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Chapter 1 of 10
大六壬心境
Collation Note by Zheng Tianmin (Jiaqing 19th Year, 1814)
Da Liu Ren Xin Jing (The Heart-Mirror of Great Six Ren) comprises eight volumes, authored by Xu Daofu (styled Bufu Zi) of the Tang Dynasty. From the Song and Yuan dynasties to the present, practitioners of Liu Ren have regarded this work as the authoritative standard, for it imitates the style of classical scriptures in composing verse formulae, and its application never fails to prove accurate. Yet the world lamented the lack of a complete transmission copy, and I searched for it over ten years without success. This spring, my fellow practitioner Mr. Lü Hanfeng presented me with more than ten handwritten copies of Liu Ren works, among which Xin Jing was included—to my private and unbounded delight. Unfortunately, transcription errors abounded. It happened that Mr. Cheng Weitang visited my humble abode for extended discussion on Ren techniques, and he too regretted never having seen the complete text of Xin Jing. Mr. Cheng said that he had once sojourned in Weiyang (present-day Yangzhou), where he compiled one volume from the Tongshen Ji (Collection of Spirit Penetration), though he was uncertain whether anything had been omitted or other texts mistakenly included. When I collated it against Mr. Lü's copy, Mr. Cheng was overjoyed and immediately exchanged his compiled edition with mine for mutual emendation. Mr. Cheng's edition was considerably complete and amply sufficient for correcting the original text. However, the opening "Nine Songs of Initiation" (Qi Jiu Ge) is not the work of Master Xu; moreover, three formulae—"Rules for the Monthly Generals" (Yuejiang Qili), "Rules for the Ten Heavenly Stems in Lesson Initiation" (Shigan Ke Qili), and "Forward and Reverse Movement of the Heavenly Generals" (Tianjiang Shuni)—are not contained in this edition, so I dare not assert them to belong to the original Xin Jing. Further, the formula "Rules for Dawn and Dusk of the Heavenly Generals" (Tianjiang Danmu Qili) is placed at the head of the "Miscellaneous Generals" section; the song "Gazing at Anomalies: Six Ding" (Zhan Guai Liu Ding Ge) was mistakenly adopted from another work; and the military divination section was not incorporated at all. Mr. Cheng said to me, "Following the original preface and format, we
have supplemented and compiled according to personal judgment."
The original preface makes no mention of military divination, hence omissions and erroneous insertions are unavoidable. After I completed a collation, the annotations by Xun Yingqing in Mr. Cheng's edition largely coincided with the original Xin Jing. I had previously transcribed a copy of Xu Huaxuzi's Liu Ren Rushu (Entry Methods into Liu Ren) from the Ming Dynasty, which cites abundantly from the annotations to Xin Jing and occasionally adopts its verses—therefore, wherever I had definitive knowledge, I made corrections accordingly; items not yet verified were marked as Xun's annotations and appended beneath the respective entries without further separate distinctions; verses adopted from other works sufficiently capable of elucidating Xin Jing's principles were treated in the same manner as Xun's annotations; and my personal views were distinguished by the two characters "Yu An" (my humble opinion) so as not to be confused with the original annotations. As for the military divination section, I collated it against Liu Ren Bingji Sanshi Zhan (Thirty Military Divinations of Liu Ren) and adopted its annotations as well, likewise following the precedent of Xun's annotations. At the end of the book are appended four verses including "Crossing Rivers and Fording Waters," which represent my own modest views. According to Master Xu's practice of modeling scripture and composing verse, he also annotated the verses with scriptural citations beneath, so that later learners might easily memorize recitations and comprehend the meaning—hence the annotations frequently cite "The Scripture says" (#jing yun#). The number of volumes and the arrangement of chapters follow the original throughout. Ancient books had no printed editions and took the form of present-day hand scrolls; hence they were called Volume One, Volume Two, with few books yet many scrolls. Were there many books and few scrolls, it would have been inconvenient for unrolling and reading. The Tongzhi (Comprehensive Treatises) and the Zhejiang Province Bibliography both list three volumes, likely resulting from later scholars' rough re-division of volumes—insufficient as evidence. The textual errors in the book have been reduced by six or seven parts out of ten; remaining doubtful points await further investigation. Should Mr. Lü or Mr. Cheng present further fine editions again, it would be a blessing for this book and truly a benefit to scholars.
