Classic 6: Explanation of the Tai Ji Diagram (Tai Ji Tu Shuo)

 

 

Wu Ji already Tai Ji

Tai Ji moves to produce Yang

Movement to its limit (Ji) then stillness

Motionlessness then produces Yin

Stillness to its limit then returns to movement.

One movement, one stillness

Each acts as the root of the other

And (they) separate into Yin and Yang.

 

The two principles (Liang Yi) are established

Yang changes with Yin and they unite to produce water, fire, wood, metal and earth.

The five Qi unfold smoothly

The four seasons advance at their own pace.

The Five Elements as one are Yin and Yang.

Yin and Yang as one are Tai Ji.

The origin of Tai Ji is in Wu Ji.

 

As soon as the Five Elements are produced, each has its character.

The reality of Wu Ji and the essence of Two (the Two Principles) and Five (Five Elements) combine and coagulate beautifully.

The Tao of Heaven (Qian) perfects the Masculine; the Tao of Earth (Kun) perfects the Feminine.

The Two Qi react (copulate) and influence each other, transforming and giving birth to the 10,000 things.

 

The 10,000 things never cease to give birth and transform endlessly.

Only Man achieves this excellence and is the most intelligent.

After his form is created, his mind discovers knowledge.

The five characters (of the Five Elements) are stimulated and come into motion.

 

Good and evil are distinguished and the 10,000 things appear.

The Sages fix the contents using Benevolence and Righteousness (Ren Yi), Centre and Rightness (Zhong Zheng).

They advocate stillness and establish the limit (Ji) of man

In the past, "the virtue of the sages was in harmony with Heaven and Earth.

Their enlightenment in harmony with the sun and the moon.

The order of their actions in harmony with the four seasons.

Their luck and misfortune in harmony with the demons and the gods.

 

(Quote from The Book of Transformations)

 

The luck of the superior man lies in the cultivation (of his virtue);

The bad luck of the low man lies in his nature.

Thus it is said that in establishing the Tao of Heaven, one speaks of Yin and Yang.

In establishing the Tao of Earth, one speaks of Yin and Yang.

In establishing the Tao of Man, one speaks of Benevolence and Righteousness.

It is also said, "If one returns to the origin of all things, one knows what there is to say about life and death.

 

How great is the Yi (Yi Jing / I Ching - the Book of Transformations).

It is therefore the most perfect.

This text is by Zhou Dun-yi (1017-1073), a philosopher, member of the Tai Ji Diagram Sect often called Neo-Confucian. He was a follower of Taoist physiological alchemy.