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The *Da Lun of the Five Movements and Six Qi* states: I have examined the text of the *Tai Shi Tian Yuan Ce*. The red qi (Dan Tian) passes through the Ox (Niu) and Girl (Nv) mansions and the Wu position; the blue-green qi (Cang Tian) passes through the Heart (Xin) and Tail (Wei) mansions and the Ji position; the blue-green qi (Cang Tian) passes through the Danger (Wei), Room (Shi), Willow (Liu), and Ghost (Gui) mansions; the white qi (Su Tian) passes through the Horn (Kang), Neck (Di), Net (Ang), and Hindquarters (Bi) mansions; the black qi (Xuan Tian) passes through the Extended Wings (Zhang), Wing (Yi), Lodging (Lou), and Stomach (Wei) mansions. The so-called Wu and Ji positions refer to the Chariot (Kui), Wall (Bi), Corner (Jiao), and Pinwheel (Zhen) mansions, which are the gates of heaven and earth. (Wu Earth belongs to the Qian trigram, Ji Earth belongs to the Xun trigram; the six Wus are the Gate of Heaven, and the six Jis are the Door of Earth.) The beginning of observation lies here, from which the Dao arises; it must be thoroughly understood. (These five heavenly images, passing through specific stellar mansions and regions, correspond solely to the Heavenly Stems of the Five Movements, not to the Earthly Branches of the Six Qi. This is because the relationship between Stems and Branches is like that between roots/branches. The Classic says: "The Stem contains the Branch." Thus, their transformations belong to those sharing the same Stem and Branch. The alignment of movements and transformations signifies that roots and branches transform together. When the Five Qi arrive, each has a corresponding color and passes through its region. If the Qi is excessive, it arrives before its season; if deficient, after its season. Observing before Yin and Mao times makes this naturally visible. Hence, "The beginning of observation lies here, from which the Dao arises; it must be thoroughly understood.")

What is meant by "Upper and Lower"? It refers to the locations of Yin and Yang seen in the annual Upper and Lower positions. What is meant by "Left and Right"? When the Upper position shows Jueyin, the Left is Shaoyin and the Right is Taiyang; when it shows Shaoyin, the Left is Taiyin and the Right is Jueyin; when it shows Taiyin, the Left is Shaoyang and the Right is Shaoyin; when it shows Shaoyang, the Left is Yangming and the Right is Taiyin; when it shows Yangming, the Left is Taiyang and the Right is Shaoyang; when it shows Taiyang, the Left is Jueyin and the Right is Yangming. "Facing North to designate their positions" means describing the Upper observations. (Facing North explains the directions. Upper is South, Lower is North, Left is West, Right is East.) What is meant by "Lower"? If Jueyin is Upper, then Shaoyang is Lower, with Yangming on the Left and Taiyin on the Right; if Shaoyin is Upper, then Yangming is Lower, with Taiyang on the Left and Shaoyang on the Right; if Taiyin is Upper, then Taiyang is Lower, with Jueyin on the Left and Yangming on the Right; if Shaoyang is Upper, then Jueyin is Lower, with Shaoyin on the Left and Taiyang on the Right; if Yangming is Upper, then Shaoyin is Lower, with Taiyin on the Left and Jueyin on the Right; if Taiyang is Upper, then Taiyin is Lower, with Shaoyang on the Left and Shaoyin on the Right. "Facing South to designate their positions" means describing the Lower observations. (The ruler of the year is positioned in the South, hence facing North to describe left and right. Those below are positioned in the North, hence facing South to describe left and right. Upper is the position of Heaven, Lower is the position of Earth. Facing South, Left is East, Right is West; Upper and Lower differ, and thus Left and Right differ too.) When Upper and Lower meet, and Cold and Heat press upon each other, if the Qi are compatible, there is harmony; if incompatible, disease arises. (Wood meeting Fire, Metal meeting Wood, Water meeting Wood, Fire meeting Earth, Earth meeting Metal are considered compatible. Wood meeting Earth, Earth meeting Water, Water meeting Fire, Fire meeting Metal, Metal meeting Wood are considered incompatible. Upper over Lower is Smooth (Shun); Lower over Upper is Reverse (Ni). Reversal also leads to stagnation and disease, such as Earth over