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Yellow Emperor asked: How do the six Qi of Cold, Heat, Dryness, Dampness, Wind, and Fire correspond to the human body? What is their role in the generation and transformation of all things? Qibo replied: The East generates Wind, and Wind generates Wood. In Heaven it manifests as Mystery (Xuan), in Man it manifests as Dao, and on Earth it manifests as Transformation (Hua). Transformation generates the Five Flavors, Dao generates Wisdom, Mystery generates Spirit (Shen), and Transformation generates Qi. Spirit in Heaven manifests as Wind, and on Earth manifests as Wood. Its nature is warmth, its virtue is harmony, its function is movement, its color is green/cyan, its transformation is flourishing, its associated animals are those with fur, its governance is dispersion, its command is dissemination, its abnormal change is destruction and tearing, and its disaster is falling. The South generates Heat, and Heat generates Fire. The Center generates Dampness, and Dampness generates Earth. The West generates Dryness, and Dryness generates Metal. The North generates Cold, and Cold generates Water. The Five Qi take turns ruling, each having its precedence; if not in its proper position, it becomes pathogenic; if in its proper position, it is normal. Yellow Emperor asked: How do diseases undergo changes? Qibo said: When the Qi are compatible, the disease is mild; when incompatible, it is severe. Yellow Emperor asked: How does the ruling year's Qi behave? Qibo said: If Qi is in excess, it controls what it normally overcomes and insults what it cannot overcome; if Qi is deficient, what it cannot overcome bullies and exploits it, and what it normally overcomes lightly insults it. Those who insult may instead suffer from pathogenic factors because they lack reverence. Yellow Emperor said: Excellent. (See Zang-Xiang Category 6.)

The movement of Heaven should be determined by the brightness of the Sun. (Disease 5.)

When the weather is warm and sunny, human blood becomes fluid and Wei-Qi floats on the surface; thus blood is easily discharged and Qi moves easily. When the weather is cold and cloudy, human blood becomes stagnant and Wei-Qi sinks. When the moon begins to wax, blood and Qi begin to refine, and Wei-Qi begins to circulate; when the moon is full, blood and Qi are substantial, and muscles are firm; when the moon wanes, muscles diminish, meridians become empty, Wei-Qi departs, and only the form remains. Therefore, one must regulate blood and Qi according to heavenly timing. Stars are used to measure the movement of the sun and moon. The Eight Norms (Bafen) are used to observe the deficiency pathogens of the Eight Winds arriving at their proper times. The Four Seasons are used to distinguish where the Qi of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter reside, allowing for timely regulation; one must avoid the deficiency pathogens of the Eight Norms and not offend them. With a weak body encountering weak heaven, two deficiencies interacting, the Qi reaches the bone; entering inward, it damages the Zang organs. If physicians wait and rescue promptly, they cannot be damaged; thus, it is said that Heavenly Taboos must not be unknown. (Acupuncture 13.)

One must first know the annual Qi and not disrupt the natural Harmony of Heaven. (Treatment Discussion 11.)

Natural transformation cannot be replaced by human intervention, and seasonal timing cannot be violated. (Treatment Discussion 12.)

The Qi of various diseases can be divided into four periods within a single day. (Disease 23.)

Yang Qi governs the exterior during the day. At dawn, human Qi begins to generate; at noon, Yang Qi is most vigorous; at sunset, Yang Qi is already deficient, and the pores close. (Disease 5.)

Humans participate in Heaven and Earth and correspond to the Sun and Moon. Thus, when the moon is full, seawater swells toward the west, human blood and Qi accumulate, muscles are full, skin is dense, hair is firm, and interstices are tight, so smoke residue adheres. At this time, even if attacked by treacherous winds, the invasion is shallow. When the moon wanes, seawater swells toward the east, human blood and Qi are deficient, Wei-Qi departs, form remains alone, muscles diminish, skin relaxes, interstices open, hair falls out, interstices become thin, and smoke residue falls off. At this time, encountering treacherous winds leads to deep invasion and sudden, violent illness. (Luck 36.)

