Summer-Autumn Transition

원(元) Origination [ərìdʒənéiʃən]
형(亨) Proliferation [prəlìfəréiʃən]
이(利) Benefit [bénəfit]
정(貞) Firmness [fə́ːrmnis]
인류 문명 human civilization [hjúːmən sìvəlizéiʃən]
천존(天尊) Heaven's nobility [hévənz noubíləti]
지존(地尊) Earth's nobility [əːrθs noubíləti]
인존(人尊) Humanity's nobility [hjuːmǽnətiz noubíləti]
하추 교역기 Summer-Autumn Transition [sʌ́mǝ-ɔːtǝm trænzíʃən]

All of Heaven and Earth’s Principles Lie Within Change (역 易)

Even the gaebyeok of heaven and earth unfolds
in accordance with yin and yang’s
cycle of the four seasons.
All of heaven and earth’s principles
lie within change (역 易).
-English Dojeon 2:16:4-5

Autumn Gaebyeok

I: Did I mention to you that I practice Jeung San Do?

Brandon: Yeah, you did. I honestly didn’t think you’re the spiritual type, so I was really curious about why you joined.

I: I can share with you the part that got me interested. Do you have about 5 minutes?

Brandon: That’s about all the time I have. But I’m really curious.

I: What fascinated me was the message of the cosmic year. In Jeung San Do, we learn that there are four seasons in the universe, just like we have four seasons here on Earth.

Brandon: Cosmic year? Just like the one year on Earth?

I: Yeah. If you can understand one basic principle of the universe, it’ll help you. It’s known as the principle of 'birth, growth, harvest and rest'.

Brandon: Birth, growth, harvest, and rest?

I: Yeah. In spring, seeds sprout and new life begins. That’s the principle of ‘Birth’. Then in summer, plants turn green and grow a lot. Summer is the time of ‘Growth’. Autumn is, as you know, the time for farmers to gather crops and fruits. This is the time of ‘Harvest’. And in winter, all life rests.

Brandon: So winter is the time of rest.

I: Yes, exactly! And this principle of birth, growth, harvest and rest applies in the same way to the four seasons in the universe, too! They are cosmic spring, cosmic summer, cosmic autumn and cosmic winter.

Brandon: Whoa! Four cosmic seasons. Then what's the difference between the cosmic year and the earth year?

I: Good question! Their purposes are different. The earth year exists to cultivate crops to support our lives. The purpose of the universe is to cultivate humanity.

Brandon: This is getting really interesting but I gotta go. Can you tell me more about this next time?

I: Of course, I can. Let’s meet up after school.

우주 년 : cosmic year [kάzmik jiər]
선천 : Early Heaven [ə́ːrli hevən]
후천 : Later Heaven [léitər hevən]
개벽 : gaebyeok [gӕbjək]
가을개벽 : Autumn Gaebyeok [ɔ́ːtəm gӕbjək]
우주의 봄 : cosmic spring [kάzmik spriŋ]
우주의 여름 : cosmic summer [kάzmik sʌmər]
우주의 가을 : cosmic autumn [kάzmik ɔːtəm]
우주의 겨울 : cosmic winter [kάzmik ɔːtəm]
생장염장 : birth, growth, harvest and rest [bəːrθ, grouθ, hάːrvist ӕn rest]
대빙하기 : Great Ice Age [greit ais eidʒ]

The Fundamental Principle of Change

I wield the fourfold principle
of birth, growth, harvest, and rest—
this is the way of change through non-action.
The sun and moon follow their courses
at My command.
If heaven deviates from its principle,
nothing can exist.
-English Dojeon 2:16:1~3