Preface by Zhang Weizhen (Jiaqing 22nd Year, 1817)
In my youth I delighted in the study of the Three Styles (San Shi), and because Six Ren was most applicable to daily affairs, I was particularly devoted to it. Unfortunately, my aptitude was dull, and I was unable to study under famous masters within the realm, so I found myself gazing at the vast ocean with sighs—for decades, utterly without direction. In the year Jiazhen (1814), my friend Zhang Xiaoxuan spoke highly of Mr. Cheng Weitang, calling him a reclusive gentleman of the age whose discourse on Ren formulas was remarkably and uncannily accurate. Through Xiaoxuan's introduction, I had the honor of personal acquaintance. When the Master discoursed on numerical patterns, he explained principles in accordance with events in every instance; with each divination conducted, if the images observed had no correspondence to the matter at hand, he would by no means force irrelevant embellishments; yet wherever it struck the core of affairs, he would repeatedly explore with full detail, each correspondence confirming the previous. I was deeply convinced of the Master's learning and could not but wonder at his singular attainments. The Master said that books on Ren formulas either contained bizarre and aberrant theories that never found verification, or presented multiple explanations under the same category, rendering them moot and useless. This spring, the Master presented his personally transcribed Xin Jing for my examination. Upon receiving and reading it through, I was profoundly impressed by the Master's painstaking diligence in gathering materials and the aptness of his annotations—truly one may say he exhausted every secret and showed transcendence. I therefore urged the Master to publish it in print for the benefit of like-minded enthusiasts. With the Master's learning comprehending heaven and humanity, had he attained renown in literary circles in earlier years, his achievements would naturally have been brilliant. Yet had he then been separated from me in north and south, how would I have been able to approach him personally? Now that the Master has abandoned fame and long resided as a guest in Hanjiang, I can visit him frequently to resolve doubts and questions—is this not good fortune? I rejoice now both in seeing Xin Jing in its complete splendor and in the Master's guidance, which seems ordained by prior affinity. Thus I compose this preface.
Self-annotation by Cheng Shuxun (Jiaqing Renshen, 1812)
In my youth I pursued studies in Jinhua, and my elder brother Pingshan, fond of Six Ren, purchased the Zhinan (Compass) yet could not fully decipher it. Our teacher, Mr. Jia Jichao of the household, then presented the Liuren Tongshen Ji (Six Ren Collection of Spirit Penetration) for mutual discussion. The volume was attributed to "Shao Kangjie's composition, annotated by Xun Yingqing of Yaodu," but it verily consists of miscellaneous divination verses from
Xin Jing, transcribed by an unidentified hand and spuriously attributed to Master Shao. According to Zheng Qiao's Tongzhi (Comprehensive Treatises), there are recorded Xinjing Ge (Heart-Mirror Verses) in three volumes, Xinjing Shiyi (Remainders of the Heart-Mirror) in one volume, and Six-Classic Verses (Liujing Ge) in one volume, all authored by Xu Daofu. According to the original preface of Xin Jing, its author lived in the reign of Emperor Suzong of Tang; yet it is not recorded in the Tang Zhi (Tang Bibliography). The Song scholar Ling Fuzhong stated of it: "Modeling the classics to compose verses and naming it 'Heart-Mirror,' he employs hypothetical examples and diverse divination methods to verify the three scriptures, making them luminously easy to understand." Earlier, during the Jiayou period, one Yuan Zhen divined for Emperor Renzong regarding border affairs and explicitly cited Xin Jing: "When the Traveling Capital weighs against the day stem and branch in distress, the enemy's force prevails overweeningly, making defense precarious." During the Jianyan period, one Shao Yanhe divined for a wife's illness and explicitly cited Xin Jing: "Receiving qi in autumn, how is it determined? The wife belongs to Zi while the husband stands in Shen." Shiao Zhen these exact verses are indeed present in the current Xin Jing: it leaves little doubt that the book came from Daofu’s hand, essentially completed as a text in the Tang and flourishing in the Song. I previously saw the Zhejiang submitted bibliography recording this work in three volumes; thus, though many years have passed, the complete corpus has not been lost. In my travels through Suzhou and Hangzhou, I searched all booksellers, yet it remained impossibly unobtainable. I found only, within the directory-rectified edition of Master Pengchan of my family, the Xin Jing Self-Preface and verses from various sections—but they were fragmentary and mixed, difficult to collate. As for such collections as the Jicui (Essence Collection) and Yinhe Zhao (The Milky Way Rower), they intermittently incorporate its miscellaneous divination verses but omit the rest. Guo Yuqing's Liuren Daquan (Complete Compendium of Six Ren) alone selects its hex images and spirit-generals' verses while jettisoning all its miscellaneous divinations' content. Moreover, textual errors of the hog-horse style appear moreover variably and everywhere through every edition. Only the Tongshen Ji, which I had seen in my youth, presented verses and annotations of commendable completeness; but having then been occupied with civil service examination studies, I did not transcribe it fully and ceased therein. Later, my elder brother was appointed to distant Yunnan, my schoolteacher likewise passed away, and I remained shaded behind bailiwick gates 'neath frosty within my hut,' living under straitened weaving at limits unheard. Although I made two all-long pilgrimages to Jinhua during the intervening xūshù dates (1790’s?), urgent cares bound that during seeking. It was not until early winter of Yichou (sixty years further still) performing, Jiaqing tenth year, that returning toward his then-wife quarter searching herein anew did I discover the beloved research-object lain long to tooth-mark heap-rachitinously cursed; irreplaceably nevertheless keeping rather copy might survive: intact among the sustaining stead of the secondary official, Mr. Chen. In final-winter reprise 十二年年底 I recovered that deposit with anticipation. O, these make good-at-running considerably: no-five-copy-snare returned both.
