Huang Di Nei Jing Su Wen: An Annotated Translation of Huang Di’s Inner Classic – Basic Questions: 2 volumes

Chapter 70. Comprehensive Discourse on the Five Regular Policies

Chapter 70 Comprehensive Discourse on the five regular Policies 70-419-6 Huang Di asked: “The extension of the Great Void is boundless. The five periods turn [around in cycles, one] pressing [another].1 They differ in their weakness and abundance; decrease and increase follow each other. I should like to hear: what are the names, what is the arrangement of the [years of] balanced qi?” Qi Bo responded: “a brilliant question, indeed! [a year of the] wood [period with balanced qi] is called ‘extended harmony.’2 [a year of the] fire [period with balanced qi] is called ‘ascending brilliance.’3 [a year of the] soil [period with balanced qi] is called ‘perfect transformation .’4 [a year of the] metal [period with balanced qi] is called ‘secured balance.’5 [a year of the] water [period with balanced qi] is called ‘quiet adaptation.’ ”6 [Huang] Di: “How about [years of] inadequacy?” Qi Bo: “[a year of the] wood [period with inadequate qi] is called ‘discarded harmony.’ 1 Zhang Jiebin: “回 is 循環,‘to move in a circle.’薄 is 迫切,‘pressing.’”Cheng shide et al.: “回薄 is: [the periods] move in an endless circle and they press one each another [forward].” 2 Wang Bing: “It spreads harmonious qi; hence beings come to life and flourish.” 3 Wang Bing: “The qi of fire rises high and is brilliant.” 4 Zhang Jiebin: “The soil contains the myriad beings; there is nothing that is not prepared in it.The soil generates the myriad beings; there is nothing it does not transform .” 5 Wang Bing: “The qi of metal is clear; it strives for balance and stability.” 6 Wang Bing: “The body of the water is clear and quiet and it adapts to [the shape of] things [in it].” 286 Huang Di nei jing su wen [a year of the] fire [period with inadequate qi] is called ‘hidden brilliance.’ [a year of the] soil [period with inadequate qi] is called ‘inferior supervision.’7 [a year of the] metal [period with inadequate qi] is called ‘accepted change.’8 [a year of the] water [period with inadequate qi] is called ‘dried-up flow.’ ” [Huang] Di: “[years of] great excess, what is that to say?” Qi Bo: “[a year of the] wood [period with excessive qi] is called ‘effusive generation.’ [a year of the] fire [period with excessive qi] is called ‘fire-red sunlight.’ [a year of the] soil [period with excessive qi] is called ‘prominent mound.’9 [a year of the] metal [period with excessive qi] is called ‘firm completion.’10 [a year of the] water [period with excessive qi] is called ‘inundating flow.’” 70-420-5 [Huang] Di: “The arrangements of the three qi,11 I should like to hear about their manifestations .”12 Qi Bo: “an encompassing question, indeed! 7 Wang Bing: “even though the [qi of] soil is diminished, it nevertheless oversees the generation and transformation of the myriad beings.” 8 Wang Bing: “It follows changes [made to its appearances] and hardens to form a myriad beings.” Zhang Jiebin: “The original nature of metal is hardness. When [its qi is] inadequate, then it submits to transformation caused by fire and changes [its appearance ].” fang yaozhong: “從 is 順從, ‘to obey’; 革 is 改革, ‘reform.’” 9 Wang Bing: “敦 is 厚, ‘thick.’ 阜 is 高, ‘high.’The [qi of] soil is present in surplus; hence it is ‘high’ and ‘thick.’” 10 Zhang Jiebin: “The nature of metal is hard; its operation forms things. When its qi is present in surplus, then its hardness and formation to [things] are particularly abundant.” 11 Gao shishi: “ ‘Three qi’refers to balanced [qi], excessive [qi], and inadequate [qi].” 12 Cheng shide et al.:“on the basis of the subsequent text,‘manifestations’should be ‘manifestations of things’ (物候).” Chapter 70 287 In an arrangement of extended harmony, the virtue of wood13 prevails everywhere. yang [qi] unfolds and yin [qi] spreads. The five transformations are spread widely and balanced.14 Its qi is uprightness.15 Its nature is adaptive.16 Its operation [manifests itself in what is] curved and straight.17 Its transformation brings [beings] to life and makes them flourish.18 Its class is wood.19 Its policy [brings about] effusion and dispersion.20 Its [climatic] manifestation is warmth and harmony.21 Its [seasonal] command [brings about] wind. Its depot is the liver. {as for the liver, it fears coolness.}22 It rules the eye. 13 Cheng shide et al.: “ ‘Virtue of wood’ refers to the transformations stimulated by the qi of...