何謂十干 天元 - hé wèi shí gān (tiān yuán) - [The Heavenly Stem (The Heaven Cycle)]
- 1 -
陰陽者消長之義也。
yīn yáng zhĕ xiāo cháng zhī yì yĕ.
[As mentioned earlier][,] the term Yīn Yáng [simply] means a decline - incline [cycle][of][Qi].
(即往復。)
(jí wăng fù.)
(In other words, [the cycle of] progressing back [i.e. regressive] and forth [i.e. progressive].)
論一氣之消長則有木火金水之分。
lùn yī qì zhī xiāo cháng zé yŏu mù huŏ jīn shuĭ zhī fēn.
[First], [a single Qì cycle][i.e. Yin Yang] is categorized into wood-fire-metal-water [phase].
更就木火金水面各論其消長。
gèng jiù mù huŏ jīn shuĭ miàn gè lùn qí xiāo cháng.
[Then], [each phase] wood-fire-metal-water has its own Yīn Yáng cycle as well.
則有十干。
zé yŏu shí gān.
Hence, there are ten stems.
(十干即是五行。
(shí gān jí shì wŭ xíng.
The ten stems is a [refined phase] of five phases of Qì.
乃天行之氣。
năi tiān xíng zhī qì.
The phase here, refers to the phase of heaven Qì.
故名天干。)
gù míng tiān gān.)
Thus, it is named as heavenly stem.
- 1A -
甲乙同一木也。
jiă yì tóng yī mù yĕ.
Jia and Yi both represent the wood [phase] of Qì.
由孕育而生長而壯盛之木為甲木。
yóu yùn yù ér shēng cháng ér zhuàng shèng zhī mù wéi jiă mù.
Jia wood is a wood phase which starts from the Yun Yu [conceiving stage] then entering Sheng Chang [growing stage] up to the Zhuāng Wàng [prosperous stage] of Qi.
由旺極而衰老而死絕之木為乙木。
yóu wàng jí ér shuāi lăo ér sĭ jué zhī mù wéi yì mù.
[While] Yi wood is a wood phase which starts from the Zhuang Wang [prosperous stage] then entering Shuai [weakening stage], down to the Si Jue [dead stage] of Qi.
從氣候言之，甲木者陽和之氣。
cóng qì hòu yán zhī, jiă mù zhĕ yáng hé zhī qì.
In terms of climate [condition], Jia wood represents the Qi of warm [weather].
萬卉萌生。
wàn huì méng shēng.
[Where] thousands of various grasses [starts] sprouting.
欣欣向榮。
xīn xīn xiàng róng.
[It denotes] an extremely thriving growth.
乙木者，艷陽之候。
yì mù zhĕ, yàn yáng zhī hòu.
[While] Yi wood represents a bright spring day.
風和日暖。
fēng hé rì nuăn.
With gentle wind and warm sunshine.
洩洩融融性有剛柔之別也。
xiè xiè róng róng xìng yŏu gāng róu zhī bié yĕ.
TBD.
- 1B -
丙丁同一火也。
bĭng dīng tóng yī huŏ yĕ.
Bing and Ding both represent fire [phase] of Qi.
由孕育而生長而壯盛之火為丙火。
yóu yùn yù ér shēng cháng ér zhuàng shèng zhī huŏ wéi bĭng huŏ.
Bing fire is a fire phase which starts from the Yun Yu [conceiving stage] then entering Sheng Chang [growing stage] up to the Zhuāng Wàng [prosperous stage] of Qi.
由旺極而衰老而死絕之火為丁火。
yóu wàng jí ér shuāi lăo ér sĭ jué zhī huŏ wéi dīng huŏ.
[While] Ding fire is a fire phase which starts from the Zhuang Wang [prosperous stage] then entering Shuai [weakening stage], down to the Si Jue [dead stage] of Qi.
若言氣候，丙者炎威灼爍。
ruò yán qì hòu, bĭng zhĕ yán wēi zhuó shuò.
In terms of climate [condition], Bing represents fierce heat with bright luminous [weather].
其勢莫當。
qí shì mò dāng
None is able to rival its power.
丁者溫煖融和熱而不烈。
dīng zhĕ wēn nuăn róng hé rè ér bù liè.
[While] Ding represents a warm temperature[,] non-violent heat.
書云丙火猛烈。
shŭ yún bĭng huŏ mĕng liè.
