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Chapter 80 of 131
Zeng Shan Bu Yi — Revised I Ching Divination
Overall Paraphrased Translation
The ancients believed that the five elements correspond to specific types of wealth: 🔥 Metal wealth symbolizes gems and jade; 🌊 Water wealth represents fish, salt, and aquatic products; 🔥 Fire wealth is associated with kilns, metallurgy, and pottery; 🌱 Wood wealth stands for timber and materials from the East; ⛰ Earth wealth primarily relates to grains and agriculture. Additionally, ✨ Qinglong (Azure Dragon), associated with Wood, benefits celebrations and documents; ⚪ Baihu (White Tiger), associated with Metal, benefits funerals and butchering; 🕶 Xuanwu (Black Tortoise), associated with Water, benefits trade and clandestine businesses; 🔴 Zhuque (Vermilion Bird), associated with Fire, benefits debates and documents; 🐍 Tengshe (Coiling Snake) benefits changes and mobility; 🟤 Gouchen (Hook Array), associated with Earth, benefits farming and construction.
However, in my view, such categorizations are merely mechanistic deductions based on the five elements 🌐 and do not stem from practical experience ❌. Repeated validations have shown poor results, and occasional successes are mere coincidences 🎲, not to be taken as fixed rules. Effective conclusions can only be drawn by addressing specific intentions and conducting targeted divinations for particular types of goods 🎯.
For example, in the lunar month of Wei (June/July) on the day of Wushen, someone asked: "When visiting relatives in Guangdong, what goods should I bring back to profit?" The divination resulted in the hexagram Lü (Travel) ䷷:
Interpretation: The lines form a Six Harmonies pattern, and the Agent (Chen Earth) generates the Response (You Metal), indicating a smooth journey ✅. As for specific goods, I have no fixed formula and dare not mislead; however, since the hexagram is auspicious, even selling fans in winter ❄️ or felt mats in summer ☀️ would yield substantial profits. Later, this person purchased incense and kingfisher feathers (perfume and feather accessories) and indeed made a fortune 💰. If one followed the ancient method: should You Metal as wealth mean buying gems? Or if wealth is associated with Xuanwu, should one buy fish and salt? Wouldn’t that be absurd!