Di Tian Sui. Chapter 5. Li Qi.

五、理气

理承气行岂有常，进兮退兮宜抑扬。

Is there a constant logic of the movement of Qi, advancing and retreating, a constant modulation.

Comment:

Nature follows Qi’s path, is there a consistency?,

Increasing and decreasing following a modulation.

In the study of the 12 Qi phase, Qi follows the following modulation;

Chang Sheng(Birth), Muyu(Bath), Guan Dai(Attire), Lin Quan(Coming of Age), Di Wang(Prosperity Peak), Shuai(Weak), Bing(Sickness), Si(Death), Mu(tomb), Jie(Repose), Tai(Womb), Yang(Gestation).

From Chang Sheng after being born the Qi increases until its peak at Di Wang and starts decreasing from Shuai to Yang.

原注：阖关往来皆是气，而理行乎其间。行之始而进，进之极则为退之机，

To established the coming and going of the Qi, to determine the logic of the interaction.

The starting point of the movement is increasing, until it reaches the peak where it becomes the starting point of decreasing. (Again referring to the modulation theory of the 12 Qi phase)

如三月之甲木是也；行之盛而退，退之极则为进之机，如九月之甲木是也。

Example: Jia wood in the month of Chen represent the extreme point of increasing before decreasing. (Jia –Chang Sheng at Hai- increasing from Hai, Zi, Chou, Yin and peak at Mao month) Similarly during the 9^th month which is Xu month, it represent the extreme point of decreasing before increasing. (Jia – Yang Qi phase at Xu month. The nect month is Hai which is the Chang Sheng – the start of increasing Qi)

学者宜抑扬其浅深，斯可以言命也。

Only with the understanding of this profound modulation theory can students begins to understand the theory of destiny studies.

任氏曰：进退之机，不可不知也。

Ren comment: Must understand the logic of Increasing and decresing.

非长生为旺，死绝为衰，

Not saying that Chang Seng is prosperous and Death and Jue is weak,

必当审明理气之进退，庶得衰旺之真机矣。

Must use the logic of the increasing and decresing of Qi to understand the real meaning of prosperous and weak.

凡五行旺相休囚，按四季而定之。

The prosperous, supportive, resting, in prison is based on the seasons.

将来者进，是谓相；supportive

Increasing in the future, is supportive;

进而当令，是谓旺；properous

Increasing and in command, is prosperous;

功成者退，是谓休；rest

After successful and decreasing , is resting;

退而无气，是谓囚。In prison

Decreasing until no Qi, is in prison.

须辨其旺相休囚，以知其进退之机。

Differentiate whether it is supportive, prosperous, resting or in prison. Will be able to know whether it is increasing or decresing.

为日主，为喜神，宜旺相，不宜休囚；

For DM, as favorable god, must be prosperous & supportive, not resting and in prison;

为凶煞，为忌神，宜休囚，不宜旺相。

When inauspicious and is unfavorable, it is better to be resting or in prison rather than being prosperous or supportive.

然相妙于旺，旺则极盛之物，其退反速，

Supportive is wonderful which will move towards prosperous, when prosperous it is however at the extreme, when it decline it is also very fast.

相则方长之气，其进无涯也。

Supportive Qi is very strong, it has no boundary.

休甚乎囚，囚则既极之势，必将渐生；

Resting at the extreme becomes in prison, it is at the weakest point, it will eventually start to increase;

休则方退之气，未能遽复也。

Resting is decreasing Qi, it is not able to recover yet.

此理气进退之正论也，爰举两造为例。

The theory of the increase and decrease of Qi is the correct method, to select the two as an example.