心。（皆水胜而火病。）神门绝。死不治。（手掌后锐骨之端动脉。心之气也。）身半以上。其气三矣。天之分也。天气主
之。身半以下。其气三矣。地之分也。地气主之。（马注。少阴君火应心小肠。阳明燥金应肺大肠。少阳相火应心包三焦。
为天之分。太阴湿土应脾胃。厥阴风木应肝胆。太阳寒水应肾膀胱。为地之分。昂按。天气三。谓司天及左右二间气也。
地气三。谓在泉及左右二间气也。本篇后文云。初气终三气。天气主之。四气尽终气。地气主之。亦上下各三气也。若
大肠小肠皆在下部。何以能应身半以上之天气乎。）以名命气。以气命处。而言其病。半所谓天枢也。（天枢穴。在脐两
旁。为身上下之分。以厥阴阳明等名。而命其气。以气属某经某腑某脏。而命其处。合气与处。而言其属某病也。）故上
胜而下俱病者。以地名之。下胜而上俱病者。以天名之。（王注。彼气既胜。此未能复。行无所进。退而怫郁。上胜下病。
地气郁也。以地名之。下胜上病。天气塞也。以天名之。六元正纪大论。上胜则天气降而下。下胜则地气迁而上是也。）
所谓胜至。报气屈伏。而未发也。（胜气已至。而报复之气。尚伏而未发。）复至则不以天地异名。皆如复气为法也。（病
有天地异名。而治胜复之法则无异。）胜复之动。时有常乎。气有必乎。曰。时有常位。而气无必也。（时位有常。气之
发动难定。）初气终三气。天气主之。胜之常也。（司天主上半岁。）四气尽终气。地气主之。复之常也。（在泉主下半岁。
如上半岁之木火胜。则下半岁之金水来复。）有胜则复。无胜则否。（所以气不可必。）复已而胜何如。曰。胜至则复。无
常数也。衰乃止耳。（王注。胜微则复微。胜甚则复甚。无有定数。至其衰谢。则胜复皆自止也。）复已而胜。不复则害。
此伤生也。（有胜而不能复。是真气伤败。而生意尽矣。言胜之不可无复也。）复而反病何也。居非其位。不相得也。大
复其胜。则主胜之。故反病也。（王注。舍己宫观。适于他邦。己力已衰。主不相得。怨随其后。故力极而复。主反袭之。
反自病也。）所谓火燥热也。（王注。少阳火也。阳明燥也。少阴热也。少阴少阳在泉。为火居水位。阳明司天。为金居
火位。金复其胜。则火主胜之。火复其胜。则水主胜之。马注。此正居非其位。气不相得。大复其胜。则主反胜之。惟
火燥热三气乃尔也。）（至真要大论）
天地之数。起于上而终于下。（起于司天。终于在泉。）岁半之前。天气主之。（大寒至小暑。司天主之。）岁半之后。
地气主之。（大暑至小寒。在泉主之。）上下交互。气交主之。（上下之中。又有互体。）春气始于下。秋气始于上。夏气
始于中。（由中而长。）冬气始于标。（由标而敛于本。）故至高之地。冬气常在。至下之地。春气常在。（西北高燥故多寒。
东南卑湿故常温。五常政大论曰。崇高则阴气治之。污下则阳气治之。）厥阴所至。（俱主岁气言。）为里急。为支痛。（支
格而痛。）为 （软。）戾。（厥阴主筋。寒则急。热则弛。）为胁痛呕泄。（木邪克土。）病之常也。少阴所至。为疡胗（心
火。）身热。为惊惑。恶寒战栗谵妄。（妄言妄见。）为悲妄（皆心气不足。）衄蔑。为语笑。（皆心火。）病之常也。太阴
所至。为积饮痞隔。（湿土为病。）为 满。为中满。（脾土不运。）霍乱吐下。（中宫不和。）为重 肿。（湿胜。）病之常
也。少阳所至。为嚏呕。为疮疡。为惊躁（胆主惊。）瞀昧暴病。（皆火邪。）为喉痹（相火。）耳鸣呕涌。为暴泄。（火泄。）
（肉动。）螈（抽掣。）暴死。（皆火病也。）病之常也。阳明所至。为浮虚。为鼽。（鼻流清涕大肠病。）尻（苦高切。
臀也。）阴股膝髀 （音善。足肚。） 足病。（胃病。）为胁痛皴揭。（金燥。）为鼽嚏。病之常也。太阳所至。为屈伸不
利。为腰痛。（脉行腰脊头项。故不利而痛。）为寝汗（梦中盗汗。表虚。）痉。（头项强直。乃屈伸不利而甚者。）为流泄
禁止。（流泄象水。禁止象寒。）病之常也。（此段病形。分经并合。未根据原文。因于文理无碍。用以便人观览也。）气高
则高。气下则下。气后则后。气前则前。气中则中。气外则外。位之常也。（王注。手阴阳位高。足阴阳位下。太阳行身
后。阳明行身前。太阴少阴厥阴在中。少阳行身侧。各随其位。以言病象。）故风胜则动。热胜则肿。燥胜则干。寒胜则
浮。湿胜则濡泄。甚则水闭 肿。随气所在。以言其变耳。（察六气胜复所在。以言病变也。）（六元正纪大论）
岁木太过。风气流行。脾土受邪。民病飧泄。食减体重烦冤。肠鸣腹支满。（皆木盛克土。）上应岁星。（木盛则木星
光明。）甚则忽忽善怒。眩冒巅（顶。）疾。反胁痛而吐甚。（肝实自病。金来为母复仇。木又制乎金也。）上应太白星。
（金
星光明。）岁火太过。炎暑流行。金肺受邪。民病疟。（金火相战。）少气（壮火食气。）咳喘。（火气乘肺。）血溢（血出
上窍。）血泄（血出二便。）注下。（火入大肠而泄。）嗌燥（火炎肺系。）耳聋。（耳为肾窍。火盛则水衰。）中热（胸中。）
肩背热。（背者胸中之府。）上应荧惑星。（火星光明。）甚则胸中痛。胁支满。胁痛膺背肩髀间痛。两臂内痛。（皆心主经
脉所过。藏气法时论。言心病与此同。）身热骨痛。而为浸淫。（玉机真藏论作身热肤痛。肺主皮肤。）上应辰星。（水星
为母复仇。）岁土太过。雨湿流行。肾水受邪。民病腹痛。（湿胜。）清厥（足逆冷。）意不乐。（脾不营运。）体重（湿胜。）
烦冤。（藏气法时论。肾病者。身重。肾虚者。大小腹痛。清厥。意不乐。）上应镇星。（土星。）甚则肌肉痿。（土主肌肉。）
足痿不收。行善螈。脚下痛。（胃脉在足。）饮（水饮。）发中满。（土不制水。）食减。四肢不举。（脾主四肢。）腹满溏泄。
肠鸣反下甚。（皆本经自病。）上应岁星。（木复仇而刑土。）岁金太过。燥气流行。肝木受邪。民病两胁下少腹痛。（肝脉
行胁。抵小腹。）目赤痛 疡。（目为肝窍。）耳无所闻。（肝藏血。耳得血而能听。藏气法时论。肝虚则目 无所见。
耳无所闻。）肃杀而甚。则体重（肝主筋。筋衰则身重。）烦冤。胸痛引背。两胁满。且痛引少腹。（玉机真藏论。肝脉不
及。则胸痛引背。下则两胁 满。）上应太白星。（金星克木。）甚则喘咳逆气。肩背痛。尻阴股膝髀 足皆病。（火来
复仇。而金反病。下部皆痛。母病及子也。藏气法时论。言肺病同。）上应荧惑星。（火星复仇。）收气峻。生气下。病反
暴痛。 胁不可反侧。（金盛刑木。）咳逆甚而血溢。（肺金自病。）上应太白星。（金星。）岁水太过。寒气流行。邪害心
火。民病身热烦心。躁悸。（躁。烦甚也。悸。心动也。火属于水则躁。火畏水则悸。）阴厥。（阴盛厥逆。）上中下寒。
（外
热内寒。）谵妄（妄言妄见。）心痛。上应辰星。（水星。）甚则腹大。胫肿喘咳。（肾脉起足下。贯膈。入肺。）寝汗出憎
风。（阴盛阳虚。藏气法时论。言肾病同。）上应镇星。（土复仇而乘水。）湿气（土。）变物。病反腹满。肠鸣溏泻。食不
化。（土气来复。反见脾病。）渴而妄冒。（脾不能行津液而渴。火被湿郁而妄冒。）上应荧惑辰星。（火星减耀。水星明莹。
按五运六气。太过不及。胜复淫郁。经文言之至为详悉。本集不能多录。然大旨略同。故量取数段。可以概其余矣。）岁
运太过。畏星失色。而兼其母。（借母气以自助。）不及。则色兼其所不胜。（为所凌侮。而兼其色。）（气交变大论）
木得金而伐。火得水而灭。土得木而达。（昂按。木树根于土。是土为生木之母。何以木反克土乎。盖土竭其膏液。
以荣养乎木。若或克之耳。使土而无木。则无花叶之茜葱。无果谷之成熟。民众无所资养。天地黯淡无章。不过顽然垒
块而已。土何利之有焉。木者。所以疏土之气。又以成土之德也。故经文独言达。而不同于伐灭缺绝四条也。赵养葵曰。
