Figure of the Year Gengchen

Taiyang Cold Water governs the Heaven (Si Tian), Taiyin Damp Earth resides in the Earth (Zai Quan), and the middle interaction is Shaoyang Metal Movement (Zhong Jian Tai Shang Jin Yun). The year's Metal movement is excessive, with its Qi operation preceding the natural timing. The Qi of Heaven and Earth: above appears Taiyang, the left interstitial Qi is Jueyin, and the right interstitial Qi is Yangming; thus, the administrative Qi distributed by Heaven is austere and肃 (Sù - solemn/restrictive). Below appears Taiyin, the left interstitial Qi is Shaoyang, and the right interstitial Qi is Shaoyin; thus, the Earth Qi is quiet and its commands are slow. Cold descends upon the Great Void, Yang Qi does not exercise its function. Cold administration rises greatly, marshes lack solar flame, so Fire Fa (Huǒ Fā - fire eruption) awaits its time. Shaoyang governs the middle, seasonal rains cease. When rain stops completely and scatters, it returns to Taiyin. Clouds face the North Pole, Dampness transformation spreads, dew flows over all things. Cold spreads above, thunder moves below. Water and Earth combine their virtue, corresponding above to Chen Xing (Mercury) and Zhen Xing (Saturn). The grains are black (Xuán). This is the transformation of the year's Qi: Cold transformation is 1, Clear transformation is 9, Rain transformation is 5; these are the degrees of correct transformation. Hairy insects breed, which is suitable for the year's produce. Scaled insects do not form, dryness toxins do not arise, because Earth Qi controls them. Cold-Damp Qi holds at the Qi intersection. People suffer from Cold-Damp diseases, presenting with muscle atrophy, foot flaccidity and inability to grasp, damp diarrhea, and blood extravasation. In this year, Water is Heaven Qi, Earth is Earth Qi, and the middle shows Metal Movement. Earth can overcome Water; Heaven's transformation is deficient, governed by Metal Movement. Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water; lower generates upper. Although Heaven's transformation is deficient, the Qi movements generate each other, so the pathogenic factor is slight. One should first nourish the source of transformation to assist the deficiency of Heaven Qi, suppress the excessive Metal movement, support Wood Qi, and prevent excessive violence that causes disease. Eat black grains to preserve true Qi, avoid empty evil Qi to stabilize upright Qi. For this year, it is appropriate to regulate the upper with Bitter-Hot herbs, the lower with Sweet-Hot herbs, and the middle with Acrid-Warm herbs. Since the movement aligns with Cold-Damp, resolve it with Dry-Hot methods; this is the constant treatment.

If excessive winning Qi occurs: Before the midpoint of the year, Heaven Qi is governed by Taiyang. If Cold excess prevails, Cold Qi reverses and arrives, water freezes, blood changes in the middle, manifesting as carbuncles and ulcers. People suffer from Juexin Pain (Jué xīn tòng - cold-related heart pain), vomiting blood, bloody stool, epistaxis, frequent sadness, dizziness, and fainting. If the movement Fire burns fiercely, violent rain turns to hail, chest and abdomen fullness, hand heat, elbow spasm, axillary swelling occur. Heart palpitations (Xīn dàn dàn dà dòng), chest/hypochondrium/epigastrium discomfort, red face, yellow eyes, frequent belching, dry throat. Severely, complexion turns dark, thirst with desire to drink. The root of the disease is in the Heart. Diagnosis via Shenmen pulse on the Hand. Treatment method: Level with Acrid-Hot, assist with Sweet-Bitter, drain with Salty.

After the midpoint of the year, Earth Qi is governed by Taiyin. If Dampness excess invades internally, dust dims, rocks and valleys obscure, yellow reveals black. At the junction of Extreme Yin, people suffer from fluid accumulation, heart pain, headache, throat obstruction, Yin diseases with blood manifestation, lower abdominal pain and swelling, inability to urinate, rebellious Qi causing headache, eyes feeling like popping out, neck feeling like pulling, waist feeling like breaking, thighs unable to turn, popliteal fossa feeling like knotting, calves feeling like separating. Treatment method: Treat with Bitter-Hot, assist with Sour-Light, dry with Bitter, drain with Light.

