| | He who is lofty and great, none is greater than Heaven. Those who are thick and extensive, none is more extensive than Earth. Its body is vast and expansive; its form is long, broad, and profound. Its movements can be measured by celestial phenomena, yet it remains grand and distant, beyond the reach of one's palm. Its length and shortness can be verified with a gnomon or instrument; yet its vast breadth cannot be measured. Although one may exhaust divine wisdom and knowledge of transformation, its subtleties cannot be fully grasped; although one may probe deeply into hidden truths, its minute details cannot be completely understood. Therefore, strange theories arise, giving rise to extreme views on both ends, leading to the emergence of the theories of Hun Tian (the celestial globe) and Gai Tian (the canopy sky), which are combined together. Therefore, they can encompass the principles of Heaven and Earth, offering insight into their hidden workings. Thus, the Hun Tian theory is recorded in the Ling Xian text, while the Gai Tian theory follows the Zhou Bi Suan Jing method. These have been preserved through successive generations, entrusted to official institutions, so as to show reverence for the vast Heaven and respectfully bestow seasons upon the people. I am dim and obscure, with shallow learning; I can only admire from afar the lofty heights of sages and emulate their footsteps. In my spare time, like a woodcutter carrying firewood, I casually study the "Zhou Bi." Its meaning is concise yet profound, its words subtle yet precise. I fear it may be neglected and forgotten, leading to confusion and stagnation, leaving those who discuss the heavens without a standard to follow. Therefore, I have drawn diagrams based on the classics, sincerely hoping to dismantle towering walls of misunderstanding and reveal the hidden depths within, so that learned men of broad knowledge might occasionally reflect upon them.
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