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Chapter 42 of 131
Zeng Shan Bu Yi — Revised I Ching Divination
Overall Interpretation
This chapter explores how to determine whether a person can achieve official rank and status in their lifetime through hexagram analysis. The focus is on observing the strength and activity of the Official Ghost Line (representing official position) and the Parent Line (representing documents and knowledge), as well as their relationship with the Self Line. Different hexagram combinations indicate various paths to achieving official rank—some through genuine talent and learning, some through financial contributions, some through military achievements, while certain hexagrams indicate no prospect of official rank.
Prosperous Official and Parent Lines: Success Through Literary Talent 🌟
When the Parent Line is strong and occupies the Self Line, and the Official Ghost Line moves to generate it; or when the Official Ghost Line occupies the Self Line and the Parent Line is strong and active; or when the Official and Parent Lines are strong and active, generating or harmonizing with the Self Line; or when the Daily or Monthly Stem acts as an Official Star or Parent Line generating or harmonizing with the Self Line—all these indicate the ability to attain official rank through literary talent and imperial examinations. As the saying goes, "Master both literary and martial arts, and offer them to the imperial court."
Active Official and Wealth Lines: Achieving Rank Through Financial Contribution 💰
When the Official Star occupies the Self Line and the Wealth Line moves to generate it; or when the Self Line is occupied by the Official Ghost Line transforming into a Wealth Line, or the Self Line is occupied by the Wealth Line transforming into an Official Ghost Line; or when the Official Star and Wealth Line move to generate or harmonize with the Self Line; or when the Daily or Monthly Stem acts as an Official Star or Wealth Line generating or harmonizing with the Self Line—all these indicate the ability to attain official rank through financial contributions (similar to modern methods of obtaining positions through special channels or financial means).
Hexagram Example 1: During the Chen month, on the Yiwèi day, a query about official rank yielded the Mingyí (明夷) hexagram changing into Fēng (丰).
This person was a descendant of a military official and had previously held a low-ranking position but resigned due to illness and was without a position. The question was whether he could achieve official rank in the future. In the hexagram, the Chǒu Earth Official Star occupied the Self Line, transforming into the Midday Fire Wealth Line, which was strong and generated the Official Line. The query was made in the Year of the Rabbit, and by the Year of the Snake, he started through financial contributions, continuously adding donations, eventually rising to a prefectural assistant position. In the Year of the Goat, he officially assumed office, and by the Year of the Dog, he was promoted to prefect. Traditionally, it is believed that a moving line encountering a clash will disperse, but in this hexagram, the Wèi Earth clashed with the Self Line's Chǒu Earth, yet it did not disperse; instead, he was promoted.
Embedded chart
| Pillars | Year | Month | Day | Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten Gods | 正财 | 比肩 | Self (M) | 食神 |
| Stem | 戊 | 乙 | 乙 | 丁 |
| Branch | 辰 | 未 | 丑 | 丑 |
| Hidden Stems | 戊财乙比癸枭 | 己才丁食乙比 | 己才癸枭辛杀 | 己才癸枭辛杀 |
| Stage | 冠带 | 养 | 衰 | 衰 |
Hexagram Example 2: During the Xū month, on the Rénzǐ day, a query about official rank yielded the Kùn (困) hexagram changing into Duì (兑).
The Yín Wood Wealth Line occupied the Self Line, transforming into an Official Star, indicating the attainment of official rank through wealth. However, the hexagram changed from a Six-Harmony to a Six-Clash, indicating a promising start but an unsuccessful end, making it unlikely for the person to assume the position. Later, this person became blind while attempting to donate for an official position.
Embedded chart
| Pillars | Year | Month | Day | Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten Gods | 食神 | 偏财 | Self (M) | 正印 |
| Stem | 甲 | 丙 | 壬 | 辛 |
| Branch | 戌 | 子 | 寅 | 亥 |
| Hidden Stems | 戊杀辛印丁财 | 癸劫 | 甲食丙才戊杀 | 壬比甲食 |
| Stage | 冠带 | 帝旺 | 病 | 建 |
【New Interpretation】: This case exemplifies using wealth to seek official rank. The second case failed because the Self Line was void, and although it moved to transform into an Official Line, it resulted in illness. The Official Ghost Line belongs to Fire, which governs the eyes, and it was accompanied by the Black Tortoise (representing darkness), hence the manifestation of blindness.