This is what is meant [When] The Classic [i.e. Dī Tiān Suĭ] said “Bing fire is fierce [while],
丁火昭融即此意也。
dīng huŏ zhāo róng jí cĭ yì yĕ.
Ding fire is bright and warm”.
- 1C -
庚辛同一金也。
gēng xīn tóng yī jīn yĕ.
Geng and Xin both represent metal [phase] of Qi.
由孕育而生長而壯盛之金，為庚金。
yóu yùn yù ér shēng cháng ér zhuàng shèng zhī jīn, wéi gēng jīn.
Geng metal is a metal phase which starts from the Yun Yu [conceiving stage] then entering Sheng Chang [growing stage] up to the Zhuāng Wàng [prosperous stage] of Qi.
由旺極而衰老而死絕之金，為辛金。
yóu wàng jí ér shuāi lăo ér sĭ jué zhī jīn, wéi xīn jīn.
[While] Xin metal is a metal phase which starts from the Zhuang Wang [prosperous stage] then entering Shuai [weakening stage], down to the Si Jue [dead stage] of Qi.
若言氣候，庚者肅殺之氣。
ruò yán qì hòu, gēng zhĕ sù shā zhī qì.
In terms of climate [condition], Geng represents the harsh of [autumn weather] Qi.
萬物隅之而凋零。
wàn wù yú zhī ér diāo líng.
[Where] all living things are withering.
辛者，清涼之氣。
xīn zhĕ, qīng liáng zhī qì.
[While] Xin [metal], represents cool and refreshing Qi.
秋高氣爽是也。
qiū gāo qì shuăng shì yĕ.
[Where] the sky is clear and the air is bracing [i.e. the fine autumn weather].
- 1D -
壬癸同一水也。
rén guĭ tóng yī shuĭ yĕ.
Ren and Gui both represent water [phase] of Qi.
由孕育而生長而壯盛之水，為壬水。
yóu yùn yù ér shēng cháng ér zhuàng shèng zhī shuĭ, wéi rén shuĭ.
Ren water is a water phase which starts from the Yun Yu [conceiving stage] then entering Sheng Chang [growing stage] up to the Zhuāng Wàng [prosperous stage] of Qi.
由旺極而衰老而死絕之水，為癸水。
yóu wàng jí ér shuāi lăo ér sĭ jué zhī shuĭ, wéi guĭ shuĭ.
[While] Gui water is a water phase which starts from the Zhuang Wang [prosperous stage] then entering Shuai [weakening stage], down to the Si Jue [dead stage] of Qi.
言氣候，壬者，凜冽之氣。
yán qì hòu, rén zhĕ, lĭn liè zhī qì.
In terms of climate [condition], Ren represents piercingly cold Qi.
其性淼酷故有沖奔之勢。
qí xìng miăo kù gù yŏu chōng bēn zhī shì.
Its nature [resembles a vast body of water] i.e. to inundate, oppressive to all direction, and unrestrained thus its power [i.e. flow] is extremely gushing.
癸者，溼潤之氣。
guĭ zhĕ, shī rùn zhī qì.
[While] Gui water, represents a moist Qi.
空氣中之水份。
kōng qì zhōng zhī shuĭ fèn.
[It resembles] the water content in the air.
故其性至為柔弱也。
gù qí xìng zhì wéi róu ruò yĕ.
Thus, its nature is weak and delicate.
- 1E -
土為間雜之氣。
tŭ wéi jiān zá zhī qì.
Earth [phase] represents the in between-mixed Qi.
隨氣之消長而分陰陽。
suí qì zhī xiāo cháng ér fēn yīn yáng.
It also conforms to the Qi decline-incline [nature] thus having a Yin Yang cycle as well.
戊土高亢。
wù tŭ gāo kàng.
Wu [the Yang earth] resembles a highland soil.
己土卑溼。
jĭ tŭ bēi shī.
[While] Ji [the Yin earth] resembles a lowland soil.
以戊土雜有火氣。
yĭ wù tŭ què yŏu huŏ qì.
Wu earth is the earth phase mixing with fire Qi.
己土雜有水氣也。
jĭ tŭ zá yŏu shuĭ qì yĕ.
Ji earth is the earth phase mixing with water Qi.
土無死絕之時。
tŭ wú sĭ jué zhī shí.
The earth phase doesn’t undergo a death (Sĭ) and extinct (Jué) stage.
