Section 53.1
All things invariably possess complements. As for these complements:
there must be a superior and there must be a subordinate;
there must be a right, and there must be a left;
there must be a front, and there must be a back;
there must be an outside, and there must be an inside.
[When] there is goodness, there must be evil.
[When] there is compliance, there must be deviation.
[When] there is joy, there must be anger.
[When] there is cold, there must be heat.
[When] there is morning, there must be evening.
These all are complements.
Yin is yang’s complement;
the wife is the husband’s complement;
the son is the father’s complement;
and the minister is the ruler’s complement.
Things do not exist without a complement, and each [pair of] complements has its yin and yang [aspects].
Yang unites with yin, and yin unites with yang;
the husband unites with the wife, and the wife unites with the husband;
the ruler unites with the minister, and the minister unites with the ruler.
The righteous [relationships] between ruler and minister, husband and wife, and father and son all derive from the Way of yin and yang:
The ruler is yang; the minister is yin.
The father is yang; the son is yin.
The husband is yang; the wife is yin.
There are no places where the Way of yin circulates alone. At the beginning [of the yearly cycle], yin is not permitted to arise by itself. Likewise, at the end [of the yearly cycle], yin is not permitted to share in [the glories of] yang’s achievements. Such is the righteous principle of “joining.” Thus,
the minister joins his achievements to the lord;
the son joins his achievements to the father;
the wife joins her achievements to the husband;
yin joins its achievements to yang;
and Earth joins its achievements to Heaven.
1 [53/57/15–21]
Section 53.2
Where there are those who are advanced and promoted, there are those who are restrained and demoted.
Where there are those who are treated dismissively and placed to the right, there are those who are brought forward and placed to the left.
Where there are those to whom one draws near and employs, there are those from whom one keeps away and avoids.
Where there are desires that daily increase, there are desires that daily decrease.
Increase their benefit and decrease their harm.
There are seasons for decreasing what is scarce and increasing what is abundant;
there are seasons for decreasing what is abundant and increasing what is scarce.
Do not allow what is scarce to be completely eradicated.
Do not allow what is abundant to become excessive. [53/57/21–24]
Yin and yang are two [aspects of qi]. At the end of the year, each emerges singularly. They emerge singularly, and their proximity or distance [from each other] is identical in degree but not identical in intention.
Yang emerges and is constantly suspended in the front, taking responsibility for the various undertakings of the yearly cycle.
Yin emerges and constantly is suspended in the rear, guarding vacuous emptiness.
2This reveals that
Heaven draws near to yang while it keeps yin at a distance.
Heaven employs accretion while it does not employ recision.
Thus, the various allotments of humaneness, righteousness, regulations, and limits are ultimately derived from Heaven.
Heaven is the ruler who shelters and discloses them;
Earth is the minister who nurtures and supports them.
Yang is the husband who generates them;
yin is the wife who assists them.
Spring is the father who engenders them;
summer is the son who nourishes them.
Autumn is the death that enshrouds them;
winter is the pain that mourns them.
The Three Bonds of the Kingly Way may be sought in Heaven. [53/57/24–28]
Section 53.4
Heaven sends forth yang to create warming and gives birth to things.
Earth sends forth yin to create cooling and brings things to maturity.
3Without warming, there is no birth.
Without cooling, there is no maturation.
4Nevertheless, if you calculate the quantities of their apportionment, warming and heating constitute one hundred, and cooling and chilling constitute one. Moral education compares to punishments in this same way.
5 Therefore the sage increases his love and decreases his sternness. He extends his bounty and limits his punishments. He relies on this to become a counterpart to Heaven.
6 [53/57/28–30]
Section 53.5
Heaven’s great numbers invariably conclude with ten ten-day periods. The ten-day period [conforms to] the numbers of Heaven and Earth. With ten, the enumeration is complete. The ten-day period [governs] the achievements of birth and maturation. With ten [such periods, birth and maturation] are completely accomplished.
[The transformations of] Heaven’s
qi are gradual. It does not suddenly become cold or suddenly become hot.
7 Therefore
when chilling, it does not become frigid;
when heating, it does not become sweltering.
They gradually arise and do not suddenly come to an end.
8 The
Changes states:
“Frost underfoot, ice will soon follow.
This is to say, it complies [with Heaven’s proper sequence].”
9
The superior must be firm and not violate the proper sequence of things. It is certainly the case that when Heaven acts, it does not complete [its tasks] as soon as it begins them.
10 What human beings do likewise should not all be done when just begun.
11 As a general rule, whenever you initiate an undertaking, gradually implement it and then gradually rescind it, so that the people’s hearts will be delighted and made secure by it and will not be frightened by it. Thus it is said: “The noble man governs human beings in accordance with their humanity. He understands that they possess the capacity for goodness.” This expresses it. The Way of the Sage is identical to Heaven and Earth, stirring all within the Four Seas and transforming their habits and customs. [53/57/30–53/58/5]