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*Suwen* (Plain Questions) states: In the Zi and Wu years, the Si Tian (Heavenly Ruler) Qi is Shaoyin; in the Chou and Wei years, it is Taiyin; in the Yin and Shen years, it is Shaoyang; in the Mao and You years, it is Yangming; in the Chen and Xu years, it is Taiyang; and in the Si and Hai years, it is Jueyin. (This refers to the correspondence between the Three Yin and Three Yang and the Earthly Branches. This describes the Six Qi located above, known as Si Tian [Heavenly Ruler], such as Shaoyin ruling the heavens in Zi and Wu years, a pattern consistent across all twelve years.) Shaoyin is referred to as the Biao (Mark/Manifestation), and Jueyin is referred to as the Zhong (End). (Biao means beginning/start, Zhong means end/conclusion. The sequence of Yin and Yang over sixty years begins with Zi and Wu, hence Shaoyin is called the start; it ends at Si and Hai, hence Jueyin is called the end.) Above Jueyin, Wind Qi governs; above Shaoyin, Heat Qi governs; above Taiyin, Dampness Qi governs; above Shaoyang, Ministerial Fire Qi governs; above Yangming, Dryness Qi governs; above Taiyang, Cold Qi governs. (Note: The original text contains apparent lacunae or transcription errors here; based on subsequent context and TCM theory, it should read "Above Taiyang, Cold Qi governs.") Shaoyin transforms into Dampness, Taiyin transforms into Fire, Shaoyang transforms into Dryness, Yangming transforms into Cold, Taiyang... (The text here seems incomplete, but logically follows to discuss the relationship between Ben [Root] and Biao [Mark]). Thus, the Six Qi are called the Ben (Root), and the Three Yin and Three Yang are called the Biao (Mark). However, these six types of Qi transformation all originate from the One Qi of Tian Yuan (Heavenly Origin). The One Qi divides into six, hence they are called the Liu Yuan (Six Origins).

Above Shaoyang, Fire Qi governs, and the Zhong Qi (Middle Qi) reveals Jueyin. (The following discusses that each of the Three Yin and Three Yang has a Bi-Li [Exterior-Interior] relationship, their Qi connects, and thus each has a mutually rooting Zhong Qi [Middle Qi].) Above Yangming, Dryness Qi governs, and the Zhong Qi reveals Taiyin. (The Ben Qi of Yangming is Dryness, so Dryness Qi is above, forming an Exterior-Interior relationship with Taiyin, therefore the Zhong Qi reveals Taiyin. This represents the transformation of Dryness Metal combined with Dampness Earth.) Above Taiyang, Cold Qi governs, and the Zhong Qi reveals Shaoyin. (The Ben Qi of Taiyang is Cold, so Cold Qi is above, forming an Exterior-Interior relationship with Shaoyin, therefore the Zhong Qi reveals Shaoyin. This represents the transformation of Cold Water combined with Sovereign Fire.) Above Jueyin, Wind Qi governs, and the Zhong Qi reveals Shaoyang. (The Ben Qi of Jueyin is Wind, so Wind Qi is above, forming an Exterior-Interior relationship with Shaoyang, therefore the Zhong Qi reveals Shaoyang. This represents the transformation of Wind Wood combined with Ministerial Fire.) Above Shaoyin, Heat Qi governs, and the Zhong Qi reveals Taiyang. (The Ben Qi of Shaoyin is Heat, so Heat Qi is above, forming an Exterior-Interior relationship with Taiyang, therefore the Zhong Qi reveals Taiyang. This represents the transformation of Sovereign Fire combined with Cold Water.) Above Taiyin, Dampness Qi governs, and the Zhong Qi reveals Yangming. (The Ben Qi of Taiyin is Dampness, so Dampness Qi is above, forming an Exterior-Interior relationship with Yangming, therefore the Zhong Qi reveals Yangming. This represents the transformation of Dampness Earth combined with Dryness Metal.) This is called the Ben (Root). Below the Ben is the revealed Zhong Qi (Middle Qi); below the Zhong Qi is the Biao (Mark) of the Qi. (This explains that the Three Yin and Three Yang serve as the marks of the Six Qi, while what appears between the Ben and Biao is the combination of Yin-Yang Exterior-Interior relationships and the mutually revealing Zhong Qi.) Since the Ben and Biao differ, the corresponding manifestations of Qi also vary.

[Diagram of Upper, Middle, Lower Ben, Biao, and Zhong Qi]

The Qi of the Six Channels regards Wind, Cold, Heat, Dampness, Fire, and Dryness as the Ben (Root), and the Three Yin and Three Yang as the Biao (Mark). What is seen within the Ben and Biao is called the Zhong Qi (Middle Qi). The Zhong Qi implies that Shaoyang and Jueyin form an Exterior-Interior pair, Yangming and Taiyin form an Exterior-Interior pair, and Taiyang and Shaoyin form an Exterior-Interior pair. Because Exterior and Interior are connected, they mutually serve as each other's Zhong Qi.

The onset of various diseases often arises from the Ben. The function of the Six Qi may arise from the Biao or from the Zhong Qi. Taiyang Cold Water has Cold as its Ben and Heat as its Biao; Shaoyin Sovereign Fire has Heat as its Ben and Cold as its Biao. Treatment may follow either the Ben or the Biao, depending on whether Cold or Heat is assessed for differentiated therapy. Shaoyang Ministerial Fire transforms into Fire as its Ben; Taiyin Dampness Earth transforms into Dampness as its Ben. Treatment follows only the Ben of Fire and Dampness, not the Biao of Shaoyang or Taiyin. Yangming Dryness Metal transforms into Dryness as its Ben, with Yangming as its Biao; Jueyin Wind Wood transforms into Wind as its Ben, with Jueyin as its Biao. Their treatment does not follow the Ben or Biao but rather the Zhong Qi (Middle Qi). "Zhong" refers to the Qi of the Zhong Jian (Middle Manifestation). This is because Yang Qi resides in the middle, so Wind Wood is treated according to the Zhong Qi of Ministerial Fire. Furthermore, since the Ben and Biao Qi of these two channels do not align, treatment is determined by the Zhong Qi.