Hexagram Example 3: During the Xū month, on the Wùchén day, a query about official rank yielded the Gǔ (蛊) hexagram.
The Daily and Monthly Stems acted as Wealth generating the Self Line, and the White Tiger was on the Metal Official Line occupying the Self Line. If pursuing a civil path, donations would be required; if pursuing a military path, military exploits could be achieved. Later, this person did not join the army but followed military campaigns, fighting bravely at the forefront. He gained the appreciation of the commander and was granted an official position. Within five years, he repeatedly achieved remarkable feats, rising to the rank of marshal.
Embedded chart
| Pillars | Year | Month | Day | Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten Gods | 偏财 | 食神 | Self (M) | 偏财 |
| Stem | 壬 | 庚 | 戊 | 壬 |
| Branch | 戌 | 戌 | 辰 | 子 |
| Hidden Stems | 戊比辛伤丁印 | 戊比辛伤丁印 | 戊比乙官癸财 | 癸财 |
| Stage | 墓 | 墓 | 冠带 | 胎 |
Hexagram Example 4: Consecutive Queries About Assuming Office Through Examinations
First Hexagram (Yù changing into Cuì): The Shēn Official transformed into an advancing spirit, with growth energy on the Sì day, but it did not generate or harmonize with the Self Line, raising doubts about whether it was an official position meant for him.
Second Hexagram (Jìn changing into Gòu): The hexagram showed inversion, and the Sì Fire Official Star was冲ed away by the Hài Water, indicating that his original official position was ruined and that his official rank would come from another source. The first hexagram had the Official moving in the Fifth Line (monarch's position),预示 special favor; the second hexagram had the Wèi Earth Daily Stem moving in the Fifth Line, transforming and generating the Self Line, indicating military achievements through imperial decree. Later, this person achieved merits in the west and obtained a prominent title.
Embedded chart
| Pillars | Year | Month | Day | Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten Gods | 劫财 | 偏财 | Self (M) | 比肩 |
| Stem | 戊 | 癸 | 己 | 己 |
| Branch | 辰 | 巳 | 巳 | 巳 |
| Hidden Stems | 戊劫乙杀癸才 | 丙印戊劫庚伤 | 丙印戊劫庚伤 | 丙印戊劫庚伤 |
| Stage | 衰 | 帝旺 | 帝旺 | 帝旺 |
Embedded chart
| Pillars | Year | Month | Day | Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten Gods | 伤官 | 偏财 | Self (M) | 偏印 |
| Stem | 戊 | 辛 | 丁 | 乙 |
| Branch | 辰 | 未 | 未 | 巳 |
| Hidden Stems | 戊伤乙枭癸杀 | 己食丁比乙枭 | 己食丁比乙枭 | 丙劫戊伤庚财 |
| Stage | 衰 | 冠带 | 冠带 | 帝旺 |
Hexagram Example 5: In the Bǐngxū year, during the Xū month, on the Yǐmǎo day, a query about the auspiciousness of welcoming the emperor.
A commoner welcomed the emperor and was granted the title of general. This was the manifestation of the Year Stem and the Fifth Line's Monthly Stem moving to harmonize with the Self Line, with the Self Line's Mǎo Wood Official Star also being supported by the Daily Stem.
Embedded chart
| Pillars | Year | Month | Day | Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten Gods | 伤官 | 正财 | Self (M) | 伤官 |
| Stem | 丙 | 戊 | 乙 | 丙 |
| Branch | 戌 | 戌 | 卯 | 戌 |
| Hidden Stems | 戊财辛杀丁食 | 戊财辛杀丁食 | 乙比 | 戊财辛杀丁食 |
| Stage | 墓 | 墓 | 建 | 墓 |
Hexagram Example 6: During the Xū month, on the Dīngmǎo day, a query about official rank yielded the Xū (需) hexagram.
The Shēn Metal Offspring Line occupied the Self Line, leading to the direct conclusion: "Do not ask about official rank." This person studied diligently but failed to even pass the imperial entrance exam. Later, he served in the military for over twenty years, attempting to gain rank through military exploits or donations, but even with gray hair, he achieved nothing—a classic verification of the Offspring Line overcoming the Official Ghost Line.
