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The classic states: The earth is below humans, situated within the Great Void (Tai Xu, cosmic space). However, the earth being within the Great Void does not mean it is at the lowest point. Observing beyond the flat plains, to the limit of visual perception, is the edge of the round heaven; this does not imply that heaven has a boundary, but rather where it appears to meet the earth. All distant mountain rests are caused by being separated by yellow qi (earthly mist/energy). At the point of object separation lies the middle upper and lower path of the sun and moon's operation. Therefore, before the sun rises, the sky brightens first; after the sun sets, brightness remains clear. However, the images of the sun, moon, and stars do not imply they are equal in height, operating along the heaven.

[Newly Added Diagram of Sun's Early and Late Rising and Setting]

The South belongs to Yang Fire, its qi flares upward; the North belongs to Yin Water, its nature flows downward. Thus, up is South, down is North. The North is below and constitutes Yin. At Zi hour (midnight), Yin reaches its extreme and generates Yang, rising upward. The sun then moves upward, following the Chou and Yin positions, until Mao hour (sunrise) when dawn breaks, emerging above the barrier of objects. It continues upward following Chen and Si positions. At Wu hour (noon), Yang reaches its extreme and generates Yin, descending downward. The sun then moves downward, following Wei and Shen positions, until You hour (sunset) when dusk falls, entering below the barrier of objects. It continues downward following Xu and Hai positions, returning to Zi hour, completing the cycle. This is the way of Yin and Yang ascending and descending within one day. The ascent and descent within a year are also like this. Thus, Winter Solstice corresponds to the center of Zi hour. The sun's path goes downward, operating along the heaven; the road is broad and distant. Therefore, during the day, the sun travels the Southern Path, rising late and setting early. Daytime is forty ke (water clock units), and nighttime is sixty ke. After Winter Solstice, Yang begins to grow, and the sun reverses to move upward, gradually becoming higher. Following the heaven's operation, the road becomes narrow. Therefore, during the day, the sun gradually moves North, rising early and setting late. Every nine days, daytime increases by one ke as an approximation. Upon reaching Spring Equinox, the sun travels the Middle Path, so day and night are equal, each getting fifty ke. Regarding Summer Solstice, corresponding to the center of Wu hour, the sun's path reaches the highest point. Being high, it follows the heaven's contraction and passage. Therefore, during the day, the sun travels the Northern Path, rising early and setting late.

