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Originally there was no birth, who killed it? Originally there was no cleanliness, who defiled it? Originally there was no glory, who humiliated it? Originally there was no wholeness, who broke it? One who understands this can enter and exit the realm of creation and transformation, playing within life and death. These two schools of thought both attain the subtlety of non-birth and non-death, so they are recorded together.) Qibo said: "How thorough your question is! Only a Zhenren (True Person) can align their will with the Dao." The Emperor said: "Well said." (A Zhenren's body harmonizes with the Dao; since the Dao is infinite, their body is also infinite, thus they can transcend life and death, living as long as heaven and earth without end.)

(From *Suwen: Qi Jiao Bian Da Lun* [Treatise on the Great Changes in the Interaction of Qi], Appendix: *Theory of Yunqi*)
The Emperor asked: "The Five Yun (Five Phases/Periods) alternate in governance, corresponding to celestial cycles above; Yin and Yang cycle back and forth, cold and heat follow each other; true qi and evil qi clash, interior and exterior separate, the Six Channels (Liu Jing) are agitated, and the Five Qi shift excessively or deficiently. Regarding excess and deficiency, exclusive dominance and joint invasion, I wish to hear about their origins and the constant names associated with them." (Cycle refers to one year. The alternation of the Five Yun corresponds to celestial cycles, meaning the Qi of Heaven moves ceaselessly. The cycling of Yin and Yang and the succession of cold and heat correspond to the Qi of Earth, which remains still and holds its position. The clash of true and evil qi refers to the interference between righteous and pathogenic factors. The separation of interior and exterior means the loss of protection between the surface and interior. The agitation of the Six Channels and the shifting of the Five Qi refer to these variations. Due to excess, there is exclusive dominance in the Yun. Due to deficiency, there is joint invasion of Qi. Constant names refer to the recorded terminology of Yunqi.) Kibo bowed deeply and replied: "Your inquiry is remarkably perceptive! It elucidates the Great Dao. This is valued by the Supreme Deity and transmitted by former masters. Although I am not intelligent, I have heard its principles before." (Qibo's teacher was Jiudaiji.) The Emperor said: "I have heard that obtaining a worthy person but failing to teach them is called losing the Way; transmitting it to an unworthy person is disrespectfully leaking heavenly treasures. My virtue is indeed meager, insufficient to receive the Supreme Dao; yet the people grieve that they cannot fulfill their natural lifespan. I hope you will preserve this for infinity and let it flow without limit. If I take charge of implementing this, how should I proceed?" (The Dao is the source from which heaven, earth, and all things arise, hence it is called the Supreme Dao. Only sages know it, thus they can align with the Dao. Those who adhere to it today do not lose the Way. However, transmission through generations reveals that only sages truly understand sages, and the lineage of the Dao has its own authenticity. Therefore, transmitting the Dao is not difficult, but finding the right person is. Obtaining a person but not teaching them loses the person; teaching the wrong person loses the Dao; both are regrettable. Here, the Emperor speaks of himself, but essentially laments the difficulty of those inheriting the lineage.) Qibo said: "Please allow me to continue. The *Shangjing* states: 'One who knows the Dao understands astronomy above, geography below, and human affairs in the middle, and can endure for a long time.' This is what is meant." (Understanding these three aspects leads to universal comprehension, aligning with the Dao, preserving one's heavenly years, and thus achieving longevity. Ancients said: 'There has never been anyone who understood the principles of the *Neijing* but failed to live long.' This is what is meant. This section comes from the *Zhizhijiao Lun*, detailed in Disease Category Eight.) The Emperor asked: "What does this mean?" Qibo replied: "It is based on Qi positions. Positions in Heaven constitute Astronomy. Positions on Earth constitute Geography. Understanding the changes in Human Qi constitutes Human Affairs." (The Qi positions of the Three Powers each have their basis. Positions in Heaven are Astronomy, such as Yin-Yang, the Five Planets, wind, rain, cold, and heat. Positions on Earth are Geography, such as regional climates, water and soil, plants, and insects. Understanding changes in Human Qi is Human Affairs, such as interior-exterior, blood and qi, safety and danger, disease, and treatment.) Therefore, in cases of excess, Qi arrives before the season; in cases of deficiency, Qi arrives after the season. This is the principle of cosmic governance and human response." (When Yun is excessive, Qi arrives before the seasonal timing. When Yun is deficient, Qi arrives after the seasonal timing. The governance of Heaven operates above, and human safety/danger responds below.)
