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The functions of the Six Qi (Six Atmospheric Factors) each return to that which they cannot overcome, thereby producing transformation. The transformation of Taiyin (Great Yin) dampness is applied to Taiyang (Great Yang); the cold transformation of Taiyang is applied to Shaoyin (Lesser Yin); the heat transformation of Shaoyin is applied to Shaoyang (Lesser Yang); the fire transformation of Shaoyang is applied to Yangming (Bright Yang); the dryness transformation of Yangming is applied to Jueyin (Terminal Yin); and the wind transformation of Jueyin is applied to Taiyin. Each is assigned its respective position for verification.

The transformations governed by the Si Tian (Chief Heavenly Qi): Wind, Heat, Dampness, Fire, Dryness, Cold.
The transformations governed by the Si Di (Chief Earthly Qi): Sour, Bitter, Sweet, Pungent, Salty.
The transformations governed by the Yun (Five Movements): Cang (Wood/Green), Dan (Fire/Red), Su (Metal/White), Xuan (Water/Black). Jun Huo (Ministerial Fire) does not govern movement independently.
The transformations of Jian Qi (Intermittent Qi): Movement, Scorching, Softness, Clarity, Purity, Storage. (Jun Huo is not named separately, as it occupies the position of Guest Qi).
All these transformations: those governed by Si Tian are above, those governed by Si Di are below, those governing Yun are in the middle, and Jian Qi records their steps. Guest Qi moves over Host Qi; Host Qi is beneath Guest Qi. The Five Movements cycle from beginning to end within a specific period; the measurement of degrees follows the same principle. When the upper is excessive and the lower deficient, Heavenly Qi descends; when the lower is excessive and the upper deficient, Earthly Qi ascends. Ascension reaches its limit then descends; descent reaches its limit then ascends. Endless ascent and descent constitute the function of change. "Bian" (Change) is the beginning of things; "Ji" (Extreme) is the start of disease; "Hua" (Transformation) is the dissemination of life-generating qi, causing things to grow. Depending on location, the waxing and waning of Yin and Yang, and the similarity or difference of Qi, all things are generated and transformed. There are differences in suitability, thickness, and quantity each year because transformations are not equal. However, among the five categories of creatures, there are years of infertility or incomplete development due to constraints imposed by Si Tian and Zai Quan (Subterranean) Qi. Those agreeing with Heaven remain still and infertile, with fewer transformations, as Heaven suppresses them. Those agreeing with Earth are fertile and abundant in transformation. Those overcome by the governing Earth Qi are depleted and fail to mature. If Yun (Movement) rides upon the victorious Qi, the condition becomes severe. Earthly Qi constrains form; Heavenly Qi constrains color, suppressing according to the color of the victorious Qi. Thus, the Classic states: Earthly Qi constrains what it overcomes; Heavenly Qi constrains what overcomes it; Heaven constrains color, Earth constrains form. This is what is meant.

