Tianwen Xun (Treatise on Celestial Patterns)
天墬未形，馮馮翼翼，洞洞灟灟，故曰太昭。道始於虛霩，虛霩生宇宙，宇宙生氣。氣有涯垠，清陽者薄靡而為天，重濁者凝滯而為地。清妙之合專易，重濁之凝竭難，故天先成而地後定。天地之襲精為陰陽，陰陽之專精為四時，四時之散精為萬物。積陽之熱氣生火，火氣之精者為日；積陰之寒氣為水，水氣之精者為月。日月之淫為精者為星辰。
Before Heaven and Earth had taken form, all was vague and billowing, deep and surging, one undifferentiated chaos, and so it was called the Great Brightness. The Way began in empty vastness; empty vastness produced the universe, and the universe produced qi. Qi had boundaries: the clear and yang rose thin and soft to become Heaven, while the heavy and turbid settled and congealed to become Earth. It is easier for the clear and subtle to unite and concentrate, and harder for the heavy and turbid to congeal, so Heaven was completed first and Earth settled afterward. The essence of Heaven and Earth overlapping each other became yin and yang; the essence of yin and yang concentrated became the four seasons; the essence of the four seasons dispersed became the myriad things. The hot qi of accumulated yang produced fire, and the essence of fire qi became the sun; the cold qi of accumulated yin became water, and the essence of water qi became the moon. The surplus essence of sun and moon became the stars.
天受日月星辰，地受水潦塵埃。昔者共工與顓頊爭為帝，怒而觸不周之山，天柱折，地維絕。天傾西北，故日月星辰移焉；地不滿東南，故水潦塵埃歸焉。天道曰圓，地道曰方。方者主幽，圓者主明。明者，吐氣者也，是故火曰外景；幽者，含氣者也，是故水曰內景。吐氣者施，含氣者化，是故陽施陰化。天之偏氣，怒者為風；地之含氣，和者為雨。
Heaven receives the sun, moon and stars, and Earth receives water, floods and dust. In the past Gong Gong contended with Zhuanxu to be emperor, and in rage struck Mount Buzhou, so the pillar of Heaven broke and the cords of Earth snapped. Heaven tilted to the northwest, so the sun, moon and stars moved there; Earth was not full in the southeast, so water, floods and dust flowed there. The Way of Heaven is called round and the Way of Earth is called square. The square governs the dim and the round governs the bright. The bright exhales qi, so fire is called the outer light; the dim holds qi, so water is called the inner light. What exhales qi bestows and what holds qi transforms, so yang bestows and yin transforms. The partial qi of Heaven, when enraged, becomes wind; the held qi of Earth, when harmonized, becomes rain.
陰陽相薄，感而為雷，激而為霆，亂而為霧。陽氣勝則散而為雨露，陰氣勝則凝而為霜雪。毛羽者，飛行之類也，故屬於陽。介鱗者，蟄伏之類也，故屬於陰。
Yin and yang press close to each other: their response becomes thunder, their agitation becomes thunderbolts, and their scattering becomes mist. When yang qi prevails, it disperses into rain and dew; when yin qi prevails, it congeals into frost and snow. Those with fur and feathers are the flying kind, so they belong to yang. Those with shells and scales are the hibernating kind, so they belong to yin.
日者，陽之主也，是故春夏則群獸除，日至而麋鹿解。月者，陰之宗也，是以月虛而魚腦減，月死而蠃蛖膲。火上蕁，水下流，故鳥飛而高，魚動而下。物類相動，本標相應，故陽燧見日則燃而為火，方諸見月則津而為水，虎嘯而谷風至，龍舉而景雲屬，麒麟鬥而日月食，鯨魚死而彗星出，蠶珥絲而商弦絕，賁星墜而勃海決。
The sun is the master of yang, so in spring and summer the beasts shed their coats, and at the solstice the elk and deer drop their horns. The moon is the ancestor of yin, so when the moon wanes the brains of fish decrease, and when the moon dies, snails and clams shrink. Fire rises and water descends, so birds fly high and fish swim downward. Things of a kind move one another, and root and branch respond to each other, so a yang burning mirror, on seeing the sun, kindles fire; a fangzhu mirror, on seeing the moon, moistens into water; when the tiger roars, wind comes through the valleys; when the dragon rises, auspicious clouds attach to it; when the qilin fight, the sun and moon are eclipsed; when the whale dies, a comet appears; when the silkworm spins thread, the shang string snaps; when a meteor falls, the Bohai Sea breaks its banks.
人主之情，上通於天，故誅暴則多飄風，枉法令則多蟲螟，殺不辜則國赤地，令不收則多淫雨。
The feelings of the ruler reach upward to Heaven, so executing the cruel brings many whirlwinds, bending the laws and ordinances brings many insect plagues, killing the innocent turns the land red throughout the state, and orders issued and not withdrawn bring excessive rains.
四時者，天之吏也；日月者，天之使也；星辰者，天之期也；虹蜺彗星者，天之忌也。
The four seasons are Heaven's officials, the sun and moon are Heaven's envoys, the stars are Heaven's appointed meetings, and rainbows and comets are Heaven's prohibitions.
天有九野，九千九百九十九隅，去地五億萬裡，五星，八風，二十八宿，五官，六府，紫宮，太微，軒轅，咸池，四守，天阿。
Heaven has nine fields and nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine corners, five hundred million myriad li from the earth; and it has the five planets, the eight winds, the twenty-eight lunar lodges, the five officials, the six storehouses, as well as the Purple Palace, Taiwei, Xuanyuan, Xianchi, the Four Guardians and Tian'e.
