Astrology

IMG:p50_1.png:Chinese characters. The fundamental principles of Chinese astrology are laid down in the eighth section of the early document known as the " Great Plan " [Hung Fan IMG:p50_2.png:Chinese characters which now forms a chapter of the Shu C/iing. It is therein a erted that climatic change is directly related tj the moral conduct of the people, and that the stars, sun and moon, are the means by which such climatic changes [Feng Shui Mi 7K " vi'mA. and rain," q.v.) are produced. With this simple principle was later incorporated the cosmical theory of the Yin and Yang [q.v.). The Five Elements [q.v.), which are also referred to in the " Great Plan," were regarded as the constituents of all things, and each could be Positive or Negative (Yang or Yin) in character. They have mutual affinities, antipathies and "catalytic" actions, and in the heavens their e ences are concentrated in the five planets. [Mercury = water, Venus = copper. Mars = fire, Jupiter = wood, Saturn = earth]. The planets collectively form the IMG:p50_3.png:Chinese characters shao yin, the Le er Negative Influence. The fixed stars have various terrestrial affinities, especially with certain regions of China, and collectively form the IMG:p50_4.png:Chinese characters shao yang or Le er Positive Influence. The Sun IMG:p50_5.png:Chinese characters, Vai yang, Major Positive Influence, or Q jih) and the Moon IMG:p50_6.png:Chinese characters Major Negative Influence, or IMG:p50_7.png:Chinese characters yiieh) are the dominant factors, their potency varying according to their positions in the ecliptic 3t VL, huang tao, Yellow Path) and in azimuth. The azimuths are indicated by a division of the circuit of the horizon into twelve sectjrs named after the "twelve branches." The twelve double-hours into which the Chinese day is divided correspond to these twelve azirauthal sectors. The ecliptic is divided into twenty-eight lunar asterisms or constellations. Each of the azimuth and ecliptic divisions has affinities with the elements (planets) and is yin or yang. From this point, the system is continued rather arbitrarily and the practice 'of astrology has not normally proceeded on such rigid mathematical lines as it did in Europe. Although it was conceived that conjunctions of several planets heralded the birth of a sage (a well-known theory in the west) and that new stars, comets and other exceptional celestial phenomena were significant, in ordinary practice attention was concentrated on the computation of fortunate days and times. The cosmic breath which animates vegetation, animal life, man and the dead, waxes and wanes with the cycles of the Sun and Mojn, so that, in the end, all that is required to be known is the Year (referring to the long cycles ' such as that of 60 years, the Metonic or that period of 500 years in which Mencius thought sages would reappear— like the Egyptian phoenix in the Clementine epistles), the Month, (referring to the epoch in the annual cycle), the Day, (referring to the epoch in the lunar monthly cycle), and the HouE, (referring to the epoch in the daily solar cycle). These four represented by four pairs of the " sexagesimal cycle " characters expre the moment of birth, of the crisis or of the enquiring; and by considering the mutual affinities of these eight characters as referred to the Yin and Yang, ' Five Elements, Twelve Zodiacal signs and other correspondences the astrologer proceeds to prophesy. DoRE: Researches into Chinese Superstitions; Dennys: Folk-Lore in China. ttt IMG:p50_8.png:Chinese characters t [H.C]