由長生而至臨官，為陽土。
yóu cháng shēng ér zhì lín guān, wéi yáng tŭ.
The Yang cycle of earth phase, starts from the growth (Cháng Shēng) stage up to officer (Lín Guān) stage.
由帝旺而至衰位為陰土。
yóu dì wàng ér zhì shuāi wèi wéi yīn tŭ.
The Yin cycle of earth phase, starts from the prosperous (Dì Wàng) stage down to weakening (Shuāi) stage.
衰位之候，又是長生。
shuāi wèi zhī hòu, yòu shì cháng shēng.
The weakening stage of earth is the stage of growth as well.
所謂寄於四隅是也，四季之土，性各不同。
suŏ wèi jì yú sì yú shì yĕ, sì jì zhī tŭ, xìng gè bù tóng.
The so-called earth palace at the four corners, i.e. the earth phase of the four seasons, their characteristic differs one another.
辰土溫煖而潤。
chén tŭ wēn nuăn ér rùn.
Chen earth resembles a warm and damp soil.
未土溫煖而燥。
wèi tŭ wēn nuăn ér zào.
Wei earth resembles a warm and dry soil.
戌土高亢而燥。
xū tŭ gāo kàng ér zào.
Xu earth resembles a highland and dry soil.
丑土卑溼而寒。
chŏu tŭ bēi shī ér hán.
Chou earth resembles a lowland and frozen soil.
各隨氣候而異其性。
gè suí qì hòu ér yì qí xìng.
Their nature conforms to the seasonal climate [where they are located].
故云雜氣也。
gù yún zá qì yĕ.
That's why it is called mixed-Qi.
- 2 -
十干陰陽之分同一物也。
shí gān yīn yáng zhī fēn tóng yī wù yĕ.
The ten stems together as the Yin Yang classification should be viewed as one part intact.
因向旺向衰之殊，而性有柔剛，用有強弱其中分別。
yīn xiàng wàng xiàng shuāi zhī shū, ér xìng yŏu róu gang, yòng yŏu qiáng ruò qí zhōng fēn bié.
Towards prosperity and towards weakening, hard and soft nature, strong and weak are just phrases used to describe the Yin Yang classification.
須細體會難以文字形容。
xū xì tĭ huì nán yĭ wén zì xíng róng.
[One] should [apprehend the above] carefully[,] experience proved it is hard to describe [the nature of five phase of Qi (i.e. the Yin Yang)] using a written language.
古人於此出之喻詞。
gŭ rén yú cĭ chū zhī yù cí.
Our forefathers came out using metaphorical terms to solve such issue.
如甲為大林。
rú jiă wéi dà lín.
Such as Jia is the big tree.
乙為卉草。
yì wéi huì căo.
Yi is the grasses.
丙為太陽之火丁為燈燭鑪冶之火。
bĭng wéi tài yáng zhī huŏ dīng wéi dēng zhú lú yĕ zhī huŏ.
Bing is the fire of the sun [while] Ding is the candle light fire.
戊為城垣堤岸之土。
wù wéi chéng yuán tí àn zhī tŭ.
Wu is the embankment wall earth.
己為田園卑溼之土。
jĭ wéi tiān yuán bēi shī zhī tŭ.
[While] Ji is a fertile [i.e. low laying and damp] farm field earth.
庚為劍戟砥之金。
gēng wéi jiàn jĭ dĭ zhī jīn.
Geng is a whetstone sword-halberd metal.
辛為珠玉釵釧之金。
xīn wéi zhū yù chāi chuàn zhī jīn.
[While] Xin is a jewelry metal.
壬為江湖之水。
rén wéi jiāng hú zhī shuĭ.
Ren is the river and lake water.
癸為雨露之水。
guĭ wéi yŭ lù zhī shuĭ.
[While] Gui is the rain and dew water.
言簡意精，譬喻至為恰當。
yán jiăn yì jīng, pì yù zhì wéi qià dāng.
It is a concise [way] to imply the essence, by using an appropriate analogy.
後人不察以詞害意，反失其真。
hòu rén bù chá yĭ cí hài yì, făn shī qí zhēn
[However][,] later generations is unable to aprehend the terms used [correctly] thus harming the essence, reversing the true intention, and missing the point [completely].
至可哂也。
zhì kĕ shĕn yĕ.
What a ridiculous mistake!
