Mirror of Scientific Origins, Volume 1

Heavenly Phenomena, Part 1

Heaven Appendices: Armillary Sphere, Water Clock, Observation of Qi

General Discourse Xu Zheng's Records of the Three and Five Calendars: Before there was Heaven and Earth, it was chaotic like a chicken egg. The mysterious forces began to divide, the primordial chaos split, and the years began with Sheti a calendar designation. Primordial energy began and originated. Riting: Heaven and Earth are that which is produced by primordial energy; they are the ancestors of all things. Liezi: Heaven and Earth are also things. Things have deficiencies. Therefore, in the past, Nüwa a creator goddess refined five-colored stones to patch the gaps and severed the legs of a giant tortoise to support the four poles. Hetu Kuodi Xiang: The northwest is the Heavenly Gate; the southeast is the Earthly Gate. Annotation: Heaven is insufficient in the northwest, which is the Heavenly Gate; Earth is incomplete in the southeast, which is the Earthly Gate. The Chunqiu Shuotici Explication of the Spring and Autumn Annals states: The word "Heaven" (Tian) means to manifest. It resides high up and manages those below, acting as the standard for humanity. Therefore, its character is formed by a "one" (Yi) placed atop a person (Ren) to secure it. This is the meaning of the name "Heaven." The substance of Heaven encompasses the Earth, and the sun, moon, and stars belong to it. Xu Shen's Shuowen: Heaven is the top, the highest, with nothing above it; it is formed from "one" and "great." Liu Xi's Shiming: "Heaven" (Tian) means to display; it is high and visible above. In the regions of Qing and Xu, the word sounds like "level" (Tan), as it is level, high, and distant. Yang Xuan's Theory of Physics: Heaven means to rotate and to equalize. It is the accumulation of pure Yang active/masculine energy and pure rigidity. Its body rotates, and all living things look up to it. That which establishes Heaven and Earth is water; that which completes Heaven and Earth is energy. The energy of water and soil rises to become Heaven. Chuyong Quyi Shuo: From the beginning of Heaven at the Zi first of the twelve earthly branches hour, the light and clear energy rose for 10,800 years to become Heaven. The essence of Heaven condensed to become the sun, moon, and stars; once their forms were established, their functions operated. Liezi: Heaven is merely accumulated energy. The sun, moon, and stars are also the luminous manifestations of this energy. Yu Bing's Qingtian Lun: The shape of Heaven is curved like a conical hat, covering the surface of the Earth, floating upon primordial energy, like an overturned vessel pressing down upon water.