Yin contains Yin, and Yang contains Yang. From dawn to noon, it is Heaven's Yang, which is Yang within Yang; from noon to dusk, it is Heaven's Yang, which is Yin within Yang; from nightfall to rooster crow, it is Heaven's Yin, which is Yin within Yin; from rooster crow to dawn, it is Heaven's Yin, which is Yang within Yin. Thus, humans also correspond to this. (Yin-Yang 5.)

At noon, Yang peaks, called Double Yang; at midnight, Yin peaks, called Double Yin. Midnight is Yin peak; after midnight, Yin declines, and at dawn, Yin ends and Yang receives Qi. Noon is Yang peak; sunset is Yang decline; at sunset, Yang ends and Yin receives Qi. At midnight, there is a great convergence, and all people sleep, called Convergence of Yin. (Meridians 23.)

Heaven encompasses 28 Mansions, each divided into 36 parts. (Meridians 26.)

A year has 12 months, a day has 12 double-hours. Zi-Wu forms the meridian line, Mao-You forms the latitude line. Heaven encompasses 28 Mansions, seven stars per side, totaling 28 stars. Fang and Mao form the latitude lines, Xu and Zhang form the meridian lines. From Fang to Bi is Yang, from Mao to Wei is Yin. Yang governs day, Yin governs night. As the sun travels one Mansion, human Qi circulates once plus eight-tenths of the body. (Meridians 25.)

The three months of Spring are called "Revealing the Old." Heaven and Earth grow together, and all things flourish. This is the response to Spring Qi, the way of nourishing life. Violating it injures the Liver, causing cold transformations in Summer, with little left to support growth. The three months of Summer are called "Lush and Beautiful." Heaven and Earth Qi intersect, and all things flower and fruit. This is the response to Summer Qi, the way of nourishing growth. Violating it injures the Heart, causing malaria in Autumn, with little left to support harvesting, leading to severe illness at Winter Solstice. The three months of Autumn are called "Containing and Leveling." Heaven's Qi is urgent, Earth's Qi is clear. This is the response to Autumn Qi, the way of nourishing harvesting. Violating it injures the Lungs, causing undigested diarrhea in Winter, with little left to support storage. The three months of Winter are called "Closing and Storing." Water freezes, earth cracks; do not disturb Yang. This is the response to Winter Qi, the way of nourishing storage. Violating it injures the Kidneys, causing flaccidity and cold limbs in Spring, with little left to support generation. (Preservation 4.)

The warmth of Spring becomes the heat of Summer; the severity of Autumn becomes the anger of Winter. Spring corresponds to the compass circle, Summer to the square ruler, Autumn to the balance beam, Winter to the steelyard weight. Thus, 45 days after Winter Solstice, Yang Qi slightly ascends, Yin Qi slightly descends; 45 days after Summer Solstice, Yin Qi slightly ascends, Yang Qi slightly descends. Yin and Yang have their times, corresponding to the pulse cycle. (Pulse Color 9.)

Large and small months total 360 days to form a year, and humans also correspond. Life arises due to Spring, grows due to Summer, harvests due to Autumn, stores due to Winter. Deviating from this causes Heaven and Earth to be blocked. (Meridians 29.)

What is meant by "overcoming of the Four Seasons" is: Spring overcomes Long Summer, Long Summer overcomes Winter, Winter overcomes Summer, Summer overcomes Autumn, Autumn overcomes Spring. This is called the overcoming of the Four Seasons. (Disease Category 27.)

In Spring and Summer, Yang Qi is abundant and Yin Qi is scarce; in Autumn and Winter, Yin Qi is prosperous and Yang Qi is declining. (Disease 34.)

Zang organs correspond to Winter, colors to Spring, seasons to Summer, tones to Long Summer, flavors to Autumn. (Acupuncture 17.)

