Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms, Volume 4: Astronomy

The Theory of the Nine Paths

The Sun follows the Middle Path, while the Moon has Nine Paths. The "Middle Path" refers to the Ecliptic, the Sun's apparent path across the sky. The "Nine Paths" is a traditional system explaining the Moon's shifting orbit relative to that Ecliptic. This theory is found in the "Great Plan" original: Hongfan (洪範), a chapter of the Classic of History and its original commentaries, combined with the theories of the Inner and Outer Lunar Cycles. Inner/Outer Cyclesoriginal: Yinli (陰曆) and Yangli (陽曆). In this astronomical context, these do not mean the "Lunar/Solar calendars" but refer to whether the Moon is positioned inside (north) or outside (south) of the Sun's ecliptic path.

By deducing these movements, generally, wherever the Moon's path intersects the Yellow Path the Ecliptic, the area inside is considered the Inner Cycle, and the area outside is the Outer Cycle.

When entering the Inner Cycle in winter and the Outer Cycle in summer, the Moon travels along the Green Path. After the Winter and Summer Solstices, the midpoint of the Green Path's intersection is located in the constellations of the Vernal Equinox, situated to the northeast of the Ecliptic. After the Start of Winter and Start of Summer, the midpoint intersection is in the constellations of the Start of Spring, situated to the southeast of the Ecliptic. This also applies to the constellations directly opposite these points.

When entering the Outer Cycle in winter and the Inner Cycle in summer, the Moon travels along the White Path. After the Winter and Summer Solstices, the midpoint of the White Path's intersection is in the constellations of the Autumnal Equinox, situated to the northwest of the Ecliptic. After the Start of Winter and Start of Summer, the midpoint intersection is in the constellations of the Start of Winter or Start of Autumn, situated to the northwest of the Ecliptic. This also applies to the constellations directly opposite these points.

When entering the Outer Cycle in spring and the Inner Cycle in autumn, the Moon travels along the Vermilion Path. The Vermilion Path is the "Red Path" of the south. After the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes, the midpoint of the Vermilion Path's intersection is at the Start of Summer, situated to the south of the Ecliptic. After the Start of Spring and Start of Autumn, the midpoint intersection is in the constellations of the Start of Summer, situated to the southwest of the Ecliptic. This also applies to the constellations directly opposite these points.

When entering the Inner Cycle in spring and the Outer Cycle in autumn, the Moon travels along the Black Path. After the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes, the midpoint of the Black Path's intersection is in the constellations of the Winter Solstice, situated to the north of the Ecliptic. After the Start of Spring and Start of Autumn, the midpoint intersection is in the constellations of the Start of Winter, situated to the northeast of the Ecliptic. This also applies to the constellations directly opposite these points.

The Four Seasons are further divided into the Eight Solar Nodes; The Eight Nodes (Ba Jie) are the Start of Spring, Vernal Equinox, Start of Summer, Summer Solstice, Start of Autumn, Autumnal Equinox, Start of Winter, and Winter Solstice. at the points where the Yin and Yang forces intersect, all...