A Reading of Xi Ci Shang, Chapter One

Heaven is exalted, Earth is lowly — thus Qian and Kun are established. The low and the high are arrayed — thus the noble and the humble find their places. Movement and stillness have their constancy — thus the firm and the yielding are distinguished. Kinds gather by affinity, beings divide into groups — thus fortune and misfortune arise. In Heaven, images take shape; on Earth, forms are completed — thus transformation becomes manifest. Therefore the firm and the yielding rub against each other, the Eight Trigrams set each other in motion. They are stirred by thunder and lightning, moistened by wind and rain. Sun and moon revolve in their courses; now cold, now heat. The way of Qian completes the male; the way of Kun completes the female. Qian knows the great beginning; Kun brings things to completion. Qian achieves through ease; Kun achieves through simplicity. What is easy is easy to understand; what is simple is easy to follow. What is easy to understand wins affection; what is easy to follow achieves results. With affection comes durability; with results comes greatness. Durability is the virtue of the worthy; greatness is the enterprise of the worthy. Through ease and simplicity, the principle of all under Heaven is grasped. When the principle of all under Heaven is grasped, one takes one's place within it.

— Xi Ci Shang (Commentary on the Appended Phrases, Part I), Chapter One