5.主气六位同主运, 显明之右君位知. 退行一步相火治, 复行一步
土治之, 复行一步金气治, 复行一步水治之, 复行一步木气治, 复行
一步君治之.
【注】主气者, 厥阴风木, 主春初之气也; 少阴君火, 主夏二之气也
;少阳相火, 主盛夏三之气也; 太阴湿土, 主长夏四之气也; 阳明燥
全主秋五之气也; 太阳寒水, 主冬六之气也. 此是地以六为节, 分六
位主之. 六气相生, 同主运五气相生, 四时之常令也. 显明者, 正南
之位, 当君位也. 而君火不在位治之, 反退位于次, 以相火代君火,
司化则当知, 即经云: 少阴不司气化之义也. 正南客气, 司天之位也
,司天之右, 天之右间位也; 在主气为二之气位, 是少阴君火之位,
主行夏令之气也. 故曰: 显明之右, 君火之位也. 君火之右, 退行一
步,乃客气司天之位也; 而主气为三之气位, 是少阳相火之位, 主行
盛夏之令之气也. 不曰复行, 而曰退行者, 以臣对君之面, 承命司化
,不敢背行, 故曰退行一步, 即复行一步也. 复行一步, 土气治之,
乃客气天之左间位也; 而主气为四之气位, 是太阴湿土之位, 主行长
夏令之气也. 复行一步, 金气治之, 乃客气地之右间位也; 在主气为
五之气位, 是阳明燥金之位, 主行秋令之气也. 复行一步, 水气治之
,乃客气在泉之位也; 在主气为六之气位, 是太阳寒水之位, 主行冬
令之气也. 复行一步, 木气治之, 乃客气地之左间位也; 在主气为初
之气位, 是厥阴风木之位, 主行春令之气也. 复行一步, 君火治之,
即前君火之位治之也 ( 图八 ).
5. 主气的六个阶段共同主持五运的流转，显明方位的右侧是君火的位阶。向后退一步由相火主治，再进一步由土气主治，再进一步由金气主治，再进一步由水气主治，再进一步由木气主治，再进一步由君火主治。
【注】主气，即厥阴风木（Liver-Gallbladder Wind-Wood），主持初之气（春季初期的气候）；少阴君火（Heart-Kidney Sovereign-Fire），主持二之气（夏季第二个阶段的气候）；少阳相火（Sanjiao-Gallbladder Minister-Fire），主持三之气（盛夏的气候）；太阴湿土（Spleen-Stomach Damp-Earth），主持四之气（长夏的气候）；阳明燥金（Large Intestine-Lung Dry-Metal），主持五之气（秋季的气候）；太阳寒水（Bladder-Kidney Cold-Water），主持六之气（冬季的气候）。这是大地以“六”为节律，划分六个位阶来主持气候。六气相生，同主运（五运）相生，这是四季正常的规律。所谓“显明”，是指正南方的位阶，对应君火的位阶。而君火不在此位主治，反而退居次位，由相火代替君火行使职能，这在气化作用上应当知晓，即《内经》所说的“少阴不司气化”的含义。正南方的客气，是司天（主管上半年气候）的位阶；司天的右侧，是天之右间（司天之右边的间气）位阶；在主气中属于二之气的位阶，也就是少阴君火的位阶，主持夏令气候的运行。所以说：显明的右侧，是君火的位阶。君火的右侧，后退一步，乃是客气司天的位阶；而在主气中属于三之气的位阶，也就是少阳相火的位阶，主持盛夏气候的运行。不说“复行”（向前行进），而说“退行”，是因为臣子面对君主，承接命令行使职能，不敢背向而行，所以称为“退行一步”，这实际上就是“复行一步”。再进一步，由土气主治，乃是客气天之左间（司天左边的间气）位阶；而在主气中属于四之气的位阶，也就是太阴湿土的位阶，主持长夏气候的运行。再进一步，由金气主治，乃是客气地之右间（在泉右边的间气）位阶；在主气中属于五之气的位阶，也就是阳明燥金的位阶，主持秋令气候的运行。再进一步，由水气主治，乃是客气在泉（主管下半年气候）的位阶；在主气中属于六之气的位阶，也就是太阳寒水的位阶，主持冬令气候的运行。再进一步，由木气主治，乃是客气地之左间（在泉左边的间气）位阶；在主气中属于初之气的位阶，也就是厥阴风木的位阶，主持春令气候的运行。再进一步，由君火主治，即前文所述的君火位阶来主治（见图八）。
5. The six stages of the Primary Qi (Zhu Qi, dominant seasonal climate) jointly govern the circulation of the Five Movements (Wu Yun). To the right of Xianming (the position corresponding to due South), lies the station of Sovereign Fire (Jun Huo). Moving backward one step, Minister Fire (Xiang Huo) takes charge; moving forward one step again, Earth Qi takes charge; moving forward one step again, Metal Qi takes charge; moving forward one step again, Water Qi takes charge; moving forward one step again, Wood Qi takes charge; and moving forward one step again, Sovereign Fire takes charge.
