Library

Figure and Explanation of Tianfu and Suihui

**Tianfu (Heavenly符)**

Tianfu refers to the situation where the Central Yun (annual governing Qi) corresponds with the Si Tian (Heavenly Qi presiding over the upper part). For example, in a Ding year with Wood Yun, if the upper position is Jueyin Wind-Wood Si Tian, such as in the Ding-Si year, there are twelve such years in total.

**Taiyi Tianfu (Supreme Heavenly符)**

Taiyi Tianfu occurs when, for instance, in a Wu-Wu year, the Fire Yun coincides with the Wu branch (Fire), and Shaoyin Ministerial Fire is the Si Tian. The three elements—Heaven, Yun, and Branch—combine to govern together. There are four such years.

**Suihui (Year Meeting)**

Suihui refers to the situation where the Central Yun shares the same Qi transformation attribute as the Year Branch. For example, Wood Yun meeting Mao (Wood) or Fire Yun meeting Wu (Fire). There are eight such years in total.

**Tongtianfu and Tongsuihui (Same Heavenly符 and Same Year Meeting)**

Tongtianfu and Tongsuihui refer to the alignment of the Central Yun with the Zai Quan (Earthly Qi presiding over the lower part). In Yang years, it is called Tongtianfu; in Yin years, it is called Tongsuihui. For example, in a Jia-Chen year, Yang Earth Yun with Taiyin Damp-Earth Zai Quan constitutes Tongtianfu; in a Gui-Mao year, Yin Fire Yun with Shaoyin Ministerial Fire Zai Quan constitutes Tongsuihui. There are twelve such years in total.

Tianfu and Suihui denote the correspondence of Qi transformations. *Suwen: Liweizhi Dalun* states: "Heavenly Qi begins with Jia, Earthly Qi begins with Zi. When Zi and Jia combine, the year is established." Through the superposition of Qi transformations, phenomena such as Tianfu, Suihui, and their fluctuations of excess and deficiency arise. Thus, the Heavenly and Earthly commands of each year are divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower Qi: Si Tian governs the Heavenly command, acting in the Upper; Yun governs the mechanism of growth and transformation, acting in the Middle; Zai Quan governs Earthly transformation, acting in the Lower. When encountering matching Qi, the transformation is balanced (Ping); when encountering mismatched Qi, the transformation is adverse (Ni). Therefore, it is said: "Not in its proper position is Evil Qi; in its proper position is Correct Qi. Evil Qi causes severe changes, while Correct Qi causes mild changes." It is also stated: "Tianfu is like an Law Enforcer, Suihui is like a Law Executor, and Taiyi Tianfu is like a Noble Person." Striking the Law Enforcer (Tianfu) results in rapid and critical illness; striking the Law Executor (Suihui) results in slow and persistent illness; striking the Noble Person (Taiyi Tianfu) results in sudden and fatal illness. Although both Tianfu and Suihui possess pure Qi, if they become excessively hyperactive, they inevitably cause pathogenic invasion, varying in severity. Thus, illness from Suihui is lighter because the Executor's authority is lesser; illness from Tianfu is heavier because the Enforcer's authority is greater; illness from Taiyi Tianfu is most severe because all three Qi are injured, and the Noble Person's Qi cannot be offended. Hence, *Suwen: Tianyuanji Dalun* says: "Knowing how to welcome and follow the Qi allows one to predict its changes."

Regarding Tianfu, *Tianyuanji Dalun* states: "Responding to Heaven is Tianfu." This means the Central Yun Qi is identical to the Si Tian Qi. "Fu" implies combination. As *Liweizhi Dalun* states: In Wood Yun years, Jueyin appears above; in Fire Yun years, Shaoyang and Shaoyin appear above; in Earth Yun years, Taiyin appears above; in Metal Yun years, Yangming appears above; in Water Yun years, Taiyang appears above. These are Tianfu cases. Furthermore, *Liuyuan Zhengji Dalun* states: In Wu-Zi and Wu-Wu years, Great Zhi (Fire Yun) is above Shaoyin; in Wu-Yin and Wu-Shen years, Great Zhi (Fire Yun) is above Shaoyang; in Bing-Chen and Bing-Xu years, Great Yu (Water Yun) is above Taiyang. These constitute three instances. In Ding-Si and Ding-Hai years, Minor Jue (Wood Yun) is above Jueyin; in Yi-Mao and Yi-You years, Minor Shang (Metal Yun) is above Yangming; in Ji-Chou and Ji-Wei years, Minor Gong (Earth Yun) is above Taiyin. These constitute another three instances. The former three refer to "Great" (Excess) years; the latter three refer to "Minor" (Deficiency) years. "Above" refers to Si Tian; "Lin" (overlooking/superimposing) refers to the superposition of Heavenly Yun. Although the wording differs between these two treatises, the meaning is consistent. There are twelve Tianfu years in total. Among them, Wu-Wu, Yi-You, Ji-Chou, and Ji-Wei are also Suihui years. Since they are both Tianfu and Suihui, the Heaven, Yun, and Year Branch converge, forming Taiyi Tianfu. For example, in the Wu-Wu year, Wu represents Fire Yun, Wu year has Ministerial Fire Si Tian, and Wu belongs to the Southern Fire position. Thus, it is said that the three combine to govern.

