The Golden Strategies, compiled by Liu Ji, is a clear exposition of the principles of divination.

動靜陰陽，反覆遷變。（八八六十四卦是由動爻、靜爻、陰爻、陽爻組成的，動靜陰陽構成了六十四卦的反覆變化。）雖萬象之紛紜，須一理而融貫。（卦所呈現的象，即卦象及組成卦的諸因素間的關係，千變萬化、紛紜複雜，但卜易必須以一個總的理論為指導，這個理為五行的生剋制化。）

The sixty-four hexagrams are formed by combining the eight trigrams two by two. Each hexagram consists of six lines, which can be categorized into four types: moving lines, static lines, yin lines, and yang lines. It is precisely through the combination and arrangement of these four types that the sixty-four hexagrams produce a variety of changes and transformations. When interpreting a hexagram, one encounters numerous relationships such as the world and response lines, the six relations, the sun and moon, and moving and changing lines, which can be very complex. However, amidst this complexity, one must grasp a central principle that runs through everything. One should not interpret each element separately. This central principle is the "generation, control, restriction, and transformation" of the five phases. All matters of good fortune, misfortune, success, or failure ultimately need to be evaluated based on the mutual generation, control, restriction, and transformation among the five phases.

夫人有賢，不肖之殊；卦有過，不及之異。太過者，損之斯成；不及者，益之則利。（卦以中和為好，不要太過，不要不及。要抑其過，補其不及，所求之事才有成功的希望。太過，指卦中主事爻，即用神太多、太旺，多則不能專一，就該損之。損，就是用其他因素，月、日、動爻等來剋制一下。如土為用神，卦中出現二三位土，須得寅、卯月日來克，才能斷其事成，不及則反之。其益法需生、扶、拱、合。）

A person may be virtuous or not, and a hexagram may have excess or deficiency. If something is excessive, it should be reduced for the matter to succeed; if it is deficient, it should be supplemented for the matter to be beneficial. Divination values balance and harmony, and it is both dangerous to be excessive and dangerous to be insufficient. Therefore, one must reduce excess and supplement deficiency in order for the matter to have hope. Excess refers to the main influencing line in the hexagram, the "useful god," appearing too many times and being too strong. When the useful god is too numerous, it cannot be focused on, and thus causes problems, so it needs to be reduced. Reduction is achieved by using external forces to restrain it, such as the month builder, the day branch, or the moving line within the hexagram. For example, if earth is the useful god, but there are two or three earth lines in the hexagram, then encountering a month or day of wood, such as寅 or卯, which can restrain earth, will indicate that the matter can be accomplished. Deficiency is handled in the opposite way, by using the methods of mutual generation, mutual support, mutual assistance, and mutual combination to supplement it.

生扶拱合，時雨滋苗；克害刑沖，秋霜殺草。（生，相生，金生水、水生木之類。扶、拱都是同類相幫之義。先幫後為扶，後幫先為拱。如卯為用神，寅日占，寅能扶卯，如寅為用神，卯日占，卯能拱寅。合有二合、三合。二合，子與丑合，寅與亥合之類，三合，三合成局，申子辰合成水局，寅午戌合成火局之類。生扶拱合四者能調護幫助用神，用神弱能使之強，衰能使之旺，伏者遇之則起，故用時雨滋潤禾苗來比喻。克，即五行相剋，金克木、父克子之類。害指六害，子未相害、丑午相害之類，刑指三刑、四刑。沖為六沖，四沖，此四者能傷身，能敗德，能制伏，能壞事，所以以秋霜殺草來比喻。生扶拱合，用神見之吉，忌神見之凶，克害刑沖，用神見之凶，而忌神見之反為吉。不能一概而論。）

