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Confucianism -> Liji -> Li Yun -> 20

Man is (the product of) the attributes of Heaven and Earth,
(by) the interaction of the dual forces of nature,
the union of the animal and intelligent (souls),
and the finest subtile matter of the five elements.
Heaven exercises the control of the strong and light force,
and hangs out the sun and stars.
Earth exercises the control of the dark and weaker force,
and gives vent to it in the hills and streams.
The five elements are distributed through the four seasons,
and it is by their harmonious action that the moon is produced,
which therefore keeps waxing for fifteen days
and waning for fifteen.
The five elements in their movements
alternately displace and exhaust one another.
Each one of them, in the revolving course of the twelve months of the four seasons, comes to be in its turn the fundamental one for the time.
The five notes of harmony, with their six upper musical accords, and the twelve pitch-tubes,
come each, in their revolutions among themselves, to be the first note of the scale.
The five flavours, with the six condiments, and the twelve articles of diet,
come each one, in their revolutions (in the course of the year), to give its character to the food.
The five colours, with the six elegant figures, which they form on the two robes,
come each one, in their revolutions among themselves, to give the character of the dress that is worn.
Therefore Man is the heart and mind of Heaven and Earth,
and the visible embodiment of the five elements.
He lives in the enjoyment of all flavours, the discriminating of all notes (of harmony), and the enrobing of all colours.


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