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(When both the guest and host qi are Jueyin Wind-Wood in operation, cold recedes and flora flourishes. Since Taiyin Damp-Earth governs the Heaven (Si Tian), wind and dampness contend with each other. Wind overcoming dampness causes rain to arrive late. The principle of Earth Qi migration has been explained previously.) The people suffer from hemorrhage, tendon constriction and rigidity, joint stiffness, heavy body, and tendon flaccidity ("Wind diseases affect tendons, damp diseases affect flesh, hence these symptoms. Hemorrhage occurs because wind damages the Liver.") During the Second Qi phase, the Great Fire qi is dominant, objects follow its transformation, and the people are harmonious ("Both guest and host qi are Shaoyin Sovereign Fire in operation, so the Great Fire qi is strong, objects undergo its transformation, and the people are harmonious.") Warm epidemics prevail widely, near and far alike; dampness steams and contends, and rain falls on time ("Excessive fire and hot climate cause warm epidemics. Since Taiyin Damp-Earth governs the Heaven, dampness steams and contends. Rain falls on schedule, hence 'falls on time'.") During the Third Qi phase, Heavenly Administration spreads, damp qi descends, Earth Qi rises, rain falls on time, and cold follows ("Taiyin Damp-Earth governs the Heaven, Damp-Earth is in operation, so damp qi descends and Earth Qi rises to form rain. After the Third Qi, Taiyang Cold-Water is in the泉 (Quan/Underground) position, so cold follows.") Contracting cold-damp leads to heavy body and edema, chest and abdominal fullness ("Cold congeals and stagnates, damp obstructs, hence such diseases.") During the Fourth Qi phase, Feared Fire (Ministerial Fire) arrives, humid heat transforms, Earth Qi rises, Heaven Qi becomes blocked, cold wind blows at dawn and dusk, steaming heat and cold contend, grass and trees are shrouded in mist, damp transformation does not flow, thus white dew and yin clouds spread, forming the Autumn season ("Shaoyang Ministerial Fire is in operation, its qi is particularly fierce, hence called 'Feared Fire'; thereafter, 'Feared Fire' always refers to Ministerial Fire. Guest qi is Ministerial Fire, Host qi is Damp-Earth; Fire and Earth combine, humid heat surges upward, so Heaven Qi is blocked. However, Taiyang Cold-Water is in the Quan position, so cold wind arises at dawn and dusk. When damp meets fire, damp transformation does not flow; only white dew and yin clouds spread to form the Autumn season.") The people suffer from heat in the interstices, sudden hemorrhage, malaria, heart and abdominal fullness with heat, skin or abdominal distension, and severe cases even general swelling ("Damp-heat proceeding together causes these diseases. Lu refers to skin; alternatively, the front of the abdomen is called Lu. Swelling refers to fleshy edema. Lu is pronounced Lü and Lu. Attached pronunciation.") During the Fifth Qi phase, harsh commands have been implemented, cold dew descends, frost falls early, grass and trees turn yellow and fall ("Both guest and host qi are Yangming Dry-Metal in operation, hence such administration and phenomena.") Cold air reaches the body; gentlemen dress carefully, and the people suffer from skin and interstice diseases ("Skin and interstices belong to Metal; Qi seeks similar categories.") In the Final Qi phase, cold rises massively, damp transforms massively, frost accumulates, Yin condenses, water hardens into ice, and sunlight ceases to shine ("In the Quan position, both guest and host qi are Taiyang Cold-Water in operation, hence such administration and phenomena.") Contracting cold leads to patients suffering from joint stiffness and immobility, and lower back pain ("Joints are in bones; the lower back belongs to Kidney and Bladder; all seek similar categories for disease.") Cold-damp persists in the Qi intersection causing illness; one must suppress the stagnant qi and access the source of transformation ("For the past ten years, upper damp and lower cold mean cold-damp persists in the Qi intersection. However, Taiyin governing the Heaven causes Water stagnation, and Taiyang in the Quan position causes Fire stagnation; the meaning of stagnant