[Diagram]
Diagram of the Six Qi (Six Atmospheric Influences)
Annual Diagram of the Five Movements and Six Qi
At the Great Cold (Dahan) solar term, the Wood Movement begins to operate in the initial position; three days before the Clear Bright (Qingming) solar term, the Fire Movement occupies the second position; three days after the Grain in Ear (Mangzhong) solar term, the Earth Movement is the third position; six days after the Start of Autumn (Liqiu) solar term, the Metal Movement is deduced as the fourth position; nine days after the Start of Winter (Lidong) solar term, the Water Movement lies dormant as the fifth position; thus cycling repeatedly, known for ten thousand years.
The Great Cold solar term marks the beginning of the Jueyin Wind-Liver Qi in the initial position; the Spring Equinox (Chunfen) solar term places the Sovereign Fire (Junhuo) Qi in the second position (even number); the Grain Full (Xiaoman) solar term divides the Ministerial Fire (Shaoyang) into the third Qi; the Taiyin Damp-Spleen Qi corresponds with the Great Heat (Dashu) solar term as the fourth position; the Autumn Equinox (Qiufen) solar term is the position of the Yangming Dryness-Lung Qi as the fifth; the Taiyang Cold-Kidney Qi has residual influence remaining after the Light Snow (Xiaoxue) solar term.