Rootless_Tree_24Chapter#22・Enlarged image of the painting
Enlarged image of the poem below as Xieyi
Chapter 22
▶Original Text
無根樹，花正明，月魄天心逼日魂。金烏髓，玉兎精，二物擒來一處烹。陽火陰符分子午，沐浴加臨卯酉門。守黃庭，養谷神，男子懷胎笑煞人。
▶Modern Translation
The flower on the rootless tree shines brightly. The soul of the moon chases the sun’s soul in the heavenly center.
The golden crow (sun spirit) and the jade rabbit (moon spirit) are captured and boiled together.
The fire of yang and the seal of yin are divided by time (Zi and Wu), bathed in the gates of Mao and You.
Guarding the Yellow Court and nourishing the Grain Spirit, even a man may conceive and give birth.
▶Interpretation
• Symbolizes the alchemical union of sun and moon, yin and yang.
• Spiritual rebirth occurs through disciplined inner cultivation.
▶Interpretation related to Tai Chi
Just as Tai Chi unites opposites—hard and soft, movement and stillness—the chapter illustrates merging yin and yang to nourish qi.
The concept of “male pregnancy” is a metaphor for spiritual creativity arising from this union.
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