Seven hundred and twenty-nine appraisals make three hundred and sixty-four days and a half. These two close the year.
THE ODD ONE
踦
water
The frost climbs up into the red sky.
The noon heat goes down into the black spring.
The dark takes the head of the year.
THE SURPLUS ONE
嬴
fire
One short, one over.
The leftover is where things get born.
There is no end to the handing-on.
THE IMAGE
A magnificent celestial armillary sphere glowing in pure cinnabar, jade, and gold atop an ancient imperial observatory altar under the midnight stars of the Winter Solstice, uniting the completed solar circle back to the primordial seed of Light.