A Summary of The Supreme Principles Governing the World

臣等謹案：《皇極經世書》十四卷，宋邵雍撰。邵子數學本於李挺之、穆修，而其源出於陳摶。當李挺之初見邵子於百泉，即授以義理性命之學。其作《皇極經世》蓋出於物理之學，所謂“易外別傳者”是也。

We have carefully examined: The "Supreme Principles Governing the World" consists of fourteen volumes and was written by Shao Yong of the Northern Song dynasty. Shao Yong, whose courtesy name was Yaofu and posthumous name was Kangjie, studied "mathematics," which is a discipline that uses numbers to investigate the principles of the universe and all things. This discipline was directly passed down from Li Zhicai (courtesy name Tingshi) and Mu Xiu, and its origin can be traced further back to Chen Tuan, a Taoist priest from Huashan. When Li Zhicai first met Shao Yong in Gongcheng Baiquan, he immediately taught him the "study of meaning, reason, nature, and destiny" — a discipline that explores heavenly principles, human nature, and destiny. As for Shao Yong's writing of the "Supreme Principles Governing the World," it was based on the "study of physical principles," which investigates the principles of the generation and transformation of all things. This is what previous scholars referred to as "an independent transmission outside the Yi Jing": not following the traditional approach of commenting on the text, but instead establishing a separate system outside the Zhou Yi, using numbers and symbolic images to deduce the changes of heaven and earth throughout history.

其書以元經會，以會經運，以運經世，起於帝堯甲辰，至後周顯德六年己未，而興亡治亂之跡皆以卦象推之。朱子謂《皇極》是推步之書，可謂能得其要領。朱子又嘗謂：“自《易》以後，無人做得一物如此整齊，包括得盡。”又謂：“康節《易》看了，卻看別人的不得。”

This book is arranged in three layers: first, "using the yuan to encompass the twelve hui," using one yuan to govern twelve hui; second, "using the hui to encompass the thirty yun," using one hui to govern thirty yun; finally, "using the yun to encompass the world," using one yun to govern twelve shi, each shi being thirty years, thus making the years concrete. The parts with historical events start from the year Jiachen of Emperor Yao's reign (traditionally dated to 2357 BCE), and end with the sixth year of Xiande in the Later Zhou dynasty, Jiwei (959 CE). The traces of rise and fall, peace and chaos of dynasties are all calculated using hexagrams. Zhu Xi said that "Huangji Jingshi" is a "tui bu" book. "Tui bu" originally refers to the astronomical science of calculating the movements of the sun, moon, and five planets. Using these three characters to define it captures the essence. Zhu Xi also said that since the "Zhou Yi," no one has been able to organize a system as neat and comprehensive as this; he also said that after reading Shao Kangjie's "Yi" studies, others' works are no longer worth reading.

而張崏亦謂：“此書本以天道質以人事，辭約而義廣，天下之能事畢矣。”蓋自邵子始為此學，其後自張行成、祝泌等數家以外，能明其理者甚鮮。故世人卒莫窮其作用之所以。

Zhang Xingcheng also said: This book takes the heavenly way as its foundation and uses human affairs to verify it. Its wording is concise but its meaning is broad, encompassing all the studies available in the world. This discipline was first established by Shao Yong. After that, except for a few scholars such as Zhang Xingcheng and Zhu Bi in the Southern Song dynasty, few people could truly explain its principles. Therefore, the world has never fully understood how this system of deduction actually works.

然其起而議之者，則曰元會運世之分無所依據，十二萬九千餘年之說近於釋氏之劫數，水火土石本於釋氏之地水火風，且五行何以去金、去木？乾在《易》為天，而《經世》為日；兌在《易》為澤，而《經世》為月。以至離之為星，震之為辰，坤之為水，艮之為火，坎之為土，巽之為石，其取象多不與《易》相同，俱難免於牽強不合。

But those who raise doubts also say: the division into yuan, hui, yun, and shi is itself without solid basis; the idea of one yuan being twelve thousand nine hundred and sixty years is similar to the Buddhist concept of 'kalpa'; taking water, fire, earth, and stone as the fundamental substances of all things is based on the Buddhist elements of earth, water, fire, and wind; moreover, why can the five phases exclude metal and wood? For example, the Qian trigram, which symbolizes heaven in the Zhou Yi, is paired with 'sun' in the Huang Ji Jing Shi; the Dui trigram, which symbolizes marsh in the Zhou Yi, is paired with 'moon' here; and so on, with Li paired with 'star', Zhen with 'chén', Kun with 'water', Gen with 'fire', Kan with 'earth', and Xun with 'stone'. The imagery used here differs greatly from that in the Zhou Yi, and there are many instances of forced interpretations and inconsistencies.

然邵子在當日用以占驗，無不奇中，故歷代皆重其書。且其自述大旨，亦不專於象數。如云“天下之事，始過於重，猶卒於輕；始過於厚，猶卒於薄”，又云“學以人事為大”，又云“治生於亂，亂生於治。聖人貴未然之防，是謂《易》之大綱”，又云“天下將治，則人必尚義也；天下將亂，則人必尚利也。尚義則謙讓之風行焉，尚利則攘奪之風行焉”類，皆立義正大，垂訓深切。是《經世》一書雖明天道，而實責成於人事。洵粹然儒者之言，固非讖緯術數家所可同年而語也。

However, Shao Yong once used this system to predict events, and none of his predictions failed to come true, so his writings have been highly valued through the ages. Moreover, he himself explained the main purpose of his entire work, which was not solely focused on images and numbers. For example, he said: the affairs of the world, if started too strongly at the beginning, will eventually become careless; if started too thickly at the beginning, will eventually become shallow. He also said: the study of learning should place the affairs of people as the highest priority. He also said: peace comes from chaos, and chaos comes from peace. The virtue of the sage lies in preventing problems before they occur, which is the main idea of the Zhou Changes. He also said: when the world is about to be well governed, people will certainly value morality; when the world is about to be in chaos, people will certainly value private interests. When people value morality, the风气 of humility and courtesy will prevail; when people value private interests, the风气 of contention will prevail. Such statements are all based on sound reasoning and offer deep guidance to future generations. It is evident that although the book "Huang Ji Jing Shi" explains the heavenly way, it actually places the responsibility on human affairs. Therefore, it is indeed the speech of a true Confucian scholar, and cannot be compared with the superstitious divination and numerology of the谶纬 school.

乾隆四十六年四月恭校上。總纂官臣紀昀，臣陸錫熊，臣孫士毅；總校官臣陸費墀。

In April of the 46th year of the Qianlong reign (1781 AD), after careful compilation and verification, the work was presented for the emperor's inspection. The names listed are the officials of the Siku Quanshu editorial office: the chief editors Ji Yun, Lu Xixiong, and Sun Shiyi, and the chief proofreaders Lu Fei chi. This passage is the signature of the Siku Quanshu editors when presenting the book, indicating that the preceding summary is from the Siku Quanshu Total Catalogue, an official compilation of the entire collection, rather than the original preface of Shao Yong's work.

日甲一，月子一。星甲一：辰子一、辰丑二、辰寅三、辰卯四、辰辰五、辰巳六、辰午七、辰未八、辰申九、辰酉十、辰戌十一、辰亥十二。星乙二：辰子十三、辰丑十四、辰寅十五、辰卯十六、辰辰十七、辰巳十八、辰午十九、辰未二十、辰申二十一、辰酉二十二、辰戌二十三、辰亥二十四。

From here, we enter the first level of deduction in the "Huang Ji Jing Shi" text, known as "Yi Yuan Jing Hui," which means using one Yuan to encompass twelve Hui. The headings "Day," "Month," "Star," and "Chen" represent the four levels of time units: Day as Yuan, Month as Hui, Star as Yun, and Chen as Shi. "Ri Jia Yi" refers to the first Yuan being marked by the heavenly stem Jia; "Yue Zi Yi" refers to the first Hui of this Yuan, marked by the earthly branch Zi. Each line starting with "Xing" refers to a Yun. "Xing Jia Yi" and "Xing Yi Er" are the first and second Yun, respectively. The names of the Yun are marked by the ten heavenly stems, cycling from Jia to Gui. The numbers following indicate their total order within the Yuan. Below each Yun, there are twelve "Chen," representing the twelve Shi under its jurisdiction. The names of the Shi are marked by the twelve earthly branches, cycling from Zi to Hai. The numbers again indicate their total order within the Yuan. One Shi is thirty years, and one Yun with twelve Shi totals three hundred and sixty years. Therefore, "Xing Jia Yi" encompasses the first to twelfth Shi, i.e., the first to three hundred and sixty years of the Yuan; "Xing Yi Er" encompasses the thirteenth to twenty-fourth Shi, i.e., three hundred and sixty-one to seven hundred and twenty years. According to later calculations, the starting year of this Yuan is approximately 67000 years before the common era. There are still seventy-three Yun and twenty-six thousand two hundred and eighty years until the middle of the寅 Hui period, the time of creation.

