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The numbers of the Six Primals (Liu Yuan) are the single breath of Heavenly Truth (Tian Zhen). Discussing the function of this single breath, possessing it yields spiritual efficacy, while losing it results in the loss of true essence; thus, one knows that the single breath is the mother of the spiritual responses and transformations of heaven, earth, and all things. Therefore, the Profound One True Person (Xuan Yi Zhen Ren) transmitted the method of "Six Derivations" (Liu Yan) from Gengsang Chu.

The first derivation concerns the Way, exhausting and penetrating the true source of chaotic profound changes. The second derivation concerns spirit, illuminating the functional application of the creative and divine methods of creation. The third derivation concerns qi, clarifying the subtleties of ascending, descending, moving, and stillness. The fourth derivation concerns heaven, knowing how the Way of Heaven operates to transform myriad phenomena, thereby governing with the virtue of strength and vigor. The fifth derivation concerns earth, knowing how earth transforms and generates myriad phenomena, thereby governing with the virtue of gentleness and compliance. The sixth derivation concerns myriad things; deriving from myriad things allows one to understand the fluctuations of spirit and qi, to comprehend the opposition and conformity of heaven and earth, and subsequently to know the prosperity and decline, auspiciousness and inauspiciousness, and omens of all things. Speaking of myriad things refers to the space above and below heaven and earth; within the process of ascending and descending, if spirit and qi do not interact, and heaven and earth do not communicate, the Way has no form to reside in myriad things, and myriad things lose their integrity regarding the Way. This is because the six lines (Yao) are blocked, and the Three Powers (San Cai: Heaven, Earth, Human) do not meet, thus giving rise to auspiciousness and inauspiciousness. Therefore, matters of auspicious and inauspicious omens manifest the transformative responses of prosperity, decline, disaster, and auspicious signs. Thus, heaven and earth above and below form a situation of approaching Yin and Yang, left and right form intervals, Five Movements (Wu Yun) are applied, Six Qi (Liu Qi) descend, migration has its positions, responsive periods undergo changes, and governance is distributed without fixed directions. When Five Movements are applied, their Heavenly Stems correspond to the Six Qi, and the Earthly Branches they approach interact with the Stems, so that the record of a year corresponds. Migration has its positions, distinguishing early and late periods; change has no fixed direction, distinguishing the governance of prosperity and decline. Therefore, the Sage takes heaven and earth as the spirit and mind, and Yin and Yang as the function; virtue aligns with heart and governance, spirit aligns with function and clarity, and his Way becomes the transformation and integrity of all things.

In ancient times, the Spirit Turtle emerged from the Luo River, bearing the numbers of the Generation and Completion of the Five Elements; this began in the era of Fuxi. Some claim these diagrams originated with Yu, which is incorrect. However, the manifestation of the Five Qi is also the way of the combination of the Five Elements; recorded thus, it originally appeared in the *Tai Shi Tian Yuan Ce Wen*. Furthermore, the Dragon Horse emerged from the Yellow River, bearing the Nine Palaces numbers, and based on this, the *He Tu* (River Chart) was made. Also, the Spirit Turtle emerged from the Luo River, bearing the numbers of the Generation and Completion of the Five Elements, and based on this, the *Luo Shu* (Writing of Luo) was written. All of this is because Fuxi is the true origin. Later, due to the command of the Holy Emperor, the Heavenly Master investigated the ancient spiritual texts, leading to the composition of the *Nei Jing* (Inner Canon), which already mentioned the numbers of the Generation and Completion of the Five Elements. (New addition) Additionally, according to the spiritual text of the *Tai Gu Tian Yuan Yu Ce*: "Therefore, when the Five Elements attain their proper positions—Water, Fire, Wood, Metal, Earth—they are correctly situated in the five directions, indicating the initial division of chaos; with the upper clear and lower turbid established, heaven and earth are formed."

