SECTION XLIX OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF ZHU XI original: "Choo-tsze," the influential Song Dynasty philosopher (1130–1200 AD) who synthesized Confucian thought.

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INTRODUCTION.

All these constitute but one circle or Universe original Greek: Kosmos, referring to the world as an ordered, harmonious system, which is “One yet All Things.”

A decorative woodcut tailpiece or floral design, centrally positioned on the page.

INTRODUCTION.

Yang The active, light, or masculine principle in nature.
Motion

Yin The passive, dark, or feminine principle in nature.
Quiescence The state of stillness or rest.

Fire, Water, Earth, Wood, Metal These are the Five Elements or "Five Phases" (Wuxing) that constitute the material world and its cycles.

The Way of Heaven original: Qian (乾), the hexagram representing the creative, heavenly force forms the male.

The Way of Earth original: Kun (坤), the hexagram representing the receptive, earthly force forms the female.

The myriad things are generated through transformation.

This Circle is the Infinite original: Wuji (無極); original Greek: apeiron (απειρον), meaning the boundless, indefinite, or primordial void; the “First God.” This reflects a 19th-century interpretive attempt to link Chinese philosophy with Western theological and Greek philosophical concepts.

This second circle is the Great Extreme original: Taiji (太極), the ultimate source and principle of the universe or the whole mass of Primordial Breath original: Qi (氣); the vital energy, breath, or force that constitutes all physical matter.. The small circle in the center represents the first circle which is inherent in this one and is the Doctrine of the Mean original: Zhongyong (中庸), referring to the central, balanced principle of Confucian ethics and metaphysics of Confucius.

The Five Elements generated from the preceding.

A male and a female generated from the second cir...