(382) Saju: Heaven, Earth, and Human, the trinity of the universe
By Janet Shin
Looking at the North Korea-U.S. summit on June 12 and subsequent state of affairs, I found an act of wholeness among the heaven, earth and humans in the universe. In this case, heaven, earth and man may describe the coincidence of appropriate time, place and people. Time may also imply a certain pertinent situation. It couldn't have happened if it were not for the corresponding time, place and people involved.
I refer to the trinity of heaven, earth and man to mean the great Ways stated in the book of Changes. It is said the book of Changes is extensive, fulfilled with all the conditions, which are the Ways of heaven, earth and man. This trinity is comprised of two integrated systems of signs for each: one is broken and the other is unbroken horizontal lines to make six yao in total. They are independent but interact by close linkage among each other.
The first way of heaven denotes yin and yang, broken and unbroken lines respectively, which usually represents the circumstances and specifically an appropriate time. The second of earth indicates sturdiness and gentleness, which actually comply with the order of heaven. So the right way of earth is said to be “conformity.” The third of man are benevolence and righteousness, which are often compared to the duties and ethics of human society.
The six yao structure has clear boundaries as if yin and yang are opposite but corresponding and are hierarchical. The division and dissimilarity in them stimulate the development of all things. Yet they are connected organically to create all things of heaven and earth in the universe. All creatures begin from the heaven to take their forms in the earth so they never leave nature. Man, in the meantime, takes the realm of free will by moral cultivation. In the structure of time, all things including man begin their creation from heaven to form in the earth (heaven(earth(man), while in the structure of space they are located in between the heaven and the earth (heaven(man(earth).
This is the very complicated and stratified structure of the trinity and explains all aspects of human life and social situations. The boundary and separation, time and space in the ways of this trinity reveal the classification and function of all things and society that include individual positions and affiliations while the contradictions and interchanges provoke generations, changes and development.
The recent North Korea-U.S. summit was the collaboration of heaven, earth and man. Without Trump, Kim or Moon, or if it were not for the economic situation in North Korea, if not for the political situations in the U.S. or in South Korea, the summit might not have occurred. Likewise, consequences would be expected considering all the surrounding aspects of this matter.
As stated in my recent dissertation, the relationships between the heaven, earth and man belong to nature yet are not fixed and they will form a complicated and diverse stratum in the structure of time and space.
Information : Are you interested in learning more about the ancient Chinese teachings, the “Four Pillars of Destiny” and oriental ways of fortune telling or fortune tellers? Janet teaches Saju for the public at Seoul National University of Education. For further information, visit Janet's website at
or her blog,
https://blog.naver.com/janet_shin
.You can also contact her at 010-5414-7461 or email janetshin.kor@gmail.com
The writer is the author of “Life's Secrets”.