The Emperor asked: "How is the transformation of the Five Yun when in excess?" (Here follows the discussion on the excess of the Five Yun. Annual Yun surplus is called excess, such as the five Yang years: Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, Ren. If excess is controlled, it becomes a Pingqi (Balanced) year, not falling under the category of excess.) Qibo said: "In a Wood-excessive year, Wind Qi prevails, and Spleen Earth suffers from evil." (This refers to Ding-Mao and Ding-You years among the six Ren years. Wood transforms into Wind; Wood dominance overcomes Earth, so the Spleen organ suffers evil.) The people suffer from Sundxie (diarrhea with undigested food), reduced appetite, heavy body, mental depression, intestinal borborygmus, and abdominal distension. (Undigested food causes Sundxie. Spleen deficiency fails to transport, causing reduced appetite. Spleen governs muscles; its Qi decline causes heaviness. The Spleen meridian branches from the Stomach, crosses the diaphragm, and enters the heart, causing mental depression. Yuan refers to depression. The *Kouwen Pian* states: 'Deficiency of Middle Qi causes painful intestinal borborygmus.' The *Zangqi Fashi Lun* states: 'Spleen deficiency leads to abdominal fullness, borborygmus, Sundxie, and indigestion.') Above, it corresponds to the Year Star (Jupiter). (Jupiter. When Wood Qi is dominant, Jupiter shines brightly and monopolizes its command.) In severe cases, there is irritability, dizziness, vertigo, and diseases of the vertex. (Wood dominance strengthens the Liver, causing irritability. The Jueyin Liver meridian meets the Du meridian at the vertex, causing dizziness, vertigo, and vertex diseases.) The Transformation Qi (Earth) fails to exercise its function, while the Growth Qi (Wood) rules alone. Clouds and objects move chaotically, grass and trees are restless, and in extreme cases, they fall. (Transformation Qi refers to Earth Qi. Growth Qi refers to Wood Qi. Wood prosperity leads to Earth decline, so Transformation Qi cannot govern all things, and Wood's Growth Qi rules exclusively. Wind failing to show virtue causes clouds and objects to fly chaotically in the great void, and grass and trees to be restless. If Wood dominance continues, Metal acts as a counter-restraint, so the falling of grass and trees represents the Qi of Metal.) Conversely, there is hypochondriac pain and severe vomiting. If the Chongyang pulse vanishes, death occurs and is untreatable. (The Liver meridian distributes along the hypochondrium and ribs; Wood excess causes Liver rebellion, leading to hypochondriac pain. Severe vomiting indicates Wood evil injuring the Stomach. Chongyang is the Stomach pulse. Wood hyperactivity leads to Stomach exhaustion, resulting in death and untreatability.) Above, it corresponds to the White Star (Venus). (Venus. Wood dominance is restrained by Metal, so Venus shines brightly to respond to this Qi. In a year where Wood causes disaster, it first affects the constellations; the counter-reaction of Metal Qi then reaches the East. Humans responding to this first suffer Spleen injury, then Liver injury. The Book says 'Fullness invites loss'; the *Liuzhi Da Lun* says 'Restraint follows control,' which are examples of this. New Correction notes: Examining the stars associated with the five excess transformations, there are three examples: For Wood and Earth, the Year Star and Town Star are mentioned first, followed by the star overcoming them; for Fire and Metal, Yinghuo and Taibai are mentioned first, then the overcoming stars, and finally Yinghuo and Taibai again; for Water, Chenxing is mentioned first, then the Town Star, and finally Yinghuo and Chenxing, including the stars overcoming them.)
