Library

[Diagram of the Qi of Guihai Year]

Jueyin Wind-Wood governs the Heaven (Si Tian), Shaoyang Minister-Fire governs the Earth (Zai Quan), and the Central Movement is Shaozheng Fire. The year's Fire is insufficient (Bu Ji). The Qi transformation and Yun movement lag behind the Heavenly timing (Hou Tian). The insufficiency aligns with the Earthly transformation, which is called "Tong Sui Hui" (Same Year Meeting), indicating a balanced state of Qi. In years identical to the standard year, Qi transformation and Yun movement follow the Heavenly timing. This is a balanced Fire year, named "Sheng Ming Zhi Ji" (The Record of Ascending Brightness). Its righteous Qi governs, its virtue spreads universally, the Five Transformations are balanced. Its Qi is high, its nature is swift, its function is like burning and scorching, its transformation is luxuriant, its administration is bright and shining, its climate is hot and sultry, its command is heat, its category is Fire, it corresponds to Summer, its grains are Wheat, its fruits are Apricots, its solids are Luo (fruits with veins), its insects are Feathered insects (birds), its animals are Horses, its color is Red, its taste is Bitter, its material manifestation is Pulse (blood vessels), its musical note is Zhi, and its number is Seven. In humans, it corresponds to the Heart organ, dominates the tongue, nourishes Blood, and its disease manifests as convulsions (Chi Song). This is the transformation of the year's Yun.

Heavenly and Earthly Qi: Above, Jueyin is seen governing Heaven; on the left is Shaoyin, on the right is Taiyang. Thus, Heavenly Qi is disturbed and its administration is chaotic. Below, Shaoyang is seen governing Earth; on the left is Yangming, on the right is Taiyin. Thus, Earthly Qi is upright and its command is rapid. Wind arises from high places, and intense heat follows it. Clouds gather at the Rain Mansion, and Humid transformation begins. Wind and Fire share the same virtue, corresponding above to the Planet Jupiter (Sui Xing) and Mars (Ying Huo). The suitable grains are Cang (Green/Cyan) and Dan (Red). The intercalary grains refer to Tai Gong (Yellow Earth grain) and Tai Yu (Black Water grain). The损耗 (loss/damage) affects Wen Jiao (Wood class) and Pin Yu (Fire/Feathered class). The degrees of Cold transformation and Rain transformation in victory and revenge are the same, representing the degree of pathogenic Qi transformation. The degree of Wind transformation is eight, and the degree of Fire transformation is two, representing the degree of correct transformation.

Suitability of yearly substances: Fur insects remain quiet, Feathered insects breed, controlled by Earthly Qi; Shell insects suffer loss, Cold toxins do not grow. Wind, Dryness, and Fire-Heat alternate in victory and revenge. Hibernating insects appear, flowing water does not freeze. Heat diseases prevail in the lower part, Wind diseases prevail in the upper part, and the forms of Wind-Dryness victory and revenge manifest in the middle. In this year, Yin represents Heavenly Qi, and Yang represents Earthly Qi. Heavenly Qi is deficient, Fire Yun is just balanced, not assisting the source of transformation, only praising the Fire Yun, preventing pathogenic Qi from overcoming healthy Qi. For the year, it is appropriate to use Pungent (Xin) to regulate the upper part, and Salty (Xian) to regulate the lower part. Fear the Qi of Fire, do not violate it recklessly. The transformation should be Pungent-Cool in the upper part, Salty-Mild in the middle, and Salty-Cold in the lower part; this is suitable for medicines and foods.

Before the middle of the year, Jueyin governs, characterized by much Wind transformation, which is the administration of Jueyin. After the middle of the year, Shaoyang governs, characterized by much Fire transformation, which is the command of Shaoyang.

First Qi Period: From the start of Hai hour on the Day of Great Cold in the Renxu year to the start of You hour on the Spring Equinox day of this year, totaling 60 days and 87.5 ke. The Host Position is Taijiao Wood, the Guest Position is Yangming Metal, and the Central reveals Fire Yun. Cold begins to肃杀 (purge and kill), and the killing Qi arrives. People suffer from cold in the lower right. Since the operating Fire is balanced, the pathogen becomes slight. It is suitable to regulate the Guest of Yangming, tonify with Sour, drain with Pungent, and discharge with Bitter. Yearly grains should be Cang (Green), intercalary grains should be Sorghum (Shu).

Second Qi Period: From the exact time of You hour on the Spring Equinox to the exact time of Wei hour on the Grain Full day, totaling over 60 days. The Host Position is Shaozheng Fire, the Guest Position is Taiyang Water, and the Central reveals Fire Yun. Fire occupies its position, and Cold Water succeeds it. If Cold does not depart, flowers and snow mix, water freezes, killing Qi implements transformation, frost descends, grass withers and scorches, cold rain arrives frequently, Yang Qi re-transforms, and people suffer from heat in the middle. It is suitable to regulate the Guest of Taiyang, tonify with Bitter, drain with Salty, firm with Bitter, and moisten with Pungent. Yearly grains should be Cang (Green), intercalary grains should be Millet (Ji).

Third Qi Period: From the start of Shen hour on the Grain Full day to the start of Wu hour on the Great Heat day, totaling over 60 days. The Host Position is Shaozheng Fire, the Guest Position is Jueyin Wood, and the Central reveals Fire Yun. Fire is in its proper position, Wind-Wood acts as the guest. Heavenly administration spreads, wind rises timely. People suffer from tearing, tinnitus, tremors, and dizziness. It is suitable to regulate the Guest of Jueyin, tonify with Pungent, drain with Sour, and relax with Sweet. Yearly grains should be Cang (Green), intercalary grains should be Rice.

