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Chapter 11 of 30
奇门遁甲秘笈大全
Ren Zhuan Sha Gong Calculation Method: In the four "Meng" months (Yin, Shen, Si, Hai months), start from the Jiazi day with Yaoxing (Disaster Star); in the four "Zhong" months (Zi, Wu, Mao, You months), start from the Jiazi day with Huoxing (Delusion Star); in the four "Ji" months (Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei months), start from the Jiazi day with Hedao (Harvest Blade). Rotate through these day by day, cycling continuously.
The nine-star sequence is: Yaoxing paired with Xuanwu, Huoxing paired with Zhuque, Hedao paired with Baihu, Sha Gong paired with Qinglong, Zhi Xing paired with Jinkui, Bu Mu paired with Daofu, Jiao Ji paired with Taiyin, Ren Zhuan paired with Jintang, Li Han paired with Gouchen.
Meng Jia (Jia Yin, Jia Shen): Jia Yin is inner-open, aligned with the yang star, yang energy resides within, favorable for the defender and unfavorable for the attacker—suited for defense; Jia Shen is outer-close, aligned with the yin star, yin energy resides without, favorable for the defender and unfavorable for the attacker—suited for defense.
Zhong Jia (Jia Zi, Jia Wu): Jia Zi is half-open, aligned with the yang star, yang energy is ascendant, favorable for the defender and for subsequent response; Jia Wu is half-closed, aligned with the yin star forming a barrier, favorable for the attacker and unfavorable for defense.
Ji Jia (Jia Chen, Jia Xu): Both are closed. Jia Chen aligns with the yang star, yang energy resides without, favorable for the attacker and for inflicting casualties; Jia Xu aligns with the yin star, yin energy resides within, favorable for the defender and for meeting the enemy head-on.
Whenever dispatching troops, step forward with the left foot and chant the incantation: "Yu steps propel me toward Yangming, primordial chaos floods my form, heaven turns and earth revolves treading the Seven Stars, treading Gang and pacing Dou awakens spiritual power, evil and rebellion are subdued and demon hordes crushed, all stars aid me in slaying demonic entities, I attain longevity and roam in Great Purity." Let the left and right feet each take one step, reciting one phrase per step, and never look back. 🌌
Zhi Fu represents soldiers, flags, and drums. Teng She represents the commander-in-chief of the three armies. Taiyin governs secret schemes, ambushes, and illicit communications. Liuhe governs strategists and staff planners. Zhuque and Xuanwu govern spies and military scouts.
Xiu Men (Rest Gate): Nurturing troops, accepting surrenders. Sheng Men (Life Gate): Establishing camps, securing fortifications. Shang Men (Hurt Gate): Rewards and punishments, capturing deserters. Du Men (Block Gate): Concealing in ambush, night retreats, reinforcing defenses. Jing Men (Scenery Gate): Delivering dispatches, gathering intelligence. Si Men (Death Gate): Executing sentences, reviewing prisoners. Jing Men (Alarm Gate): Capturing and killing. Kai Men (Open Gate): Opening defenses to meet the enemy, dispatching envoys.
Jia: Commander of the main force. Yi: Deputy commander. Bing: Vanguard. Ding: Negotiator. Wu: Main battalion. Ji: Supplies and baggage. Geng: Formidable enemy. Xin: Mobile cavalry. Ren: Cavalry. Gui: Natural moats/fortifications.
Tian Peng: Fierce general. Tian Ren: Ferocious general. Tian Chong: Warrior general. Tian Fu: Scholar general. Tian Ying: Fierce/ominous general. Tian Rui: Stubborn general. Tian Qin: Righteous general. Tian Zhu: Heroic general. Tian Xin: Heaven-appointed general.
First Palace: On Shen, Zi, Chen days, water warfare is favorable. Second Palace: Four-dimensional earth, favorable for attacking. Third Palace: On Yin, Wu, Xu days, fire attacks are favorable. Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Palaces: Govern seasonal changes. Seventh Palace: On Si, You, Chou days, battle is favorable. Eighth Palace: Four-dimensional earth, favorable for strengthening defenses. Ninth Palace: On Hai, Mao, Wei days, sending reinforcements is favorable.
Taiyin, Liuhe, Jiudi, Jiutian favor approaching gates and portals; Gouchen, Baihu, Zhuque, Xuanwu are unfavorable when shining upon the Tianma direction. If one further occupies the Tianma position, travel is like riding a flying steed, incredibly swift. 🐎
Meng Jia: Aligned with the yang star, yang energy resides within, favorable for attacking; aligned with the yin star, yin energy resides within, favorable for defense. Zhong Jia: Aligned with the yang star, favorable for subsequent response; aligned with the yin star, yin energy is at the gate, favorable for defense. Ji Jia: Aligned with the yang star, yang energy resides without, favorable for defense; aligned with the yin star, yin energy resides within, favorable for the defender.
