Chapter 54 of 131
增删卜易
Chapter 50: Annual Examinations primarily discusses the use of the I Ching for divination to predict examination outcomes, focusing on the analysis of the Parent Line (representing essays or academic performance) and the Self Line (representing the individual). The Parent Line should be strong and vibrant 🌱, while weakness and lack of vitality are highly unfavorable. The Officer Line (官鬼爻) should support and nurture the Self Line rather than suppress it.
If both the Parent Line and the Self Line are strong and receive support from the Day, Month, or moving lines, or if they transform auspiciously without any flaws, it indicates the highest grade (超等) in the examination. If both lines are strong and receive support, it signifies a first-class result. If they are strong but lack support, or are moderately strong with some support but without penalties, clashes, or restrictions, it indicates a second-class result. If one line encounters penalties or clashes, the result is further downgraded. If the Self Line is suppressed, penalties may be incurred. If both the Self Line and the Parent Line are suppressed, a failing grade is certain.
Ye He adds: While this theory is correct, flexibility is essential. A comprehensive judgment should be made based on the relative importance of the Self Line and the Parent Line. A perfect hexagram and an outstanding examination performance invariably involve both the Self and Parent Lines receiving support without any penalties or restrictions. If there is support but the hexagram shows clashes transforming into further clashes, repeated or hidden lines, or moving lines transforming into restrictions or exhaustion, these are considered flaws. If the Parent Line is restricted without rescue, the essay will inevitably be disorganized. If the Self Line is restricted but receives some support, the candidate might barely pass.
Juezi believes: Determining the grade based on the strength and weakness of the Parent Line and the Self Line is a valid approach. Yi Mao states that advancing spirits indicate high grades, while retreating spirits indicate low grades. However, if there are no advancing or retreating spirits, how can a judgment be made?
For example: On the day of Yisi in the seventh month (Shen), the annual examination was divined, resulting in the hexagram Great Exceeding (大过) transforming into Cauldron (鼎).
Hexagram lines:
Some have said: "The moving Wealth line restricts the Parent Line," but this is an inflexible interpretation. In this hexagram, the Parent Water line (亥水) holds the Self Line and is nurtured by the Shen month, making the Parent Line strong and the Self Line also strong. The Si day clashes with it, causing a hidden movement. Although the Unearth Wealth line (未土) is moving, it fortunately generates and assists the Metal Officer (酉金), which in turn nurtures the Self Line. This is called "sequential nurturing," indicating a brilliantly written essay. The Wealth generating the Officer's strength suggests not only a high grade but also material rewards. The outcome was indeed the highest grade (超等) with additional stipends.
Ye He says: Generally, if a hexagram encounters clashes transforming into further clashes or if all six lines are moving chaotically, but the Parent Line and Self Line are strong, the candidate may still achieve an average grade. If the Parent Line is weak and restricted, or the Self Line is exhausted and suppressed, or if the transformation is inauspicious, failure is certain.
Flying lines without support and Self Line without restrictions: Neither honor nor disgrace:
If the Parent Line appears, neither strong nor weak, without support but also without restrictions, and the Self Line is not clashed or restricted, an average grade can be expected.
Hidden lines strong but Self Line injured: Rewards and penalties both appear:
For example: On the day of Yimao in the fifth month (Wu), the annual examination was divined, resulting in the hexagram Peace (泰). The Parent Fire line (巳火) is hidden under the Officer Wood line (寅木). It is strong and nurtured by the flying line, and the lines are in harmony, which is inherently auspicious. However, the day pillar restricts the Self Line, making the outcome imperfect. On the day of results, the candidate was reprimanded by the examiner. Due to their calligraphy resembling ancient style, they were initially granted a third-class grade but later regretted it. Here, the Fire (巳午) represents not the essay's quality but the neatness of handwriting. Such hexagrams are common, but such specific outcomes are rare. This case is preserved as a reference.
[New Interpretation]: In this example, the Officer Line clashes with the day and restricts the Self Line, leading to the reprimand.
Juezi concludes: Overall, if the Parent and Self Lines are strong and receive support, the grade will be first-class. Minor flaws result in second-class, penalties with rescue lead to third-class, and minor penalties without rescue result in fourth-class. If the Parent and Self Lines are severely penalized, clashed, or restricted, failure is certain. Flexibility is key, requiring a comprehensive analysis of the hexagram's overall auspiciousness or inauspiciousness and the relative strength of the used lines.
