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Chapter 18 of 24
Bu Shi Zheng Zong — Orthodox Divination
Overall Paraphrased Meaning
There are three methods to judge the Four States (Birth, Flourishing, Entombment, and Extinction): first, observe the state of the deity in relation to the daily stem’s cycle of birth, flourishing, entombment, and extinction; second, examine the relationship of the deity within the flying lines’ cycle; third, analyze the changes in moving lines that result in these states. 🌱
When the忌神 (averse spirit) receives support, disaster may be great; when the用神 (deity of use) encounters entombment or extinction, rescue is still possible if there is a remedy. These are basic principles, but practical application requires flexibility rather than rigid adherence.
Overall Paraphrased Meaning
Question: When will wealth be obtained? The酉金 (Metal)妻财爻 (wealth line) is stationary. It will be obtained on the following卯日 (Wood Day) when the clash occurs. Someone asked: "The兄弟爻 (sibling line) is moving and持世 (holding the world), how can wealth be obtained?" Reply: "The sibling line transforms into the戌土 (Earth) entombment, losing its restraining power. Wealth is obtained on the day when the stationary line is clashed—aren’t you aware of this rule?" It was later verified.
Modern Application Suggestions
Overall Paraphrased Meaning
Divination about a wife’s illness. The辰土 (Earth)妻财爻 (wealth line) moves as the deity of use, transforming into亥水 (Water) in its临官 (official state), indicating she will not die. Although辰土 dies on卯日 (Wood Day), this is an acute illness encountering a六冲 (clash hexagram), so she will survive. When will she recover?辰土 moves to clash the世爻 (world line)戌土, which is bound by the day; she will recover on辰日 when戌土 is clashed. It was later verified.
Modern Application Suggestions
Overall Paraphrased Meaning
Divination about childbirth. The子水 (Water)子孙爻 (offspring line) transforms into巳火 (Fire), where Water is extinguished in巳. Delivery occurred at巳时 (Fire Hour) on the same day, but the infant died. Someone asked: "Why this judgment despite the青龙 (Azure Dragon) accompanying the offspring line?" Reply: "Wait for the outcome to verify." It was later verified. Explanation: "The daily offspring line refers to today,巳时 to the current time, and death at birth is due to the auspicious spirit transforming into extinction and into a ghost."
Modern Application Suggestions
Overall Paraphrased Meaning
Divination about a son’s illness.申金 (Metal)子孙持世 (offspring holding the world), transforming into丑土 (Earth) Metal库 (repository). The墓库 (entombment) is clashed on丑未日 (Earth Days), and with the daily stem and moving辰土 line generating support, recovery will occur by afternoon today. It was later verified.
Modern Application Suggestions
Overall Paraphrased Meaning
Divination about a friend’s father’s illness.申金父母爻 (parent line) is the deity of use. Metal is extinguished on寅日 (Wood Day), seemingly绝处逢生 (finding life at extinction—戌土 transforms into申金长生 (longevity)), but戌土 is月破 (monthly broken) and unable to generate support.申金 is clashed by the day and extinguished on寅日, with午火 (Fire)回头克 (reverse restraint), so it is judged that he will not survive past午时 (Fire Hour) that day. He passed away at午时.
Modern Application Suggestions
Overall Paraphrased Meaning
Divination about a younger brother’s illness.子水兄弟 (sibling line) is旬空 (void in the decade), with子水 as the deity of use, entombed by the day. However,申金原神 (source spirit) moves, and戌土 moves to反生 (indirectly generate) the source spirit, so the illness is critical but not fatal. On甲子日 (Wood Water Day), the deity exits voidness, and when午火 is clashed, the source spirit is unharmed, leading to recovery. It was later verified.
Modern Application Suggestions
Overall Paraphrased Meaning
Divination: When will a son return from business in Chu?申金子孙 (offspring line) is伏 (hidden) under the世爻 (world line)丑土 entombment and also entombed by the daily stem, suggesting major trouble. Although a letter mentioned departing in August, the return date cannot be determined from this hexagram.
Modern Application Suggestions
Overall Paraphrased Meaning
Divination about a nephew’s safety abroad. In the first hexagram, the offspring line is hidden and entombed; in the second, it appears and transforms into entombment.寅木原神 (Wood source spirit) is truly broken and void, with no support.申金月建官鬼 (monthly official ghost) moves on the road. Both hexagrams indicate misfortune. It was later confirmed that he died in a boat capsizing on the Yangtze River in May.
Modern Application Suggestions
Overall Paraphrased Meaning
Divination about an aunt’s illness.午火官鬼爻 (official ghost line) is the deity of use. Although it has longevity, it is restrained by亥日 (Water Day).亥水 self-transforms into longevity and moves with申金 assisting Water to restrain, indicating certain death. She passed away on乙亥日 (Wood Water Day), corresponding to the day when亥水’s voidness is realized.
Modern Application Suggestions
Overall Paraphrased Meaning
An aunt divines about her sister-in-law’s full-term pregnancy and illness: Will delivery be safe?寅木妻财爻 (wealth line) is the deity of use, entombed on未日 (Earth Day), indicating current illness.亥水 transforms into申金 gaining longevity, generating and combining with the wealth line, indicating safe delivery. She gave birth the next day, both mother and child safe, and even her old illness healed postpartum.
Modern Application Suggestions
Overall Paraphrased Meaning
Divination: Will a impeachment memorial succeed? The应爻 (response line)酉金 is clashed and restrained by卯日 (Wood Day), indicating declining power. Offspring持世 (holding the world) ensures no self-harm. The impeachment succeeded, and the treacherous official was punished.
Modern Application Suggestions
Overall Paraphrased Meaning
Impeachment due to misallocated military provisions. The世爻 (world line) is aligned with the daily stem, generated by the monthly build, and moving戌土 generates the official position, ensuring safety. Later,奇功 (unexpected merit) restored his reputation.卯木 offspring moves but is extinguished by the day and entombed by the month, so no harm occurred.
Modern Application Suggestions
Overall Paraphrased Meaning
Searching for a burial site. The世爻亥水 (Water) transforms into申金 reverse generation; though休囚 (dormant), it becomes flourishing upon generation.寅日 clashes申; wait until autumn to obtain good land. The site is southwest; land was obtained in July. After burial, three sons passed imperial exams.
Modern Application Suggestions
The Four States (Birth, Flourishing, Entombment, Extinction) are key to judging fortune, but must be applied flexibly with specific hexagrams. The deity of use encountering birth or flourishing is auspicious; entombment or extinction is inauspicious, but rescue is possible. The averse spirit encountering birth or flourishing is inauspicious; entombment or extinction is auspicious.
These examples showcase the intricate logical system of ancient divination, integrating五行生克 (Five Elements’ generation and restraint), line relationships, and spatiotemporal coordination. In modern society, this can be seen as a tool for risk assessment and decision support.
These examples reflect the ancient wisdom of "observing images to derive meaning," using symbolic systems to simulate and predict changes. They embody profound philosophies of yin-yang balance and Five Elements’ interactions, showcasing the holistic and dialectical thinking unique to Chinese culture.
Note: The above interpretations are based on ancient divination theories. Modern applications should be viewed rationally and integrated with practical circumstances. The wisdom of Yijing emphasizes inspiring thought rather than replacing rational decision-making.
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