In the beginning, there was t'ai chi (taiji) (the great ultimate of being), which was fundamentally identical with wu chi (wuji) (the ultimate of non-being)
Wuji and then (respectively and yet) taiji.
In movement taiji creates yang.
When the movement has reached its limit there is stillness.
When still, taiji creates yin.
When stillness has reached its limits, there is a return to movement.
Movement and stillness alternate.
Each is the root of the other.
The two instruments rose out of the differentiation between yin and yang.
Yang changes and yin connects.
This is how water, fire, wood, metal and earth come into being.
Then the five qi phases spread out and the four seasons emerge. The five phases are simply yin and yang. Yin and yang are simply taiji.
Taiji is in origin wuji. As soon as the five phases have been created, each has its own nature. The truthfulness of wuji and the essence of the two [yinand yang] and the five [phases] unite in a miraculous way and consolidations ensue. The dao of [trigram] qian leads to the male [principle]. The dao of [trigram] kun leads to the female [principle].
The two qi react with each other. They transform and generate the 10 000 things.
The 10 000 things continue to generate and there is no end to their transformation. Only human beings receive the finest. They are spiritual beings. Their form emerges, their spirit [shen] develops knowledge.
When their five agents are stimulated and move, good and evil become distinguishable
and the 10 000 things occur. The sages ordered their lives by centrality, correctness,
humanity and rightness and always stress stillness. Sages establish the ultimate of humanity.
Therefore the virtue of the sage equals that of heaven and earth, his clarity equals that of sun
and moon, his timelessness equals that of the four seasons and his good fortune and bad fortune
equals those of ghosts and spirits. The noble [person] cultivates this and has good fortune.
Lesser people reject this and have bad fortune.
Therefore it is said: The establishment of the dao of heaven means yin and yang. The establishment
of the dao of earth means softness and hardness. The establishment of the dao of human
beings is called humanity and rightness. It is also said: Investigate the beginning and follow it
to the end. Thus will you know about death and life.
Wuji and then (respectively and yet) taiji.
In movement taiji creates yang.
When the movement has reached its limit there is stillness.
When still, taiji creates yin.
When stillness has reached its limits, there is a return to movement.
Movement and stillness alternate.
Each is the root of the other.
The two instruments rose out of the differentiation between yin and yang.
Yang changes and yin connects.
This is how water, fire, wood, metal and earth come into being.
Then the five qi phases spread out and the four seasons emerge. The five phases are simply yin and yang. Yin and yang are simply taiji.
Taiji is in origin wuji. As soon as the five phases have been created, each has its own nature. The truthfulness of wuji and the essence of the two [yinand yang] and the five [phases] unite in a miraculous way and consolidations ensue. The dao of [trigram] qian leads to the male [principle]. The dao of [trigram] kun leads to the female [principle].
The two qi react with each other. They transform and generate the 10 000 things.
The 10 000 things continue to generate and there is no end to their transformation. Only human beings receive the finest. They are spiritual beings. Their form emerges, their spirit [shen] develops knowledge.
When their five agents are stimulated and move, good and evil become distinguishable
and the 10 000 things occur. The sages ordered their lives by centrality, correctness,
humanity and rightness and always stress stillness. Sages establish the ultimate of humanity.
Therefore the virtue of the sage equals that of heaven and earth, his clarity equals that of sun
and moon, his timelessness equals that of the four seasons and his good fortune and bad fortune
equals those of ghosts and spirits. The noble [person] cultivates this and has good fortune.
Lesser people reject this and have bad fortune.
Therefore it is said: The establishment of the dao of heaven means yin and yang. The establishment
of the dao of earth means softness and hardness. The establishment of the dao of human
beings is called humanity and rightness. It is also said: Investigate the beginning and follow it
to the end. Thus will you know about death and life.