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[Chart of Five Movements with Tai (Excess) and Shao (Deficiency), Qi (Restraint) and Jian (Concurrent) Transformations]
[Chart of Adverse and Favorable Interactions of Qi and Movements over Sixty Years]

Qi movements differ in prosperity and decline; the Heavenly Stems of years differ in Tai (Excess/Yang years) and Shao (Deficiency/Yin years). Yang years are called "Five Tai" because their Qi is prosperous and excessive; Yin years are called "Five Shao" because their Qi is deficient and insufficient. In Excess years, one's own overcoming Qi prevails, but it instead restrains and assimilates the transformation of the element that overcomes it; in Deficiency years, one's own Qi is weak, allowing the element that overcomes it to come and concurrently manage its transformation. This corresponds above to heaven with phenomena of stars shining brighter or dimmer; this corresponds below to earth with signs of consumption or nurturing in flora and fauna. This is because the states of rest, imprisonment, prosperity, and phase of the Five Movements differ, leading to variations in the density of maturation or injury among all things. However, in years of deficiency, if assisted and combined, the transformation is the same as the normal transformation; in periods of excess, if restrained and suppressed, peace is achieved. This is why the principles of generation-transformation, overcoming-retribution are endless; and how can the subtleties of responding to changes in months be rigidly adhered to? Unless one is a scholar who understands weighing and adapting to change, it is difficult to attain this level. The outline is listed below:

**Years of Excess (Tai)**
All Yang years of the Five Movements each govern six years, totaling thirty years for five and six. In years of excess, one reverses to restrain and assimilate the transformation of the element that overcomes oneself. For example: Tai Gong Earth Movement reverses to restrain Wood transformation; Tai Jiao Wood Movement reverses to restrain Metal transformation; Tai Shang Metal Movement reverses to restrain Fire transformation; Tai Zheng Fire Movement reverses to restrain Water transformation; Tai Yu Water Movement reverses to restrain Earth transformation.

**Years of Deficiency (Shao)**
The Yin years of the Five Movements each govern six years, totaling thirty years for five and six. In years of deficiency, the overcoming element comes to concurrently manage the transformation. For example: Shao Gong Earth Movement, Wood comes to concurrently transform; Shao Jiao Wood Movement, Metal comes to concurrently transform; Shao Shang Metal Movement, Fire comes to concurrently transform; Shao Zheng Fire Movement, Water comes to concurrently transform; Shao Yu Water Movement, Earth comes to concurrently transform.

**Tai Gong**
Refers to the six Jia years.

**Tai Shang**
Refers to the six Geng years, where Metal Movement is in excess. If encountering Zi-Wu years with Sovereign Fire ruling Heaven, or Yin-Shen years with Ministerial Fire ruling Heaven, then Tai Shang is suppressed by the Heaven's Fire, thereby achieving balance. This is what is meant by "Upper Zheng" being the same as "Normal Shang". "Normal Shang" refers to cases like Yi-You where there is harmonious similarity. The rest follow this pattern. If encountering Chen-Xu years with Cold Water ruling Heaven, it is also considered a minor adverse interaction, because Water is the child of Metal, and the child residing above the father is termed adverse. The rest follow this pattern.

**Tai Jiao**
Refers to the six Ren years, where Wood Movement is in excess. If encountering Zi-Wu and Yin-Shen years with Fire ruling Heaven, it is adverse, because the child resides above the father.

**Tai Zheng**
Refers to the six Wu years, where Fire Movement is in excess. If encountering Chen-Xu years with Cold Water ruling Heaven, then Tai Zheng is suppressed, thereby achieving balance. This is what is meant by "Upper Yu" being the same as "Normal Zheng".

