Chapter 19: The Six Harmonies
Overall Paraphrased Translation
The Six Harmonies refer to specific pairings among the earthly branches:
- Zi (子) pairs with Chou (丑),
- Yin (寅) pairs with Hai (亥),
- Mao (卯) pairs with Xu (戌),
- Chen (辰) pairs with You (酉),
- Si (巳) pairs with Shen (申),
- Wu (午) pairs with Wei (未).
These combinations symbolize connection, cooperation, or obstruction in divination, depending on the context and the state of the "Use God" (用神).
There are six types of harmonious scenarios:
- Sun and Moon Harmonize with the Yao: For example, in the Chou month, divining the Kan (坎) hexagram, the World Yao (世爻) of Zi Water harmonizes with the Month Builder Chou Earth. 🌊💧
- Yao Harmonizes with Yao: For instance, divining the Heaven and Earth Pi (否) hexagram, if both the World Yao and Response Yao (应爻) of Mao Wood and Xu Earth are moving, they harmonize. However, if only one Yao is moving, tradition holds that they do not harmonize, though new interpretations suggest that even one moving Yao can harmonize, distinguishing between active and passive roles. Two moving Yaos harmonizing symbolize an instant agreement.
- Case: In the Chen month, on the Guichou day, a woman divined and obtained the Guimei (归妹) hexagram changing to Fu (复). The Wealth Yao Mao Wood moved and harmonized with the Response Yao Xu Earth, indicating she lent money to someone. Wood corresponds to the number three, so she lent 300,000 yuan. The Official Ghost (官鬼) Wu Fire moving symbolized lending through an intermediary (a civil servant). The Wealth Yao moving and transforming into retreat indicated the money could be recovered. Everything came true.
| Stem-branch set | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Set 6 | Set 7 | Set 8 | Set 9 |
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| Stem | C | e | M | n | h | u | c | o | D |
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| Branch | h | n | o | t | G | i | h | u | a |
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- Moving Yao Transforms and Harmonizes: For example, divining the Tianfeng Gou (姤) hexagram, the World Yao Chou Earth moves and transforms into Zi Water, harmonizing.
- Hexagram Inherently Six Harmonies: For example, the Heaven and Earth Pi (否) hexagram, where all six Yaos harmonize with each other even without movement.
- Six Clashes Hexagram Changes to Six Harmonies: For example, the Qian (乾) hexagram changing to the Ditian Tai (泰) hexagram symbolizes reuniting after separation.
- Six Harmonies Hexagram Changes to Six Harmonies: For example, the Lü (旅) hexagram changing to the Ben (贲) hexagram.
Meanings of harmony:
- A still Yao encountering harmony: Called "roused by harmony" (合起), indicating potential vitality even if dormant. 🌱
- A moving Yao encountering harmony: Called "bound by harmony" (合绊), obstructed and unable to move.
- Yao harmonizing with Yao: Called "assisted harmony" (得他合我), symbolizing mutual support and harmony.
- Moving Yao transforming into harmony: Called "transformed support" (化扶), symbolizing receiving assistance.
Overall, harmony symbolizes auspicious signs: success in fame, profit, marriage, personal growth, prosperous households, and favorable Feng Shui, but only if the Use God is strong. If the Use God is weak, it turns ominous. Auspicious matters facilitated by harmony succeed easily, while inauspicious matters become hard to resolve. Examples:
- Chou month, Wushen day: Divining for an annual exam, Kan (坎) changing to Kun (困). The World Yao Zi Water harmonizes with the month and is nourished by the day. Six Clashes change to Six Harmonies. The examinee achieved first rank and later excelled. Adversity turned into prosperity.
- Xu month, Dingmao day: Divining a lawsuit, Ditian Tai (泰) hexagram. Although it is Six Harmonies, the World Yao is overcome. The lawsuit was lost, and the person was caned. The Use God being overcome renders harmony useless.
