INTRODUCTION.

PLATE III.

Fig. 1.

A simple circular diagram represents the unity of the divine principle before differentiation.

The First God.

Supreme Spiritoriginal: 至神, Zhishen. This refers to the most high or ultimate spiritual power in the cosmic hierarchy.

Mind.

Fig. 2.

A circular diagram is divided into two equal horizontal halves. The upper half is white and the lower half is black, illustrating the separation of active and passive forces.

Light

The Creative Forceoriginal: 乾, Khëen or Qian. This represents the active, masculine principle of Heaven.

Second God (Spiritoriginal: 神, Shen. In this context, it refers to the expansive, manifesting energy of the divine.).

Darkness.

The Receptive Forceoriginal: 坤, Khwăn or Kun. This represents the passive, feminine principle of Earth.

Ghost (Earthly Spiritoriginal: 鬼, Gui. Often translated as "demon" in older texts, it here represents the contractive or returning force of nature.)

} Primordial Air (Vital Energyoriginal: 氣, Qi. This is the fundamental substance or breath of the universe.) or "Heaven." A large closing brace on the right groups the lower half of Figure 2 and the upper half of Figure 3 to show their shared relationship with the physical atmosphere and the heavens.

Body.

Fig. 3.

A circular diagram is divided into two horizontal halves. The upper half is white and labeled Heaven. The lower half is black and represents Earth and Hades. Three stylized mountain peaks rise from the black section into the white section, representing the physical world emerging from the depths.

Heaven.

Earth.

The Underworldoriginal: Hades. The translator uses this Greek term to describe the Chinese concept of the yellow springs or the realm of the dead.

Fig. 4.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

A composite circular diagram on the right combines the elements of the previous figures. It shows the horizontal division and mountain peaks, merging the spiritual hierarchy with the physical structure of the world.

Heaven.

Earth.

The Underworld.