星丙三：辰子二十五、辰丑二十六、辰寅二十七、辰卯二十八、辰辰二十九、辰巳三十、辰午三十一、辰未三十二、辰申三十三、辰酉三十四、辰戌三十五、辰亥三十六。星丁四：辰子三十七、辰丑三十八、辰寅三十九、辰卯四十、辰辰四十一、辰巳四十二、辰午四十三、辰未四十四、辰申四十五、辰酉四十六、辰戌四十七、辰亥四十八。

The star Bing governs the 25th to 36th generations, corresponding to the 721st to 1080th years of a cycle; the star Ding governs the 37th to 48th generations, corresponding to the 1081st to 1440th years. This table, when viewed horizontally, shows the twelve generations under one cycle, and when viewed vertically, it progresses one cycle at a time. The numbering of generations is continuous, starting from the first generation up to the 4320th generation at the end of a cycle, without restarting due to changes in cycles or periods. After the third cycle, the Zi period has completed thirty-six generations and 1080 years; after the fourth cycle, it has completed forty-eight generations and 1440 years, with twenty-six cycles remaining in this period. There are still seventy-one cycles and 25,560 years left until the beginning of creation. In terms of the entire cycle, it takes three hundred and sixty cycles to complete four cycles.

星戊五：辰子四十九、辰丑五十、辰寅五十一、辰卯五十二、辰辰五十三、辰巳五十四、辰午五十五、辰未五十六、辰申五十七、辰酉五十八、辰戌五十九、辰亥六十。星己六：辰子六十一、辰丑六十二、辰寅六十三、辰卯六十四、辰辰六十五、辰巳六十六、辰午六十七、辰未六十八、辰申六十九、辰酉七十、辰戌七十一、辰亥七十二。

The star戊 five governs the forty-ninth to sixtieth generations, which corresponds to the first 1,441 to 1,800 years of a cycle. The star己 six governs the sixty-first to seventy-second generations, which corresponds to the years 1,801 to 2,160. Shao Yong compared a cycle to a year, with each period of twelve months representing a "he," each day representing a "yun," and each hour representing a "shi." Calculating from the winter solstice to the end of the festival of Great Snow marks the end of a "year." The first "he" corresponds to the beginning of the "year's" coldest season. After the fifth "yun" is completed, this "he" has already passed sixty generations and 1,800 years; after the sixth "yun" is completed, it has passed seventy-two generations and 2,160 years, with twenty-four "yun" remaining. There are still sixty-nine "yun" and 24,840 years until the time of creation.

星庚七：辰子七十三、辰丑七十四、辰寅七十五、辰卯七十六、辰辰七十七、辰巳七十八、辰午七十九、辰未八十、辰申八十一、辰酉八十二、辰戌八十三、辰亥八十四。星辛八：辰子八十五、辰丑八十六、辰寅八十七、辰卯八十八、辰辰八十九、辰巳九十、辰午九十一、辰未九十二、辰申九十三、辰酉九十四、辰戌九十五、辰亥九十六。

The star stem Geng seven governs the 73rd to 84th generations, which corresponds to the 2161st to 2520th years of the first yuán; the star stem Xin eight governs the 85th to 96th generations, which corresponds to the 2521st to 2880th years. The names of the yuán cycle through the ten heavenly stems from Jia to Gui, completing one cycle in ten yuán; the names of the generations cycle through the twelve earthly branches from Zi to Hai, completing one cycle in twelve generations. These two cycles rotate independently, combined with non-repeating sequence numbers, resulting in each of the 4320 generations within a yuán having a unique position. After the eighth yuán is completed, the Zi cycle has carried out 96 generations over 2880 years, leaving 22 more yuán remaining; there are still 67 yuán and 24,120 years until the beginning of creation, and 172 yuán until the first 180 yuán when the Emperor Yao took over.

星壬九：辰子九十七、辰丑九十八、辰寅九十九、辰卯一百、辰辰一百一、辰巳一百二、辰午一百三、辰未一百四、辰申一百五、辰酉一百六、辰戌一百七、辰亥一百八。星癸十：辰子一百九、辰丑一百一十、辰寅一百十一、辰卯一百十二、辰辰一百十三、辰巳一百十四、辰午一百十五、辰未一百十六、辰申一百十七、辰酉一百十八、辰戌一百十九、辰亥一百二十。

The star Ren (壬) governs the 97th to 108th generations, corresponding to the 2881st to 3240th years of the first great cycle; the star Gui (癸) governs the 109th to 120th generations, corresponding to the 3241st to 3600th years, completing the first round of the ten heavenly stems. In the table, the entry 「Chen Chou 110」 is written differently from the entries 「Chen Yin 111」 and 「Chen Mao 112」, but this is merely due to inconsistent numbering characters in the original text, and it still refers to the 110th generation. After the tenth cycle, the Zi (子) cycle has passed 120 generations and 3600 years, which is exactly one third of the full cycle of thirty cycles, leaving twenty cycles remaining; the time until the beginning of creation is still sixty-five cycles and 23,400 years.

星甲十一：辰子一百二十一、辰丑一百二十二、辰寅一百二十三、辰卯一百二十四、辰辰一百二十五、辰巳一百二十六、辰午一百二十七、辰未一百二十八、辰申一百二十九、辰酉一百三十、辰戌一百三十一、辰亥一百三十二。星乙十二：辰子一百三十三、辰丑一百三十四、辰寅一百三十五、辰卯一百三十六、辰辰一百三十七、辰巳一百三十八、辰午一百三十九、辰未一百四十、辰申一百四十一、辰酉一百四十二、辰戌一百四十三、辰亥一百四十四。

The star stem Jia governs the 121st to 132nd generations, corresponding to the 3601st to 3960th years of the first cycle; the star stem Yi governs the 133rd to 144th generations, corresponding to the 3961st to 4320th years. The name of the cycle here again begins with Jia, entering the second round of the ten stems. This shows that the names of the stems are merely markers for a ten-year cycle, and the actual positioning depends on the following sequence numbers. According to Shao Yong's cosmic chronology, the phase of Zi corresponds to the stage of "Heaven opens at Zi," when celestial bodies first formed but the earth and human beings had not yet appeared, so there is only a number recorded without any events to note. After the twelfth cycle, this cycle has covered 144 generations and 4320 years, with 18 cycles remaining; these 4320 years are merely one thirtieth of the full cycle of 129,600 years. There are still 63 cycles and 22,680 years until the time of creation.

星丙十三：辰子一百四十五、辰丑一百四十六、辰寅一百四十七、辰卯一百四十八、辰辰一百四十九、辰巳一百五十、辰午一百五十一、辰未一百五十二、辰申一百五十三、辰酉一百五十四、辰戌一百五十五、辰亥一百五十六。星丁十四：辰子一百五十七、辰丑一百五十八、辰寅一百五十九、辰卯一百六十、辰辰一百六十一、辰巳一百六十二、辰午一百六十三、辰未一百六十四、辰申一百六十五、辰酉一百六十六、辰戌一百六十七、辰亥一百六十八。

The star Bing thirteen oversees the 145th to 156th generations, which corresponds to the years 4321 to 4680 of the first cycle. The star Ding fourteen oversees the 157th to 168th generations, which corresponds to the years 4681 to 5040 of the first cycle. The section "using the cycle to divide into periods" only divides the first cycle into twelve periods, three hundred and sixty ages, and four thousand three hundred and twenty generations, without specifying particular years, so each section is just an empty number. To see the yearly stem and branch, one must refer to the section "using the period to divide into ages" in volume three. The section "using the age to divide into generations" can be detailed down to the monthly level, but that section omits the months due to brevity. The three levels proceed from coarse to fine, which is the order of arrangement throughout the entire text. After the fourteenth age, the first period has completed one hundred and sixty-eight generations and five thousand and forty years, with sixteen ages remaining. The time until the beginning of creation is still sixty-one ages and twenty-one thousand nine hundred and sixty years. In terms of the entire cycle, three hundred and sixty ages make up fourteen ages, and four thousand three hundred and twenty generations make up one hundred and sixty-eight generations.

星戊十五：辰子一百六十九、辰丑一百七十、辰寅一百七十一、辰卯一百七十二、辰辰一百七十三、辰巳一百七十四、辰午一百七十五、辰未一百七十六、辰申一百七十七、辰酉一百七十八、辰戌一百七十九、辰亥一百八十。星己十六：辰子一百八十一、辰丑一百八十二、辰寅一百八十三、辰卯一百八十四、辰辰一百八十五、辰巳一百八十六、辰午一百八十七、辰未一百八十八、辰申一百八十九、辰酉一百九十、辰戌一百九十一、辰亥一百九十二。

The star戊 fifteenth governs the 169th to 180th generations, which corresponds to the 5,441st to 5,400th years of a great cycle; the star己 sixteenth governs the 181st to 192nd generations, which corresponds to the 5,401st to 5,760th years. After the fifteenth cycle is completed, exactly half of the sub-cycle is passed: a sub-cycle consists of thirty cycles, three hundred and sixty generations, and eleven thousand and eight hundred years. At this point, fifteen cycles, one hundred and eighty generations, and five thousand four hundred years have passed. Using the analogy of "a great cycle as a year," this is equivalent to having passed half of December, when the cold is at its peak and vitality has not yet begun to stir, so nothing is recorded in the table. After the sixteenth cycle is completed, this sub-cycle has passed one hundred and ninety-two generations and five thousand seven hundred and sixty years, with fourteen cycles remaining; the time until the creation of things is still fifty-nine cycles and twenty-one thousand two hundred and forty years away. The entire great cycle comprises four thousand three hundred and twenty generations, so only one hundred and ninety-two generations have been passed, still in the early stage of a great cycle.

