On Na-Yin Numbers - Wu Xing Da Yi — Great Meaning of the Five Elements | YiMatrix
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On Na-Yin Numbers
Wu Xing Da Yi — Great Meaning of the Five Elements
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On Na-Yin Numbers
Overall Paraphrased Translation
Na-Yin Numbers refer to the musical system🎵 to which a person belongs at birth, namely the five notes: Gong, Shang, Jue, Zhi, Yu. The term "Na" means adopting these musical notes to harmonize the relationship between one's surname and the Five Elements. According to Yue Wei, Confucius said that the Five Elements affiliation of a surname is determined by blowing pitch pipes. The specific rules are: one word (number 1) corresponds to Earth and is called Gong; three words (number 3) correspond to Fire and are called Zhi; five words (number 5) correspond to Water and are called Yu; seven words (number 7) correspond to Metal and are called Shang; nine words (number 9) correspond to Wood and are called Jue. These numbers are all Yang numbers (odd numbers), and each of the Five Elements has three numerical stages: Birth Number (initial stage), Prime Number (prime stage), and Aging Number (aging stage):
Wood🌱: Birth Number 3, Prime Number 8, Aging Number 9
Fire🔥: Birth Number 2, Prime Number 7, Aging Number 3
Earth⛰: Birth Number 5, Prime Number 10, Aging Number 1
Metal⚔️: Birth Number 4, Prime Number 9, Aging Number 7
Water🌊: Birth Number 1, Prime Number 6, Aging Number 5
Guan Lu explained: The Aging Number of Earth is one because Earth is the master of all things, and everything returns to Earth, so one symbolizes this. The Three Talents (Heaven, Earth, and Humanity) converge, and human principles are complete. Fire Virtue draws from the meaning of the Three Talents, so its Aging Number is three. Water corresponds to the Five Stars above and the Five Organs below, so its Aging Number is five. Metal corresponds to the Seven Luminaries (Sun, Moon, and Five Planets), so its Aging Number is seven. Wood corresponds to the Nine Stars in Heaven, the Nine Regions on Earth, and the Nine Orifices in humans, so its Aging Number is nine.
All things first have a Birth Number, then a Prime Number, and finally an Aging Number. Na-Yin discusses a person’s destiny, so the Aging Number is used to symbolize it. This explanation is not yet comprehensive: all things are born from the interaction of the Five Constant Virtues (Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Faith). After birth, things must reach their prime, and after their prime, they must age, hence the significance of the three stages. In human conduct, from prime to old age, everything is based on propriety and righteousness. However, those who uphold propriety and righteousness often start but fail to finish. Since Na-Yin pertains to humans and humans can practice propriety and righteousness, the Aging Number is used to elucidate these virtues.
One Word Corresponds to Earth (Number 1): Earth Virtue is broad and profound, occupying a high position as the ruler. The ruler governs the people, and governance requires singularity, so the number begins with one.
Three Words Correspond to Fire (Number 3): Fire governs propriety, with filial piety as the priority, never forgetting the virtue of one’s origin, so it follows Wood’s number three (Wood generates Fire).
Five Words Correspond to Water (Number 5): Water occupies a Yin position, symbolizing the way of a minister. Earth controls Water, just as a ruler controls ministers, so it follows Earth’s number five.
Seven Words Correspond to Metal (Number 7): Metal governs righteousness, symbolizing the way of husband and wife. The wife follows the husband, and Fire is the husband of Metal, so it follows Fire’s number seven.
Nine Words Correspond to Wood (Number 9): Wood governs benevolence and filial piety. Metal overcomes Wood, symbolizing matters of ancestral temples and spirits, with reverence following Metal’s number nine.
This illustrates: one signifies the ruler’s virtue, two signifies obedience to parents, three signifies the minister’s integrity, four signifies respect for the husband, and five signifies reverence for spirits. With propriety and righteousness complete, human affairs are fulfilled, hence Na-Yin numbers use these.
The specific calculation of Na-Yin is based on the correspondence between Earthly Branches, the Eight Trigrams, and Heavenly Stems:
Zi and Wu belong to Geng (aligned with Zhen Gua)
Chou and Wei belong to Xin (aligned with Xun Gua)
Yin and Shen belong to Wu (aligned with Kan Gua)
Mao and You belong to Ji (aligned with Li Gua)
Chen and Xu belong to Bing (aligned with Gen Gua)
Si and Hai belong to Ding (aligned with Dui Gua)
Case Examples:
One Word Corresponds to Earth: Destiny Geng Zi. Zi belongs to Geng, so one word suffices.
Embedded chart
Case of One Word Earth
Male chart
Stem-branch set
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Three Words Correspond to Fire: Destiny Bing Yin. Yin belongs to Wu. Counting from Bing to Wu (Bing → Ding → Wu) totals three numbers.
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Case of Three Words Fire
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Five Words Correspond to Water: Destiny Ren Xu. Xu belongs to Bing. Counting from Ren to Bing (Ren → Gui → Jia → Yi → Bing) totals five numbers.
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Case of Five Words Water
Male chart
Stem-branch set
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Seven Words Correspond to Metal: Destiny Ren Shen. Shen belongs to Wu. Counting from Ren to Wu (Ren → Gui → Jia → Yi → Bing → Ding → Wu) totals seven numbers.