The day stem represents our army; the hour stem represents the enemy army. If the day stem controls the hour stem, engaging battle will surely defeat the enemy; if the hour stem controls the day stem, order the three armies to fortify and defend; if the day stem receives generation from the hour stem, the enemy commander harbors secret intentions to surrender—but one must beware of Ren and Gui acting as generative spirits (for water and earth are deceptive), as false surrenders ultimately bring no benefit; if the hour stem drains the day stem's energy, beware of deception and tricks between engagements.
The distinction between host and guest lies in temporal precedence: the one who initiates action is the guest; the one who responds afterward is the host. The day branch and hour branch represent the deputy generals; their generative and controlling relationships and fortunes are judged as with the heavenly stems. The Nayin of both sides must also be carefully examined; the sequence of victory and defeat and the causes of reinforcements or relief can be derived from it. One must discern the prosperous vitality of the position one occupies; where misfortunes or mutual restraints occur need not be further asked. Tiangang Liuren holds mysterious profundities; combined with Sha Gong, Ren Zhuan, and Da'an, further compared with auspicious stars like Mingtang, Tiande, and Jinkui.
Zhi Fu determines the great general: if the original palace transmits auspiciousness, great merit will be achieved; if the three palaces check out without harmful obstructions, the surrounding battles will fulfill the general's intentions; further consult the natal year and life —if not subject to controlling or clashing influences, no misfortune will arrive. Jiudi, Jiutian, Teng She, Taiyin, Zhuque, Gouchen, Liuhe—one must discern which are adversarial and which are favorable. Jiudi subjected to punishment warns of theft and plunder; Jiutian plagued by restriction—do not lightly engage in combat. The day and hour should not harm Zhi Fu; one's position should generate Zhi Fu.
If Zhi Shi attains its commanding power, one may advance. If the earthly gate brings auspiciousness, divide into principal and auxiliary routes. Examine the natal years of the primary and deputy commanders; approaching an auspicious gate is the foundation of victory. If one encounters the Heaven's Net or Reverse Chanting and Prostrate Chanting, as stated in Taigong's Yin Fu doctrine, do not employ troops.
Qi Yi mysteries each have their domain; most to be avoided are imprisonment, interment, and punishment barriers. The star that controls Jia delights in resting and declining states; the star that assists Jia fears isolation and separation. If the spirit used by Jia is hidden and adversarial, treachery within the camp must be meticulously discerned. Examine the Gu Xu positions in the current chart; see which Qi Yi falls into that position. When the division occupies a Gu Xu palace, fortune and misfortune are ultimately half-certain. When the heavenly application falls into a palace subject to punishment, above all avoid approaching this position and suffering losses.
The nine stars can only prevail when in prosperous and supportive positions; declining and dispossessed conditions absolutely forbid raising an army. Pentagon barriers, whether flying or prostrate, are hard to deem auspicious. Most favorable is when auspicious stars combine with Qi Men alignment. Heavenly wind and thunder bolster martial might; from above and below, left and right, the Kui and Piao (Big Dipper star names) respond. Treading Gang and pacing Dou compel the Ding Jia spirits to obey; magnifying numinous powers strengthens military might. ⚔️
The nine palaces set the foundation to examine celestial timing; the suitability of the three surrounding quarters must also be cross-verified. Water, fire, metal, wood, and earth each have their distinctions; the general's natal year must not contradict them. In the proper phase of the palace one may establish the main camp; in the transient phase supplies may be stored. In the coming phases, await ambush and follow-up attacks; a measured division of regular and irregular forces will bring triumphant return.
The gates avoid pressure, interment, barrier, and punishment. Favoring encounters with Escape, Borrowed, and Deceptive layouts, envoys may be dispatched. If one adds to a Gu Xu position, marching out is unfavorable—troops readily flee and scatter. Should Tian Yi ascend the Heaven's Gate, baleful energies vanish and auspicious spirits hide—whatever one sets in motion proceeds smoothly.
The three Jia carefully distinguish open-close conditions: open favors raising an army; close favors resting troops. Meng Jia encountering reverse-prostrate should not move; Zhong Jia encountering reverse-prostrate leads to hesitation and indecision; Ji Jia encountering reverse-prostrate is actually favorable for action. This follows from the Gang formula discerning profound mystery. There are further cases of stacked three Jia: Meng Jia on Zhong favors reconnaissance; on Ji favors advancing campaign; Zhong Jia on Meng calls for initial caution; on Ji urges rapid camp establishment within the palace; Ji Jia on Meng counsels temporarily halting in the north; on Zhong warns against ambush. With yang hours, upper controlling lower is favorable; with yin hours, lower controlling upper is likewise deemed fortunate.