星庚十七：辰子一百九十三、辰丑一百九十四、辰寅一百九十五、辰卯五百九十六、辰辰一百九十七、辰巳一百九十八、辰午一百九十九、辰未二百、辰申二百一、辰酉二百二、辰戌二百三、辰亥二百四。星辛十八：辰子二百五、辰丑二百六、辰寅二百七、辰卯二百八、辰辰二百九、辰巳二百十、辰午二百十一、辰未二百十二、辰申二百十三、辰酉二百十四、辰戌二百十五、辰亥二百十六。

The star stem Geng seventeen governs the 193rd to 204th generations, that is, the 5761st to 6120th years of a great cycle; the star stem Xin eighteen governs the 205th to 216th generations, that is, the 6121st to 6480th years. Within the entry for "Geng seventeen," the phrase "Chen Mao five hundred ninety-six" should, according to the sequence, be "one hundred ninety-six." The original text here has a carving error, and it remains unchanged. This kind of numerical table may seem dull, but in fact it is the coordinate paper that Shao Yong prepared in advance for the entire history. After the eighteenth movement, the Zi period has already passed 216 generations and 6480 years, with twelve more movements remaining; the time until the creation period is still fifty-seven movements and 20,520 years.

星壬十九：辰子二百十七、辰丑二百十八、辰寅二百十九、辰卯二百二十、辰辰二百二十一、辰巳二百二十二、辰午二百二十三、辰未二百二十四、辰申二百二十五、辰酉二百二十六、辰戌二百二十七、辰亥二百二十八。星癸二十：辰子二百二十九、辰丑二百三十、辰寅二百三十一、辰卯二百三十二、辰辰二百三十三、辰巳二百三十四、辰午二百三十五、辰未二百三十六、辰申二百三十七、辰酉二百三十八、辰戌二百三十九、辰亥二百四十。

The star壬 Nineteenth oversees the 217th to 228th generations, corresponding to the 6481st to 6840th years of the first cycle; the star癸 Twentieth oversees the 229th to 240th generations, corresponding to the 6841st to 7200th years, completing the second round of the ten heavenly stems. A single period consists of thirty cycles, which is exactly three rounds of the ten heavenly stems; twelve periods amount to thirty-six rounds, totaling three hundred and sixty cycles, which is the origin of the term "one cycle consists of three hundred and sixty cycles," corresponding to the three hundred and sixty days of a year. Similarly, one cycle corresponds to one day divided into twelve hours, and one period of thirty cycles corresponds to one month of thirty days. After the completion of the twentieth cycle, the Zi period has passed two hundred and forty generations and seven thousand two hundred years, which is two-thirds of the entire period, leaving ten cycles remaining; there are still fifty-five cycles, or nineteen thousand eight hundred years, until the time of creation. In total, across the entire cycle, twenty cycles, two hundred and forty generations, and seven thousand two hundred years have already passed.

星甲二十一：辰子二百四十一、辰丑二百四十二、辰寅二百四十三、辰卯二百四十四、辰辰二百四十五、辰巳二百四十六、辰午二百四十七、辰未二百四十八、辰申二百四十九、辰酉二百五十、辰戌二百五十一、辰亥二百五十二。星乙二十二：辰子二百五十三、辰丑二百五十四、辰寅二百五十五、辰卯二百五十六、辰辰二百五十七、辰巳二百五十八、辰午二百五十九、辰未二百六十、辰申二百六十一、辰酉二百六十二、辰戌二百六十三、辰亥二百六十四。

The star Jia (甲) governs the 241st to 252nd generations, corresponding to the 7201st to 7560th years of the first cycle; the star Yi (乙) governs the 253rd to 264th generations, corresponding to the 7561st to 7920th years. The third round of ten heavenly stems begins again with the 21st cycle. The thirty cycles of the zodiac are divided into three rounds. Although the numbers in the table are numerous, there are only two rules: each increase of one in the cycle number corresponds to an increase of twelve in the generation number; each increase of one in the generation number corresponds to an increase of thirty in the year. By mastering these two rules, any given entry can be immediately converted into its exact year within the first cycle. After the completion of the 22nd cycle, this society has passed 264 generations and 7920 years, with eight cycles remaining; there are still fifty-three cycles and 19,080 years until the time of creation. The entire cycle of 129,600 years has so far passed 7,920 years.

星丙二十三：辰子二百六十五、辰丑二百六十六、辰寅二百六十七、辰卯二百六十八、辰辰二百六十九、辰巳二百七十、辰午二百七十一、辰未二百七十二、辰申二百七十三、辰酉二百七十四、辰戌二百七十五、辰亥二百七十六。星丁二十四：辰子二百七十七、辰丑二百七十八、辰寅二百七十九、辰卯二百八十、辰辰二百八十一、辰巳二百八十二、辰午二百八十三、辰未二百八十四、辰申二百八十五、辰酉二百八十六、辰戌二百八十七、辰亥二百八十八。

The star Bing (丙) governs the 23rd cycle, covering the 265th to 276th generations, which corresponds to the 7,921st to 8,280th year of a great cycle; the star Ding (丁) governs the 24th cycle, covering the 277th to 288th generations, which corresponds to the 8,281st to 8,640th year. If we compare a great cycle to a year, the Zi period corresponds to the month of Jiuzi (建子), which is the time when yang energy begins to move and all things have not yet formed. The saying 「Heaven opens at Zi」 refers to this period of ten thousand and eight hundred years, during which the celestial bodies were completed. The form of the earth and the emergence of human beings occurred in the subsequent periods. After the completion of the 24th cycle, the Zi period has already passed 288 generations and 8,640 years, leaving only six cycles remaining. There are still fifty-one cycles and 18,360 years until the time of creation. In terms of the entire great cycle, thirty-six cycles have already passed twenty-four cycles, forty-three hundred and twenty generations have passed two hundred and eighty-eight generations, and twelve thousand nine hundred and sixty years have passed eight thousand six hundred and forty years.

星戊二十五：辰子二百八十九、辰丑二百九十、辰寅二百九十一、辰卯二百九十二、辰辰二百九十三、辰巳二百九十四、辰午二百九十五、辰未二百九十六、辰申二百九十七、辰酉二百九十八、辰戌二百九十九、辰亥三百。星己二十六：辰子三百一、辰丑三百二、辰寅三百三、辰卯三百四、辰辰三百五、辰巳三百六、辰午三百七、辰未三百八、辰申三百九、辰酉三百十、辰戌三百十一、辰亥三百十二。

The star戊 (Wu) governs the 25th cycle, covering the 289th to 300th generations, which corresponds to the 8,641st to 9,000th year of the first great cycle; the star己 (Ji) governs the 26th cycle, covering the 301st to 312th generations, which corresponds to the 9,001st to 9,360th year. The numbering of generations and years reaches convenient whole numbers at 300 generations and 9,000 years respectively, making self-checking easy. Reverse calculation is also convenient: knowing the number of a generation, divide by twelve, and if the remainder is less than one, add one to get the corresponding era; knowing the number of an era, divide by thirty, and if the remainder is less than one, add one to get the corresponding cycle. After the 26th era, the Zi cycle has completed 312 generations and 9,360 years, with four eras remaining; there are still 49 eras and 17,640 years until the beginning of creation. The entire cycle of 360 eras still has 334 eras remaining.

星庚二十七：辰子三百十三、辰丑三百十四、辰寅三百十五、辰卯三百十六、辰辰三百十七、辰巳三百十八、辰午三百十九、辰未三百二十、辰申三百二十一、辰酉三百二十二、辰戌三百二十三、辰亥三百二十四。星辛二十八：辰子三百二十五、辰丑三百二十六、辰寅三百二十七、辰卯三百二十八、辰辰三百二十九、辰巳三百三十、辰午三百三十一、辰未三百三十二、辰申三百三十三、辰酉三百三十四、辰戌三百三十五、辰亥三百三十六。

The star stem Geng (庚) covers the 313th to 324th generations, corresponding to the 9361st to 9720th year of the first cycle; the star stem Xin (辛) covers the 325th to 336th generations, corresponding to the 9721st to 10,800th year. This entire passage contains no events to record, and it is not incomplete: in Shao Yong's view, at this time the heavens and earth had just begun to form, and human beings had not yet been born. Therefore, what can be said is only the measurement of time itself. So he first arranged the time measurements fully, leaving the subsequent volumes to fill in historical events. After the completion of the 28th cycle, the sub-cycle of Zi (子) has already passed 336 generations and 10,800 years, leaving only two more cycles; there are still 47 cycles and 16,920 years until the time of creation, and 152 cycles until the first 180 cycles of Emperor Yao's era, with 332 cycles remaining in the entire cycle.

