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Huangdi asked: Heaven possesses the Five Movements (Wu Yun, five phases of qi movement), which govern the five positions, thereby generating the climatic factors of Cold (Han), Heat (Shu), Dryness (Zao), Dampness (Shi), and Wind (Feng). Humanity possesses the Zang organs (Five viscera), which transform into the Five Qi, thereby generating the emotional responses of Joy (Xi), Anger (Nu), Pensiveness (Si), Worry (You), and Fear (Kong). Medical classics state that the Five Movements succeed one another and each performs its function; at the end of a cycle, they repeat indefinitely. I have already understood this. I wish to hear how these correspond with the patterns of the Three Yin and Three Yang (San Yin San Yang).

Gui Yuzhou bowed deeply and replied respectfully: Your inquiry is indeed profound! The Five Movements and Yin-Yang are the Dao (Way) of Heaven and Earth, the general principles of all things, the parents of change, the root of life and death, and the repository of spiritual illumination. How could one not understand them? Therefore, the generation of things is called "Transformation" (Hua); when things reach their extreme, it is called "Change" (Bian); the unpredictability of Yin-Yang is called "Spirit" (Shen); the application of Spirit without fixed forms is called "Sagacity" (Sheng). In terms of the function of change: in Heaven, it is profound/mysterious (Xuan); in Humanity, it is the Dao; on Earth, it is transformation (Hua). Transformation generates the Five Flavors; the Dao generates Wisdom; the Profound generates Spirit.

Spirit manifests as Wind in Heaven, and as Wood on Earth; as Heat in Heaven, and as Fire on Earth; as Dampness in Heaven, and as Earth on Earth; as Dryness in Heaven, and as Metal on Earth; as Cold in Heaven, and as Water on Earth. Thus, Qi forms in Heaven, while Form solidifies on Earth. When Form and Qi interact, all things are generated. However, Heaven and Earth constitute the upper and lower spaces for all things; Left and Right are the pathways of Yin and Yang; Water and Fire are the signs of Yin and Yang; Metal and Wood are the beginning and end of generation and completion. Qi has degrees of abundance or deficiency; Form has states of prosperity or decline. The mutual attraction between above and below reveals gains and losses.

Huangdi said: I wish to hear about the Five Movements governing time. What is the situation? Gui Yuzhou said: The Five Qi circulate and operate, completing their cycles independently; they do not merely govern specific seasons. Huangdi said: Please explain what you mean. Gui Yuzhou said: This subject has been examined by my ancestors through ten generations based on the text of the *Tai Shi Tian Yuan Ce*: The Great Void is vast and empty, initiating the origin of transformation. All things derive their beginning from it. The Five Movements complete their course in Heaven, distributing true spiritual Qi, uniting with the Kun Yuan (Earthly Origin). The Nine Stars hang bright, the Seven Luminaries (Sun, Moon, and five planets) revolve. There is Yin and Yang, softness and hardness. The hidden and the manifest take their places; Cold and Heat alternate. Through endless generation and transformation, all species become distinct. My lineage has upheld this for ten generations.

Huangdi said: Excellent. What is meant by "Qi has degrees of abundance/deficiency" and "Form has states of prosperity/decline"? Gui Yuzhou said: Yin and Yang Qi differ in quantity, hence the designation of Three Yin and Three Yang. Form having prosperity and decline refers to the governance of the Five Elements, which exhibit both Excess (Tai Guo) and Deficiency (Bu Ji). Therefore, when an Excess comes, Deficiency follows; when Deficiency comes, Excess follows. Knowing how to anticipate and follow allows one to predict the Qi. When Heaven's Qi corresponds, it is called "Tian Fu" (Heavenly符/Token); when it accepts the Year's Qi, it is called "Sui Zhi" (Year's Direct); when three combine, they govern together.