qi and source of transformation is detailed previously. As stated in the Supplement to Benbing Chapter: In Chou and Wei years, Shaoyang [Ministerial Fire] wishes to ascend to Heaven but is blocked by Tianpeng Star, unable to advance due to overcoming. Jueyin [Wind-Wood] wishes to descend to Earth but is blocked by Dijing Star, unable to advance due to overcoming. Thus, in Cifa Lun, if Fire wishes to ascend but is suppressed by Tianpeng, one should needle the Ying-Spring point of the Pericardium Meridian. If Wood wishes to descend but is suppressed by Dijing, one should needle the Jing-River point of Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian and the He-Sea point of Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Wang Bing says: Access the source of transformation in the ninth month to tonify. These are all meanings of suppressing stagnant qi and accessing the source of transformation.") Benefit the year's qi, do not let evil overcome ("Taiyin Damp-Earth governs the Heaven; it is a deficient year of Chou and Wei, so one should benefit the year's qi.") Eat grain of the year to preserve true qi, eat interstitial grain to protect essence ("Year grain is the Xuan grain mentioned above. The meaning of interstitial grain is seen in the Yangming section previously.") Therefore, for this year, it is suitable to use bitter herbs to dry dampness and warm herbs to dispel cold; for severe cases, use diaphoresis or purgation. If not diaphoresed or purged, dampness will overflow externally, muscles will ulcerate, skin will split, and water and blood will mix ("Using bitter to dry and warm to treat cold: Bitter transforms via Fire, drying treats damp, warming treats cold. Diaphoresis and purgation: dispersing can expel cold,渗泄 (permeating and draining) can remove damp.") Must assist Yang Fire to resist severe cold ("The year's qi is Yin-Cold, so one should support Yang.") According to the similarity or difference of qi, adjust the dosage accordingly; those same as cold are treated with heat transformation, those same as damp are treated with dryness transformation ("For the past ten years, among Yun and Qi, some are same as the Quan position in cold, requiring more heat-transforming herbs, e.g., Shaoshang and Shaoyu years. Some are same as the Si Tian position in damp, requiring more dryness-transforming herbs, e.g., Shaogong year. For Shaojue and Shaozheng years, one should handle them with slight peace/harmony.") Different ones use less, same ones use more ("Although using heat and dryness separately, the amount should be adjusted according to the similarity or difference of Yun and Qi.") Use cool away from cool times, use cold away from cold times, use warm away from warm times, use hot away from hot times; diet should follow the same method. If there is a false condition, reverse it; this is the way. Reversing this causes disease.
The Emperor said: Excellent! How is the administration of Shaoyin? Qibo said: It is the cycle of Zi and Wu years.
Ren-Zi and Ren-Wu Years
Upper: Shaoyin Fire; Middle: Taijue Wood Yun; Lower: Yangming Metal.
Its movement is wind stirring; its transformation is rustling, chaotic, opening, and splitting ("This is the normal transformation of Ren year Taijue. Wuchang Zheng Da Lun says: 'Its virtue is rustling, gentle, opening, splitting.'") Its change is shaking, tearing, destroying, and uprooting; its disease is limb fullness ("Liver Wood is excessive.")
Heat transformation 2, Wind transformation 8, Clear transformation 4; these are the degrees of normal transformation.
Its treatment properties: Upper salty-cold ("Treats Sovereign Fire of Si Tian"), Middle sour-cool ("Sour transforms via Wood, Taijue Wood Yun is suited to cool"), Lower sour-warm ("Sour originates from Wood; why treat Yangming? Because Dry-Metal is in the Quan position, Metal disease is in the Lung. Zangqi Fashi Lun says: 'Lung desires收敛 (astringency), urgently eat sour to astringe it, use sour to tonify it.' Zhizhen Yao Dalun says: 'Master of Metal position, tonify with sour.' Also: 'Guest of Yangming, tonify with sour.' This is because Yangming is below Shaoyin, its qi is insufficient, hence treated thus. Same for following text.) Medicine and food should be appropriate.