**Tai Yu**
Refers to the six Bing years.

**Shao Gong**
Refers to the six Ji years, where Earth Movement is deficient. If encountering Chou-Wei years with Damp Earth ruling Heaven, the Central Movement receives assistance. This is what is meant by "Upper Gong" being the same as "Normal Gong". If encountering Si-Hai years with Wind Wood ruling Heaven, then Wood concurrently transforms Earth. This is what is meant by "Upper Jiao" being the same as "Normal Jiao".

**Shao Shang**
Refers to the six Yi years, where Metal Movement is deficient. If encountering Mao-You years with Dry Metal ruling Heaven, the Central Movement receives assistance. This is what is meant by "Upper Shang" being the same as "Normal Shang". If encountering Si-Hai years with Wind Wood ruling Heaven, due to deficient Metal, Fire comes to concurrently transform, so Wood obtains its governance. This is what is meant by "Upper Jiao" being the same as "Normal Jiao".

**Shao Jiao**
Refers to the six Ding years, where Wood Movement is deficient. If encountering Si-Hai years with Wind Wood ruling Heaven, the Central Movement receives assistance. This is what is meant by "Upper Jiao" being the same as "Normal Jiao". If encountering Mao-You years with Dry Metal ruling Heaven, then Metal concurrently transforms Wood. This is what is meant by "Upper Shang" being the same as "Normal Shang". If encountering Chou-Wei years with Damp Earth ruling Heaven, due to deficient Wood, Metal comes to concurrently transform, so Earth obtains its governance. This is what is meant by "Upper Gong" being the same as "Normal Gong".

**Shao Zheng**
Refers to the six Gui years, where Fire Movement is deficient. If encountering Mao-You years with Dry Metal ruling Heaven, due to deficient Fire, Water comes to concurrently transform, so Metal obtains its governance. This is what is meant by "Upper Shang" being the same as "Normal Shang".

**Shao Yu**
Refers to the six Xin years, where Water Movement is deficient. If encountering Chou-Wei years with Damp Earth ruling Heaven, then Earth concurrently transforms Water. This is what is meant by "Upper Gong" being the same as "Normal Gong".

**Qi Transformation (Restraining Assimilation)**
In all Yang years of excess, one is prosperous. If encountering the Qi that overcomes one, if it cannot overcome me, I instead restrain and assimilate it. For example: In Wu years, Water Movement rules Heaven; Upper Yu is the same as Normal Zheng, meaning Fire restrains Water. In Geng years, Fire Movement rules Heaven; Upper Zheng is the same as Normal Shang, meaning Metal restrains Fire.

**Jian Transformation (Concurrent Assimilation)**
In all Yin years of deficiency, one is weak. When one is weak, the element that overcomes one comes to concurrently manage my transformation, using strength to cover weakness. For example: In Ji years, Wood Movement rules Heaven; Upper Jiao is the same as Normal Jiao, meaning Wood concurrently transforms Earth. In Xin years, Earth Movement rules Heaven; Upper Gong is the same as Normal Gong, meaning Earth concurrently transforms Water. In Ding years, Metal Movement rules Heaven; Upper Shang is the same as Normal Shang, meaning Metal concurrently transforms Wood.

**Ping Qi (Balanced Qi)**
Such as when an Excess movement is suppressed, or a Deficient movement receives assistance. For example: In Wu-Chen, a Yang year, Fire Movement is in excess but is suppressed by Cold Water ruling Heaven; in Gui-Si, a Yin year, Fire Movement is deficient but is assisted by the Si position in the South; in Xin-Hai, Water Movement is deficient but is assisted by the Hai position in the North. Also, in Ding years, Wood Movement rules Heaven, Upper Jiao is the same as Normal Jiao; in Ji years, Earth Movement rules Heaven, Upper Gong is the same as Normal Gong; in Yi years, Metal Movement rules Heaven, Upper Shang is the same as Normal Shang. All are called Ping Qi, and the generation of things and pulse responses all obtain balanced Qi.