何謂九野？中央曰鈞天，其星角、亢、氐。東方曰蒼天，其星房、心、尾。東北曰變天，其星箕、鬥、牽牛。北方曰玄天，其星須女、虛、危、營室。西北方曰幽天，其星東壁、奎、婁。西方曰顥天，其星胃、昴、畢。西南方曰朱天，其星觜嶲、參、東井。南方曰炎天，其星輿鬼、柳、七星。東南方曰陽天，其星張、翼、軫。
What are the nine fields? The center is called Jun Tian (Even Heaven), and its stars are Jiao, Kang and Di. The east is called Cang Tian (Azure Heaven), and its stars are Fang, Xin and Wei. The northeast is called Bian Tian (Changing Heaven), and its stars are Ji, Dou and Qianniu. The north is called Xuan Tian (Dark Heaven), and its stars are Xunu, Xu, Wei and Yingshi. The northwest is called You Tian (Hidden Heaven), and its stars are Dongbi, Kui and Lou. The west is called Hao Tian (Bright Heaven), and its stars are Wei, Mao and Bi. The southwest is called Zhu Tian (Vermilion Heaven), and its stars are Zixi, Shen and Dongjing. The south is called Yan Tian (Blazing Heaven), and its stars are Yugui, Liu and Qixing. The southeast is called Yang Tian (Yang Heaven), and its stars are Zhang, Yi and Zhen.
何謂五星？東方，木也，其帝太皞，其佐句芒，執規而治春。其神為歲星，其獸蒼龍，其音角，其日甲乙。南方，火也，其帝炎帝，其佐朱明，執衡而治夏。其神為熒惑，其獸朱鳥，其音徵，其日丙丁。中央，土也，其帝黃帝，其佐后土，執繩而制四方。其神為鎮星，其獸黃龍，其音宮，其日戊己。西方，金也，其帝少昊，其佐蓐收，執矩而治秋。其神為太白，其獸白虎，其音商，其日庚辛。北方，水也，其帝顓頊，其佐玄冥，執權而治冬。其神為辰星，其獸玄武，其音羽，其日壬癸。
What are the five planets? The east is Wood; its emperor is Taihao, its assistant minister is Gou Mang, who holds the compass and governs spring. Its spirit is Jupiter (Suixing), its beast is the Azure Dragon, its tone is jue, and its days are jia and yi. The south is Fire; its emperor is the Flame Emperor, its assistant minister is Zhu Ming, who holds the balance beam and governs summer. Its spirit is Mars (Yinghuo), its beast is the Vermilion Bird, its tone is zhi, and its days are bing and ding. The center is Earth; its emperor is the Yellow Emperor, its assistant minister is Houtu, who holds the cord and regulates the four directions. Its spirit is Saturn (Zhenxing), its beast is the Yellow Dragon, its tone is gong, and its days are wu and ji. The west is Metal; its emperor is Shaohao, its assistant minister is Ru Shou, who holds the square and governs autumn. Its spirit is Venus (Taibai), its beast is the White Tiger, its tone is shang, and its days are geng and xin. The north is Water; its emperor is Zhuanxu, its assistant minister is Xuanming, who holds the weight and governs winter. Its spirit is Mercury (Chenxing), its beast is the Black Tortoise-Snake (Xuanwu), its tone is yu, and its days are ren and gui.
太陰在四仲，則歲星行三宿；太陰在四鉤，則歲星行二宿。二八十六，三四十二，故十二歲而行二十八宿。日行十二分度之，歲行三十度十六分度之七，十二歲而周。熒惑常以十月入太微，受制而出行列宿，司無道之國，為亂為賊，為疾為喪，為饑為兵，出入無常，辯變其色，時見時匿。鎮星以甲寅元始建鬥，歲鎮行一宿，當居而弗居，其國亡土；未當居而居之，其國益地，歲熟。日行二十八分度之一，歲行十三度百一十二分度之五，二十八歲而周。太白元始以正月建寅，與熒惑晨出東方，二百四十日而入，入百二十日而夕出西方，二百四十日而入，入三十五日而復出東方。出以辰戌，入以丑未。當出而不出，未當入而入，天下偃兵；當入而不入，當出而不出，天下興兵。辰星正四時，常以二月春分效奎、婁，以五月夏至效東井、輿鬼，以八月秋分效角、亢，以十一月冬至效鬥、牽牛。出以辰戌，入以丑未，出二旬而入。晨候之東方，夕候之西方。一時不出，其時不和；四時不出，天下大飢。
When Taiyin is in the four mid-positions (zi, wu, mao, you), Jupiter travels three lodges; when Taiyin is in the four hooks, Jupiter travels two lodges. Two eights make sixteen and three fours make twelve, so in twelve years it completes the twenty-eight lodges. Each day it travels one twelfth degree (the original text seems to have a gap here), each year thirty degrees and seven sixteenths, and in twelve years makes one circuit. Mars always enters Taiwei in the tenth month, and after being regulated comes out again and passes through the lodges, inspecting states without the Way, causing disorder, banditry, plague, mourning, famine and war; its entry and exit have no fixed rule, it changes its color, and sometimes appears and sometimes hides. Saturn begins from the jiayin origin, established at Dou, and each year it guards one lodge; if it should stay and does not stay, that state loses land; if it should not stay and stays, that state gains land and has good harvests. Each day it travels one twenty-eighth degree, each year thirteen degrees and five one-hundred-twelfths, and in twenty-eight years makes one circuit. Venus at its origin is established at yin in the first month, appears in the east in the morning together with Mars, enters after two hundred and forty days, stays hidden for a hundred and twenty days and then appears in the west at dusk, enters after two hundred and forty days, stays hidden thirty-five days and then appears again in the east. It appears in chen and xu and enters in chou and wei. If it should come out and does not, or should not enter and enters, the world ceases war; if it should enter and does not, or should come out and does not, the world raises war. Mercury is used to rectify the four seasons; it is always verified in the second month at the spring equinox at Kui and Lou, in the fifth month at the summer solstice at Dongjing and Yugui, in the eighth month at the autumn equinox at Jiao and Kang, and in the eleventh month at the winter solstice at Dou and Qianniu. It appears in chen and xu and enters in chou and wei, and having come out stays twenty days before entering. One watches for it in the east in the morning and in the west at dusk. If it does not come out in one season, that season will not be harmonious; if it does not come out in all four seasons, the world will suffer great famine.
