Heavenly Stem 天干

七、天干

Chapter 7 Heavenly Stem

滴天髓 - Di Tian Sui

五阳皆阳丙为最，五阴皆阴癸为至。

Bing is the extreme of the 5 Yangs, Gui is the extreme of the 5 Yins.

原注：Original comment:

甲、丙、戊、庚、壬为阳，独丙火秉阳之精，而为阳中之阳；

Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, Ren as Yang. Only Bing fire is considered to have the essence of Yang and represent the extreme of Yang.

乙、丁、己、辛、癸为阴，独癸水秉阴之精，而为阴中之阴。

Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin, Gui as Yin. Only Gui water is considered the essence of Yin and represent the extreme of Yin.

任氏曰：Ren Tie Qiao comment:

丙乃纯阳之火，万物莫不由此而发，得此而敛；

Bing being the extreme of Yang of fire, where all living things develop from, obtained thus becomes restrained;

癸乃纯阴之水，万物莫不由此而生，得此而茂。

Gui being the extreme of Yin water, where all living things grow from, obtained thus becomes luxuriant.

阳极则阴生，故丙辛化水；

Extreme Yang give birth to Yin, so Bing Xin transform to water;

阴极则阳生，故戊癸化火。

Extreme Yin give birth to Yang, so Wu Gui transform to fire.

阴阳相济，万物有生生之妙。

The mixing of Yin and Yang is the wonderful way which give rise to the creation of all living things.

夫十干之气，

The Qi of the 10 HS,

以先天言之，固一原同出，

Early Heaven representation, undoubtedly originate from one source,

以后天言之，亦一气相包。

Late Heaven representation, one Qi circulating.

甲乙一木也，丙丁一火也，戊己一土也，庚辛一金也，壬癸一水也，

Jia Yi represent wood, Bing Ding represent fire, Wu Ji represent earth, Geng Xin represent metal, Ren Gui represent water,

即分别所用，

Different usage,

不过阳刚阴柔，

In terms of

Yang hard / firm / strong / just / barely / exactly / Solid,

Yin soft / flexible / supple / yielding / gentle / amiable,

阳健阴顺而已。

Yang leads and  Yin follows, thats all.

窃怪命家作歌为赋，比拟失伦，竟以

Destiny Masters created such poems, to go so far as to compare and match human relationship and order.

甲木为梁栋，乙木为花果；

Jia wood as ridge pole, Yi wood as plants;

丙作太阳，丁作灯烛；

Bing as the Sun, Ding as candle fire;

戊作城墙，己作田园；

Wu earth as fortress wall, Ji earth as soil in the field;

庚为顽铁，辛作珠玉；

Geng as heavy metal, Xin as jewelry;

壬为江河，癸为雨露。

Ren as rivers, Gui as dew drops,

相沿已久，牢不可破，

After following for a long time, must be firm and not to be damaged,

用之论命，诚大谬也。

Using it for destiny study, even though sincere can create confusion.

如谓甲为无根死木，乙为有根活木，同是木而分生死，

Like treating Jia wood as dead wood and Yi wood as live wood, even though both are wood but there is a difference between dead and alive.

岂阳木独禀死气，阴木独禀生气乎？

Yang wood is considered as dead Qi, whereas Yin wood is considered as living Qi, why?

又谓活木畏水泛，

Living wood is afraid of floating due to too much water,

死木不畏水泛，

Does not apply to dead wood,

岂活木遇水且漂，

Living wood floats encountering water,

而枯槎遇水反定乎？

In reverse, dried wood encountering water is stabilizing.

论断诸干，如此之类，不一而足，

In analyzing HS, this method of categorising, is not limited to this HS only,

当尽避之，以绝将来之谬。

To defer when reaching the extremity, to extinguish future confusion.

五阳从气不从势，五阴从势无情义。

5 Yangs follow Qi not power, 5 Yins follow power with no sentiment.

原注：Original comment:

五阳得阳之气，即能成乎阳刚之势，不畏财杀之势；

5 Yangs obtained Yang Qi, able to become powerful strong Yang Qi, no worried about the power of Wealth and Killings.

五阴得阴之气，即能成乎阴顺之义，

5 Yins obtained Yin Qi, still can follow the principle of Yin being a follower,

故木盛则从木，

So wood will follow wood,

火盛则从火，

Fire will follow fire,

土盛则从土，

Earth will follow earth,

金盛则从金，

Metal will follow metal,

水盛则从水。

Water will follow water.

于情义之所在者，见其势衰，

Regarding sentiment, observe the strength and weakness,

则忌之矣，盖妇人之情也。

When inauspicious, referred to the sentiment of a married women.

如此，若得气顺理正者，

So even if obtained Qi which indicate the principle of follow,

亦未必从势而忘义，虽从亦必正矣。

Not necessary will forget about the sentiment, even though the principle of follow is the correct one.

任氏曰：Ren Tie Qiao comment:

五阳气避，光亨之象易观；

五阴气翕，包含之蕴难测。

五阳之性刚健，故不畏财煞，而有测隐之心，其处世不苟且；

五阴之性柔顺，故见势忘义，而有鄙吝之心，其处世多骄谄。

是以柔能克制刚，刚不能制克柔也。

大抵趋利忘义之徒，皆阴气之为戾也；豪侠慷慨之人，皆阳气之独钟。

然尚有阳中之阴、阴中之阳，又有阳外阴内、阴外阳内，亦当辨之。

阳中之阴，外仁义而内奸诈；

阴中之阳，外凶险而内仁慈；

阳外阴内者，包藏祸心；

阴外阳内者，秉持直道。

此人品之端邪？

故不可以不辨。

要在气势顺正，四柱五行停匀，庶不偏倚，自无损人利己之心。

凡持身涉世之道，趋避必先知人，故云“择其善者而从之”，即此意也。