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Figure of the Jiazi Year's Qi and Fire

Shaoyin Junhuo (Ministerial Fire) governs the Si Tian (Heavenly) Qi, Yangming Zaojin (Dryness Metal) governs the Zai Quan (Earthly) Qi, and the Central Movement is Taigong Earth. The year's Earth is excessive; its qi transformation operates prior to the natural timing. The qi of Heaven and Earth manifests as follows: above, Shaoyin appears; the left interstitial Qi is Taiyin (Damp Earth); the right interstitial Qi is Jueyin (Wind Wood). This is the distribution of Heavenly Governance. Its atmospheric quality is bright. Below, Yangming appears; the left interstitial Qi is Taiyang (Cold Water); the right interstitial Qi is Shaoyang (Ministerial Fire). Thus, the Earthly Qi is solemn and its command is sharp. At the transition of Qi, Cold and Heat alternate. The Qi of Heaven and Earth combines Heat with Dryness. Clouds race in the Rain Mansion, the transformation of Dampness proceeds, and timely rains descend. Metal and Fire combine their virtues, corresponding above to Yinghuo (Mars) and Taibai (Venus). The grains are red and white. Water, Fire, Cold, and Heat hold sway at the intersection of Qi, where diseases begin. Heat diseases arise in the upper part; Clear/Cold diseases arise in the lower part; Cold and Heat contend in the middle. The people suffer from coughing and wheezing, hematemesis and hematochezia, nasal congestion and sneezing, red eyes, and sores. Cold jue invades the stomach, causing heart pain, waist pain, abdominal distension, dry throat, and swelling. This is the normal pattern of annual transformation. One must wait to see if the Qi arrives or not before naming the disease. In this year, Fire is the Heavenly Qi, and Metal is the Earthly Qi. Fire overcomes Metal, so Heavenly Qi is full while Earthly Qi is deficient. However, the Central Movement is Earth. Heavenly Qi generates the Movement, and the Movement generates Earthly Qi. The three Qi are harmonious. Although Earthly Qi is deficient, the pathogenic victory is slight. Since Heavenly Qi is full, the source of transformation is substantial. One should select the source of transformation at the beginning of Da Han (Great Cold) before the new year, to make it balanced. "Selecting the source of transformation" means balancing Fire Qi. It is advisable to eat red and white grains to preserve True Qi, and to eat grains corresponding to the interstitial Qi to ward off empty pathogens. Use salty flavors to soften and regulate the upper part; for severe cases, use bitter flavors to disperse. Use sour flavors to astringe and stabilize the lower part; for severe cases, use bitter flavors to drain. The Movement corresponds to Earthly Qi and should be transformed with warm and hot methods. Before the midpoint of the year, Shaoyin governs. Shaoyin's transformation is fundamentally Hot but marked by Yin. At this time, the fundamental and marked transformations should be half cold and half hot, without excess. This is the balance of Heavenly patterns. If Heat is excessively victorious, stifling heat arrives, and Fire exercises its administration. The people suffer from vexation and heat in the chest, dry throat, fullness on the right side, skin pain, aversion to cold and fever, coughing, and wheezing. Heavy rain is imminent. There is blood in saliva, diarrhea with blood, nasal congestion and epistaxis, sneezing, vomiting, and changes in urine color. Severely, there are sores and swellings, pain in the shoulders, back, arms, and clavicular fossa, heart pain, lung pain, abdominal distension with bloating, coughing, and wheezing. The disease originates in the Lung. If the Chize pulse is absent, death is inevitable and untreatable. The method of treatment is to level with salty-cold, assist with bitter-sweet, and astringe with sour. After the midpoint of the year, Yangming governs. Its transformation does not follow the fundamental and marked aspects but follows the central Qi of Taiyin. At this time, Dryness and Dampness act together without excess. This is the transformation of Yangming. If Dryness is excessively victorious, fog, clarity, and dimness occur. The people like to vomit, vomiting bitter fluid, sigh frequently, have pain in the heart and hypochondrium preventing turning over. Severely, there is dry throat, dusty face, lack of luster on the body, and reverse heat on the outer foot. The treatment method uses bitter-warm, assisted by sweet-acrid, and drains with bitter. The Earth Movement is excessive, called the Chronicle of Dunfu (Piled High). Rain and dampness prevail, and Kidney Water is affected. The people suffer from abdominal pain, cold extremities, low spirits, heavy body, and vexation. Severely, muscles atrophy, feet are flaccid and unresponsive, walking is accompanied by spasms, sole pain, fluid retention with middle-fullness, reduced appetite, and inability to move the limbs. If changes occur in proper positions, organ Qi hides its transformation, and Qi acts alone. Springs gush, rivers overflow, dried marshes produce fish, wind and rain arrive heavily, soil collapses, and scaled creatures appear on land. Diseases include abdominal fullness, loose stools, borborygmus with reverse purging. If the Taixi pulse is absent, death is inevitable and untreatable. Treatment is suitable with bitter-hot. This is the suitability of medicine and food for annual Qi.