星壬二十九：辰子三百三十七、辰丑三百三十八、辰寅三百三十九、辰卯三百四十、辰辰三百四十一、辰巳三百四十二、辰午三百四十三、辰未三百四十四、辰申三百四十五、辰酉三百四十六、辰戌三百四十七、辰亥三百四十八。星癸三十：辰子三百四十九、辰丑三百五十、辰寅三百五十一、辰卯三百五十二、辰辰三百五十三、辰巳三百五十四、辰午三百五十五、辰未三百五十六、辰申三百五十七、辰酉三百五十八、辰戌三百五十九、辰亥三百六十。

The star壬 (Ren) governs the 29th cycle, covering the 337th to 348th generations, which corresponds to the first 10,801 years to the 10,440th year of the first yuán. The star癸 (Gui) governs the 30th cycle, covering the 349th to 360th generations, which corresponds to the 10,441st year to the 10,800th year of the first yuán. One cycle consists of thirty yùn, three hundred and sixty generations, and ten thousand eight hundred years. The first cycle is thus completed. The next section moves to the second cycle, the Chǒu cycle. The sequence of yùn continues from the thirty-first, and the sequence of generations continues from the 361st. The twelve cycles of the full yuán follow this pattern until the 360th yùn, 4,320 generations, and 129,600 years. There are still forty-five yùn and 16,200 years remaining until the beginning of creation, which is exactly one and a half cycles. In total, thirty yùn, three hundred and sixty generations, and ten thousand eight hundred years have already passed, leaving three hundred and thirty yùn remaining.

日甲一，月丑二。星甲三十一：辰子三百六十一、辰丑三百六十二、辰寅三百六十三、辰卯三百六十四、辰辰三百六十五、辰巳三百六十六、辰午三百六十七、辰未三百六十八、辰申三百六十九、辰酉三百七十、辰戌三百七十一、辰亥三百七十二。

The second section of the "Observing Things" chapter continues with the layer of "using the beginning to govern the meeting," but it changes the time period to a different one. "Day Jia one" remains unchanged, still referring to the current yuan being calculated. "Month Chou two" indicates entering the second meeting, the Chou meeting, with the yun starting from the thirtieth, and the world starting from the three hundred and sixty-first. The star Jia thirty-one governs the world from three hundred and sixty-first to three hundred and seventy-second, that is, from the first ten thousand eight hundred and first year to the first eleven thousand one hundred and sixtieth year of the first yuan. According to Shao Yong's view, "the earth was formed in Chou," meaning the physical form of the earth solidified during this meeting, while humans and all things had not yet been born, so there are still only numbers without historical events. This meeting has only gone through one yun, with twenty-nine yuns remaining; there are still forty-four yuns and fifteen thousand eight hundred and forty years until the time of creation.

星乙三十二：辰子三百七十三、辰丑三百七十四、辰寅三百七十五、辰卯三百七十六、辰辰三百七十七、辰巳三百七十八、辰午三百七十九、辰未三百八十、辰申三百八十一、辰酉三百八十二、辰戌三百八十三、辰亥三百八十四。星丙三十三：辰子三百八十五、辰丑三百八十六、辰寅三百八十七、辰卯三百八十八、辰辰三百八十九、辰巳三百九十、辰午三百九十一、辰未三百九十二、辰申三百九十三、辰酉三百九十四、辰戌三百九十五、辰亥三百九十六。

The star Yi governs the 32nd cycle, covering the 373rd to 384th generations, which corresponds to the 11,161st to 11,520th year of the first cycle. The star Bing governs the 33rd cycle, covering the 385th to 396th generations, which corresponds to the 11,521st to 11,880th year of the first cycle. The names of each generation still follow the order of Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai, and this sequence is independent of the Heavenly Stems. The two cycles overlap, each maintaining its own distinct sequence. After the 33rd cycle is completed, Chou has already passed through 36 generations, 1,080 years, leaving 27 cycles remaining. The time until the beginning of the creation period still includes 42 cycles and 15,120 years. In total, 360 cycles have passed 33 cycles, 4,320 generations have passed 396 generations, and the total years have accumulated to 11,880.

星丁三十四：辰子三百九十七、辰丑三百九十八、辰寅三百九十九、辰卯四百、辰辰四百一、辰巳四百二、辰午四百三、辰未四百四、辰申四百五、辰酉四百六、辰戌四百七、辰亥四百八。星戊三十五：辰子四百九、辰丑四百十、辰寅四百十一、辰卯四百十二、辰辰四百十三、辰巳四百十四、辰午四百十五、辰未四百十六、辰申四百十七、辰酉四百十八、辰戌四百十九、辰亥四百二十。

The star Jia (丁) governs the 34th era, covering the 397th to 408th generations, which corresponds to the 11,881st to 12,240th years of the first cycle. The star Wu (戊) governs the 35th era, covering the 409th to 420th generations, which corresponds to the 12,241st to 12,600th years of the first cycle. In the table, 「Chen Mao four hundred」 and 「Chen Chen four hundred and one」 are abbreviations referring to the 400th and 401st generations. After the completion of the 35th era, the Chou (丑) cycle has already passed 60 generations and 1,800 years, with 25 eras remaining. There are still 40 eras and 14,400 years until the time of creation. In total, 35 eras, 420 generations, and 12,600 years have been completed, leaving 325 eras remaining out of 360.

星己三十六：辰子四百二十一、辰丑四百二十二、辰寅四百二十三、辰卯四百二十四、辰辰四百二十五、辰巳四百二十六、辰午四百二十七、辰未四百二十八、辰申四百二十九、辰酉四百三十、辰戌四百三十一、辰亥四百三十二。星庚三十七：辰子四百三十三、辰丑四百三十四、辰寅四百三十五、辰卯四百三十六、辰辰四百三十七、辰巳四百三十八、辰午四百三十九、辰未四百四十、辰申四百四十一、辰酉四百四十二、辰戌四百四十三、辰亥四百四十四。

The star Jia (甲) governs the 36th cycle, covering the 421st to 432nd generations, which corresponds to the first 12,601 to 12,960 years of the first era. The star Geng (庚) governs the 37th cycle, covering the 433rd to 444th generations, which corresponds to the years 12,961 to 13,320. The end of the 36th cycle is exactly the year 12,960, which is one-tenth of the 129,600 years of the first era, and also one-tenth of the 360 cycles. The correspondence between these two shows that these numbers were deliberately arranged. Shao Yong created this table not to record events, but to fix the scale of time. After the 37th cycle, the Ox cycle has already passed 84 generations and 2,520 years, with 23 cycles remaining. There are still 38 cycles and 13,680 years until the time of creation. In total, across the entire era, 37 cycles, 444 generations, and 13,320 years have passed.

星辛三十八：辰子四百四十五、辰丑四百四十六、辰寅四百四十七、辰卯四百四十八、辰辰四百四十九、辰巳四百五十、辰午四百五十一、辰未四百五十二、辰申四百五十三、辰酉四百五十四、辰戌四百五十五、辰亥四百五十六。星壬三十九：辰子四百五十七、辰丑四百五十八、辰寅四百五十九、辰卯四百六十、辰辰四百六十一、辰巳四百六十二、辰午四百六十三、辰未四百六十四、辰申四百六十五、辰酉四百六十六、辰戌四百六十七、辰亥四百六十八。

The star system Xin 38 governs the 445th to 456th generations, corresponding to the first 13,321 to 13,680 years of the first yuán; the star system Ren 39 governs the 457th to 468th generations, corresponding to the 13,681st to 14,040th years of the first yuán. Shao Yong regarded water, fire, earth, and stone as the physical components of heaven and earth, assigning them respectively to the trigrams Kan (water), Li (fire), Kun (earth), and Gen (mountain). The period of Chou (丑) is associated with the "creation of the earth," during which water, fire, earth, and stone condensed into form within a span of 10,800 years, while living beings had not yet appeared. After the completion of the 39th movement, this period has already passed 108 generations and 3,240 years, with 21 movements remaining; the time until the emergence of living beings still spans 36 movements and 12,960 years. In total, across the entire yuán, 360 movements have passed 39 movements, 4,320 generations have passed 468 generations, and the total number of years has accumulated to 14,040.

星癸四十：辰子四百六十九、辰丑四百七十、辰寅四百七十一、辰卯四百七十二、辰辰四百七十三、辰巳四百七十四、辰午四百七十五、辰未四百七十六、辰申四百七十七、辰酉四百七十八、辰戌四百七十九、辰亥四百八十。星甲四十一：辰子四百八十一、辰丑四百八十二、辰寅四百八十三、辰卯四百八十四、辰辰四百八十五、辰巳四百八十六、辰午四百八十七、辰未四百八十八、辰申四百八十九、辰酉四百九十、辰戌四百九十一、辰亥四百九十二。

The star癸 forty governs the 469th to 480th generations, which corresponds to the first 14,441st to 14,400th years of the first yuán; the star甲 forty-one governs the 481st to 492nd generations, which corresponds to the 14,401st to 14,760th years of the first yuán. The star癸 forty concludes the ten heavenly stems starting from the star甲 thirty; the star甲 forty-one begins again with the stem 甲. The period of the second round of the thirty years of the chǒu cycle has just begun. After the forty-first round is completed, this cycle has passed 132 generations and 3,960 years, with 19 rounds remaining; the time until the beginning of creation is still 34 rounds or 12,240 years away. In total, across the entire yuán, 41 rounds have been completed out of 360, 492 generations out of 4,320, and the total years amount to 14,760, with 319 rounds remaining.

