The Five Transports and Six Qi: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Health

Emperor Huang inquired, “The Five Transports alternate, corresponding to the Six Qi in heaven; Yin and Yang interact, following the changes of cold and heat. The true Qi and pathogenic Qi press against each other, causing the separation of the exterior and interior of the human body. The blood and Qi of the Six Meridians fluctuate, and the Qi of the Five Viscera lose balance and shift, resulting in excess, deficiency, dominance, and mutual ( merger). Could you discuss the initial principles and the manifestations of these changes in the human body?”

Qi Bo bowed and replied, “Your question is most insightful. This is a truth that should be clarified. It was cherished in ancient times and passed down to me by my teacher. Though I am not wise, I have had the opportunity to listen and grasp its main principles.”

Emperor Huang said, “I have heard that if one meets the right person and does not teach, it is a loss of the opportunity to pass on the Dao. If one teaches the wrong person, it is a disregard for the precious Dao. I am indeed of shallow talent and virtue, not worthy of receiving the highest truths. However, the people lament their inability to live out their natural lifespan. Therefore, I hope you can, for the sake of protecting human life and the eternal transmission of the medical Dao, impart these truths. I will take charge and follow the rules. What do you think?”

Qi Bo said, “I will try to explain. The ‘Shang Jing’ (Upper Classic) states: ‘The Dao allows one to know astronomy, geography, and human affairs, and to maintain longevity.’ This is what it refers to.” Emperor Huang asked again, “How so?” Qi Bo replied, “The key lies in understanding the positions of the Qi of heaven, earth, and humans. The Qi of heaven is the meteorological Qi that governs; the Qi of earth is the six seasons that govern; and the changes in human Qi are the affairs of humans. Thus, when the Qi is excessive, it arrives before its time; when it is deficient, it arrives after its time. Therefore, the changes in the annual transport have both regular and variable aspects, and the human body also undergoes corresponding changes.”

Emperor Huang asked, “What is the situation when the Qi of the Five Transports is excessive?”

Qi Bo said, “When the Qi of the year’s wood is excessive, there will be a prevalence of wind, and the spleen earth will be harmed. People will suffer from diarrhea, reduced appetite, heavy limbs, irritability, intestinal rumbling, and abdominal bloating, corresponding to the year’s star (Jupiter). If the wind is excessively strong, it will cause sudden anger, dizziness, dark spots in the eyes, and head diseases in the human body. This is the phenomenon where the earth Qi cannot exert its governance, and the wood Qi is dominant, making the wind even more rampant, causing clouds to swirl in the sky, plants to sway on the ground, and even branches and leaves to fall. In humans, this manifests as pain in the hypochondrium, incessant vomiting. Those with a severed Chongyang pulse will mostly die and be beyond treatment, corresponding to the year’s metal star (Venus).

When the Qi of the year’s fire is excessive, there will be a prevalence of heat, and the lung metal will be harmed. People will suffer from malaria, shortness of breath, coughing, asthma, hemoptysis, epistaxis, bloody stools, watery diarrhea, dry throat, deafness, chest heat, and shoulder and back heat, corresponding to the year’s fire star (Mars). If the fire is excessively strong, it will cause chest pain, hypochondriac distension, pain in the chest, back, and scapular regions, pain in the inner arms, fever, bone pain, and the occurrence of eczema. This is the phenomenon where the metal Qi is inactive, and the fire Qi is dominant. Due to the extreme, the water Qi takes advantage, leading to changes in rain and frost, corresponding to the water star (Mercury). If it encounters the year when Shaoyin or Shaoyang governs the sky, the hot Qi will be even more intense, like a fire, causing springs to dry up and plants to wither. People’s diseases will mostly include delirium, coughing, asthma with sound, and uncontrollable bleeding in both bowels and bladder. Those with a severed lung pulse will mostly die and be beyond treatment, corresponding to the year’s fire star (Mars).

When the Qi of the year’s earth is excessive, there will be a prevalence of dampness, and the kidney water will be invaded. People will suffer from abdominal pain, cold hands and feet, depression, heaviness of the body, and irritability, corresponding to the year’s earth star (Saturn). If the earth Qi is excessively strong, it will cause muscle atrophy, weak legs unable to walk, frequent convulsions, heel pain, and the accumulation of water evil in the body, leading to bloating, reduced appetite, and inability to move the limbs. This is the phenomenon where the water Qi is inactive, and the earth Qi is dominant. Therefore, springs will gush, rivers will overflow, and even dry ponds will grow fish. There may even be sudden storms and heavy rains, causing embankments to collapse, rivers to flood, and fish to appear on land. In humans, this manifests as abdominal bloating, diarrhea, intestinal rumbling, and uncontrollable diarrhea. Those with a severed Taixi pulse will mostly die and be beyond treatment, corresponding to the year’s wood star (Jupiter).

