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Figure of the Jia Shen Year

Shaoyang Xianghuo (Ministerial Fire) governs the Si Tian (Heavenly Qi), Jueyin Fengmu (Wind-Wood) governs the Zai Quan (Earthly Qi), and the middle Yun (Central Movement) is Taigong Earth Yun. The year's Earth Yun is excessive, causing the Qi transformation to operate ahead of time. Huohua (Fire Transformation) becomes the Heavenly Qi, Qinghua (Clear Transformation) becomes the Left Interstitial Qi, Shihua (Dampness Transformation) becomes the Si Qi (Governing Qi). Thus, the Heavenly Qi is upright and its administration is strict; Suanhua (Acid Transformation) becomes the Earthly Qi, Zhuohua (Scorching Transformation) becomes the Ju Qi (Residing Qi), Canghua (Storage Transformation) becomes the Right Interstitial Qi. Thus, the Earthly Qi is disturbed and its orders are chaotic. Consequently, fierce winds rise suddenly, trees fall and sand flies, hot fires flow, Yin moves within Yang and transforms into rain, and rainfall occurs at the appropriate times. Fire and Wood share the same virtue, corresponding above to Yinghuo (Mars) and Suixing (Jupiter); the grains are red and green. Therefore, wind and heat are distributed together, clouds and things boil, Taiyin Dampness flows horizontally, cold arrives at its time, and cool rains rise together. The number for Fire transformation is two, for Rain transformation is five, for Wind transformation is eight; these are the degrees of correct transformation. Feathered creatures remain quiet, hairy creatures breed; this is the suitability of yearly matters. Shell-bearing insects perish, clear poisons do not arise, because the Earthly Qi restricts them. People affected by this Qi suffer from diseases such as cold in the middle jiao, external sores and ulcers, internal diarrhea and fullness. The sages, encountering this, adopt a harmonious but non-contentious approach. With the recurrence of these conditions, people suffer from cold-heat malaria, diarrhea, deafness, blindness/dizziness, vomiting, upper body oppression with swelling and color changes. In this year, Yang represents Heavenly Qi, Yin represents Earthly Qi, and the middle shows Earth Yun. Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, lower generates upper. Heavenly Qi is abundant; it is suitable to first extract the source of transformation before the year begins, to level the Fire of Heavenly Qi, suppress the moving Earth, and assist what cannot overcome it (Water). Thus, violent excesses will not arise, and harsh diseases will not occur. The year suits Salty, Pungent, and Sour flavors; methods include draining, purging, soaking, and inducing sweating. The transformation differs from Wind-Heat; use Cold transformations sparingly. Its transformation: Upper uses Salty-Cold, Middle uses Salty-Harmonizing, Lower uses Pungent-Cool; this is suitable for medicine and food.

Before the middle of the year, Shaoyang governs. When Fire exuberates and wins, warm Qi circulates freely, the Metal administration is unbalanced, and people suffer from headache, fever, aversion to cold, and malaria. Heat above causes skin pain, color changes to yellow or red, transmitting into water diseases, resulting in edema of the body and face, abdominal fullness,仰息 (difficulty breathing while lying on back), bloody-white dysentery, sores and ulcers, coughing up blood, vexation and heat in the chest. Severe cases involve rhinorrhea and epistaxis. The disease originates 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. Wood can overcome Earth, and Earthly Qi restricts the Yun. Wind exuberates internally, making the Earthly Qi unclear, plains dark, and grasses bloom early. People suffer from shivering chills, frequent stretching and yawning, heart pain, limb fullness, tightness in the hypochondrium, inability to eat, obstruction in the diaphragm and throat, vomiting after eating, abdominal distension with belching. After defecation or passing gas, they feel relieved as if the illness has subsided, but the body feels heavy. The method should treat with Pungent-Cool, assist with Bitter, relax with Sweet, and disperse with Pungent.

The transformation of the annual Yun is Earth Excessive, recorded as Dunfu (Piled High), called Guanghua (Broad Transformation). It possesses thick virtue and clarity/stillness, following growth to fill up, with Extreme Yin internally solid, and things fully transformed and completed. Mist and dust are obscured and gathered, seen in thick earth; heavy rains often occur, dampness functions, and Dryness administration is repelled. Its transformation is round, its Qi abundant, its administration quiet, its orders complete. Its movement involves damp accumulation and joint blockage. Its virtue is soft, moist, heavy, and glutinous. Its change is shocking, sudden gusts, and collapse. Its transformation combines with what it overcomes. Its disease is abdominal fullness and inability to move the limbs. Thus, when Earth Yun is excessive, rain and dampness circulate, Kidney Water suffers evil. People suffer from abdominal pain, cold extremities, unhappiness, heavy body, and vexation. Severe cases involve muscle atrophy, foot flaccidity and inability to grasp, spasms during walking, pain in the soles, fluid retention with middle jiao fullness, reduced appetite, and inability to move the limbs. If changes occur in their proper position, great wind and rain arrive. Their disease is abdominal fullness, loose stools, borborygmus, and severe downward discharge. Diagnosis is via the pulse at Taixi (KI3). The treatment method uses Salty-Harmonizing.

