The opening chapter of Journey to the West quotes a verse by Shao Kangjie (Shao Yong) from his Huangji Jingshi （Supreme Principles Governing the World).
“At the moment of the Winter Solstice, the Heart of Heaven remains unchanged.
Where the first stirring of Yang emerges, all things are yet unborn.”— Journey to the West, Chapter 1
Shao Yong is a renowned scholar of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It describes the moment of the Winter Solstice, normally when the middle of the eleventh lunar month has passed. At this instant, the universe exists in a state that is neither fully dynamic nor static. The ”Heart of Heaven” remains immutable and serene, as Yin energy reaches its zenith—fundamental, quiescent, and inward—creating a primordial void. It is as if nature rests, gathering energy for the next phase of growth. This state of emptiness represents the threshold where nothing has yet been born.
The Winter Solstice symbolizes the transition from Yin to Yang, much like the Summer Solstice marks the year’s turning point, signifying a pivotal moment in the cosmic cycle.
Here, the darkest hour marks the birth of Yang energy, echoing the primordial chaos (hundun) before Heaven and Earth separated.
The poem’s imagery of Yin-Yang transition mirrors the primordial chaos described in Journey to the West’s opening chapter, where Heaven and Earth separate, setting the stage for the birth of Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) from a cosmic stone.
The “primordial void” parallels the ”spiritual root” of creation, symbolizing both the universe’s origin and the untamed mind awaiting enlightenment.
Shao Yong’s work, Huangji Jingshi (Supreme Principles Governing the World), reflects his cosmological vision and philosophical thought, deeply rooted in observing natural rhythms and cyclical patterns.
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