When the Qi of the year’s metal is excessive, there will be a prevalence of dryness, and the liver wood will be harmed. People will suffer from pain in the hypochondrium and lower abdomen, red eyes, pain, and itching in the corners of the eyes, and deafness. If the dry metal Qi is overly strong, it will cause heaviness of the body, irritability, chest pain radiating to the back, and distension and pain in the hypochondria, extending to the lower abdomen. Due to the excessive metal Qi, corresponding to the year’s metal star (Venus), and the excessive dryness in the human body, there will be symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and rebellious Qi, pain in the shoulders and back, and pain in the thighs, knees, and feet. Due to the return of fire Qi, corresponding to the fire star (Mars), if the metal Qi is too severe, the wood Qi will be suppressed, causing plants to appear withered and green leaves to dry and fall. In people’s diseases, there will be severe pain, inability to turn the hypochondria, coughing with rebellious Qi, and even hemoptysis and epistaxis. Those with a severed liver pulse will mostly die and be incurable, corresponding to the year’s Tai Bai star (Venus).

When the Qi of the year’s water is excessive, there will be a prevalence of cold, and the heart fire will be harmed. People will suffer from fever, restlessness, palpitations, cold extremities, general body coldness, delirium, and heart pain. In terms of climate, it is the early arrival of cold, corresponding to the water star (Mercury). If the water Qi is excessively strong, it will cause ascites, edema of the feet and shins, coughing and asthma, night sweats, and fear of wind in the human body. Due to the excessive water Qi, heavy rains will fall, and dust and fog will be thick and unclear. The earth Qi will return, corresponding to the earth star (Saturn). If it encounters the year when Taiyang cold water governs the sky, there will be hail, frost, and snow falling at irregular times, and excessive dampness will cause things to change their form. In people’s diseases, there will be abdominal bloating, intestinal rumbling, diarrhea, undigested food, thirst, and dizziness. Those with a severed heart pulse will mostly die and be beyond treatment, corresponding to the bright water star (Mercury).”

Emperor Huang said, “Well said! What about when the Five Transports are deficient?”

Qi Bo replied, “What a detailed question! When the Qi of the year’s wood is deficient, dryness will prevail, and the vital Qi will not arrive in time, causing plants to bloom late. The metal Qi will be excessive, and strong trees will break as if split, while tender branches and leaves will wither and dry up, corresponding to the year’s metal star (Venus). In people, this manifests as deficiency and cold in the middle Qi, pain in the hypochondria and lower abdomen, intestinal rumbling, and diarrhea. In terms of climate, it is the occasional arrival of cool rain. All of this corresponds to the year’s metal star (Venus). In grains, they will not ripen and will appear greenish-blue. If it encounters the year when Yangming governs the sky, the wood Qi will not be able to exert its governance, and the earth Qi will rise, causing plants to flourish again. Thus, the generative Qi will be urgent, and grains will not easily set seed. Because both dryness and earth Qi are excessive, the year’s metal and earth stars will both be bright. The wood Qi is suppressed, and its fire Qi returns, causing heat like fire, changing moist things to dry, and tender plants to wither. Branches and leaves grow anew from the roots, achieving both flowers and fruits. In humans, there will be more cases of cold and heat, sores, rashes, and boils. Corresponding to the year’s fire and metal stars, the five grains will not ripen due to the fire Qi suppressing metal, and white dew will descend early, with a prevalent killing Qi, and cold rain at irregular times, harming all things. The sweet and yellow grains will be eaten by insects. In people, the spleen earth is affected by the pathogenic Qi, and the fire Qi rises later. Although the heart Qi rises later, when fire can overcome metal, the metal Qi will be suppressed, and grains will not ripen. In the human body, symptoms such as coughing and nasal discharge will appear, corresponding to the year’s fire and metal stars.

