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Chapter 7 of 7
壬归
Liu Ren (Six Ren) is a discipline whose core lies in image-number (xiang-shu) studies. When using the cosmic board (shi-pan) to cast hexagrams and make divinations, the transformations of images are extremely numerous. A single day has twelve double-hours, and hexagram patterns are likewise limited to twelve. Yet within the twelve hexagrams, images can evolve into myriads of transformations. If one seeks only from the hexagram body itself, then the countless images cannot manifest, and the functions of the Five Phases (wu-xing) become constrained by the hexagram body instead. Therefore, the Method of Simplicity in the Three Powers (san-cai yi-jian) must be explained as promptly as possible.
The images of the day stem and branch constitute the Two Modes (liang-yi), from which nobility and baseness, honor and humility are determined. The four lessons (ke) form the Four Images (si-xiang), from which firmness and gentleness, inner and outer, are distinguished. The images of the three transmissions (chuan) constitute the Three Powers (san-cai), from which the stages of beginning, middle, and end—as well as fu-yin and fan-yin patterns—are fully realized. However, the Two Modes evolving into the Four Images is in fact the concrete manifestation of the Three Powers; just as the Three Powers of the three transmissions are essentially the embodiment of the Two Modes. Thus it is said that within any hexagram body, all categories possess the functional application of the Three Powers.
For example, when divining matters concerning women, the Celestial Queen (Tian Hou) is taken as the category spirit—Tian Hou being the symbol of women. Even if Tian Hou does not appear on the board, one should look to the spirit upon which Tian Hou is mounted. Mounting (cheng) refers to the spirit ridden by Tian Hou; position (lin) refers to the palace where the mounted spirit is placed. The spirit that Tian Hou mounts becomes the initial transmission; the hidden spirit (yin-shen) of the initial transmission becomes the middle transmission; the spirit passed on from the middle transmission becomes the final transmission. This is what is called the Category-Spirit Three Transmissions (lei-shen san-chuan). The complete progression of the matter, from inception to conclusion, lies entirely within this. Seeking by this method fully suffices to obtain the relevant images; therefore, one need not rigidly adhere to the hexagram body in determining fortune or misfortune.
For matters without specific direction—general divinations of the overall situation—fortune and misfortune rest exclusively in the hexagram body. But when one divines with a specific focus, then each matter has its category, each category has its image. Determine the three transmissions according to the category, speak of fortune and misfortune according to the three transmissions, and the situation manifests naturally without vainly seeking from the hexagram body. This is what is meant by "simplicity" (yi-jian).
Whenever divining concerning a noble person, look at the three transmissions of the Celestial Nobleman (Tian Yi), and matters of paying respects to dignitaries or seeking favor are likewise decided accordingly. For divination on dreams, apparitions, anxieties, doubts, fears—look at the three transmissions of the Soaring Serpent (Teng She); matters concerning stoves and culinary utensils likewise follow the same rule. For writings, disputes, and verbal contention—look at the three transmissions of the Vermilion Bird (Zhu Que); matters of flying creatures, letters, and lawsuits likewise follow. For children, trade, marriage, go-betweens, and guarantors—look at the three transmissions of the Six Harmonies (Liu He); articles like small children, bamboo and wooden utensils, boats and carriages, gates and doorways, beds and couches, boxes and barrels likewise follow. For entanglements and litigation—look at the three transmissions of the Hooked Combatant (Gou Chen); matters of armies, grave fields, officials, servants, and couriers likewise follow. For worthy persons, wealth, and scribal officials—look at the three transmissions of the Azure Dragon (Qing Long); choosing sons-in-law and seeking civil service distinction likewise follow. For petty persons, servants, monks and priests—look at the three transmissions of the Sky Emptiness (Tian Kong); memorials to the throne, petitions, phantom fallacies, and deceptions likewise follow. For illness and travel—look at the three transmissions of the White Tiger (Bai Hu); sending troops, punitive campaigns, and matters of death and mourning likewise follow. For elders and wealth—look at the three transmissions of the Grand Constancy (Tai Chang); rice and wheat, silk cloth, garments and apparel, cotton wadding, medicines and provisions, and military excellence likewise follow. For thieves, fugitives, runaways, and beggars—look at the three transmissions of the Dark Warrior (Xuan Wu); military campaigns, travelers, water conservancy, and canals likewise follow. For maternal relatives, secret indulgences, concubines, maidservants, wet nurses, elderly women, and nuns—look at the three transmissions of the Greater Yin (Tai Yin); clandestine affairs, commissions and entrustments, gold and silver money, stoneware and porcelain likewise follow. For women—look at the three transmissions of the Celestial Queen (Tian Hou); in seeking wives, longing for imperial favor, letters of investiture and amnesties, all are decided by this method.
Although the spirit mounted on the category spirit may have its three transmissions to observe, they must be examined together with the day stem and branch, one's annual stars, and matters involving those with 克 restraint patterns. Only with a year falling into a day-stem wind-point, will matters, at this branch-tide, truly have attainment. Even a category spirit itself lodging purely in a conjunctly branch-roan and vacant emptiness, allowing the precedent rule, still, in applying contrast-field truth-beversing method-suspicion-do-no-lean-evens-about-the-"bo" use-plum-bill then verify-unmethod-thin'–such-vexance may-thereout-dure-apud.
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