The five categories of creatures refer to Hairy (Mammals), Feathered (Birds), Naked (Humans), Armored (Reptiles/Turtles), and Scaled (Fish), corresponding to the transformations of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The elders of the five categories are Qilin, Feng (Phoenix), Humans, Gui (Turtles), and Long (Dragons). All有形 (form-bearing) creatures, whether walking, flying, running, or breathing, have various modes of birth—viviparous, metamorphic, damp-born, or egg-laid—all belonging to the five categories. For these, Sheng Qi (Life Qi) is rooted within the body, without roots in the earth. They are called Animals, led by Shen (Spirit), termed Shen Ji (Spirit Mechanism). Outside these, such as metals, stones, soils, and plants, belong to Qi, Flavor, and Color. For these, Qi is rooted externally, and the source of life depends on the earth. They are called Plants, led by Qi, termed Qi Li (Qi Establishment). However, both Shen Ji and Qi Li depend entirely on the transformation and variation of Tian Zhen (Heavenly Truth) Qi. Qi transformation generates things; Qi variation alters things; Qi excess makes things robust; Qi deficiency makes things decline; Qi extinction causes death. All changes follow the waxing and waning of Qi in its location. Thus, all things originally have birth, formation, death, and varying degrees of prosperity and decline. Their transformation is entirely caused by the Qi present. Differences in the thickness and quantity of Qi-based generation each year arise from the similarities and differences between Heaven and Earth Qi, which impose constraints. Differences refer to distinctions between Cold and Heat, Dryness and Dampness, Warmth and Coolness. All toxic substances of Cold, Heat, Dryness, Dampness, Warmth, and Coolness are transformed from the excessive and violent Qi of the Five Elements' markers. If the Qi belongs to a different governance, generation is scarce. The Five Flavors, Five Colors, and Five Grains: if they belong to the category overcome by Earthly Qi, generation is scarce; if Yun rides upon the victorious Qi, the effect is severe. Those identical to Heaven and Earth's transformation are thick and abundant, known as Sui Gu (Year Grains). When Wood governs Heaven and Earth, Wood and Fire share virtue, originally not overcoming each other; thus, Qi is pure and transformation is mellow, without mixed Jian Gu (Intermittent Grains). Sui Gu refers to Green (Wood) and Red (Fire) grains. When Metal governs Heaven and Earth, Metal and Fire share virtue, transforming White (Metal) and Red (Fire) as Sui Gu, and Green (Wood) as Jian Gu, to interpose between the mutual overcoming of Metal and Fire above and below. When Water governs Heaven and Earth, Water and Earth share virtue, transforming Black (Water) and Yellow (Earth) as Sui Gu. Although there is mutual overcoming above and below, Cold and Dampness do not severely conflict; White (Metal) is transformed as Jian Gu to interpose between Water and Earth's overcoming. Since all things change via Qi, the Classic states: If entry and exit cease, Shen Ji perishes; if ascent and descent stop, Qi Li stands alone. This is what is meant. The Qi of Heaven and Earth is the function of Spirit and Enlightenment. When correct, it transforms and generates things; when deviant, it changes and diseases arise. The Five Stars correspondingly appear; all things derive from this, and humans follow suit.

Variations of Si Tian Qi:
In years of Si and Hai, Upper Jiao (Wood/Wind) prevails. The vast void becomes dusty and dim, clouds and objects move wildly. People suffer from epigastric pain centered behind the heart, distension extending to both hypochondria, obstruction of the diaphragm and pharynx, inability to swallow food, stiffness of the tongue root, vomiting after eating, cold diarrhea, abdominal distension, loose stools, masses (Zhang Ju), and urinary retention. The disease originates in the Spleen. If Chong Yang pulse vanishes, death is inevitable and untreatable.
In years of Zi and Wu, Upper Wei Re (Minor Heat) prevails. Stifling heat arrives greatly, Fire dominates administration. People suffer from vexation and heat in the chest, dry throat, fullness in the right hypochondrium, skin pain, aversion to cold and fever, cough and asthma, hemoptysis and hematochezia, nasal congestion, sneezing, vomiting, changes in urine color, and in severe cases, sores and swelling, pain in the shoulder, back, arm, elbow, and clavicular fossa, heart pain, Lung distension, massive abdominal bloating with cough and asthma. The disease originates in the Lung. If Chi Ze pulse vanishes, death is inevitable and untreatable.
In years of Chou and Wei, Upper Gong (Earth/Dampness) prevails. Deep yin spreads, rain causes withering. People suffer from edema and bone pain, Yin Bi (obstruction). In Yin Bi, pressure yields no relief; there is pain in the lower back, spine, head, and neck, occasional dizziness, difficulty defecating, dysfunction of Yin Qi, hunger without desire to eat, blood in sputum, and a sensation of the heart hanging empty. The disease originates in the Kidney. If Tai Xi pulse vanishes, death is inevitable and untreatable.
In years of Yin and Shen, Upper Zheng (Fire) prevails. Warm Qi circulates, Metal administration is uneven. People suffer from headache, fever with aversion to cold, and malaria. Heat rises, skin pain, yellow-red complexion, progression to water disease, facial and bodily edema, abdominal fullness with仰息 (breathing with raised chest), dysentery with red and white discharge, sores, hemoptysis, vexation, heat in the chest, and in severe cases, nasal congestion and epistaxis. The disease originates in the Lung. If Tian Fu pulse vanishes, death is inevitable and untreatable.
In years of Mao and You, Upper Shang (Metal/Dryness) prevails. Trees bloom late, grass grows late, internal changes occur in sinews and bones. People suffer from left hypochondriac pain, coldness in the middle, malaria upon contraction, drastic cooling altering seasons, cough, borborygmus, watery diarrhea, gathering of famous trees, stagnation of vitality below, scorching of grass tops, sudden pain in heart and hypochondrium, inability to turn sideways, dry throat, dusty face, lower back pain, hernia in men, lower abdominal pain in women, visual impairment, eyelid sores, acne, carbuncles, and emergence of hibernating insects. The disease originates in the Liver. If Tai Chong pulse vanishes, death is inevitable and untreatable.
In years of Chen and Xu, Upper Yu (Water/Cold) prevails. Cold Qi returns contrary to season, water freezes, blood changes internally, leading to abscesses. People suffer from Jue Xin Tong (Cold Heart Pain), hematemesis, hematochezia, nasal congestion, epistaxis, sadness, occasional dizziness and collapse. Fire burns fiercely, violent rain brings hail, chest and abdominal fullness, hot hands, contracted elbows, swollen axillae, palpitations, discomfort in chest, hypochondria, and epigastrium, red face, yellow eyes, frequent belching, dry throat, and in severe cases, blackish complexion, thirst, and desire to drink. The disease originates in the Heart. If Shen Men pulse vanishes, death is inevitable and untreatable.