The Two Spirits, due to the initial birth of all things, divided Yin and Yang to establish left and right, distinguished clear and turbid to separate front and back; thus, the Five Elements attained their positions and transformed, and the sun and moon operated to transform into stars. Directly encountering the variation of central qi, the Great Void became clear and pure, black qi floated in the sky, the situation was chaotic like hemp, uniform in color from near to far, profound congealment caused disturbance, rain obscured, cold relied on Yin transformation, and Water began to generate. Cold and dampness interacting generated Chen Xing (Mercury); this is the transformation induced by the essence of extreme Yin. Thus, Water obtains the number one, so all waters are of one body. □□ represents the transformation of Yang from extreme Yin. Extreme cold generates heat, which is the principle of reversal at the extreme. The Great Void was dim and obscure, like light dust, colors scattered like cinnabar, waxing and waning, hot light oppressive and sultry, burning and melting; heat relied on Yang transformation, and Fire began to generate. Cold and heat interacting generated Huang Guang (Venus? Note: Text implies Venus/Mars context), and bright sunlight generated Ying Huo (Mars). It is also said that when Water is prosperous, it generates Ying Huo and Huang Guang; due to Fire being slightly red and not executing Fire commands, this is the transformation of the essence of extreme Yang. Thus, obtaining the number two for Fire corresponds to the fire within water and the fire within stone. When the scenery clears and mountains darken, gray dust gathers from four directions, mountains and rivers resemble walls, drumming cracks the Great Void, heaven and earth are distant, qi scatters, wind transforms Yang and Yin grows, and Wood begins to generate. Dry wind interacting generated Sui Xing (Jupiter); Yin and Yang harmonized, Water assisted, and grass and trees flourished. Thus, Wood obtains the number three, referring to trees, bamboo, and herbs. At the extreme of qi interaction, Yang qi descends again, Yin qi rises again; strong wind and crisp air, smoke floats near and far, white like cotton, clear and bright from near to far, momentum oppressed and sound rapid, wood bends and clouds rise, mountains and rivers firm, solemn air chilly and clear, dry and heat interact, completing the generation. Yang qi ascends, Yin qi descends; Water moistens and generates Wood, Yin qi ascends and Yang qi descends; Fire dries and generates Metal. Thus, one knows that Wood is the transformation of Yin within Yang, and Metal is the transformation of Yang within Yin. Thus, Metal obtains the number four, referring to gold, silver, copper, iron, etc. Speaking of five, lead and grass are not prohibited by fire. Dry qi is prosperous and generates fire; white clouds rise and rain descends, springs emerge from the earth, dampness and heat contend, beneath the Five Fu (periods of extreme heat), Earth begins to generate. Four directions prepared and Zhen Xing (Saturn) generated; this is the son of Fire. Beneath the Five Fu, there is soil of five colors; clear Yang is heaven, turbid Yin is earth; this is Kun Zheng Earth, not the son of Fire, thus Yin Earth is two and Yang Earth is also two. Four directions prepared, internal Yin essence □ senses sunlight to generate the five soils, sensing qi above to become Zhen Xing.

Thus, Water one, Fire two, Wood three, Metal four, Earth five, rotate in sequence. Its Kun Yuan Earth governs the four directions, attaining the completion number through it. Water, Wood, Metal, and Fire are established by obtaining Earth. Things exceed and emerge above Earth, thus having completion numbers. Water number one, adding Earth five makes six; Fire number two, adding Earth five makes seven; Wood number three, adding Earth five makes eight; Metal number four, adding Earth five makes nine; Earth prepares the five directions, has no completion number, but also obtains five. Therefore, the generation and completion numbers of the Five Elements of heaven and earth sum to forty-five; thus, the pulse takes forty-five as the normal pulse. The length, shortness, and breath count of human qi and blood all originate from forty-five. The diagram is carried afterwards.

Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth. Ten Heavenly Stems: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui. Twelve Earthly Branches: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai.