Section 42.1
Heaven has Five Phases:
The first is Wood;
the second is Fire;
the third is Earth;
the fourth is Metal;
the fifth is Water.
Wood is the beginning of the Five Phases;
Water is the end of the Five Phases;
Earth is the middle of the Five Phases.
This is their Heavenly endowed sequence.
Wood gives birth to Fire;
Fire gives birth to Earth;
Earth gives birth to Metal;
Metal gives birth to Water;
Water gives birth to Wood.
This is their father–son relationship.
Wood dwells on the left;
Metal dwells on the right;
Fire dwells in the front;
Water dwells in the rear;
Earth dwells in the center.
1
This is their father–son sequence. [The phases] receive from and distribute to one another. Therefore,
Wood receives Water;
Fire receives Wood;
Earth receives Fire;
Metal receives Earth;
Water receives Metal.
Those that confer all are fathers;
those that receive all are sons.
To constantly rely on the father to direct the son is the Way of Heaven. Therefore,
once Wood is born, Fire nurtures it;
once Metal dies, Water buries it.
Fire delights in Wood and nourishes it with yang;
Water overcomes Metal and mourns it with yin;
Earth’s [managing the] affairs of Fire fully expresses its loyalty. Thus the Five Phases [exemplify] the conduct of the filial son and loyal minister. The “Five Phases” as an expression resembles the “five [modes of virtuous] conduct,” does it not?
2 That is the very reason why they are so named. The sage understands this and therefore increases his love and diminishes his sternness. He generously nourishes the living and cautiously bids farewell to the dead and so follows the regulations of Heaven. If sons,
in nourishing their fathers, can resemble Fire delighting in Wood;
in bidding their fathers farewell in death, can resemble Water overcoming Metal;
in serving their lords, can resemble Earth revering Heaven,
they may be called “men of [virtuous] conduct.”
With the operations of the Five Phases, each follows its [respective] sequence;
with the offices of the Five Phases, each fulfills its [respective] capabilities.
Thus
Wood dwells in the eastern quarter and governs the qi of spring;
Fire dwells in the southern quarter and governs the qi of summer;
Metal dwells in the western quarter and governs the
qi of autumn;
Water dwells in the northern quarter and governs the qi of winter.
Hence
Wood governs giving birth, while Metal governs killing;
Fire governs heat, while Water governs cold.
[Thus]
to employ others by invariably relying on their respective sequence;
to appoint others by invariably relying on their respective ability,
is Heaven’s regularity.
Earth dwells in the center and is called the Heavenly Fructifier.
3 Earth serves as the arms and legs of Heaven. Its potency is variegated and beautiful and cannot be named in accordance with the activities of any single season. Thus, there are Five Phases but four seasons, because Earth encompasses them all.
4 Even though Metal, Wood, Water, and Fire each have their respective functions, if they did not rely on Earth, their respective functions could not be established, just as sourness, saltiness, acridness, and bitterness could not perfect their respective tastes if they did not rely on sweetness.
Sweetness is the root of the Five Tastes;
Earth is ruler of the Five Phases.
Earth’s ruling the Five Phases is analogous to the Five Tastes that would not achieve perfection without the sweetness they possess. Therefore among the actions of the sage, nothing is nobler than loyalty. This refers to the virtue of Earth.
The greatest human office is not named for the particular function it performs. The minister exemplifies this.
The greatest Heavenly office is not named for what it gives birth to.
Earth exemplifies this. [42/50/6–21]