Taijue (1st) - Shaoshao Fire - Taigong - Shaoshang - Taiyu (End)
Wu-Zi (Heavenly Match) and Wu-Wu (Taiyi Heavenly Match) Years
Upper: Shaoyin Fire; Middle: Taisign Fire Yun; Lower: Yangming Metal.
Its movement is blazing heat; its transformation is warm, shining, stifling, sultry ("This is the normal transformation of Wu year Taisign. Wuchang Zheng Da Lun says: 'Its virtue is warm, sultry, stifling.' Taisign Yun meeting Taiyang Si Tian is called Heat, Shaoyang Si Tian is called Summer-heat, Shaoyin Si Tian is called Blazing Heat; all refer to Yun including Si Tian qi.") Its change is fiercely burning and boiling; its disease is upper heat and blood hemorrhage ("Yang Fire is excessive.")
Heat transformation 7 ("Si Tian and Middle Yun are same"), Clear transformation 9; these are the degrees of normal transformation.
Its treatment properties: Upper salty-cold, Middle sweet-cold, Lower sour-warm; medicine and food should be appropriate. (Note: Treating fire with cold is correct, but why include sweet? Because Taisign is excessive Fire; purely using bitter-cold is too激 (stimulating) and stops Fire flow, so one must use sweet to assist, making it mild without mutual agitation. Upper and lower are same as before.)
Taisign - Shaogong - Taishang - Taiyu (End) - Shaojue (Start)
Jia-Zi and Jia-Wu Years
Upper: Shaoyin Fire; Middle: Taigong Earth Yun; Lower: Yangming Metal.
Its movement is rainy; its transformation is soft, moist, timely rain ("This is the normal transformation of Jia year Taigong. Wuchang Zheng Da Lun says: 'Its virtue is soft, moist, heavy, muddy.'") Its change is shocking, drifting, sudden; its disease is middle fullness and heavy body ("Stagnation of Earth damp.")
Heat transformation 2 ("New Correction says: 'Carefully examine: Counter-transformation follows standard numbers, Normal transformation follows origin numbers. Jia-Zi year, Heat 7, Dryness 9. Jia-Wu year, Heat 2, Dryness 4.' This reasoning is incorrect; my view is later."), Rain transformation 5, Dryness transformation 4; this is what is called Normal Transformation Days.
Its treatment properties: Upper salty-cold, Middle bitter-hot, Lower sour-hot; this is what is called appropriate medicine and food. ("Middle bitter-hot treats Taigong damp excess. Lower sour-hot differs slightly from previous four Yuns. But they say warm, here hot, not very different. Xuanzhu says: Lower bitter-hot.")
Taigong - Shaoshang - Taiyu (End) - Taijue (Start) - Shaoshao Fire
Geng-Zi and Geng-Wu Years (Both Heavenly Matches)
Upper: Shaoyin Fire; Middle: Taishang Metal Yun; Lower: Yangming Metal, same as Zheng Shang ("This year Metal Yun is excessive, but controlled by Sovereign Fire Si Tian, so Metal achieves balance, called Jiancheng Ji, same as Zheng Shang.")
Its movement is cool and vigorous; its transformation is foggy and dewy, desolate ("This is the normal transformation of Geng year Taishang. Yun and Quan position share qi, hence Cool Vigorous.") Its change is solemn killing and withering; its disease is lower clear discharge ("Lower clear discharge refers to clear excretion of urine/stool and cold lower body, Metal qi disease.")
Heat transformation 7, Clear transformation 9, Dryness transformation 9, (Note: Clear and Dryness both transform via Metal; Middle Yun, Si Tian, and Quan position share qi, usually mention one, but here both are mentioned.) This is what is called Normal Transformation Days.
