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或问：十干有阴阳、刚柔、生死之分，其说然否？答曰：十干五阳五阴，阳者为刚，阴者为柔，其生死之分如母生子，子成而母老死，理之自然。赋曰：阳生阴死，阳死阴生，循环逆顺，变化见矣。
甲木乃十干之首，主宰四时，生育万物；在天为雷为龙，在地为梁为栋，谓之阳木。其禄到寅。寅为离上之木，其根已断，其枝已绝，谓之死木。死木者，刚木也，须仗斧斤斫削方成其器。长生于亥，亥为河潭池沼之水，名曰死水，故死木放死水中，虽浸年久，不能朽坏，譬如杪椿之木，在于水中则能坚固。若离水至岸而遇癸水，癸水者，活水也，为天地间雨露，日晒雨淋，干湿不调，遂成枯朽，则能生火，火旺而木必焚矣，故有灰飞烟灭之患耳。且午属离火，火赖木生，木为火母，火为木子，子旺母衰，焉有不终之理？故甲木死于午。经云：木不南奔。正谓此也。
乙木继甲之后，发育万物，生生不已；在天为风，在地为树，谓之阴木。其禄到卯，卯为树木，根深叶茂，谓之活木。活木者，柔木也，惧阳金斫伐为患，畏秋至木落凋零，欲润土而培其根，利活水而滋其枝叶。活水者，癸水也，即天之雨露，地之泉源；润土者，己土也，如耕耨之土，成稼穑之功。己禄在午，午乃六阳消尽，一阴复生，故稻花开于午时，乙木生于午地。十月建亥，亥乃纯阴司令，壬禄到亥当权，死水泛滥，土薄根虚，有失培养。故乙木死于亥。经云：水泛木浮。正此谓也。
丙火丽乎中天，普照六合；在天为日为电，在地为炉为冶，谓之阳火。其禄在巳，巳为炉冶之火，谓之死火。死火者，刚火也，喜死木发生其焰，恶金、土掩其光。死木者，甲木也，甲禄在寅，寅乃阳木之垣，木盛火生，隐于木石之间，非人用之，不能生发，故五阳皆出乎自然而为先天，五阴皆系乎人事而为后天，丙火生于寅，其理甚明。如太阳之火自东而升，至西而没，且酉属兑，兑为泽；己土生金，金气盛，掩息丙火之光，不能显辉，岂无晦乎？故丙火生于寅而死于酉。经云：火无西向。正此谓也。
丁火继丙之后，为万物之精，文明之象；在天为列星，在地为灯火，谓之阴火。其禄到午，乃六阴之首，内有乙木，能生丁火。乙为活木，丁为活火。活火者，柔火也，丁喜乙木而生，乃阴生阴也，如世人用菜油麻油为灯烛之义，夫油乃乙木之膏也。至于酉时，四阴司权，灯火则能辉煌，列星则能灿烂，故丁生于酉；至于寅地，三阳当合，阳火而生，阴火而退，如日东升，列星隐耀，灯虽有焰，不显其光。故丁生于酉而死于寅也。经云：火明则灭。正谓此也。
戊土洪蒙未判，抱一守中，天地既分，厚载万物，聚于中央，散于四维。在天为雾，在地为山，谓之阳土。其禄在巳，巳为炉冶之火，锻炼成器，叩之有声，其性刚猛，难以触犯。喜阳火相生，畏阴金盗气。阳火者，丙火也，丙生于寅，寅属艮，艮为山，山为刚土，即戊土也，赖丙火而生焉。至于酉地，酉属兑，金耗盗戊土之气，乃金盛土虚，母衰子旺，又金击石碎，岂能延寿？故戊土生于寅而死于酉。经云：土虚则崩。正此谓也。
己土继戊之后，乃天之元气，地之真土。清气上升，冲和天地，浊气下降，聚生万物，谓之阴土。天地人三才皆不可缺此土，如乾坤中一媒妁，阴阳失此，岂能配偶？故于四行无不在，于四时则寄旺焉，乃真土也。喜丁火而生，畏阳火而燥。其禄到午，午中丁火能生巳土，被乙木盗其栽培之气。至于酉地，丁火而生，丁火既生，己土亦能生也；至寅用事，木火司权，锻炼己土，遂成磁石，反失中和之气，岂有不损之理？故己土生于酉而死于寅。经云：火燥土裂。正此谓也。
庚金掌天地肃杀之权，主人间兵革之变。在天为风霜，在地为金铁，谓之阳金。其禄到申，申乃刚金，喜戊土而生，畏癸水而溺；长生于巳，巳中戊土能生庚金，乃阳生阳也；巳为炉冶之火，锻炼庚金，遂成钟鼎之器，叩之有声，若遇水土沈埋则无声也，所谓金实无声。至于子地，水旺之乡，金寒水冷，子旺母衰，亦遭沈溺之患，岂能复生？故庚金生于巳而死于子。经云：金沈水底。正此谓也。