Ministerial Fire or Sovereign Fire.) Why does disease arise even when Qi are compatible? Because it is Lower over Upper, which is an improper position. (In the six positions, for example, Earth over Fire, Fire over Wood, Wood over Water, Water over Metal, Metal over Earth are all considered Lower over Upper, improper positions. In the father-son relationship, the son is below, the father above. To place the son over the father is contrary to propriety!) How about movement and stillness? (Referring to the left-right motion of Heaven and Earth.) The Upper moves to the Right, the Lower moves to the Left. They circle the celestial sphere, and the remainder meets again. (Upper is Heaven, Lower is Earth. Circling the celestial sphere means Heaven circling the Five Elements' positions on Earth. Heaven manifests the Six Qi, Earth distributes the Five Elements. Heaven follows Earth and turns left; Earth receives Heaven and turns right. After the Wood movement, Heavenly Qi often has a remainder. This remainder does not add to Sovereign Fire but retreats one step to add to Ministerial Fire. Thus, every five years, it retreats one position and moves right. Hence, "circling left and right, the remainder meets again." Meeting implies encountering and combining. It means the Way of Heaven and Earth completes a cycle in five years, then adds the remainder, reuniting with the Five Elements' seats to form the yearly method. Circling the celestial sphere refers to Heaven circling Earth's positions, not the Six Qi of the full celestial sphere.)

The function of change: Heaven manifests images, Earth forms shapes. The Seven Luminaries weave through the void, and the Five Elements adhere to the Earth. Earth is what carries the forms of generated things. The Void is what displays the essence and Qi responding to Heaven. The movement of Form and Essence is like the root and branches; looking up at the images, though distant, can be known. (Observing the eastward rotation of the five stars reveals the principle of Earth's leftward rotation clearly.) Earth is beneath humans, situated within the Great Void. (Human dwelling is called "below," but examining its ultimate truth, it is merely one thing within the Great Void. The *I Ching* says: "Earth is thick and bears things; its virtue matches the boundless." This is what is meant.) The Great Qi holds it up. (Great Qi refers to the Qi of Creation, sustaining the Great Void. The reason the Great Void does not collapse and Earth lasts long is due to this Creative Qi sustaining it. Without this sustenance, Qi transforming and changing would cause the vessel of the Great Void to decay. All有形 objects on Earth are sustained by generative Qi. However, vessels vary in size, and decay varies in speed. When Qi no longer sustains them, large and small decay equally.) Dryness dries it, Summer heat steams it, Wind agitates it, Dampness moistens it, Cold solidifies it, Fire warms it. Thus, Wind and Cold are below, Dryness and Heat are above, Dampness is in the middle, and Fire travels between them. Cold and Heat enter six times, making the void capable of generating life. (Within the Earth's body, there are six entries: 1. Dryness, 2. Summer Heat, 3. Wind, 4. Dampness, 5. Cold, 6. Fire. Receiving Dryness generates dry nature; receiving Summer Heat generates steaming nature; receiving Wind generates agitation nature; receiving Dampness generates moistening nature; receiving Cold generates solidifying nature; receiving Fire generates warming nature. These are the Six Qi of Heaven.) Therefore, if Dryness prevails, the Earth becomes dry; if Summer Heat prevails, the Earth becomes hot; if Wind prevails, the Earth moves; if Dampness prevails, the Earth becomes muddy; if Cold prevails, the Earth cracks; if Fire prevails, the Earth becomes firm. (Regarding the use of the Six Qi: Here, Heaven rotates right outside, while Cold and Heat enter six times to support the Earth. Earth accepts these six entries as the Five Elements, rotating left to generate humans and things within Heaven. The paths of Yin and Yang above, below, left, and right of all things in Heaven and Earth are the positions of Heaven's right rotation of the six segments. Upper and Lower refer to the Si Tian (Heavenly Ruler) position above and Zai Quan (Earthly Spring) position below. Left and Right refer