Day and night total one hundred ke for one day; the twenty-four solar terms determine the time points. Lichun (Start of Spring), January term, Chen position, Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, daytime 43 ke, nighttime 57 ke. Yushui (Rain Water), mid-January, Yin position, Hand Taiyin Collateral, Lung, daytime 45 ke, nighttime 45 ke. Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects), February term, Jia position, Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, daytime 47 ke, nighttime 53 ke. Chunfen (Spring Equinox), mid-February, Mao position, Hand Yangming Collateral, Large Intestine, daytime 50 ke, nighttime 50 ke. Qingming (Clear and Bright), March term, Si position, Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, daytime 53 ke, nighttime 47 ke. Guyu (Grain Rain), mid-March, Chen position, Foot Yangming Collateral, Stomach, daytime 55 ke, nighttime 45 ke. Lixia (Start of Summer), April term, Xun position, Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian, daytime 57 ke, nighttime 43 ke. Xiaoman (Grain Buds), mid-April, Si position, Foot Taiyin Collateral, Spleen, daytime 59 ke, nighttime 41 ke. Mangzhong (Grain in Ear), May term, Bing position, Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, daytime 60 ke, nighttime 40 ke. Xiazhi (Summer Solstice), mid-May, Wu position, Hand Shaoyin Collateral, Heart, daytime 60 ke, nighttime 40 ke. Xiaoshu (Minor Heat), June term, Ding position, Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, daytime 60 ke, nighttime 40 ke. Dashu (Major Heat), mid-June, Wei position, Hand Taiyang Collateral, Small Intestine, daytime 59 ke, nighttime 41 ke. Liqiu (Start of Autumn), July term, Kun position, Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, daytime 57 ke, nighttime 43 ke. Chushu (End of Heat), mid-July, Shen position, Foot Taiyang Collateral, Bladder, daytime 55 ke, nighttime 45 ke. Bailu (White Dew), August term, Geng position, Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, daytime 53 ke, nighttime 47 ke. Qiufen (Autumn Equinox), mid-August, You position, Foot Shaoyin Collateral, Kidney, daytime 50 ke, nighttime 50 ke. Hanlu (Cold Dew), September term, Xin position, Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, daytime 47 ke, nighttime 53 ke. Shuangjiang (Frost Descent), mid-September, Xu position, Hand Jueyin Collateral, Hand Jueyin Master (Pericardium), daytime 45 ke, nighttime 55 ke. Lidong (Start of Winter), October term, Qian position, Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian, daytime 43 ke, nighttime 57 ke. Xiaoxue (Minor Snow), mid-October, Hai position, Hand Shaoyang Collateral, Sanjiao, daytime 41 ke, nighttime 59 ke. Daxue (Major Snow), November term, Ren position, Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, daytime 40 ke, nighttime 60 ke. Dongzhi (Winter Solstice), mid-November, Zi position, Foot Shaoyang Collateral, Gallbladder, daytime 40 ke, nighttime 60 ke. Xiaohan (Minor Cold), December term, Gui position, Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian, daytime 40 ke, nighttime 60 ke. Dahhan (Major Cold), mid-December, Chou position, Foot Jueyin Collateral, Liver, daytime 49 ke, nighttime 51 ke. At this time, daytime is sixty ke, and nighttime is forty ke. After Summer Solstice, Yin begins to grow, and the sun reverses to move downward. Therefore, during the day, the sun gradually moves South, rising late and setting early. Every nine days, daytime decreases by one ke as an approximation. Upon reaching Autumn Equinox, the sun travels the Middle Path, so day and night are equal, each getting fifty ke. Until Winter Solstice, the cycle repeats. Although the sun's path has differences in height, circumference, and size, all conform to the Six Degrees (Liu Du) of operation. Thus, when the sun is high, it is far, appearing small and moving slowly; when low, it is near, appearing large and moving quickly. Furthermore, when the sun is high, Yang resides in the Yang portion, causing heat and noise; when low, Yang resides in the Yin portion, causing coolness and cold. The small changes of Yin and Yang ascending and descending within a day result in small differences in cold, heat, warmth, and coolness. The large changes within a year result in large differences. Additionally, in summer, the sun operates high along the heaven, resulting in long days and short nights, meaning less Yin and more Yang, hence heat. In winter, the sun operates low along the heaven, resulting in short days and long nights, meaning less Yang and more Yin, hence cold. After Winter Solstice, Yang grows, so days gradually lengthen. After Summer Solstice, Yin grows, so nights gradually lengthen. This is the natural path of heavenly and earthly Yin and Yang ascending and descending. Thus, at the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes, Yin and Yang are balanced. Spring resides in the Yang portion, hence warmth; Autumn resides in the Yin portion, hence coolness. At the equinoxes, the sun and moon travel the same path; otherwise, they travel different paths, opposing each other in height.

As for the Five Planets: Jupiter (Suixing) completes one circuit of the heavens every twelve years; Mars (Yinghuo) completes one circuit in 740 days; Saturn (Zhuxing) completes one circuit in 28 years; Venus (Taibai) and Mercury (Chenxing) often share the same palace with the Sun, completing one circuit in 365 and one-quarter days. Each star's qi operation has prosperity and decline, leading to differences in height and path. When prosperous, the star shines brightly and appears large, moving high and upward along the heaven, crossing the northern path. When qi operations have no prosperity or decline, they remain constant. Those stars sharing the celestial sphere all follow the principle of Yin and Yang ascending and descending. After Zi hour (midnight), they move upward; after Wu hour (noon), they move downward. Thus, their rising and setting occur at the moments of transition/separation. Additionally, stars are hidden during the day and invisible due to brilliance because of sunlight. Hence it is said: "When the Great Brightness appears, the Small Brightness does not manifest." All these principles illuminate without confusion. Thus, the classic states: Heavenly changes replace the use of confusion; Heaven displays phenomena, Earth forms shapes; the Seven Luminaries weave the void, the Five Elements adorn the earth. Earth carries the forms of generated things; Spirit arranges the essence/qi responding to Heaven. The movement of form and spirit is like roots and branches. Looking up at their images, though distant, one can comprehend their Dao.