Embedded chart
| Pillars | Year | Month | Day | Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten Gods | 正印 | 比肩 | Self (M) | 正财 |
| Stem | 甲 | 丁 | 丁 | 庚 |
| Branch | 戌 | 卯 | 卯 | 戌 |
| Hidden Stems | 戊伤辛才丁比 | 乙枭 | 乙枭 | 戊伤辛才丁比 |
| Stage | 养 | 病 | 病 | 养 |
Hexagram Example 7: During the Sì month, on the Yǐmǎo day, a query about official rank yielded the Lǚ (旅) hexagram.
Although the lines formed a Six-Harmony, the Offspring Line occupied the Self Line, and the Official Star was broken by the month, making it difficult to achieve fame. This person had already spent money to donate for an official position, but it was said, "Despite spending tens of thousands, you will ultimately not enjoy official salary." Later, in the Year of the Rat, he fell ill, and in the Year of the Ox, he died of a parasitic disease.
Embedded chart
| Pillars | Year | Month | Day | Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten Gods | 比肩 | 七杀 | Self (M) | 食神 |
| Stem | 乙 | 辛 | 乙 | 丁 |
| Branch | 巳 | 巳 | 卯 | 亥 |
| Hidden Stems | 丙伤戊财庚官 | 丙伤戊财庚官 | 乙比 | 壬印甲劫 |
| Stage | 沐浴 | 沐浴 | 建 | 死 |
Hexagram Example 8: A military official's descendant querying about official rank (Dàguò changing into Jǐng).
The existing official position was on the verge of collapse, but the Self Line transformed into a Shēn Official, which turned back to generate the Self Line. Shēn was the Year Stem of that year,预示 another prominent title from special favor. It was predicted that he would gain an official position due to pacifying bandits and bringing peace to the people. The prediction was that he would gain the position in the Year of the Tiger and assume office in the Year of the Monkey. Later, he indeed pacified a rebellion, was granted a military title in the Year of the Tiger, later switched to a civil position, and assumed office in the Year of the Monkey.
Embedded chart
| Pillars | Year | Month | Day | Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten Gods | 正财 | 七杀 | Self (M) | 偏财 |
| Stem | 癸 | 甲 | 戊 | 壬 |
| Branch | 卯 | 子 | 子 | 子 |
| Hidden Stems | 乙官 | 癸财 | 癸财 | 癸财 |
| Stage | 沐浴 | 胎 | 胎 | 胎 |
Hexagram Example 9: The same person querying again about future prospects (Guīméi changing into Zhèn).
The Monthly Stem Wealth Line appeared in the hexagram, overcoming the Self Line and the Parent Line. Although the White Tiger was not active, misfortune for elders was unavoidable. The Self Line was injured, indicating that the person themselves must also be cautious of danger. Later, in the Year of the Tiger, he experienced the loss of a parent (丁艰), and in the Year of the Rabbit, he died of illness midway. This was because the Chǒu Earth Parent Line occupied the Self Line and was heavily overcome by the Mǎo Wood.
Embedded chart
| Pillars | Year | Month | Day | Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ten Gods | 比肩 | 比肩 | Self (M) | 正印 |
| Stem | 辛 | 辛 | 辛 | 戊 |
| Branch | 卯 | 丑 | 丑 | 子 |
| Hidden Stems | 乙才 | 己枭癸食辛比 | 己枭癸食辛比 | 癸食 |
| Stage | 绝 | 养 | 养 | 长生 |
【New Interpretation】: In ancient times, encountering the loss of a parent required resigning from office to observe three years of mourning. Hence, Wealth accompanied by an active White Tiger was seen as a sign of retirement. In modern times, this may not necessarily mean retirement but can indicate misfortune for parents.
Achieving official rank depends on the generative and overcoming relationships between the Official Star (opportunity), Parent Line (knowledge), Wealth Line (resources), and the Self Line (oneself). Various combinations reveal different paths to success: orthodox imperial examinations, financial contributions, military achievements, or special favors.
Hexagrams show trends, not fixed outcomes. Even with the same hexagram, outcomes can vary due to different eras and personal choices. In modern society, the connotation of "official rank" has expanded to include various forms of achievement recognition, not limited to government positions.
Note: The content of this chapter should be understood in the context of its era. In ancient times, "achieving rank through financial contribution" was equivalent to modern special talent recruitment or financial investment for opportunities; "establishing merits through military exploits" was similar to achieving exceptional feats in special fields; "rapid ascent to high rank" was like receiving exceptional promotion. Each era has its specific ways of achieving "official rank."