木曰曲直，曲直作酸。火曰炎上，炎上作苦。金曰从革，从革作辛。水曰润下，润下作咸。土爰稼穑，
稼穑作甘。火性炎上，炎上则作苦。水性润下，润下则作咸。木性升发，直则升而曲则不升，郁而不升，
是以作酸。金性降敛，从则降而革则不降，滞而不降，是以作辛。使坎离交妒，龙虎回环，则火下炎而不苦，
水上润而不咸，木直升而不酸，金从降而不辛。金木者，水火所由以升降也。木直则肾水随木而左升，
金从则心火随金而右降。木曲而不直，故肾水下润。金革而不从。故心火上炎而交济。水火升降，金木之权
，总由于土。土者，水火金木之中气，左旋则化木火，右转则化金水，实四象之父母
也。不苦、不咸、不酸、不辛是以味甘。己土不升，则水木下陷而作酸咸。戊土不降，则火金上逆而作苦辛。
缘土主五味，四象之酸苦辛咸，皆土气之中郁也。四象之内，各含土气，土郁则传于四脏而作诸味，调
和五脏之原职在中宫也。
肝之气风，其志为怒。心之气热，其志为喜。肺之气燥，
其志为悲。肾之气寒，其志为恐。脾之气湿，其志为思。盖阳升而化火则热，阴降而化水则寒，
离火上热，泄而不藏，敛之以燥金，则火交于坎府，坎水下寒，藏而不泄，动之以风木，则水
交于离宫，木生而火长，金收而水藏。当其半生，未能茂长，则郁勃而为怒。既长而神气畅达，是以喜也。
当其半收，将至闭藏，则牢落而为悲。既藏而志意幽沦。是以恐也。物情乐升而恶降，升为得位，降
为失位，得位则喜，未得则怒，失位则恐，将失则悲，自然之性如此。其实总土气之回周而变化也。己
土东升，则木火生长；戊土西降，则金水收藏；生长则为喜怒，收藏则为悲恐，若轮枢莫运，升降失职，
喜怒不生，悲恐弗作，则土气凝滞而生忧思。心之志喜，故其声笑，笑者气之升达而酣适也。肾之志恐
，故其声呻，呻者气之沉陷而幽郁也。肝之志怒，故其声呼，
呼者气方升而未达也。肺之志悲，故其声哭，哭者气方沉而将陷也。脾之志忧，故其声歌，歌者中气结郁，
故长歌以写怀也。
木的特性是曲直，曲直产生酸味。火的特性是炎上，炎上产生苦味。金的特性是从革，从革产生辛味。水的特性是润下，润下产生咸味。土的特性是稼穑，稼穑产生甘味。火的性质是炎上，炎上则表现为苦味。水的性质是润下，润下则表现为咸味。木的性质是升发，直则能升，曲则不能升，郁结而不能升发，因此产生酸味。金的性质是降敛，从则能降，革则不能降，滞涩而不能下降，因此产生辛味。如果使坎（肾水）与离（心火）相互交济，龙虎（肝肺之气）回环运转，那么火在下而炎上却不苦，水在上而润下却不咸，木直升而不酸，金随降而不辛。金和木，是水火升降的通道。木气直顺，则肾水随木气向左上升；金气顺从，则心火随金气向右下降。木气弯曲而不直顺，所以肾水下润（无法正常升发）。金气变革而不顺从，所以心火上炎而无法交济。水火升降的关键在于金木，而总归由于土。土是水火金木的中气，左旋则化为木火，右转则化为金水，实际上是四象（木火金水）的父母。不苦、不咸、不酸、不辛，所以味道为甘。己土（脾阴）不升，则水木下陷而产生酸咸味。戊土（脾阳）不降，则火金上逆而产生苦辛味。因为土主宰五味，四象的酸苦辛咸，都是土气在中焦郁结所致。四象内部，各自含有土气，土气郁结则传于四脏而产生各种味道，调和五脏的根本职能在于中宫（脾胃）。
肝的气化属性为风，其情志为怒。心的气化属性为热，其情志为喜。肺的气化属性为燥，其情志为悲。肾的气化属性为寒，其情志为恐。脾的气化属性为湿，其情志为思。大概阳气上升而化为火则热，阴气下降而化为水则寒，离火（心）位于上而热，泄散而不收藏，用燥金（肺气）来收敛它，则火交入坎府（肾），坎水（肾）位于下而寒，闭藏而不泄散，用风木（肝气）来扰动它，则水交入离宫（心），木生发而火生长，金收敛而水闭藏。当处于半生发阶段，未能茂盛生长时，则郁勃而为怒。既已生长且神气畅达时，所以为喜。当处于半收敛阶段，即将进入闭藏时，则牢落而为悲。既已闭藏且志意幽深沉沦时，所以为恐。万物之情乐于上升而厌恶下降，上升为得位，下降为失位，得位则喜，未得位则怒，失位则恐，将失位则悲，这是自然的本性。其实总归是土气的周流变化所致。己土向东升发，则木火生长；戊土向西沉降，则金水收藏；生长表现为喜怒，收藏表现为悲恐，如果轮枢不能运转，升降失职，喜怒不生，悲恐不作，则土气凝滞而生忧思。心的情志为喜，所以其声音为笑，笑是气机升达而酣适的表现。肾的情志为恐，所以其声音为呻，呻是气机沉陷而幽郁的表现。肝的情志为怒，所以其声音为呼，呼是气机正在上升但尚未通达的表现。肺的情志为悲，所以其声音为哭，哭是气机正在下沉且将要陷落的表现。脾的情志为忧，所以其声音为歌，歌是中气结郁，所以长歌以抒发情怀。
The nature of Wood is bending and straightening; bending and straightening produces Sourness. The nature of Fire is flaming upward; flaming upward produces Bitterness. The nature of Metal is yielding and transforming; yielding and transforming produces Pungency. The nature of Water is moistening and descending; moistening and descending produces Saltiness. The nature of Earth is sowing and reaping; sowing and reaping produces Sweetness. The property of Fire is flaming upward; flaming upward manifests as Bitterness. The property of Water is moistening and descending; moistening and descending manifests as Saltiness. The property of Wood is ascending and developing; if straight, it ascends; if bent, it does not ascend. When stagnant and unable to ascend, it produces Sourness. The property of Metal is descending and gathering; if compliant, it descends; if rebellious, it does not descend. When sluggish and unable to descend, it produces Pungency. If Kan (Kidney Water) and Li (Heart Fire) interact harmoniously, and the Dragon (Liver Qi) and Tiger (Lung Qi) circulate, then although Fire flares upward from below, it is not Bitter; although Water moistens downward from above, it is not Salty; Wood ascends directly without being Sour; Metal descends compliantly without being Pungent. Metal and Wood are the channels through which Water and Fire ascend and descend. When Wood is straight, Kidney Water ascends to the left following Wood; when Metal is compliant, Heart Fire descends to the right following Metal. If Wood is bent and not straight, Kidney Water fails to ascend properly and sinks downward. If Metal is rebellious and not compliant, Heart Fire flares upward and fails to interact and nourish each other. The key to the ascent and