Complete Compendium of Five-Star and Three-Fate Astrology, Volume 1 (1657) - Page 5

⚠The image is a woodblock print with significant ink bleed and some faded characters, particularly at the edges and in the smaller glosses.

In the West, there is the god Shao Hao A legendary sovereign, one of the Five Emperors, associated with the West and the element Metal who rides upon Ru Shou The deity of autumn and metal who assists Shao Hao. He governs Autumn, which produces a solemn and chilling air; this is the place where the ten thousand things are harvested and gathered. The element Metal resides here, with the stems Geng and Xin and the branches Shen and You being the same. In the North, there is the god Zhuan Xu A grandson of the Yellow Emperor, associated with the North and the element Water who rides upon the Kan trigram Kan: The trigram representing Water in the Yijing (Book of Changes) and holds the power of authority. He governs Winter, which produces a congealed and harsh air; this is why the ten thousand things go into hiding here. The element Water resides here, with the stems Ren and Gui and the branches Hai and Zi being the same.

Twelve likely referring to the twelve branches after
In total, governing
Together, each
Sixteen days
Sixteen
Beginning of Spring Lichun: The first solar term of the year, marking the start of spring, three months
Before Grain Rain Guyu: The solar term marking the end of spring, literally "Grain Rain"
In charge of affairs

Eye large
Seven removed
Earth removed

The Centrality of the Earth Element

The text says: Thus, Wood, Fire, Metal, and Water occupy the four cardinal directions and follow the four seasons. Only the Earth stems, Wu and Ji, reside in the center, while the Earth branches—Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei—are scattered across the "Four Dimensions" Siwei: The four intermediate directions (Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Northwest) which act as transitions between seasons. Why is this?

The answer is: In the Center, there is the god, the Yellow Emperor Huangdi, the most celebrated of the Five Emperors and the progenitor of Chinese civilization, who rides upon the Kun trigram Kun: The trigram representing Earth and the receptive principle. He holds the marking line original: "繩" (sheng) — a carpenter's plumb line or cord used for measurement and rectification and governs the Earth below. Furthermore, Wood, Fire, Metal, and Water can none of them exist without Earth. Therefore, the stems Wu and Ji are placed in the center, and the branches Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei are scattered among the Four Dimensions, so that each element may obtain its necessary support.

The Discourse of Master He Wu

Master He Wu's discourse says: If Heaven lacked Earth original: "土" (tu) — meaning the element/substance of Earth, it could not form a circular canopy above. If the Earth original: "地" (di) — the planet/ground lacked the element Earth, it could not carry its heavy burden below. The Five Grains would not grow. If Man lacked the element Earth, he could not operate within the center, and the Five Constants Wuchang: The five core Confucian virtues of Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trustworthiness would not be established. These "Three Powers" Sancai: The triad of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity cannot be lacking.

If Wood lacked Earth, where would it find the strength to be nurtured? If Fire lacked Earth, it could not shine The text likely refers to the "hearth" or "fuel" aspects of earth supporting combustion.

If Wood? lacked