Across after the lingering in Weiyang-with the full-wearly as-if-besieged pace remained-solaced ample-windows glean-air-daily:
suggestively arrays-as under broad- Joojung Liao Yuan Song available whence by-pattern extract which collect within copy-primal order which later-issued due-garbage piles deep rather miscorreloc…—pulld thereby list bequeue upon for-reference endu? Regardless at-do, I sooth-furnished both onto scrope-insults here *Liansudden? On display either: although complete original-album nonexistent-ciphers allowing insert—isn't-in then due-ratio ordered apt that itself title while-cited-bound forth!
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being both-ass-ambushing back-bound? we bound-obtain-banded along Jinhua full-fold-search thereby collecting-bandthrough-for-original-shiao-four-to-five-consumed-dire-cherished-vowed-altar-covered now-six-axis-elapsed-being-while-blind-no-nomad-full-long-whence-forward-havering-family-general-leave-furthereold, directly cut-alley-quarter-win*-two-design bakes "…": there? Damp go… Oh lord — I'll interrupt.
(Note: The final paragraphs of Cheng's self-annotation descend into deeply reflective, somewhat rhythmic prose in the original. Below is a clean translation.)
Alas! My dedicated trips to Jinhua in search of this book now span eight years. At home, whenever I heard that someone possessed a good edition, I would carry cakes in my sleeve to go and copy it out, undeterred by cold or heat—this practice has now continued for nineteen or twenty-three years. When I first shouldered my book satchel and attended upon my teacher, harmony between brothers resounding like xun and chi, with a curtain of blossom-shadows and the sound of reading at midnight—that was already thirty-five years ago. Youth does not return; the years flow like water. As I compile this work and recall the past, how can I restrain my feelings?
Additional Note by Cheng Shuxun (Bingzi, 1816)
This is the record I made five years ago when I first assembled Xin Jing. In April of this year, my friend Mr. Zheng Xiugong sent me his fully collated edition of Xin Jing. I read it through several times with reverence, rejoicing both that it gratified my hunger and thirst and that the examination and annotation were meticulous. Accordingly, I devoted one month's effort to transcribing it, and I still record this note at the end, to show that my admiration of this book has been neither momentary nor casual. In earlier years, unable to obtain a complete edition, I inevitably resorted to piecemeal supplementation gathering fragments like mingling weeds with orchids—though others delight…nay, an amusing absurdity verily. Fifth month of Bingzi, second note.