- Shen month, Bingzi day: Divining about travel, Mingyi (明夷) changing to Xiaoguo (小过). The World Yao moving is bound by harmony with the Zi day, halted by a child’s illness. The offspring transforming into a ghost indicated the daughter’s death on the Chen day.
- Wei month, Dingsi day: Divining about canceling a marriage, Li (离) changing to Lü (旅). Six Clashes change to Six Harmonies. The marriage was reinstated in the third month of the following year.
Special case of Six Clashes changing to Six Harmonies: Regardless of the Use God, it is directly interpreted as auspicious, symbolizing difficulty turning into ease, dispersion into unity, etc.
Yao encountering Six Harmonies or moving and transforming into Six Harmonies enhances auspiciousness, but it is unfavorable for lawsuits, worries, suspicions, pregnancy, or childbirth. If the Use God is overcome, it becomes even more ominous.
Example: Mao month, Jiayin day: Divining about ancestral grave Feng Shui, Kun (困) changing to Jie (节). Six Harmonies changing to Six Harmonies indicates long-term luck, but the water is not flowing properly. Adjustments were suggested to ensure success in fame and offspring.
The issue of harmony with overcoming: Ancient methods state that Zi-Chou harmony (Earth) overcomes Water, and Si-Shen harmony (Fire) overcomes Metal. However, in practice, the presence of nourishment must be considered. Without nourishment, it is overcoming, not harmony. Example: Chou month, Gengchen day: Divining about a son’s illness, Bo (剥) hexagram. The son’s Water Yao harmonizes with the month but is overcome by the day, with no nourishment. The son died during the Chen hour.
Three Harmony Combinations (三合局):
- Shen-Zi-Chen: Water combination.
- Si-You-Chou: Metal combination.
- Yin-Wu-Xu: Fire combination.
- Hai-Mao-Wei: Wood combination.
Formation methods:
- Three moving Yaos forming a combination.
- Two moving Yaos and one still Yao forming a combination (awaiting the missing one).
- Inner or outer trigram moving and transforming into a Yao to complete the combination.
The auspiciousness of a Three Harmony Combination depends on the Use God:
- For fame, an Official combination is auspicious; an Offspring combination is ominous.
- For wealth, a Wealth combination is auspicious; a Sibling combination is ominous.
- For property, a Parent combination is favorable, etc.
If the World Yao is in the combination or the combination nourishes the World Yao, it is auspicious. If the combination overcomes the World Yao, it is ominous. The month or day entering the combination enhances auspiciousness.
Cases:
- Shen month, Renyin day: A man testing official luck, Xiaoguo (小过) changing to Meng (蒙). The Official Ghost Wu Fire holds the World Yao. The Three Harmony Official combination nourishes the Response Yao, so he was not promoted.
| Stem-branch set | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Set 6 | Set 7 | Set 8 | Set 9 |
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| Stem | S | e | M | n | h | e | y | n | a |
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| Branch | h | n | o | t | R | n | i | D | y |
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- Zi month, Jiwei day: Divining about a friend’s return, Qian (谦) changing to Lü (旅). The Use God Sibling You Metal forms a Three Harmony combination nourishing the World Yao. The friend returned the next day.
- Mao month, Dingsi day: Divining a dispute over field water, Li (离) changing to Kun (坤). The inner trigram forms a Wood combination, and the outer trigram forms a Metal combination overcoming Wood. However, Six Clashes change to Six Clashes, suggesting dissolution.
- Si month, Dingyou day: Divining for fame, Qian (乾) changing to Xu (需). The Three Harmony Official combination lacks the Yin character. The position was obtained on the Yin day.
- Yin month, Bingchen day: Divining selection timing, Qian (乾) changing to Xiaoxu (小畜). Obvious and hidden movements form a combination. Selection occurred in the same month.
- Chen month, Dinghai day: Arguing for reinstatement, Cui (萃) changing to Ge (革). The Three Harmony Wealth combination nourishes the World Official Yao. The official position was obtained in the Wei month, symbolizing bribery.
