“In the first step of the year, the qi of earth begins to stir (初之氣地氣遷氣). This causes a qi of great warmth (迺大溫). Grasses emerge early and begin to sprout (草迺早榮). People suffer excessive drought (民迺厲). Within the body, there will be headaches, vomiting, sores and skin ulcers (溫病迺作身熱頭痛嘔吐肌腠瘡瘍).”

“In the second step of the year, there is a widespread coolness that causes people to suffer epidemic illnesses (二之氣大涼反至民迺慘). Grasses encounter coldness and the qi of fire loses its influence (草迺遇寒火氣遂抑). People suffer from qi oppression and abdominal fullness (民病氣鬱中滿). Coldness begins its rule (寒迺始).”

“In the third step of the year, the decree of heaven spreads (from above) (三之氣天政布). Cold qi circulates and the rain begins to fall (寒氣行雨迺降). People suffer cold diseases that transform within the middle into heat (民病寒反熱中). Below, ulcers and sores proliferate (癰疽注下). There is heat within the heart, poor vision and a stuffy oppression (of qi), which if not treated may prove fatal (心熱瞀悶不治者死).”

“In the fourth step of the year, wind and dampness contend together (四之氣風濕交爭). Wind transforms into rain, which grows (in strength) until reaching its peak (風化為雨迺長迺化迺成). People will suffer illnesses of great heat and shortness of breath (民病大熱少氣). There will be (diseases of) withering and foot wei (委 atrophy) syndromes (肌肉萎足痿). Red and white (discharges) pour out from below (注下赤白).”

“In the fifth step of the year, yang returns and causes the growth and maturation of grasses (五之氣陽復化草迺長迺化迺成). People begin to feel more at ease (民迺舒).”

“In the last step of the year, the qi of earth resides within the (governing position) (終之氣地氣正). Dampness governs the circulation (濕令行). Yin consolidates within the great void (陰凝太虛). Within the outskirts, in the wild areas, dark dust-storms will arise (埃昏郊野). People suffer the diseases of pestilence (民迺慘悽). Cold winds arrive and infants die within the womb (寒風以至反者孕迺死).”

“Therefore, during these years it is appropriate to use bitter flavors to dry and warm (故歲宜苦以燥之溫之). In these times, it is essential to counteract the oppression of qi (必折其鬱氣). First attend to the source of the hua transformation (of illness) in order to restrain the (perverse) influences of the heavenly circulations (先資其化源抑其運氣).Support what is correct, so as to counter overcoming (forces) that may cause change and allow for the establishment of disease (扶其不勝無使暴過而生其疾). Eat the correct grains in alignment with (the year) (食歲穀以全其真). Avoid deficiency xie (邪 pernicious influences) so as to allow what is correct to remain tranquil and at peace (避虛邪以安其正).”

Commentary:

In this section, detailed descriptions are given for the six primary steps of the Renchen 壬辰 year. In Neijing Wuyun Liuqi theory, the year was originally divided into six equal stations (六步) that correspond with the 24 solar jieqi, each step being comprised of 4 solar jieqi periods in total. Beginning with the solar period Dahan (大寒 great cold), the six primary solar nodal points that mark the transition of these steps are Dahan (大寒 great cold), Chunfen (春分 spring division), Xiaomen (小滿 little fullness), Dashu (大署 great summer heat), Qiufen (秋分 autumn division) and Xiaoxue (小雪 little snow). With one day plus or minus, the dates of these periods typically fall on Jan. 20th, March 21st, May 21st, July 23rd, Sept 23rd and Nov. 22nd respectively during the year.

In the first step of the year, the energy of spring emerges early in a taiguo (太過) pattern. This occurs for several reasons. First, the qi of the  previous 辛卯 year (shaoyin guest/taiyang host in midwinter and jueyin guest/yangming host in autumn) create an unusually weak contraction into winter. When yang forces return to earth, with the return of spring, they return earlier and with a stronger force than usual. Secondly, within the celestial heavens, the Renchen 壬辰 year  is ruled by a major jue 太角, or strong wood note, which increases power of the early return of spring. In the first step of the year, jueyin is the host energy and shaoyang is the guest energy. These factors lead to spring energy which arrives early and is marked by both heat and drought.

In the second step of the year, shaoyin is the host energy and yangming is the guest energy of the year. This leads to a situation in which the ruling force of imperial fire (君火) and yangming dryness and heat combine their forces together. At the same time, taiyang cold is increasing in strength as the ruling factor of the Renchen 壬辰 year. The opposing yin forces of increasing taiyang cold against those of shaoyin imperial fire and yangming heat and dryness lead to a pattern of counterflow qi that manifests within the interior of the body. This situation is made more dangerous by the fact that the exterior of the body has previously been opened by the early movement into spring that occurred within the first step of the year. This leads to a disordered combination that can easily lead to epidemic diseases marked by heat with dryness and co-existing cold. Within the body, yangming is the main conveyor of heat and when its movements are blocked, the abdomen will swell. During this time, it is critical for people to realize, that although spring has arrived in terms of the annual calendar there is a strong superimposed force of winter which rules the climatic heavens and is increasing in strength. If a person acts in an improper way without knowing this, they can easily develop a complex pattern, marked by internal heat, cold and dryness that is not easily treated and may turn into a serious illness.

(to be continued)