Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 27.djvu/330

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296
THE Lî Kî.
BK. IV.

Section IV. Part I.

1. In the first month of winter the sun is in Wei, the constellation culminating at dusk being Wei, and the constellation culminating at dawn Khih-hsing[1].

2. Its days are the zǎn and kwei,

3. Its divine ruler is Kwan-hsü, and the (attending) spirit is Hsüan-ming[2].

4. Its creatures are the shell-covered.

5. Its musical note is Yü, and its pitch-tube is Ying Kung[3].

6. Its number is six. Its taste is salt Its smell is that of things that are rotten.

7. Its sacrifice is that at (the altar of) the path, and


  1. Wei (尾) comprehends ε, μ Scorpio; Wei (危, as on page 272) corresponds to stars in Aquarius and Pegasus. Khih Hsing (as on p. 262) corresponds to stars in Hydra.
  2. Kwan-hsü is the dynastic designation of the grandson of Hwang Tî, the commencement of whose reign is assigned in B.C. 2510. He is known also by the personal designation of Kâo-yang, from the name of his second capital. Among the elements his reign is assigned to water, and thence to the north; and hence the designation of his minister as Hsüan-ming, "the dark and mysterious," who was called Hsiû (脩) and Hsî (熙), and is said to have been a son of Shâo Hâo.
  3. Yü is the fifth of the notes of the scale; and Ying Kung, "the responsive tube," the name of the last of the tubes giving the six lower musical accords.