to the Left and Right Intervals of Si Tian above, and Zai Quan below. Thus, the Three Yin and Three Yang of Heaven rotate right in these six positions. For example, in Yi-Hai years, Jueyin is Upper, with Shaoyin as Left Interval and Taiyang as Right Interval. By Zi-Wu years, Shaoyin is Upper, with Taiyin as Left Interval and Jueyin as Right Interval, descending annually from Upper to the Right. Facing North to designate positions describes the Si Tian position in the South facing North to determine Left and Right; Southwest is Left Interval, Southeast is Right Interval, describing the observed Yin and Yang. Facing South to designate positions describes the Earth's position in the North facing South to determine Left and Right; Northeast is Left Interval, Northwest is Right Interval, describing the observed Yin and Yang. From the upper and lower of Heaven and Earth to here, only Heaven's right-rotating Qi is discussed. "Upper and Lower meet, Cold and Heat press... if compatible, harmony; if not, disease" means Heaven's right rotation alternates Earth positions, and its Qi meets and presses upon Earth's positional Qi. Meeting similar, mutually generating Qi brings harmony; different, mutually controlling Qi brings disease. Even if Qi are similar and compatible, disease may occur, specifically when Ministerial Fire is over Sovereign Fire due to improper position. Sovereign position, Ministerial obedience; Ministerial position, Sovereign rebellion—rebellion brings disease, often fast. How to know movement and stillness? The Emperor asked how Heaven's dynamic can press upon Earth, while Earth's static cannot press upon Heaven, making it hard to understand "meeting" and "pressing." Bo Gao replied: Upper moves right, Lower moves left. Thus, Heaven is always above, descending from the right to the Southeast, rotating to press upon Earth. Earth is always below, ascending from the left to the Northeast, following brightness. Wood, Sovereign, Ministerial, Earth, Metal, Water positions cycle around Heaven, all moving. Thus, Left and Right move, each circling the celestial sphere, meeting to reunite. Responding to Earth is still. Though Heaven and Earth differ in form/motion, their functional changes differ: On Earth, Five Elements adhere, carrying generated forms internally; In Heaven, Seven Luminaries weave the void, displaying Heaven's essence externally. Form/Essence move together, like root/branches, unified in Qi. Thus, observing the Seven Luminaries' rotation, though distant, reveals their motion.)

How to observe the Qi of Heaven and Earth? The changes of Victory and Repetition (Sheng Fu) of Heaven and Earth Qi do not manifest in pulse diagnosis. The *Pulse Method* states: "Changes of Heaven and Earth cannot be diagnosed by pulse." This is what is meant. (Peaceful Qi and Sheng Fu are observed through symptoms/signs, not known through pulse diagnosis.) How are the Intermittent Qi (Jian Qi)? (Since Jian Qi governs only one position, it can be anticipated at the Cun and Chi positions on the Left and Right according to its location.) Anticipate at the Left and Right according to the Qi's location. (At the four positions of Left/Right Cun/Chi, receive it to know if it corresponds or not, exceeds or falls short.) Following its Qi brings harmony; violating its Qi brings disease. (e.g., Should be deep but is not; should be floating but is not; should wiry but is not; etc.) Improper position brings disease. (Appearing in other positions.) Alternating position shifts bring disease. (Left sees Right pulse, Right sees Left pulse.) Losing its position is dangerous. (Already appeared elsewhere; the original palace sees killing Qi, so disease is critical.) Reversal of Cun and Chi indicates death. (Occurs in Zi, Wu, Mao, You years. Reversal means Yin should be at Cun but appears at Chi, or Yang should be at Chi but appears at Cun. Both Cun and Chi reversing is called reversal. If only Chi or only Cun reverses, it is non-corresponding Qi, not reversal.) Intersection of Yin and Yang indicates death. (Occurs in Yin, Shen, Hai, Si, Chou, Wei, Chen, Xu years. Intersection means Yin should be on Right pulse but appears on Left, or Yang should be on Left pulse but appears on Right. Left and Right intersecting is called intersection. If only Left or only Right intersects, it is