一岁四时之候，皆统于十二辰。十二辰者，以斗纲所指之地，即节气所在之处也。正
月指寅，二月指卯，三月指辰，四月指巳，五月指午，六月指未，七月指申，八月指酉，九月指
戌，十月指亥，十一月指子，十二月指丑，谓之月建。天之元气，无形可观，观斗建之辰，即
可知矣。斗有七星，第一曰魁，第五曰衡，第七曰杓，此三星谓之斗纲。假如正月建寅，昏
则杓指寅，夜半衡指寅，平旦魁指寅，余月仿此。
十二辰次者，如星纪、析木之类，十二次也；斗杓所指之月，十二建也；日月所会之次，
十二辰也。如子月日月会于星纪，乃在牛宿度中；丑月日月会于玄枵，乃在虚宿度中。天
地之气建在子，会在丑；建在丑，会在子；建在寅，会在亥；建在亥，会在寅。十二宫相合皆
然，所以谓之六合。前二图当参看。
奎二过戌胃四酉，毕七从申未井九。柳四方才过午行，张十五度归蛇首。轸十过辰氐
二卯，尾三到寅斗四丑。女星二度入子宫，危十三兮从亥走。
二十八宿，史记作二十八舍。如角亢氐房心尾箕，为东方七宿，位应苍龙，共计七十五
度。斗牛女虚危室壁，为北方七宿，位应玄武，共九十八度四分度之一。奎娄胃昴毕觜参，
为西方七宿，位应白虎，共八十度。井鬼柳星张翼轸，为南方七宿，位应朱雀，共一百一十
二度。自房至毕十四宿为阳主昼，自昴至心十四宿为阴主夜，此经星之不动而分主四方昼
夜者，总计一百六十八星，三百六十五度四分度之一，以成周天之额数，而凡阴阳气数之变
化，莫不昭着于此，医家不可不知。
一年中的四季气候，都统摄于十二地支（即子、丑、寅、卯、辰、巳、午、未、申、酉、戌、亥）。所谓十二地支，是指北斗斗纲所指向的地支方位，也就是节气所在的方位。正月斗纲指向寅，二月指向卯，三月指向辰，四月指向巳，五月指向午，六月指向未，七月指向申，八月指向酉，九月指向戌，十月指向亥，十一月指向子，十二月指向丑，这称为“月建”。天的元气是无形无象的，无法直接观察，但通过观察斗建所指的时辰，就可以知道了。
北斗七星中，第一星叫魁，第五星叫衡，第七星叫杓，这三颗星合称为“斗纲”。假如正月建寅，黄昏时杓指向寅，半夜时衡指向寅，天亮时魁指向寅，其余月份依此类推。
所谓的十二次（古代天文学将黄道带分为十二部分，称为十二次），如星纪、析木等，共有十二次；斗杓所指的月份，称为十二建；日月相会的方位，称为十二辰。例如，子月日月会合于星纪，位于牛宿的度数范围内；丑月日月会合于玄枵，位于虚宿的度数范围内。天地之气在子位建立，在丑位会合；在丑位建立，在子位会合；在寅位建立，在亥位会合；在亥位建立，在寅位会合。十二宫相互契合都是如此，所以称之为“六合”。前面的两张图应当参看。
奎宿二度过戌宫，胃宿四度过酉宫，毕宿七度从申宫到未宫，井宿九度。柳宿四方才过午宫运行，张宿十五度归蛇首（指张宿属南方朱雀七宿之首的角亢氐房心尾箕之外的另一组划分或特定星官，此处原文意指张宿位置）。轸宿十度过辰宫，氐宿二度过卯宫，尾宿三度到寅宫，斗宿四度到丑宫。女星二度进入子宫，危宿十三度从亥宫开始。
二十八宿，在《史记》中写作二十八舍。如角、亢、氐、房、心、尾、箕，为东方七宿，对应苍龙星象，共计七十五度。斗、牛、女、虚、危、室、壁，为北方七宿，对应玄武星象，共九十八度又四分之一度。奎、娄、胃、昴、毕、觜、参，为西方七宿，对应白虎星象，共八十度。井、鬼、柳、星、张、翼、轸，为南方七宿，对应朱雀星象，共一百一十二度。从房宿到毕宿共十四宿为阳，主白天；从昴宿到心宿共十四宿为阴，主夜晚。这些恒星是不动的，分别主管四方和白昼黑夜，总计一百六十八颗星，三百六十五度又四分之一度，以符合周天（天球一周）的度数总数。凡是阴阳气数的变化，没有不显著地体现于此的，医家不可不知道。
The seasonal climatic conditions of a year are all governed by the Twelve Earthly Branches (Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai). The Twelve Earthly Branches refer to the earthly branch directions pointed to by the Dubang (the handle of the Big Dipper), which correspond to the locations of solar terms. In the first month, the Dubang points to Yin; in the second month, to Mao; in the third, to Chen; in the fourth, to Si; in the fifth, to Wu; in the sixth, to Wei; in the seventh, to Shen; in the eighth, to You; in the ninth, to Xu; in the tenth, to Hai; in the eleventh, to Zi; and in the twelfth, to Chou. This is called "Yuejian" (Monthly Establishment). The primordial Qi of Heaven is formless and invisible, but by observing the time indicated by the Dubang, it can be known.
