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Chapter 2 of 39
Wu Xing Da Yi — Great Meaning of the Five Elements
Overall Meaning Translation
Everything has its essential form, and sages observe the characteristics of phenomena to name them. Thus, it is said: naming is to determine the essence. The nameless is the initial state of chaos in heaven and earth, while the named becomes the foundation for understanding all things. Because things have their functions and purposes, a system of designations must be established. The Book of Rites records: when an infant is three months old and can smile, they are given a name. Before birth, there is naturally no name. The Five Elements, as the fundamental components of all things, derive their forms and functions from natural creation. How could names not be established first, followed by an explanation of their relationships between substance and function?
🌳 Explanation of the Wood Element
The Chunqiu Yuanming Bao states: Wood means "to touch," as it touches the earth and grows. Xu Shen believed: Wood means "to emerge," referring to breaking through the earth and sprouting. The character's form extends downward from the middle, symbolizing the spread of roots. It corresponds to spring 🌱. The Book of Rites says: Spring means "to stir," referring to the budding and growth of all things. Its direction is the east 🌅. Shizi states: East represents "movement," driven by the energy of the Zhen trigram. The Baihu Tong explains: Fire represents "transformation," as yang energy dominates the season, prompting the metamorphosis of all things. Xu Shen interprets: Fire symbolizes flames rising upward 🔥, with a character form resembling ascending flames. It corresponds to summer ☀️. The Shangshu Dazhuan states: Summer means "to accommodate," meaning to nurture and sustain all things. The Shiming says: Summer means "to grant," giving all things space to grow. Its direction is the south 🔥.
⛰️ Explanation of the Earth Element
The Yuanming Bao states: Earth means "to emit," containing the essence of energy to nurture all things. Xu Shen explains: Earth can emit and produce all things. Wang Su believed: Earth is another name for the ground, incorporated into the Five Elements system. Xu Shen analyzes the character form: two horizontal lines symbolize the surface and the interior of the earth, while a vertical line represents plants breaking through the soil. It corresponds to late summer 🌾 (the end of summer). "Late" implies maturity, as all things ripen and age during this stage, governing the end of the four seasons, hence called "old." Its direction is the center 🔄. The Lidou Weiyi states: Earth receives the righteous energy of the imperial ultimate, containing the virtue of the yellow center, and can embrace all things.
⚔️ Explanation of the Metal Element
Xu Shen explains: Metal means "to restrain," as all things收敛 and are restrained when yin energy first arises. Earth produces metal, and the character form derives from earth, with strokes on both sides resembling metal hidden within the earth. It corresponds to autumn 🍂. The Book of Rites states: Autumn means "sorrow," guarding righteousness with its肃杀 nature. Shizi says: Autumn represents "solemnity," as all things exhibit a respectful and dignified state, embodying ritual. The Shuowen states: Heaven and earth收敛 all things in autumn. Its direction is the west 🌅. The Shangshu Dazhuan says: West means "fresh," referring to the initial state of收敛 for all things.
💧 Explanation of the Water Element
The Shiming, Guangya, and Baihu Tong all state: Water means "level," leveling all things. The Yuanming Bao says: Water means "to spread," as yin energy transforms into moisture, flowing and moving潜行. The character form resembles two people intersecting, with a vertical line in the middle representing water 💧. "One" is the beginning of numbers, and "two people" symbolize male and female, with yin and yang uniting to produce one. Water is the beginning of the Five Elements, a liquid formed by the condensation of无气. The Guanzi states: Water is the blood, energy, and veins of the earth, flowing ceaselessly, hence called water. Xu Shen explains: The character form resembles flowing spring water, containing subtle yang energy. It corresponds to winter ❄️. Shizi states: Winter means "end," as all things reach their conclusion and藏伏. The Book of Rites says: Winter represents "storage," meaning to collect and store. Its direction is the north 🌌. Shizi states: North means "to潜伏," as all things潜伏 in winter, regardless of nobility or commonality.
The Five Elements theory is essentially an attempt by ancient people to grasp the world through a symbolic system,归纳 complex natural phenomena into five basic interaction patterns. This systems thinking still holds enlightening significance in modern complexity science—how to understand complex systems with simple rules.
On the Names of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches
Overall Meaning Translation
The Stems and Branches system was established based on the principles of the Five Elements. Legend attributes its creation to Da Nao during the time of the Yellow Emperor. Cai Yong's Yueling Zhangju records: Da Nao adopted the nature of the Five Elements and observed the direction of the Big Dipper's handle to create it. The names of the days, such as Jia and Yi, are called "Stems," while the names of the months, such as Zi and Chou, are called "Branches." Stems are used for worshiping heaven, and Branches for worshiping earth, reflecting the distinction between yin and yang. The naming includes general and specific explanations: first, the overall meaning of Stems and Branches is discussed, followed by interpretations of individual names.
📖 General Meaning of Stems and Branches
The character "干" has three variants: 干, 簳, and 竿. "簳" signifies the pairing of branches and stems for use, like trees having branches and trunks forming the whole tree; "干" conveys the idea of supporting, and "支" the idea of bearing, as the days bear and support all things, hence the name Stems and Branches; "竿" is like objects erected on a pole, clearly visible. Common documents use the simplified form "干" for convenience.
🔤 Specific Explanations of Heavenly Stems
🐭 Specific Explanations of Earthly Branches
📅 Year Designations by Jupiter's Cycle
The Erya·Suici records the year names of Jupiter:
The Chunqiu Wei records略有不同 from the Huainanzi and Erya. The above are the essential meanings of the alternate names of the Stems and Branches, ultimately explained from the perspective of energy transformation.
The Stems and Branches system showcases the thinking characteristics of ancient Chinese people—"observing phenomena to create tools"—creating symbolic tools to grasp the world by observing natural phenomena (Big Dipper movement, phenological changes). This "象思维" forms an interesting contrast with Western conceptual thinking and may offer new ideas in complex system modeling.
Please translate the above content into English, maintaining the original format and structure.