世人皆言木克土。而余独升木以培土。其有会于斯旨也欤。）金得火而缺。水得土而绝。万物尽然。不可胜竭。（宝命全
形论）
Heart. (All are cases where Water overcomes and Fire becomes diseased.) The pulse at Shenmen is absent. Death, untreatable. (The arterial pulse at the end of the sharp bone on the posterior aspect of the wrist. This is the Qi of the Heart.) Above the middle of the body, its Qi is three. This is the domain of Heaven. Heavenly Qi governs it. Below the middle of the body, its Qi is also three. This is the domain of Earth. Earthly Qi governs it. (Ma's commentary: Shaoyin Junhuo corresponds to the Heart and Small Intestine, Yangming Zaojin corresponds to the Lung and Large Intestine, Shaoyang Xianghuo corresponds to the Pericardium and Sanjiao; these belong to the domain of Heaven. Taiyin Shitu corresponds to the Spleen and Stomach, Jueyin Fengmu corresponds to the Liver and Gallbladder, Taiyang Han shui corresponds to the Kidney and Bladder; these belong to the domain of Earth. Wang Ang's note: "Heavenly Qi three" refers to the Si Tian (Chief Qi) and the two interstitial Qi on either side. "Earthly Qi three" refers to the Zai Quan (Subordinate Qi) and the two interstitial Qi on either side. Later in this chapter, it says: "From the first Qi to the third Qi, Heavenly Qi governs; from the fourth Qi to the final Qi, Earthly Qi governs." This also indicates three Qi each for upper and lower. If the Large Intestine and Small Intestine are both in the lower part, how can they correspond to the Heavenly Qi above the middle of the body?) Name the Qi by its designation, designate the location by the Qi, and thereby discuss the disease. The so-called "Tianshu" refers to this. (The Tianshu [ST25] acupoint is located on both sides of the umbilicus, serving as the division between the upper and lower body. By using names such as Jueyin and Yangming, one designates the Qi. By assigning the Qi to a specific meridian, fu-organ, or zang-organ, one designates the location. Combining Qi and location, one determines which disease it belongs to.) When the upper wins and the lower all become diseased, it is named according to the Earth (lower). When the lower wins and the upper all become diseased, it is named according to the Heaven (upper). (Wang's commentary: When that Qi has won and this Qi cannot retaliate, movement is blocked, retreating into stagnation. Upper winning leading to lower disease is Earthly Qi stagnation, hence named after Earth. Lower winning leading to upper disease is Heavenly Qi obstruction, hence named after Heaven. In the *Liu Yuan Zheng Ji Da Lun*, it states: "When upper wins, Heavenly Qi descends; when lower wins, Earthly Qi migrates upward.") The so-called arrival of Winning Qi means the Retaliatory Qi is suppressed and latent, not yet erupted. (Winning Qi has arrived, but the Retaliatory Qi remains hidden and unactivated.) When the Retaliatory Qi arrives, there is no longer a distinction by Heaven or Earth names; all follow the rules of Retaliatory Qi. (Although diseases have different names for Heaven and Earth, the treatment principles for Winning and Retaliatory Qi are identical.) Do the movements of Winning and Retaliatory Qi have fixed