The Rites of Zhou An ancient ritual text from the 2nd century BCE records that the Official of the Fire-Drill used a solar-mirror to draw "bright fire" from the sun, and a lunar-mirror to draw "bright water" from the moon, in order to provide for the great sacrifices. Wei Boyang’s The Tripartite Unity original: "參同契" (Cantong Qi), a foundational text of internal alchemy states: "The solar-mirror is used to obtain fire; without the sun, no light is produced." If the Square Vessel original: "方諸" (Fangzhu), a mirror or vessel used to collect nocturnal dew or lunar water is not exposed to the stars and moon, how could it obtain liquid?

The Huainanzi A 2nd-century BCE philosophical compendium says: "When the Square Vessel sees the moon, it becomes moist and produces water." Some commentators mistakenly believed the Square Vessel was a stone, or a large clam, or a substance made from smelting five types of stones. All these theories are incorrect.

According to the "Artificers' Record" in the Rites of Zhou original: "考工記" (Kao Gong Ji): "A mixture of half copper and half tin is called the alloy for mirrors and solar-burners." Thus, the tool for fire is the solar-burner, and the tool for water is the mirror. Gao Tanglong A prominent official and scholar of the Cao Wei state stated: "The solar-mirror is also called the Yang Talisman, used to take fire from the sun; the lunar-mirror is also called the Yin Talisman, used to take water from the moon. Both are made of copper." They are known as the mirrors of water and fire. This explanation is correct.

Gan Bao’s In Search of the Supernatural original: "搜神記" (Soushen Ji), a 4th-century collection of legends says: "Metal and tin share the same nature. On the day of Bingwu in the fifth month the height of Summer/Fire at the hour of the Horse, one casts the solar-mirror. On the day of Renzi in the eleventh month the height of Winter/Water at the hour of the Rat, one casts the lunar-mirror."

Winter Frost

Supplement

Properties and Flavor: Sweet, cold, and non-toxic. Main Indications: Brightens the eyes, calms the heart, removes feverish irritability in children, and quenches thirst.

Explanation of Names

Shizhen says: When the Yin energy is abundant, dew congeals into frost. While frost has the power to kill living things, dew has the power to nourish them; the nature of a substance changes according to the seasons. The Astrology of the Dry Heavens states: The Qi of Heaven descends to become dew, which is clear...