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Chapter 73 of 131
Zeng Shan Bu Yi — Revised I Ching Divination
Overall Paraphrase
This chapter focuses on divination principles for seeking fame and wealth by visiting influential figures. If the Self-Line (世爻) controls the Official-Line (官爻) or the Official-Line supports the Self-Line, it is favorable to visit. If the Wealth-Line (财爻) is broken or the Official-Ghost (官鬼) harms the Self-Line, efforts will be in vain. 🌪
Ye He notes: Divination for visiting nobility must distinguish purpose—seeking fame depends on the Official-Line, while seeking profit depends on the Wealth-Line. It is most auspicious if these lines occupy the Self-Line or generate and harmonize with it. If they are void (空), broken (破), entombed (墓), or exhausted (绝), or if they move and transform into ominous signs, efforts will be wasted. If the Self-Line transforms into an Official-Ghost, suffers harm, or encounters ominous patterns like "following entombment with assistance injury" (随墓助伤), it is especially inadvisable to proceed, as failure to meet the noble and potential dangers en route may occur. ⚠
If the Self-Line moves but is void, or if the Self-Line is strong but broken by the monthly cycle—such scenarios are not entirely ominous and may instead indicate fulfillment during periods of exiting voidness or filling reality (出空、填实). For example, during the Seventh Moon (申月) on Ding-Mao Day (丁卯日), a divination about traveling to meet a noble yielded the Tong Ren Hexagram (䷌同人), with the Official-Ghost Hai-Water (亥水) occupying the Self-Line but being void. The interpretation was that meeting the noble and gaining wealth would occur on Hai Day (亥日) after exiting voidness, which later proved true due to the Wealth-Line of the monthly cycle (Shen-Metal 申金) generating the Self-Line. 📅
If the Official-Line occupies the Self-Line and is supported by a moving Wealth-Line, or if the Wealth-Line occupies the Self-Line while the Official-Line remains intact, and both are further blessed by auspicious daily and monthly influences, it indicates mutual rapport and easy success. "Illumination by sun and moon" (日月照临) refers to the daily and monthly cycles generating the Self-Line or Wealth-Line, or the Self-Line/Wealth-Line being in season with the current moon or day. 🌟
For seeking fame, the Parent-Line (父母爻) should move (as documents are the basis for recommendations). For seeking profit, the Sibling-Line (兄弟爻) moving is discouraged (as it represents wealth competition). If the divination about meeting nobility already shows mutual generation and harmony between the Self-Line and Official-Star, the meeting will occur. However, if specifically inquiring about success in fame or profit, a separate divination must be cast—seeking fame requires both Parent and Official-Ghost lines to be strong, while seeking profit requires both Wealth and Offspring lines to be strong.
For example, during the Seventh Moon (申月) on Jia-Chen Day (甲辰日), a divination about visiting a noble for a recommendation yielded the Shi He Hexagram (䷔噬嗑), with the Wealth-Line occupying the Self-Line but harming the Parent-Line Zi-Water (子水, representing documents). The interpretation was unfavorable for seeking recommendation. The querent mistakenly thought "if not fame, then wealth," but the hexagram actually indicated that wealth damaged documents, leading to failure in recommendation, not promise of wealth. ❌
Six-Harmony hexagrams (六合卦) are not always entirely auspicious, and Six-Clash hexagrams (六冲卦) are not always entirely ominous—the key lies in the strength of the Focus-Line (用神). Six-Harmony with a strong Focus-Line or harmony between the Self-Line and Wealth/Official lines is auspicious; Six-Clash with a harmed or failed Focus-Line is ominous. Opposition Hexagrams (反吟卦) and the Self-Line transforming into Retreating Spirit (化退神) often indicate difficult endeavors, with forced attempts likely to end in empty returns. 🔄
When nobles meet nobles (e.g., officials visiting each other), mutual generation and harmony between the Self-Line and Response-Line (应爻) are favorable. When commoners meet nobles, generation and harmony between the Official-Star and Self-Line, or the Official-Star occupying the Self-Line, are favorable.
Jue Zi emphasizes: If specifically inquiring about seeking fame, the Official-Star occupying or generating the Self-Line indicates gaining official status. If only asking whether the noble can be met, the Official-Star generating and harmonizing with the Self-Line indicates a successful meeting—the Official-Star for "meeting nobility" should not be misinterpreted as the sign for "gaining fame."
Ye He adds: For mutual visits between nobles, if the Self-Line and Response-Line clash or control each other, and the Wealth-Line is hidden and void, the visit is futile. Official-Ghost harming the Self-Line, or the Self-Line transforming into a ghost or harm, is even more ominous. For commoners meeting nobles, encounters with Official-Ghost harming the Self-Line, or the Self-Line transforming into a ghost or harm, are inadvisable due to risk of accidents; only Wealth/Official lines generating and harmonizing with the Self-Line are auspicious. 🚷
For all divinations regarding travel for wealth or visiting nobility, refer to the "Travel Chapter" of this book.
(Note: This chapter does not involve Eight Characters命运 examples, so no component tags are inserted.)