times? Is there necessity in the Qi? It is said: There are fixed positions for the times, but no necessity for the Qi. (Time and position are constant, but the initiation of Qi is unpredictable.) From the first Qi to the third Qi, governed by Heavenly Qi, is the norm for Winning. (Si Tian governs the first half of the year.) From the fourth Qi to the final Qi, governed by Earthly Qi, is the norm for Retaliation. (Zai Quan governs the second half of the year. For example, if Wood and Fire win in the first half, Metal and Water will retaliate in the second half.) Where there is Winning, there is Retaliation; where there is no Winning, there is no Retaliation. (Thus, Qi changes cannot be predicted with certainty.) What happens if Winning occurs again after Retaliation? It is said: When Winning arrives, there is Retaliation, but there is no fixed number; it stops only when the Qi declines. (Wang's commentary: If Winning is slight, Retaliation is slight; if Winning is severe, Retaliation is severe. There is no fixed number. When the Qi fades, both Winning and Retaliation cease naturally.) If Winning occurs after Retaliation and there is no Retaliation, it causes harm, injuring life. (If there is Winning but no Retaliation, the True Qi is damaged, and the vitality of life is exhausted. This emphasizes that Winning must be accompanied by Retaliation.) Why does Retaliation cause disease instead? Because it occupies an improper position and is incompatible. If Retaliation greatly exceeds Winning, it will be overcome by the Ruling Qi, thus causing disease. (Wang's commentary: Abandoning one's own palace to reside elsewhere, with one's own strength depleted, leads to incompatibility with the host, followed by resentment. Thus, when strength is exhausted and retaliation occurs, the host counter-attacks, causing self-harm.) This refers to Fire, Dryness, and Heat. (Wang's commentary: Shaoyang is Fire, Yangming is Dryness, Shaoyin is Heat. When Shaoyin and Shaoyang are Zai Quan, Fire occupies the Water position; when Yangming is Si Tian, Metal occupies the Fire position. If Metal retaliates against its Winning, Fire overcomes it. If Fire retaliates, Water overcomes it. Ma's commentary: This is precisely occupying an improper position with incompatible Qi. If Retaliation is excessive, the Ruling Qi overcomes it. Only in the cases of Fire, Dryness, and Heat does this occur.) (From *Zhi Zhen Yao Da Lun*)
The numbers of Heaven and Earth begin from above and end below. (Beginning with Si Tian, ending with Zai Quan.) Before the midpoint of the year, Heavenly Qi governs. (From Da Han to Xiao Shu, governed by Si Tian.) After the midpoint of the year, Earthly Qi governs. (From Xiao Shu to Xiao Han, governed by Zai Quan.) Heaven and Earth interact, governed by the Qi Intersection. (Within the upper and lower, there is also mutual interaction.) Spring Qi begins from below, Autumn Qi begins from above, Summer Qi begins from the center. (Grows from the center.) Winter Qi begins from the Biao (Surface/Mark). (Contracts from the Biao to the Ben/Root.) Therefore, in the highest places, Winter Qi is always present; in