太极,动而生阳,静而生阴。阳动而变,阴静而合,而生水、火、木、金、土,各一其性。惟火有二∶曰君火,人
火也;曰相火,天火也。火内阴而外阳,主乎动者也,故凡动皆属火。以名而言,形气相生,配于五行,故谓之君;以
位而言,生于虚无,守位禀命,因其动而可见,故谓之相。天主生物,故恒于动,人有此生,亦恒于动,其所以恒于动,
皆相火之为也。见于天者,出于龙雷,则木之气;出于海,则水之气也。具于人者,寄于肝肾二部,肝属木而肾属水也。
胆者,肝之腑;膀胱者,肾之腑;心胞络者,肾之配;三焦以焦言,而下焦司肝肾之分,皆阴而下者也。天非此火不能
生物,人非此火不能有生。天之火虽出于木,而皆本乎地。故雷非伏,龙非蛰,海非附于地,则不能鸣,不能飞,不能
波也。鸣也,飞也,波也,动而为火者也。肝肾之阴,悉具相火,人而同乎天也。或曰∶相火,天人之所同,何东垣以
为元气之贼?又曰∶火与元气不两立,一胜则一负。然则,如之何而可以使之无胜负也?曰∶周子曰,神发知矣,五性
感物而万事出,有知之后,五者之性为物所感,不能不动。谓之动者,即《内经》五火也。相火易起,五性厥阳之火相
扇,则妄动矣。火起于妄,变化莫测,无时不有,煎熬真阴,阴虚则病,阴绝则死。君火之气,经以暑与湿言之;相火
之气,经以火言之,盖表其暴悍酷烈,有甚于君火者也,故曰相火元气之贼。周子又曰∶圣人定之以中正仁义而主静。
朱子曰∶必使道心常为一身之主,而人心每听命焉。此善处乎火者。人心听命乎道心,而又能主之以静。彼五火之动皆
中节,相火惟有裨补造化,以为生生不息之运用耳,何贼之有?或曰∶《内经》相火,注曰少阴、少阳矣,未尝言及厥阴、
太阳,而吾子言之何耶?曰∶足太阳、少阴,东垣尝言之矣,治以炒柏,取其味辛能泻水中之火是也。戴人亦言∶胆与
三焦寻火治,肝和胞络都无异。此历指龙雷之火也。予亦备述天人之火皆生于动,如上文所云者,实推展二公之意。或
曰∶《内经》言火不一,往往于六气中见之,言脏腑者未之见也。二公岂它有所据耶?子能为我言之乎?经曰∶百病皆生
于风、寒、暑、湿、燥、火之动而为变者。岐伯历举病机一十九条,而属火者五,此非相火之为病之出于脏腑者乎?考
诸《内经》少阳病为螈 ,太阳病时眩仆,少阴病瞀暴喑郁冒不知人,非诸热瞀 之属火乎?少阳病恶寒鼓栗,胆病振
寒,少阴病洒淅恶寒振栗,厥阴病洒淅振寒,非诸禁鼓栗如丧神守之属火乎?少阳病呕逆,厥气上行,膀胱病冲头痛,
太阳病厥气上冲胸,小腹控睾引腰脊上冲心,少阴病气上冲胸,呕逆,非诸逆冲上之属火乎?少阳病谵妄,太阳病谵妄,
膀胱病狂颠,非诸躁狂越之属火乎?少阳病 肿善惊,少阴病瞀热以酸, 肿不能久立,非诸病 肿疼酸惊骇之属火乎?
又《原病式》曰∶诸风掉眩属于肝,火之动也;诸气 郁病痿属于肺,火之升也;诸湿肿满属于脾,火之胜也;诸痛痒
疮疡属于心,火之用也。是皆火之为病,出于脏腑者然也,注文未之发耳!以陈无择之通敏,且以暖炽论君火,日用之
火言相火,而又不曾深及,宜乎后之人不无聋瞽也,悲夫!