[Annotation] The Primary Qi refers to Jueyin Wind-Wood (Jueyin Fengmu), which governs the First Qi (early spring climate); Shaoyin Sovereign Fire (Shaoyin Junhuo), which governs the Second Qi (second phase of summer); Shaoyang Minister Fire (Shaoyang Xianghuo), which governs the Third Qi (midsummer climate); Taiyin Damp-Earth (Taiyin Shitu), which governs the Fourth Qi (late summer/long summer climate); Yangming Dry-Metal (Yangming Zaojin), which governs the Fifth Qi (autumn climate); and Taiyang Cold-Water (Taiyang Hanshui), which governs the Sixth Qi (winter climate). This reflects the earth's rhythm based on the number "six," dividing the cycle into six stations to govern the climate. The generation among the Six Qi parallels the generation among the Five Movements (Wu Yun), representing the constant law of the four seasons. "Xianming" refers to the position of due South, corresponding to the station of Sovereign Fire. However, Sovereign Fire does not govern from this specific station but instead retreats to a secondary position, allowing Minister Fire to act on its behalf. This should be understood in terms of qi transformation, consistent with the principle stated in the Classics: "Shaoyin does not govern qi transformation." The Secondary Qi (Ke Qi) at due South is the station of Si Tian (Heavenly Command, governing the first half of the year). To the right of Si Tian is the Right Interstitial Station of Heaven (Tian Zhi You Jian); in the Primary Qi system, this corresponds to the station of the Second Qi, which is the station of Shaoyin Sovereign Fire, governing the climate of summer. Hence it is said: "To the right of Xianming is the station of Sovereign Fire." To the right of Sovereign Fire, moving backward one step, is the station of Si Tian for the Secondary Qi; yet in the Primary Qi system, this is the station of the Third Qi, which is the station of Shaoyang Minister Fire, governing the climate of midsummer. It is described as "moving backward" rather than "moving forward" because, as subjects facing the sovereign, they receive orders and govern without turning their backs; thus, "moving backward one step" is equivalent to "moving forward one step" in the cyclical sequence. Moving forward one step again, Earth Qi takes charge, corresponding to the Left Interstitial Station of Heaven (Tian Zhi Zuo Jian) for the Secondary Qi; in the Primary Qi system, this is the station of the Fourth Qi, which is the station of Taiyin Damp-Earth, governing the climate of late summer. Moving forward one step again, Metal Qi takes charge, corresponding to the Right Interstitial Station of Earth (Di Zhi You Jian) for the Secondary Qi; in the Primary Qi system, this is the station of the Fifth Qi, which is the station of Yangming Dry-Metal, governing the climate of autumn. Moving forward one step again, Water Qi takes charge, corresponding to the station of Zai Quan (Earthly Command, governing the second half of the year) for the Secondary Qi; in the Primary Qi system, this is the station of the Sixth Qi, which is the station of Taiyang Cold-Water, governing the climate of winter. Moving forward one step again, Wood Qi takes charge, corresponding to the Left Interstitial Station of Earth (Di Zhi Zuo Jian) for the Secondary Qi; in the Primary Qi system, this is the station of the First Qi, which is the station of Jueyin Wind-Wood, governing the climate of spring. Moving forward one step again, Sovereign Fire takes charge, returning to the previously mentioned station of Sovereign Fire (see Figure 8).