Huangdi sijing 黃帝四經 "The Four Classics of the Yellow Emperor"

Huangdi sijing 黃帝四經 and Huangdi Neijing

(Traditional Chinese Medicine)

The Yellow Emperor is not only a mythical founder of Chinese culture. He has been adopted by the Daoists as one of their highest deities, responsible not only for medical cures like in the medical classic Huangdi neijing 黃帝內經 (including Huangdi Neijing Su Wen and Huangdi Neijing Ling Su), but also of the father of Daoism itself.The Four Classics of the Yellow Emperor have long been considered as lost and are therefore not included in the Daoist Canon. They were only recovered in 1973 when the tomb of Lady Dai was unearthed at Mawangdui/Hunan. The recovering of the Four Classics contributes substantially to the understanding of the philosophical schools of the Warring States Period, especially of the Huang-Lao thought, a step away from philosophical Daoism to religious Daoism.In the Four Classics, we find the influence of all important Daoist books, like the Daodejing 道德經, Zhuangzi 莊子, Wenzi 文子, Yinwenzi 尹文子, the Yijing 易經 Classic and even Legist philosophers like Guanzi 管子 and Shenzi 慎子.
Chapters of the Huangdi sijing
1.Jingfa 經法　The Constancy of laws1.1.Daofa 道法 Dao and law1.2.Guoci 國次 The order of a nation1.3.Junzheng 君正 Correct rulership1.4.Liufen 六分 The great dividing lines (between to-dos and not-to-dos for a ruler)1.5.Sidu 四度 The four principles (quietude, rectitude, cultured-ness, and martiality)1.6.Lun 論 Discourse (about the human order to obtain the Heavenly mandate)1.7.Wanglun 亡論 On the ruin of a country1.8.Lunyue 論約 On the quintessential (the synthesis of the way)1.9.Mingli 名理 Names and principles2. Shi Da Jing 十大經 The Ten Great Classics:2.1.Liming 立命 Establishment of the mandate of Heaven2.2.Guan 觀 Investigation (by Limo or Lihei)2.3.Wuzheng 五正 The five kinds of rulers2.4.Guotong 果童 Guotong (about human abilities)2.5.Zhengluan 正亂 Ending the uprising (of Chiyou)2.6.Xingzheng 姓爭 The natural contention of clans2.7.Xixiongjie 雌雄節 Paradigms of feminine and masculine conduct2.8.Bingrong 兵容 The function of an army2.9.Chengfa 成法 The completion of methods2.10.Sanjin 三禁 The three prohibitions2.11.Benfa 本伐 Bases for military expeditions2.12.Qiandao 前道 The primary way to governing2.13.Xingshou 行守 The principle of behaviour2.14.Shundao 順道 Following the Way2.15.Mingxing 名刑 Titles and punishment (or Shida 十大 Ten great)3. Cheng 稱 Aphorisms4. Yuandao 原道 On Dao the Fundamental

１．６．論人主者，天地之（稽）也，號令之所出也，●●（？為民）之命也．不天天則失其神，不重地則失其根．不順（四時之度）而民疾．不處外內之立（＝位），不應動靜之化，則事宭（＝窘）於內而舉宭（＝窘）於（外）．．．不失其常者，天之一也．天執一以明三．日信出信入，南北有極，（度之稽也．月信生信）死，進退有常，數之稽也．列星有數，而不失其行，信之稽也．．．

DiscourseA ruler of people is the (criterium) of Heaven and Earth, is the source whence orders are issued, and is the commander (of the people). If he does not model himself after Heaven, he will lose his holy power. If he does not follow (the regulations of the four seasons), he will be resentd by his people. If he does nat arrange properly the positions for officials inside and outside (his court), and if he does not adapt to the transformations of motion and rest, then administering the affairs of his government will fall into dire straits both domestically and abroad [...] Never to lose its constant patters is the oneness of Heaven. Grasping the one, Heaven illuminates the three (sun, moon, stars). The sun rises and sets with faithful (regularity); it moves northward and southward and never transgresses the ultimate (turning points). Such are the criteria of the sun's measure (of movement). The moon waxes and wanes with (faithful regularity); it moves forward and backward with constant regulation. The stars have their (fixed) measure (of movement), and do not stray from the course (of established orbits). Such is the criteria of the stars' faithful (regularity) [...]