the lowest places, Spring Qi is always present. (Northwest is high and dry, hence cold; Southeast is low and wet, hence warm. *Wu Chang Zheng Da Lun* states: "High places are governed by Yin Qi, low places by Yang Qi.") Where Jueyin prevails, there is abdominal tension and pain radiating to the flanks. (Pain due to obstruction.) There is flaccidity and deformity. (Jueyin governs tendons; Cold causes tension, Heat causes flaccidity.) There is hypochondriac pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. (Wood pathogen attacking Earth.) These are the normal manifestations of disease. Where Shaoyin prevails, there are sores and rashes (Heart Fire), fever, fright, confusion, aversion to cold, trembling, and delirium. (Delusions and hallucinations.) There is sorrow, mania, epistaxis, and nasal bleeding. (Due to deficiency of Heart Qi.) There is inappropriate speech and laughter. (Due to Heart Fire.) These are the normal manifestations of disease. Where Taiyin prevails, there is accumulation of fluid, distension, and obstruction. (Disease of Damp-Earth.) There is abdominal fullness and central distension. (Spleen-Earth fails to transport.) Cholera, vomiting, and diarrhea. (Harmony of the Central Palace is lost.) There is heavy edema. (Excess Dampness.) These are the normal manifestations of disease. Where Shaoyang prevails, there are sneezing and vomiting, sores and ulcers, fright and restlessness (Gallbladder governs fright), visual obscuration, and sudden illness. (All due to Fire pathogen.) There is throat bi (Phlegm-Fire), tinnitus, vomiting with gurgling, and sudden diarrhea. (Fire leakage.) There is muscle twitching, convulsions, and sudden death. (All due to Fire disease.) These are the normal manifestations of disease. Where Yangming prevails, there is floating emptiness, nasal congestion. (Large Intestine disease.) There are diseases of the sacrum, thigh, knee, calf, and foot. (Stomach disease.) There is hypochondriac pain and skin cracking/scaling. (Metal Dryness.) There is nasal congestion and sneezing. These are the normal manifestations of disease. Where Taiyang prevails, there is difficulty in flexion and extension, and lower back pain. (Meridians run along the waist, spine, head, and neck, hence difficulty and pain.) There is nocturnal sweating (dream sweat, exterior deficiency), and spasms. (Stiffness of head and neck, a severe form of difficulty in flexion and extension.) There is diarrhea or constipation. (Diarrhea resembles Water, constipation resembles Cold.) These are the normal manifestations of disease. (This section on disease forms combines meridians without strictly following the original text, as it facilitates reading while maintaining logical coherence.) Where Qi is high, disease is high; where Qi is low, disease is low; where Qi is posterior, disease is posterior; where Qi is anterior, disease is anterior; where Qi is central, disease is central; where Qi is external, disease is external. This is the norm of position. (Wang's commentary: Hand Yin and Yang are high, Foot Yin and Yang are low. Taiyang runs along the posterior body, Yangming along