On the Generation of the Five Elements

Original Text

天高寥廓，六气回旋以成四时；地厚幽深，五行化生以成万物。可谓无穷而莫测者也。圣人立法以推步者，盖不能逃其数。观其立数之因，亦皆出乎自然。故载于经典，同而不异，推以达其机，穷以通其变，皆不离于数内。一曰水，二曰火，三曰木，四曰金，五曰土者，咸有所自也。水，北方子之位也，子者，阳之初一，阳数也，故水曰一；火，南方午之位也，午者，阴之初二，阴数也，故火曰二；木居东方，东，阳也，三者，奇之数，亦阳也，故木曰三；金居西方，西，阴也，四者，偶之数，亦阴也，故金曰四；土应西南长夏，五者，奇之数，亦阳也，故土曰五。由是论之，则数以阴阳而配者也。若考其深义，则水生于一。天地未分，万物未成之初，莫不先见于水，故《灵枢经》曰：「太一者，水之尊号。先天地之母，后万物之源。」以今验之，草木子实未就，人虫、胎卵、胎胚皆水也，岂不以为一？及其水之聚而形质化，莫不备阴阳之气在中而后成。故物之小而味苦者，火之兆也；物熟则甘，土之味也。甘极而后淡，淡，本也。然人禀父母阴阳生成之化，故先生二肾，左肾属水，右肾属火。火曰命门，则火之因水而后见。故火曰次二。盖草木子实，大小虽异，其中皆有两以相合者，与人肾同，亦阴阳之兆。是以万物非阴阳合体则不能化生也。既阴阳合体，然后而春生而秋成，故次三曰木，次四曰金。盖水有所属，火有所藏，木有所发，金有所别，莫不皆因土而后成也。故金木水火皆待土而后成。兼其土数，五以成之，则水六，火七，木八，金九；土常以五之生数不可至十者，土不待十以成，是生成之数皆五以合之。明大衍之数，由是以立，则万物岂能逃其数哉？

Interpretation

The sky is vast and boundless. The six qi (vital energies) revolve to form the four seasons. The earth is thick and profound. The five elements transform and give birth to all things. It can be said to be infinite and unfathomable. Sages established laws for astronomical calculations, and all things cannot escape the realm of numbers. Observing the reasons for establishing these numbers, we find that they all stem from nature. Therefore, they are recorded in the classics, remaining the same without difference. By using them to understand the mechanisms and explore the changes, we will find that everything is within the scope of numbers. One represents water, two represents fire, three represents wood, four represents metal, and five represents earth, and each of these has its own origin. Water corresponds to the position of Zi in the north. Zi is the initial stage of yang, and it is an odd - numbered yang. So, water is represented by one. Fire corresponds to the position of Wu in the south. Wu is the second stage of yin, and it is an even - numbered yin. So, fire is represented by two. Wood is located in the east. The east is associated with yang. Three is an odd number, also representing yang. So, wood is represented by three. Metal is located in the west. The west is associated with yin. Four is an even number, also representing yin. So, metal is represented by four. Earth corresponds to the late summer in the southwest. Five is an odd number, representing yang. So, earth is represented by five. From this, we can conclude that numbers are paired with yin and yang. If we explore its deeper meaning, water is born from one. Before the separation of heaven and earth and the formation of all things, water was the first to appear. Therefore, the "Lingshu Jing" says: "Taiyi is the noble title of water. It is the mother before heaven and earth and the source after all things." Judging from current experiences, before the seeds of plants are formed, and the eggs and embryos of humans and insects are all in a watery state. Can't this be regarded as one? When water accumulates and takes on form, it must contain the qi of yin and yang before it can fully develop. So, small and bitter - tasting things are a sign of fire. When things are ripe, they taste sweet, which is the taste of earth. After excessive sweetness comes blandness, and blandness is the essence. People are formed by the combination of the yin and yang of their parents. So, two kidneys are formed first. The left kidney belongs to water, and the right kidney belongs to fire. Fire is called the Gate of Life, and fire becomes visible because of water. So, fire is represented by the second number. Whether the seeds of plants are large or small, they all contain a combination of two parts, similar to the human kidneys, which is also a sign of yin and yang. Therefore, all things cannot be born and transformed without the combination of yin and yang. After the combination of yin and yang, things grow in spring and mature in autumn. So, the third number represents wood, and the fourth number represents metal. Water has its place, fire has its storage, wood has its growth, and metal has its differentiation, all of which are completed because of earth. So, metal, wood, water, and fire all depend on earth to be fully formed. Combining with the number of earth (five), water becomes six, fire becomes seven, wood becomes eight, and metal becomes nine. The generating number of earth is five and it does not reach ten because earth does not need ten to be formed. All the generating and maturing numbers are combined with five. Clearly, the numbers in the theory of the Great Expansion are established based on this. How can all things in the world escape the realm of numbers?