Zhi Fu: Official rank, personnel appointments, demotions and exiles. Teng She: Travelers, circuit inspectors, textile commissioners, chief justices. Taiyin: Military justice, workshops, treasury. Liuhe: Civil officials, rites. Gouchen, Baihu: Governor-generals, salt administration. Zhuque, Xuanwu: Censorate, taxes, water conservancy. Jiudi: Garrison officers. Jiutian: Provincial governors.
Xiu Men: Qingzhou, Qizhou, Wu, coastal regions. Sheng Men: Youzhou, Yanzhou, Yangzhou. Shang Men: Yuzhou, Songzhou, Yanzhou, coastal regions. Du Men: Zheng, Jing, Chu, coastal regions. Jing Men: Yongzhou, governmental seat. Si Men: Qin, Yi, Jin, earth fortresses. Jing Men: Zhao, Yingge. Kai Men: Xu, Lu, Bingyu.
Jia: Commander-in-chief / deputy. Yi: Administrative commissioner, academy head. Bing: Ministry of Rites, senior Confucian scholar. Ding: Direction of flight. Wu: Open jurisdiction matters, certainly accomplished. Ji: Salt transport, grain reserves. Geng: Provincial military commander, Ministry of Justice. Xin: Provincial judge. Ren: Purification office. Gui: Water conservancy circuit.
Tian Peng: Rivers administration, coastal defense naval commander. Tian Ren: Grand ceremonial master, four imperial factories. Tian Chong: Silk weaving commissioner. Tian Fu: Hanlin academician. Tian Ying: Communication office, protocol officer. Tian Rui: Border prefect, regional commander. Tian Qin: Provincial governor. Tian Zhu: Deputy commander, military administration. Tian Xin: Minister-level establishment.
First Palace: River transport and salt administration. Second Palace: Local officials. Third Palace: Ministry of Rites. Fourth Palace: Seasonal nodes – Shen, Zi, Chen, Si, You, Chou. Fifth Palace: Seasonal nodes – four-dimensional earth. Sixth Palace: Seasonal nodes – Yin, Wu, Xu, Hai, Mao, Wei. Seventh Palace: Military and justice ministry departments. Eighth Palace: Salt administration. Ninth Palace: Ministries of Personnel, Revenue, and Works.
Outer appointments consult the Heaven's Gate; inner appointments consult the Earth's Gate. When the natal year's official star encounters a gate, and rides the Tiande, Tianyi, or Tianma, it signals promotion; when the natal year encounters punishment, deception, barrier, or prostrate palace, where stars harm the natal year, it indicates demotion or exile.
Meng Jia: Signs of spring selections and autumn selections. Zhong Jia: Summer selections. Ji Jia: Imperial summons and appointment reviews. When an auspicious star holds open, it favors recommendations; with an ominous star holding closed, investigate carefully before taking remedial action.
The hour stem is the official seal; the day stem is the official star. Nayin stores transformation—one may observe rank's level therein. Official-inspiration giving birth to each other brings several benefits; the rank's waxing and waning is investigated by the hour. Harming the Fu leaves no guarantee of a distant career; harming the Shi causes local unrest. Above all, beware of severed voids and punishing interments—several promotions, demotions, dismissals, and exiles originate therein.
Zhi Fu determines the degree of official rank; prosperity, support, rest, and decline require careful calculation. Who generates and who controls is discerned from the adjoining palaces; advancement and retreat consult whether the official star and parental indicator are harmonious. If no punishment, imprisonment, or buried fall occurs, the posting will surely be honorable and satisfying.
Zhi Shi discusses the appointed region. The five ominous and three auspicious each pertain to separate territories. A gate that is ominous but attains its prescribed power may still complete its tenure; a gate that is auspicious but suffers pressure and punishment gives diminished emoluments. Riding auspiciousness while receiving generation foretells eminence and distinction. Distance, toil, and depletion must all be consulted. Even more, assess the Emolument and Horse directions—among the gates, whether flying or recumbent, further assessment is permissible.
Each of the ten stems belongs to its palace; only with command there is delight. When Qi Yi generate and harmonize, one obtains recommendation; once encountering punishment or harm instead, censure awaits. Harm applied to what should harmonize is like guilt falling upon pond fish—one should not lust after expansive command without caution. What is most rejoiced in: the official indicator of Qi Yi in full strength—golden emblem and purple sash, with a goblet filled with laughter.
