On Pure Yin and Pure Yang

There are now a hundred theories of pure yin and pure yang—some confused with the yin and yang of the trigrams, some muddled with the division of stars among mountains and waters. Here we settle the matter according to Master Lai Buyi’s Longchuan manuscript: Kan, Li, Zhen, and Dui as the four cardinal trigrams are yang; Qian, Kun, Gen, and Xun as the four auxiliary trigrams are yin. The heavenly stems and earthly branches are likewise matched to trigrams—therefore Kan–Gui–Shen–Zi–Chen, Li–Ren–Yin–Wu–Mao, Zhen–Geng–Hai–Mao–Wei, and Dui–Ding–Si–You–Chou are yang; the rest are yin.

This pairing serves only the Auxiliary Star method. If one clings rigidly to this doctrine, it too is incorrect. Hence Liu Qingtian said: “Yang dragon, yang orientation, water flowing yang—this saying is most absurd. Yin dragon, yin orientation, water flowing yin—laughable, all people stuck in the mud.”

For example, with a Wei mountain facing Chou and Gui water in the hall, this accords with the doctrine: “Chen–Xu–Chou–Wei are earth-origin dragons; Qian–Kun–Gen–Xun are the husband-and-wife lineage; Jia–Geng–Ren–Bing make the true orientation; take the vein from Greedy Wolf to guard the true dragon.”

The Geographical Straight Pointing of the Original Truth—Critique of the Pure Yin Pure Yang Doctrine refutes that doctrine, saying:

In the ancestral tomb of the Minister of Pinghu, a vigorous Yin–Shen dragon enters the configuration as Yi-wood, with the water mouth at Xu; the orientation is set to the prosperous Bing. On the left, qi of Dongqi Bang’s Gui water comes to the hall; the Lu water of Xun–Si arrives together at the hall. Xun, Si, and Gui all belong to water, and all overcome the Bing–Wu orientation. On the right, Kun–Shen water is seen slanting in, turning to Geng water and carrying Shen-Lu to arch in offering. The Classic says: “Shen and Geng arching in offering, a gold seal hangs at the waist”—hence a Minister was produced.

Below Santai Mountain in Hangzhou, a small hill projects out; a Kun–Shen dragon enters the head, and the water mouth is Qian water at Chou. The orientation is set to Gen, a self-birth at the tomb mouth—this is the ancestral tomb of Heavenly Official Zhang.

The ancestral tomb of the Zhang clan of Beiguan has a Xun dragon entering the head, and is set with a Gui tomb orientation in yang.

The ancestral tomb of Premier Shen of Ningbo has a Xun–Ding dragon, and is set facing Gui—this is yin dragon facing yang, yang dragon facing yin: such cases are very many!

Hence there are also those who follow Ye Jiusheng, saying: “A Zhen–Geng–Hai–Wei dragon properly pairs with a Xun–Xin orientation, and secondarily with a Dui–Ding–Si–Chou orientation. A Xun–Xin dragon properly pairs with a Zhen–Geng–Hai–Wei orientation, and secondarily with a Gen–Bing orientation. A Dui–Ding–Si–Chou dragon properly pairs with a Gen–Bing orientation, and secondarily with a Zhen–Geng–Hai–Wei orientation. A Gen–Bing dragon properly pairs with a Dui–Ding–Si–Chou orientation, and secondarily with a Xun–Xin orientation. A Li–Ren–Yin–Wu dragon properly pairs with a Kan–Gui–Shen orientation, and secondarily with a Qian–Jia orientation. A Qian–Jia dragon properly pairs with a Kun–Yi orientation, and secondarily with a Li–Ren–Yin–Xu orientation. A Kan–Gui–Shen–Chen dragon properly pairs with a Li–Ren–Yin–Xu orientation, and secondarily with a Kun–Yi orientation. A Kun–Yi dragon properly pairs with a Qian–Jia orientation, and secondarily with a Kan–Gui–Shen–Chen orientation.”

Therefore: Zhen with Xun, Xun with Zhen, Dui with Gen, Gen with Dui, Li with Kan, Kan with Li, Qian with Kun, Kun with Qian—that is, first one pairs by Zhen–Xun, Dui–Gen, Kan–Li, Qian–Kun, and afterwards by yin and yang.