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The Qi of the Five Movements (Wu Yun) has, each year, the Heavenly Qi suppressing and stagnating it; when stagnation reaches its extreme, it erupts, waiting for the appropriate time to act. Thus, the Classics state: When Earth Qi is stagnant and erupts, cliffs and valleys tremble in alarm, thunder roars at the intersection of Heaven and Earth Qi (this is the dispersal of clouds), dust obscures the sky with yellow-black hues, transforming into white Qi, drifting and storming between high and deep depths, striking rocks and flying in the air, floodwaters then follow, river flows overflow and spread, fields and pastures [after the great waters recede] show stones and earth standing precariously, as if a herd of foals scattered grazing in the fields. The Transformation Qi (Qi of growth and nourishment) then spreads, aptly providing timely rains, allowing things to begin to grow, lengthen, transform, and mature. Therefore, the people suffer from heart and abdominal distension and fullness, borborygmus and frequent diarrhea; severely, they experience heart pain, hypochondriac pain, vomiting, Huoluan (cholera-like syndrome), fluid retention with profuse diarrhea, edema, and heavy body. (This arises from Spleen Heat.) Clouds rush to the Rain Mansion, rosy clouds embrace the morning sun, mist and dust obscure mountains and marshes; this is the eruption of Earth Qi. Its number corresponds to Four; clouds hang across the Heavenly Mountain, floating Qi fluctuates in generation and decline, which is the omen of stagnation. (Wang Bing says: Clouds hanging across the horizon, mountains like wearing hats and belts, dense vegetation in valleys appearing and disappearing, revealing Earth's presence, the signs of stagnation are manifest; all are observed at dawn, watching the floating Qi before noon.)

When Metal Qi is stagnant and erupts, the sky is clean and the earth bright, winds are clear and piercing, great coolness rises, grass and trees float in smoke, Dryness Qi prevails, fog frequently rises (between Chou and Chen hours), killing Qi arrives, grass and trees turn pale and dry (their colors are mixed yellow, red, and black; things cannot withstand the killing force, thus grass and trees become pale and dry). Metal makes sound, therefore the people suffer from cough and rebellious Qi, heart and hypochondriac pain radiating to the lower abdomen, prone to sudden severe pain, inability to turn over or lie on side, dry throat, dusty complexion, and foul color. (This is due to Metal excess causing Liver Wood disease.) Mountains and marshes are scorched and dry, soil condenses into frost and salt; this is the eruption of Metal Qi. (Wang Bing says.) Its number corresponds to Five; night cold and white dew fall, forests and wilds sound desolate, which is the omen of Metal Qi stagnation.

When Water Qi is stagnant and erupts, Yang Qi retreats, Yin Qi rises violently, great cold arrives, rivers, marshes, and rocks freeze, cold condenses into frost and snow; severely, yellow-black darkness obscures, flowing through the Qi intersection of Heaven and Earth, frost becomes the sign of killing, Water shows auspicious signs. Therefore, the people suffer from cold invading causing heart pain, lumbar pain, stiffness and difficulty in movement of large joints, prone to reversal cold (Jue Ni), palpitations, hardness, and abdominal fullness. (This is due to Yin excess overcoming Yang.) Solar light fails to govern brightness, emptiness accumulates sinking Yin, white dust obscures vision; this is the eruption of Water Qi. The Great Void is deep and profound, Qi scatters like hemp fibers, faintly visible then hidden, color black slightly yellow, which is the omen of Water Qi stagnation. (Wang Bing says: From Yin to Chen hours, observation is possible.)

When Wood Qi is stagnant and erupts, the Great Void is dim with dust, clouds and phenomena are disturbed, great winds arrive, overturning houses and breaking trees, Wood undergoes change. (Earth generates strange Wood, with unusual shapes.) Therefore, the people suffer from epigastric pain centered behind the heart, radiating upward to support both hypochondria, obstruction of diaphragm and pharynx, inability to swallow food and drink; severely, tinnitus, vertigo, inability to recognize people, prone to sudden rigidity and collapse. (This is called strong and rigid sinews and bones unable to function, sudden falling without consciousness.) The Great Void is gray with dust, mountain and sky one color, or Qi turbid with yellow-black color, stagnation resembling horizontal clouds without rain; this is the eruption of Wood Qi. Its Qi is unpredictable; long rivers' grass bends (naturally low without wind), soft leaves show their undersides (White Poplar leaves, showing backs without wind), pines chant on high mountains, tigers roar in rock peaks, which is the omen of Wood Qi stagnation. (Wang Bing says: Severe eruptions are fast, mild ones slow. For travel in mountains, predict by pines and tigers; for plains, predict by Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang); in autumn and winter, predict by Firmiana Seedling Bark (Fuzi) and Cicada Slough (Chanyijin).)