non-corresponding Qi, not intersection.) First establish the year to know its Qi. Left and Right should correspond. Then one can speak of the smooth or reverse nature of life and death. (This means Heaven and Earth Qi can be anticipated at Cun/Chi Left/Right according to their location. Among the Five Movements, Jia/Yi Earth Movement is supreme. Among the Six Qi, Shaoyin Sovereign Fire is supreme. Thus, Jia/Yi Earth Movement is Southern Governance (Nan Zheng), facing South to issue orders. The other four movements are Northern Governance (Bei Zheng), serving as ministers, facing North to receive orders. With Shaoyin as Sovereign, for pulses of Si Tian/Zai Quan where Cun/Chi do not respond, judgment is based on Shaoyin, whose pulse is primarily deep. Thus, the anticipation method: Where Yang is, the pulse should not be deep; where Yin is, the pulse should not respond. In Bei Zheng years, human Qi faces North, Cun is North, Chi is South. Earth's Left Interval Qi is at Right Cun, Right Interval Qi is at Left Cun. Heaven's Left Interval Qi is at Left Chi, Right Interval Qi is at Right Chi. Therefore, if Shaoyin is Zai Quan, Left Interval is Taiyin, Right Interval is Jueyin, and both Cun pulses do not respond. If Jueyin is Zai Quan, Left Interval is Shaoyin, Right Interval is Taiyang, and Shaoyin is on the Left, so the Right Cun pulse does not respond. If Taiyin is Zai Quan, Left Interval is Shaoyang, Right Interval is Shaoyin, and Shaoyin is on the Right, so the Left Cun pulse does not respond. Hence, "In Bei Zheng years, if Three Yin are Below, Cun does not respond." If Shaoyin is Si Tian, Left Interval is Taiyin, Right Interval is Jueyin, and both Chi pulses do not respond. If Jueyin is Si Tian, Left Interval is Shaoyin, Right Interval is Taiyang, and Shaoyin is on the Left, so the Left Chi pulse does not respond. If Taiyin is Si Tian, Left Interval is Shaoyang, Right Interval is Shaoyin, and Shaoyin is on the Right, so the Right Chi pulse does not respond. Hence, "In Bei Zheng years, if Three Yin are Above, Chi does not respond." In Nan Zheng years, human Qi faces South, Cun is South, Chi is North. Heaven's Left Interval Qi is at Right Cun, Right Interval Qi is at Left Cun. Earth's Left Interval Qi is at Left Chi, Right Interval Qi is at Right Chi. Therefore, if Shaoyin is Si Tian, Left Interval is Taiyin, Right Interval is Jueyin, and both Cun pulses do not respond. If Jueyin is Si Tian, Left Interval is Shaoyin, Right Interval is Taiyang, and Shaoyin is on the Left, so the Right Cun pulse does not respond. If Taiyin is Si Tian, Left Interval is Shaoyang, Right Interval is Shaoyin, and Shaoyin is on the Right, so the Left Cun pulse does not respond. Hence, "In Nan Zheng years, if Three Yin are in Heaven, Cun does not respond." If Shaoyin is Zai Quan, Left Interval is Taiyin, Right Interval is Jueyin, and both Chi pulses do not respond. If Jueyin is Zai Quan, Left Interval is Shaoyin, Right Interval is Taiyang, and Shaoyin is on the Left, so the Left Chi pulse does not respond. If Taiyin is Zai Quan, Left Interval is Shaoyang, Right Interval is Shaoyin, and Shaoyin is on the Right, so the Right Chi pulse does not respond. Hence, "In Nan Zheng years, if Three Yin are in Earth, Chi does not respond." Following its Qi brings harmony means Yin and Yang are in their proper Cun/Chi positions. Violating its Qi brings disease, meaning Yin/Yang are either improperly positioned, alternating positions, losing position, Cun/Chi reversal, or Yin/Yang intersection. Regarding Southern and Northern Governance internal movement methods: Jia/Yi are Southern Governance; the remaining four are Northern Governance. In Southern Governance, Si Tian and Zai Quan both execute Earth Movement. In the remaining Northern Governance, Zai Quan executes the movement. For example, in Bei Zheng Yi-Hai years, if Jueyin is Si Tian, then Zai Quan executes Shaoyang Fire Movement. Similarly, in Yin-Shen years, if Shaoyang is Si Tian, then Zai Quan executes Jueyin Wood Movement. Others follow this pattern. Only in Bei Zheng, in Chen-Xu years, if Taiyang is Si Tian, Zai Quan should execute Taiyin Earth Movement. However, since Bei Zheng acts as minister and dares not execute Sovereign's order, it executes Metal Movement instead, which is the child of Earth, completing the Wood-Fire-Metal-Water four movements.)