After the 'Great Meaning of the Five Phases'

《五行大義》五卷，隋蕭吉撰。案《隋書》本傳，載其著述之目，而獨不及此書，魏鄭公偶未之見耳。唐宋《藝文志》亦不著錄，豈早逸於彼歟。書中所論，皆陰陽五行之事，不過漢儒餘論，然其文章醇古，非復唐以下所能為，而其所援證，往往有佚亡之書，今不可得見者。且蕭以陰陽算術著稱，見其本傳，則此書之出蕭手，萬無一疑。世之相距，千有餘年，而此書獨完然乎我焉，其亦奇矣，安得不校而傳之乎。己未竹醉日，天瀑識。

The *Great Meaning of the Five Phases* consists of five volumes and was written by Xiao Ji of the Sui dynasty. Checking Xiao Ji's biography in the *Sui Shu*, it lists his works, but does not mention this book. It seems that Wei Zheng (who was granted the title of Marquis of Zhengguo) may have simply not seen it. Both the Tang and Song dynasty *Yiwen Zhi* also do not record it. Perhaps it had already been lost in the Central Plains long ago. The content of the book discusses matters of yin and yang and the Five Phases, which are merely the remnants of the doctrines of Han dynasty Confucian scholars. However, its writing is simple, thick, and ancient, something that could not have been written by people after the Tang dynasty. Moreover, the book often cites ancient texts that are now lost and no longer available. Furthermore, Xiao Ji was well known for his expertise in yin-yang and arithmetic, as clearly stated in his biography. Therefore, the authorship of this book by Xiao Ji is beyond doubt. After more than a thousand years, this book has miraculously survived to us, which is quite extraordinary. How could we not examine and transmit it? Written on the Jiwei day (the thirteenth day of the fifth lunar month, an old custom suitable for transplanting bamboo), by Tian Pù.