辛金继庚之后，为五金之首，八石之元。在天为日月，乃太阴之精，在地为金，金乃山石之矿，谓之阴金。其禄到酉，酉中己土能生辛金，乃阴生阴也，谓之柔金，为太阴之精。长生于子，子乃坎水之垣，坎中一阳属金，另有二阴属土，土能生金，子隐母胎，未显其体，得子水荡漾，淘去浮砂，方能出色，此乃水济金辉，色光明莹。至于巳地，巳为炉冶之火，将辛金炼成死器，亦被巳中戊土埋没，其形不能变化，岂能复生？故辛金生于子而死于巳也。经云；土重金埋。正谓此也。
壬水喜阳土而为堤岸之助，畏阴木而为盗气之忧。在天为云，在地为泽，谓之阳水。其禄在亥，亥为池沼存留之水，谓之死水。死水者，刚水也，赖庚金而生，庚禄到申，能生壬水，乃五行转养之气。至于卯地，卯乃花叶树木，木旺于卯则能克土，土虚则崩，故堤岸崩颓，而壬水走泄，散漫四野，流而不返，又被阴木盗气，岂得存活？故壬水生于申而死于卯也。经云：死水横流。正谓此也。
癸水继壬之后，乃天干一周阴阳之气，成于终而反于始之渐，故其为水清浊以分，散诸四方，有润下助土之功，滋生万物之德。在天为雨露，在地为泉脉，谓之阴水。其禄在子，子乃阴极阳生之地，辛生庚死之垣；癸为活水，活水者，柔水也，喜阴金而生，畏阳金而滞，欲阴木行其根则能疏通阴土，阴土既通于地脉则能流畅。二月建卯，为花果树木，木旺土屋，癸水方得通达。至于申地，三阴用事，否卦司权，天地不交，万物不通，申中坤土、庚金遂成围堰，使癸水不能流畅，困于池沼，无所施设，岂再生物？故癸水生于卯而死于申。经云：水不西流。正谓此也。
论曰：五行长生之理与万物亦同。且如日之初出时，光明可观，至午离宫，光明愈甚，月之初出，巧若蛾眉，至望光明圆洁；若人之生，自少至壮，自老至死，常理也。人之初生也，婴孩啼笑而已，至壮贤愚方辨，万物皆一同。
甲木生亥，亥令属水，甲木居焉；木旺于春，至寅临官归禄，甲木得垣，至午则死；丙火生寅，寅令属木，丙火居焉，火旺于夏，至已临官归禄，丙火得垣，至酉则死；庚金生巳，巳申戊土，庚金居焉，金旺于秋，至申临官归禄，庚金得垣，至子则死；壬水生申，申令属
金，壬水居焉，水旺于冬，至亥临官归禄，壬水得垣，至卯则死；戊土生于寅，寅中有火，戊土生焉，三阳之时，土膏以动，万物发生，是戊生于寅也。土旺于四季，火土有如母子相生，所以戊随丙临官归禄巳。
This chapter systematically discusses the yin-yang attributes and life-death patterns of the Ten Heavenly Stems, revealing the cyclical laws of Five Elements energy as it changes with time and space. The Stems are divided into Five Yang (甲 Jia, 丙 Bing, 戊 Wu, 庚 Geng, 壬 Ren) and Five Yin (乙 Yi, 丁 Ding, 己 Ji, 辛 Xin, 癸 Gui). Yang Stems are like robust fathers, while Yin Stems resemble gentle mothers, following the cyclical law of "Yang births Yin's death, Yin births Yang's death." Each Stem has its energetic "life position" of activity and declining "death position," which essentially represent the waxing and waning states of the Five Elements within natural rhythms.
