干道成男,坤道成女,此固生成之至道。然亦何以见之?亦何以用之?盖乾坤之用,用在坎离,坎离之用,
阴阳而已。夫离本居阳,何以为女?以阳之中而阴之初也;坎本居阴,何以为男?以阴之中而阳之初也。盖中
者盛于上,盛者必渐消,初者生于下,生者必渐长。故阳生于坎,从左而渐升,升则为阳而就明;阴生于离,
从右而渐降,降则为阴而就晦。此即阴阳之用也,而千变万化,莫不由之。由之推展,则凡冬至、夏至,一岁
之阴阳也;子东午西,一日之阴阳也;有节有中,月令之阴阳也;或明或晦,时气之阴阳也;节前节后,消长
之阴阳也;月光潮汛,盈虚之阴阳也。再以及人,则老夫少妻,阴若胜矣,有颠之倒之之
妙,彼强此弱,阳亦在也,有操之纵之之权,顾无往而非阴
阳之用也。知之而从阳避阴,则干道成男,不知而背阳向阴,则坤道成女矣。明眼人其鉴而悟之,笔有难于尽
意也。
地利关于子嗣非不重也,有阴宅之宜子孙者,常见螽斯之多;有阳宅之宜子嗣者,惟生气天乙,方为最吉。
然吉地吉人,每多不期而会。所谓有德斯有人,有人斯有土,此其所致之由,自非偶然。故曰∶必先有心地,
而后有阴地,信非诬也。第其理深义遂,有非一言可悉。然宗枝攸系,诚有不可不知者。此外如寝室交会之
所,亦最当知宜忌,凡神前庙社之侧,井灶冢柩之旁,及日月火光照临、沉阴危险之地,但觉神魂不安之处,
皆不可犯,倘有不谨,则夭枉生理残障,飞灾横祸,及不忠不孝之流,从而出矣,验如影响,可不慎哉!
乾道生成男性,坤道生成女性,这确实是生命生成的根本大道。然而,我们如何认识它?又如何运用它呢?大概乾坤的作用,体现在坎卦和离卦上;而坎卦和离卦的作用,不过是阴阳罢了。离卦本属阳位,为什么代表女性?因为它是阳爻之中包含的阴气初生之处;坎卦本属阴位,为什么代表男性?因为它是阴爻之中包含的阳气初生之处。大概处于中间位置的阳气旺盛于上方,旺盛的东西必然逐渐消退;处于初始位置的阴气生于下方,生长的东西必然逐渐增长。所以阳气生于坎卦,从左侧逐渐上升,上升就变为阳而趋向光明;阴气生于离卦,从右侧逐渐下降,下降就变为阴而趋向晦暗。这就是阴阳的作用,千变万化,没有不由此产生的。由这个原理推展开来,那么冬至、夏至,是一年中阴阳的变化;子时(东)午时(西),是一天中阴阳的变化;有节气有中气,是月令中的阴阳变化;或明或暗,是时令气候中的阴阳变化;节前节后,是消长过程中的阴阳变化;月光潮汐,是盈亏虚实的阴阳变化。再推广到人身上,那么老夫少妻,看似阴胜过了阳,却有颠倒变化的微妙之处;彼强此弱,阳依然存在,有操控放纵的权变,总之无处不是阴阳的作用。懂得这个道理从而顺应阳、避开阴,就能像乾道那样生成男性;不懂得道理从而背离阳、趋向阴,就只能像坤道那样生成女性。明智的人应当借鉴并领悟这一点,笔墨难以完全表达其中的深意。
地利对于子嗣繁衍并非不重要,有适合子孙繁衍的阴宅(墓地),常见到多子多孙的景象;有适合生育子嗣的阳宅(住宅),只有生气方和天乙贵人方,才算是大吉之地。然而吉地与吉人,往往不期而遇。所谓有德行就有人才,有了人才就有土地,这是其产生的原因,自然不是偶然的。所以说:必须先有好心地,而后才有好阴地,确实不是谎话。只是其中的道理深远、含义精微,不是一句话能说完的。然而宗族血脉所系,实在是有不可不知道的地方。此外如卧室交合之所,也最应当知道适宜与禁忌。凡是神前庙社旁边,井灶坟墓棺椁之侧,以及日月火光照射、阴沉危险的地方,只要觉得神魂不安宁的地方,都不可触犯。倘若不够谨慎,就会导致夭折枉死、生理残疾、飞来横祸,以及产生不忠不孝之类的人,应验得如同影子跟随形体一样快,能不慎重吗!
The Way of Heaven (Qian) generates males, and the Way of Earth (Kun) generates females; this is indeed the supreme Dao of generation. However, how do we perceive it? And how do we apply it? The function of Qian and Kun lies in Kan and Li; and the function of Kan and Li is nothing other than Yin and Yang. Li originally resides in the Yang position, so why does it represent women? Because within Yang, there is the initial emergence of Yin; Kan originally resides in the Yin position, so why does it represent men? Because within Yin, there is the initial emergence of Yang. Generally, what is in the middle is abundant at the top; what is abundant must gradually decline. What is at the beginning is born from below; what is growing must gradually increase. Therefore, Yang is born from Kan, rising gradually from the left; as it rises, it becomes Yang and moves toward brightness. Yin is born from Li, descending gradually from the right; as it descends, it becomes Yin and moves toward darkness. This is the function of Yin and Yang, and all myriad transformations arise from it. Extending from this principle: Winter Solstice and Summer Solstice are the Yin-Yang changes of a year; Zi (East) and Wu (West) are the Yin-Yang changes of a day; Jieqi (Solar Terms) and Zhongqi (Mid-terms) are the Yin-Yang changes of monthly calendars; brightness and darkness are the Yin-Yang changes of seasonal climates; before and after solar terms are the Yin-Yang changes of waxing and waning; moonlight and tides are the Yin-Yang changes of fullness and emptiness. Further extending to humans: an old husband with a young wife may seem to have Yin prevailing over Yang, yet there is a subtlety of inversion and reversal; when one side is strong and the other weak, Yang still exists, possessing the power of control and release. In short, nowhere is there not the function of Yin and Yang. To know this and follow Yang while avoiding Yin allows one to embody the Way of Heaven generating males; to not know this and turn away from Yang toward Yin results in embodying the Way of Earth generating females. Those with clear insight should reflect upon and comprehend this; words find it difficult to fully express the intent.
Geographical advantages (Di Li) are no less important regarding offspring. There are Yin dwellings (tombs) suitable for descendants, where one often sees abundance like the "Zhongsi" (a metaphor for many children); there are Yang dwellings (residences) suitable for progeny, where only the Shengqi (Vital Qi) direction and Tianyi (Heavenly Yi/Noble Person) direction are considered most auspicious. However, auspicious land and auspicious people often meet by chance. It is said that virtue brings people, and people bring land; this cause-and-effect is certainly not accidental. Thus it is said: one must first have a virtuous heart/mind, and then have auspicious Yin land; this is truly not false talk. Yet its principles are profound and meanings subtle, not exhaustible in a single statement. Nevertheless, since it concerns the lineage, it is indeed something one cannot fail to know. Furthermore, regarding the location for marital intercourse, one must be most aware of taboos and appropriateness. One must avoid places near temples and shrines, beside wells, stoves, graves, and coffins, as well as areas illuminated by sun or moon fire, or those that are gloomy and dangerous—anywhere one feels their spirit and soul are unsettled. If one is not careful, consequences such as premature death, physical disabilities, sudden disasters, and the emergence of disloyal or unfilial individuals will follow, verifying as quickly as shadow follows form. Can one not be cautious!