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Diagram of the Year Wuxu (Earth Dog)

Taiyang Cold Water governs the Heaven (Si Tian), Taiyin Damp Earth governs the Earth (Zai Quan), and the Central Movement is Tai Zheng Fire. The year's Fire is excessive, so its Qi transformation operates ahead of time (climate arrives early). Cold transforms above; on the left, it moves and transforms; on the right, it clears and transforms. Thus, the Heavenly Government distributes a肃 (solemn/chilling) Qi. Sweetness transforms below; on the left, it turns red (Dan); on the right, it burns (Zhuo). Thus, the Earthly Qi is tranquil, and its commands are slow. Cold descends upon the Great Void, its administration is grand, Yang Qi does not command, marshes lack solar flame, so Fire erupts awaiting its time. Shaoyang (Ministerial Fire) governs in the middle, seasonal rains cease. When rain stops to the extreme, it dissipates and returns to Taiyin. Clouds gather at the North Pole, Dampness begins to spread, nourishing all things. Cold spreads above, thunder moves below. Cold transformation is 1, Heat transformation is 7, Dampness transformation is 5. This is called the Day of Proper Transformation. Scale-dwelling creatures are quiet, feathered creatures breed. This is what suits the year's matters. Scale-dwellers do not mature, Dryness toxins do not arise. All these are constrained by Earthly Qi. Cold and Damp Qi hold at the Qi intersection. Water and Earth combine their virtue, corresponding above to Chen Xing (Mercury) and Zhen Xing (Saturn). People suffer from Cold-Damp diseases, manifesting as muscle atrophy, foot weakness and inability to grasp, damp diarrhea, and blood extravasation. Since Water is Heavenly Qi and Earth is Earthly Qi, if Earth overcomes Water, Heavenly Qi becomes deficient. One must first support the source of transformation to assist Water's transformation, suppress the excessive Luck (Yun), support what cannot overcome, and prevent violent excess from causing disease. Eat black (Xuan) grains to preserve true Qi, avoid empty evil Qi to stabilize upright Qi. The year favors Bitter flavors to dry and Warm flavors to warm. Adjust according to the similarity and difference of Qi, and the quantity. The movement differs from Cold and Damp, favoring drying and damp-resolving methods. Upper transformation favors Bitter-Warm, Middle favors Sweet-Harmonizing, Lower favors Sweet-Warm. This is the suitability of medicine and food.

Before mid-year, Heavenly Qi governs, transforming as Taiyang Cold Water. If Cold invades excessively, Cold Qi reverses and arrives, water freezes, blood changes within, manifesting as carbuncles and ulcers. People suffer from Jue Heart Pain, vomiting blood, bloody stool, rhinorrhea, epistaxis, frequent sadness, and occasional dizziness and collapse. The Fire movement is blazing, violent rain brings hail. Chest and abdomen feel full, hands and feet are hot with spasms, axillary swelling, heart palpitations (dandan dadong), chest, hypochondrium, and epigastrium are uneasy, face is red, eyes yellow, frequent belching, throat dry. In severe cases, complexion is dark/black, thirst with desire to drink. The root of the disease is in the Heart. Diagnose via the pulse at Shenmen (HT7) on the hand. The method is to level with Pungent-Hot, assist with Sweet-Bitter, and drain with Salty.

After mid-year, Earthly Qi governs, transforming as Taiyin Damp Earth. If Dampness invades internally, dust obscures, valleys are dim, Yellow appears Black, at the junction of Extreme Yin. People suffer from fluid accumulation, heart pain, deafness, heavy-headedness, swollen throat, and sore throat obstruction. Yin diseases manifest with bleeding, lower abdominal pain and swelling, inability to urinate, rushing headache, eyes feeling like they will fall out, neck feeling like being pulled, waist feeling like breaking, thighs unable to turn, popliteal fossa feeling knotted, calves feeling separated. The treatment uses Bitter-Hot, assisted by Sour-Light, using Bitter to dry, and Light/Dan to drain.