When the Qi of the year’s fire is deficient, cold will prevail on a large scale. The summer’s generative Qi will not be able to exert its governance, and plants will decline from prosperity. The excessive cold will prevent the Yang Qi from generating and transforming, thus destroying the beauty of all things. Corresponding to the year’s water star (Mercury), in people, there will be more cases of chest pain, distension and pain in the hypochondria, pain in both hypochondria, pain in the chest, back, scapular regions, and inner arms, Qi rushing upwards, unclear vision, heart pain, sudden loss of voice, enlargement of the chest and abdomen, and pain in the hypochondria and waist and back, even to the point of being unable to stretch, with the hip and thigh bones feeling as if they are splitting. Because fire is constrained by water Qi, it corresponds to the year’s water star (Mercury), and the five grains will not ripen and will be red in color. Water Qi overcomes fire, and the fire’s earth Qi returns, causing the earth to be damp and steamy, with heavy rain approaching, and water Qi descending. In people, there will be more cases of loose stools, abdominal distension, inability to eat, cold in the abdomen, intestinal rumbling, and diarrhea like a torrent, abdominal pain, sudden spasms, atrophy, and numbness, with the feet unable to support the body. Corresponding to the earth and water stars, the black grains will not ripen.

When the year’s earth transport is deficient, wind will prevail on a large scale, and the transformative Qi will not be able to exert its governance. Wind and wood can generate all things, so plants are lush, but due to excessive fluttering, they are outwardly beautiful but cannot set seed. Corresponding to the year’s wood star (Jupiter), in people, there will be more cases of diarrhea, cholera, heaviness of the body, abdominal pain, shaking and rigidity of the muscles and bones, twitching of the muscles with a sour sensation, and frequent anger. The cold water Qi takes the opportunity to act, and insects burrow into the soil early. People generally suffer from deficiency and cold in the middle Qi. Corresponding to the year’s wood and earth stars, the grains are yellow but cannot set seed. The earth is suppressed by wood Qi, and its metal Qi returns, so autumn Qi prevails, presenting a severe and killing atmosphere, causing large trees to wither. In the human body, there will be sudden pain in the chest and hypochondria, pulling the lower abdomen, and frequent sighing. The sweet and yellow grains are eaten by insects. The pathogenic Qi invades the spleen earth, reducing the yield of yellow grains, and people eat little and find it tasteless. Metal Qi overcomes wood, and the green grains are damaged, corresponding to the year’s metal and wood stars. If it encounters the year when Jueyin governs the sky and Shaoyang is in the spring, the flowing water will not freeze, and the hibernating insects will reappear. The cold water Qi cannot function, and the metal Qi will not be excessive again. Corresponding to the year’s wood star, people will be healthy.

When the Qi of the year’s metal is deficient, fire will prevail, and wood will be able to exert its governance, with the generative Qi dominating, causing all things to flourish. However, with the excessive fire Qi, the climate will be dry and scorching. Corresponding to this, the year’s fire star (Mars) will be bright. In people, there will be more cases of heaviness in the shoulders and back, clear nasal discharge, sneezing, bloody stools, and diarrhea like a torrent. The metal Qi is suppressed, so the autumn harvest Qi arrives late. Corresponding to this, the year’s metal star (Venus) will be dim, and the grains will not ripen and will be white in color. After the metal Qi is suppressed, its water Qi returns, causing sudden cold rain, followed by hail, frost, and snow, killing all things. In the human body, it will be disturbed by cold reversal, causing the Yang Qi to rise instead, resulting in pain in the back of the head, extending to the top of the head, and fever in the body. Corresponding to the water star (Mercury), the red grains will not ripen, and people will suffer from mouth sores and even heart pain.

When the Qi of the year’s water is deficient, dampness will prevail on a large scale. Water Qi cannot overcome fire, and fire Qi instead exerts its governance, with rapid generation and transformation, and frequent summer rains. Corresponding to this, the year’s earth star (Saturn) will be bright. In people, there will be more cases of abdominal bloating, heaviness of the body, damp diarrhea, yin sores with thin pus, pain in the waist and thighs, inconvenience in the popliteal, thigh, and knee regions, irritability, weakness in the feet, coldness in the limbs, pain in the soles of the feet, and even edema. This is because the winter storage Qi cannot exert its governance, and the kidney Qi has lost balance. Corresponding to the water star (Mercury), the black grains will not ripen. If it encounters the year when Taiyin governs the sky and cold water is in the spring, severe cold will frequently invade, insects will burrow early, the ground will be covered with thick ice, and the sun in the sky will not exert its warming effect. People will suffer from cold diseases in the lower body, and severe cases will have abdominal distension and edema. Corresponding to the earth star (Saturn), the yellow rice of the five grains will ripen. Because the earth Qi is constrained by water Qi, its wood Qi returns, causing sudden violent storms, withered grass, and withered trees, losing their fresh luster due to wind and dryness. People’s faces will change, with rigid and painful muscles and bones, twitching muscles, unclear vision, and seeing things as if they have slight cracks. The muscles will develop wind rashes. If the wind invades the chest and diaphragm, it will cause pain in the heart and abdomen. This is because the wood Qi is excessive, and the earth Qi is harmed, with the yellow grains not ripening and corresponding to the wood star (Jupiter).