Huangdi said: How does the mutual attraction between above and below work? Gui Yuzhou said: Cold, Heat, Dryness, Dampness, Wind, and Fire are the Yin and Yang of Heaven, which the Three Yin and Three Yang above receive. Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Fire are the Yin and Yang of Earth, which the processes of Growth, Development, Transformation, and Storage below respond to. Heaven uses Yang to generate and Yin to grow; Earth uses Yang to kill (wither) and Yin to store. Heaven has Yin and Yang, and Earth also has Yin and Yang. Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Fire represent the Yin and Yang of Earth, corresponding to growth, development, transformation, and storage. Thus, within Yang there is Yin, and within Yin there is Yang. To know the Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth: The Qi responding to Heaven moves incessantly, thus shifting right every five years. The Qi responding to Earth remains static and holds its position, thus circling back every six years. Movement and stillness attract each other; above and below approach each other; Yin and Yang interlace, and changes arise from this.

Huangdi said: Regarding the cycle of above and below, is there a numerical measure? Gui Yuzhou said: Heaven uses Six as its rhythm; Earth uses Five as its system. Completing the Heavenly cycle takes six periods as one full set; completing the Earthly cycle takes five years as one revolution. Jun Huo (Ministerial Fire) illuminates; Xiang Huo (Assistant Fire) maintains its position. Combining Five and Six yields 720 Qi units, constituting one Ji (Period) of 30 years; 1440 Qi units constitute one Zhou (Cycle) of 60 years. Deficiency and Excess are thus visible.

Huangdi said: Your words cover the end of Heavenly Qi and the entirety of Earthly records; they are indeed comprehensive. I wish to hear them and preserve them, to use above for governing the people and below for cultivating the self, so that the people may be enlightened, harmony prevails above and below, virtue flows downward, descendants need no worry, and it is passed to posterity without end. May I hear this? Gui Yuzhou said: The mechanism of the Ultimate Numbers is urgent and subtle. Its coming can be seen; its going can be traced. Those who revere it prosper; those who slight it perish. Those who act selfishly against the Dao will suffer premature disaster. Reverently observing the Heavenly Dao, I request to speak of the essential truths.

Huangdi said: One who speaks well of the beginning must connect to the end; one who speaks well of the near must know the far. This is reaching the limit of numbers without confusing the Dao, which is called clarity. I hope you will deduce and arrange this systematically, making it orderly, concise yet sufficient, enduring and unbroken, easy to use and remember, serving as a guideline for the essentials of the Ultimate Numbers. May I hear it all? Gui Yuzhou said: Your question is profound! Your understanding of the Dao is clear! It is like a drum responding instantly to the beat, or an echo responding to sound.

I have heard that in Jia and Ji years, Earth Movement governs; in Yi and Geng years, Metal Movement governs; in Bing and Xin years, Water Movement governs; in Ding and Ren years, Wood Movement governs; in Wu and Gui years, Fire Movement governs. Huangdi said: How does this combine with the Three Yin and Three Yang? Gui Yuzhou said: In Zi and Wu years, Shao Yin appears above; in Chou and Wei years, Tai Yin appears above; in Yin and Shen years, Shao Yang appears above; in Mao and You years, Yang Ming appears above; in Chen and Xu years, Tai Yang appears above; in Si and Hai years, Jue Yin appears above. Shao Yin is the Biao (Mark/Epiphenomenon); Jue Yin is the Zhong (End). Above Jue Yin, Wind Qi dominates; above Shao Yin, Heat Qi dominates; above Tai Yin, Dampness Qi dominates; above Shao Yang, Assistant Fire (Xiang Huo) dominates; above Yang Ming, Dryness Qi dominates; above Tai Yang, Cold Qi dominates. These are the Ben (Root), known as the Six Origins (Liu Yuan).

Huangdi said: The Dao is brilliant! The discussion is clear! Please inscribe this on jade tablets and store it in golden caskets, titling it *Tian Yuan Ji* (Record of the Heavenly Origin).