《弓乙图》弓乙图

37、弓乙歌：弓乙四时歌

　　弓乙四时歌
　　作词/弓乙 王恩科
　　黄赤交角定四时，山川干支演人文。
　　春寅虎卯兔辰龙，夏巳蛇午马未羊。
　　秋申猴酉鸡戌狗，冬亥猪子鼠丑牛。
　　*Gongyi’s Ballad of the Four Seasons
　　Lyricist: Gongyi, Wang Enke
　　The obliquity of the ecliptic determines the four seasons;
　　Mountains, rivers, Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches shape the development of human culture.
　　Spring: Yin (Tiger), Mao (Rabbit), Chen (Dragon);
　　Summer: Si (Snake), Wu (Horse), Wei (Goat);
　　Autumn: Shen (Monkey), You (Rooster), Xu (Dog);
　　Winter: Hai (Pig), Zi (Rat), Chou (Ox).
　　诗解
　　【天道·四时之源】
　　盖天道运行，黄道与赤道斜交，其角二十三度有奇（今测约23°26′，且岁岁微减）。因有此交角，日之直射点乃随岁推移：行至极北为夏至，极南为冬至；平交赤道，则为春分、秋分。由是二分二至以立，二十四节气以生，寒暑更迭，春夏秋冬四时定矣。夫日之南北推移，即阴阳之消长：冬至一阳生，夏至一阴起，二分则阴阳平分。此“黄赤交角定四时”之谓也。
　　Cosmic Principle · The Origin of the Four Seasons
　　As heaven follows its course, the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator obliquely at an angle of roughly twenty-three degrees plus a fraction. Modern measurements put it at approximately 23°26′, an angle that diminishes slightly each year. This tilt causes the subsolar point to shift annually: its northernmost position marks the Summer Solstice, and its southernmost position marks the Winter Solstice. When the sun crosses the celestial equator, the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes occur.
　　Thus the two equinoxes and two solstices were established, giving rise to the twenty-four solar terms. Cold and heat alternate cyclically, establishing the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. The sun’s north-south migration corresponds exactly to the waxing and waning of Yin and Yang: the first Yang emerges at the Winter Solstice, the first Yin arises at the Summer Solstice, and Yin and Yang achieve perfect balance at the two equinoxes. This is the true meaning of the line “The obliquity of the ecliptic determines the four seasons.”
　　【人文·山川之应】
　　先王仰观星象，俯察山川。立十天干以配十二次，立十二地支以纪十二月，顺天应人，化育万邦；复将天之二十八宿对应地之十二辰次与十二州（即“分野”），衍为典章礼乐。所谓“在天成象，在地成形”，此“山川干支演人文”之旨也。
　　Human Civilisation · Correspondence Between Land and Heaven
　　The ancient sage-kings gazed upward to observe constellations and looked downward to survey mountains and rivers. They formulated the Ten Heavenly Stems to match the Twelve Jupiter Stations (Shi'er Ci), and established the Twelve Earthly Branches to mark the twelve calendar months. Conforming to the way of heaven and responding to the people, they nurtured all kingdoms and fostered social order across the land.
　　They further mapped the twenty-eight lunar mansions in the sky onto the twelve earthly time divisions and twelve territorial provinces on earth — a traditional system known as fenye (celestial regional division, a system mapping constellations to earthly regions). These heaven-earth correspondences were evolved into national institutions, rituals and court music.
　　As stated in the Book of Changes: “Heaven manifests celestial images; earth embodies corresponding terrestrial forms.” This embodies the core implication of “Mountains and rivers, Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, shape the development of human culture.”
　　【建制·斗柄之令】
　　岁分十二月，恰应十二地支。古法以北斗斗柄定月令，所谓“斗柄回寅，天下皆春”，是谓“建寅”。故以寅为岁首，四季更迭，生肖相随。先秦以北斗斗柄指向定月令，典籍所载“斗柄回寅，天下皆春”，为夏历“建寅”制度源头；上古历法曾有夏正、殷正、周正三种正月建制，汉代《太初历》正式确立寅月为岁首，沿用至今。其二，十二地支配十二生肖，是秦汉民俗逐步定型。其三，十二消息卦配十二月阴阳消长，为汉代象数易学衍生理论。节气推移之序，皆了然矣：
　　Institutional Calendar · The Rule of the Big Dipper’s Handle
　　A year is divided into twelve months, perfectly corresponding to the Twelve Earthly Branches. Ancient calendars defined monthly seasonal ordinances by the orientation of the Big Dipper’s handle. The classic saying “When the Dipper’s handle turns toward Yin, spring spreads across the world” refers to the calendrical system of Jian Yin (establishing Yin as the first lunar month).