Taiyi Tianfu is an honorific title, hence referred to as the Noble Person. There are four such years: Wu-Wu, Ji-Chou, Ji-Wei, and Yi-You. See the previous discussion on Tianfu for details.

Regarding Suihui, *Tianyuanji Dalun* states: "Inheriting the Year is Sui Zhi." This refers to the Central Yun Qi being identical to the Year Branch. *Liweizhi Dalun* states: "Wood Yun meets Mao, Fire Yun meets Wu, Earth Yun meets the Four Seasons (Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei), Metal Yun meets You, Water Yun meets Zi." This is called Suihui, representing balanced Qi. Regardless of Yin or Yang years, if the Four Cardinal Branches (Zi, Wu, Mao, You) align with the Yun, it is called Si Zhi Cheng Sui. The Four Cardinal Branches are Zi, Wu, Mao, and You. For Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei, Earth has no fixed position but thrives at the end of the four seasons, lasting about eighteen days each; thus, they are also generally considered as inheriting the Year. Suihui totals eight years. Four of these overlap with Tianfu, constituting Taiyi Tianfu. Outside these eight years, there are four years resembling Suihui but not technically so, such as Ren-Yin (both Wood), Geng-Shen (both Metal), Gui-Si (both Fire), and Xin-Hai (both Water). Here, Yun and Branch match, but they are not Suihui because they do not occupy the Four Cardinal positions. However, excluding the two Yang years (Ren-Yin, Geng-Shen) which lack harmony, the two Yin years (Gui-Si, Xin-Hai), though not Suihui, have Yin and Yang assisting each other, achieving balanced Qi. Their biological generation and pulse responses also conform to the season.

Regarding Tongtianfu and Tongsuihui, this refers to the alignment of Central Yun with Zai Quan. Yang years are Tongtianfu; Yin years are Tongsuihui. *Liuyuan Zhengji Dalun* states: In Jia-Chen and Jia-Xu years, Great Gong (Earth Yun) is added below Taiyin; in Ren-Yin and Ren-Shen years, Great Jue (Wood Yun) is added below Jueyin; in Geng-Zi and Geng-Wu years, Great Shang (Metal Yun) is added below Yangming. These three instances refer to the three "Great" years as Tongtianfu. It further states: In Gui-Si and Gui-Hai years, Minor Zhi (Fire Yun) is added below Shaoyang; in Xin-Chou and Xin-Wei years, Minor Yu (Water Yun) is added below Taiyang; in Gui-Mao and Gui-You years, Minor Zhi (Fire Yun) is added below Shaoyin. These three instances refer to the three "Minor" years as Tongsuihui. Thus, it is said: Excess years adding Zai Quan are Tongtianfu (the three Great years); Deficiency years adding Zai Quan are Tongsuihui (the three Minor years). "Added below" means Zai Quan is in the lower position.

Summarizing the above: Tianfu (12 years), Taiyi Tianfu (4 years), Suihui (8 years), Tongtianfu (6 years), and Tongsuihui (6 years). Counted separately, they total 36 years. However, the 4 Taiyi Tianfu years are included within the 12 Tianfu years; and 4 of the 8 Suihui years are also within the Tianfu years. Therefore, counted collectively, within a 60-year cycle, there are only 28 years. *Liuyuan Zhengji Dalun* mentions "twenty-four years," likely referring only to Tianfu (12 years) plus Tongtianfu and Tongsuihui (12 years), totaling 24 years, excluding Suihui and Taiyi Tianfu. This distinction requires careful examination.