. Main Position is Taizheng Fire, Guest Qi is Taiyang Water, middle reveals Metal Movement. Water overcomes Fire, Heavenly Governance spreads, Cold acts, Rain descends. People suffer from Cold turning into internal Heat, carbuncles and ulcers, dysentery, heart heat and confusion. Suitable to treat the Guest Qi of Taiyang, tonify with Bitter, drain with Salty, firm with Bitter, moisten with Pungent. Year grain should be black, interim grain should jiji (millet). Even if Cold Evil exists, it cannot cause harm.

Fourth Qi Period: From Mao zheng (5-7 AM) on Da Shu to Chou zheng (1-3 AM) on Qiu Fen (Autumn Equinox), totaling over 60 days. Main Position is Shaogong Earth, Guest Qi is Jueyin Wood, middle reveals Metal Movement. Wood overcomes Earth, Metal counter-controls. Also encountering Taiyin exchange, Wind and Damp contend, Wind transforms into Rain, leading to growth, transformation, and completion. People suffer from great heat and shortness of breath, muscle atrophy, foot flaccidity, dysentery with red and white discharge. Suitable to treat the Guest Qi of Jueyin, tonify with Pungent, drain with Sour, moderate with Sweet. Year grain should be [White - inferred from context of Metal], interim grain should be rice. Even if Wind Evil exists, it cannot cause harm.

Fifth Qi Period: From Yin chu (3-5 AM) on Qiu Fen to Zi chu (11 PM-1 AM) on Xiao Xue (Minor Snow), totaling over 60 days. Main Position is Taishang Metal, Guest Qi is Shaoyin Fire, middle reveals Metal Movement. Annual Movement is in position, Guest Qi overcomes it, Yang recovers and transforms, grass grows, transforms, and completes, people feel comfortable. Suitable to regulate the Guest Qi of Shaoyin, tonify with Salty, drain with Sweet, astringe with Sour. Year grain should be [White - inferred], interim grain should be beans. Even if Heat transformation exists, it cannot become pathogenic.

Final Qi Period: From Zi zheng (11 PM-1 AM) on Xiao Xue to Xu zheng (7-9 PM) on Da Han, totaling over 60 days. Main Position is Shaoyu Water, Guest Qi is Taiyin Earth, middle reveals Metal Movement. Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, transformation is smooth, Earthly Qi is correct, Damp Order acts, Yin condenses in the Great Void, dust dims suburbs, people are miserable, Cold Wind arrives. Those who reverse result in death of gestation. Suitable to treat the Guest Qi of Taiyin, tonify with Sweet, drain with Bitter, moderate with Sweet. Year grain should be [Black - inferred], interim grain should be hemp. Even if Damp Evil exists, it cannot cause harm. This is the transformation of the Six Qi.

In this year, if Heavenly Qi wins, Taiyin compensates; if Earthly Qi wins, Jueyin compensates. Their treatment follows the method of Compensatory Qi: Dry those who are Damp, Clear those who are Warm. Do not assist their Winning Qi, do not aid their Compensatory Qi. This is the Way.