The transformation of the year's movement: Excessive Metal is recorded as "Jian Cheng" (Solid Completion), called "Shou Yin" (Gathering and Pulling). Heaven Qi is clean, Earth Qi is bright, Yang Qi follows, Yin governs transformation. Dryness exercises its administration, objects mature under its control. Gathering Qi spreads profusely, transformation does not complete. Its completion forms, its Qi diminishes, its administration is austere, its command is sharp and cutting. Its virtue is misty dew and bleakness; its movement is sudden fractures and ulcerative infections; its change is austere killing and withering. Its disease is wheezing, chest oppression, and breathing with body leaning back. Its transformation combines with what it overcomes. Thus, it is said that when Metal movement is excessive, Dryness Qi spreads, Liver Wood suffers evil. People suffer from pain in both hypochondria and lower abdomen, red and painful eyes as if injured, hearing loss. If austere killing is severe, body feels heavy and vexed, chest pain radiating to back, fullness and pain in both hypochondria radiating to lower abdomen. Severely, wheezing, coughing, and rebellious Qi, shoulder and back pain, extending down to thighs, knees, hips, and feet all suffering. If gathering Qi is峻 (Jùn - steep/severe), disease manifests as sudden pain, hypochondria unable to twist, coughing and rebellious Qi, severely blood extravasation. Diagnosis at Foot Taichong pulse. Treatment entirely uses Acrid-Warm to regulate the middle.

First Qi Period: From Yimao Year Da Han Day Yin Chu to this year Chun Fen Day Zi Chu, totaling 60 days and 87.5 ke. Main Position: Shaojiao Wood. Guest Qi: Shaoyang Fire. Middle: Metal Movement. Guest Qi overcomes Movement. Earth Qi migrates, Qi becomes very warm, grass blooms early, people suffer epidemics, warm diseases arise. Symptoms: Body heat, headache, vomiting, skin/collateral sores. Treat Guest Shaoyang: Tonify with Salty, Drain with Sweet, Soften with Salty. Year grain: Black. Intercalary grain: Beans. Even if Fire Evil exists, it cannot cause harm.

Second Qi Period: From Chun Fen Day Zi Zheng to Xiao Man Day Xu Zheng, totaling over 60 days. Main Position: Tai Zheng Fire. Guest Qi: Yangming Metal. Middle: Metal Movement. Qi and Movement are same. Great Coolness arrives, people feel miserable, grass meets cold, Fire Qi is suppressed. People suffer from Qi stagnation and middle fullness, Cold begins. Treat Guest Yangming: Tonify with Sour, Drain with Acrid, Drain with Bitter. Year grain: Black. Intercalary grain: Millet (Shu). Even if Dryness Evil exists, it cannot cause harm. Do not violate the Coolness of the Governing Qi.

Third Qi Period: From Xiao Man Day Hai Chu to Da Shu Day You Chu, totaling over 60 days. Main Position: Tai Zheng Fire. Guest Qi: Taiyang Water. Middle: Metal Movement. Water overcomes Fire. Heaven Administration spreads, Cold Qi moves, Rain descends. People suffer from Cold turning into internal Heat, abscesses, dysentery, heart heat and confusion. Untreated leads to death. Treat Guest Taiyang: Tonify with Bitter, Drain with Salty, Firm with Bitter, Moisten with Acrid. Year grain: Black. Intercalary grain: Ji (Millet). Even if Cold Evil exists, it cannot cause harm.

Fourth Qi Period: From Da Shu Day You Zheng to Qiu Fen Day Wei Zheng, totaling over 60 days. Main Position: Shaogong Earth. Guest Qi: Jueyin Wood. Middle: Metal Movement. Wood overcomes Earth, Metal counter-controls. Also encountering Taiyin exchange. Wind and Damp contend, Wind transforms into Rain. Growth, transformation, and completion occur. People suffer from great heat and little Qi, muscle atrophy, foot flaccidity, dysentery with red and white discharge. Treat Guest Jueyin: Tonify with Acrid, Drain with Sour, Moderate with Sweet. Year grain: White. Intercalary grain: Rice. Even if Wind Evil exists, it cannot cause harm.

Fifth Qi Period: From Qiu Fen Day Shen Chu to Xiao Xue Day Wu Chu, totaling over 60 days. Main Position: Taisang Metal. Guest Qi: Shaoyin Fire. Middle: Metal Movement. Year Movement obtains position, Guest Fire overcomes. Yang recovers transformation, grass grows, transforms, completes. People feel comfortable. Regulate Guest Shaoyin: Tonify with Salty, Drain with Sweet, Astringe with Sour. Year grain: White. Intercalary grain: Beans. Even if Heat transformation exists, it cannot become evil.

Final Qi Period: From Xiao Xue Day Wu Zheng to Da Han Day Chen Zheng, totaling over 60 days. Main Position: Shaoyu Water. Guest Qi: Taiyin Earth. Middle: Metal Movement. Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water. Transformation is smooth. Earth Qi is correct, Damp Command acts. Yin condenses in Great Void, dust dims suburbs. People feel miserable, Cold Wind arrives. Reversal causes pregnancy death. Treat Guest Taiyin: Tonify with Sweet, Drain with Bitter, Moderate with Sweet. Year grain: White. Intercalary grain: Hemp seeds. Even if Damp Evil exists, it cannot cause harm. This is the transformation of the Six Qi.

In this year, if Heaven Qi wins, Taiyin restores; if Earth Qi wins, Jueyin restores. Their treatments follow the methods of Winning and Restoring.