星乙四十二：辰子四百九十三、辰丑四百九十四、辰寅四百九十五、辰卯四百九十六、辰辰四百九十七、辰巳四百九十八、辰午四百九十九、辰未五百、辰申五百一、辰酉五百二、辰戌五百三、辰亥五百四。星丙四十三：辰子五百五、辰丑五百六、辰寅五百七、辰卯五百八、辰辰五百九、辰巳五百十、辰午五百十一、辰未五百十二、辰申五百十三、辰酉五百十四、辰戌五百十五、辰亥五百十六。

The star Yi governs the 42nd cycle, covering the 493rd to 504th generations, which corresponds to the years 14,761 to 15,120 of the first era. The star Bing governs the 43rd cycle, covering the 505th to 516th generations, which corresponds to the years 15,121 to 15,480 of the first era. The sequence of generations here reaches 500, and the years reach 15,000. At each such whole number, one should pause to check, which is least likely to result in errors. After the 43rd cycle, the Chou cycle has already passed 156 generations and 4,680 years, with 17 cycles remaining. The time until the opening of the creation is still 32 cycles and 11,520 years. In total, across the entire era, 43 cycles, 516 generations, and 15,480 years have already passed.

星丁四十四：辰子五百十七、辰丑五百十八、辰寅五百十九、辰卯五百二十、辰辰五百二十一、辰巳五百二十二、辰午五百二十三、辰未五百二十四、辰申五百二十五、辰酉五百二十六、辰戌五百二十七、辰亥五百二十八。星戊四十五：辰子五百二十九、辰丑五百三十、辰寅五百三十一、辰卯五百三十二、辰辰五百三十三、辰巳五百三十四、辰午五百三十五、辰未五百三十六、辰申五百三十七、辰酉五百三十八、辰戌五百三十九、辰亥五百四十。

The star system of Ding (丁) covers the 517th to 528th generations, corresponding to the first 15,481 to 15,840 years of the first great cycle. The star system of Wu (戊) covers the 529th to 540th generations, corresponding to the years 15,841 to 16,200 of the first great cycle. The 45th cycle is exactly halfway through the Chou (丑) convergence: since the 31st cycle, fifteen cycles, 180 generations, and 5,400 years have already passed, and fifteen cycles remain before the Yin (寅) convergence begins. Shao Yong believed that the physical form of the earth was fixed during the Chou convergence, with mountains, rivers, water, and fire each in their proper places. There are still thirty cycles and 10,800 years remaining until the time of creation, which is exactly one convergence. When considering the entire great cycle, 45 out of 360 cycles have passed, 540 out of 4,320 generations have passed, and the total years have accumulated to 16,200, which is one-eighth of the entire great cycle.

星己四十六：辰子五百四十一、辰丑五百四十二、辰寅五百四十三、辰卯五百四十四、辰辰五百四十五、辰巳五百四十六、辰午五百四十七、辰未五百四十八、辰申五百四十九、辰酉五百五十、辰戌五百五十一、辰亥五百五十二。星庚四十七：辰子五百五十三、辰丑五百五十四、辰寅五百五十五、辰卯五百五十六、辰辰五百五十七、辰巳五百五十八、辰午五百五十九、辰未五百六十、辰申五百六十一、辰酉五百六十二、辰戌五百六十三、辰亥五百六十四。

The star Jia has jurisdiction over the 541st to 552nd generations, which corresponds to the first ten thousand six hundred and one to first ten thousand six hundred and fifty years of the first yuán. The star Geng has jurisdiction over the 553rd to 564th generations, which corresponds to the first ten thousand six hundred and fifty-one to first ten thousand six hundred and ninety years. This period of the cycle is actually a preparatory phase arranged by Shao Yong for the generation of heaven and earth: once the terrain is established, then the concept of "human beings are born in the Year of the Ox" can be discussed, and the order cannot be reversed. After the forty-seventh yun, the Chou cycle has already passed two hundred and four generations and six thousand one hundred and twenty years, with thirteen yuns remaining; there are still twenty-eight yuns and ten thousand and eighty years until the time of creation. In total, three hundred and sixty yuns have passed forty-seven yuns, four thousand three hundred and twenty generations have passed five hundred and sixty-four generations, and the total number of years has reached one ten thousand six hundred and ninety years, with three hundred and thirteen yuns remaining.

星辛四十八：辰子五百六十五、辰丑五百六十六、辰寅五百六十七、辰卯五百六十八、辰辰五百六十九、辰巳五百七十、辰午五百七十一、辰未五百七十二、辰申五百七十三、辰酉五百七十四、辰戌五百七十五、辰亥五百七十六。星壬四十九：辰子五百七十七、辰丑五百七十八、辰寅五百七十九、辰卯五百八十、辰辰五百八十一、辰巳五百八十二、辰午五百八十三、辰未五百八十四、辰申五百八十五、辰酉五百八十六、辰戌五百八十七、辰亥五百八十八。

The star Xin forty-eight governs the 565th to 576th generations, which corresponds to the 16,921st to 17,280th years of the first yuán. The star Ren forty-nine governs the 577th to 588th generations, which corresponds to the 17,281st to 17,640th years of the first yuán. The system of "yuán-jing-hui" only includes the levels of yuán, hui, yun, and shi, without involving the stem-branch of years, so each section remains empty until the lower two levels are filled. After the completion of the forty-ninth yun, the Chou hui has already passed 228 generations and 6,840 years, with eleven yuns remaining; there are still twenty-six yuns and 9,360 years until the time of creation. In total, out of 360 yuns, 49 have been passed; out of 4,320 generations, 588 have been passed; the total years have accumulated to 17,640, which is still less than one-seventh of the entire yuán.

星癸五十：辰子五百八十九、辰丑五百九十、辰寅五百九十一、辰卯五百九十二、辰辰五百九十三、辰巳五百九十四、辰午五百九十五、辰未五百九十六、辰申五百九十七、辰酉五百九十八、辰戌五百九十九、辰亥六百。星甲五十一：辰子六百一、辰丑六百二、辰寅六百三、辰卯六百四、辰辰六百五、辰巳六百六、辰午六百七、辰未六百八、辰申六百九、辰酉六百十、辰戌六百十一、辰亥六百十二。

The star癸 (Gui) governs the 50th cycle, covering the 589th to 600th generations, which corresponds to the first 17,641 to 18,000 years of the first great cycle. The star甲 (Jia) governs the 51st cycle, covering the 601st to 612th generations, which corresponds to the years 18,001 to 18,360. When the 600th generation ends, the Chou (Chou) cycle has completed 20 cycles, 240 generations, and 7,200 years, which is two-thirds of the entire cycle. The name of the cycle reaches the 51st cycle, which is the sixth round of the ten heavenly stems. After the 51st cycle ends, this cycle has completed 252 generations and 7,560 years, with nine cycles remaining; there are still 24 cycles, or 8,640 years, until the time of creation. In total, across the entire cycle, 51 cycles, 612 generations, and 18,360 years have been completed.

星乙五十二：辰子六百十三、辰丑六百十四、辰寅六百十五、辰卯六百十六、辰辰六百十七、辰巳六百十八、辰午六百十九、辰未六百二十、辰申六百二十一、辰酉六百二十二、辰戌六百二十三、辰亥六百二十四。星丙五十三：辰子六百二十五、辰丑六百二十六、辰寅六百二十七、辰卯六百二十八、辰辰六百二十九、辰巳六百三十、辰午六百三十一、辰未六百三十二、辰申六百三十三、辰酉六百三十四、辰戌六百三十五、辰亥六百三十六。

The star Yi governs the 52nd cycle, covering the 613th to the 624th generations, which corresponds to the 18,361st to the 18,720th year of the first yuán. The star Bing governs the 53rd cycle, covering the 625th to the 636th generations, which corresponds to the 18,721st to the 19,080th year of the first yuán. In the table, expressions like "Chen Zi 610" are abbreviations for the 601st generation and should not be misread as six hundred and one; whenever whole tens or hundreds are encountered in the subsequent text, they are written in the same manner. After the 53rd cycle is completed, the Chou phase has already passed 276 generations and 8,280 years, with seven more cycles remaining; the time until the opening of the creation is still twenty-two cycles and 7,920 years away. In total, across the entire yuán, 53 out of 360 cycles have been completed, 636 out of 4,320 generations have been passed, and the total number of years has accumulated to 19,080.