the anterior body, Taiyin, Shaoyin, and Jueyin in the middle, Shaoyang along the lateral body. Each follows its position to describe disease phenomena.) Therefore, Wind excess causes movement/tremor, Heat excess causes swelling, Dryness excess causes dryness, Cold excess causes edema, Dampness excess causes loose stools. In severe cases, urinary retention and edema occur. Changes are described based on the location of the Qi. (Observing the location of Six Qi Winning and Retaliation to describe pathological changes.) (From *Liu Yuan Zheng Ji Da Lun*)
In years of excessive Wood, Wind Qi spreads, and Spleen-Earth is attacked. People suffer from undigested diarrhea, reduced appetite, weight gain, vexation, borborygmus, and abdominal distension. (All due to Wood excess overcoming Earth.) This corresponds to Suixing (Jupiter). (Wood excess makes Jupiter bright.) In severe cases, there is irritability, anger, dizziness, and vertex headaches, alternating hypochondriac pain, and severe vomiting. (Liver excess self-disease, Metal comes to avenge the mother, Wood is constrained by Metal.) This corresponds to Taibai (Venus). (Venus is bright.)
In years of excessive Fire, scorching heat spreads, and Metal-Lung is attacked. People suffer from malaria. (Metal and Fire clash.) Shortness of breath (Strong Fire consumes Qi), cough and wheezing (Fire Qi attacks Lung), hematemesis/hematuria (blood from upper orifices), hematochezia/hematuria (blood from bowels/bladder), diarrhea (Fire enters Large Intestine causing leakage), dry throat (Fire flares up Lung system), deafness (Ear is the orifice of Kidney, Fire excess depletes Water), chest heat, shoulder and back heat. (Back is the mansion of the Chest.) This corresponds to Yinghuo (Mars). (Mars is bright.) In severe cases, there is chest pain, flank distension and pain, pain radiating to the chest, back, shoulders, and thighs, and pain in the inner arms. (All along the Heart Master meridians. *Zang Qi Fa Shi Lun* states Heart disease is similar to this.) Fever and bone pain, developing into spreading sores. (*Yu Ji Zhen Zang Lun* describes this as fever and skin pain; Lung governs skin.) This corresponds to Chenxing (Mercury). (Mercury avenges the mother.)
In years of excessive Earth, rain and dampness spread, and Kidney-Water is attacked. People suffer from abdominal pain. (Damp excess.) Cold extremities, unhappiness. (Spleen fails to transport.) Heavy body. (Damp excess.) Vexation. (*Zang Qi Fa Shi Lun*: Kidney disease involves heavy body; Kidney deficiency involves lower abdominal pain, cold extremities, and unhappiness.) This corresponds to Zhensing (Saturn). In severe cases, muscle atrophy. (Earth governs muscles.) Leg weakness and inability to walk, frequent convulsions while walking, and foot pain. (Stomach meridian is on the foot.) Fluid retention and central distension. (Earth fails to control Water.) Reduced appetite, inability to move limbs. (Spleen governs four limbs.) Abdominal distension, loose stools, borborygmus, and severe diarrhea. (All self-disease of this meridian.) This corresponds to Suixing (Wood avenges and punishes Earth).
