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Qi (Vital Energy) refers to the climatic phenomena of Heaven and Earth; Shu (Number/Law) refers to the fixed laws of Heaven and Earth. The way of Heaven and Earth is exhausted by one Yin and one Yang; with rising and falling having their appointed times, climate moves forward; with Yin and Yang having their numbers, sequence is established. Once sequence is established, priority and posteriority are determined thereby; once climate moves forward, seasonal order is formed thereby. The reason for dividing seasonal order lies in the alternation of cold and heat; the reason for the alternation of cold and heat lies in the varying degrees of the Sun's movement. In each year, Qi begins to generate at Zi (November) and reaches its peak at Wu (May); Yin begins to generate at Wu and reaches its peak at Zi. Advancement of Yang implies retreat of Yin; retreat of Yang implies generation of Yin. One goes and one comes, forming one year. Zhu Xi said: Forty-five days before Winter Solstice belong to the current year, and forty-five days after belong to the next year. Four quarters before the hour of Zi belong to today, and four quarters after belong to tomorrow. Shao Yong said: At the halfway point of the hour of Zi on Winter Solstice, the Heavenly Heart (Cosmic Principle) does not shift or move. All these statements indicate that the beginning and end of a year's Qi lie in the halfway point of Zi, and on the day of Winter Solstice, the handle of the Big Dipper points exactly to the center of Zi, marking the head and tail of the year. A year has 365 days and 25 ke (quarter-hours), based on the degree of the celestial sphere, which totals 365 and 1/4 degrees. Heaven moves quickly, thus completing one revolution of the celestial sphere within one day and night, surpassing the Sun by one degree. The Sun moves slightly slower, moving one degree less than Heaven each day. After traveling 365 days and 25 ke, it falls short of Heaven by one full revolution, returning to its original position to meet Heaven again, thus constituting one year. Therefore, the number of days in a year is determined by the degrees of Heaven; the degrees of Heaven are actually manifested through the movement of the Sun. There are twelve months in a year because the Moon's movement around Heaven is slower than the Sun's, moving 13 and 7/19 degrees less than Heaven each day (also stated as 37/100 degrees). Accumulating 29 days and 499/940 days results in a conjunction with the Sun (New Moon), forming one lunar month. Since there are twelve meetings of Qi in a year, there are twelve months. The Big Dipper establishes twelve positions, corresponding to the Twelve Earthly Branches (Shichen). The earthly branches established by the Dipper correspond to the celestial stations met by the branches. When the Dipper and branches align, the Monthly Branch (Yuejian) becomes clear. Thus, the eleventh month builds at Zi, corresponding to the Fu Hexagram (One Yang); the twelfth month builds at Chou, corresponding to the Lin Hexagram (Two Yangs); the first month builds at Yin, corresponding to the Tai Hexagram (Three Yangs); the second month builds at Mao, corresponding to the Da Zhuang Hexagram (Four Yangs); the third month builds at Chen, corresponding to the Guai Hexagram (Five Yangs); the fourth month builds at Si, corresponding to the Qian Hexagram (Six Yangs); the fifth month builds at Wu, corresponding to the Gou Hexagram (One Yin); the sixth month builds at Wei, corresponding to the Dun Hexagram (Two Yins); the seventh month builds at Shen, corresponding to the Pi Hexagram (Three Yins); the eighth month builds at You, corresponding to the Guan Hexagram (Four Yins); the ninth month builds at Xu, corresponding to the Bo Hexagram (Five Yins); the tenth month builds at Hai, corresponding to the Kun Hexagram (Six Yins). This summarizes the Qi of the year by month and day. With months and days fixed, the temporal sequence divides. Dividing into four parts yields the Four Seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Spring is the beginning of Yang; when Yang begins, it is warm, hence called Shaoyang (Lesser Yang). Shaoyang's number is seven, representing Yang within Yin. Its Qi is Wood, moving from East to West, its command is Generation, moving from bottom to top. "Spring" means stirring/moving, indicating