Emperor Huang said, “Well said! I would like to hear about the relationship between the Five Qi and the Four Seasons.” Qi Bo replied, “What a detailed question! When the wood transport is deficient, if the spring has gentle and harmonious breezes, then the autumn will have cool and normal climate with mist and dew; if the spring instead has cold and harmful metal Qi, the summer will have a climate as hot as fire burning. Its disasters often occur in the east, and in the human body, it affects the liver, with the disease located internally in the hypochondria and externally in the joints.

When the fire transport is deficient in summer, if there is bright and harmonious Qi, then the winter will have a normal climate with severe frost and cold; if the summer instead has a gloomy and cold atmosphere, there will often be situations with dust and heavy rain. Its disasters often occur in the south, and in the human body, it affects the heart, with the disease located internally in the chest and hypochondria and externally in the meridians.

When the earth transport is deficient, if the four corner months have harmonious Qi with dust and mist, then the spring will have a normal climate with wind, bird songs, and the sprouting of plants; if the four corner months have abnormal phenomena with violent storms and broken plants, then the autumn will also have a climate with persistent cool rain. Its disasters often occur in the four corners, and in the human body, it affects the spleen, with the disease located internally in the heart and abdomen and externally in the muscles and limbs.

When the metal transport is deficient, if the summer has bright and humid Qi, then the winter will have a corresponding severe and condensed Qi; if the summer has a change like fire burning, then the autumn will have a reaction with hail, frost, and snow. Its disasters often occur in the west, and in the human body, it affects the lungs, with the disease located internally in the chest, hypochondria, and shoulders and back, and externally in the skin and hair.

When the water transport is deficient, if the four corner months have normal climate with moist dust and clouds, then there will often be a response with gentle winds; if the four corner months have changes with dark dust and heavy rain, then there will often be situations with violent storms and broken plants. Its disasters often occur in the north, and in the human body, it affects the kidneys, with the disease located internally in the waist, spine, and bone marrow, and externally in the valleys and knees. The function of the Five Transports is like a balance, suppressing the excessive and assisting the deficient, corresponding to the normal and restoring the abnormal. This is the natural principle of the growth, transformation, and storage of all things, and the regularity of the four seasons’ climate. If these patterns are lost, the Qi of heaven and earth and the four seasons will be blocked. Therefore, the movement of heaven and earth is referenced by the operation of the sun, moon, and stars, and the interaction of Yin and Yang is manifested by the alternation of cold and heat, which is what is meant here.

Emperor Huang said, “You have discussed the changes of the Five Qi and their correspondence with the Four Seasons in great detail. However, the disturbance of Qi, when it does not occur, is not encountered, and when it occurs, there is no regular pattern. How can one know in advance when a sudden disaster occurs?” Qi Bo replied, “The changes of the Five Qi are indeed irregular, but the differences in their virtues, transformations, governance, and variations can be inferred.” Emperor Huang asked again, “What is the reason for this?” Qi Bo said, “The east generates wind, and wind generates wood. Its characteristic is to spread and harmonize Qi, its transformation is to make all things grow and prosper, its governance is to make all things stretch and open, its manifestation is wind, its variation is a howling gale, and its disaster is to scatter and wither all things. The south generates heat, and heat generates fire Qi. Its characteristic is brightness and radiance, its transformation is to make all things numerous and lush, its governance is to illuminate all things, its manifestation is heat, its variation is blazing fire, and its disaster is to melt and destroy all things. The center generates dampness, and dampness generates earth Qi. Its characteristic is damp heat, its transformation is to make all things full and complete, its governance is to make all things quiet, its manifestation is dampness, its variation is torrential rain, and its disaster is persistent rain and mud. The west generates dryness, and dryness generates metal Qi. Its characteristic is cleanliness, its transformation is to make all things contract and converge, its governance is to make all things dry and strong, its manifestation is dryness, its variation is a killing atmosphere, and its disaster is to wither and fall all things. The north generates cold, and cold generates water Qi. Its characteristic is coldness, its transformation is to make all things quiet and clear, its function is to make all things solidify and strict, its manifestation is cold, its variation is severe cold, and its disaster is ice, snow, and hail. Therefore, observing the movement of each Qi, there are characteristics, transformations, governance, manifestation, variation, and disasters, and all things follow, and humans also correspond.”