Song of Tonification and Purging Medicines for Si Tian Qi:
For Earth position, use Sweet and Harmonizing medicines; Pungent and Warm treat Metal.
For Wood, Sour and Cool flavors are good; Bitter treats Fire, Salty treats Water.
Liver Wood governs Sour; Heart Fire governs Bitter; Lung Metal governs Pungent; Kidney Water governs Salty; Spleen Earth governs Sweet.
Song of Tonification and Purging:
For Si Tian Wind Excess, use Cool and Pungent; Pungent tonifies, Sour purges, illness calms.
Fire uses Sweet to purge, Salty to tonify life.
Earth uses Bitter to purge, Sweet to tonify joy.
Metal uses Pungent to purge, Sour to tonify.
Water uses Salty to purge, Bitter to tonify for recovery.
This is the method of superior physicians preventing disease; medicines correspond to the Five Zang organs and Heaven's body.
Example: For East Liver disease, purge with Sour, tonify with West Pungent.
For West Metal disease, purge with Pungent, tonify with East Sour.
For South Fire disease, purge with Sweet, tonify with North Salty.
For North Kidney disease, purge with local Salty, tonify with South Bitter.
For Central Earth disease, purge with Bitter, tonify with local Sweet.

When Si Tian Qi causes Wind Excess, level with Pungent-Cool, assist with Bitter-Sweet, relax with Sweet, purge with Sour. (East nature is Sour; West Pungent tonifies. Pungent-Cool addresses Wind's intermediate Heat organ, combining Wind-Wood Spring harmony, using Cool as function. Assist with Bitter-Sweet: Bitter tonifies Kidney, purges Spleen; fearing Spring Wood excess, Sweet tonifies Earth. Sweet relaxes. Sour purges Liver excess.)
When Heat Excess occurs, level with Salty-Cold, assist with Bitter-Sweet, collect/astringe with Sour. (Shaoyin Ministerial Fire heat is virtuous Heaven Fire. Salty-Cold levels: Salty purges Kidney Water, Cold calms Fire-Heat. Assist with Bitter-Sweet: Sweet purges Heart Fire, tonifies Spleen Earth. Sour collects: Classic says Heart dislikes laxity, urgently eat Sour to collect.)
When Dampness Excess occurs, level with Bitter-Hot, assist with Acid-Pungent, dry with Bitter, drain with Light/Bland. (Taiyin Spleen Earth dampness is central transformation. Level with Bitter-Hot: Classic says Spleen dislikes Dampness, urgently eat Bitter to dry. Dampness excess means Warm Qi overflows internally, causing swelling/fullness. Remove swelling/fullness: upper, purge with Bitter; lower, drain with Bitter. Bitter-Hot may induce sweating. Assist with Acid-Pungent: Acid collects, Pungent moistens, countering Bitter-drying. Urgently collect with Acid for Dampness swelling/fullness; Pungent moistens dryness. Drain with Light/Bland: bland flavor promotes urination,渗泄 (percolates/drainages) water passages. Treating Dampness without promoting urination is incorrect.)
When Dampness is severe above with Heat, treat with Bitter-Warm, assist with Sweet-Pungent, stop when sweat occurs. (Upper half has Dampness excess, Fire Qi is stifled. Stifled Dampness combats, use Bitter-Warm, Sweet-Pungent to release exterior, induce sweat, dispel pathogen.)
When Fire Excess occurs, level with Acid-Cold, assist with Bitter-Sweet, collect with Acid, vent with Bitter, restore with Acid. Heat Excess follows same method. (Previous Ministerial Fire transformations are the same, no further explanation needed.)