Fourth Qi Period: From the exact time of Wu hour on the Great Heat day to the exact time of Chen hour on the Autumn Equinox day, totaling over 60 days. The Host Position is Taigong Earth, the Guest Position is Shaoyin Fire, and the Central reveals Fire Yun. Qi and Yun are the same, scorching transformation resides where it is, humid heat and dampness contend in the upper left. People suffer from jaundice and edema. It is suitable to regulate the Guest of Shaoyin, tonify with Salty, drain with Sweet, and astringe with Sour. Yearly grains should be Dan (Red), intercalary grains should be Beans.

Fifth Qi Period: From the start of Si hour on the Autumn Equinox to the start of Mao hour on the Light Snow day, totaling over 60 days. The Host Position is Shaoshang Metal, the Guest Position is Taiyin Earth, and the Central reveals Fire Yun. Fire generates Earth, dryness and dampness alternate in victory. Deep Yin Qi spreads, cold air reaches the body, wind and rain occur. It is suitable to regulate the Guest of Taiyin, tonify with Sweet, drain with Bitter, and relax with Sweet. Yearly grains should be Dan (Red), intercalary grains should be Hemp seeds.

Sixth Qi Period (Final Qi): From the exact time of Mao hour on the Light Snow day to the exact time of Chou hour on the Great Cold day, totaling over 60 days. The Host Position is Taiyu Water, the Guest Position is Shaoyang Fire, and the Central reveals Fire Yun. Fire Qi coincides, Feared Fire (Shaoyang Minister-Fire) commands, Yang Qi transforms greatly. Hibernating insects appear, flowing water does not freeze, Earthly Qi erupts, grass grows, people feel comfortable, but they may suffer from warm epidemics. It is suitable to regulate the Guest of Shaoyang, tonify with Salty, drain with Sweet, and soften with Salty. Yearly grains should be Dan (Red), intercalary grains should be Beans. In this Qi, when using Hot remedies, avoid the Hot season; do not violate the heat of the governing Qi. The transformation of the year's Qi is specialized and pure. Encountering balanced Fire Qi and meeting the year's agreement, this is called "Xing Ling" (Executing Order). If pathogenic Qi takes advantage, the disease will persist. The Classics say: Those who execute orders have slow and lingering diseases.

The above discusses Six Qi governing the year, Five Yun commanding the year. Six and Five combine, forming one cycle every thirty years, and two cycles every sixty years. Totaling 1440 Qi periods, the numbers of Heavenly and Earthly Qi are complete. Ending and restarting, times are established, Qi is distributed, like a ring without end. Guarding the number, examining the transformation, matching like tally tokens, one can be considered thorough. This is merely the regular record, the norm of Qi transformation. However, changes cannot be absent; changes cannot be constrained by norms. Pushing to examine the essentials: some are due to differences between Root (Ben) and Mark (Biao). That is, Taiyang is Cold, Yangming is Dryness, Shaoyang is Fire, Taiyin is Dampness, Shaoyin is Heat, Jueyin is Wind; this is the "Root". Below the Root is the Middle Manifestation (Zhong Jian); below the Manifestation is the Mark of Qi (Qi Biao). When Taiyang's Middle Manifestation is Shaoyin, warmth may occur; when Taiyin's Middle Manifestation is Yangming, dryness may occur. Thus, dryness and dampness intersect, warmth and cold correspond, wind and fire meet; their Root and Mark differ as such.

Some are due to differences in accumulated numbers. For example, Spring Warmth, Summer Heat, Autumn Coolness, Winter Cold are the norms of seasons. Or if Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter each differ by their portion, appearing after the Four Corners (Start of Seasons), all being over thirty degrees, the difference in accumulated numbers is as such.

Some are due to Victory and Revenge. The transformation of Six Qi has its own order and position. Observing responses according to the Six Segments: those that arrive excessively are the Victories of Six Qi. If there is extraordinary Qi arriving before the middle of the year, it is called "Sui Qi Yin Sheng" (Year Qi Excessive Victory); if arriving after the middle of the year, it is called "Liu Qi Lai Fu" (Six Qi Coming Revenge). Their victory and revenge are as such.

Some are due to Qi Position Overcoming. Heaven has constant administration, Earth has constant command, each having its time. When the time comes, each responds with its transformation. Those that arrive severely are Guest Victories. If occupying the position of counter-victory, the Qi governing the year does not receive the response, which is Host Victory. The Qi position overcoming is as such.

Some are due to Qi Yun Depression. Qi Yun is restricted by each other, bent but not extending. If Heavenly Qi overcomes Yun, Yun transformation is depressed; if Yun overcomes Zai Quan, Earthly Qi is depressed. Or if Six Qi approaches the position that defeats itself, Six Qi is also depressed. Whatever is depressed cannot advance, retreat, rise, or descend. The depression of Qi is as such.

Some are because depression must erupt. The depression of Five Qi erupts according to time. Wood eruption brings sudden gusts, with no fixed timing; Fire eruption brings obscurity, occurring in the fourth Qi; Earth eruption brings confusion and collapse, occurring in Late Summer; Metal eruption brings destruction, occurring in Autumn; Water eruption brings hail and snow, occurring before and after the two Fires. The eruption of depressed Qi is as such.

Some are due to Pathogenic Qi Counter-Victory. Heavenly administration spreads in Summer, Earthly command executes in Winter. At these times, it may be cold when it should be hot, hot when it should be cold, warm when it should be clear, dry when it should be hot, damp when it should be dry. The pathogenic counter-victory is as such.

Beyond the regular period, there are still these situations, so one is not bound by constant numbers. This is why Creation secretly shifts, endlessly renewing?