all things stir and grow. Summer is the peak of Yang; when Yang peaks, it is hot, hence called Laoyang (Old Yang). Laoyang's number is nine, representing Yang within Yang. Its Qi is Fire, moving from South to North, its command is Growth, growing from growth to flourishing. "Summer" means great/profound, indicating all things grow grandly. Autumn is the beginning of Yin; when Yin begins, it is cool, hence called Shaoyin (Lesser Yin). Shaoyin's number is eight, representing Yin within Yang. Its Qi is Metal, moving from West to East, its command is Harvest/Gathering, moving from top to bottom. "Autumn" means gathering, indicating all things gather and store. Winter is the peak of Yin; when Yin peaks, it is cold, hence called Laoyin (Old Yin). Laoyin's number is six, representing Yin within Yin. Its Qi is Water, moving from North to South, its command is Storage/Closing, closing from bottom to top. "Winter" means end, indicating all things are completely stored. Earth Qi is abundant Qi; its position resembles the Sovereign, so it does not govern a specific season but rules over the Four Seasons, eighteen days each. Dividing the year into five parts allocates seventy-two days to each part to complete the year's count. However, why does the year's Qi begin at Zi, while Spring begins at Yin? Although Yang Qi begins to stir in the Huangzhong pitch-pipe during the Zi month, it remains latent underground, showing no effect of generation. Only when passing through Chou to Yin, when Three Yangs are prepared, do gentle winds arrive and all things grow, buds sprout and hibernating creatures awaken, filling the universe with vitality. Thus, although Yang begins at Zi, Spring must rise from Yin. Therefore, Yin, Mao, Chen constitute Spring; Si, Wu, Wei constitute Summer; Shen, You, Xu constitute Autumn; Hai, Zi, Chou constitute Winter, each divided into Meng (Beginning), Zhong (Middle), and Ji (End). From the Four Seasons, we divide into Eight Solar Terms: Spring and Autumn have Li (Establishment) and Fen (Equinox); Summer and Winter have Li and Zhi (Solstice). Why speak of "Li" for seasons? Li means establishment, implying the Qi of a season is established here. Why speak of "Fen" for Spring and Autumn? Fen means half, implying Yin and Yang Qi and numbers are equally divided here. Thus, in terms of ke counts, day and night each get fifty ke, the midpoint of one hundred ke. In terms of Yin/Yang cold/warmth, before Spring Equinox it is cold then warm; before Autumn Equinox it is warm then cold, the midpoint of Yin/Yang cold/warmth. In terms of Sun's degrees, after Spring Equinox, the Sun moves north of the Celestial Equator (the equator is the sky's horizontal line, midway between poles, ninety-one and 1/3 degrees from each, crossing the sky's belly to record latitude/longitude. The Sun's path is the Ecliptic/Huangdao; the Moon's path is the White Path/Baidao). After Autumn Equinox, the Sun moves south of the Celestial Equator, the midpoint of the Sun's north-south movement. Hence Spring Equinox is called Yang Middle, Autumn Equinox Yin Middle. Why speak of "Zhi" for Summer and Winter? Zhi means extreme, implying the extreme of Yin/Yang Qi waxing and waning. In terms of ke counts, Summer Solstice day is 59 ke long, night 41 ke; Winter Solstice day is 41 ke long, night 59 ke, the extreme of day/night length. In terms of Yin/Yang cold/warmth, Winter Solstice Yin peaks and Yang generates; Summer Solstice Yang peaks and Yin generates, the extreme of Yin/Yang cold/warmth. In terms of Sun's degrees, at Winter Solstice the Sun reaches its southernmost point and returns north; at Summer Solstice it reaches its northernmost point and returns south, the extreme of the Sun's north-south movement. Hence Winter Solstice is called Yang Beginning, Summer Solstice Yin Beginning. *Suwen: Tian Yuan Ji Da Lun* states: Qi division is called Fen; Qi arrival is called Zhi. At Zhi, Qi is same; at Fen, Qi is different. From Four Seasons, we divide into Twenty-Four Solar Terms, six per season. E.g., Lichun, Yushui, Jingzhe, Chunfen, Qingming, Guyu are the six Qi of Spring, and similarly for other seasons. From Twenty-Four Solar Terms, we divide into Seventy-Two Pentads (Hou), three per term, as stated in *Liji: Yue Ling* and *Lüshi Chunqiu*: At Lichun, first pentad (5 days) wind thaws ice; second pentad insects stir; third pentad fish ascend carrying ice. Hou is five days because the number Five exhausts the Qi of the Five Elements. *Suwen: Liu Jie Cang Xiang Lun* states: Five days is Hou; three Hou is Qi; six Qi is Shi (Season); four Shi is Sui (Year). However, within a year, Great Six Qi govern it: Wind, Heat, Summer-Heat, Dampness, Dryness, Cold, governing Sitian (Heavenly Qi), Zaiquan (Earthly Qi), and Left/Right Intercalary Qi, executing Guest-Master commands. This Heaven-Earth Qi is like a ring without end, cycling endlessly, operating ceaselessly for billions of years.