何謂八風？距日冬至四十五日條風至，條風至四十五日明庶風至，明庶風至四十五日清明風至，清明風至四十五日景風至，景風至四十五日涼風至，涼風至四十五日閶闔風至，閶闔風至四十五日不周風至，不周風至四十五日廣莫風至。條風至則出輕繫，去稽留。明庶風至則正封疆，修田疇。清明風至則出幣帛，使諸侯。景風至則爵有位，賞有功。涼風至則報地德，祀四郊。閶闔風至則收縣垂，琴瑟不張。不周風至則修宮室，繕邊城。廣莫風至則閉關梁，決刑罰。
What are the eight winds? Forty-five days after the winter solstice, the Tiao wind arrives; forty-five days after the Tiao wind, the Mingshu wind arrives; forty-five days after the Mingshu wind, the Qingming wind arrives; forty-five days after the Qingming wind, the Jing wind arrives; forty-five days after the Jing wind, the Liang wind arrives; forty-five days after the Liang wind, the Changhe wind arrives; forty-five days after the Changhe wind, the Buzhou wind arrives; forty-five days after the Buzhou wind, the Guangmo wind arrives. When the Tiao wind arrives, release prisoners with light offenses and remove delays. When the Mingshu wind arrives, rectify the borders and tend the fields. When the Qingming wind arrives, bring out silks and send missions to the feudal lords. When the Jing wind arrives, give rank to those in office and reward those with merit. When the Liang wind arrives, repay the virtue of Earth and sacrifice at the four suburbs. When the Changhe wind arrives, put away the hanging musical instruments and no longer string the qin and se. When the Buzhou wind arrives, repair the palaces and fix the border cities. When the Guangmo wind arrives, close the passes and bridges and decide punishments.
何謂五官？東方為田，南方為司馬，西方為理，北方為司空，中央為都。
What are the five officials? The east is Tian (Fields), the south is Sima (Marshal), the west is Li (Judge), the north is Sikong (Works), and the center is Du (Capital).
何謂六府？子午、丑未、寅申、卯酉、辰戌、巳亥是也。
What are the six storehouses? They are zi-wu, chou-wei, yin-shen, mao-you, chen-xu and si-hai.
太微者，太一之庭也。紫宮者，太一之居也。軒轅者，帝妃之舍也。咸池者，水魚之囿也。天阿者，群神之闕也。四宮者，所以為司賞罰。太微者主朱雀，紫宮執鬥而左旋，日行一度，以周於天。日冬至峻狼之山，日移一度，凡行百八十二度八分度之五，而夏至牛首之山。反覆三百六十五度四分度之一而成一歲。
Taiwei is the court of Taiyi. The Purple Palace is the dwelling of Taiyi. Xuanyuan is the residence of the emperor's consorts. Xianchi is the garden of the water fish. Tian'e is the gate-tower of the multitude of spirits. The four palaces are used to oversee rewards and punishments. Taiwei oversees the Vermilion Bird. The Purple Palace holds the Big Dipper and rotates to the left, one degree each day, circling around Heaven. At the winter solstice the sun reaches Mount Junlang and moves one degree each day, traveling a total of one hundred and eighty-two degrees and five eighths, and reaches Mount Niushou at the summer solstice. Going back and forth through three hundred sixty-five and a quarter degrees makes one year.
天一元始，正月建寅，日月俱入營室五度。天一以始建七十六歲，日月復以正月入營室五度，無餘分，名曰一紀。凡二十紀，一千五百二十歲大終，日月星辰復始甲寅元。日行一度，而歲有奇四分度之一，故四歲而積千四百六十一日而復合故舍，八十歲而復故日。
The origin of Tianyi is established at yin in the first month, with the sun and moon both entering Yingshi at five degrees. Seventy-six years after the beginning of Tianyi, the sun and moon again enter Yingshi at five degrees in the first month, with no remainder; this is called one ji. Twenty ji in all, one thousand five hundred and twenty years, make the great end, and the sun, moon and stars begin again from the jiayin origin. The sun travels one degree each day, and the year has an extra quarter degree, so in four years it accumulates one thousand four hundred and sixty-one days and again meets the old position, and in eighty years returns to the old day.