When Dryness Excess occurs, level with Bitter-Dry (Note: Text says 'Ku Shi', likely meaning Bitter-Warm or Bitter to dry), assist with Acid-Pungent, descend with Bitter. (Dryness is Western Lung Metal transformation. Bitter-Dry: Detailed in Classic, Bitter-Warm. Lung dislikes Qi rebellion, urgently eat Bitter to drain. Bitter tonifies Kidney Water, purges Spleen Earth, draining Mother, tonifying Child. Assist with Acid-Pungent: Acid collects, Pungent moistens. Pungent purges, Sour tonifies, correctly tonifying/purging Lung, aiming for balance. Descend with Bitter: Use Bitter-Warm to percolate and drain.)
When Cold Excess occurs, level with Pungent-Hot, assist with Sweet-Bitter, purge with Salty. (Taiyang Cold Water, master of Kidney disease. Level with Pungent-Hot: Kidney should eat Pungent. Kidney dislikes Dryness, urgently eat Pungent to moisten. Pungent moistens dryness. Pungent-Hot: Winter Cold uses Hot, suitable to take Hot. Fearing Pungent-Hot extreme leads to Wood excess, assist with Sweet-Bitter. Acid moderates middle, Bitter slightly dries, Bitter tonifies Kidney, aiming for balance.)

When Evil Counter-Victories Heaven: Clearness counter-victories Warmth, treat with Acid-Warm, assist with Sweet-Bitter. (Refers to Jueyin at泉 (Subterranean), Wind governs Earth, Clearness counter-victories. Treat with Acid-Warm, Acid purges Jueyin Wood. Assist with Sweet-Bitter: Liver likes Sweet to relax, Spleen likes Bitter to dry. Sweet-Bitter harmonize, aim for balance.)
When Cold counter-victories Heat, treat with Sweet-Hot, assist with Bitter-Pungent, level with Salty. (Shaoyin at Subterranean, Heat governs Earth. Refers to Mao-You Metal Si Tian, Fire governs Earth. Earth evil victory. Treat as previously stated.)
When Heat counter-victories Dampness, treat with Bitter-Cold, assist with Salty-Sweet, level with Bitter. (Taiyin at Subterranean, Dampness governs Earth. Chen-Xu years. Water Si Tian, Chou-Wei Earth governs Earth. Earth Dampness wins, counter-heats Heaven. Treat with Bitter-Cold, purge Spleen Earth Qi. Assist with Salty-Sweet: Salty purges Water Qi, Sweet relaxes. Level with Bitter: Bitter purges Earth, tonifies Water.)
When Cold counter-victories Heat (Yin-Shen year, Fire governs Earth, Cold counter-victories Heat), treat with Sweet-Hot, assist with Bitter-Pungent, level with Salty. (Sweet-Hot: Hot relieves Cold, Sweet tonifies Spleen Earth. Assist with Bitter-Pungent: Bitter dries, Pungent moistens, harmonizes Kidney Water. Level with Salty: Salty purges Heart Fire, tonifies Kidney Water, aim for balance.)
When Heat counter-victories Dryness (Zi-Wu year, Dryness governs Earth, dislikes Heat, fears Cold), treat with Pungent-Cold, assist with Bitter-Sweet, level with Acid, benefit from Harmony. (Pungent-Cold: Cold harmonizes Heat, Pungent moistens. Fearing Pungent-Cold extreme damages Lung Meridian, assist with Bitter-Sweet. Bitter dries, Sweet relaxes. Collect with Acid, harmonize to balance.)
When Heat counter-victories Cold (Chou-Wei year, Taiyang governs Earth, Chen-Xu Cold governs Earth, Heat counter-victories), treat with Salty-Cold, assist with Sweet-Pungent, level with Bitter. (Salty-Cold: Salty purges Kidney Water, tonifies Heart Fire. Assist with Sweet-Pungent: Pungent disperses, Sweet relaxes. Fear Pungent-Salty damages Kidney Water/Lung Metal, restore with Bitter drying to level, aim for Harmony.)