When Fire Qi is stagnant and erupts, the Great Void is dim and obscured (with red Qi visible in the void), the Great Brightness is not manifest (but rather dim), Blazing Fire moves, Great Heat arrives, mountains and marshes burn, timber flows with sap, grand mansions rise with smoke, soil floats with frost and salt, still water decreases, creeping grass turns yellow, wind blows confusing words (Southern Wind issues orders, confusing words indicate rain will not come), Humidification lags. Therefore, the people suffer from shortness of breath, sores, ulcers, carbuncles and swelling, distension of hypochondrium, abdomen, chest, back, head, face, limbs, and trunk, ulcerative flaccidity, vomiting and rebellious Qi, convulsions, bone pain, joint movement, profuse diarrhea, Warm Malaria (Wen Nue), sudden abdominal pain, blood extravasation and flow, depletion of essence and fluid, red eyes and hot Heart, severely, mental confusion and restlessness, prone to sudden death. At the end of the Ke period, great warmth occurs, sweat moistens the Xuanfu (pores); this is the eruption of Fire Qi. Its number corresponds to Four. [Added: When stagnation reaches its extreme, it erupts, waiting for the time; this happens when Heavenly Qi is insufficient, Earth Qi follows; when Earth Qi is insufficient, Heavenly Qi follows, with Movement occupying the center. Wood Qi desires to ascend, but is stagnated by Metal Qi; Fire Qi desires to ascend, but is stagnated by Water Qi; Earth Qi desires to ascend, but is stagnated by Wood Qi; Metal Qi desires to ascend, but is stagnated by Fire Qi. Ding You, Ji Hai, Ji Si, Geng Wu, Xin Chou, Geng Yin years. For example, in Geng Wu year, Metal Qi desires to ascend, but Heavenly Qi suppresses it, and encountering the Third Qi, upper and lower Fire Qi is stagnated, unable to ascend or descend. Thus it is said: Heavenly Qi descends, Qi flows into Earth; Earth Qi ascends, Qi rises to Heaven. Thus high and low interact, ascending and descending cause each other, and changes arise. Differences vary in degree; slight differences are small, severe differences are large; severely, positions change, Qi transformation leads to major changes and disease onset. The Da Yao states: Severe cycles are five parts, mild cycles are seven parts. Severe cycles are fast, mild cycles are slow. One cycle is fifteen days; severe cycles take seventy-five days to erupt after waiting for the time; mild cycles are slow, taking one hundred and five days to erupt. Thus, one knows the excess and deficiency of Heaven and Earth Yin and Yang.] Movement returns to stillness, Extreme Yang reverses to Yin, Humid Command transforms and forms, flowers emerge while water freezes, mountains and rivers hold ice and snow, blazing sun at midday marshes, which is the omen of stagnation.

There is an response to stagnation, followed by retaliation; all observe the extreme, then erupt. Wood eruption has no fixed time, Water follows Fire. Its eruption having no fixed time indicates irregular eruption. Water follows the position of the two Fires, Water and Fire erupt in the Four Commands, Metal erupts in the Fifth Command. However, there are degrees of abundance and scarcity, eruptions have mild and severe aspects. Mild cases correspond only to their own Qi without involving other Qi; severe cases involve the Qi they cannot overcome. Thus, Water eruption brings hail, Earth eruption brings gusty storms, Wood eruption brings destruction, Metal eruption brings clarity, Fire eruption brings obscurity. The Qi they cannot overcome can be known by deducing the supporting Qi below. The supporting Qi refers to what happens when excess and extremity lead to destructive succession. Thus, the Classics say: Below Ministerial Fire, Water Qi supports; below Water position, Earth Qi supports; below Earth position, Wind Qi supports; below Wind position, Metal Qi supports; below Metal position, Fire Qi supports; below Sovereign Water, Yin Essence supports; all serve to restrain their overcoming Qi, made clear by observing objects. For instance, when human/animal heat is extreme, body fluids flow; using fire to refine metal, extreme heat transforms back into water; thus we know that extreme Heat involves Water Qi supporting from below. Again, when Water Qi is extremely cold, objects harden and water freezes like earth; thus we know extreme Water involves Earth Qi supporting from below. Again, when rain and dampness are extremely abundant, there are sudden torrential winds and overflowing floods; thus we know excessive Earth involves Wind Qi supporting from below. Again, when wind is great, it turns cool and grass/trees scatter; thus we know excessive Wind involves Metal Qi supporting from below. Again, when Autumn Qi is greatly cool and objects are dry, it is the image of Fire Qi supporting from below. However, nothing should go to extremes; excess must be met by the Qi that overcomes it to restrain it. Thus, the Classics say: Excess causes harm, support leads to restraint, restraint allows transformation and generation, external manifestation shows prosperity and decline, harm leads to disorder, transformation and generation lead to major disease. Excess means reaching the extreme; things abhor the extreme, thus "growth of things is called Transformation, extremity of things is called Change." Also, common saying "things reverse at the extreme," all follow this Dao.

(Added) Question: How to treat severe stagnation? Answer: Wood stagnation is resolved by unblocking (Da), (Unblocking means inducing vomiting for those above to promote smooth flow.) Fire stagnation is resolved by venting (Fa), (Releasing the exterior and inducing sweating to allow dispersion.) Earth stagnation is resolved by seizing/drainage (Duo), (Seizing means purging downward to remove obstruction.) Metal stagnation is resolved by draining/releasing (Xie), (Percolating, releasing the exterior, promoting urination.) Water stagnation is resolved by restraining (Zhe), (Restraining its excessive Qi, checking its rebellious surge.) Excess is restrained by what it fears.