子午、卯酉為二繩，丑寅、辰巳、未申、戌亥為四鉤。東北為報德之維也，西南為背陽之維，東南為常羊之維，西北為蹏通之維。日冬至則鬥北中繩，陰氣極，陽氣萌，故曰冬至為德。日夏至則斗南中繩，陽氣極，陰氣萌，故曰夏至為刑。陰氣極則北至北極，下至黃泉，故不可以鑿地穿井。萬物閉藏，蟄蟲首穴，故曰德在室。陽氣極則南至南極，上至朱天，故不可以夷丘上屋。萬物蕃息，五穀兆長，故曰德在野。日冬至則水從之，日夏至則火從之，故五月火正而水漏，十一月水正而陰勝。陽氣為火，陰氣為水。水勝故夏至溼，火勝故冬至燥。燥故炭輕，溼故炭重。日冬至井水盛，盆水溢，羊脫毛，麋角解，鵲始巢；八尺之修，日中而景丈三尺。日夏至而流黃澤，石精出，蟬始鳴，半夏生，蟁蝱不食駒犢，鷙鳥不搏黃口；八尺之景，脩徑尺五寸。景脩則陰氣勝，景短則陽氣勝。陰氣勝則為水，陽氣勝則為旱。陰陽刑德有七舍。何謂七舍？室、堂、庭、門、巷、術、野。十二月德居室三十日，先日至十五日，後日至十五日而徙，所居各三十日。德在室則刑在野，德在堂則刑在術，德在庭則刑在巷，陰陽相德則刑德合門。八月、二月，陰陽氣均，日夜分平，故曰刑德合門。德南則生，刑南則殺，故曰二月會而萬物生，八月會而草木死。
Zi-wu and mao-you are the two cords, and chou-yin, chen-si, wei-shen and xu-hai are the four hooks. The northeast is the corner of Repaying Virtue, the southwest is the corner of Turning from Yang, the southeast is the corner of Changyang, and the northwest is the corner of Titong. At the winter solstice, the Big Dipper points north and falls right on the cord; yin qi reaches its extreme and yang qi sprouts, so it is said the winter solstice is virtue. At the summer solstice the Big Dipper points south and falls right on the cord; yang qi reaches its extreme and yin qi sprouts, so it is said the summer solstice is punishment. When yin qi reaches its extreme it goes north to the northern pole and down to the Yellow Springs, so one must not dig the ground or sink wells. The myriad things are closed and stored, and hibernating insects pull their heads into their burrows, so it is said virtue is in the room. When yang qi reaches its extreme it goes south to the southern pole and up to Vermilion Heaven, so one must not level hills or climb onto roofs. The myriad things multiply, the five grains begin to grow, so it is said virtue is in the field. At the winter solstice water follows the sun, and at the summer solstice fire follows the sun, so in the fifth month fire holds the command and water seeps away, and in the eleventh month water holds the command and yin prevails. Yang qi is fire and yin qi is water. Water prevails, so the summer solstice is damp; fire prevails, so the winter solstice is dry. Because of dryness, charcoal is light; because of dampness, charcoal is heavy. At the winter solstice, well water is abundant, basin water overflows, sheep shed their wool, elk shed their horns, and magpies begin to build nests; with an eight-foot gnomon, the shadow at noon is thirteen feet long. At the summer solstice, sulfur emerges from the marshes, stone essence appears, cicadas begin to sing, the ban xia plant grows, mosquitoes and gadflies do not bite colts and calves, raptors do not strike yellow-mouthed chicks; with an eight-foot gnomon the shadow is one foot five inches long. When the shadow is long, yin qi prevails; when the shadow is short, yang qi prevails. When yin qi prevails there is water, and when yang qi prevails there is drought. Yin and yang, punishment and virtue, have seven lodgings. What are the seven lodgings? The room, hall, courtyard, gate, lane, path and field. In the twelve months, virtue stays in the room for thirty days, moving fifteen days before the solstice and fifteen days after the solstice, and each stay is thirty days. When virtue is in the room, punishment is in the field; when virtue is in the hall, punishment is on the path; when virtue is in the courtyard, punishment is in the lane; when yin and yang are matched, punishment and virtue meet at the gate. In the eighth month and the second month, yin and yang qi are equal and day and night are evenly divided, so it is said punishment and virtue meet at the gate. When virtue faces south it gives life, and when punishment faces south it kills, so it is said that in the second month they meet and the myriad things are born, and in the eighth month they meet and plants and trees die.
兩維之間，九十一度十六分度之五，而升日行一度，十五日為一節，以生二十四時之變。鬥指子則冬至，音比黃鐘；加十五日指癸則小寒，音比應鐘；加十五日指醜則大寒，音比無射；加十五日指報德之維，則越陰在地，故曰距日冬至四十六日而立春，陽氣凍解，音比南呂；加十五日指寅則雨水，音比夷則；加十五日指甲則雷驚蟄，音比林鐘；加十五日指卯中繩，故曰春分則雷行，音比蕤賓；加十五日指乙則清明風至，音比仲呂；加十五日指辰則穀雨，音比姑洗；加十五日指常羊之維，則春分盡，故曰有四十六日而立夏，大風濟，音比夾鐘；加十五日指巳則小滿，音比太蔟；加十五日指丙則芒種，音比大呂；加十五日指午則陽氣極，故曰有四十六日而夏至，音比黃鐘；加十五日指丁則小暑，音比大呂；加十五日指未則大暑，音比太蔟；加十五日指背陽之維則夏分盡，故曰有四十六日而立秋，涼風至，音比夾鐘；加十五日指申則處暑，音比姑洗；加十五日指庚則白露降，音比仲呂；加十五日指酉中繩，故曰秋分雷戒，蟄蟲北鄉，音比蕤賓；加十五日指辛則寒露，音比林鐘；加十五日指戌則霜降，音比夷則；加十五日指𨂜通之維，則秋分盡，故曰有四十六日而立冬，草木畢死，音比南呂；加十五日指亥則小雪，音比無射；加十五日指壬則大雪，音比應鐘；加十五日指子。故曰：陽生於子，陰生於午。陽生於子，故十一月日冬至，鵲始加巢，人氣鍾首。陰生於午，故五月為小刑，薺麥亭歷枯，冬生草木必死。
Between the two corners is ninety-one degrees and five sixteenths, and the rising sun travels one degree each day; fifteen days make one node, which generates the changes of the twenty-four periods. When the Dipper handle points to zi it is the winter solstice, with the tone matched to Huangzhong; after another fifteen days it points to gui, which is Minor Cold, with the tone matched to Yingzhong; after another fifteen days it points to chou, which is Major Cold, with the tone matched to Wuyi; after another fifteen days it points to the corner of Repaying Virtue, and it passes yin while in the earth, so it is said that forty-six days after the winter solstice comes the start of spring, when yang qi loosens the frozen ground, with the tone matched to Nanlu; after another fifteen days it points to yin, which is Rain Water, with the tone matched to Yize; after another fifteen days it points to jia, which is the Waking of Insects by thunder, with the tone matched to Linzhong; after another fifteen days it points to mao, falling right on the cord, so it is said that at the spring equinox thunder moves, with the tone matched to Ruibin; after another fifteen days it points to yi and the Qingming wind arrives, with the tone matched to Zhonglu; after another fifteen days it points to chen, which is Grain Rain, with the tone matched to Guxi; after another fifteen days it points to the corner of Changyang, the spring equinox ends, so it is said that forty-six days later comes the start of summer, when the great wind stops, with the tone matched to Jiazhong; after another fifteen days it points to si, which is Grain Buds, with the tone matched to Taicou; after another fifteen days it points to bing, which is Grain in Ear, with the tone matched to Dalu; after another fifteen days it points to wu, when yang qi reaches its extreme, so it is said that forty-six days later comes the summer solstice, with the tone matched to Huangzhong; after another fifteen days it points to ding, which is Minor Heat, with the tone matched to Dalu; after another fifteen days it points to wei, which is Major Heat, with the tone matched to Taicou; after another fifteen days it points to the corner of Turning from Yang and the summer division ends, so it is said that forty-six days later comes the start of autumn, when the cool wind arrives, with the tone matched to Jiazhong; after another fifteen days it points to shen, which is End of Heat, with the tone matched to Guxi; after another fifteen days it points to geng and white dew falls, with the tone matched to Zhonglu; after another fifteen days it points to you, falling right on the cord, so it is said that at the autumn equinox thunder is put away and hibernating insects turn north, with the tone matched to Ruibin; after another fifteen days it points to xin, which is Cold Dew, with the tone matched to Linzhong; after another fifteen days it points to xu, which is Frost's Descent, with the tone matched to Yize; after another fifteen days it points to the corner of Titong (the original has a rare character here), the autumn division ends, so it is said that forty-six days later comes the start of winter, when plants and trees all die, with the tone matched to Nanlu; after another fifteen days it points to hai, which is Minor Snow, with the tone matched to Wuyi; after another fifteen days it points to ren, which is Major Snow, with the tone matched to Yingzhong; after another fifteen days it points to zi again. So it is said: Yang is born at zi and yin is born at wu. Because yang is born at zi, in the eleventh month at the winter solstice, magpies begin to add to their nests and human qi gathers in the head. Because yin is born at wu, the fifth month is the minor punishment, when shepherd's purse, wheat and dog mustard wither, and plants and trees born in winter must die.