The First Qi begins at Yin Chu (early Yin hour) on the day of Da Han (Great Cold) in the twelfth lunar month of the Guihai year, and ends at Zi Chu (early Zi hour) on the day of Chun Fen (Spring Equinox) in the second lunar month of the same year. It lasts 60 days and 87.5 ke. The Host Position is Taijiao Wood, the Guest Qi is Taiyang Water, governed centrally by Taigong Earth. Wind, Cold, and Damp Qi, serving the governance of Shaoyin, enact the Spring command. Earthly Qi migrates, Dryness departs, Cold begins. Hibernating animals hide again, water freezes, frost descends again, wind arrives. Yang Qi is depressed. People wrap themselves tightly. Joints become stiff and fixed. Waist pain occurs. As scorching heat rises, sores and ulcers appear inside and outside. It is appropriate to treat the Guest of Taiyang: tonify with bitter, drain with salty, firm with bitter, moisten with acrid. Open the cou li (pores), generate fluids, and circulate Qi. Eat Dan grains to preserve True Qi; eat Ji (millet) to ward off empty pathogens. Even if Cold pathogens exist, they cannot cause harm.

The Second Qi starts from Zi Zheng (mid-Zi hour) on Chun Fen (Spring Equinox) to Xu Zheng (mid-Xu hour) on Xiao Man (Grain Buds). It lasts slightly more than 60 days. The Host Position is Shaozheng Fire, the Guest Qi is Jueyin Wood. Fire and Wood share virtue, with the Central Movement of Earth assisting Shaoyin in enacting the transformation of舒展 (expansion) and flourishing. When the season arrives, Yang Qi spreads, wind moves, Spring Qi is upright, all things flourish accordingly. Cold Qi arrives, and the people are harmonious. Diseases include strangury, eye closure, and red eyes. Qi stagnates in the upper part generating heat. It is appropriate to treat the Guest of Jueyin: tonify with acrid, drain with sour, relax with sweet. Eat Dan grains to preserve True Qi; eat rice to ward off empty pathogens. Even if Wind pathogens exist, they cannot cause harm.

The Third Qi starts from Hai Chu (early Hai hour) on Xiao Man (Grain Buds) to You Chu (early You hour) on Da Shu (Great Heat). It lasts slightly more than 60 days. The Host Position is Shaozheng Fire, the Guest Qi is Shaoyin Fire, with the Central Movement of Earth. This is what Heavenly Governance distributes. When the season arrives, Great Fire moves, myriad species flourish and are fresh. Cold Qi arrives. The people suffer from Qi jue, heart pain, alternating cold and heat, coughing, wheezing, and red eyes. It is appropriate to treat the Guest of Shaoyin: tonify with salty, drain with sweet, astringe with sour. Eat Dan grains to preserve True Qi; eat beans to ward off empty pathogens. Even if Heat pathogens exist, they cannot cause harm.

The Fourth Qi starts from You Zheng (mid-You hour) on Da Shu (Great Heat) to Wei Zheng (mid-Wei hour) on Qiu Fen (Autumn Equinox). It lasts slightly more than 60 days. The Host Position is Taigong Earth. The Guest Qi is Taiyin Earth. The Movement and Qi are identical, named Siqu (Sovereign Qi). Humid heat arrives, heavy rain flows frequently. Cold and heat interact. The people suffer from cold and heat, dry throat, jaundice, nasal congestion and epistaxis, and fluid retention. It is appropriate to treat the Guest of Taiyin: tonify with sweet, drain with bitter, relax with sweet. Eat Bai grains (white grains) to preserve True Qi; eat sesame to ward off empty pathogens. Even if Empty pathogens exist, they cannot cause harm.

The Fifth Qi starts from Shen Chu (early Shen hour) on Qiu Fen (Autumn Equinox) to Wu Chu (early Wu hour) on Xiao Xue (Minor Snow). It lasts slightly more than 60 days. The Host Position is Shaoshang Metal, the Guest Qi is Shaoyang Fire, with the Central Movement of Earth. The Guest Fire takes effect. Fei Huo (Fearful Fire) descends. Heat returns. Yang transforms. Things grow and flourish. The people are healthy. The disease is Wen (Warmth disease). It is appropriate to treat the Guest of Shaoyang: tonify with salty, drain with sweet, soften with salty. Eat Bai grains to preserve True Qi; eat beans to ward off empty pathogens. Even if Fire pathogens exist, they cannot cause harm.

The Final Qi starts from Wu Zheng (mid-Wu hour) on Xiao Xue (Minor Snow) to Chen Zheng (mid-Chen hour) on Da Han (Great Cold). It lasts slightly more than 60 days. The Host Position is Taiyu Water, the Guest Qi is Yangming Metal, with the Central Movement of Earth. Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water. The three Qi are harmonious and proceed with smooth transformation. The Dryness command acts. Residual Fire is internally blocked. The people suffer from swelling in the upper part, coughing, and wheezing. Severely, there is hematemesis. Cold Qi rises frequently, causing frost and fog obscuration. Disease arises in the skin and cou li, enters internally to the hypochondrium, connects downward to the lower abdomen, and causes internal Cold. It is appropriate to treat the Guest of Yangming: tonify with sour, drain with acrid, drain with bitter. Eat Bai grains to preserve True Qi; eat shu (glutinous millet) to ward off empty pathogens. Even if Dryness pathogens exist, they cannot cause harm.

However, from the First Qi to the Third Qi, Heavenly Qi governs; this is the norm of Victory (Sheng). From the Fourth Qi to the Final Qi, Earthly Qi governs; this is the norm of Repayment (Fu). If before the midpoint of the year, the Si Tian Shaoyin Qi is victorious, there must be a Fu of Taiyang. If after the midpoint of the year, the Zai Quan Yangming Qi is victorious, there must be a Fu of Shaoyang. These repayments all occur after the midpoint of the year. Observe the lateness or earliness of the victorious Qi to verify the slowness or speed of the repaying Qi. Treat each according to the methods of Victory and Repayment. Where there is victory, there is repayment; where there is no victory, there is no repayment.