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Excess pathogenic qi must inevitably be followed by a retaliatory qi; as the disease of dominance (Sheng) is about to subside, the disease of retaliation (Fu) begins to sprout. After retaliation, dominance arises again, and this cycle ceases only when both sides' qi have depleted. The presence or absence, and the slightness or severity, are balanced like a steelyard. Although seasons have fixed positions, qi does not necessarily follow them. Dominance occurs in the heavenly three stages, while retaliation occurs at the earthly conclusion; for the principal qi, there is dominance but no retaliation, whereas guest qi dominance is compliant (Cong), and principal qi dominance is contrary (Ni).

[Note] If the six qi have dominance, there must inevitably be retaliation; this is the way of yin-yang circulation. As the disease of dominance subsides, the disease of retaliation immediately sprouts; this is the mechanism of the advance and retreat of pathogenic and righteous qi. After dominance comes retaliation, and after retaliation comes dominance again; originally there is no fixed number, it must wait until the qi of both parties depletes before stopping, which is the natural principle. Where there is dominance, there is retaliation; where there is no dominance, there is no retaliation. Slight dominance leads to slight retaliation, severe dominance leads to severe retaliation, just as the weights on a steelyard do not exceed each other. However, regarding the movement of dominance and retaliation, although there are fixed seasonal positions, the qi does not necessarily manifest. "Qi does not necessarily manifest" means that in a year where dominance should occur, no dominance appears. "Seasons have fixed positions" means that the time of dominance is in the front, governed by the position of the Si Tian (Chief Qi of Heaven); from the First Qi to the Third Qi, this is the normal pattern of dominance. The time of retaliation is in the back, governed by the position of the Zai Quan (Chief Qi of Earth); from the Fourth Qi to the Final Qi, this is the normal pattern of retaliation. This is what is meant by the mutual dominance and retaliation of the six qi. Regarding the Principal and Guest qi of the six qi, there is dominance but no retaliation. The reason for having dominance but no retaliation is that the Guest qi executes the commands of Heaven, and when the time passes, it ends; the Principal qi guards its position and complies with the mandate of Heaven. If the Principal qi dominates the Guest qi, it violates the mandate of Heaven, and the transformation of qi cannot proceed, thus it is called "Ni" (Contrary/Adverse). If the Guest qi dominates the Principal qi, it is an upper descending upon a lower offering homage, and the administrative orders can be promulgated, thus it is called "Cong" (Compliant/Following).

The stagnation of Fire, Earth, and Metal awaits the proper time to erupt; Water erupts following Fire, while Wood has no constant timing. When Water erupts, hail and snow appear; when Earth erupts, violent winds and sudden rains occur; when Wood erupts, destruction and breaking of trees happen; when Metal erupts, clarity and coldness prevail; when Fire erupts, obscurity and dimness arise, varying in degree. Slight cases resolve themselves, while severe cases involve mutual punishment. For Wood stagnation, use the method of Da (Unblocking/Dispersing); for Fire, Fa (Erupting/Releasing); for Metal, Xie (Draining/Descending); for Earth, Duo (Seizing/Purging); for Water, Zhe (Restraining/Channeling); thus treatment achieves balance.

[Note] The eruption of the five stagnations each has its own time. Fire stagnation waits for the third stage (Fire time) to erupt; Earth stagnation waits for the fourth stage (Earth time) to erupt; Metal stagnation waits for the fifth stage (Metal time) to erupt; these each wait for their prosperous times to erupt. Water stagnation does not wait for the final stage (Water time), but often erupts during the second and third stages (Fire times) because Water nature is yin and treacherous; seeing yang qi beginning to recede, it advances to take advantage, hence it does not wait for Water's prosperity to erupt. The eruption of Wood stagnation has no fixed time because Wood generates Wind, which moves swiftly and changes frequently; its qi is irregular, so Wood eruptions have no constant timing. Having clarified the timing of the five eruptions, one must know the signs of the five eruptions, the slightness or severity of the five qi, the weather conditions, and the diseases of the people. The sign of Water eruption: slight is cold, severe is hail and snow; hail and snow indicate extreme cold. The sign of Earth eruption: slight is dampness, severe is violent wind and sudden rain (Piao Zhou); Piao Zhou refers to storms. The sign of Wood eruption: slight is wind, severe is destruction and uprooting (Hui Zhe); Hui Zhe refers to crushing and pulling out. The sign of Metal eruption: slight is dryness, severe is clarity and coldness (Qing Ming); Qing Ming refers to cold austerity. The sign of Fire eruption: slight is heat, severe is obscurity and dimness (Xun Mei); Xun Mei refers to darkness and obscuration. "More or less" refers to Excess (Tai Guo) and Deficiency (Bu Ji). Deficiency results in mild disease, Excess results in severe disease. "Slight disease resolves itself" means the disease originates in the meridian itself. "Severe involves mutual punishment" means concurrent disease with those I control (I punish) and those who control me (punish me). For example, if Wood qi is excessive, the element I control is Earth, and the element controlling me is Metal; Earth fears my domination and comes to harmonize its transformation, Metal fears my dominance and comes to align its transformation, thus pathology appears in all three meridians. The other elements follow this pattern. "Wood Da" refers to "Da the Wood Stagnation"; "Da" means unblocking and smoothing. For any Wood stagnation disease, where wind is constrained by cold/astringency, use Acrid (Xin) to disperse and smooth it, Sweet (Gan) to harmonize and relax it, Bitter (Ku) to induce vomiting and calm it; as long as Wood qi becomes unblocked and smooth, these are methods for treating Wood stagnation. "Fire Fa" refers to "Fa the Fire Stagnation"; "Fa" means uplifting and dispersing. For any Fire stagnation disease caused by Cold binding the exterior, use Acrid-Warm to release it, Acrid-Sweet to uplift it, Acrid-Cool to resolve it, Acrid-Bitter to scatter it; as long as Fire qi is uplifted and dispersed, these are methods for treating Fire stagnation. "Metal Xie" refers to "Xie the Metal Stagnation"; "Xie" means venting and descending. For any Metal stagnation disease, where dryness is trapped by Fire, use Acrid to ventilate, smooth, and moisten it, Bitter to drain, descend, and clear it; as long as dryness qi becomes vented and smooth, these are methods for treating Metal stagnation. "Water Zhe" refers to "Zhe the Water Stagnation"; "Zhe" means driving away, guiding, and permeating. For any Water stagnation disease, where water is stagnant due to dampness, use Acrid-Bitter to drive and guide it, Acrid-Neutral to permeate and unblock it; as long as Water qi flows freely without accumulation, these are methods for treating Water stagnation. "Earth Duo" refers to "Duo the Earth Stagnation"; "Duo" refers to sweating, vomiting, and purgation. For any Earth stagnation disease, where dampness is blocked by Wind, if external use sweating, if internal use purgation, if upper use vomiting, if lower use purgation; as long as Earth qi does not become obstructed, these are methods for treating Earth stagnation.