星丁五十四：辰子六百三十七、辰丑六百三十八、辰寅六百三十九、辰卯六百四十、辰辰六百四十一、辰巳六百四十二、辰午六百四十三、辰未六百四十四、辰申六百四十五、辰酉六百四十六、辰戌六百四十七、辰亥六百四十八。星戊五十五：辰子六百四十九、辰丑六百五十、辰寅六百五十一、辰卯六百五十二、辰辰六百五十三、辰巳六百五十四、辰午六百五十五、辰未六百五十六、辰申六百五十七、辰酉六百五十八、辰戌六百五十九、辰亥六百六十。

The star Jia (丁) governs the 54th cycle, covering the 637th to 648th generations, which corresponds to the 19,081st to 19,440th years of the first era. The star Wu (戊) governs the 55th cycle, covering the 649th to 660th generations, which corresponds to the 19,441st to 19,800th years of the first era. To examine the annual Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches along with historical events, one must refer to the sections below, namely 「Using Convergences to Determine the Great Cycle」 and 「Using the Great Cycle to Determine the World Cycle」, where the years are listed in order. The level of detail in this book is determined by the three layers of division. After the 55th cycle, the Chou Convergence has already passed through 300 generations and 9,000 years, with five more cycles remaining; there are still twenty cycles and 7,200 years left until the time of creation. In total, out of 360 cycles, 55 have been completed; out of 4,320 generations, 660 have been completed; the total years amount to 19,800, with 305 cycles and 100,980 years remaining.

星己五十六：辰子六百六十一、辰丑六百六十二、辰寅六百六十三、辰卯六百六十四、辰辰六百六十五、辰巳六百六十六、辰午六百六十七、辰未六百六十八、辰申六百六十九、辰酉六百七十、辰戌六百七十一、辰亥六百七十二。星庚五十七：辰子六百七十三、辰丑六百七十四、辰寅六百七十五、辰卯六百七十六、辰辰六百七十七、辰巳六百七十八、辰午六百七十九、辰未六百八十、辰申六百八十一、辰酉六百八十二、辰戌六百八十三、辰亥六百八十四。

The star Jia governs the 56th cycle, covering the 661st to the 672nd generations, which corresponds to the first 19,801st to the 20,160th year of the first great cycle. The star Geng governs the 57th cycle, covering the 673rd to the 684th generations, which corresponds to the 20,161st to the 20,550th year. The entire structure of the "Huang Ji Jing Shi" is built layer by layer: one great cycle consists of twelve great periods, each great period consists of thirty ages, each age consists of twelve generations, and each generation spans thirty years. Multiplying these four levels together gives exactly 129,600 years. After the 57th age, the Chou period has already passed 324 generations and 9,720 years, leaving only three ages remaining; there are still eighteen ages and 6,480 years until the time of creation. In total, across the entire cycle, 360 ages have passed 57 ages, 4,320 generations have passed 684 generations, and the total number of years has accumulated to 20,550.

星辛五十八：辰子六百八十五、辰丑六百八十六、辰寅六百八十七、辰卯六百八十八、辰辰六百八十九、辰巳六百九十、辰午六百九十一、辰未六百九十二、辰申六百九十三、辰酉六百九十四、辰戌六百九十五、辰亥六百九十六。星壬五十九：辰子六百九十七、辰丑六百九十八、辰寅六百九十九、辰卯七百、辰辰七百一、辰巳七百二、辰午七百三、辰未七百四、辰申七百五、辰酉七百六、辰戌七百七、辰亥七百八。

The star Xin (辛) governs the 58th cycle, covering the 685th to the 696th generations, which corresponds to the 20,521st to the 20,880th year of the first great cycle. The star Ren (壬) governs the 59th cycle, covering the 697th to the 708th generations, which corresponds to the 20,881st to the 21,240th year of the first great cycle. The number 129,600 years later became known as the "number of a great cycle," and became the common measure used by scholars from the Song dynasty onwards to discuss the beginning and end of heaven and earth. After the 59th cycle, the Earthly Branch Chou (丑) has already passed 348 generations and 10,440 years, leaving only one cycle remaining; there are still sixteen cycles and 5,760 years until the time of creation. In total, across the entire great cycle, 59 cycles, 708 generations, and 20,880 years have passed, while 301 cycles and 100,8720 years remain.

星癸六十：辰子七百九、辰丑七百十、辰寅七百十一、辰卯七百十二、辰辰七百十三、辰巳七百十四、辰午七百十五、辰未七百十六、辰申七百十七、辰酉七百十八、辰戌七百十九、辰亥七百二十。

The star癸 governs the sixty cycles from the 709th to the 720th generations, corresponding to the second twenty-one thousand two hundred forty-first year to the second twenty-one thousand six hundred year of one great cycle, with the Chou cycle concluding at this point. After the completion of both the Zi and Chou cycles: the Zi cycle represents the beginning of heaven, the Chou cycle the creation of earth, each lasting thirty cycles, three hundred and sixty generations, and eleven thousand and eight hundred years, totaling twenty-one thousand six hundred years, which is exactly one sixth of a great cycle. The next section enters the Yin cycle, which is the one Shao Yong referred to as "humanity is born in Yin." The moment of creation occurs at the midpoint of this cycle; there remains fifteen cycles and five thousand four hundred years until the time of creation, which is precisely half of the cycle.

日甲一，月寅三。星甲六十一：辰子七百二十一、辰丑七百二十二、辰寅七百二十三、辰卯七百二十四、辰辰七百二十五、辰巳七百二十六、辰午七百二十七、辰未七百二十八、辰申七百二十九、辰酉七百三十、辰戌七百三十一、辰亥七百三十二。

Chapter Three of the "Observing Things" section still follows the principle of "using the beginning to govern the meeting," but it shifts to the third meeting. "Month Yín Three" indicates the third meeting with the character Yín from the Earthly Branches. The cycles covered by the Yín meeting start from the sixty-first cycle, and the world periods begin from the seventh hundred and twentieth. The star Jia Sixty-One governs the world periods from the seventh hundred and twenty-first to the seventh hundred and thirty-second, corresponding to the years from the second ten thousand and six hundred and first to the second ten thousand and nineteen hundred and sixtieth. This meeting is the most important in the entire text. Shao Yong said, "Creation begins in the middle of Yín." After the creation of heaven and earth, the starting point of the birth of all things and humans falls on the seventy-sixth cycle of this meeting. At that time, it was exactly twenty-seven thousand years after the beginning of the first cycle. This meeting has only gone through one cycle, and there are still fourteen cycles, or five thousand and forty years, until the beginning of creation.

星乙六十二：辰子七百三十三、辰丑七百三十四、辰寅七百三十五、辰卯七百三十六、辰辰七百三十七、辰巳七百三十八、辰午七百三十九、辰未七百四十、辰申七百四十一、辰酉七百四十二、辰戌七百四十三、辰亥七百四十四。星丙六十三：辰子七百四十五、辰丑七百四十六、辰寅七百四十七、辰卯七百四十八、辰辰七百四十九、辰巳七百五十、辰午七百五十一、辰未七百五十二、辰申七百五十三、辰酉七百五十四、辰戌七百五十五、辰亥七百五十六。

The star Yi governs the 62nd cycle, covering the 733rd to the 744th generations, which corresponds to the 21,961st to the 22,320th year of the first great cycle. The star Bing governs the 63rd cycle, covering the 745th to the 756th generations, which corresponds to the 22,321st to the 22,680th year. Comparing the three divisions, the Zi division is associated with Heaven, the Chou division with Earth, and the Yin division with Humanity. The saying "Heaven was opened at Zi, Earth was formed at Chou, and Humanity was born at Yin" originates from this division order. After the 63rd cycle, the Yin division has already passed 36 generations and 1,080 years, with 27 cycles remaining. There are still 12 cycles and 4,320 years until the time of creation. In total, 63 out of 360 cycles have been completed, 756 out of 4,320 generations have been passed, and the total years have accumulated to 22,680.

星丁六十四：辰子七百五十七、辰丑七百五十八、辰寅七百五十九、辰卯七百六十、辰辰七百六十一、辰巳七百六十二、辰午七百六十三、辰未七百六十四、辰申七百六十五、辰酉七百六十六、辰戌七百六十七、辰亥七百六十八。星戊六十五：辰子七百六十九、辰丑七百七十、辰寅七百七十一、辰卯七百七十二、辰辰七百七十三、辰巳七百七十四、辰午七百七十五、辰未七百七十六、辰申七百七十七、辰酉七百七十八、辰戌七百七十九、辰亥七百八十。

The star system of Ding covers the 757th to 768th generations, corresponding to the 22,681st to 23,040th years of the first great cycle; the star system of Wu covers the 769th to 780th generations, corresponding to the 23,041st to 23,400th years. Comparing one great cycle to one year, the Year of Yin corresponds to the first lunar month, the beginning of the year in the traditional Chinese calendar. Since spring is the time when all things begin to sprout, the creation of things is associated with this period. After the completion of the 65th cycle, this period has already passed 60 generations and 1,800 years, with 25 cycles remaining. There are still ten cycles and 3,600 years left until the time of creation. In total, 360 cycles have passed 65 cycles, and 4,320 generations have passed 780 generations. The total years have accumulated to 23,400, which is still less than one fifth of the entire cycle. Among the 360 cycles, 295 remain.

