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Figure of the Xinyou Year's Climate and Pathology

Yangming Dryness Metal governs the Heaven (Si Tian), Shaoyin Ministerial Fire governs the Earth (Zai Quan), and the central movement is Shao Yu Water Movement. The water qi of the year is insufficient, so the transformational operation lags behind the heavenly timing. Yangming [Dryness Metal] is above, Taiyang [Cold Water] on the left, Shaoyang [Ministerial Fire] on the right; therefore, the heavenly qi is urgent and its administration is strict. Shaoyin [Ministerial Fire] is below, Taiyin [Dampness Earth] on the left, Jueyin [Wind Wood] on the right; therefore, the earthly qi is bright and its command is violent. Yang exclusively holds the command, scorching heat prevails, objects become dry and hard, pure wind is governed, wind and dryness operate horizontally, flowing into the intersection of heaven and earth. There is much yang and little yin, clouds tend toward the rain mansion, dampness transformation is spread. Dryness reaches its extreme and transforms into moisture; metal and fire combine their virtue, corresponding above to Venus (Tai Bai) and Mars (Ying Huo). The grains are white and red; the inter-grain designated as "Tai Zheng" suffers loss in white shelled creatures and feathered creatures. Rain transformation and wind transformation have similar victory and revenge, and the evil qi transformation degree is also similar. Clear transformation number is nine, cold transformation number is one, heat transformation number is seven; this is the normal transformation degree. Armored insects remain quiet, feathered insects breed; this is the suitability of yearly substances. Armored insects suffer, cold toxins do not generate; these are all restricted by earthly qi. Hibernating insects appear, flowing water does not freeze, clearing heat qi persists at the intersection of qi. People suffer from cough, throat obstruction, sudden onset of chills and fever, trembling, and urinary retention. Clear qi acts first and vigorously, hair-covered insects die; heat acts later and violently, armored insects suffer disaster. The onset is restless. In this year, metal is above, fire is below, water movement is in the middle. Water overcomes fire, fire overcomes metal. Heavenly qi is deficient; water can control fire and generate metal, so the evil qi becomes slight. It is appropriate to nourish its source of transformation to assist metal qi, stabilize the water movement to prevent it from receiving evil, and break the depression of fire qi. Eat white and red grains to stabilize qi, eat inter-qi grains to remove evil. For the year, it is suitable to use salty, bitter, and pungent flavors, employ sweating, clearing, and dispersing methods. Operation and transformation are both clear; it is suitable to use many transforming agents. Its transformation at the upper level should be slightly warm with bitter flavor, at the middle level harmonious with bitter flavor, and at the lower level cold with salty flavor; this is suitable for medicine and food.

Observe its qi: Before the midpoint of the year, Yangming governs. If dryness invades excessively, wood will flourish late, grasses will grow late, internal changes occur in sinews and bones, and people suffer from left hypochondriac pain, coldness inside, malaria upon contraction, great cold changing the climate, cough, abdominal borborygmus, diarrhea with loose stools. Noble trees retract growth at the bottom, grasses wither at the top, sudden pain in heart and hypochondrium, inability to turn sideways, dry throat, dusty face, waist pain, eye ulcers, sores, acne, and carbuncles. The disease originates in the Liver, diagnosis is in the Foot Tai Chong pulse. The method should be pacified with bitter-warm, assisted with sour-pungent, and purged with bitter.

After the midpoint of the year, Shaoyin governs. If heat invades excessively within, flames float on rivers and marshes, dark places appear bright. People suffer from constant abdominal borborygmus, qi rushing up to the chest, panting unable to stand long, chills and fever with skin pain, dizziness, toothache and swelling, aversion to cold and fever like malaria, lower abdominal pain and distension. The method should treat with salty-cold, assisted with sweet-bitter, astringe with sour, and disperse with bitter.

At the intersection of qi, water movement governs. This is called the Chronicle of Dried Streams, known as Reverse Yang. The storage command is not raised, transformation qi flourishes, growth qi is announced, hibernating insects do not hide, soil is moist and springs decrease, plants are vigorous and lush, flourishing and full. Its qi is stagnant, its function is seeping and draining, its movement is firm and stopping, its manifestation is dry and withered. Its organ is Kidney, its transformation combines with what it cannot overcome, its disease is urinary retention, caused by evil injuring the Kidney.