Its treatment properties: Upper salty-cold, Middle pungent-warm, Lower sour-warm; this is what is called appropriate medicine and food. ("Middle pungent-warm: Pungent follows Metal, Warm treats cold. Upper and lower same as before. Xuanzhu says: Lower bitter-hot.")
Taishang - Taiyu (End) - Shaojue (Start) - Taisign - Shaogong
Bing-Zi (Year Meeting) and Bing-Wu Years
Upper: Shaoyin Fire; Middle: Taiyu Water Yun; Lower: Yangming Metal.
Its movement is cold; its transformation is congealed, miserable, biting ("This is the normal transformation of Bing year Taiyu. Wuchang Zheng Da Lun says: 'Its virtue is congealed, miserable, cold.'") Its change is ice, snow, hail; its disease is lower cold ("Lower cold refers to middle cold diarrhea, abdominal and foot cold.")
Heat transformation 2, Cold transformation 6, Clear transformation 4; these are the degrees of normal transformation.
Its treatment properties: Upper salty-cold, Middle salty-hot, Lower sour-warm; medicine and food should be appropriate. ("Middle Taiyu, so treatment should be salty-hot. Upper and lower same as before. Xuanzhu says: Lower bitter-hot.")
Taiyu (End) - Taijue (Start) - Shaoshao Fire - Taigong - Shaoshang
All these administrations of Shaoyin governing the Heaven, Qi transformation and Yun operation precede Heaven ("Pre-heaven meaning seen previously.") Earth Qi is肃 (solemn/cleanse), Heaven Qi is bright, cold meets heat, heat adds dryness ("Yangming Dry-Metal in Quan, so Earth Qi is solemn. Shaoyin Sovereign Fire in Si Tian, so Heaven Qi is bright. Metal is cold and dry, Fire is summer-heat and hot; lower over upper is Jiao, upper over lower is Jia.") Clouds race to the Rain Mansion, damp transformation proceeds, timely rain falls ("This is the meaning of Yangming Si Tian: extreme dryness generates moisture.") Metal and Fire combine virtue, corresponding to Yinghuo (Mars) and太白 (Venus) ("Upper Fire, Lower Metal, Qi combines virtue, stars should be bright.") Its administration is bright, its command is sharp ("Fire bright, Metal sharp.") Its grains are red and white ("Red corresponds to Si Tian, White corresponds to Quan position.") Water, Fire, Cold, Heat persist in the Qi intersection as the start of disease; heat diseases arise above, clear diseases arise below, cold and heat invade and contend in the middle ("Upper Fire, Lower Metal, so Water/Fire/Cold/Heat persist in Qi intersection, causing such diseases.") The people suffer from cough and wheezing, hemorrhage and bleeding, nasal congestion and sneezing, red eyes and ulcers, cold jue entering stomach, heart pain, lower back pain, large abdomen, dry throat, swelling above ("Fire is heat, Metal is cold, so heat disease appears above, cold disease appears below.") First Qi phase: Earth Qi migrates, dryness is about to leave ("First Qi Taiyang operates; last year Si-Hai Shaoyang Final Qi ends here, should say Heat leaves, 'Dryness' is an error. Earth Qi migration meaning seen previously.") Cold begins, hibernating animals hide again, water freezes, frost descends again, wind arrives, Yang Qi is depressed ("Cold-Water Qi guests before Spring, hence such weather.") People instead need careful warmth, joints stiffen, lower back pain, scorching heat is about to rise, internal and external sores/ulcers ("All are cold diseases. However, Shaoyin Sovereign Fire Si Tian, and value Second Host Qi, so scorching heat rises, internal/external sores. Yi, pronounced Shui, refers to buttocks.") Second Qi phase: Yang Qi spreads, wind flows, Spring Qi is correct, all things respond with flourishing, cold air arrives at times, people are harmonious ("Wind-Wood guest adds to Sovereign Fire host, so Yang