On the Abode of Life and Death

论生死所

五行體別.生死之處不同.遍有十二月.十二辰.而出沒.木.受氣於申.胎於酉.養於戌.生於亥.沐浴於子.冠帶於丑.臨官於寅.王於卯.衰於辰.病於巳.死於午.葬於未.火.受氣於亥.胎於子.養於丑.生於寅.沐浴於卯.冠帶於辰.臨官於巳.王於午.衰於未.病於申.死於酉.葬於戌.金.受氣於寅.胎於卯.養於辰.生於巳.沐浴於午.冠帶於未.臨官於申.王於酉.衰於戌.病於亥.死於子.葬於丑.水.受氣於巳.胎於午.養於未.生於申.沐浴於酉.冠帶於戌.臨官於亥.王於子.衰於丑.病於寅.死於卯.葬於辰.土.受氣於亥.胎於子.養於丑.寄行於寅.生於卯.沐浴於辰.冠帶於巳.臨官於午.王於未.衰病於申.死於酉.葬於戌.戌是火墓.火是其母.母子不同葬.進行於丑.丑是金墓.金是其子.義又不合.欲還於未.未是木墓.木爲土鬼.畏不敢入.進休就辰.辰是水墓.水爲其妻.於義爲合.遂葬於辰.昔舜葬蒼梧.二妃不從.故知合葬非古.然季武子云.自周公已來.未之有改.詩云.穀則異室.死則同穴.蓋以敦其義合.骨肉同歸.水土共墓.正取此也.又以四季釋所理歸於斯.高堂隆以土生於未.盛於戌.壯於丑.終於辰.長爲水土墓.故辰日不哭.以辰日重喪故也.袒踊之哀.豈待移日.高堂所說.蓋爲浮淺.其生王意.又別是一家.五行書云.土雖有寄王於火鄕.生於巳.葬於辰.然土分王四季.各有生死之所.辰土.受氣於申酉.胎於戌.養於亥.生於子.沐浴於丑.冠帶於寅.臨官於卯.王於辰.衰病於巳.死於午.葬於未.未土.受氣於亥子.胎於丑.養於寅.生於卯.沐浴於辰.冠帶於巳.臨官於午.王於未.衰病於申.死於酉.葬於戌.戌土.受氣於寅卯.胎於辰.養於巳.生於午.沐浴於未.冠帶於申.臨官於酉.王於戌.衰病於亥.死於子.葬於丑.丑土.受氣於巳午.胎於未.養於申.生於酉.沐浴於戌.冠帶於亥.臨官於子.王於丑.衰病於寅.死於卯.葬於辰.孝經援神契云.五行.土出利以給天下.龜經云.土.木動爲辰土.火動爲未土.金動爲戌土.水動爲丑土.又云.甲乙寅卯爲辰土.丙丁巳午爲未土.庚辛申酉爲戌土.壬癸亥子爲丑土.凡五行之王.各七十二日.土居四季.季十八日.并七十二日.以明土有四方.生死不同.此蓋卜筮所用.若論定位王相.及生死之處.皆以季夏六月爲土王之時.禮記云.中央土在季夏之後.此則歲之半.處四時之中央.天社.地神.人鬼.又竝在未.坤亦在未卦.主於土.故云.土德於未.終於丑.易曰.西南得朋.東北喪朋.此則明土王定在於未.墓定在辰也.五行皆以父母臨官中生者.取其盛壯能生養義.唯金在火中生者.巳中有方壯之土.能生金也.金非火不革其形.故金在火位中生.又云.金生鬼中者.金父土戊己.寄治丙丁.父不能獨養.要須母也.金在南方值己火.金得火方化.金化而水生.戊己土有化生之水.則金不畏火.己含水氣.則金之繼母也.五行皆以葬後之月而受氣者.以其死還復生.神氣不絕故也.

On the Abode of Life and Death

Overall Paraphrase
The Five Elements (Wood 🌳, Fire 🔥, Metal ⚔️, Water 🌊, Earth ⛰) each have distinct life cycle phases, distributed across the twelve months and time periods, revealing the principles of growth, decline, life, and death. The Wood element begins receiving energy in the Shen month, progressing through a complete cycle of conception, nurturing, birth, cleansing, maturity, officialdom, peak, decline, sickness, death, and burial, ultimately being buried in the Wei month. The other four elements follow similar patterns, though Earth is unique—since Earth gives birth to all things, its burial site must align with ethical principles: avoiding the mother’s tomb (Fire’s tomb at Xu), the child’s tomb (Metal’s tomb at Chou), and the enemy’s tomb (Wood’s tomb at Wei). Instead, it chooses Chen (Water’s tomb), which harmonizes with the spouse, reflecting the principle of yin-yang balance. The ancient Emperor Shun was buried in Cangwu without his consort, indicating that joint burials were not a tradition in antiquity. However, influenced by the Book of Songs, the concept of spouses sharing a burial site gradually emerged in later eras. Although Earth is parasitic in the Fire domain, it actually rules separately in each of the four seasons (Chen, Wei, Xu, Chou), with each seasonal Earth having its own independent life and death cycle. In modern applications, the dynamic attributes of Earth can be determined by combining specific heavenly stems and earthly branches (e.g., Jia, Yi, Yin, Mao correspond to Chen Earth). Each of the Five Elements peaks for 72 days, with Earth peaking for 18 days at the end of each season, totaling 72 days, reflecting Earth’s balance. In terms of positioning, Earth rules in the Wei month (late summer) and is buried in the Chen month, aligning with the directional philosophy of the Book of Rites and the I Ching (gaining friends in the southwest, losing friends in the northeast). Most elements are born in the officialdom phase of their parents, but Metal is born in Fire, as Metal requires smelting by Fire to take shape, and Earth’s father,寄生 in the Fire position, requires Water’s mother to harmonize (Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, forming a cycle). After burial, the elements continue to receive energy, symbolizing the continuation of life beyond death.

