Chapter 1

Many people, upon hearing the term "Onmyōji" (Yin-Yang Master), immediately think of Japan, but this is actually incorrect!

[The following is excerpted from Baidu. If you don't believe it, you can look it up yourself.]

An Onmyōji, also known as a diviner or illusionist, originated in China.

[The origin of Onmyōji in "China" is not a baseless claim; the first sentence on Baidu Encyclopedia confirms it! Hooray! Let's be proud!]

Onmyōji not only understand the movements of the stars and the features of human faces but also can determine directions, predict disasters, and perform rituals and illusions. They are well-versed in the unseen forces such as fate, souls, and spirits, and have the ability to control these entities.

The Onmyōji in Japan originated from China.

The organization formed by Onmyōji is called "Onmyōdō." Japan's "Onmyōdō" originated from the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory of the Warring States period in China.

In the primitive era of science, to avoid disasters, people always hoped to predict changes in the natural world. The emergence of the "Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory" turned this hope into reality. The representative text is the "I Ching," which has been passed down from the Zhou Dynasty to the present day.

During the Warring States period, there was a school of thought that advocated the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory, known as the "Yin-Yang School." The main representatives at the time were Zou Yan and Zou Shuang from the state of Qi.

The "Yin-Yang theory" views "Yin" and "Yang" as two complementary and opposing forces within things, considering them the fundamental principles that give birth to all things in the universe.

This is precisely the concept of the world as described by Laozi: "The Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two give birth to three, and three give birth to all things. All things carry Yin and embrace Yang, and the interplay of these forces creates harmony."

As the world became more complex and the simple binary thinking could no longer explain the phenomena observed, new modes of thought emerged. For example, the "Eight Trigrams" represent the movement and changes of Yin and Yang, symbolizing various natural phenomena. These can be used to predict the passage of time, natural changes, and various life events. The wise ancients organized these interpretations into the "I Ching," which has been passed down from the Zhou Dynasty to the present day.

The "Five Elements theory" is based on the idea that the five basic elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—are in a constant cycle of transformation, leading to the concept of the mutual generation and克制 (restraint) of the Five Elements.

Studying the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory allows for the calculation of celestial movements to create calendars and understand the myriad phenomena of the world. Later, this led to the development of specialized fields such as "astronomy" (the study of celestial bodies), "calendar science" (the study of calendars), and "Five Elements theory."

In the 6th century AD, China's Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory, mixed with Taoist spells and Esoteric Buddhist divination, was transmitted to Japan.

After arriving in Japan, it absorbed many local cultural elements, forming a unique "Onmyōdō."

However, when this term officially appeared in Japanese historical records, it was already in the 10th century. By this time, Onmyōdō had evolved beyond the early Chinese Yin-Yang thought, incorporating applications such as divination, rituals, astronomy, and calendar science. It could be used to explain everything from national fortune and imperial decrees to the affairs of common people.

Prince Shōtoku of the Asuka period was an outstanding practitioner of this knowledge.

A devout Buddhist, he considered the principles of Yin-Yang and Five Elements when formulating the "Twelve Levels of Cap Ranks" and the color of clothing, which had a significant impact on Japanese society. From then on, Onmyōji became a popular "profession" and entered a period of full prosperity.

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