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Chapter 43 of 46
Wu Xing Jing Ji — Essential Records of the Five Elements
Overall Paraphrased Translation
The human body is formed by the harmonious convergence of the Five Elements 🌱. Illnesses arise from imbalances in the Yin-Yang and Five Elements energies—whether excessive, deficient, cold, or hot—all of which can lead to pathological conditions. To determine the body’s deficiency or excess, one must observe the state of the Five Elements: death and extinction indicate deficiency; growth and flourishing indicate excess. Once deficiency and excess are identified, illnesses can be deduced accordingly:
| Part | Branch | Part | Branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Wu | Left Shoulder | Si |
| Right Shoulder | Wei | Left Arm | Chen |
| Right Arm | Shen | Left Rib | Mao |
| Right Rib | You | Left Leg | Yin |
| Right Leg | Xu | Left Foot | Chou |
| Right Foot | Hai | Groin | Zi |
Excess of Yin, Chou, Zi, Hai indicates middle-aged waist and leg ailments; Geng-Chen or Yi-Hai day masters indicate diabetes and chronic diseases.
Five Elements deficiency/excess corresponding to modern diagnoses:
Principle of conflict-induced illness: Equivalent to "inter-system imbalance interference" in modern medicine, e.g., Metal-Fire conflict corresponds to excessive inflammatory response causing tissue damage.
Prevention approach: Identify weak points in the Five Elements through BaZi analysis, and target with TCM调理 or lifestyle interventions.
On Lifespan Patterns
Lifespan fundamentally depends on the state of the Five Elements' growth and flourishing: growth ensures longevity like deep roots, while death/extinction leads to premature demise like a dried-up stream. Specific judgments are divided into three layers:
Three Pillars configuration:
Signs of death: The Qi of the Five Elements shifts from convergence to dispersion; major and yearly cycles converge in death/extinction areas, combined with Tai Sui punishments bringing disaster.
Quality of death:
Embedded chart
| Pillars | Year | Month | Day | Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten Gods | 伤官 | 食神 | Self (M) | 正财 |
| Stem | 癸 | 壬 | 庚 | 乙 |
| Branch | 亥 | 戌 | 辰 | 亥 |
| Hidden Stems | 壬食甲才 | 戊枭辛劫丁官 | 戊枭乙财癸伤 | 壬食甲才 |
| Stage | 病 | 衰 | 养 | 病 |
Yan Hui’s premature death was due to Four Great Empty Deaths—highlighting the need for later补救 of innate Five Elements deficits.
Appendix: Quick Reference Table for Short-Lifespan Malignancies
| Deity Name | Judgment Method | Manifestation |
|---|---|---|
| Swift Foot Kill | Stem-Branch conflict (e.g., Jia meeting Shen) | Sudden illness, abrupt death |
| Cut Life Kill | The辰 before本命 (e.g., Zi person meeting Chou) | Violent death, bloodshed |
| Short Life Kill | Specific branch combinations (Pig, Rat, Dog clash) | Youthful夭折 |
| Yin-Yang Poles | Male: count 9辰顺; Female: count 6辰顺 | Death if major cycle lacks Qi |
All malignancies must be judged in the context of the entire chart; isolated occurrences may not necessarily cause harm.