Embedded chart
Case of Seven Words Metal
Male chart
Stem-branch set
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Nine Words Correspond to Wood: Destiny Ji Si. Si belongs to Ding. Counting from Ji to Ding (Ji → Geng → Xin → Ren → Gui → Jia → Yi → Bing → Ding) totals nine numbers.
Embedded chart
Case of Nine Words Wood
Male chart
Stem-branch set
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All sixty Jiazi follow this pattern. The branch affiliation with the Eight Trigrams uses oppositional pairs (e.g., Zi and Wu are opposites) because Yang gives and Yin transforms. All things receive Qi and take form through Yin and Yang, so human affiliation is expressed in Yang numbers.
The principle of Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch allocation: Qian is the father, Kun is the mother, giving birth to six children (Zhen, Kan, Gen as three sons; Xun, Li, Dui as three daughters). Heavenly Stem allocation: Jia (beginning of Qian), Ren (end of Qian), Yi (beginning of Kun), Gui (end of Kun). The remaining six stems are assigned to the six children: Bing to Gen (youngest son), Ding to Dui (youngest daughter), Wu to Kan (middle son), Ji to Li (middle daughter), Geng to Zhen (eldest son), Xin to Xun (eldest daughter). Branches are taken from Qian and Kun: Zhen Gua’s initial nine takes Qian’s Zi, nine-four takes Qian’s Wu, so Zi and Wu belong to Geng; Xun Gua’s initial six takes Kun’s Chou, six-four takes Kun’s Wei, so Chou and Wei belong to Xin; and so on. Qian and Kun hold尊 positions, taking their beginnings and ends, while the six children govern the twelve branches, and Na-Yin follows. Jia, Yi, Ren, and Gui are not directly used in Na-Yin because they belong to Qian and Kun.
Q&A to Address Doubts: Stems are Yang, with odd bodies, so they are used once; Branches are Yin, with even bodies, so they are used twice. Turtle shell divination uses days (stems), while stalk divination uses branches. Although their bodies are not combined, they are paired to clarify meaning. Stems, being尊, are set first, and then branches are sought for assistance, similar to how turtle shell omens approximate branches and stalk divination approximates stems, using emptiness to seek substance.
🧠 In-Depth Understanding
Core Concepts 💡
Symbolism of Life Stages: The Birth, Prime, and Aging Numbers of the Five Elements reflect the cycle of growth, maturity, and decline, emphasizing the need for propriety and righteousness throughout human life.
Integration of Music and Five Elements: Na-Yin transforms abstract musical notes (Gong, Shang, Jue, Zhi, Yu) into numerical logic, connecting the systems of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity.
Embedded Ethical Philosophy: The numbers implicitly convey Confucian ethics (ruler’s virtue, filial piety, ministerial integrity, marital duty, spirit reverence), reflecting the idea of "Harmony between Heaven and Humanity."
Modern Interpretation 🌟
Application in Numerical Psychology: The Birth, Prime, and Aging Numbers can be analogized to modern life stage planning (e.g., youth development, midlife achievement,老年 reflection), helping individuals定位 their life cycle focus.
Decision-Making Reference Tool: Na-Yin Numbers can serve as an auxiliary tool for personality analysis (e.g., Earth-type individuals are steady, Fire-type individuals are passionate), useful for team collaboration or self-improvement.
Scientific Rational Perspective: Removing mysticism, they can be understood as an ancient symbolic system for observing natural laws, similar to modern data classification (e.g., Five Elements corresponding to material states).
Practical Value ⚡
Personal Development: Reflect on personal growth stages through Na-Yin Numbers (e.g., focusing on action during the Prime stage, and on legacy during the Aging stage) to set adaptive goals.
Cultural Education: Use for启蒙 in traditional culture education,趣味化 transmitting traditional values (e.g., propriety, filial piety) through numbers and music.
Cross-Disciplinary Inspiration: Encourage fields like management and psychology to借鉴 stage theory (e.g., product lifecycle management).
Philosophical Reflection 🤔
Eternity and Change: The Aging Number symbolizes an end but implies the eternity of "propriety and righteousness having a conclusion," reminding modern people that material things decay, but spiritual values can be inherited.
The Way of Balance: The generation and restriction among the Five Elements and number allocation reflect dynamic balance, critiquing modern linear thinking and advocating for多元 coordination.
Emptiness and Substance: The "abstract use" of Stems and Branches (e.g., Jia, Yi, Ren, Gui being placed abstractly) reflects ancient abstract thinking, inspiring modern people to value intangible resources (e.g., relationships, cultural capital).
📚 Related Knowledge
Related Concepts:
Five Notes and Six Pitches: Ancient musical system corresponding to the Five Elements and four seasons.
Eight Trigrams Na-Jia: Theory of Stems and Branches with the Eight Trigrams, used in divination and命运.
Three Talents Thought: Framework of interaction between Heaven, Earth, and Humanity, permeating Yi studies.
Further Reading:
I Ching·Shuo Gua Zhuan: Detailed explanation of Eight Trigrams symbolism.
San Ming Tong Hui·On Na-Yin: Deepens the application of Na-Yin.
Yue Wei fragments: Explore the渊源 of music and the Five Elements.
Modern Research:
Scholar Li Ling’s Examination of Chinese Occultism analyzes the numerical logic of Na-Yin.
Psychological studies compare Five Element personality theory with modern trait theories (e.g., Big Five).
Digital attempts: APP tools automate Na-Yin calculations for cultural enthusiasts.