Jia Wood is like an upright leader, requiring "chopping and carving by axe and adze" (societal tempering) to become useful. Its vulnerability lies in overexposure to "Gui Water" (emotional pressure) and "Wu Fire" (competitive drain), necessitating the establishment of risk-resistant mechanisms like "stagnant water securing wood" (stable systems).
Yi Wood is like a creative talent, relying on "Gui Water" (inspiration nourishment) and "Ji Earth" (practical soil). Beware of "Yin Metal chopping and felling" (institutional constraints) and "floating Wood on overflowing Water" (scattered goals); focus is needed on deeply cultivating one's field.
Bing Fire is like a pioneer, using "dead Wood" (solid resources) to ignite flames. It must avoid "Metal and Earth burying the light" (bureaucratic rigidity). "Fire does not face West" warns against expending energy in sunset industries (You position).
Ding Fire is like a technical specialist; "Yi Wood as oil" (continuous learning) maintains light and heat. It's best to shine in niche fields (You night) and avoid direct competition with giants (Yin day).
Wu Earth is like infrastructure core, requiring "Bing Fire" (policy support) to forge value. Beware of "Metal draining Earth qi" (financial bubbles hollowing out the real economy); "Earth emptiness leads to collapse" metaphorizes systemic instability risk.
Ji Earth is like a platform organization, relying on "Ding Fire" (cultural cohesion) for continuous regeneration. Avoid "Fire parching and cracking Earth" (high-pressure internal friction); balance between systems (Metal) and humanistic aspects (Fire) is needed.
Geng Metal is like a reform vanguard; "Wu Earth" (industrial foundation) forges its sharp edge. "Metal sinking in water's depths" warns that excessive idealism (Zi Water) can freeze action.
Xin Metal is like an artistic elite; "Zi Water washing away sand" (market selection) reveals true value. Guard against "heavy Earth burying Metal" (excessive commercialization devouring creativity); Fire tempering must be moderate.
Ren Water is like a strategist; "Yang Earth banks and dikes" (top-level design) channels energy. "Dead water flowing wildly" metaphorizes resource失控 (Mao Wood excessive consumption).
Gui Water is like hidden resources; "Yin Wood dredging" (channel construction) activates value. "Water does not flow West" warns against bureaucratic systems (Shen Metal) obstructing flow.
Life-Death as Energy Cycles: "Life" signifies energy germination, "Death" signifies transformation and dormancy. For example, Jia Wood dying in Wu actually signifies Fire energy taking over.
Hardness and Softness Mutually Aid: Yang Stems (hard) need Yin Stems (soft) for harmony, e.g., Geng Metal relies on Gui Water's moisture to prevent brittleness.
Spatio-Temporal Energy Field: Stem-Branch positioning is essentially a spatio-temporal coordinate; e.g., the "Lu Position" (Yin for Jia) is an energy resonance point.
Use "Five Elements generation and restraint" to construct SWOT analysis: e.g., a Yi Wood entrepreneur (Yin Wood) needs to avoid the "Hai Water death position" (capital winter) and leverage the "Wu Fire life position" (policy红利期) to exert force.
Example: Geng Metal (Yang Metal) suits fields requiring decisiveness like law enforcement, surgery; Xin Metal (Yin Metal) suits jewelry design, precision manufacturing.
Example: Ren Water (Yang Water) investors should avoid over-diversifying investments (Water dispersion) in Mao years (Wood flourishing).
Cycle, Not Endpoint: The "death position"孕育 new energy germination; e.g., Ding Fire dying in Yin precisely makes way for Jia Wood's新生.
Hardness-Softness Dialectics: Modern society requires the mutual aid of Jia Wood (innovative breakthroughs) and Ji Earth (inclusive integration), avoiding "Fire parching and cracking Earth" (radical reforms causing撕裂).
| Related Concepts | Classical References |
|---|---|
| The Twelve Longevity Cycles | Yuan Hai Zi Ping: On Cycles |
| Five Elements Seasonal Suitability/Taboo | Qiong Tong Bao Jian: Synopsis |
| Stem-Branch Energy Mapping | Wu Xing Jing Ji: Qi Cycle Chapter |
| Further Reading: |
Note: The ancient term "life-death" needs to be deconstructed as energy transformation critical points. Modern application emphasizes grasping cyclical laws and适配 scenarios.