The year's Fire movement is recorded as Hexi (Brilliant/Blazing), called Fanmao (Lush Growth). Yin Qi transforms internally, Yang Qi flourishes externally. Scorching heat implements transformation, allowing things to prosper. Its transformation is growth, its Qi is high, its administration is moving, its command is resonant. Its movement is scorching fire disturbing recklessly, its virtue is warm summer heat stifling, its change is blazing fire boiling. Its transformation combines with what it overcomes. Diseases include laughter, malaria, sores/ulcers, blood flow, madness, red eyes. Above, Taiyang (Water) appears; Water suppresses the Fire movement. This is called Shang Yu (Upper Feather/Water) and Zheng Zheng (Proper Fire) being the same. The harvest is uniform. The disease is [missing text], treatment should use Sweet to harmonize.

First Qi: From Da Han (Great Cold) day of Ding You year, Shen hour, to Chun Fen (Spring Equinox) day of this year, Wu hour. Total 60 days and 87.5 ke. Main Position is Shao Jiao Wood, Guest Qi is Shaoyang Fire, Central sees Fire movement. Qi and movement are the same. Earthly Qi migrates, climate becomes very warm, grass blooms early. People suffer epidemics, warm diseases arise. Body fever, headache, vomiting, skin/collateral sores. Regulate the Shaoyang guest with Salty to tonify, Sweet to drain, Salty to [text missing]. Year grain should be black, inter-grain beans, so Fire does not become evil. Do not violate the heat of the governing Qi.

Second Qi: From Chun Fen day, Wu zheng, to Xiao Man (Grain Full) day, Chen zheng. Total 60+ days. Main Position is Tai Zheng Fire, Guest Qi is Yangming Metal, Central sees Fire movement. Year movement is in position, Yangming guest attacks. Dry-Heat meet, great Coolness reverses. People feel miserable, grass encounters cold, Fire Qi is suppressed. People suffer from Qi stagnation and fullness, Cold begins. Regulate the Yangming guest with Sour to tonify, Pungent to drain, Bitter to vent. Year grain black, inter-grain millet (Shu), so Dryness does not become evil.

Third Qi: From Xiao Man day, Si chu, to Da Shu (Great Heat) day, Mao chu. Total 60+ days. Main Position is Tai Zheng Fire, Guest Qi is Taiyang Water, Central sees Fire movement. Fire is in its position, Heavenly Government distributes, Cold Qi moves. People suffer from Cold turning to Heat inside, carbuncles, dysentery, heart heat and confusion. Untreated leads to death. Treat the Taiyang guest with Bitter to tonify, Salty to drain, Bitter to firm, Pungent to moisten. Year grain black, inter-grain Ji (Millet), so Cold does not become evil.

Fourth Qi: From Da Shu day, Mao zheng, to Qiu Fen (Autumn Equinox) day, Chou zheng. Total 60+ days. Main Position is Shao Gong Earth, Guest Qi is Jueyin Wood, Central sees Fire movement. Wood and Earth punish each other, Wind-Damp compete. Wind transforms into Rain. Things grow, transform, and form. People suffer from great heat, shortness of breath, muscle atrophy, foot weakness, dysentery with red and white discharge. Regulate the Jueyin guest with Pungent to tonify, Sour to drain, Sweet to relax. Year grain [missing], inter-grain rice, so Wind does not become evil.

Fifth Qi: From Qiu Fen day, Yin chu, to Xiao Xue (Minor Snow) day, Zi chu. Total 60+ days. Main Position is Tai Shang Metal, Guest Qi is Shaoyin Fire, Central sees Fire movement. Qi and movement are the same, not governing Qi transformation. Season reaches here, Yang re-transforms. Grass grows, transforms, and forms. People feel comfortable. Regulate the Shaoyin guest with Salty to tonify, Sweet to drain, Sour to collect. Year grain [missing], inter-grain beans, so Heat does not become evil.

Sixth Qi (Final Qi): From Xiao Xue day, Zi zheng, to Da Han day, Xu zheng. Total 60+ days. Main Position is Shao Yu Water, Guest Qi is Taiyin Earth, Central sees Fire movement. Earthly Qi is correct, Damp command acts. Yin condenses in the Great Void, dust obscures suburbs. People feel miserable, cold wind arrives. Those who reverse [the pattern] conceive death. Regulate the Taiyin guest with Sweet to tonify, Bitter to drain, Sweet to relax. Year grain [missing], inter-grain sesame, so Dampness does not become evil. This is the transformation of the Six Qi.

Before mid-year, there are Winning Qi (Sheng Qi); after mid-year, there must be Repaying Qi (Fu Qi). If Water wins, Taiyin repays it. If Earth wins, Jueyin repays it. Treat each according to the method of winning and repaying.