On the Affairs Handled by the Human Element Officials

Original Text

夫一气浑沦，形质未离，熟为阴阳？太始既肇，裂一为三，倏息乃分，天得之而轻清为阳，地得之而重浊为阴，人位乎天地之中，禀阳阴冲和之气。故此轻清者为十干，主禄，谓之天元，重浊者为十二支，主身，谓之地元，天地多正其位，成才于两间者，乃所谓人也。故支吕所藏者主命，谓之人元，名为司事之神，以命术言之为月令。如正月建寅，寅中有艮土用事五日，丙火长生五日，甲木二十日；二月建卯，卯中有甲木用事七日，乙木二十三日；三月建辰，辰中有乙木用事七日，壬水墓库五日，戊土一十八日；四月建已，已中有戊土七日，庚金长生五日，丙火一十八日；五月建午，午中丙火用事七日，丁火二十三日；六月建未，未中有丁火用事七日，甲木墓库五日，已土一十八日；七月建申，申中有坤土用事五日，壬水长生五日，庚金二十日；八月建酉，酉中有庚金用事七日，辛金二十三日；九月建戌，戌中有辛金用事七日，丙火墓库五日，戊土一十八日；十月建亥，亥中有戊土五日，甲木长生五日，壬水用事二十日；十一月建子，子中有壬水用事七日，癸水二十三日；十二月建丑，丑中有癸水用事七日，庚金墓库五日，已土一十八日。此十二支按十二月各藏五行为人元，以配四时则春暖秋凉冬寒夏热，如环无端，终而复始，岁功毕而成一年。

Interpretation

In the beginning, there was a chaotic mass of qi, with no separation between form and substance. What could be called yin and yang? Once the Great Beginning came into being, the one was split into three. In an instant, they separated. The sky obtained the light and pure part of the qi and became yang, while the earth got the heavy and turbid part and became yin. Humans are located between the sky and the earth, receiving the harmonious qi of yin and yang. Therefore, the light and pure qi forms the ten Heavenly Stems, which govern fortune and are called the Celestial Yuan. The heavy and turbid qi forms the twelve Earthly Branches, which govern the body and are called the Terrestrial Yuan. The sky and the earth establish their proper positions, and those who are nurtured between them are what we call humans. So, what is hidden in the Earthly Branches governs fate and is called the Human Yuan. It is named the God in Charge of Affairs, and in the art of fortune - telling, it is called the Monthly Command. For example, in the first lunar month, the branch is Yin. In Yin, the Earth of Gen is in charge for five days, the Fire of Bing starts to grow for five days, and the Wood of Jia is in charge for twenty days. In the second lunar month, the branch is Mao. In Mao, the Wood of Jia is in charge for seven days, and the Wood of Yi is in charge for twenty - three days. In the third lunar month, the branch is Chen. In Chen, the Wood of Yi is in charge for seven days, the Water of Ren is stored in its tomb for five days, and the Earth of Wu is in charge for eighteen days. In the fourth lunar month, the branch is Si. In Si, the Earth of Wu is in charge for seven days, the Metal of Geng starts to grow for five days, and the Fire of Bing is in charge for eighteen days. In the fifth lunar month, the branch is Wu. In Wu, the Fire of Bing is in charge for seven days, and the Fire of Ding is in charge for twenty - three days. In the sixth lunar month, the branch is Wei. In Wei, the Fire of Ding is in charge for seven days, the Wood of Jia is stored in its tomb for five days, and the Earth of Ji is in charge for eighteen days. In the seventh lunar month, the branch is Shen. In Shen, the Earth of Kun is in charge for five days, the Water of Ren starts to grow for five days, and the Metal of Geng is in charge for twenty days. In the eighth lunar month, the branch is You. In You, the Metal of Geng is in charge for seven days, and the Metal of Xin is in charge for twenty - three days. In the ninth lunar month, the branch is Xu. In Xu, the Metal of Xin is in charge for seven days, the Fire of Bing is stored in its tomb for five days, and the Earth of Wu is in charge for eighteen days. In the tenth lunar month, the branch is Hai. In Hai, the Earth of Wu is present for five days, the Wood of Jia starts to grow for five days, and the Water of Ren is in charge for twenty days. In the eleventh lunar month, the branch is Zi. In Zi, the Water of Ren is in charge for seven days, and the Water of Gui is in charge for twenty - three days. In the twelfth lunar month, the branch is Chou. In Chou, the Water of Gui is in charge for seven days, the Metal of Geng is stored in its tomb for five days, and the Earth of Ji is in charge for eighteen days. These twelve Earthly Branches each hide five elements as the Human Yuan according to the twelve months. When matched with the four seasons, it is warm in spring, cool in autumn, cold in winter, and hot in summer, like an endless cycle. It starts over again and again, and when the annual work is completed, a year passes.