斗杓為小歲，正月建寅，月從左行十二辰。咸池為太歲，二月建卯，月從右行四仲，終而復始。太歲迎者辱，背者強，左者衰，右者昌。小歲東南則生，西北則殺，不可迎也，而可背也，不可左也，而可右也，其此之謂也。大時者，咸池也；小時者，月建也。
The Dipper handle is the small year; the first month is established at yin, and each month it travels left through the twelve branches. Xianchi is the Great Year (Taisui); the second month is established at mao, and each month it travels right through the four mid-positions, then begins again. Facing the Taisui brings disgrace, turning one's back to it brings strength, to its left is decline and to its right is prosperity. The small year, when in the southeast gives life and when in the northwest kills; one must not face it but may turn one's back, one must not be on its left but may be on its right. This is what is meant. The great time is Xianchi, and the small time is the month's establishment.
天維建元，常以寅始起，右徙一歲而移，十二歲而大周天，終而復始。
The Heavenly cord establishes the origin, always beginning at yin and moving to the right, shifting one branch each year, and after twelve years makes a great circuit of Heaven, ending and beginning again.
淮南元年冬，太一在丙子，冬至甲午，立春丙子。二陰一陽成氣二，二陽一陰成氣三，合氣而為音，合陰而為陽，合陽而為律，故曰五音六律。音自倍而為日，律自倍而為辰，故日十而辰十二。月日行十三度七十六分度之二十六，二十九日九百四十分日之四百九十九而為月，而以十二月為歲。歲有餘十日九百四十分日之八百二十七，故十九歲而七閏。日冬至子午，夏至卯酉，冬至加三日，則夏至之日也。歲遷六日，終而復始。
In the winter of the first year of Huainan, Taiyi was at bingzi, the winter solstice was jiawu, and the start of spring was bingzi. Two yin and one yang combine to make two qi, two yang and one yin combine to make three qi; combining qi makes tones, combining yin makes yang, combining yang makes pitches, so it is said the five tones and six pitches. Tones doubled by themselves make the days, pitches doubled by themselves make the branches, so the days number ten and the branches number twelve. The moon travels thirteen degrees and twenty-six seventy-sixths each day, and twenty-nine days and four hundred ninety-nine nine-hundred-fortieths of a day make one month, and twelve months are taken as one year. One year has a remainder of ten days and eight hundred twenty-seven nine-hundred-fortieths of a day, so in nineteen years there are seven intercalary months. The sun's winter solstice is at zi-wu and its summer solstice at mao-you; add three days to the winter solstice and it is the day of the summer solstice. Each year moves six days, ending and beginning again.
壬午冬至，甲子受制，木用事，火煙青。七十二日丙子受制，火用事，火煙赤。七十二日戊子受制，土用事，火煙黃。七十二日庚子受制，金用事，火煙白。七十二日壬子受制，水用事，火煙黑。七十二日而歲終，庚子受制。歲遷六日，以數推之，七十歲而復至甲子。甲子受制則行柔惠，挺群禁，開闔扇，通障塞，毋伐木。丙子受制則舉賢良，賞有功，立封侯，出貨財。戊子受制則養老鰥寡，行糦鬻，施恩澤。庚子受制則繕牆垣，修城郭，審群禁，飾兵甲，儆百官，誅不法。壬子受制則閉門閭，大搜客，斷刑罰，殺當罪，息關梁，禁外徙。
With the winter solstice on renwu, jiazi takes control, Wood holds the command, and the fire smoke is blue-green. Seventy-two days later bingzi takes control, Fire holds the command, and the fire smoke is red. Seventy-two days later wuzi takes control, Earth holds the command, and the fire smoke is yellow. Seventy-two days later gengzi takes control, Metal holds the command, and the fire smoke is white. Seventy-two days later renzi takes control, Water holds the command, and the fire smoke is black. Seventy-two days later the year ends, and gengzi takes control. Each year moves six days, and by calculation after seventy years it returns to jiazi. When jiazi takes control, carry out gentle favors, relax the prohibitions, open gates, clear obstructions, and do not fell trees. When bingzi takes control, promote the worthy and good, reward the meritorious, establish marquises, and bring out goods and wealth. When wuzi takes control, support the aged, widowers and widows, serve porridge and food, and bestow favor. When gengzi takes control, repair walls, mend city walls, examine the prohibitions, put armor and weapons in order, warn the hundred officials, and execute the lawless. When renzi takes control, close gates and village gates, search thoroughly for outside visitors, decide punishments, kill those who deserve it, halt the passes and bridges, and forbid moving outward.