Spring Qi resides in the Main Meridians, Summer Qi in the Branch Collaterals, Long Summer Qi in the Muscles, Autumn Qi in the Skin, and Winter Qi in the Bone Marrow. Yellow Emperor said: I wish to hear the reason. Qibo said: In Spring, Heaven's Qi opens, Earth's Qi exudes, ice melts, water flows, and meridians connect, so human Qi is in the vessels. In Summer, vessels are full, Qi overflows, entering branch collaterals to receive blood, making skin substantial. In Long Summer, both meridians and collaterals are prosperous, overflowing internally into muscles. In Autumn, Heaven's Qi gathers, interstices close, skin tightens. In Winter, covering and storing occurs, blood and Qi remain inside, attaching to bone marrow and connecting to the Zang organs. Therefore, pathogenic Qi often enters and lodges following the changes of seasonal blood and Qi; regarding its variations, no fixed measure can be applied. (Acupuncture 19.)

Spring Qi is in the fine hairs, Summer Qi in the skin, Autumn Qi in the muscle layers, Winter Qi in the tendons and bones. (Acupuncture 18.)

First and second lunar months, Heaven's Qi begins to stabilize, human Qi is in the Liver. Third and fourth months, Heaven's Qi is stable, Earth's Qi develops, human Qi is in the Spleen. Fifth and sixth months, Heaven's Qi is abundant, Earth's Qi is high, human Qi is in the head. Seventh and eighth months, Yin Qi begins to kill, human Qi is in the Lungs. Ninth and tenth months, Yin Qi begins to freeze, Earth's Qi closes, human Qi is in the Heart. Eleventh and twelfth months, ice returns, Earth's Qi combines, human Qi is in the Kidneys. (Acupuncture 19.)

The Eastern region is where Heaven and Earth begin to generate. The Western region is land of gold and jade, sand and stone, where Heaven and Earth gather and draw in. The Northern region is where Heaven and Earth store and hide. The Southern region is where Heaven and Earth nurture and raise, where Yang Qi is abundant; the terrain is low, waters and soils are weak, and fog and dew gather. The Central region is flat and damp, where Heaven and Earth produce many things. (Treatment Discussion 9.)

The body shape corresponds to the Nine Fields. Heavenly Taboos. (Meridians 35.)

Violating Spring Qi, Shaoyang does not generate, Liver Qi changes internally. Violating Summer Qi, Taiyang does not grow, Heart Qi becomes hollow internally. Violating Autumn Qi, Taiyin does not collect, Lung Qi becomes dry and full. Violating Winter Qi, Shao Yin does not store, Kidney Qi sinks alone. The Yin and Yang of the Four Seasons are the root of all things; therefore, sages nourish Yang in Spring and Summer, and nourish Yin in Autumn and Winter, to follow their root. (Preservation 6.)

The Spleen does not rule a specific season. (Zang-Xiang 7.)

Virtue, transformation, governance, command, disaster, and change cannot add to each other. Victory, return, prosperity, and decline cannot multiply each other. Coming and going, small and large, cannot exceed each other. Use, ascent and descent, cannot exist without each other. Each follows its movement and returns. (Luck 12.)

Where there is victory, there is return; where there is no victory, there is no return. When victory arrives, return follows; there is no constant number, it stops only when declining. After return ends, victory comes again; if there is no return, harm results, injuring life. (Luck 29.)

Acting upon danger, arriving quickly, heat and might without virtue, disaster returns to them. Minor victories bring minor returns, major victories bring major returns. (Luck 13.)

Yin and Yang are Cold and Heat. Heat brings rain above, roots lack juice, human Qi is outside, skin is relaxed, interstices open, blood and Qi decrease, sweat pours heavily, skin is moist. Cold freezes earth and water, human Qi is inside, skin is dense, interstices close, no sweat, blood and Qi are strong, muscles are hard and astringent. (Acupuncture 35.)

Treating the Wang Qi (Dominant Qi) leads to error. (Treatment Discussion 7.)

Therefore, a practitioner who does not know the annual additions, the rise and fall of Qi, and the origin of deficiency and excess cannot be a skilled physician. (Acupuncture 6.)