spreads, wind flows, Spring Qi correct, all things flourish. Si Tian Sovereign Fire not yet strong, so cold air arrives at times. Wood/Fire correspond to time, so people are harmonious.") Its disease is strangury, closed eyes or red eyes, Qi depression above with heat ("Sovereign Fire disease.") Third Qi phase: Heavenly Administration spreads, Great Fire moves, myriad species multiply and freshen, cold air arrives at times ("Guest Qi Sovereign Fire Si Tian adds to Ministerial Fire host, so Great Fire moves, myriad species multiply. Fire extreme Water returns, heat extreme cold generates, so cold air arrives at times.") People suffer from Qi jue heart pain, alternating cold and heat, cough and wheezing, red eyes ("Two Fires blazing together.") Fourth Qi phase: Humid heat arrives, heavy rain often occurs, cold and heat alternate ("Guest and Host Qi both Damp-Earth operate, hence humid heat/heavy rain weather.") People suffer from cold and heat, dry throat, jaundice, nasal congestion/epistaxis, fluid retention ("Damp-heat diseases.") Fifth Qi phase: Feared Fire arrives, summer heat returns, Yang transforms, all things grow and flourish, people are healthy ("Feared Fire is Ministerial Fire. Time is Autumn harvest but Yang transforms, so things flourish and people are healthy." Note: At autumn harvest,收敛 is policy; seeing summer heat seems inappropriate, but saying growth/flourishing/health is because all things' Qi, if converged too fast, has盈歉 (surplus/deficit); if further nourished by harmonious Qi, things become full and sufficient.) Its disease is warm disease. Final Qi phase: Dryness command acts, residual fire is internally rejected, swelling above, cough and wheezing, severe cases hemorrhage, cold air frequently rises, then fog/mist obscures ("Dry-Metal guest adds to Cold-Water host, Metal Qi收敛, so residual fire of Five Qi is internally rejected causing such diseases. Ge means rejection. Cold air rises, fog/mist obscures, both Metal/Water transformations.") Disease arises in skin/interstices, internally resides in hypochondrium, connects downward to lower abdomen, causing cold-middle; Earth Qi is about to change ("Disease arises in skin/interstices, Metal combination. Internally resides in hypochondrium, connects to lower abdomen, Metal overcomes Wood. Metal nature is cold, hence cold-middle. Quan Qi ends, hence Earth Qi changes.") Must suppress its Yun Qi, subsidize its Year Victory ("Above Zi-Wu ten years, Yun Qi excessive, must suppress surplus, desire return to balance. Year has victory, must subsidize deficiency, no harm.") Suppress its郁 Fa (stagnant eruption), first access Source of Transformation, do not let violent excess generate disease ("This year Shaoyin Si Tian causes Metal stagnation, Yangming Quan causes Wood stagnation. As Benbing Chapter says: Zi-Wu year, Taiyin wishes to ascend to Heaven, blocked by Tianchong Star, unable to advance. Taiyang wishes to descend to Earth, blocked by Difou Star, unable to enter. Thus Cifa Lun says: If Earth wishes to ascend but suppressed by Tianchong, needle Foot-Taiyin Shu point. If Water wishes to descend but suppressed by Difou, needle Foot-Taiyin Jing-River point, Foot-Yangming He-Sea point. Wang Bing says: First access it twelve months prior to the year. These are all meanings of stagnant Qi accessing Source of Transformation.") Eat year grain to preserve True Qi, eat interstitial grain to avoid empty evil ("Meanings seen previously.") Year suitable for salty taste and調 (regulate) upper, ("Salty transforms via Water, so can regulate upper Sovereign Fire.") Severe cases use bitter to disperse, sour to astringe, thereby calming lower, ("Bitter