甲子氣燥濁，丙子氣燥陽，戊子氣溼濁，庚子氣燥寒，壬子氣清寒。丙子干甲子，蟄蟲早出，故雷早行。戊子干甲子，胎夭卵毈，鳥蟲多傷。庚子干甲子，有兵。壬子干甲子，春有霜。戊子干丙子，霆。庚子干丙子，夷。壬子干丙子，雹。甲子干丙子，地動。庚子干戊子，五穀有殃。壬子干戊子，夏寒雨霜。甲子干戊子，介蟲不為。丙子干戊子，大旱，眾封熯。壬子干庚子，大剛，魚不為。甲子干庚子，草木再死再生。丙子干庚子，草木復榮。戊子干庚子，歲或存或亡。甲子干壬子，冬乃不藏。丙子干壬子，星隊。戊子干壬子，蟄蟲冬出其鄉。庚子干壬子，冬雷其鄉。
The qi of jiazi is dry and turbid, the qi of bingzi is dry and yang, the qi of wuzi is damp and turbid, the qi of gengzi is dry and cold, the qi of renzi is clear and cold. When bingzi encroaches on jiazi, hibernating insects emerge early, so thunder moves early. When wuzi encroaches on jiazi, embryos die young and eggs spoil, and birds and insects are often harmed. When gengzi encroaches on jiazi, there is war. When renzi encroaches on jiazi, there is frost in spring. When wuzi encroaches on bingzi, there are thunderbolts. When gengzi encroaches on bingzi, there are wounds from leveling. When renzi encroaches on bingzi, there is hail. When jiazi encroaches on bingzi, the earth shakes. When gengzi encroaches on wuzi, the five grains suffer calamity. When renzi encroaches on wuzi, summer is cold and frost falls. When jiazi encroaches on wuzi, shelled creatures do not mature. When bingzi encroaches on wuzi, there is great drought and many fiefs are scorched dry. When renzi encroaches on gengzi, it is too hard and fish do not mature. When jiazi encroaches on gengzi, plants and trees die twice and live twice. When bingzi encroaches on gengzi, plants and trees flourish twice. When wuzi encroaches on gengzi, the year sometimes survives and sometimes perishes. When jiazi encroaches on renzi, winter in the end does not close and store. When bingzi encroaches on renzi, stars fall. When wuzi encroaches on renzi, hibernating insects leave their homes in winter. When gengzi encroaches on renzi, thunder sounds in winter in that region.
季春三月，豐隆乃出，以將其雨。至秋三月，地氣不藏，乃收其殺，百蟲蟄伏，靜居閉戶，青女乃出，以降霜雪。行十二時之氣，以至於仲春二月之夕，乃收其藏而閉其寒，女夷鼓歌，以司天和，以長百穀禽鳥草木。孟夏之月，以熟穀禾，雄鳩長鳴，為帝候歲。
In the third month of late spring, Fenglong comes out, leading the rain. In the three months of autumn, when the earth's qi no longer closes and stores, the killing qi is gathered in, a hundred insects hibernate, people stay quietly with doors shut, and the Blue Maiden comes out and sends down frost and snow. The qi of the twelve seasons moves on, until the evening of the second month of mid-spring, when what was stored is gathered in and the cold qi is shut away; Nüyi beats a drum and sings, presiding over the harmony of Heaven, to nurture and grow the hundred grains, birds, plants and trees. In the first month of summer she makes the grain ripen, and the male dove calls long, watching for the harvest on behalf of the emperor.
是故天不發其陰，則萬物不生；地不發其陽，則萬物不成。天圓地方，道在中央。日為德，月為刑。月歸而萬物死，日至而萬物生。遠山則山氣藏，遠水則水蟲蟄，遠木則木葉槁。日五日不見，失其位也，聖人不與也。
So if Heaven does not release its yin, the myriad things are not born; if Earth does not release its yang, the myriad things are not completed. Heaven is round and Earth is square, and the Way is in the center. The sun is virtue and the moon is punishment. When the moon returns, the myriad things die; when the sun arrives, the myriad things live. When far from mountains, the mountain qi is shut away; when far from water, the water creatures hibernate; when far from trees, the tree leaves wither. If the sun is not seen for five days, it has lost its position, and the sage does not approve.
日出於暘谷，浴於咸池，拂於扶桑，是謂晨明。登於扶桑，爰始將行，是謂朏明。至於曲阿，是謂旦明。至於曾泉，是謂蚤食。至於桑野，是謂晏食。至於衡陽，是謂隅中。至於昆吾，是謂正中。至於鳥次，是謂小還。至於悲谷，是謂餔時。至於女紀，是謂大還。至於淵虞，是謂高舂。至於連石，是謂下舂。至於悲泉，爰止其女，爰息其馬，是謂縣車。至於虞淵，是謂黃昏。至於蒙谷，是謂定昏。日入於虞淵之汜，曙於蒙谷之浦，行九州七舍，有五億萬七千三百九里，禹以為朝、晝、昏、夜。
The sun comes out of Yanggu, bathes in Xianchi, and brushes past Fusang; this is called Morning Light. It climbs onto Fusang and then begins to travel; this is called Dawn Brightness. When it reaches Qu'e, this is called Early Meal. When it reaches Zengquan, this is called Morning Meal. When it reaches Sangye, this is called Late Meal. When it reaches Hengyang, this is called Yuzhong. When it reaches Kunwu, this is called Midday. When it reaches Niaoci, this is called Small Return. When it reaches Beigu, this is called Bushi. When it reaches Nüji, this is called Great Return. When it reaches Yuanyu, this is called High Pounding Time. When it reaches Lianshi, this is called Low Pounding Time. When it reaches Beiquan, it stops Xihe and rests the horses; this is called Hanging the Chariot. When it reaches Yuyuan, this is called Dusk. When it reaches Menggu, this is called Settled Dusk. The sun enters the water's edge of Yuyuan and dawns at the estuary of Menggu, traveling the nine provinces and seven lodgings, five hundred million seven thousand three hundred and nine li, which Yu used to divide into morning, day, dusk and night.
