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天高寥廓，六气回旋以成四时；地厚幽深，五行化生以成万物。可谓无穷而莫测者也。圣人立法以推步者，盖不能逃其数。观其立数之因，亦皆出乎自然。故载于经典，同而不异，推以 达其机，穷以通其变，皆不离于数内。一曰水，二曰火，三曰木，四曰金，五曰土者，咸有所自也。水，北方子之位也，子者，阳之初一，阳数也，故水曰一；火，南方午之位也，午者，阴之初二，阴数也，故火曰二；木居东方，东，阳也，三者，奇之数，亦阳也，故木曰三；金居西方，西，阴也，四者，偶之数，亦阴也，故金曰四；土应西南长夏，五者，奇之数，亦阳也，故土曰五。由是论之，则数以阴阳而配者也。若考其深义，则水生于一。天地未分，万物未成之初，莫不先见于水，故《灵枢经》曰：“太一者，水之尊号。先天地之母，后万物之源。”以今验之，草木子实未就，人虫、胎卵、胎胚皆水也，岂不以为一？及其水之聚而形质化，莫不备阴阳 之气在中而后成。故物之小而味苦者，火之兆也；物熟则甘，土之味也。甘极而后淡，淡，本也。然人禀父母阴阳生成之化，故先生二肾，左肾属水，右肾属火。火曰命门，则火之因水而后见。故火曰次二。盖草木子实，大小虽异，其中皆有两以相合者，与人肾同，亦阴阳之兆。是以万物非阴阳合体则不能化生也。既阴阳合体，然后而春生而秋成，故次三曰木，次四曰金。盖水有所属，火有所藏，木有所发，金有所别，莫不皆因土而后成也。故金木水火皆待土而后成。兼其土数，五以成之，则水六，火七，木八，金九；土常以五之生数不可至十者，土不待十以成，是生成之数皆五以合之。明大衍之数，由是以立，则万物岂能逃其数哉？
The cosmos is vast, with the circulation of qi forming the four seasons 🌬; the earth is profound, with the evolution of the Five Elements generating all things ⛰️. This infinitely subtle force is difficult to measure. Ancient sages established principles of deduction precisely to grasp its inherent laws. Observing the assignment of numerical sequences to the Five Elements reveals it actually stems from natural essence—thus classical records show remarkable consistency. Revealing patterns through deduction and exhaustively studying the ways of transformation never depart from the framework of numbers.
Correspondence between the Five Elements and Numbers:
Deep Logic:
The generation of all things follows this numerical framework. The so-called "Great Expansion Number" is also established from this 🌌.
The Five Elements model is essentially a philosophy of relationships:
- It rejects viewing things in isolation (e.g., "Fire manifests because of Water" reveals the interdependence of opposites).
- It emphasizes process (the evolutionary view from Generating to Completion Numbers).
- It provides a simplified framework for understanding the world (reducing complex phenomena to five-dimensional interactions).
| Concept | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Great Expansion Number (Dayan Zhi Shu) | Originates from the Zhou Yi (I Ching), the mathematical basis for divination using 50 yarrow stalks. This text reveals its origin in the Completion Numbers of the Five Elements. |
| Gate of Life Theory (Mingmen Xue Shuo) | In Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, the right kidney is seen as the root of primordial qi, directly corresponding to "Fire is called the Gate of Life" in this text. |
| Hetu and Luoshu (River Chart & Luo Writing) | The directional arrangement of Five Elements numbers perfectly matches the "River Chart" (One & Six Water-North, Two & Seven Fire-South, etc.). |
Further Reading
Modern Research