Observe its qi: At the four corners, if there is transformation of turbulent moisture and dust clouds, then there will be responses of gentle winds generating. If at the four corners there are changes of dust haze and sudden heavy rain, then there will be reversals of swirling and shaking. The disaster is in the North, the disease resides internally in the waist, spine, bone marrow, and externally in the valleys and knees. Thus it is said that when water movement of the year is insufficient, dampness prevails, growth qi uses in reverse, its transformation is rapid, summer heat and rain arrive frequently. People suffer from abdominal fullness, heavy body, damp diarrhea, cold sores with flowing fluid, onset of waist and thigh pain, inconvenience and oppression in thighs and knees, foot atrophy and cold reversal, pain in the soles, even swelling. Organ qi is not regulated, Kidney qi is unbalanced. Revenge brings about great storms, grass bends and trees shed leaves, growth is not fresh, complexion changes frequently, sinews and bones contract, muscle twitching, blurred vision, skin rashes, qi merges in the diaphragm, pain in heart and abdomen, yellow qi is damaged, grains do not harvest.

First Qi: From the Si hour of Da Han day in Geng Shen year to the Mao hour of Chun Fen day in this year, totaling 60 days and 87.5 ke. Main position is Shao Jiao Wood, Guest qi is Taiyin Earth, central sees Water movement. Earth overcomes Water, earthly qi shifts, yin begins to condense, qi begins to be solemn, water freezes, cold rain transforms. Diseases include internal heat distension, facial and ocular edema, excessive sleepiness, nasal congestion and epistaxis, sneezing, yawning, vomiting, yellow-red urine, even strangury. Treat the Guest of Taiyin: tonify with sweet, purge with bitter, soothe with sweet. Yearly food: white grain; inter-grain: hemp. Although dampness evil exists, it cannot harm.

Second Qi: From the Mao hour of Chun Fen day to the Chou hour of Xiao Man day, totaling over 60 days. Main position is Tai Zheng Fire, Guest qi is Shaoyang Fire, central sees Water movement. Yang spreads, people relax, objects grow and flourish, pestilence arrives greatly, people die suddenly. Water movement supports it, so the evil is slight. Treat the Guest of Shaoyang: tonify with salty, purge with sweet, astringe with salty. Yearly food: white grain; inter-grain: beans. Although fire evil exists, it cannot harm.

Third Qi: From the Yin hour of Xiao Man day to the Zi hour of Da Shu day, totaling over 60 days. Main position is Tai Zheng Fire, Guest qi is Yangming Metal, central sees Water movement. Heavenly administration spreads, coolness travels, dryness and heat intersect, dryness reaches extreme and transforms into moisture. People suffer from chills and fever. Treat the Guest of Yangming: tonify with sour, purge with pungent, drain with bitter. Yearly food: white grain; inter-grain: millet. Although dryness evil exists, it cannot harm.

Fourth Qi: From the Zi hour of Da Shu day to the Xu hour of Qiu Fen day, totaling over 60 days. Main position is Shao Gong Earth, Guest qi is Taiyang Water, central sees Water movement. Qi and movement are the same, this is called Si Qi. Cold rain descends, diseases include sudden collapse, trembling, delirium, shortness of breath, dry throat with desire to drink, and diseases such as heart pain, carbuncles, sores, malaria, and chills, bone atrophy, bloody stool. Treat the Guest of Taiyang: tonify with bitter, purge with salty, strengthen with bitter, moisten with pungent. Yearly food: red grain; inter-grain: broomcorn millet. Although cold evil exists, it cannot harm. Regarding this qi, avoid cold when using cold, do not violate the cold of Si Qi.

Fifth Qi: From the Hai hour of Qiu Fen day to the You hour of Xiao Xue day, totaling over 60 days. Main position is Tai Shang Metal, Guest qi is Jueyin Wood, central sees Water movement. Water generates Wood, spring command acts in reverse, grasses grow and flourish, people's qi is harmonious. Regulate the Guest of Jueyin: tonify with pungent, purge with sour, soothe with sweet. Yearly food: red grain; inter-grain: rice. Although wind evil exists, it cannot harm.

Final Qi: From the You hour of Xiao Xue day to the Wei hour of Da Han day, totaling over 60 days. Main position is Shao Yu Water, Guest qi is Shaoyin Fire, central sees Water movement. Water movement is in position, Shaoyin occupies it, yang qi spreads, climate is instead warm, hibernating insects appear, flowing water does not freeze, people are healthy and peaceful. Their disease is warmth. Treat the Guest of Shaoyin: tonify with salty, purge with sweet, astringe with sour. Yearly food: red grain; inter-grain: beans. Although heat evil exists, it cannot harm. This is the transformation of the six qi.

When yearly qi intersects, if heavenly qi wins, Shaoyang revenges; if earthly qi wins, Taiyang revenges. Carefully observe where yin and yang reside and regulate them, taking the correct period as the goal.