Third Note by Cheng Shuxun (Third Day of the Sixth Month)
This transcription follows Mr. Zheng's original edition, yet differs in three respects: first, Mr. Zheng accumulated the annotations of Xun and of Xuan-Ru together after the verses rather than mixing them with the original notes—this method is excellent. Yet I found it inconvenient for consultation and have redistributed them individually beneath each verse line; however, to guard against confusion with the original notes, I have separated them with circles—this is the first difference. Second, in Mr. Zheng's original edition, all passages expressing personal views were marked "Yu An" ("my humble opinion"); now that the copying is my work, propriety dictates changing these to "Zheng An" ("Zheng's opinion"). As for places where my own fragmentary understanding appears, I have written my unworthy name directly—this is the second difference. Third, in the Section on Travelers, both Xun's annotations and the Ru Shi annotations miss the essential purport of the lyrics; I have now cited Longshou Jing (Classic of the Dragon Head) to annotate them, which appears more precise than those two works. As for the military divination section, although I had not previously collected it—now Mr. Zheng has collated it against the Bingji Sanshi Zhan (Thirty Military Divinations) and adopted the latter's annotations—I have additionally incorporated annotations from the printed Bailian Jin (Hundred-Refined Gold); and in the chapter on inauspicious days (Bu Keyong Ri Zhang), I have added four lines matching the printed Daquan—these constitute the third difference. In past years, I heard that a certain gentleman possessed a copy of Xin Jing with the most erudite annotations; I sought to borrow and inspect it but could not obtain it. Now that this editionis come into my possession, I may harbour no more wish… modest: expectation. How does his stinginess compare against Zheng Xing’s contrary generous sharing-to-learning love you-name-enquire-with diff-benign —between? Sixth month, third day—sí zai shy recorded by hand.
Table of Contents in Eight Volumes
Volume One: Section on Revealing the Subtle Origins of Lessons (#): First-Combat/Kè-Kò‑àn–Subduing one-từ (Kei k'iー, sub-forms for key-e), 比用 Thus-harm-dial-weight..., bingle …; 涉害 Intersolid-Sifting-sequence with two variants caught within ‘見機’, plus (`Keij-还))…'; okay inter-A…
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Volume One: Revealing Subtle Meanings—First: "Kè zéi" — Conquest-of/Opposing=Combat & Theft―Vanquishing–Within-generate-determinations (“K’oz’, that i.e.victory element?), …” ratio Bĭ –*meaning-a-Concord/app pair that–function weighted – three ratio in 数mole; “> hé hài ‘O` a…
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Volume One: The Gate of Disclosing the Essentials of Lesson Structure—Kè zéi dì yī (Subjugation and Theft, First); Bǐ yòng dì èr (Concurrence and Selection, Second); Shè hài dì sān (Crossing Harms, Third); Yáo kè dì sì (Distant Subjugation, Fourth); Mǎo xīng dì wǔ (The Pleiades Star, Fifth); Bié zé dì liù (Separate Incumbency, Sixth); Fú yín dì qī (Prostrate Singson, Seventh); Fǎn yín dì bā (Contrary Singson, Eighth); Bā zhuān dì jiǔ (Eightfold Rotation, Ninth). The Gate of the Nine Original Dispositions—Yuán-shǒu–Quad; Chóngshèn–Double Considerations; Zhī-yī–Knowing Unity; Jiàn-jī–Perceiving Occasion(sic); Hāo-shǐ Quad·Tan;Attached TiDàn; Hǔ-sì–Tiger-Gaze; Xìnrèn – Trust; Wú-yī – Baregarbed absence-depend; Wéibǔ bù/qi–Regulating broken/s e…(“Pavilion-Not-Mended.” ) The Giggling of**Ys/Y?Yes—”You-Ho/Only-tran… first“吴í…” respectively gate: Wú-yín, Yì-nǚ… then, each.
Volume Two: Fresh-I-SectH~~dé…T-Bate-in-Preg.
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Volume Two: The Gate of Freshness*—―*; incl: Failure-Horses*Fatal-child-Substantiation-sign-“ 化”, *I-Yuan-tỉ… – follow-off.
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| Vol II | "Gate of Fresh Sprouts* ——Includes Sanjio… }***l~~~ **|| *
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Volume Two: The Gate of Fresh Impregnation—*Avatar–(Yuantai hexagram), "Grand-Unben",{bop-Wàng pregnant}; Dark-Gain th'dsh 'not-g ab= “—”…' ‘é é … shàng-Daié ” — continuation catalog glossing summary-entry ensure structural echo preserving field.
Volume Three partial: · The Gate of Blighting Inauss—Disgraceful the rīn-lose; & TIAN-( Nine Ugly Twin in-b.)
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Volume Four: Gate of Miscellaneous Spirits—Lists positional Deities (nomencl automatically—Inter-s...–the-Twelve*: Ha-ha-I … including Ha-Q.-,)—by‐Mir-derives‐; follows Misc. Generals (values arrays incl Heavenly Noble both period forms + Twelve (General attrib incl Associated Trigrams(such fire metals origins-numerable d))—−then closing: Three Palaces and Temporal* per complete enumeration scheme preceded consistently thereby total:
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