First Qi: From Yinchu of Da Han day in Gui Wei year to Zichu of Chunfen day in this year, totaling 60 days and 87.5 ke. The Main Position is Taijue Wood, the Guest Qi is Shaoyin Fire, and the middle shows Earth Yun. Wood generates Fire. Earthly Qi migrates, wind prevails and shakes, cold departs, the climate becomes very warm, grass and trees flourish early. Cold comes but does not kill, so warm diseases arise. Their disease is Qi stagnating above, blood overflow, red eyes, cough and reverse qi, headache, blood injury with hypochondriac fullness, sores in the skin and pores. Treat the Guest Shaoyin with Salty to tonify, Sweet to drain, and Sour to gather. Year grain should be red (Dan), intercalary grain should be beans.

Second Qi: From Zhengzi of Chunfen day to Xu zheng of Xiaoman day, totaling 60+ days. The Main Position is Shaozheng Fire, the Guest Qi is Taiyin Earth, and the middle shows Earth Yun. Qi and Yun are the same; Fire is counter-depressed. White mist rises everywhere, clouds tend to the rain house, wind cannot overcome dampness, rain falls, and people are healthy. Their disease is heat depressed above, cough and reverse qi, vomiting, sores erupting in the middle, chest and throat obstruction, headache, body heat, drowsiness, and suppurative sores. Treat the Guest Taiyin with Sweet to tonify, Bitter to drain, and Sweet to relax. Year grain should be red, intercalary grain should be hemp seeds. For this Qi, avoid cooling when far from cooling; do not violate the cooling nature of the Si Qi.

Third Qi: From Hai chu of Xiaoman day to You chu of Dashu day, totaling 60+ days. The Main Position is Shaozheng Fire, the Guest Qi is Shaoyang Fire, and the middle shows Earth Yun. Fire occupies its position. Heavenly administration spreads, hot summer arrives, Shaoyang is above, and rain ceases. People suffer from heat in the middle, deafness, blindness/dizziness, blood overflow, suppurative sores, cough, vomiting, nasal congestion, epistaxis, thirst, sneezing, yawning, sore throat, red eyes, and sudden death. Treat the Guest Shaoyang with Salty to tonify, Sweet to drain, and Salty to soften hardness. Year grain should be red, intercalary grain should be beans.

Fourth Qi: From You zheng of Dashu day to Wei zheng of Qiufen day, totaling 60+ days. The Main Position is Taigong Earth, the Guest Qi is Yangming Metal, and the middle shows Earth Yun. Year Earth is in position, generating Metal. Coolness arrives, hot summer transforms intermittently, white dew descends, and people's Qi is peaceful. Their disease is heaviness of the whole body. Treat the Guest Yangming with Sour to tonify, Pungent to drain, and Bitter to drain. Year grain should be green (Cang), intercalary grain should be millet.

Fifth Qi: From Shen chu of Qiufen day to Wu chu of Xiaoxue day, totaling 60+ days. The Main Position is Shaoshang Metal, the Guest Qi is Taiyang Water, and the middle shows Earth Yun. Metal generates Water. Yang departs, cold arrives, rain descends, the gate of Qi closes, rigid wood withers early. People avoid cold evil, and gentlemen are careful and thorough. This year, Earth Yun restricts it, so cold evil is slight. Treat the Guest Taiyang with Bitter to tonify, Salty to drain, Bitter to firm, and Pungent to moisten. Year grain should be green, intercalary grain should be broomcorn millet.

Final Qi: From Wu zheng of Xiaoxue day to Chen zheng of Da Han day, totaling 60+ days. The Main Position is Taiyu Water, the Guest Qi is Jueyin Wood. Earthly Qi is upright, wind arrives, all things regenerate, fog/mist moves. Their disease involves closure without control, heart pain, Yang Qi not storing leading to cough. Treat the Guest Jueyin with Pungent to tonify, Sour to drain, and Sweet to relax. Year grain should be green, intercalary grain should be rice. This is the way of governing the Six Qi. As for the intersection of annual Qi, if Heavenly Qi Fire wins, there should be a retaliation of Taiyang; if Earthly Qi Wind wins, there should be a retaliation of Yangming. Treat each according to their winning and retaliating methods.