In a Fire-excessive year, Blazing Heat prevails, and Metal-Lung suffers from evil. (Six Wu years. Fire transforms into Summer Heat; Fire dominance overcomes Metal, so the Lung organ suffers evil.) The people suffer from malaria, shortness of breath, cough, and wheezing; hematemesis, hematochezia, and diarrhea; dry throat, deafness, chest heat, shoulder, and back heat. (Fire evil injures Yin, causing alternating cold and heat, leading to malaria. Vigorous fire consumes Qi, causing shortness of breath. Fire attacks Metal-Lung, causing cough and wheezing. Fire forces blood to move recklessly, causing bleeding from the mouth/nose and bowels. Fire nature is rapid, causing watery diarrhea. Dry throat, deafness, chest heat, and shoulder/back heat are all due to Fire flaming upward to the Upper Jiao. The *Zangqi Fashi Lun* states: 'Lung disease involves cough, wheezing, reverse Qi, shoulder and back pain; deficiency involves shortness of breath, inability to complete inhalation, deafness, and dry throat.') Above, it corresponds to the Yinghuo Star (Mars). (Mars. When Fire Qi is dominant, Mars shines brightly and holds its command.) In severe cases, there is chest pain, hypochondriac fullness and pain, pain in the chest, back, and scapulae, and pain in the inner arms. (These are areas traversed by the Heart meridian and Pericardium meridian; Fire excess creates evil, causing these symptoms. The *Zangqi Fashi Lun* states: 'Heart disease involves chest pain, hypochondriac fullness, lower hypochondriac pain, pain in the chest, back, and scapulae, and inner arm pain.') Body fever, bone pain, and spreading sores (Jinyin). (Fire excess causes body fever; Water deficiency causes bone pain; heat flowing throughout the body causes Jinyin sores. The *Yuji Zhenzang Lun* states: 'Excess of Heart pulse makes people feverish with skin pain, known as Jinyin.') The Receiving Qi (Metal) fails to act, while the Growing Qi (Fire) shines alone. Rain, frost, and cold occur. (Receiving Qi is Metal Qi. Growing Qi is Fire Qi. Fire excess leads to Metal decline, so Receiving Qi fails to act and Growing Qi shines alone. Fire failing to show virtue leads Water to counter-restrain, causing rain, frost, and cold. The *Wuchang Zheng Da Lun* reads 'rain, frost, and hail'.) Above, it corresponds to the Chenxing Star (Mercury). (Mercury. Fire hyperactivity is restrained by Water, so Mercury shines brightly to respond to this Qi. In a year where Fire causes disaster, it first affects the constellations; the counter-reaction of Water Qi reaches the South. Humans responding to this first suffer Lung injury, then Heart injury.) If superior to Shaoyin or Shaoyang, fire burns fiercely, springs dry up, and objects become scorched and withered. (All these Wu years involve excessive Fire. If encountering Zi-Wu years, it superiorly overlays Shaoyin Ministerial Fire. If encountering Yin-Shen years, it overlays Shaoyang Ministerial Fire. Both are Tianfu (Heavenly Matches), making the heat especially severe. Thus fire burns, springs dry, and objects scorch. Fan sounds like fan. , sounds like rui.) Illness reverses to delirium, madness, and wild behavior; cough, wheezing, and rhonchi; in severe lower cases, continuous bleeding and diarrhea. If the Taiyuan pulse vanishes, death occurs and is untreatable. Above, it corresponds to the Yinghuo Star. (In a Fire-dominant Tianfu year, human illness manifests as upper delirium, madness, cough, wheezing, and rhonchi; lower continuous bleeding and diarrhea. Taiyuan is the Lung pulse. Fire hyperactivity leads to Lung exhaustion, resulting in death and untreatability. Its excess and deficiency both correspond to Yinghuo.)