In years of excessive Metal, Dryness Qi spreads, and Liver-Wood is attacked. People suffer from pain in the lower flanks and lower abdomen. (Liver meridian runs through flanks to lower abdomen.) Red, painful eyes, and sores. (Eye is the orifice of Liver.) Deafness. (Liver stores Blood; Ear hears when nourished by Blood. *Zang Qi Fa Shi Lun*: Liver deficiency leads to poor vision and hearing.) Severe肃杀 (killing/drying) Qi causes heaviness (Liver governs tendons; tendon decline leads to heaviness), vexation, chest pain radiating to the back, fullness and pain in both flanks radiating to the lower abdomen. (*Yu Ji Zhen Zang Lun*: Liver meridian insufficiency leads to chest pain radiating to back and flank fullness.) This corresponds to Taibai (Venus conquers Wood). In severe cases, asthma, cough, and rebellious Qi, shoulder and back pain, and diseases of the sacrum, genitals, thighs, knees, calves, and feet. (Fire comes to avenge, and Metal suffers; lower body pain, Mother disease affecting Son. *Zang Qi Fa Shi Lun* states Lung disease is similar.) This corresponds to Yinghuo (Mars avenges). Harvest Qi is harsh, Growth Qi sinks. Diseases manifest as sudden severe pain, inability to turn the sides. (Metal excess punishes Wood.) Severe cough and rebellious Qi with blood loss. (Lung Metal self-disease.) This corresponds to Taibai (Venus).
In years of excessive Water, Cold Qi spreads, and Evil harms Heart-Fire. People suffer from fever, vexation, restlessness, and palpitations. (Restlessness is extreme vexation; palpitation is heart beating. Fire belonging to Water causes restlessness; Fire fearing Water causes palpitation.) Yin reversal (Yin excess causing reversal). Cold in upper, middle, and lower. (External heat, internal cold.) Delirium. (Hallucinations and delusions.) Heart pain. This corresponds to Chenxing (Mercury). In severe cases, abdominal distension, leg swelling, asthma, and cough. (Kidney meridian starts from sole, passes through diaphragm, enters Lung.) Nocturnal sweating and aversion to wind. (Yin excess, Yang deficiency. *Zang Qi Fa Shi Lun* states Kidney disease is similar.) This corresponds to Zhensing (Earth avenges and attacks Water). Dampness (Earth) alters things. Diseases manifest as abdominal distension, borborygmus, loose stools, and indigestion. (Earth Qi returns, showing Spleen disease.) Thirst and mental confusion. (Spleen fails to distribute fluids causing thirst; Fire is depressed by Dampness causing confusion.) This corresponds to Yinghuo and Chenxing (Mars dims, Mercury shines).
Note: The classics discuss Five Yuns and Six Qi, excess, deficiency, winning, retaliating, and flooding/depression in great detail. This collection cannot record them all, but the main purport is similar. Thus, several sections are selected to illustrate the rest.
In years of excessive Yun, the feared star loses color and takes on the color of its mother. (Borrowing Mother Qi for assistance.) In deficiency, the color takes on that of its unconqueror. (Being bullied by the unconqueror and taking on its color.) (From *Qi Jiao Bian Da Lun*)
Wood is chopped by Metal. Fire is extinguished by Water. Earth is penetrated by Wood. (Wang Ang's note: Trees root in Earth; Earth is the mother generating Wood. Why does Wood overcome Earth? Perhaps because Earth exhausts its essence to nourish Wood, appearing as if overcome. If Earth had no Wood, there would be no lush foliage or mature fruits/grains, people would lack sustenance, and heaven and earth would be dull and chaotic, merely a hard lump of soil. What benefit would Earth have? Wood serves to vent the Qi of Earth and complete the Virtue of Earth. Hence, the classic uses only "penetrates/opens" (Da), distinct from chop, extinguish, defect, and cut off. Zhao Yangkui said: Everyone says Wood overcomes Earth, but I alone advocate raising Wood to cultivate Earth. This likely aligns with this principle.) Metal is defective by Fire. Water is severed by Earth. All things are thus, endlessly. (From *Bao Ming Quan Xing Lun*)