Comprehensive Record of the Forest of Affairs

—— The Supreme Ultimate (continued) ——

It is said that before Heaven and Earth were divided, the primordial life-forceoriginal: "yuanqi" (元氣). The basic substance of the universe, often described as a breath or vapor. was mixed as one. This state is known as the "Great Beginning" and the "Great One." The philosopher Laozi said, "The Way produced the One," which refers to this Supreme Ultimateoriginal: "Taiji" (太極). In Chinese philosophy, the ultimate source and cosmological structure of the world.. From the Appended Remarks of the Book of Changes: "Supreme Ultimate" is a term meaning the absolute limit or the end of a series. In the Biography of Ji Zhan, it states: "The Changes possesses the Supreme Ultimate"—this is what is meant.

The Supreme Ultimate produces the two formsoriginal: "liangyi" (兩儀). These are Yin and Yang.; the two forms produce the four imagesoriginal: "sixiang" (四象). Representing stages of Yin and Yang, often associated with the four seasons or four directions.; the four images produce the eight trigramsoriginal: "bagua" (八卦). The eight symbols that form the basis of the I Ching.; the eight trigrams determine good and bad fortune; and good and bad fortune produce the "great enterprise" of human life. This comes from the Appended Remarks of the Book of Changes. The Way (Dao) exists before the Supreme Ultimate yet is not considered high; it exists below the Supreme Ultimate yet is not considered deep. It was born before Heaven and Earth yet is not considered long-lasting; it is older than high antiquity yet is not considered aged. From the Zhuangzi. It is the "Ultimate of Nothingness" (Wuji), and yet it is the Supreme Ultimate.

The Supreme Ultimate moves and produces YangThe active, masculine, bright principle.. When motion reaches its limit, it becomes still. In stillness, it produces YinThe passive, feminine, dark principle.. When stillness reaches its limit, it returns to motion. One motion and one stillness serve as each other’s root. As the principles of Yin and Yang are divided, the two forms are established.

Through the transformation of Yang and the combination of Yin, the Five Elementsoriginal: "wuxing" (五行). The five phases of energy: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.—Water, Fire, Wood, Metal, and Earth—are produced. These five life-forces are distributed in their proper order, and the four seasons proceed. The Five Elements are fundamentally Yin and Yang; Yin and Yang are fundamentally the Supreme Ultimate; and the Supreme Ultimate is fundamentally rooted in the Ultimate of Nothingness.

In the birth of the Five Elements, each possesses its own specific nature. The truth of the Ultimate of Nothingness and the essence of the Two (Yin and Yang) and the Five (Elements) combine in a marvelous way and coalesce. The Way of the Creativeoriginal: "Qian" (乾). The hexagram representing Heaven and the male principle. forms the male, and the Way of the Receptiveoriginal: "Kun" (坤). The hexagram representing Earth and the female principle. forms the female. These two life-forces interact to transform and give birth to the myriad things. The myriad things reproduce and change without end. This is from Master Zhou’s Penetrating the Book of Changes. The Supreme Ultimate is simply the "Principle" (li) of Heaven, Earth, and all things. Within the universe, the universe has a Supreme Ultimate; within each thing, each thing possesses its own Supreme Ultimate. It is simply a principle of the highest excellence and supreme goodness. Every person has a Supreme Ultimate, and every object has a Supreme Ultimate. The Supreme Ultimate is our inherent nature; motion, stillness, Yin, and Yang are the heart; and the Five Elements correspond to the five virtues: Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trust. The birth of all things is the majestic and orderly display of all worldly affairs.