１．７．亡論．．．贏極必靜，動舉必正．贏極而不靜，是胃（＝謂）失天．動舉而不正，（是）胃（＝謂）後命．．．六危：一曰適（＝嫡）子父．二曰大臣主．三曰謀臣（外）其志．四曰廳諸侯之所廢置．五曰左右比周以雍（＝壅）塞．六曰父兄黨以[人+費]．（六）危不朕（＝勝），禍及於身．（三）不辜：一曰妄殺賢．二曰殺服民．三曰刑無罪．此三不辜．．．

On the ruin of a country[...] When the zenith of power is reached, it is necessary to maintain quietude. When actions are taken, it is necessary to maintain correctness. Failing to maintain quietude when the zenith is reached is called a loss of rectitude; failing to maintain rectitude when actions are taken is called falling behind the mandate (of Heaven) [...] The six jeopardies are: 1) The eldest son wrests political power and authority from his father. 2) The great ministers usurp political power and authority from their lord. 3) Counselor ministers are (disunited) in will. 4) The ruler allows dukes and princes to appoint and dismiss (officials) arbitrarily. 5) The intimate assistants of the ruler from cliques so as to obstruct and dlude him. 6) The relatives of the ruler form factions and violate laws. If these six dangers are not overcome, then disasters will fall upon the ruler himself. The (three unfair treatments) of the innocent are: 1) Impulsive killing of the worthy. 2) Killing people who have already surrendered. 3) Punishing the innocent. These are the three (unfair treatments) of the innocent. [...]

３．稱（...） 凡論必以陰陽●（？明？）大義．天陽地陰，春陽秋陰，夏陽冬陰，晝陽夜陰．大國陽，小國陰，重國陽，輕國陰．有事陽而無事陰，信（＝伸）者陽而屈者陰．主陽臣陰，上陽下陰，男陽（女陰，父）陽（子）陰，兄陽弟陰，長陽少（陰），貴（陽）賤陰，達陽窮陰．取（＝娶）婦姓（＝生）子陽，有喪陰．制人者陽，制於人者陰．客陽主人陰，師陽役陰，言陽黑（＝默）陰，予陽受陰．諸陽者法天，天貴正；過正曰詭，●●●●（？過）祭（＝際）乃反．諸陰者法地，地（之）德安徐正靜，柔節先定，善予不爭．此地之度而雌之節也．

Aphorisms[...] In general, when a person discusses issues, he must (reveal and elaborate) the main points by means of yin and yang. The Heaven is yang and the earth is ying. Spring is yang and autumn is yin. Summer is yang and winter is yin. Day is yang and night is yin. A big country is yang and a small country is yin. An important country is yang and an insignificant country is yin. Taking action is yang and taking rest is yin. Expansion is yang and contradiction is yin. A ruler is yang and a minister is yin. The superior is yang and the inferior is yin. Male is yang and (female is yin. A father) is yang and (a son) is yin. Elder brother is yang and younger brother is yin. The aged is young and a youngster is (yin). The noble is (yang) and the humble is yin. The rich is yang and the poor is yin. Marry a woman to give birth to a son is yang and losing a relative is yin. Dominating others is yang and being dominated by others is yin. A guest is yang and a host is yin. A teacher is yang and a disciple is yin. Speaking is yang and keeping silent is yin. Offering is yang and receiving is yin. Everything that is yang follows the example of Heaven. Heaven values rectitude. Transgressing rectitude is called deceitful... then returns. Everything that is yin follows the example of the earth. The beneficent quality of the earth is tranquil, gentle, correct and quiet. The soft regulation gives priority to stability. It is adept at yielding without contention. This is the law of the earth and the regulation of feminine conduct.

From chinaknowledge History of /Traditional Chinese Medicine/Huangdi Neijing/ Su Wen