The four terms "generate," "support," "support from behind," and "harmonize" when applied to a yao (line) are like spring rain nourishing crops; the four terms "control," "harm," "punish," and "clash" when applied to a yao are like autumn frost destroying weeds. To explain further: "generate" refers to the mutual generation of the Five Phases, such as metal generating water, water generating wood. "Support" and "support from behind" both refer to assistance from the same element, but differ in sequence — when the earlier element supports the later one, it is called "support"; when the later element supports the earlier one, it is called "support from behind." For example, if the卯 wood is the useful god and the lesson is started on寅 day, since寅 comes before卯, it is called "寅 supports卯." If the寅 wood is the useful god and the lesson is started on卯 day, since卯 comes after寅, it is called "卯 supports from behind寅." "Harmonize" has two types: "two harmonize" refers to pairs like Zi and Chou harmonizing, Yin and Hai harmonizing, and "three harmonize" refers to three branches forming a trigram, such as Shen, Zi, and Chen forming a water trigram, or Yin, Wu, and Xu forming a fire trigram. These four can protect the useful god, turning weakness into strength, decline into prosperity, and latent potential into actual use, hence the analogy to spring rain nourishing crops. "Control" refers to the mutual control of the Five Phases, such as metal controlling wood, or the "parents" yao controlling the "children" yao. "Harm" refers to the six harms, such as Zi and Wei harming each other, Chou and Wu harming each other, and so on. "Punish" refers to the three punishments and four punishments. "Clash" refers to the six clashes and four clashes. These four can injure the body, damage virtue, restrict movement, and ruin affairs, hence the analogy to autumn frost destroying weeds. However, whether something is good or bad depends on which yao it falls on: if "generate," "support," "support from behind," or "harmonize" falls on the useful god, it is good; if it falls on the hostile god, it is bad. If "control," "harm," "punish," or "clash" falls on the useful god, it is bad; if it falls on the hostile god, it is good. It cannot be judged in general terms.

長生帝旺，爭如金谷之園；死墓絕空，乃是泥犁之地。（長生、帝旺、死、墓、絕均為十二宮中之神。十二宮指長生、沐浴、冠帶、臨官、帝旺、衰、病、死、墓、絕、胎、養，以人從胚胎到出生到消亡的十二個環節來比喻事物的不同發展階段。空為旬空、空亡。金谷園，晉.石崇在金谷澗建的園林，用金谷園來比喻富貴強盛。泥犁，梵語，就是地獄。以此言其凶。黃金策行文多用典，以下不注。六爻遇長生、帝旺、雖衰弱也作有氣論。如推成事，帝旺主速成，長生較遲緩。因長生就象人剛一下生，尚未強壯，帝旺好象人到了壯年，其力進銳。六爻遇死、墓、絕、空，則主陷溺，雖得時旺相也不能成事，但凶神遇之則吉。）

When a yao (line) is in the position of 'Changsheng' (growth) or 'Diwang' (prosperity), it is like being in the Golden Garden, flourishing and affluent; but when a yao falls into 'Si' (death), 'Mu' (burial), 'Jue' (decline), or 'Kongwang' (void), it is like falling into the Hell, suffering hardship and danger. Changsheng, Diwang, Si, Mu, and Jue are all positions within the twelve palaces. The twelve palaces are in order: Changsheng, Muyu (bathing), Guandai (capping), Lin'guan (officialdom), Diwang (prosperity), Shuai (decline), Bing (illness), Si (death), Mu (burial), Jue (decline), Tai (pregnancy), Yang (nurturing). Ancient people used the twelve stages of a person's life, from conception, birth, strength, to decline and death, to compare with the different phases of the rise and fall of things. 'Kong' refers to the void of the ten-day cycle, also called 'Kongwang'. The Golden Garden was a famous garden built by Shi Chong, a Jin dynasty man, in the Jin Gu Stream. Here it is used to symbolize wealth, strength, and prosperity. 'Nili' is a Sanskrit term meaning Hell, used here to symbolize evil. The Golden Strategies extensively uses allusions, and similar allusions will not be explained again. Whenever the six yao lines meet Changsheng or Diwang, even if the line itself is weak, it should be considered as having 'qi' (vital energy). When predicting the speed of achieving something, Diwang indicates quick success, while Changsheng suggests slower progress. Changsheng is like a person just born, with not yet strong vital energy; Diwang is like a person in their prime, with vigorous strength. Conversely, when the six yao lines meet Si, Mu, Jue, or Kongwang, it indicates being trapped and sinking, even if they are in a favorable and strong position, it is difficult to achieve success. However, if they fall on malevolent spirits, the malevolent spirits being trapped can be a good omen.