Taiji, through movement generates Yang, and through stillness generates Yin. Yang moves and transforms; Yin is still and combines, thereby generating Water, Fire, Wood, Metal, and Earth, each possessing its own nature. There are only two types of Fire: Jun Fire (Monarch Fire), which is human fire; and Xiang Fire (Minister Fire), which is heavenly fire. Fire is Yin within and Yang on the outside, primarily governing movement; therefore, all movement belongs to Fire. In terms of name, form and Qi generate each other and correspond to the Five Phases, so it is called Jun (Monarch); in terms of position, it arises from emptiness, maintains its station receiving commands, and becomes visible through its movement, so it is called Xiang (Minister). Heaven governs the generation of living things, thus remaining constantly in motion; humans possess life and also remain constantly in motion. The reason for this constant motion is the action of Xiang Fire. Manifested in heaven, it emerges from dragons and thunder, representing the Qi of Wood; it emerges from the sea, representing the Qi of Water. Embodied in humans, it resides in the Liver and Kidney regions; the Liver belongs to Wood and the Kidney to Water. The Gallbladder is the Fu organ of the Liver; the Bladder is the Fu organ of the Kidney; the Pericardium Collateral is the counterpart of the Kidney; the Sanjiao (Triple Burner) is named for "scorched," and the Lower Jiao governs the domains of the Liver and Kidney; these are all Yin organs located inferiorly. Heaven cannot generate living things without this Fire; humans cannot sustain life without this Fire. Although heavenly Fire originates from Wood, its root lies in the Earth. Thus, if Thunder does not lie dormant, Dragons do not hibernate, and the Sea does not adhere to the Earth, they cannot resonate, fly, or create waves. Resonating, flying, and creating waves are movements that manifest as Fire. The Yin of the Liver and Kidney both contain Xiang Fire; humans are identical to Heaven in this regard. One might ask: Xiang Fire is shared by heaven and humanity; why did Li Dongyuan consider it a thief of Yuan Qi (Original Qi)? He also stated: Fire and Yuan Qi cannot coexist; when one prevails, the other declines. Then, how can one ensure there is no conflict between them? The answer is: Zhou Dunyi said, "When Spirit manifests knowledge, the Five Natures are stimulated by external objects, giving rise to myriad affairs." After knowledge arises, the Five Natures are affected by external stimuli and inevitably move. This "movement" refers to the Five Fires mentioned in the *Neijing* (Classic of Internal Medicine). Xiang Fire rises easily; when the Jueyang Fire of the Five Natures fans each other, it moves recklessly. Fire arising from recklessness is unpredictable, exists at all times, and boils down True Yin. If Yin is deficient, disease occurs; if Yin is exhausted, death ensues. The Qi of Jun Fire is discussed in classics via Heat (Shu) and Dampness (Shi); the Qi of Xiang Fire is discussed via Fire itself, likely to highlight its violent, fierce, and cruel nature, which exceeds that of Jun Fire. Hence, Xiang Fire is called the thief of Yuan Qi. Zhou Dunyi further said: "The Sage establishes correctness, justice, benevolence, and righteousness, and emphasizes stillness." Zhu Xi said: "One must ensure that Daoxin (Mind of the Way) is always the master of the body, while Renxin (Mind of Humanity/Desire) obeys its commands." This is how to properly manage Fire. When Renxin obeys Daoxin and is guided by stillness, the movements of the Five Fires will be moderate. Xiang Fire will then only assist and supplement creation, serving as the operation of endless generation. How could it be a thief? Another question: The *Neijing* commentary identifies Xiang Fire with Shaoyin and Shaoyang, never mentioning Jueyin or Taiyang. Why do you mention them? I reply: Li Dongyuan discussed Foot Taiyang and Shaoyang, treating them with fried Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai), utilizing its pungent taste to drain Fire from Water. Dai Ren also stated: "Gallbladder and Sanjiao are treated by seeking Fire; Liver and Pericardium Collateral are no different." These refer to Longlei Fire (Dragon-Thunder Fire). I have comprehensively described that heavenly and human Fire both arise from movement, as stated above, actually expanding upon the ideas of these two masters. Another question: The *Neijing* mentions Fire in various contexts, often within the Six Qi, but rarely regarding Zang-Fu organs. Did these two masters have other sources? Please explain. The classic states: "All diseases arise from the movement and transformation of Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire." Qibo listed nineteen pathogenesis clauses, five of which belong to Fire. Are these not manifestations of Xiang Fire disease originating from Zang-Fu organs? Examining the *Neijing*: Shaoyang disease involves spasms; Taiyang disease involves frequent dizziness and falling; Shaoyin disease involves sudden blindness, aphonia, depression, or unconsciousness. Are these not belonging to the category of heat-induced stupor? Shaoyang disease involves aversion to cold and trembling; Gallbladder disease involves chills; Shaoyin disease involves shivering and trembling; Jueyin disease involves shivering and trembling. Are these not belonging to the category of rigidity, tremors, and loss of mental control? Shaoyang disease involves vomiting and rebellious Qi ascending; Bladder disease involves rushing headache; Taiyang disease involves rebellious Qi rushing to the chest, lower abdomen pulling the testicles and connecting to the lumbar spine, rushing up to the heart; Shaoyin disease involves Qi rushing to the chest and vomiting. Are these not belonging to the category of rebellious Qi rushing upward? Shaoyang disease involves delirium and madness; Taiyang disease involves delirium; Bladder disease involves mania and epilepsy. Are these not belonging to the category of restlessness, mania, and excess? Shaoyang disease involves swelling and fright; Shaoyin disease involves stupor, heat, and soreness/swelling, inability to stand for long. Are these not belonging to the category of swelling, pain, soreness, fright, and panic? Furthermore, the *Yuan Bing Shi* (Treatise on the Origin of Diseases) states: "All wind symptoms involving shaking and dizziness belong to the Liver, being the movement of Fire"; "All Qi stagnation, obstruction, and flaccidity belong to the Lung, being the rising of Fire"; "All dampness symptoms involving swelling and fullness belong to the Spleen, being the overcoming power of Fire"; "All pain, itching, sores, and ulcers belong to the Heart, being the function of Fire." All these are diseases of Fire originating from Zang-Fu organs, merely not elaborated upon in the commentaries! Chen Wuyue was knowledgeable and agile, yet he discussed Jun Fire using warmth and blazing heat, and Xiang Fire using daily fire usage, without deep exploration. It is no wonder later generations were confused and blind to this truth. How sad!