When discussing the five elements (Wu Xing) attributes of the "Jia Shen" great cycle, we need to deeply understand the concept of "Sui Hui" in ancient Chinese medicine and astronomy. This article will elaborate on the meanings of "Dang Wei" (in position) and "Fei Wei" (not in position), and reveal the five elements attributes of the Jia Shen great cycle through the dialogue between Qibo and the Yellow Emperor.

The Relationship Between Sui Hui and the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches of the Year

Sui Hui refers to the years when the heavenly stem of the great cycle and the earthly branch are in harmony, and the earthly branch is located in one of the four correct or four corner positions. According to Qibo's explanation, the years when Wood transport meets Mao, Fire transport meets Wu, Earth transport meets the four seasons, Metal transport meets You, and Water transport meets Zi are considered Sui Hui years, as the energy is balanced. In these years, the five elements attribute of the heavenly stem and the earthly branch match, forming what is known as the "Sui Hui" year.

The Dialectic of Dang Wei and Fei Wei

The Yellow Emperor asked Qibo about the situation of "Fei Wei," which refers to the years when the heavenly stem and earthly branch are not in harmony. Qibo answered that these years are called "Sui Bu Yu Hui," meaning the five elements attributes of the heavenly stem and earthly branch do not match, leading to an imbalance in energy. However, this does not mean that all years other than the Sui Hui years are "Fei Wei." In fact, there are 12 Sui Hui years, among which 8 years are "Dang Wei Sui Hui" years with balanced energy, while the other 4 years are "Fei Dang Wei Sui Hui" years. The remaining 48 years are truly "Fei Wei" years, also known as "Sui Bu Yu Hui."

The Five Elements Attributes of the Jia Shen Great Cycle

Based on the above analysis, we can determine the five elements attributes of the Jia Shen great cycle. In the Jia Shen year, Jia belongs to the Earth transport, while Shen belongs to the Metal transport. Therefore, the great cycle attribute of the Jia Shen year is Metal transport, not Wood transport. This can be further verified by referring to the chart of the heavenly stems, five transports, and Luo Shu, as well as the chart showing the matching of ten heavenly stems, twelve earthly branches, and their five elements attributes.

Through an in-depth discussion and analysis of the concept of "Sui Hui," we conclude that the five elements attribute of the Jia Shen great cycle is Metal transport. This finding not only enriches our understanding of ancient Chinese medicine and astronomy, but also provides a new perspective for studying the great cycle periods.