dispersion can scatter fire, sour astringency can tonify Metal, calm upper Sovereign Fire, then lower Dry-Metal is safe.") Severe cases use bitter to drain, ("Heat/Dryness severe, non-bitter-cold drainage impossible. I believe Five Flavors attributes: Yinyang Yingxiang Dalun says Fire generates Bitter, Jin Kui Zhenyan Lun says its flavor is Bitter, class is Fire, this divides Five Elements flavors, Bitter transforms via Fire. So in this chapter like Taiyang/Taiyin/Yangming administrations say use bitter to dry/warm and bitter to disperse, all use Bitter Yang. Also Yinyang Yingxiang Dalun and Zhizhen Yao Dalun say Sour/Bitter surge/drain are Yin, this speaks of aroma/effect, Bitter uses Yin. So this section says use bitter to drain, Zhizhen Yao Dalun says Damp governs Earth, heat wins back, treat with bitter-cold; Damp transforms Heaven, heat wins back, treat with bitter-cold, all use Bitter Yin. Again Xuanming Wuqi Pian and Wuwei Lun say Bitter enters Bone, North generates Cold, in body is Bone, Bone originally Yin, but Bitter enters it, is it not Yin? Visible Bitter flavor one, but has Yin/Yang, Bitter-Heat/Bitter-Cold differences, how can one not distinguish. Now some say Bitter belongs to Fire and shy away from its cold; some only know Bitter-Cold and forget its heat, all do not understand aroma/either variation principles. Raise this one point, Five Flavors nature can be inferred. Again Zangqi Fashi Lun says Jingmi/Beef/Jujube/Kai all Sweet, Wheat/Lamb/Apricot/Xie all Bitter etc., this is within common dietary flavors, yet each has distinction. Flavor change principle is so, not getting its essence, insufficient to speak of aroma/either.") Adjust Qi similarity/difference and amount; same as Heaven Qi use cold/clear transformation, same as Earth Qi use warm/heat transformation, ("Say above ten years, Yun and Qi, some same as Si Tian in heat, should use cold/clear transformed products to treat, e.g., Taijue/Taisign years. Some same as Quan in cold, should use warm/heat transformed products to treat, e.g., Taiyu/Taigong/Taishang years. Should each follow their similarity/difference, and make their amounts.") Use hot away from hot times, use cool away from cool times, use warm away from warm times, use cold away from cold times; diet should follow same method. If fake, reverse; this is the way. Reverse this, disease arises. ("Meanings detailed previously.")
The Emperor said: Excellent! How is the administration of Jueyin? Qibo said: It is the cycle of Si and Hai years.
Ding-Si and Ding-Hai Years (Both Heavenly Matches)
Upper: Jueyin Wood; Middle: Shaojue Wood Yun; Lower: Shaoyang Ministerial Fire, same as Zheng Jue ("This year Wood Yun is deficient, aided by Si Tian Jueyin, called Weihe Ji, upper Jue same as Zheng Jue.")
Its movement is wind clearing heat, ("Wind is Middle Yun Shaojue Qi, Clear is Qi overcoming Wind, Heat is Qi restoring Clear.") Clear transformation and Heat transformation victory/restoration are same, this is Evil Qi transformation degree. ("Meanings detailed previously.") Disaster at Palace Three. ("Three, Eastern Zhen Palace. Wood Qi deficient, so disaster reaches it.")
Wind transformation 3, ("Si Tian and Yun same.") Fire transformation 7; these are degrees of normal transformation.
Its treatment properties: Upper pungent-cool, ("Pungent-cool transforms via Metal, treats Wind-Wood above.") Middle pungent-harmonious, ("Wood Yun deficient, aided by Si Tian, so suitable Pungent/Harmonious.") Lower salty-cold, ("Salty transforms via Water, treats Ministerial Fire below.") Medicine and food should be appropriate.
Shaojue (Start/Normal) - Taisign - Shaogong - Taishang - Shaoyu (End)