Since there is Qi, there must be Shu (Number); Shu cannot move without Qi, Qi cannot stand without Shu. Thus, *Yi Zhuan* says: The numbers of Heaven and Earth are what accomplish changes and operate spiritual influences. Before Taiji moves, Qi is unseen, so where is Shu? When it moves to generate Yang, there is one number; when it moves to stillness, there are two numbers; when stillness極ly moves, there are three numbers; when movement極ly stills, there are four numbers. Zhu Xi said: Liangyi (Two Modes) starts as one face to divide Yin/Yang; Sixiang (Four Images) next as two faces to divide Shao/Lao (Lesser/Older). Thus, the origin of numbers lies only in Yin and Yang. (Laozi said: One generates Two, Two generates Three, Three generates Ten Thousand Things. One is Taiji; Two is Yin/Yang; Three is the intersection of Yin/Yang. Yin/Yang intersect and Ten Thousand Things are born.) Yang numbers are odd and belong to Heaven; Heaven is round, diameter one, circumference three. Three is odd, hence Can Tian (Par Heaven). Three times three is nine, Yang numbers flow from here. Earth is square, diameter one, circumference four. Four is even, hence Diang Di (Pair Earth). Two times four is six, Yin numbers condense from here. Three and two combine to form Five, hence the numbers in Hetu and Luoshu all center on Five. In Hetu, Heaven One generates Water; One plus Five is Six, so Earth completes it at Six in the North. Earth Two generates Fire; Two plus Five is Seven, so Heaven completes it at Seven in the South. Heaven Three generates Wood; Three plus Five is Eight, so Earth completes it at Eight in the East. Earth Four generates Metal; Four plus Five is Nine, so Heaven completes it at Nine in the West. Heaven Five generates Earth; Five plus Five is Ten, so Earth completes it at Ten in the Center. Generating numbers (Shengshu) are primary and inner; Completing numbers (Chengshu) are auxiliary and outer. This is the fixed number of Hetu. Considering the sequence and age of Yin/Yang: Lao Yang occupies Position One and Number Nine; Shao Yin occupies Position Two and Number Eight; Shao Yang occupies Position Three and Number Seven; Lao Yin occupies Position Four and Number Six. Yang advances, so from Shao Yang's Seven, passing Eight to Nine, advancement is extreme, hence Lao Yang. Yin retreats, so from Shao Yin's Eight, passing Seven to Six, retreat is extreme, hence Lao Yin. Yang numbers grow, so Shao Yang's Seven grows longer than Six, Lao Yang's Nine longer than Eight. Yin numbers diminish, so Shao Yin's Eight diminishes below Nine, Lao Yin's Six diminishes below Seven. This is the principle of Yin/Yang age, waxing/waning, advancing/retreating. Thus, in Hetu, Lao Yang's Position One pairs with Lao Yin's Number Six; Shao Yin's Position Two pairs with Shao Yang's Number Seven; Shao Yang's Position Three pairs with Shao Yin's Number Eight; Lao Yin's Position Four pairs with Lao Yang's Number Nine. This is the mystery of Yin/Yang mutual containment in Hetu. Fuxi modeled this to draw the Eight Trigrams; Confucius deduced it for Dayan (Great Expansion) divination, completing the numbers of Qian, Kun, and all things with 384 lines and 11,520 straws. In Luoshu, Yang is Sovereign, Yin is Minister; Sovereign is central, Minister is lateral. Hence, Wear Nine, Tread One, Left Three, Right Seven, Two/Four Shoulders, Six/Eight Feet, Five in Center. Vertical/horizontal sums are fifteen. One in North, plus Center Six, plus South Nine equals fifteen. Three in East, plus Center Eight, plus West Seven equals fifteen. Two in Southwest, plus Center Seven, plus Northeast Eight equals fifteen. Four in Southeast, plus Center Nine, plus Northwest Six equals fifteen. Yu the Great modeled this to arrange the Nine Categories: One Five Elements, Two Five Affairs, Three Eight Administrations, Four Five Chronologies, Five