星己六十六：辰子七百八十一、辰丑七百八十二、辰寅七百八十三、辰卯七百八十四、辰辰七百八十五、辰巳七百八十六、辰午七百八十七、辰未七百八十八、辰申七百八十九、辰酉七百九十、辰戌七百九十一、辰亥七百九十二。星庚六十七：辰子七百九十三、辰丑七百九十四、辰寅七百九十五、辰卯七百九十六、辰辰七百九十七、辰巳七百九十八、辰午七百九十九、辰未八百、辰申八百一、辰酉八百二、辰戌八百三、辰亥八百四。

The star Jia has sixty-six generations covering the 781st to the 792nd generations, which corresponds to the second 23,401st to the 23,760th year of the first great cycle; the star Geng has sixty-seven generations covering the 793rd to the 804th generations, which corresponds to the 23,761st to the 24,120th year of the first great cycle. Within the sixty-seven generations of the star Geng, "Chen Wei eight hundred" refers to the 800th generation, and "Chen Shen eight hundred one" refers to the 801st generation. Whenever a whole number appears, it is written in this abbreviated form, and the same applies to subsequent volumes. After the completion of the 67th cycle, the寅 (Yin) cycle has already passed 84 generations and 2,520 years, leaving 23 cycles remaining; the time until the opening of the material world is still 8 cycles and 2,880 years. In total, 360 cycles have passed 67 cycles, 4,320 generations have passed 804 generations, and the total number of years has accumulated to 24,120.

星辛六十八：辰子八百五、辰丑八百六、辰寅八百七、辰卯八百八、辰辰八百九、辰巳八百十、辰午八百十一、辰未八百十二、辰申八百十三、辰酉八百十四、辰戌八百十五、辰亥八百十六。星壬六十九：辰子八百十七、辰丑八百十八、辰寅八百十九、辰卯八百二十、辰辰八百二十一、辰巳八百二十二、辰午八百二二十三、辰未八百二十四、辰申八百二十五、辰酉八百二十六、辰戌八百二十七、辰亥八百二十八。

The star system Xin 68 governs the 805th to 816th generations, which corresponds to the 24,121st to 24,480th years of the first great cycle; the star system Ren 69 governs the 817th to 828th generations, which corresponds to the 24,481st to 24,840th years. In the system of Ren 69, the term 「Chen Wu 8223」 should be 「8223」 according to the sequence, but the original text mistakenly added an extra 「er」, and this error is retained as is. After the completion of the 69th cycle, the寅 cycle has already passed 108 generations and 3,240 years, with 21 cycles remaining; the time until the opening of the material world is still 6 cycles and 2,160 years. In total, across the entire cycle, 69 cycles, 828 generations, and 24,840 years have been completed.

星癸七十：辰子八百二十九、辰丑八百三十、辰寅八百三十一、辰卯八百三十二、辰辰八百三十三、辰巳八百三十四、辰午八百三十五、辰未八百三十六、辰申八百三十七、辰酉八百三十八、辰戌八百三十九、辰亥八百四十。星甲七十一：辰子八百四十一、辰丑八百四十二、辰寅八百四十三、辰卯八百四十四、辰辰八百四十五、辰巳八百四十六、辰午八百四十七、辰未八百四十八、辰申八百四十九、辰酉八百五十、辰戌八百五十一、辰亥八百五十二。

The star癸 seventy governs the 829th to 840th generations, which corresponds to the second 24,841st to 25,200th years of a cycle; the star甲 seventy-one governs the 841st to 852nd generations, which corresponds to the 25,201st to 25,560th years. After the completion of the seventyth cycle, one cycle has exactly passed 25,200 years; after five more cycles, the period of creation begins, which lasts 1,800 years, being the last segment of time in the universe without any substance. After the completion of the seventy-first cycle, the寅 cycle has passed 132 generations and 3,960 years, with 19 cycles remaining; the time until creation begins is now four cycles and 1,440 years. In total, 360 cycles have passed 71 cycles, 4,320 generations have passed 852 generations, and the total years have accumulated to 25,560, with 289 cycles remaining.

星乙七十二：辰子八百五十三、辰丑八百五十四、辰寅八百五十五、辰卯八百五十六、辰辰八百五十七、辰巳八百五十八、辰午八百五十九、辰未八百六十、辰申八百六十一、辰酉八百六十二、辰戌八百六十三、辰亥八百六十四。星丙七十三：辰子八百六十五、辰丑八百六十六、辰寅八百六十七、辰卯八百六十八、辰辰八百六十九、辰巳八百七十、辰午八百七十一、辰未八百七十二、辰申八百七十三、辰酉八百七十四、辰戌八百七十五、辰亥八百七十六。

The star Yi seventy-two governs the 853rd to 864th generations, corresponding to the 25,561st to 25,920th years of the first cycle. The star Bing seventy-three governs the 865th to 876th generations, corresponding to the 25,921st to 26,280th years of the first cycle. According to the appended "Outline of the Mechanism of the Supreme Ultimate" in this book, starting from the day Jia, the month Zi, the star Jia, and the hour Zi on the winter solstice, after two and a half cycles, seventy-five cycles, nine thousand generations, and twenty-seven thousand years, the process of creation begins. This matches exactly with the numbering in this table. After the completion of the seventy-third cycle, the寅 cycle has already passed one hundred and fifty-six generations and four thousand six hundred and eighty years; the creation process remains only two cycles, twenty-four generations, and seven hundred and twenty years away. In total, three hundred and sixty cycles have passed seventy-three cycles, four thousand three hundred and twenty generations have passed eight hundred and seventy-six generations, and the total number of years has accumulated to twenty-six thousand two hundred and eighty years.

星丁七十四：辰子八百七十七、辰丑八百七十八、辰寅八百七十九、辰卯八百八十、辰辰八百八十一、辰巳八百八十二、辰午八百八十三、辰未八百八十四、辰申八百八十五、辰酉八百八十六、辰戌八百八十七、辰亥八百八十八。星戊七十五：辰子八百八十九、辰丑八百九十、辰寅八百九十一、辰卯八百九十二、辰辰八百九十三、辰巳八百九十四、辰午八百九十五、辰未八百九十六、辰申八百九十七、辰酉八百九十八、辰戌八百九十九、辰亥九百。

The star Jia (丁) governs the 74th lineage, covering the 877th to 888th generations, which corresponds to the 26,281st to 26,640th years of the first great cycle. The star Wu (戊) governs the 75th lineage, covering the 889th to 900th generations, which corresponds to the 26,641st to 27,000th years. The 900th generation is just before the creation of all things: from the beginning, two and a half cycles, seventy-five great periods, nine hundred generations, and twenty-seven thousand years have passed. The next phase marks the beginning of the creation of all things. The most critical turning point of the entire text falls between these two lines. After the completion of the 75th great period, the寅 cycle has progressed through 180 generations and 5,400 years, which is exactly half of the entire cycle, with fifteen more great periods remaining. Considering the entire cycle, 360 great periods have passed through 75, accumulating a total of 27,000 years, which is two parts and some more of the entire cycle's 129,600 years. Among the 360 great periods, 285 remain.

星己七十六：辰子九百一、辰丑九百二、辰寅九百三、辰卯九百四、辰辰九百五、辰巳九百六、辰午九百七、辰未九百八、辰申九百九、辰酉九百十、辰戌九百十一、辰亥九百十二。星庚七十七：辰子九百十三、辰丑九百十四、辰寅九百十五、辰卯九百十六、辰辰九百十七、辰巳九百十八、辰午九百十九、辰未九百二十、辰申九百二十一、辰酉九百二十二、辰戌九百二十三、辰亥九百二十四。

The star Jia 76 governs the 901st to 912th generations, that is, the 27,001st to 27,360th years of a great cycle—Shao Yong refers to this as "the beginning of creation in the middle of the Year of the Tiger." This marks the point in a great cycle where the heavens and earth first begin to produce human beings. The star Geng 77 governs the 913th to 924th generations, that is, the 27,361st to 27,720th years. From this point until the middle of the Year of the Dog when creation is closed, there are eight cycles, 240 ages, 2,880 generations, and 86,400 years in total for the existence of all things. After creation is closed, there is another one and a half cycles, 45 ages, 540 generations, and 16,200 years, and then the great cycle ends. After the 77th age, the Year of the Tiger has already passed 204 generations and 6,120 years, with thirteen ages remaining; since the beginning of creation, two ages, twenty-four generations, and seven hundred twenty years have already passed.

星辛七十八：辰子九百二十五、辰丑九百二十六、辰寅九百二十七、辰卯九百二十八、辰辰九百二十九、辰巳九百三十、辰午九百三十一、辰未九百三十二、辰申九百三十三、辰酉九百三十四、辰戌九百三十五、辰亥九百三十六。星壬七十九：辰子九百三十七、辰丑九百三十八、辰寅九百三十九、辰卯九百四十、辰辰九百四十一、辰巳九百四十二、辰午九百四十三、辰未九百四十四、辰申九百四十五、辰酉九百四十六、辰戌九百四十七、辰亥九百四十八。

The star Xin 78 governs the 925th to 936th generations, which corresponds to the 27,721st to 28,080th years of the first cycle; the star Ren 79 governs the 937th to 948th generations, which corresponds to the 28,081st to 28,440th years. Although the era of Kaiwu has already passed, the recorded line of emperors in history still lies far ahead: the phase of "governing through the cycle" will not reach the reign of Emperor Yao of the heavens, which begins in the year Jiachen (甲辰), until the 180th cycle and the 2,156th generation. By the end of the 79th cycle, the寅 cycle has already passed 228 generations and 6,840 years, leaving 11 cycles remaining; since the beginning of Kaiwu, 4 cycles, 48 generations, and 1,440 years have already passed. In total, 360 cycles have passed 79 cycles, accumulating to 28,440 years, with 281 cycles remaining.

