Yi (乙)
Basic Explanation
- The second of the ten Heavenly Stems, associated with yin wood, primarily representing benevolence in the Five Elements, corresponding to the east in direction, and mid-spring in season.
- Its natural attributes are flowers, grass, and vines, symbolizing resilience and vitality. In "Yuan Hai Zi Ping," it is likened to "deeply rooted."
- Originating from the differentiation of yin and yang in the Five Elements, it serves as an assistant to Jia (甲) wood, characterized by its dependency and growth traits. Ancient texts describe it as "soft and tender in form."
Personality
Positive Traits
✓ Resilient and tenacious: Like vines that can climb rocks, possessing strong adaptability
✓ Keen and meticulous: Equipped with detailed observation and perception abilities
✓ Balanced in advance and retreat: Skilled in using indirect strategies, adept at going with the flow
✓ Harmonious and inclusive: Proficient in resolving conflicts, possessing strong empathy
Negative Traits
✗ Indecisive: Major decisions are easily influenced by external factors
✗ Emotionally volatile: Prone to internal sensitivity and anxiety
✗ Strong dependency: Lacks the courage for independent responsibility
✗ Deeply scheming: Occasionally shows tendencies of calculation and pettiness
Symbolism and Meaning
| Category | Specific Symbolism |
|---|---|
| Nature | Weeping willows and vines, orchids and grasses, February breezes, morning mist |
| People | Artists, healthcare workers, intermediaries, assistants |
| Body | Liver and gallbladder system, nervous pathways, finger joints, hair and tear glands |
| Geography | Art districts, textile workshops, matchmaking venues, tea rooms and galleries |
| Flora and Fauna | Parasitic plants/climbing vines, metamorphic creatures like silkworms and butterflies, peacocks and other ornate birds |
| Objects | Silk fabrics, scholar's four treasures, rattan crafts, perfumes and fragrances |
| Abstract Concepts | Cultural dissemination, emotional maintenance, flexible management, indirect transactions |
Related Anecdotes
Essence of "Di Tian Sui"
"Yi wood, though soft, can carve sheep and dismember oxen"
- Reveals Yi wood's characteristic of overcoming hardness with softness, as both sheep (Wei earth) and oxen (Chou earth) can be entwined
- "Vines cling to Jia" emphasizes the wisdom of developing by relying on the strong, thriving throughout the seasons with the support of Jia wood
Discussion in "Yuan Hai Zi Ping"
"Floating fears encountering much water, carving need not laboriously use metal"
- Warns that Yi wood's softness is vulnerable to excessive water (too much water causes wood to float), and forming does not require excessive metal carving (too much metal harms wood)
- "Going south, fiery disasters are not shallow" indicates that Yi wood needs a balance of water and fire, as excessive dryness leads to loss of vitality
Folk Poems
"With a sincere heart, one sees the heart's schemes, able to endure and yield, the heart is most kind"
- Demonstrates Yi wood's dual characteristics of external softness and internal wisdom
- "Understanding and reasonable, often respectful and yielding" confirms its mediating attribute in harmonizing all things