Essence and Spirit (Jing Shen)

Do not read a chart from one angle

Essence is what a chart rests on; spirit is how it shows itself. Looking only for what is strong, or only for what is weak, misses half the picture: the same chart may need one element reduced and another increased at the same time. The method here is the same as in the previous chapter, applied to vitality rather than structure — diagnose both sides before prescribing.