Further reading · 五运六气
Five movements & six qi: understand the yearly map
A clear map of the heavenly stems, earthly branches and traditional climatic correspondences, with the yearly cycle kept distinct from individual constitution.
甲己之岁，土运统之；乙庚之岁，金运统之。素问 · 天元纪大论
Earthly branches · Annual governing qi
The six branch pairs.
子 / 午
Rat / Horse
少阴君火
Shaoyin · sovereign fire
丑 / 未
Ox / Goat
太阴湿土
Taiyin · damp earth
寅 / 申
Tiger / Monkey
少阳相火
Shaoyang · ministerial fire
卯 / 酉
Rabbit / Rooster
阳明燥金
Yangming · dry metal
辰 / 戌
Dragon / Dog
太阳寒水
Taiyang · cold water
巳 / 亥
Snake / Pig
厥阴风木
Jueyin · wind wood
Classical anchor · 素问 · 天元纪大论
甲己之岁，土运统之；乙庚之岁，金运统之。
Editorial translation
In Jia and Ji years, earth movement governs; in Yi and Geng years, metal movement governs.
Meaning in context. This is an excerpt from the yearly movement correspondences. The following pairs assign Bing/Xin to water, Ding/Ren to wood, and Wu/Gui to fire. Annual governing qi uses a separate earthly-branch mapping.
Application today. Read the yearly cycle as traditional background, then return to actual conditions and current care priorities.
More about the reading context
These pairs describe annual influences in the theory. Personal constitution is read through the person’s longer-term tendencies and current findings.
Two cycles, with different jobs
The five movements (五运) arrange yearly influences through wood, fire, earth, metal and water, using the heavenly stems. The six qi arrange climatic influences through the earthly branches, with Jueyin wind wood, Shaoyin sovereign fire, Taiyin damp earth, Shaoyang ministerial fire, Yangming dry metal and Taiyang cold water.
How the stems organise the five movements
The Tian Yuan Ji Da Lun pairs 甲己 with earth, 乙庚 with metal, 丙辛 with water, 丁壬 with wood, and 戊癸 with fire. Traditional calculations then discuss excess (太过), insufficiency (不及) and their relationships. These terms describe the theory’s cyclical balance.
An example: 2025, the Yisi year
Within the traditional classification, 2025 is 乙巳: the yin stem 乙 is assigned metal movement with insufficiency, and the branch 巳 is assigned Jueyin wind wood governing heaven (司天). This explains the phrase 金运不及. The year’s heavenly-stem/earthly-branch designation is used; a final digit alone is an incomplete explanation, especially around the year boundary.
What the animal mnemonic actually maps
Rat/Horse, Ox/Goat and the other pairs help remember earthly branches in the annual system. The correct Tiger/Monkey term is 少阳相火, ministerial fire. These are yearly correspondences. For a personal reading direction, return to current experiences, routines, setting and constitution rather than treating a birth animal as a fixed body type.
Bring the yearly theory back to daily life
Use this framework to understand why traditional medicine pays attention to timing and climatic variation. The practical step is still to respond to actual cold, heat, humidity or dryness and your own combination of experiences. Our calendar gives dates and solar terms; the daily-care guides supply the actions. Annual disease-rate predictions need their own evidence.
Apply the idea
Which recurring situation fits your day, and which small adjustment is practical?
中文要点 · Chinese summary
五运用天干配木火土金水；六气按地支配厥阴风木、少阴君火、太阴湿土、少阳相火、阳明燥金、太阳寒水。2025乙巳按传统分类为金运不及、厥阴风木司天。生肖口诀用于记年份地支对应，寅申应是少阳相火；个人体质仍结合当前体感、长期倾向、作息和环境来读。运气提供时间背景，日常调养落到实际冷热燥湿与起居饮食运动。
Follow a related idea.
Four seasons, four approaches to daily care →
Constitution & patterns: find a useful direction →A word unfamiliar? Read the short glossary →
素问 · 天元纪大论. Chinese excerpts: Chinese Text Project. English renderings and present-day examples: our editorial work.