　　Therefore, the Yin month was designated the start of the year, with the four seasons circulating in turn and the twelve zodiac animals following in sequence. From pre-Qin times onward, the orientation of the Big Dipper’s handle was used to determine monthly ordinances. This classic record served as the origin of the "Jian Yin" system in the Xia calendar. Ancient calendars once featured three different systems for the start of the year: Xia Zheng, Yin Zheng and Zhou Zheng (calendar systems of the three dynasties). It was not until the Han Dynasty’s Taichu Calendar that the Yin month was officially established as the beginning of the year, a practice retained to this day. Secondly, the pairing of the Twelve Earthly Branches with the twelve zodiac animals gradually took shape as a folk custom during the Qin and Han dynasties. Thirdly, the pairing of the Twelve Waxing-and-Waning Hexagrams with the twelve months to denote the waxing and waning of Yin and Yang is a derivative theory of the Han Dynasty’s Image-Number School of Yi learning. With these, the progressive sequence of solar terms becomes fully explicit:
　　春领寅卯辰（阳长阴消，由三阳至五阳）
　　Spring governs Yin, Mao and Chen (Yang waxes and Yin wanes, from three Yang lines to five Yang lines)
　　寅月泰卦（三阳开泰）：立春、雨水。三阳在下，阴阳各半，阳气破冰而出，寅虎啸春。
　　Yin Month · Tai Hexagram (Three Yangs usher in prosperity): Start of Spring, Rain Water. Three Yang lines lie below, balancing Yin and Yang equally. Vital Yang energy breaks through frozen earth, as the Yin Tiger roars to herald spring.
　　卯月大壮（四阳二阴）：惊蛰、春分。四阳盛于二阴，春分昼夜平分，阳势已壮，卯兔跃野。
　　Mao Month · Dazhuang Hexagram (Great Vigour, four Yangs and two Yins): Awakening of Insects, Spring Equinox. Four Yangs prevail over two Yins. Day and night are equal at the Spring Equinox; Yang momentum flourishes, and the Mao Rabbit leaps across the wilderness.
　　辰月夬卦（五阳决阴）：清明、谷雨。五阳决去一阴，阳气将满，雷雨兴焉，辰龙行雨。
　　Chen Month · Guai Hexagram (Breakthrough, five Yangs dispel residual Yin): Pure Brightness, Grain Rain. Five Yang lines expel the last trace of Yin. Yang energy nears full abundance, thunderstorms arise, and the Chen Dragon descends to bring seasonal rainfall.
　　夏领巳午未（阳极阴生，由纯阳至二阴）
　　Summer governs Si, Wu and Wei (Yang peaks and Yin germinates, from pure Yang to two Yin lines)
　　巳月乾卦（六爻纯阳）：立夏、小满。阳气至盛，万物繁茂，巳蛇出渊。
　　Si Month · Qian Hexagram (Six pure Yang lines): Start of Summer, Grain Buds. Yang energy reaches its peak, all living things thrive, and the Si Snake emerges from deep waters.
　　午月姤卦（一阴始生）：芒种、夏至。阳极阴生，一阴伏于下，夏至日影最短，午马奋蹄。
　　Wu Month · Gou Hexagram (Initial Yin germination): Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice. At the culmination of Yang, Yin begins to grow. A single Yin force lies latent below. The sun casts its shortest shadow on the Summer Solstice, and the Wu Horse gallops vigorously forward.
　　未月遁卦（二阴渐长）：小暑、大暑。二阴浸长，阳气始遁，未羊食茂。
　　Wei Month · Dun Hexagram (Retreat, two Yins gradually expand): Minor Heat, Major Heat. Two Yin lines grow steadily, Yang energy begins to recede, and the Wei Goat grazes on luxuriant summer vegetation.