夏日至則陰乘陽，是以萬物就而死；冬日至則陽乘陰，是以萬物仰而生。晝者陽之分，夜者陰之分，是以陽氣勝則日修而夜短，陰氣勝則日短而夜修。
At the summer solstice yin rides on yang, so the myriad things tend toward death; at the winter solstice yang rides on yin, so the myriad things rise up and live. Day is the share of yang, night is the share of yin, so when yang qi prevails the days are long and the nights short, and when yin qi prevails the days are short and the nights long.
帝張四維，運之以鬥，月徙一辰，復反其所。正月指寅，十二月指醜，一歲而匝，終而復始。指寅，則萬物螾螾也，律受太蔟。太蔟者，蔟而未出也。指卯，卯則茂茂然，律受夾鐘。夾鐘者，種始莢也。指辰，辰則振之也，律受姑洗。姑洗者，陳去而新來也。指巳，巳則生已定也，律受仲呂。仲呂者，中充大也。指午，午者，忤也，律受蕤賓。蕤賓者，安而服也。指未，未，昧也，律受林鐘。林鐘者，引而止也。指申，申者，呻之也，律受夷則。夷則者，易其則也，德以去矣。指酉，酉者，飽也，律受南呂。南呂者，任包大也。指戌，戌者，滅也，律受無射。無射，入無厭也。指亥，亥者，閡也，律受應鐘。應鐘者，應其鐘也。指子，子者，茲也，律受黃鐘。黃鐘者，鐘已黃也。指醜，醜者，紐也，律受大呂。大呂者，旅旅而去也。其加卯酉，則陰陽分，日夜平矣。故曰規生矩殺，衡長權藏，繩居中央，為四時根。
The emperor spreads the four corners and uses the Big Dipper to turn them, moving one branch each month and returning to the starting place. In the first month it points to yin, in the twelfth month to chou, making one circuit in a year, ending and beginning again. When it points to yin, the myriad things stir and wriggle, and the pitch received is Taicou. Taicou means gathered and not yet out. When it points to mao, mao means lush, and the pitch received is Jiazhong. Jiazhong means seeds begin to form pods. When it points to chen, chen means to rouse it, and the pitch received is Guxi. Guxi means the old goes out and the new arrives. When it points to si, si means life is already settled, and the pitch received is Zhonglu. Zhonglu means the center is full and large. When it points to wu, wu means opposing, and the pitch received is Ruibin. Ruibin means settled and submitting. When it points to wei, wei means obscure, and the pitch received is Linzhong. Linzhong means drawn out and stopped. When it points to shen, shen means groaning, and the pitch received is Yize. Yize means changing its rule, virtue having already departed. When it points to you, you means full, and the pitch received is Nanlu. Nanlu means bearing and enclosing the great. When it points to xu, xu means extinguished, and the pitch received is Wuyi. Wuyi means entering without weariness. When it points to hai, hai means separation, and the pitch received is Yingzhong. Yingzhong means answering that bell. When it points to zi, zi means here is born, and the pitch received is Huangzhong. Huangzhong means the bell has already turned yellow. When it points to chou, chou means knotting, and the pitch received is Dalu. Dalu means going away in company. When added to mao and you, yin and yang separate and day and night are equal. So it is said the compass governs life, the square governs killing, the balance governs growth, the weight governs storage, and the cord dwells in the center, the root of the four seasons.
道曰規，始於一，一而不生，故分而為陰陽，陰陽合和而萬物生，故曰「一生二，二生三，三生萬物」。天地三月而為一時，故祭祀三飯以為禮，喪紀三踴以為節，兵重三罕以為制。以三參物，三三如九，故黃鐘之律九寸而宮音調。因而九之，九九八十一，故黃鐘之數立焉。黃者，土德之色；鐘者，氣之所種也。日冬至德氣為土，土色黃，故曰黃鐘。律之數六，分為雌雄，故曰十二鐘，以副十二月。十二各以三成，故置一而十一，三之，為積分十七萬七千一百四十七，黃鐘大數立焉。凡十二律，黃鐘為宮，太蔟為商，姑洗為角，林鐘為徵，南呂為羽。物以三成，音以五立，三與五如八，故卵生者八竅。律之初生也，寫鳳之音，故音以八生。黃鐘為宮，宮者，音之君也，故黃鐘位子，其數八十一，主十一月，下生林鐘。林鐘之數五十四，主六月，上生太蔟。太蔟之數七十二，主正月，下生南呂。南呂之數四十八，主八月，上生姑洗。姑洗之數六十四，主三月，下生應鐘。應鐘之數四十二，主十月，上生蕤賓。蕤賓之數五十七，主五月，上生大呂。大呂之數七十六，主十二月，下生夷則。夷則之數五十一，主七月，上生夾鐘。夾鐘之數六十八，主二月，下生無射。無射之數四十五，主九月，上生仲呂。仲呂之數六十，主四月，極不生。徵生宮，宮生商，商生羽，羽生角，角生姑洗，姑洗生應鐘，比於正音，故為和。應鐘生蕤賓，不比正音，故為繆。日冬至，音比林鐘，浸以濁。日夏至，音比黃鐘，浸以清。以十二律應二十四時之變，甲子，仲呂之徵也；丙子，夾鐘之羽也；戊子，黃鐘之宮也；庚子，無射之商也；壬子，夷則之角也。
The Way is called the compass and begins from one. But one does not give birth, so it divides into yin and yang, and yin and yang unite in harmony and the myriad things are born; hence it is said, "One gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, three gives birth to the myriad things." Heaven and Earth take three months to make one season, so in sacrifice three servings of rice are a ritual, in mourning three leaps are a rule, in military matters three repetitions of orders are an institution. Using three to test things, three threes make nine, so the Huangzhong pitch is nine inches long and the gong tone is in harmony. So multiplying by nine again gives nine nines, eighty-one, and the number of Huangzhong is settled. Yellow is the color of the virtue of Earth, and the bell is where qi is planted. At the winter solstice, the qi of virtue is Earth, and the color of Earth is yellow, so it is called Huangzhong. The number of the pitches is six, divided into male and female, so it is said twelve bells, matching the twelve months. Each of the twelve is completed by three, so one is set down and eleven are added, multiplied by three, and the accumulated parts come to one hundred seventy-seven thousand one hundred forty-seven, and the great number of Huangzhong is settled. In all twelve pitches, Huangzhong is gong, Taicou is shang, Guxi is jue, Linzhong