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Heavenly Punishment Yun refers to the thirty-year cycle in the laws of Six Qi operation that is paired with Yang years. In this period, the Yun (Five Movements) should theoretically be "Excessive" (Tai Guo). However, due to the restraint exerted by the Si Tian (Chief Qi ruling the upper heaven), although the Qi is vigorous, it cannot reach a state of true Excess. Therefore, this condition is neither "Excessive" nor "Deficient" (Bu Ji); consequently, there are no disasters, nor is there any interaction of Overcoming and Repaying (Sheng Fu). This is because it does not belong to Yin years.

First case: Geng Zi year. Geng Metal Yun is "Excessive," and Zi is a Yang year. Why is five added to the numerical calculation? In the Bagua (Eight Trigrams), Zi corresponds to Kan, which has a number of one. Geng Metal Yun in a Yang year should be Excessive. However, with Shao Yin Jun Huo (Lesser Yin Sovereign Fire) as the Si Tian, the fire restrains the Metal Yun below. Although Fire suppresses and Metal becomes vigorous, the Metal Qi cannot be in excess; thus, it is not truly Excessive. Following the "Generating Number" principle, four is added. One plus four equals five; therefore, five ke (time units) are added. When the Yun transitions, facing Shen and observing, only White Qi appears. From Geng to Zi, the cycle ends. Finally, Red Qi descends from Heaven to punish the Metal Qi, preventing Metal from injuring Wood. This is neither a Yin year nor true Excess, hence it is called Heavenly Punishment Yun.

Second case: Geng Wu year. Geng Metal Yun should be Excessive, and Wu is a Yang year. Why is thirteen added to the numerical calculation? In the Bagua, Wu corresponds to Li, which has a number of nine. Geng Metal Yun in a Yang year should be Excessive. However, with Shao Yin Jun Huo (Lesser Yin Sovereign Fire) as the Si Tian, the fire restrains the Metal Yun below. Although Fire suppresses and Metal becomes vigorous, the Metal Qi cannot be in excess; thus, it is not truly Excessive. Following the Generating Number principle, its number is four. Four plus nine equals thirteen; therefore, thirteen ke are added. When the Yun transitions, facing Shen and observing, only White Qi appears. From Geng to Wu, the cycle ends. Finally, Red Qi descends from Heaven to punish the suppressed Metal Qi, preventing it from being Excessive. This is also neither a pure Yang year nor a Yin year.

Third case: Geng Yin year. Geng Metal Yun should be Excessive, and Yin is a Yang year. Why is twelve added to the numerical calculation? In the Bagua, Yin corresponds to Gen, which has a number of eight. Geng Metal Yun in a Yang year should be Excessive. However, with Shao Yang Xiang Huo (Lesser Yang Ministerial Fire) as the Si Tian, Fire suppresses and Metal becomes vigorous, restraining the Metal Yun below. The Metal Qi cannot be in excess; thus, it is not truly Excessive. Following the Generating Number principle, its number is four. Four plus eight equals twelve; therefore, twelve ke are added. When the Yun transitions, facing Shen and observing, only White Qi appears. From Geng to Yin, the cycle ends. Finally, Red Qi descends from Heaven to punish the Metal Yun, preventing it from being Excessive, and its Qi cannot injure Wood.

Fourth case: Geng Shen year. Geng Metal Yun should be Excessive, and Shen is a Yang year. Why is six added to the numerical calculation? In the Bagua, Shen corresponds to Kun, which has a number of two. Geng Metal Yun in a Yang year should be Excessive. However, with Shao Yang Xiang Huo (Lesser Yang Ministerial Fire) as the Si Tian, Fire suppresses and Metal becomes vigorous, restraining the Metal Yun below. The Metal Qi cannot be in excess. Following the Generating Number principle, its number is four. Four plus two equals six; therefore, six ke are added. When the Yun transitions, facing Shen and observing, only White Qi rises straight up without flowing horizontally. Since Geng's original position is Shen, the Qi rises straight. Subsequently, Red Qi descends from Heaven to restrain it. Thus, although there is an appearance of excess, it is not a Yin year, and its Qi cannot injure Wood.

Fifth case: Wu Xu year. Wu Fire Yun is "Excessive," and Xu is a Yang year. Why is seven added to the numerical calculation? Xu corresponds to Earth in the Bagua context, with a number of five. Wu Fire Yun in a Yang year should be Excessive. However, with Tai Yang Han Shui (Greater Yin Cold Water) as the Si Tian, the water restrains the Fire Yun below. The Fire Yun cannot be in excess; thus, following the Generating Number principle, its number is two. Two plus five equals seven; therefore, seven ke are added. When the Yun transitions, facing Si and observing, Yellow Qi appears first, followed by Red Qi flowing horizontally. From Wu to Xu, the cycle ends. Finally, Black Qi appears under Heaven to punish the Fire Qi, so it is not truly Excessive.

Sixth case: Wu Chen year. Wu Fire Yun should be Excessive, and Chen is a Yang year. Why is seven added to the numerical calculation? Chen corresponds to Earth in the Bagua context, with a number of five. Wu Fire Yun in a Yang year should be Excessive. However, with Tai Yang Han Shui (Greater Yin Cold Water) as the Si Tian, the water restrains the Fire Yun below. Although Water suppresses and Fire becomes vigorous, the Fire Yun cannot be in excess; thus, it is not truly Excessive. Following the Generating Number principle, its number is two. Two plus five equals seven; therefore, seven ke are added. When the Yun transitions, facing Si and observing, Yellow Qi appears first, followed by Red Qi. From Wu to Chen, the cycle ends. Finally, Black Qi descends from Heaven to punish the suppressed Fire Yun, preventing it from injuring Metal. Thus, it is not truly Excessive, nor is it a Yin year.