　　秋领申酉戌（阴长阳消，由三阴至五阴）
　　Autumn governs Shen, You and Xu (Yin waxes and Yang wanes, from three Yin lines to five Yin lines)
　　申月否卦（三阴三阳）：立秋、处暑。天地不交，阴阳各半，阴气方盛，申猴攀秋。
　　Shen Month · Pi Hexagram (Standstill, three Yins and three Yangs): Start of Autumn, End of Heat. Heaven and earth cease energetic interaction, Yin and Yang maintain equal balance. Yin energy begins to flourish, and the Shen Monkey roams and climbs among autumn woods.
　　酉月观卦（四阴二阳）：白露、秋分。四阴盛于二阳，秋分昼夜平分，阴势已成，酉鸡啄穗。
　　You Month · Guan Hexagram (Contemplation, four Yins and two Yangs): White Dew, Autumn Equinox. Four Yins dominate two Yangs. Day and night are equal at the Autumn Equinox; Yin momentum is fully established, and the You Rooster pecks at ripe grain ears.
　　戌月剥卦（五阴剥阳）：寒露、霜降。五阴剥去一阳，阳气将尽，戌犬守仓。
　　Xu Month · Bo Hexagram (Stripping, five Yins erode residual Yang): Cold Dew, Frost’s Descent. Five Yin lines strip away the last trace of Yang. Yang energy draws near exhaustion, and the Xu Dog guards the harvested granaries.
　　冬领亥子丑（阴极阳生，由纯阴至二阳）
　　Winter governs Hai, Zi and Chou (Yin peaks and Yang revives, from pure Yin to two Yang lines)
　　亥月坤卦（六爻纯阴）：立冬、小雪。阴气至盛，万物闭藏，亥猪蓄脂。
　　Hai Month · Kun Hexagram (Six pure Yin lines): Start of Winter, Minor Snow. Yin energy reaches its peak, all creatures enter dormancy and storage, and the Hai Pig accumulates fat reserves for winter.
　　子月复卦（一阳来复）：大雪、冬至。阴极阳生，一阳复于下，冬至日影最长，子鼠伏穴。
　　Zi Month · Fu Hexagram (Return of Yang): Major Snow, Winter Solstice. At the culmination of Yin, Yang regenerates. A single Yang force revives from below ground. The sun casts its longest shadow on the Winter Solstice, and the Zi Rat dwells quietly in its burrow.
　　丑月临卦（二阳渐长）：小寒、大寒。二阳浸长，阳临于阴，丑牛息棚，待春耕也。
　　Chou Month · Lin Hexagram (Approach, two Yangs gradually grow): Minor Cold, Major Cold. Two Yang lines expand steadily, pressing close to dormant Yin energy. The Chou Ox rests in its stable, awaiting the coming spring ploughing.
　　此万物生息、阴阳流转与节气推移之序也。
　　This is the eternal cycle of all living things’ growth and dormancy, the circulation of Yin and Yang, and the progressive rhythm of the twenty-four solar terms.
　　【调历·闰法之精】
　　然太阴朔望十二月（354日）较太阳回归岁实（365¼日）少十一日有奇。气朔不合，四时将乱。故先王制历，设十九年七闰之法（《春秋》传“日行十九岁七闰”为古历闰章），凡无中气（即二十四节气中偶数位者，如雨水、春分、谷雨、夏至等）之月，辄置为闰。闰以正时，时以序事，使节气不忒，岁功乃成。
　　Calendar Tuning · The Essence of Intercalary Rules
　　The twelve lunar synodic months total 354 days, falling more than eleven days short of the solar tropical year of 365 and a quarter days. Misalignment between lunar phases and solar terms would disrupt the regularity of the four seasons.
　　Therefore, ancient sage-kings formulated calendrical systems and established the rule of seven intercalary months in nineteen years. As recorded in commentaries on The Spring and Autumn Annals, “In nineteen solar cycles, seven intercalations shall be arranged” — this constituted the core intercalation rule of ancient Chinese calendars.
　　Any month lacking a Major Solar Term (the even-numbered solar terms including Rain Water, Spring Equinox, Grain Rain, Summer Solstice and others) is designated as an intercalary month. Intercalation rectifies the calendar; well-aligned seasons order all affairs. It prevents deviations of solar terms and guarantees the completion of annual farming tasks.
　　*