Variations of Si Di (Subterranean) Qi:
In Yin-Shen years, Lower Jiao (Wood/Wind) prevails. Earth Qi is unclear, plains are dim, grass blooms early. People suffer from shivering chills, frequent stretching and yawning, heart pain with distension, tightness in both hypochondria, inability to swallow, diaphragmatic/pharyngeal obstruction, vomiting after eating, abdominal distension with frequent belching, relief after defecation/gas passage, heavy body.
In Mao-You years, Lower Zheng (Fire/Heat) prevails. Flames float on rivers/marshes, shady places become bright. People suffer from borborygmus, Qi rushing to chest, asthma unable to stand long, aversion to cold/fever, skin pain, eye closure, tooth pain, gum swelling, aversion to cold/fever like malaria, lower abdominal pain, large abdomen, hibernating insects do not hide.
In Chen-Xu years, Lower Gong (Earth/Dampness) prevails. Dust dims rocks/valleys, Yellow shows Black, intersection of Extreme Yin. People suffer from fluid accumulation, heart pain, deafness, roaring tinnitus, dry throat, swollen throat obstruction, Yin disease with bleeding, lower abdominal pain/swelling, inability to urinate, rushing headache, eyes feel like falling out, neck feels like pulling, waist feels like breaking, thighs immobile, popliteal fossa feels bound, calf feels separated.
In Si-Hai years, Lower Zheng (Fire) prevails. Flames bright in suburbs, alternating cold/heat. People suffer from profuse dysentery red/white, lower abdominal pain, red urine, severe hematochezia. Shaoyin presents similarly.
In Zi-Wu years, Lower Shang (Metal/Dryness) prevails. Foggy clear/dim vision. People suffer from frequent vomiting, bitter vomit, frequent sighing, heart/hypochondriac pain, inability to turn sideways, severe dry throat, dusty face, lack of skin luster, reverse heat on outer foot.
In Chou-Wei years, Lower Yu (Water/Cold) prevails. Freezing solemn/cold. People suffer from lower abdominal pain drawing to testicles/waist/spine, upward rushing heart pain, bleeding, sore throat, submandibular swelling.

Qi at Subterranean, Wind Excess Internally: Treat with Pungent-Cool, assist with Bitter-Sweet, relax with Sweet, disperse with Pungent.
Heat Excess Internally: Treat with Salty-Cold, assist with Bitter-Sweet, collect with Acid, vent with Bitter.
Dampness Excess Internally: Treat with Bitter-Hot, assist with Acid-Light, dry with Bitter, drain with Light.
Fire Excess Internally: Treat with Salty-Cold, assist with Bitter-Pungent, collect with Acid, vent with Bitter.
Dryness Excess Internally: Treat with Bitter-Warm, assist with Sweet-Pungent, descend with Bitter, moisten with Pungent.
Cold Excess Internally: Treat with Sweet-Hot, assist with Bitter-Pungent, purge with Salty, firm with Bitter.