In an Earth-excessive year, Rain and Dampness prevail, and Kidney-Water suffers from evil. (Six Jia years. Earth transforms into Dampness; Earth dominance overcomes Water, so the Kidney organ suffers evil.) The people suffer from abdominal pain, cold extremities, low spirits, heavy body, and mental depression. (Qingjue refers to cold extremities. This is because Earth evil injures the Kidney, causing these symptoms. The *Zangqi Fashi Lun* states: 'Kidney disease involves heavy body. Kidney deficiency involves large and small abdominal pain, cold extremities, and low spirits.') Above, it corresponds to the Zhenting Star (Saturn). (Saturn. When Earth Qi is dominant, Saturn shines brightly and commands.) In severe cases, muscle atrophy, foot flaccidity and inability to move, frequent cramps during walking, foot pain, fluid retention with epigastric fullness, reduced appetite, and inability to lift the limbs. (Wei is synonymous with Wei. , refers to cramping/spasms. In severity, Earth evil is excessive, affecting the Spleen meridian itself. Spleen governs muscles and extends to the limbs; its meridian starts at the big toe and ascends, causing these illnesses. The *Zangqi Fashi Lun* states: 'Spleen disease involves frequent muscle atrophy, walking spasms, and foot pain. The *Yuji Zhenzang Lun* states: 'Excess of Spleen makes people unable to lift their limbs.' , sounds like chi, ji, xi.) Transformation generates proper positioning, (See Excess Five Yun. Only here is 'transformation generating proper positioning' mentioned, likely because Earth has no fixed position; whenever Earth evil transforms in the four seasons, it is at its proper position.) Organ Qi lies dormant, Transformation Qi rules alone. Springs surge, rivers overflow, dry marshes breed fish, great wind and rain arrive, earth collapses, and scaled creatures appear on land. (Organ Qi refers to Water Qi. Transformation Qi refers to Earth Qi. Yan means overflowing. Earth excess leads to Water decline, so Organ Qi lies dormant and Transformation Qi rules alone. Earth failing to show virtue allows Dampness to dominate greatly, causing springs to surge and rivers to overflow, and dry marshes to breed fish. If Dampness is excessive, Wind-Wood acts as a counter-restraint, causing great wind and rain. Earth collapsing and scaled creatures appearing on land is the counter-reaction of Wood Qi.) Illness involves abdominal fullness, loose stools, and intestinal borborygmus. If the lower part becomes severe and the Taixi pulse vanishes, death occurs and is untreatable. (These are all caused by Earth-Damp self-injury, where the Spleen cannot control it, leading to these syndromes. The *Zangqi Fashi Lun* states: 'Spleen deficiency leads to abdominal fullness, borborygmus, Sundxie, and indigestion.' Taixi is the Kidney pulse. Earth hyperactivity leads to Kidney exhaustion, resulting in death and untreatability.) Above, it corresponds to the Suixing Star (Jupiter). (Jupiter. Earth dominance is countered by Wood, so Jupiter shines brightly to respond to this Qi. In a year where Earth excess causes disaster, it first affects the constellations; the counter-reaction of Wood Qi reaches the Central Palace. Humans responding to this first suffer Kidney injury, then Spleen injury.)
In a Metal-excessive year, Dryness prevails, and Liver-Wood suffers from evil. (Six Geng years. Metal transforms into Dryness; Metal dominance overcomes Wood, so the Liver organ suffers evil.) The people suffer from pain in the lower hypochondrium and lower abdomen, red and painful eyes with ulcers, and hearing loss. (Lower hypochondrium, lower abdomen, eyes, and ears are all areas reached by the Liver-Gallbladder meridian Qi. Metal dominance injures the Wood organ, causing these symptoms.) If the Desiccating Qi is severe, there is heavy body and mental depression, chest pain radiating to the back, and fullness and pain in the hypochondrium radiating to the lower abdomen. (Metal excess leads to severe desiccation, injuring the Liver meridian and causing these diseases. The *Zangqi Fashi Lun* states: 'Liver disease involves pain in the lower hypochondrium radiating to the lower abdomen. Liver deficiency causes blurred vision and hearing loss. The *Yuji Zhenzang Lun* states: 'Deficiency of Liver pulse causes chest pain radiating to the back and lower hypochondriac fullness.') Above, it corresponds to the Taibai Star (Venus). (Venus. When Metal Qi is dominant, Taibai shines brightly and holds its command.) In severe cases, wheezing, cough, and reverse Qi; shoulder and back pain; diseases of the sacrum, yin, thigh, knee, thigh, and foot. (In severity, Metal evil is excessive, affecting the Lung meridian itself, causing wheezing, cough, reverse Qi, and shoulder/back