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Chapter 28 of 131
Zeng Shan Bu Yi — Revised I Ching Divination
Overall Paraphrase
The Void of the Decade refers to the phenomenon where certain Earthly Branches are temporarily absent in each ten-day cycle (旬) of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. For example, the Jiazi Decade includes days from Jiazi to Guiyou. During these ten days, the Branches Xu and Hai are missing. Therefore, if a hexagram line encounters Xu or Hai, it is considered "void" or "empty," also known as 旬空 (Void of the Decade). Other decades follow similarly: the Jiaxu Decade has Shen and You as void; the Jiashen Decade has Wu and Wei as void; the Jiawu Decade has Chen and Si as void; the Jiachen Decade has Yin and Mao as void; and the Jiayin Decade has Zi and Chou as void.
Ancient texts discuss the Void of the Decade in a complicated manner, categorizing various types of void, such as true void, false void, and moving void. However, Ye He (Wild Crane) believed that a strong and prosperous line is not void 🌱, a moving line is not void 🔥, and a line supported by the daily or monthly influence or other moving lines is not void. Conversely, a line broken by the month is void ⛰, a line with energy but not moving is void, a hidden line that is suppressed is void, and a true void is void (true void refers to Earth in spring, Metal in summer, Wood in autumn, and Fire in winter).
When I first started learning divination, I was often confused about the Void of the Decade. I didn’t know whether to interpret it as completely void or as becoming solid and non-void after the decade ends. Later, I adopted the method of multiple divinations: when encountering a void, I would ask the querent to cast another hexagram. If the second hexagram was auspicious, the void would resolve after the decade; if inauspicious, it would remain void.
For example, on the Yimao Day in the Chen Month, a divination was cast about seeking wealth, resulting in the Jia Ren Hexagram changing to the Ben Hexagram.
Another divination resulted in the Kui Hexagram changing to the Sun Hexagram.
【New Interpretation】: In the first hexagram, the Wealth was supported by the monthly influence, but the month also acts as its tomb. The day suppresses the User God, and the User God is void, reducing its power. The Original Spirit is moving but transforming and facing suppression, making it unable to help itself. Although it was difficult to decide, an inauspicious outcome could still be inferred. Ye He’s method of multiple divinations is worth advocating, especially for major events or investments. When in doubt, one should cast another hexagram to avoid misjudgment.
Another example: On the Xinhai Day in the Zi Month, a divination was cast about traveling far to seek wealth, resulting in the Da Xu Hexagram.
Another divination resulted in the Ming Yi Hexagram changing to the Feng Hexagram.
Ye He said that the method of multiple divinations resolves many doubts. Otherwise, the unexplained void in the first hexagram would seem like falling into an abyss, but the strong wealth generating the Self line was an auspicious sign, making it difficult to decide.
【New Interpretation】: The concept of an unexplained void is invalid. A void must have its meaning. For example, in the first hexagram, the void Self line indicated unease and lack of confidence, not an inauspicious sign. It was about when wealth would come, not whether it was凶兆 (inauspicious).
Another example: On the Xinmao Day in the Yin Month, a divination was cast about when a father would return, resulting in the Guan Hexagram changing to the Pi Hexagram.
Another divination resulted in the Lü Hexagram changing to the Zhong Fu Hexagram.
Someone asked why the true void in the first hexagram was not inauspicious. The divine principle is consistent. I said the first hexagram also indicated that the Parent Wei Earth held in the Self position was void and would appear after the void period. Divination must understand the querent’s thoughts: if the father was traveling far and his safety was unknown, asking about吉凶 (auspiciousness or inauspiciousness) would be inauspicious. But here, the question was about when he would return, and the route was familiar, so it was predicted he would return on the Wei Day. Initially doubtful, I requested another divination and obtained an auspicious hexagram that confirmed the interpretation.
I once cast a divination about the weather on the Jiyou Day in the Wu Month, resulting in the Lin Hexagram changing to the Shi Hexagram. The first line was a moving Parent, indicating rain on the Si Day. On the early morning of the Guisi Day, it was sunny. A friend asked if it would rain that day. On the Guisi Day in the Wu Month, the divination resulted in the Ji Ji Hexagram changing to the Ge Hexagram.
The next day, the friend asked why I did not consider the monthly injury and daily combination. I said it was not only about yesterday’s hexagram. On the Chou Day, I had cast a divination predicting rain on the Si Day. It was as if I asked the divine: the previous hexagram predicted rain today, and now it indeed rained? The divine answered that it would rain during the Shen Hour, regardless of suppression or combination.
In the previous divination about the traveler, it was as if asking when the father would return. The divine answered that he would return on the Wei Day, regardless of the void or truth. Diviners must align with the divine’s mechanism and not刻舟求剑 (act mechanically). Although the method of multiple divinations may not fully align with the divine’s mechanism, it can provide insight.
Li Woping said the Void of the Decade is mysteriously unpredictable, seeming both existent and non-existent. Casting two hexagrams for joint interpretation reveals the divine’s mechanism.
The principle of heaven and earth arises from emptiness, waiting in suspension. When encountering a void in divination, one should not immediately assume it is empty. Instead, consider the event’s timing: for events within the decade, there may be a冲实日 (day of impact and solidification); for events beyond the decade, the void will resolve after the decade. For long-term events without a fixed date, examine the overall hexagram (大象). If the overall hexagram is inauspicious, it will remain void; if auspicious, the Grand Duke Tai Sui or monthly influence can fill the void, but casting two hexagrams is even better.
The Void of the Decade represents temporary gaps or delays in the development of events, emphasizing dynamic analysis: if a line is strong, moving, or supported, it is not void; if broken by the month, lacking energy, or suppressed, it is void. The method of multiple divinations is used to eliminate uncertainty by verifying auspiciousness or inauspiciousness through a second divination.
In a modern context, the Void of the Decade can be analogous to temporary obstacles in projects, plans, or decisions 🌊, such as delayed funds, immature market conditions, or insufficient psychological preparation.
The Void of the Decade embodies the Eastern philosophy of "emptiness containing substance": emptiness is not absolute oblivion but a transitional period of potential transformation 🌱. It aligns with modern "uncertainty management" and "conditional maturity theory," emphasizing the importance of patience and timing.