老子者，名耳，字伯陽，陳人也。生於殷時，為周柱下史。好養精氣，貴接而不施。轉為守藏史。積八十餘年，史記云二百餘年，時稱為隱君子。謚曰聃。仲尼至周，見老子。知其聖人，乃師之。後周德衰， 乃乘青牛車去。入大秦，過西關。關令尹喜待而迎之。知真人也。乃強使著書，作《道德》上下經二卷。
The Old Master (Laozi)'s name was Er, his style was Boyang, and he was from the state of Chen. He was born during the Yin (Shang) dynasty and served as a scribe "under the pillar" under the Zhou dynasty. He liked to live from his own breathe's essence and knew how to acquire it without spending too much. Later, he became archivist and served for more than eighty years - the Shiji says, for more than two hundred years - and his contemporarians called him "the hidden nobleman". His posthumous name is Dan. Once, Zhongni (Confucius) went to Zhou and met Laozi. Confucius knew that Laozi was a wise man and accepted him as his teacher. Later, when the virtue of the house of Zhou vanished, Laozi mounted a chart, driven by a green-grayish ox. He traveled to the country of Great Qin, where he had to enter the Western Pass. The guardian of the pass, called Yin Xi treated him like a host because he knew that Laozi was a saint. Yin Xi forced Laozi to write down his teachings in a book with two chapters and the two parts about the Way and its Virtue."
[("...Laozi was said to be a contemporary of Confucius (551-479 BC). His surname was Li (李 "plum"), and his personal name was Er (耳 "ear") or Dan (聃 "long ear"). He was an official in the imperial archives, and wrote a book in two parts before departing to the West." -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi )]
"10. 關令尹
關令尹喜者，周大夫也。善內學。常服精華，隱德修行。時人莫知。老子西遊，喜先見其氣，知其真人當過。物色而遮之，果得老子。老子亦知其奇，為著書授之。後與老子俱遊流沙，化胡。服苣勝實。莫知其所終。尹喜亦自著九篇，號曰《關尹子》。
Yin Xi, the Guardian of the Pass was an official of the Zhou dynasty. He was versed in esoterical science and lived normally from the purest essences, but he guarded his virtue like a secret and didn't let anybody know of it. When Laozi traveled to the west, Xi already knew that he was an emanation and was aware that he would pass by. Because Laozi's holyness radiated many colors that covered him, Yin Xi could finally get the Old Master Laozi. Laozi himself also knew that Yin Xi was an extraordinary person, and therefore taught him his book. Later, both together traveled to the Moving Sands, converted the barbarians and made their life from eating lettuce. Nobody knows what finally became of them. Yin Xi himself also wrote a book in nine chapters, called "Master Yin of the Pass" (Guan Yin Zi)." -- http://www.chinaknowledge.de/Literature ... zhuan.html
("Laozi's relationship with the guardian of the western pass, named Yinxi (Wade Giles Yin Hsi), is the subject of numerous legends. It is Yinxi who asked Laozi to write down his wisdom in the traditional account of the Daodejing's creation. The story of Laozi transmitting the Daodejing to Yinxi is part of a broader theme involving Laozi the deity delivering salvific truth to a suffering humanity. Regardless, the deliverance of the Daodejing was the ultimate purpose of his human incarnation. Folklore developed around Laozi and Yinxi to demonstrate the ideal interaction of Taoist master and disciple.[35]
A seventh century work, Sandong zhunang ("Pearly Bag of the Three Caverns"), provides one account of their relationship. Laozi pretended to be a farmer when reaching the western gate, but was recognized by Yinxi, who asked to be taught by the great master. Laozi was not satisfied by simply being noticed by the guard and demanded an explanation. Yinxi expressed his deep desire to find the Tao and explained that his long study of astrology allowed him to recognize Laozi's approach. Yinxi was accepted by Laozi as a disciple. This is considered an exemplary interaction between Daoist master and disciple, reflecting the testing a seeker must undergo before being accepted. A would-be adherent is expected to prove his determination and talent, clearly expressing his wishes and showing that he had made progress on his own towards realizing the Tao.[36]
The Pearly Bag of the Three Caverns continues the parallel of an adherent's quest. Yinxi received his ordination When Laozi transmitted the Daodejing, along with other texts and precepts, just as Taoist adherents receive a number of methods, teachings and scriptures at ordination. This is only an initial ordination and Yinxi still needed an additional period to perfect his faith, thus Laozi gave him three years to perfect his Dao. Yinxi gave himself over to a full-time devotional life. After the appointed time, Yinxi again demonstrates determination and perfect trust, sending out a black sheep to market as the agreed sign. He eventually meets again with Laozi, who announces that Yinxi's immortal name is listed in the heavens and calls down a heavenly procession to clothe Yinxi in the garb of immortals. The story continues that Laozi bestowed a number of titles upon Yinxi and took him on a journey throughout the universe, even into the nine heavens. After this fantastic journey, the two sages set out to western lands of the barbarians. The training period, reuniting and travels represent the attainment of the highest religious rank in medieval Taoism called "Preceptor of the Three Caverns". In this legend, Laozi is the perfect Daoist master and Yinxi is the ideal Taoist student. Laozi is presented as the Tao personified, giving his teaching to humanity for their salvation. Yinxi follows the formal sequence of preparation, testing, training and attainment." -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laozi
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The following diagram I drew based on the book "關尹子" "Guan Yin Zi", written in nine chapters by 尹喜 Yin Xi. -- http://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E9%97%9C ... 9%E5%AD%90
Because of Jing there is Hun - water allows the tree to grow
Because of Hun there is Shen - the tree is burned to make fire
Because of Shen there is Yi - the fire returns the tree to the earth
Because of Yi there is Po - the earth produces the gold
Because of Po there is Jing - the gold creates the pure water.
The 5 phases are an endless circle.
The mother gives the Jing/water to the child.
The father gives the Shen/fire to the child.
The 5 attributes:
Hun - Ren (humaneness)
Shen - Li (courtesy)
Yi - Xin (trust)
Po - Yi (righteousness)
Jing - Zhi (wisdom)
.