pain. Metal disease fails to generate Water, causing Kidney Yin to also suffer, leading to diseases from the sacrum down to the foot. The *Zangqi Fashi Lun* states: 'Lung disease involves wheezing, cough, reverse Qi, shoulder/back pain, and pain in the sacrum, yin, thigh, knee, thigh, and foot.' Bi sounds like bing mi qie, or bi. Zhuan sounds like zhuan. Hang sounds like hang.) Above, it corresponds to the Yinghuo Star (Mars). (Mars. Metal dominance triggers Fire counter-reaction, so Yinghuo shines brightly to respond to this Qi. In a year of Metal excess, constellations suffer disaster; Fire Qi counters, affecting the West and beyond. Humans responding to this first suffer Liver injury, then Lung injury.) Receiving Qi is harsh, Growing Qi sinks. Grass and trees contract, turn pale, dry, and wither. (Receiving Qi is Metal Qi. Growing Qi is Wood Qi. Yun means falling. Metal dominance and Wood decline make Receiving Qi harsh and rapid, while Growing Qi sinks and fails to extend, causing grass and trees to contract, turn pale, dry, and wither. Yun sounds like yun.) Illness reverses to sudden severe pain, inability to turn the side due to hypochondriac pain, severe coughing with hemoptysis. If the Taichong pulse vanishes, death occurs and is untreatable. Above, it corresponds to the Taibai Star. (Sudden severe pain and inability to turn the side indicate Metal injuring the Liver. Severe coughing with hemoptysis indicates Fire counter-reacting on the Lung. Taichong is the Liver pulse. Metal hyperactivity leads to Liver exhaustion, resulting in death and untreatability. Its dominance and counter-reaction both correspond to Taibai. , sounds like qu, qu.)
In a Water-excessive year, Cold prevails, and evil harms Heart-Fire. (Six Bing years. Water transforms into Cold; Water dominance overcomes Fire, so the Heart organ suffers evil.) The people suffer from body fever, mental restlessness, palpitations, Yin reversal, cold in the upper, lower, and middle, delirium, and heart pain. Cold arrives early. (Ji refers to heart palpitations. These are all due to Heart evil, causing these symptoms, and cold should arrive early. Ji sounds like kui.) Above, it corresponds to the Chenxing Star (Mercury). (Mercury. When Water Qi is dominant, Chenxing shines brightly and commands.) In severe cases, abdominal swelling, leg edema, wheezing and cough, night sweats, and aversion to wind. (In severity, Water evil is excessive, affecting the Kidney meridian itself. The *Zangqi Fashi Lun* states: 'Kidney disease involves abdominal swelling, leg edema, wheezing/cough, heavy body, night sweats, and aversion to wind.' Note: Below should state 'Organ Qi moves, Growing Qi fails to govern,' but this is missing, indicating a lacuna. Zeng sounds like zeng.) Heavy rain arrives, dust and fog obscure and depress. (Water excess continues, Earth acts as a counter-restraint, producing these signs, which are the Qi of Earth. Meng sounds like meng.) Above, it corresponds to the Zhenting Star (Saturn). (Saturn. Water dominance triggers Earth counter-reaction, so Zhenting shines brightly to respond to this Qi. In a year of Water excess, constellations suffer disaster; Earth Qi counters, reaching the North. Humans responding to this first suffer Heart injury, then Kidney injury.) If superior to Taiyang, ice, snow, and frost fall irregularly, and dampness alters things. (This refers to Water Yun encountering Taiyang ruling the sky, specifically Bing-Chen and Bing-Xu years, forming a Tianfu (Heavenly Match), making the cold especially severe. Thus ice, snow, and frost fall irregularly, and dampness alters things.) Illness reverses to abdominal fullness, intestinal borborygmus, loose stools, and indigestion; thirst with delirium. If the Shenmen pulse vanishes, death occurs and is untreatable. Above, it corresponds to the Yinghuo and Chenxing Stars. (In a Water-dominant Tianfu year, Yang Qi greatly declines, counter-attacking Spleen-Earth, causing abdominal fullness etc. The *Zangqi Fashi Lun* states: 'Spleen deficiency leads to abdominal fullness, borborygmus, Sundxie, and indigestion.' If Water evil insults Fire, the Heart loses its function, causing thirst and delirium. Shenmen is the Heart pulse. Water hyperactivity leads to Heart exhaustion, resulting in death and untreatability. Above corresponds to Yinghuo and Chenxing; the dominant is bright, the deficient is dim. Note: Among the Excess Five Yun, only Water and Fire mention 'superior overlay,' likely highlighting the general principles of Yin and Yang. Furthermore, only Water Yun mentions Yinghuo and Chenxing, meaning when Water is excess and Fire is deficient, Chenxing is bright and Yinghuo dims. This applies to all Five Yun; citing these two ends allows deduction of the rest.)