Among the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper, the first star is named Kui, the fifth is named Heng, and the seventh is named Biao. These three stars are collectively referred to as the "Dubang." For instance, when Yuejian is Yin in the first month, at dusk, Biao points to Yin; at midnight, Heng points to Yin; and at dawn, Kui points to Yin. The same applies to other months.
The so-called Twelve Xing (Twelve Lunar Mansions/Divisions) include Starji, Ximu, etc., totaling twelve divisions; the months indicated by the Dubao (Dipper Handle) are called the Twelve Jian; and the positions where the Sun and Moon meet are called the Twelve Chen (Earthly Branches). For example, in the month of Zi, the Sun and Moon meet at Starji, which falls within the degrees of the Niu Mansion; in the month of Chou, they meet at Xuanxiao, falling within the degrees of the Xu Mansion. The Qi of Heaven and Earth establishes itself at Zi and meets at Chou; establishes at Chou and meets at Zi; establishes at Yin and meets at Hai; establishes at Hai and meets at Yin. All twelve palaces interact in this manner, hence it is called "Liuhe" (Six Harmonies). Refer to the preceding two diagrams for comparison.
The Kui mansion extends two degrees past Xu; the Wei mansion four degrees past You; the Bi mansion seven degrees from Shen to Wei; the Jing mansion nine degrees. The Liu mansion runs four degrees past Wu; the Zhang mansion fifteen degrees returns to the Snake's head (referring to its position in the Southern Asterisms). The Zhen mansion passes ten degrees through Chen; the Di mansion two degrees through Mao; the Wei mansion three degrees reaches Yin; the Dou mansion four degrees reaches Chou. The Nu mansion enters the Zi palace at two degrees; the Wei mansion starts from the Hai palace at thirteen degrees.
The Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions are written as "Twenty-Eight She" in the *Records of the Grand Historian* (*Shiji*). Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, Ji constitute the Seven Eastern Mansions, corresponding to the Azure Dragon asterism, totaling seventy-five degrees. Dou, Niu, Nu, Xu, Wei, Shi, Bi constitute the Seven Northern Mansions, corresponding to the Black Tortoise asterism, totaling ninety-eight and one-quarter degrees. Kui, Lou, Wei, Mao, Bi, Zi, Shen constitute the Seven Western Mansions, corresponding to the White Tiger asterism, totaling eighty degrees. Jing, Gui, Liu, Xing, Zhang, Yi, Zhen constitute the Seven Southern Mansions, corresponding to the Vermilion Bird asterism, totaling one hundred and twelve degrees. From Fang to Bi, fourteen mansions belong to Yang and govern the day; from Mao to Xin, fourteen mansions belong to Yin and govern the night. These fixed stars do not move but respectively govern the four directions and the day and night. In total, there are one hundred and sixty-eight stars and three hundred and sixty-five and one-quarter degrees, forming the complete measure of the celestial sphere. All changes in the numbers and dynamics of Yin and Yang Qi are clearly manifested herein; physicians must not fail to understand this.