is zhi, and Nanlu is yu. Things are completed with three and tones are established with five; three and five make eight, so egg-born creatures have eight orifices. When the pitches were first born, they imitated the sound of the phoenix, so tones are born with eight. Huangzhong is gong, and gong is the ruler of tones, so Huangzhong is placed at zi, its number is eighty-one, it governs the eleventh month, and gives birth downward to Linzhong. Linzhong's number is fifty-four, it governs the sixth month, and gives birth upward to Taicou. Taicou's number is seventy-two, it governs the first month, and gives birth downward to Nanlu. Nanlu's number is forty-eight, it governs the eighth month, and gives birth upward to Guxi. Guxi's number is sixty-four, it governs the third month, and gives birth downward to Yingzhong. Yingzhong's number is forty-two, it governs the tenth month, and gives birth upward to Ruibin. Ruibin's number is fifty-seven, it governs the fifth month, and gives birth upward to Dalu. Dalu's number is seventy-six, it governs the twelfth month, and gives birth downward to Yize. Yize's number is fifty-one, it governs the seventh month, and gives birth upward to Jiazhong. Jiazhong's number is sixty-eight, it governs the second month, and gives birth downward to Wuyi. Wuyi's number is forty-five, it governs the ninth month, and gives birth upward to Zhonglu. Zhonglu's number is sixty, it governs the fourth month, and having reached the extreme gives birth no more. Zhi gives birth to gong, gong gives birth to shang, shang gives birth to yu, yu gives birth to jue, jue gives birth to Guxi, Guxi gives birth to Yingzhong; this attaches to the correct tones and so is harmony. Yingzhong gives birth to Ruibin, which does not attach to the correct tones and so is error. At the winter solstice the tone is matched to Linzhong and gradually becomes turbid. At the summer solstice the tone is matched to Huangzhong and gradually becomes clear. The twelve pitches are used to respond to the changes of the twenty-four periods: jiazi is the zhi of Zhonglu, bingzi is the yu of Jiazhong, wuzi is the gong of Huangzhong, gengzi is the shang of Wuyi, and renzi is the jue of Yize.
古之為度量輕重，生乎天道。黃鐘之律脩九寸，物以三生，三九二十七，故幅廣二尺七寸。音以八相生，故人脩八尺，尋自倍，故八尺而為尋。有形則有聲，音之數五，以五乘八，五八四十，故四丈而為匹。匹者，中人之度也。一匹而為制。秋分蔈定，蔈定而禾熟。律之數十二，故十二蔈而當一粟，十二粟而當一寸。律以當辰，音以當日，日之數十，故十寸而為尺，十尺而為丈。其以為量，十二粟而當一分，十二分而當一銖，十二銖而當半兩。衡有左右，因倍之，故二十四銖為一兩。天有四時，以成一歲，因而四之，四四十六，故十六兩而為一觔。三月而為一時，三十日為一月，故三十觔為一鈞。四時而為一歲，故四鈞為一石。其以為音也，一律而生五音，十二律而為六十音，因而六之，六六三十六，故三百六十音以當一歲之日。故律曆之數，天地之道也。下生者倍，以三除之；上生者四，以三除之。
In ancient times measures of length and weight were produced from the Way of Heaven. The Huangzhong pitch is nine inches long, things are produced with three, three nines make twenty-seven, so the width of cloth is two feet seven inches. Tones are produced successively with eight, so a person is eight feet tall, and the span (xun) is double oneself, so eight feet make one span. Where there is form there is sound, and the number of tones is five; five times eight, five eights are forty, so four zhang make one pi (bolt). A pi is the measure of an average person. One pi makes one regulation. At the autumn equinox the awns (the beards of grain ears) are settled, and when the awns are settled the grain ripens. The number of pitches is twelve, so twelve awns equal one millet grain, and twelve millet grains equal one inch. Pitches are matched to the branches and tones to the days; the number of days is ten, so ten inches make a foot and ten feet make a zhang. For capacity, twelve millet grains equal one fen, twelve fen equal one zhu, and twelve zhu equal half a liang. A balance has left and right, so it is doubled, and twenty-four zhu make one liang. Heaven has four seasons that make one year, so multiply by four, four fours make sixteen, so sixteen liang make one jin. Three months make one season, thirty days make one month, so thirty jin make one jun. Four seasons make one year, so four jun make one shi. Applied to tones, one pitch produces five tones, and twelve pitches make sixty tones, so multiplying by six, six sixes make thirty-six, so three hundred sixty tones correspond to the days of the year. So the numbers of the pitches and calendar are the Way of Heaven and Earth. For downward generation, double and then divide by three; for upward generation, multiply by four and then divide by three.
太陰元始，建於甲寅，一終而建甲戌，二終而建甲午，三終而復得甲寅之元。歲徙一辰，立春之後，得其辰而遷其所順，前三後五，百事可舉。
The origin of Taiyin is established at jiayin; after one cycle it is established at jiaxu, after two cycles at jiawu, and after three cycles it again reaches the jiayin origin. Each year it moves one branch, and after the start of spring, having reached that branch, it moves again to what it follows, three ahead and five behind, and all affairs can be undertaken.