Emperor Huang said, “You have spoken of the excess and deficiency of the Five Transports, corresponding to the changes of the five stars. Now, when the characteristics, transformations, disasters, and variations do not occur regularly but are sudden, will the Five Transports also change accordingly?” Qi Bo said, “If the Five Transports follow the heavenly way, they will definitely correspond to the five stars. The sudden changes of victory and retaliation are due to the interplay of climate, and the five stars do not correspond to them. This is what is meant by ‘responding to the regular but not to the sudden’.”

Emperor Huang asked again, “How do the five stars correspond to the annual transport?” Qi Bo said, “They each follow their heavenly transport Qi.”

Emperor Huang said, “The five stars have different speeds and directions in their movement. What does this indicate?”

Qi Bo said, “Lingering on the direct path for a long time, or moving backward and looking back, with dim light, is to inspect the subordinate fields; if they quickly return or detour, it is to check for omissions and faults in the subordinate fields; if they linger and rotate, seeming to go and not go, it is to deliberate whether to bring disaster or fortune to the subordinate fields. The changes in climate are small when close and large when distant. If the star’s light is twice as bright as usual, the Qi transformation is excessive; if it is four times as bright, the disaster will occur immediately. If it is half as bright as usual, the Qi transformation is reduced; if it is one-third as bright, it is called ‘overlooking,’ as if inspecting the virtues and faults below, bestowing blessings for virtue and disasters for fault. Therefore, when the stars appear high and distant, their influence is small; when they are low and near, their influence is great. Thus, when the stars are bright, the period of joy and anger is near; when they are dim, the arrival of fortune and misfortune is distant. When the annual transport is excessive, the transport star may deviate; when the transport and Qi are harmonious, each follows its path. Therefore, when the annual transport is excessive, the star it overcomes will dim and take on the color of its mother star; if the annual transport is deficient, the annual star will take on the color of the star it cannot overcome. In summary, the changes of heaven are extremely subtle and not easy to discern. Who can understand their mysteries? The principles are profound and appropriate. Who can comprehend their benefits? The ignorant have no evidence, only talking about divination to frighten the kings and marquises.”

Emperor Huang said, “What are the signs of the five stars in terms of disasters?” Qi Bo said, “They also differ according to the Qi transformation of the annual transport. Therefore, the arrival of the year has its strengths and weaknesses, the invasion of the transport stars has its reversals and conformities, the stars’ lingering days have their lengths and shortness, the stars’ manifestations have their good and bad, the constellations have their victories and defeats, and the responses have their auspicious and inauspicious.”

Emperor Huang said, “How are the stars’ good and bad?” Qi Bo said, “The five stars’ manifestations include joy, anger, worry, grief, moisture, and dryness, which are often presented in the changes of the stars and should be carefully observed.”

Emperor Huang said, “Do the six phenomena of the stars’ joy, anger, worry, grief, moisture, and dryness differ in their high and low positions?” Qi Bo said, “Although the stars’ high and low can be seen, their responses are the same, so their manifestations in the human body are also the same.”

Emperor Huang said, “Well said! What are their virtues, transformations, governance, orders, movements and stillness, gains and losses?” Qi Bo said, “Virtues, transformations, governance, orders, and disasters all have their fixed patterns and cannot be added or subtracted from each other. Victory and prosperity mean victory, and decline means decline, without one side increasing. The days of victory and retaliation are the same in number and cannot exceed each other. The rise and fall of the Five Elements and Yin-Yang are combined, not one side annihilating the other, all corresponding to the movement of the Five Qi.”

Emperor Huang said, “What impact does this have on the occurrence of diseases?” Qi Bo said, “Characteristics and transformations are the harmony of the annual Qi, the manifestation of governance is the clarity of the annual Qi, variation is the guiding principle of repetition, and disaster is the cause of injury to all things. When human Qi corresponds to the annual Qi, it is peaceful; when it does not correspond, it becomes ill. If it is further affected by pathogenic Qi, the disease will worsen.”

Emperor Huang said, “Well said! It is truly a profound and brilliant theory, a great sage’s事业 (事业 – undertaking). Proclaiming great truths and reaching the boundless and infinite realm. I have heard that those who are good at discussing the heavenly Dao must apply it to humans; those who are good at discussing ancient matters must apply them to the present; those who are good at discussing Qi transformation must clearly manifest it in all things; those who are good at discussing induction must unify with the creation of heaven and earth; those who are good at discussing generation and change must understand the natural principles. Besides someone like you, who can expound such ultimate truths?” Thus, he chose a good day, stored it in the Linglan Book Room, read it every morning, named it ‘Qi Jiao Bian’ (气交变 – Qi Intersection Changes), and did not dare to open it except with sincere dedication, carefully passing it down to future generations