The nine stars are divided into realms of bounty versus resentment. Favorable stars attaining proper ground excel at serving the ruler. In fortune's size and loss he distinguishes supporting officers—when adversity not menacing, the office's treasured glory brings joy. The three opposed facets check protection, rest, and breaking. Submit what sits together with scrutiny. The fullest passage sets the standard: only the ruler's majestic authority gives the ordained greatness until rest — full ease within the heart for one and all.
The nine palaces' initiation begins with discussions of relocation, rotation, and promotion. Determine what is due each initiating palace in turn. For anew appointments, resume full appraisals by counting number of palace stages; governing duties align accordingly. Water element returning to metal may entail acting appointments (provisional seals/tallies). Wood element returning to water sees the emoluments increase proportionately. Above all, guard against the official initiatory element slipping into secondary placements—punishment, harm, isolation-vanity all count as blemishes of shame.
Gates differentiate inner and outer transmissions. Natal years, noblemen-attendants, and emolument-horses among calculations. Auspicious stars gathering herald a promotion to which day? Spite-men and destruction-compulsions reduce the likelihood that it will shine even from our provinces.
Three Jia opened-and-closed calculations harbor god-mechanics—open advises presentation; assembled means tenance is slow. Consider all circumstances of Meng, Zhong, Ji drawn amid seasons of assignment dates; resolve open-quarters, linked contrasts, and heaving factions by li the calculations.
Value Symbol: The presiding judge. Teng Snake: The clerk of drafts. Tai Yin: Punishment and chastisement. Liu He: Subordinate officials and clerks. Gou Chen, White Tiger: Expediting summons, torture and beating. Zhu Que, Xuan Wu: Legal documents, instigation and incitement. Jiu Di: Recovered stolen goods. Jiu Tian: Superior authorities.
Rest Gate: Both parties on equal footing. Birth Gate: Bribery and entrustment of favors. Injury Gate: General reproach and disruption of assembly. Obstruction Gate: Injustice and grievance difficult to redress. Scene Gate: Transferral of legal documents. Death Gate: Holding evidence of stolen goods, pursuit and summons. Startle Gate: Conviction and sentencing, false alarms. Opening Gate: Appeals and defenses obtain justice.
Jia: Born at Hai. Yi: Born at Wu. Bing: Born at Yin. Ding: Born at You. Wu: Born at Yin. Ji: Born at You. Geng: Born at Si. Xin: Born at Zi. Ren: Born at Shen. Gui: Born at Mao.
Tian Peng: The star of insidiousness and treachery. Tian Ren: The star of delays and stagnation. Tian Chong: The star of wrath and malice. Tian Fu: The star of favor and amnesty. Tian Ying: The star of dispersal judgments. Tian Rui: The star of corrupt officials. Tian Qin: The star of integrity and purity. Tian Zhu: The star of simplicity and honesty. Tian Xin: The star of dispersal judgments.
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For the plaintiff, examine the Heavenly Gate; for the defense, examine the Earthly Aperture. When auspicious stars join the Heavenly E Value in generating and harmonizing the year and life stems and the Stem Symbol, it is auspicious. When inauspicious stars, Gou and Bail, injure and overcome the year and life stems and the two stems of Symbol and Envoy, it is inauspicious.
Meng Jia: Portends alarm. Zhong Jia: Easily dispersed. Ji Jia: Guard against danger. When the opening value porta an auspicious star, one prevails; when the closing value porta an inauspicious star, one loses.
The day stem is the plaintiff, the hour stem is the defendant. The day branch and hour branch are witnesses. What the Na Yin conceals is the presiding judge. If they overcome the day and injure the hour, the springtide texts a sublime judgment. When the day and hour engender and harmonize, reconciliation is advisable for the suit; when the day and hour mutually overcome, victory and defeat diverge. When both branches meet combining, witnesses harbor treachery; when branches punish and injure, intermediaries suffer embroilment. If the day stem injures the hour stem, the plaintiff is eloquent with reproachful intentions; if the hour branch also overcomes the day branch, the fraudulent witnesses have hard mouths and sharp tongues. When both the hour stem and hour branch concurrently injure the day [side], the overturned case is as immovable as a mountain and truly fearsome. Only observe how the Na Yin judgments: if it assists the enemy in drafting accusations, then the day and hour sides finalize high and low. Vigorous, declining, idle, and deathly: when the vigorous controls the declining, victory in court may be awaited; when the declining comes to overcome the vigorous, all effort is vainly spent. Further inspect which stem the Na Yin releases: herein lies truly effective bribery. Moreu derive the Na Yin examinations of year and life: no concerns arise while engendering and harmonizing [stem and] Na Yin.