Imperial Norm, Six Three Virtues, Seven Divination Doubts, Eight Various Omens, Nine Fortune/Virtue. Imperial Norm is central, others surround. Hetu numbers discuss completeness via Generation/Completion, prioritizing Generation, totaling 55. Luoshu numbers discuss variation via Odd/Even, prioritizing Four Cardinals' Yang, totaling 45. Combining Hetu and Luoshu makes 100, the complete natural number of Heaven and Earth. Though differing, their principles alternate, so Heaven/Earth numbers start at One and complete at Ten. Heaven Numbers are Five: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. Earth Numbers are Five: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. Heaven Sum is 25 (5x5); Earth Sum is 30 (6x5). Small Yan is 10 (2x5); Great Yan is 50 (10x5). Hence Five is the Ancestor of Numbers. Shao Yong said: Heaven/Earth root in the Center. The Center numbers are Five and Six. Five is among 1,3,7,9, hence Five is Heavenly Center, Master of Generating Numbers. Six is among 2,4,8,10, hence Six is Earthly Center, Master of Completing Numbers. *Tian Yuan Ji Da Lun* states: Heaven uses Six as rhythm, Earth uses Five as system. Thus, all pentad numbers rely on Five and Six. Their variations are evident: Early spring peach blossoms have five petals (Heaven's generation); deep winter snowflakes have six arms (Earth's completion). Is creation's wonder accidental? Regarding Five: Heaven has Five Stars, Earth has Five Mountains, Humans have Five Constants, plus Five Colors, Flavors, Grains, Animals—all are Five. Ten roots in One, Hundred in Ten, down to tiny units, up to infinite billions, all transform from Five and unify under Heaven's Five Center. Regarding Six: Heaven has Six Directions, Year has Six Qi, Hexagrams have Six Lines, plus Six Pitchpipes, Six Stems, Six Arts—all are Six. Lao Yang number 36, Lao Yin 24, sum 60. Shao Yang 28, Shao Yin 32, sum 60. All transform from Six and unify under Earth's Six Center. Ultimately, Five is Yang but unifies Yin's Six; Six is Yin but regulates Yang's Five. *Tian Yuan Ji Da Lun* states: To know Heaven/Earth Yin/Yang, Heaven's Qi moves incessantly, shifting right every five years; Earth's Qi stays static, circling every six periods. Five/Six combine, 720 Qi make one Ji (Cycle). Are not Heaven/Earth Qi generated by Five/Six? Consider one year's Qi and Gan-Zhi: Using Heavenly Stems, five days per pentad, five Yin/five Yang, hence Ten Stems. Jia/Wu change by Yang, Ji/Gui by Yin, variation of Five. Using Earthly Branches, six days per change, six Gang/Rou, hence Twelve Branches. Zi/Si change by Yang, Wu/Hai by Yin, variation of Six. Ten Stems correspond to Days; Twelve Branches to Months. So monthly count is 2x6=12; daily count in a month is 6x5=30; annual Qi count is 4x6=24; pentad count per Qi is 3x5=3. Total year: 36 Jia cycles with Heaven's Five; 30 Zi cycles with Earth's Six. Hence 12 Months (2x6), 24 Solar Terms (15 days x 24 = 360), 72 Pentads (5 days x 72 = 360), 360 Days (30 days x 12), 4320 Chen (12 Chen x 360 days), 129,600 Fen (360 days x 360 fen). None is not transformed by Five/Six. One year's number is so; Yuan/Hui/Yun/Shi numbers are also so. One year governs 12 months; one month 30 days; one day 12 hours; one hour 30 fen. Thus, One Yuan governs 12 Hui; one Hui 30 Yun; one Yun 12 Shi; one Shi 30 years. The Dao of Heaven/Earth Qi and Luck is summarized here. Number studies are versatile, covering the universe broadly and hairs finely. Splitting One to Two, Two to Four, Four to Eight... endless. Like root to trunk to branch, more becomes finer, finer becomes complex, boundless yet each holds a part. All images on earth, forms on ground, spirits in darkness adhere to Number. Ancient Kings examined Hetu/Luoshu, named Odd/Even, measured Heaven by degrees, Earth by li, Spirits by Yin/Yang, Climate by Pitchpipes, Weight by Balance, Shape by Compass/Square, Length by Measure, Depth by Vessel, Division/Multiplication by Number. Looking up/down, high/low, heaven/earth, vast Qi/tiny atoms, can any escape Number? Viewing humans from Heaven/Earth, humans are one grain in a granary; viewing Heaven/Earth from Number, they are one object in Number. Is Number easy to discuss? If understood, hidden/clear, high/low connect; Heaven/Earth vastness, Image/Number multitude, can be deduced from One. Those who understand this, since sages, only Kangjie Xiansheng (Shao Yong).