Evil Counter-Victories Earth: Clearness counter-victories Wind, treat with Acid-Warm, assist with Bitter-Sweet, level with Pungent.
Cold counter-victories Heat, treat with Sweet-Hot, assist with Bitter-Pungent, level with Salty.
Heat counter-victories Dampness, treat with Bitter-Cold, assist with Salty-Sweet, level with Bitter.
Heat counter-victories Dryness, treat with Pungent-Cold, assist with Bitter-Sweet, level with Acid, benefit from Harmony.
Heat counter-victories Cold, treat with Salty-Cold, assist with Sweet-Pungent, level with Bitter.
All these internal excessive pathogens: "Yin" means overflow. Mother-Child generation creates overflow. Victory gains Earth and becomes excessive, distinct from punishment/overcoming. Example: Heart Fire too strong, treat Liver Qi. Generated is Mother-Child, all are overflow diseases. No punishment/overcoming, only single flavor generation, is treatment for Victory. Overflow counter-victory/reversal: Tonification/Purging use previous Five Yun Six Qi Song methods. Kidney is Stomach Gate; Spleen/Stomach command softness. Use Salty to soften and open gate. Stomach Qi moves, Spleen Qi transforms. Thus flavor differs from other Zang.

Five Zang Tonification/Purging:
Liver Wood: Sour purge, Pungent tonify.
Heart Fire: Sweet purge, Salty tonify.
Spleen Earth: Bitter purge, Sweet tonify.
Lung Metal: Pungent purge, Acid tonify.
Kidney Water: Salty purge, Bitter tonify.

Five Zang Mutual Exchange Dislikes/Urgency:
Liver dislikes urgency, urgently eat Sweet to relax.
Heart dislikes laxity, urgently eat Acid to collect.
Spleen dislikes Dampness, urgently eat Bitter to dry.
Lung dislikes Qi rebellion, urgently eat Bitter to drain.
Kidney dislikes Dryness, urgently eat Pungent to moisten.

Five Zang Suitability:
Liver likes Sweet.
Heart likes Acid.
Lung likes Bitter.
Spleen likes Salty.
Kidney likes Pungent.

Heaven/Earth excessive victories need not always be so; follow Qi waxing/waning, changing to generate disease. Excess leads to excessive victory, own Qi declines, then Own Non-Overcome Evil counter-victories. Evil has no excess/decline, aim for balance, disease does not arise. Deduce ultimate principle, assign location, and verify.

All Heaven's Six Qi arrivals, human pulses also respond and arrive. Qi arrival and pulse response is called Peaceful Pulse, hence "Heaven Harmony Six Pulses".
Year Jueyin arrival: Pulse is Xian (Wiry) - soft, empty, slippery, straight and long. This is Xian, Wind nature, Wood image. Excessive and strong is disease; not excessive but weak is disease; not straight/long is disease; wrong position is disease; position cannot be strong is disease.
Year Shaoyin arrival: Pulse is Gou (Hook) - comes strong, goes weak, like inverted belt hook. This is Gou, Summer Heat nature, Fire image. Comes weak, goes strong is disease; comes strong, goes strong is disease; not hook-like is disease; wrong position is disease; position cannot hook is disease.
Year Taiyin arrival: Pulse is Da Er Chang (Large and Long) - distant coming/going. This is Chang, Dampness nature, Earth image. Very large is disease; very long is disease; not large/long is disease; wrong position is disease; position cannot be large/long is disease. (Classic says this pulse under Taiyang arrival, Qi is safe, now changed here.)
Year Shaoyang arrival: Pulse is Da Er Fu (Large and Floating). (Fu is high. Da is slightly larger than other positions.) Heat nature, Fire image. Large/Floating extreme is disease; Floating not large is disease; Large not floating is disease; wrong position is disease; position cannot be large/floating is disease.
Year Yangming arrival: Pulse is Duan Er Se (Short and Choppy). (Unsmooth coming/going is Se; short distance coming/going is Duan.) Dryness nature. Short extreme is disease; Choppy extreme is disease; not short/choppy is disease; wrong position is disease; position cannot be short/choppy is disease.
Year Taiyang arrival: Pulse is Chen (Deep). (Chen is low.) Press to obtain. (Below other positions.) Cold nature, Water image. Deep extreme is disease; not deep is disease; wrong position is disease; position cannot be deep is disease.

All these Heaven Harmony Six Pulses, their arriving states, all have guiding principles, Heaven's Way. Jueyin Wind Wood governs Liver, hence pulse is Wiry. Shaoyin Ministerial Fire governs Heart, hence pulse is Hook. Taiyin Damp Earth governs Spleen, hence pulse is Large and Long. Shaoyang Ministerial Fire governs Pericardium, hence pulse is Large and Floating. Yangming Dry Metal governs...