The Value Symbol in litigation is considered as the presiding judge. The Symbol's palace must not be too cruel or covetous. When the Symbol injures the day stem, the plaintiff bears fault; when the Symbol injures the hour stem, the defendant is wronged. See who engenders whom and who suffers overcoming; each side's victory and defeat may thus be distinguished. Sovereign Imprints reenter the ruling - be degraded at review. Sovereign Imprints enter the lines - on hearing cases their decisions apply discipline. When the Symbol empties enters falling - ill-considered anchors lack certain hold: for now not to release and absolve "acquitals" unresolved, we can no longer excuse me one who loses still; while he may benefit — how could the trial outcome accept "consecrate such plaint's forgiveness"? When Zhu Que and Teng Snake overcoming from what's remote distant the records suffer rejection when reviewed separately without excuse again; when Tai Yun... When Gan Chen. no end are unresolved by such when all produce through these six against. We of She are unable read omitted corpus etc later similarly continuous wordiness carry last proof...
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The Value Envoy addresses the origin of the dispute; each divergence is analyzed according to the 五行 five phases. When Metal and Wood clash, gates are ruined in wrath and anger; when Earth and Wood contest, it is a dispute over fields and dwellings; when Water and Fire agitate, it concerns adultery and theft. Vigor, decline, idleness facilitate discriminating slander and truth in arguments. With the auspicious oppressions, initial victory ends in defeat; with the inauspicious oppressions, sound reasoning is hbroken though the cause must submit yet despite all its merits bound suffer each cruel partial verdict out hence still held suspect. The mechanism resident upon each tested branch needs when review: but terse phrasing tracks: among vigor lies rule than decays ending sufficiency whichever where prevail.
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Discerning litigation through nine palaces segments emotional nature relevant new against accumulated timeless states underlying rule . As being its vitality expansive litigation resumes also whichever fading tempo stops; retiring momentum on suffix episodes long past implies outgoing transitional; advancing impulse nearing commencement therefore requiring counsel while proceeding legitimate vital need handle accordingly. When water basis shifting over earth settles case; wood basis yielding fire revisits revival litigation renewalAnd matching this bureau again on reaching returns per partition criterion confine decide then there finishing claims - forestall lingering enmesh sentiment continue doubt.
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Throughout the entire chapter, there is almost no absolute auspiciousness or inauspiciousness. The same configuration yields different auspicious or inauspicious outcomes in different scenarios: the "Returning the Head" configuration brings "certain victory in one battle" militarily, yet in litigation it means "the plaintiff stands to lose"; the opening and closing of the cyclically designated days bring varying advantages and disadvantages across the three Jia categories. This reveals a profound dialectical mindset: auspiciousness and inauspiciousness are not intrinsic properties of things, but rather products of the balance of forces under specific spatiotemporal conditions. Every "auspiciousness" contains implicit conditions, and any "inauspiciousness" may transform.
III. The Unity of Timing and Preparation
The theory of "prosperity, thriving, resting, decline, and death" emphasizes timing, but behind timing lies the rise and fall of energy. Yet the ebb and flow of energy is not entirely uncontrollable—through the ritual of "treading the dipper and treading the celestial stem," through strategies of "strengthening fortifications and holding firm in defense," one can preserve strength during unfavorable timing and maximize gains when timing is favorable. This embodies the unity of going with the times and taking proactive action.
IV. The Wisdom of "What Cannot Be Done"
This volume repeatedly presents negative judgments such as "not suitable to act," "do not advance upon the expedition," "do not engage in battle," and "do not commit oneself." This is highly distinctive within the system of ancient Chinese divination. Qimen Dunjia never merely tells you "when to do what"—it places equal emphasis on "when not to do what." This clear recognition of "what cannot be done" represents a more advanced form of decision-making wisdom—only by understanding boundaries and limitations can one truly grasp what lies within the realm of possibility.
V. The Cognitive Leap from "Divination" to "Deductive Reasoning"
The divination framework of this volume is, in essence, a scenario-deduction thinking tool. It does not predict "what will inevitably happen," but rather, under given spatiotemporal conditions and configurations of force, deduces "what is more likely to happen" and "which strategy is more advantageous." From this perspective, the reasonable core of Qimen Dunjia is not fatalism, but rather an ancient paradigm of conditional reasoning. Once the veil of mysticism is stripped away, what it reveals is the serious contemplation of complex-system decision-making by ancient Chinese thinkers.