New interpretations emphasize: A Three Harmony combination nourishing the World Yao is auspicious; nourishing the Response Yao benefits others. For divining about travelers, if the Use God forms a Three Harmony combination nourishing the World Yao, they will return; otherwise, they will stay.
🧠 In-Depth Understanding
Core Concepts 💡
The Six Harmonies and Three Harmony Combinations are central concepts in Yi studies, representing the interaction of earthly branches. They symbolize connection, cooperation, or restraint. The Six Harmonies emphasize one-to-one pairings, while the Three Harmony Combinations involve three branches forming a combination, influencing the hexagram’s auspiciousness. The key lies in the strength of the Use God and the position of the World Yao: harmony can enhance or obstruct, depending on the context.
Modern Interpretation 🌟
In a modern context, the Six Harmonies and Three Harmony Combinations can be analogized to interpersonal relationships, project collaborations, or system interactions:
- Six Harmonies: Like business partnerships or team pairings, harmony brings synergistic effects, but if one party is weak (Use God weakened), cooperation becomes a burden. For example, in investment, Wealth Yao harmonizing with another Yao may involve intermediaries (Official Ghost), requiring risk assessment.
- Three Harmony Combinations: Similar to ecosystems or network effects, forming a combination concentrates power. For career: an Official combination symbolizes promotion opportunities; a Wealth combination symbolizes financial flow. However, if the combination nourishes the Response Yao, benefits may flow to others, reminding us to focus on our position in decision-making.
- Modern applications: The concept of combinations can be used in team building, investment analysis, or crisis management—harmony represents resource integration but requires monitoring the state of the Use God (core factor) to avoid blind optimism.
Practical Value ⚡
- Decision Support: In divination, harmony symbolizes trends: Six Clashes changing to Six Harmonies indicates a turnaround after failure, encouraging persistence; harmony binding indicates temporary obstacles, requiring patience or adjustment. For example, in marriage divination, harmony leads to success, but balance between both parties (World and Response Yao) is needed.
- Risk Management: When the Use God is overcome, harmony becomes ominous, corresponding to "cooperation backfiring" in reality. Advice: Assess the other party’s strength (nourishment state) before cooperating and establish terms (symbolizing nourishment from the sun and moon).
- Action Guide: If a combination is divined, proactively advance auspicious matters (e.g., job hunting, wealth seeking); for ominous matters (e.g., lawsuits), avoid entanglement and seek mediation (Six Clashes changing to clashes symbolizes dissolution).
- Datafication: Transform hexagram images into options—e.g., Wealth moving and transforming into retreat indicates money can be recovered but requires tracking the recovery time (response period); a Three Harmony combination missing one character suggests waiting for the right timing (awaiting the missing one).
Philosophical Reflection 🤔
The Six Harmonies and Three Harmony Combinations embody the ancient Chinese philosophy of "harmony and union" (和合): everything is interconnected and dynamically balanced. Harmony is not absolutely auspicious or ominous but relative—depending on the interaction between the subject (World Yao) and the environment (sun and moon). This reflects on modern individualism: success requires leveraging others (harmony and cooperation), but over-reliance (harmony binding) loses autonomy. Meanwhile, adversity turning into prosperity (Six Clashes changing to harmony) conveys optimistic resilience, encouraging seeking turnaround in adversity.
📚 Related Knowledge
- Related Concepts: Earthly branch clashes (冲), Use God, World and Response Yao, moving Yao, sun and moon builders; modern equivalents: feedback loops in systems theory, network node interactions.
- Extended Reading: Analysis of hexagram images in the "I Ching," divination cases in "Plum Blossom Divination," chapters on combination formations in "Authentic Divination"; recommended studying the application of "awaiting the missing one" in project management.
- Modern Research: Scholars like Liu Dajun explore the mapping of combination formations in decision-making psychology; contemporary Yi studies applications in business forecasting and interpersonal dynamics emphasize empirical verification over superstition.
