The Profound Principles of the Five Combinations of the Heavenly Stems and Various Scholarly Conjectures: An Age-Old Mystery from the Hetu and Luoshu to Celestial Astronomy
The Five Combinations of the Heavenly Stems (Jia-Ji combining into Earth, Yi-Geng into Metal, Bing-Xin into Water, Ding-Ren into Wood, Wu-Gui into Fire) constitute one of the most fundamental yet mysterious theories in Chinese metaphysical arts. This article delves into the profound principles behind them, analyzing various conjectures and demonstrations of 'combination and transformation of qi' from dimensions including the Hetu numerology, celestial astronomy, and the Five Phases and Six Qi system, revealing the cosmic vision underlying this ancient law.
Chapter One: The Appearance and Definition of the Five Combinations
First, we must clarify what the Five Combinations of the Heavenly Stems are. In the sequence of the Ten Heavenly Stems (Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui), every five positions apart, a "combination" relationship appears.
- Jia-Ji combine into Earth: Jia is Yang Wood, Ji is Yin Earth. The combination of centrality and uprightness.
- Yi-Geng combine into Metal: Yi is Yin Wood, Geng is Yang Metal. The combination of benevolence and righteousness.
- Bing-Xin combine into Water: Bing is Yang Fire, Xin is Yin Metal. The combination of authority and control.
- Ding-Ren combine into Wood: Ding is Yin Fire, Ren is Yang Water. The combination of excess and concealment.
- Wu-Gui combine into Fire: Wu is Yang Earth, Gui is Yin Water. The combination without sentiment.
This "combination" is not mere physical juxtaposition but a qualitative transformation. It embodies the Chinese philosophical principles of "yin and yang in union" and "opposites attract." Yang Stems pair with Yin Stems, like the union of husband and wife, hence also called "mandarin duck combinations."
But what is most perplexing is the direction of the "transformed qi." According to the Five Phases theory of generation and conquest, Jia-Wood conquers Ji-Earth -- why then can the conqueror and the conquered combine$4 And after combining, why does it become Earth (Jia-Wood follows Ji-Earth)$5 Yi-Wood is conquered by Geng-Metal -- why does it transform into Metal (Yi-Wood submits to Geng-Metal)$6 Bing-Fire conquers Xin-Metal -- why does it transform into Water (producing an entirely new Phase)$7
The logic here clearly cannot be explained by simple generation and conquest alone. We must enter a deeper realm of numerical principles.