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After Heaven and Earth were separated, only the Five Qi (Five Phases/Qi) generate all things! When the Five Qi establish their positions, the Five Flavors (Wu Wei) arise; when the Five Flavors arise, myriad transformations occur without end. Thus it is said: That which generates living things is Qi; that which completes them is Flavor. Generated by odd-numbered Qi, completion results in even numbers; generated by even-numbered Qi, completion results in odd numbers. Cold Qi is firm, so its corresponding flavor can be used to soften hardness; Heat Qi is soft, so its corresponding flavor can be used to firm looseness; Wind Qi is dispersing, so its corresponding flavor can be used to astringe; Dryness Qi is converging, so its corresponding flavor can be used to disperse. Earth belongs to the Central Qi, harmonizing with nothing else, so its corresponding flavor can be used to moderate urgency. When Qi is firm, strength increases, so Bitter Flavor (Ku) can nourish Qi; when pulses are soft, harmony prevails, so Salty Flavor (Xian) can nourish vessels; when bones are firm, they become strong, so Sour Flavor (Suan) can nourish bones. When sinews are dispersed, spasms do not occur, so Pungent Flavor (Xin) can nourish sinews; when flesh is relaxed, stagnation does not occur, so Sweet Flavor (Gan) can nourish flesh. Only after firming can one soften; only after astringing can one disperse. To moderate, use Sweet Flavor; if moderation is not desired, do not use it. Usage must not be excessive; excess also causes disease. Those who treat diseases but do not understand these principles, yet claim to cure others' illnesses—I do not believe such claims.

There is "Single Action" (Dan Xing), where a herb is used alone without compounding with other drugs, capable of independently tonifying or purging, such as the Single Ginseng Decoction (Dushen Tang) and Single Platycodon Decoction (Duju Tang) recorded in medical texts. There is "Mutual Requirement" (Xiang Xu), where two herbs are mutually suitable and can be used together. There is "Mutual Assistance" (Xiang Shi), where one herb acts as an envoy, guiding medicinal power to various meridians. These two categories need not involve similar herbs, just as seasoning soup involves fish and meat paired with scallions and fermented soybeans, each having appropriate combinations that enhance each other. There is "Mutual Aversion" (Xiang E), where one herb's toxicity or effect is opposed by another. There is "Mutual Fear" (Xiang Wei), where one herb has the capacity to suppress another. These two do not cause severe harm; although one avers the other, there is no resentment; the feared one is controlled by the fearing one. For example, Realgar (Niuhuang) avers Dragon Bone (Longgu), but Dragon Bone becomes more effective with Realgar; Astragalus Root (Huangqi) fears Saposhnikovia Root (Fangfeng), but Astragalus achieves greater efficacy with Saposhnikovia, which are examples of this. There is "Mutual Incompatibility" (Xiang Fan), where two herbs are like enemies and must never be combined. Like painters using Orpiment (Cihuang) and Lead White (Hufen) nearby causing darkening, or jealousy powder turning black-yellow when meeting Orpiment, and Orpiment changing when meeting Lead White, these are examples. There is "Mutual Killing" (Xiang Sha), where taking a specific herb can eliminate the toxicity of another. For instance, to counter snake venom, Realgar (Xionghuang) must be used; to counter Realgar toxicity, Stephania Root (Fangji) must be used, which are examples. The compatibility or incompatibility of these Seven Emotions (Qi Qing) in compounding is clear at a glance. Some say herbs have Five Flavors to communicate with the Five Zang Organs. The Liver stores the Hun (Ethereal Soul) and manifests anger, this is one; the Lungs store the Po (Corporeal Soul) and manifest sorrow, this is two; the Heart stores the Shen (Spirit) and manifests joy, this is three; the Spleen stores Yi (Intellect) and Zhi (Will) and manifests overthinking, this is four (text skips to five); the Kidneys store Jing (Essence) and Zhi (Willpower) and manifest fear, this is seven. Using Five Flavors to treat Five Zang Organs communicates with the Seven Emotions.