Sheng (生), literally meaning “give birth” or “generate,” describes the process of transformation from nonexistence to existence. In ancient times, many believed that all things in nature were generated from certain overarching dynamics of the cosmos, including tian (heaven), dao (the way), li (principles), qi (vital force), and wu (void); while some others believed that all things were self-generating, not dependent on external forces. During the process of sheng, all things acquire their initial qualities, functions, and procedures for continuation. For such creatures as humans, birds, beasts, and plants in particular, sheng signifies the attainment of life, making the word also synonymous with “life.”The instinctive qualities, functions, and procedures resulting from sheng exert an inner influence on the existence of all things. These aspects constitute the basis on which people establish and maintain the order of their lives, as well as the factors they have to confront.