星癸八十：辰子九百四十九、辰丑九百五十、辰寅九百五十一、辰卯九百五十二、辰辰九百五十三、辰巳九百五十四、辰午九百五十五、辰未九百五十六、辰申九百五十七、辰酉九百五十八、辰戌九百五十九、辰亥九百六十。星甲八十一：辰子九百六十一、辰丑九百六十二、辰寅九百六十三、辰卯九百六十四、辰辰九百六十五、辰巳九百六十六、辰午九百六十七、辰未九百六十八、辰申九百六十九、辰酉九百七十、辰戌九百七十一、辰亥九百七十二。

The star癸 governs the 949th to 960th generations, corresponding to the period from the second twenty-eight thousand four hundred and forty-first year to the second twenty-eight thousand eight hundredth year of a great cycle. The star甲 governs the 961st to 972nd generations, corresponding to the period from the second twenty-eight thousand eight hundred and first year to the second twenty-nine thousand one hundred and sixtieth year. When the eightieth cycle ends, the great cycle has progressed for exactly twenty-eight thousand eight hundred years, which is two ninths of the entire cycle. The name of the cycle reappears as 甲 at the start of the eighty-first cycle, marking the ninth round of the ten heavenly stems in the entire cycle. After the eighty-first cycle, the寅 has progressed through two hundred and fifty-two generations and seven thousand five hundred and sixty years, with nine cycles remaining. Since the beginning of creation, it has already passed six cycles, seventy-two generations, and two thousand one hundred and sixty years. In total, across the entire cycle, eighty-one cycles, nine hundred and seventy-two generations, and twenty-nine thousand one hundred and sixty years have passed, leaving two hundred and seventy-nine cycles and ten thousand and four hundred and forty years remaining out of the total three hundred and sixty cycles.

星乙八十二：辰子九百七十三、辰丑九百七十四、辰寅九百七十五、辰卯九百七十六、辰辰九百七十七、辰巳九百七十八、辰午九百七十九、辰未九百八十、辰申九百八十一、辰酉九百八十二、辰戌九百八十三、辰亥九百八十四。星丙八十三：辰子九百八十五、辰丑九百八十六、辰寅九百八十七、辰卯九百八十八、辰辰九百八十九、辰巳九百九十、辰午九百九十一、辰未九百九十二、辰申九百九十三、辰酉九百九十四、辰戌九百九十五、辰亥九百九十六。

The star Yi (乙) governs the 82nd cycle, covering the 973rd to 984th generations, which corresponds to the 29,161st to 29,520th year of the first great cycle. The star Bing (丙) governs the 83rd cycle, covering the 985th to 996th generations, which corresponds to the 29,521st to 29,880th year of the first great cycle. In Shao Yong's view, this long period belongs to a time when there were already people but no written records: the table still only contains numbers, and it is only when there are emperors to be recorded that historical events will be filled into the table. After the 83rd cycle, the寅 cycle has passed 276 generations and 8,280 years, with seven more cycles remaining; since the beginning of creation, 8 cycles, 96 generations, and 2,880 years have already passed. In total, 360 cycles have passed 83 cycles, accumulating 29,880 years, with 277 cycles and 99,720 years remaining.

星丁八十四：辰子九百九十七、辰丑九百九十八、辰寅九百九十九、辰卯一千、辰辰一千一、辰巳一千二、辰午一千三、辰未一千四、辰申一千五、辰酉一千六、辰戌一千七、辰亥一千八。星戊八十五：辰子一千九、辰丑一千十、辰寅一千十一、辰卯一千十二、辰辰一千十三、辰巳一千十四、辰午一千十五、辰未一千十六、辰申一千十七、辰酉一千十八、辰戌一千十九、辰亥一千二十。

The star Jia (丁) governs the 84th cycle, covering the 997th to 1008th generations, which corresponds to the second 29,881st to third 30,240th years of a great cycle. The star Wu (戊) governs the 85th cycle, covering the 1009th to 1020th generations, which corresponds to the third 30,241st to 30,600th years. Starting from "Chen Mao 1000," the generation numbers enter four digits, changing from "nine hundred ninety-nine" to "one thousand" and "one thousand one," still using the same continuous numbering system. When the 1000th generation is completed, the great cycle has already passed three ten-thousand years. After the 85th cycle is completed, the寅 (Yin) cycle has passed 300 generations and 9,000 years, with five more cycles remaining; since the beginning of creation, the寅 cycle has passed ten cycles, 120 generations, and 3,600 years; the entire great cycle still has 275 cycles and 99,000 years remaining.

星己八十六：辰子一千二十一、辰丑一千二十二、辰寅一千二十三、辰卯一千二十四、辰辰一千二十五、辰巳一千二十六、辰午一千二十七、辰未一千二十八、辰申一千二十九、辰酉一千三十、辰戌一千三十一、辰亥一千三十二。星庚八十七：辰子一千三十三、辰丑一千三十四、辰寅一千三十五、辰卯一千三十六、辰辰一千三十七、辰巳一千三十八、辰午一千三十九、辰未一千四十、辰申一千四十一、辰酉一千四十二、辰戌一千四十三、辰亥一千四十四。

The star Jia 86 governs the 1021st to 1032nd generations, corresponding to the third ten thousand and six hundred first year to the third ten thousand and nine hundred and sixtieth year of a great cycle. The star Geng 87 governs the 1033rd to 1044th generations, corresponding to the third ten thousand and nine hundred and sixty-first year to the third ten thousand and one thousand three hundred and twentieth year. Shao Yong placed "Kai Wu" (Creation of Things) at the midpoint of this period, reflecting the meaning that all things arise in spring. This aligns with the Zhou Changes' concept of the Zhen trigram representing movement and spring. After the completion of the 87th cycle, the寅 period has already passed 324 generations and 9,720 years, leaving only three more cycles. Since the beginning of Kai Wu, twelve cycles, 144 generations, and 4,320 years have already passed. In total, across the entire cycle, 4,320 generations have passed 1,044 generations, and 360 cycles remain, amounting to 273 cycles and 98,280 years.

星辛八十八：辰子一千四十五、辰丑一千四十六、辰寅一千四十七、辰卯一千四十八、辰辰一千四十九、辰巳一千五十、辰午一千五十一、辰未一千五十二、辰申一千五十三、辰酉一千五十四、辰戌一千五十五、辰亥一千五十六。星壬八十九：辰子一千五十七、辰丑一千五十八、辰寅一千五十九、辰卯一千六十、辰辰一千六十一、辰巳一千六十二、辰午一千六十三、辰未一千六十四、辰申一千六十五、辰酉一千六十六、辰戌一千六十七、辰亥一千六十八。

The star Xin 88 governs the 1045th to 1056th generations, corresponding to the third ten thousand three hundred and twenty-first to third ten thousand six hundred and eightieth years of the first cycle. The star Ren 89 governs the 1057th to 1068th generations, corresponding to the third ten thousand six hundred and eighty-first to third ten thousand two hundred and forty-first years. Once the generation numbers exceed one thousand, the number of characters in each line becomes significantly longer. This is merely due to the increase in numbers, while the number of divisions remains unchanged, with each cycle still consisting of twelve generations and three hundred and sixty years. By the end of the eighty-ninth cycle, the寅 (Yin) division has already passed three hundred and forty-eight generations and ten thousand and four hundred and forty years, leaving only one cycle remaining. Since the beginning of creation, fourteen cycles have been completed, covering one hundred and sixty-eight generations and five thousand and forty years. In total, across all cycles, the years amount to thirty-two thousand and forty, with three hundred and sixty cycles remaining, equivalent to nine thousand seven hundred and sixty years. From this, the number of the first cycle can be inferred.

星癸九十：辰子一千六十九、辰丑一千七十、辰寅一千七十一、辰卯一千七十二、辰辰一千七十三、辰巳一千七十四、辰午一千七十五、辰未一千七十六、辰申一千七十七、辰酉一千七十八、辰戌一千七十九、辰亥一千八十。

The star癸 governs the ninety-first to the one thousand and eightieth generations, which corresponds to the third twenty-four thousand and forty-first to third twenty-four thousand and four hundred years of the great cycle, ending with the寅 cycle. After the completion of the three cycles, it marks one quarter of the great cycle; since the beginning of creation, fifteen cycles, one hundred and eighty generations, and five thousand four hundred years have already passed. The next section transitions to the卯 cycle, with the cycle starting from the ninety-first and the generation starting from the one thousand and eightieth; there remain ninety cycles and thirty-two thousand four hundred years until the first one hundred and eighty cycles of the Emperor Yao's era.