onymou s to the tempo- spat ial view of relat ivity in modern physics, being a dynam ic coo rdi2
　　nate in t im e and space. W h ile t im e and space are two impo rtan t lingu ist ic elem en t s in de2
　　scrib ing ob ject ive en t it ies of the un iverse, in the eyes of the Ch inese they are clo sely related
　　w ith the concep t s of yin, yang, and the f ive elem en t s and the understanding of the un ity be2
　　tw een heaven and m an. Such agreem en t betw een the stem s and b ranches and the modern
　　physics is wo rth con sidering.
　　Key words: sym bo ls of heaven ly stem s and earth ly b ranches; tempo- spat ial view; un ity be2
　　tw een heaven and m an
　　　　作者简介: 周蓉(19642) , 女, 陕西西安人, 编辑, 文学硕士, 从事中国古代文学研究.