The Emperor said: "Excellent. What about deficiency?" (Below discusses the transformation of Deficient Five Yun, such as Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin, Gui, the five Yin years. If deficiency receives assistance, it becomes a Pingqi (Balanced) year, not falling under the category of deficiency.) Qibo said: "How thorough your question is! In a Wood-deficient year, Dryness prevails greatly," (Six Ding years. Wood deficiency allows Metal to invade, so Dryness prevails greatly.) "Growth Qi fails to respond appropriately, and grass and trees bloom late." (Failure to respond means failing to match the season, hence late blooming.) "If desiccation is severe, hard trees split and crack, soft trees wither and turn pale and dry, above corresponding to the Taibai Star." (Severe desiccation indicates Metal dominance. Hard trees splitting refers to cracking like being chopped. Soft trees withering and turning pale/dry refers to turning dark green/black and withering. Above corresponding to stars, Taibai shines brightly and commands. Wei sounds like wei, or shang, qu.) The people suffer from central coldness, hypochondriac pain, lower abdominal pain, intestinal borborygmus, and loose stools. Cool rain arrives, above corresponding to the Taibai Star. (Central coldness, hypochondriac/lower abdominal pain is Metal invading Wood, a Liver disease. Intestinal borborygmus and loose stools is Wood failing to generate Fire, a Spleen cold. Metal Qi is clear and desiccating, so cool rain arrives, all corresponding to the brightness of Taibai. New Correction notes: In the deficiency Five Transformations' human illness signs, the stars above usually state the Yun star loses color and the feared star approaches constellations causing disaster; here only the feared star is mentioned, not the Yun star, indicating a textual lacuna. It should read 'Above corresponds to Taibai Star and Suixing Star.') Its grain is Cang (green/blue). (Grains of Cang color belong to Wood, such as hemp. Metal dominance without Fire counter-reaction means Cang grains fail to mature.) If superior to Yangming, Growth Qi fails to govern, grass and trees bloom twice, Transformation Qi becomes urgent, above corresponding to Taibai and Zhenting Stars, governing early withering of Cang grains. (Superior to Yangming refers to Ding-Mao and Ding-You years. Metal Qi is hyperactive, so Growth Qi fails to govern. Grass and trees bloom twice because Wood Qi is weak; when Fire and Earth are king, Earth is uncontrolled, so Transformation Qi becomes urgent, causing second blooming in summer and autumn. Above corresponding to stars, Metal and Earth shine brightly. Below governing things, Cang grains wither early. New Correction notes: Among deficiency Five Transformations, only Wood superior to Yangming, Earth superior to Jueyin, and Water superior to Taiyin are recorded, not Wood superior to Jueyin, Earth superior to Taiyin, or Metal determining Yangming. The scriptural intent records only the most severe cases. Thus in Excess Yun, only Fire superiors Fire and Water superiors Water are mentioned; in Deficiency Yun, only Water superiors Metal, Earth superiors Wood, and Water superiors Earth are mentioned, not Jueyin superiors Wood, Taiyin superiors Earth, or Yangming superiors Metal.) Counter-reaction brings blazing heat and flowing fire, dampness turns dry, fragile grass and trees scorch and wither, lower bodies regenerate, flowers and fruits transform simultaneously. Illness involves cold/heat, sores, carbuncles, acne, and eczema. Above corresponds to Yinghuo and Taibai, its grain is White and firm. (Counter-reaction means the child avenges the mother. Wood is weak, Metal is hyperactive, so Fire counter-reacts, causing blazing heat and flowing fire, drying damp substances, and scorching fragile grass/trees. Lower bodies regenerate. Since growth is late, flowers and fruits form simultaneously, called simultaneous transformation. Fire Qi becomes excessive, causing these illnesses. Above corresponding to stars, Yinghuo shines, Taibai dims, and constellations suffer disaster. Above corresponding to grains,