**De Zheng (Obtaining Governance)**
For example, in Yi years (Yin Metal), Wood rules Heaven, Metal Movement is deficient, Fire comes to concurrently transform, so Wood is not overcome and obtains its governance. This is what is meant by "Upper Jiao" being the same as "Normal Jiao". In Ding years (Yin Wood), Earth rules Heaven, Wood Movement is deficient, Metal comes to concurrently transform, so Earth is not overcome and obtains its governance. This is what is meant by "Upper Gong" being the same as "Normal Gong". In Gui years (Yin Fire), Metal rules Heaven, Fire Movement is deficient, Water comes to concurrently transform, so Metal is not overcome and obtains its governance. This is what is meant by "Upper Shang" being the same as "Normal Shang". Although this is not the principle of "excess leads to harm", it is akin to a son saving his mother, and the meaning of the excess receiving restraint.

**Gan De Fu (Stem Virtue Resonance)**
Refers to the month, day, and hour when the new movement first intersects, which aligns with the movement, thus also achieving balance. For example, in Ding-Hai year, if the month, day, and hour at the first intersection obtain Ren, then Ren combines with Ding. If it is not the time of first intersection, they do not assist each other. What is meant by combining is: Jia combines with Ji, Yi combines with Geng, Bing combines with Xin, Ding combines with Ren, Wu combines with Gui. Also, if in Yin years the overcoming Qi has not yet arrived, or after the retribution for being overcome has occurred, obtaining the assistance and combination of the Stem from the month building at the time of the first intersection of the Six Qi, one obtains the correct position and also acquires Ping Qi.

**Shang (Upper)**
Here, whenever "Shang" (Upper) is mentioned, it refers to the Ruling Heaven (Si Tian). Whenever "Normal Gong", "Normal Shang", etc., are mentioned, it refers to the Balanced Qi of the Five Movements being the norm. The Five Movements are originally few, and the records vary because some encounters happen and some do not. Also, Sovereign Fire, Ministerial Fire, and Cold Water typically belong to the Ruling Heaven of Yang years; Wind Wood, Damp Earth, and Dry Metal typically belong to the Ruling Heaven of Yin years. Over sixty years, there are various upper and lower interactions: sometimes Heaven overcomes Movement, sometimes Movement overcomes Heaven, sometimes the Excess does not practice its virtue, or the Deficient encounters what overcomes it. Thus, the *Great Treatise on the Movement of Five Qi* states: "When Qi is compatible, the disease is mild; when incompatible, the disease is severe." Compatible means, for example, Wood and Fire interacting, Fire and Earth interacting, Earth and Metal interacting, Metal and Water interacting, Water and Wood interacting. These are "generating from above to below," where Ruling Heaven generates the Movement. Incompatible means, for example, Wood and Earth interacting, Earth and Water interacting, Water and Fire interacting, Fire and Metal interacting, Metal and Wood interacting. These are "overcoming from above to below," where Ruling Heaven overcomes the Movement. Also, Earth over Fire, Fire over Wood, Wood over Water, Water over Metal, Metal over Earth, these are "generating from below to above." Although said to be generating, since the child resides above the mother, it is also a minor adverse interaction and indicates mild disease. Also, Wood over Metal/Earth, Fire over Water/Metal, Earth over Wood/Water, Metal over Fire/Wood, Water over Earth/Fire, these are Heaven and Movement overcoming each other, constituting incompatibility, hence the disease is severe. Others such as Tai Yi Tian Fu, Sui Hui, Tong Tian Fu, Tong Sui Hui, although all called Ping Qi, their purity and impurity naturally differ, and the severity of adverse/favorable interactions varies. Moreover, if Ruling Heaven has interactions, does Not-Ruling Heaven (Zai Quan) not have interactions? If Heaven and Earth have interactions, do the Six Steps not have interactions? The profound principles are infinite; inferring three from one corner, the key lies in speculating according to opportunities. This should be consulted together with the Chart of Tian Fu and Sui Hui, and the Records of Qi and Movement Policies over Sixty Years.