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🧩 Structured Components

(This chapter does not include specific Eight Characters cases, so no components need to be inserted.)

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🧠 In-Depth Understanding

Core Concepts 💡

• Twelve Longevity Theory: Uses the 12 stages of "Receiving Energy → Conception → Nurturing → Birth → Cleansing → Maturity → Officialdom → Peak → Decline → Sickness → Death → Burial" to simulate the life cycle of the Five Elements, revealing the patterns of growth and decline in all things.
• Special Nature of Earth: Earth’s virtue aligns with the four directions, requiring coordination of ethical relationships (avoiding the mother, child, and enemy tombs). It ultimately chooses the "spouse’s tomb" at Chen, reflecting the philosophy of yin-yang harmony and systemic balance.
• Unity of Time and Space: Integrates time (months), space (directions), and human relations (parents, spouses) into a single framework, forming a model of cosmic resonance.

Modern Interpretation 🌟

• Dynamic Systems Thinking: The life and death cycles of the Five Elements can be analogized to project management, product lifecycles, or physiological rhythms, emphasizing resource allocation and risk warning at each stage (e.g., intervention during the "sickness" phase, leveraging strength during the "peak" phase).
• Metaphorical Management Wisdom of Earth: Earth’s burial at Chen (spouse Water’s tomb) offers a modern lesson: decision-making should avoid conflicts of interest (mother and child tombs) and opt for collaborative, win-win directions (spouse position).
• Cultural Adaptability: The evolution of joint burial customs reflects changes in ethical views. Modern applications can extend to the "art of separation and union" in team collaboration and family relationships.

Practical Value ⚡

• Destiny Analysis Applications: Determining the rise and fall of heavenly stems and earthly branches (e.g., Wood Jia at Mao month is at its "peak," while at Wu month it is "dead" and requires caution).
• Decision-Making Reference:
  • Personal Planning: Refer to the characteristics of the Five Elements’ months (e.g., Fire element at Yin month is in the "birth" phase, suitable for launching new projects).
  • Resource Allocation: Earth peaks in the Wei month (late summer), making it ideal for investing in Earth-related fields such as real estate and agriculture.
• Health Management: Corresponding to the physiological phases of the Five Elements (e.g., paying attention to organ care during the "sickness" month).

Philosophical Reflections 🤔

• Cyclical View of Life and Death: "Receiving energy after burial" embodies the philosophy of energy conservation and regeneration, denying absolute endings and emphasizing transformation and continuity.
• Naturalization of Ethics: Projecting human relationships (parents, spouses) onto natural laws reflects the cosmic ethical view of "harmony between heaven and humanity."
• Reconciliation of Contradictions: Metal born in Fire (mutual restraint yet mutual generation) reveals the law of unity of opposites—transformation (smelting by Fire)催生新生 (Metal taking shape).

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📚 Related Knowledge

Associated Concepts

• Twelve Longevity Table:

  Element	Receiving Energy	Conception	Nurturing	Birth	Cleansing	Maturity	Officialdom	Peak	Decline	Sickness	Death	Burial
  Wood 🌳	Shen	You	Xu	Hai	Zi	Chou	Yin	Mao	Chen	Si	Wu	Wei
  Fire 🔥	Hai	Zi	Chou	Yin	Mao	Chen	Si	Wu	Wei	Shen	You	Xu
  Metal ⚔️	Yin	Mao	Chen	Si	Wu	Wei	Shen	You	Xu	Hai	Zi	Chou
  Water 🌊	Si	Wu	Wei	Shen	You	Xu	Hai	Zi	Chou	Yin	Mao	Chen
  Earth ⛰	Hai	Zi	Chou	Mao	Chen	Si	Wu	Wei	Shen	Shen	You	Chen

• Seasonal Earth Subdivisions:

  • Chen Earth (Spring): Receives energy at Shen/You → Buried at Wei
  • Wei Earth (Summer): Receives energy at Hai/Zi → Buried at Xu
  • Xu Earth (Autumn): Receives energy at Yin/Mao → Buried at Chou
  • Chou Earth (Winter): Receives energy at Si/Wu → Buried at Chen

Further Reading

• San Ming Tong Hui · On the Waxing and Waning of the Five Elements: Elaborates on the seasonal characteristics of the Five Elements.
• I Ching · Kun Gua: "Gaining friends in the southwest" and its connection to Earth’s directional virtue.
• Book of Rites · Monthly Ordinances: Temporal positioning of Earth’s rule across the four seasons.

Modern Research

• Traditional Chinese Medicine’s Five Movements and Six Qi: Uses the Twelve Longevity theory to explain pathological transformations.
• Ecology: Analogies between Five Elements cycles and material-energy flows in ecosystems.
• Management Studies: Comparative applications of project lifecycles and the phases of the Five Elements.

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