The need to keep earthly affairs from heavenly affairs separate was first mentioned in The Book of History and the Discourses on Governance of the States. This was aimed at countering disorderly interaction between the people and the god and redefining the relationship between them. The ancient Chinese viewed sacrifices to the god and spirits as belonging to the heavenly realm while governance of the people was an earthly matter. Heavenly and earthly affairs ought to be managed separately by designated people so as to avoid communication with the god in an arbitrary and disorderly manner. This would maintain the authority of the gods and the order of the human world under the gods.

After ascending the throne, Zhuanxu ordered Chong, the Regulator of the South, to oversee heavenly affairs and care for the gods, and Li, the Regulator of Fire, was ordered to oversee earthly affairs and care for the people, so as to return to old practices and not have heavenly and earthly affairs intrude on each other. This is called keeping earthly and heavenly affairs separate. (Discourses on Governance of the States)