descent of Water and Fire lies in Metal and Wood, but ultimately depends on Earth. Earth is the central Qi of Water, Fire, Metal, and Wood; rotating to the left transforms into Wood and Fire, rotating to the right transforms into Metal and Water, serving as the parent of the Four Symbols (Wood, Fire, Metal, Water). Being neither Bitter, nor Salty, nor Sour, nor Pungent, its taste is Sweet. If Ji Earth (Yin of Spleen) does not ascend, Water and Wood sink downward, producing Sour and Salty tastes. If Wu Earth (Yang of Spleen) does not descend, Fire and Metal rebel upward, producing Bitter and Pungent tastes. Since Earth governs the Five Flavors, the Sour, Bitter, Pungent, and Salty of the Four Symbols are all due to the stagnation of Earth Qi in the center. Within the Four Symbols, each contains Earth Qi; when Earth Qi stagnates, it transmits to the Four Zang Organs, producing various flavors. The primary function of harmonizing the Five Zang Organs lies in the Central Palace (Spleen and Stomach).
The Qi transformation of the Liver is Wind, and its emotion is Anger. The Qi transformation of the Heart is Heat, and its emotion is Joy. The Qi transformation of the Lung is Dryness, and its emotion is Sorrow. The Qi transformation of the Kidney is Cold, and its emotion is Fear. The Qi transformation of the Spleen is Dampness, and its emotion is Pensiveness. Generally, Yang ascends and transforms into Fire, thus becoming Hot; Yin descends and transforms into Water, thus becoming Cold. Li Fire (Heart) is located above and is Hot, dispersing without storing; when restrained by Dry Metal (Lung Qi), Fire enters Kan Mansion (Kidney). Kan Water (Kidney) is located below and is Cold, storing without dispersing; when stirred by Wind Wood (Liver Qi), Water enters Li Palace (Heart). Wood generates and Fire grows; Metal gathers and Water stores. When in the half-generation stage, unable to flourish and grow, it becomes turbulent and manifests as Anger. Once grown and with smooth Shen Qi (Spiritual Energy), it manifests as Joy. When in the half-gathering stage, approaching closure and storage, it becomes desolate and manifests as Sorrow. Once stored and with deep, submerged Yi (Will), it manifests as Fear. The nature of things favors ascending and dislikes descending; ascending is gaining position, descending is losing position. Gaining position brings Joy; failing to gain position brings Anger; losing position brings Fear; about to lose position brings Sorrow. This is the natural nature. In essence, this is all due to the circulation and transformation of Earth Qi. Ji Earth ascends to the East, causing Wood and Fire to grow; Wu Earth descends to the West, causing Metal and Water to store. Growth manifests as Joy and Anger; storage manifests as Sorrow and Fear. If the pivot cannot rotate and the functions of ascent and descent fail, Joy and Anger do not arise, and Sorrow and Fear do not occur; instead, Earth Qi stagnates, generating Worry and Pensiveness. The emotion of the Heart is Joy, so its sound is Laughter; laughter is the manifestation of Qi ascending smoothly and feeling comfortable. The emotion of the Kidney is Fear, so its sound is Groaning; groaning is the manifestation of Qi sinking and being depressed. The emotion of the Liver is Anger, so its sound is Shouting; shouting is the manifestation of Qi rising but not yet reaching its destination. The emotion of the Lung is Sorrow, so its sound is Crying; crying is the manifestation of Qi sinking and about to fall. The emotion of the Spleen is Worry, so its sound is Singing; singing is the expression of central Qi knotting and depression, so one sings long to vent feelings.