Discourse on the Associations of the Ten Heavenly Stems and Twelve Earthly Branches

Question: At that time, when Da Rao Shi A minister of the Yellow Emperor credited with inventing the sexagenary cycle of timekeeping first created the Jiazi Jiazi: The sexagenary cycle, a system of 60 terms used to number years, months, days, and hours in traditional Chinese chronometry, how did he determine the designations for Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth Wuxing: The Five Elements or Phases that represent the fundamental forces of the universe?

Answer: In the beginning, the Ten Primordials—the Ten Heavenly Stems—were assigned as follows: Jia and Yi belong to Wood; Bing and Ding belong to Fire; Wu and Ji belong to Earth; Geng and Xin belong to Metal; and Ren and Gui belong to Water. These are the associations of the Ten Heavenly Stems.

As for the Earthly Branches: Yin and Mao belong to Wood; Si and Wu belong to Fire; Shen and You belong to Metal; Hai and Zi belong to Water; and Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei belong to Earth. These are the associations of the Twelve Earthly Branches.

Further Question: Since the Sages placed the Wood elements of Jia, Yi, Yin, and Mao in the East; the Fire elements of Bing, Ding, Si, and Wu in the South; the Metal elements of Geng, Xin, Shen, and You in the West; the Water elements of Ren, Gui, Hai, and Zi in the North; the Earth elements of Wu and Ji in the Center; and the branches Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei scattered across the Four Corners Siwei: The four intermediate directions—Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest—which serve as transitions between the primary compass points—what is the reasoning behind this?

Answer: It is said that in the East, there is the deity Tai Hao original: "Taihao," the "Great Brilliant One," often identified with Fuxi, the cultural hero who created the Eight Trigrams and taught humanity how to fish and hunt. He rides upon the Zhen The trigram in the I Ching representing Thunder, signifying the spark of life and the beginning of movement and holds the compass. He governs the Spring and presides over benevolence, gentle winds, and harmonious energy. This is the season when all living things must emerge and grow; therefore, Wood resides here. This is why Jia, Yi, Yin, and Mao are categorized together in the East.

In the South, there is the deity Yan Di The Flame Emperor: A legendary ruler and divine farmer in Chinese mythology who taught the art of agriculture and herbal medicine. He rides upon the Li The trigram in the I Ching representing Fire, light, and clarity and holds the scales. He governs the Summer and presides over intense heat and scorching energy. This is the season when all living things reach full growth and nourishment; therefore, Fire resides here. This is why Bing, Ding, Si, and Wu are categorized together in the South.