日辰為六爻之主宰，喜其滅項以安劉。（日辰是卜筮之主，不看日辰則不知卦中吉凶輕重。日辰能沖動安靜之爻，對動爻能制，對凶神能抑之，對旺相能挫，對衰者能扶，對生合者能破。古人說，日辰能救事、能壞事。如占文書，以父母爻為用神，卦中如有財爻發動，財克父母，文書不成。但若得日辰克住財爻，或沖散財爻，財爻則不能去傷害父母，故得文書有氣，其事可成。這是日辰救事。又如占子孫，卦中父母不動，子孫爻不空，本為吉兆，但如被日辰沖扶父母，父母就能克害子孫，則變吉為凶，這是日辰壞事。總之日辰扶持用爻則吉，扶持忌爻則凶，日辰剋制忌爻則吉，剋制用爻則凶。）

The "Day Branch" is the overall master in the Six Lines divination. It is most favorable when it acts like the Han army defeating Xiang Yu and restoring the Liu family, removing harmful lines from the卦. If one does not consider the Day Branch when interpreting a卦, it will be impossible to distinguish the lightness or severity of good and bad fortune within the卦. The power of the Day Branch is great: it can cause a static line to move, control a moving line, subdueInauspicious Spirit, weaken a prosperous and strong line, support a weak line, and even break lines that are originally mutually generating. Therefore, ancients said that the Day Branch can both save a situation and cause harm. Here is an example of saving a situation: when divining about documents, the "parents" line is considered the useful god. If the "wife wealth" line is active in the卦, wealth will overcome parents, making the document matter impossible to complete. However, if the Day Branch overcomes or disperses that wealth line, the wealth line will no longer be able to harm the parents, allowing the parents to have strength, and the matter can then be completed. Here is an example of causing harm: when divining about descendants, if the "parents" line is quiet and not moving, and the "descendants" line is not empty, it is a favorable situation. But if the Day Branch comes and supports the parents, the parents gain strength and then harm the descendants, turning a good卦 into a bad one. In summary: if the Day Branch supports the useful god, it is favorable; if it supports the hostile god, it is unfavorable. If the Day Branch overcomes the hostile god, it is favorable; if it overcomes the useful god, it is unfavorable.

月建乃萬卜之提綱，豈可助桀為虐。（月建與日辰一樣，都能生扶拱合沖剋刑害用爻，如求財，卦中無財，月建是財，以後終須可得。若卦中有財，月建克財，定主艱難，須過此一月才能得到。但月建和日辰又是有分別的，月建主要確定用爻的旺相休囚及月破與否，日辰主要定用爻的生旺墓絕空等。）

The "Month Builder" is the overall framework for all divination. It must not be allowed to assist malevolent lines. Like the "Day Branch," the "Month Builder" can influence the used lines through generation, support, alliance, conjunction, conflict, overcoming, punishment, and harm. For example, if the question is about seeking wealth and the hexagram does not contain the "Wife Wealth" line, but the "Month Builder" is the wealth line, then this wealth will eventually be obtained. Conversely, if the hexagram does contain the wealth line, but the "Month Builder" overcomes it, it indicates difficulty in obtaining wealth, and it will not be obtained until after this month. However, the roles of the "Month Builder" and the "Day Branch" are different: the "Month Builder" mainly determines the "prosperous and strong," "weak and confined" states of the used lines, as well as whether they are "Month Breakers." The "Day Branch" mainly determines the state of the used lines in terms of birth, prosperity, burial, decline, and emptiness.

最惡者歲君，宜靜而不宜動。（本年太歲之爻為歲君，如甲申年，卦中出現申爻，即為歲君，這一爻宜靜不宜動，如此爻發動沖剋世、身、用爻，主災厄不利，一年之中多不寧靜，如被日辰、動爻沖起，主有災患。）最要者身位，喜扶而不喜傷。（身，即月卦身。成卦之後，先看卦身現與不現，與月建、日辰、動爻有無干涉，則吉凶可見。卜易以身為最要，不可不看。如占得困卦，身爻在午，因卦午火為官鬼，旺則有官事繫身，衰則主有疾病。卦身占事為事體，占人為人身，喜生扶拱合，不喜傷，傷即刑沖剋害。）

In a hexagram, the most feared element is the "Year Sovereign" (岁君), which is favorable when still and unfavorable when activated. The line corresponding to the zodiac sign of the current year's heavenly stem and earthly branch is the Year Sovereign. For example, if the lesson is cast in the year of Jiashen (甲申), and the hexagram contains the line of Shen (申), then Shen is the Year Sovereign. If this line is activated and goes to clash or control the World Line, the Hexagram Body, or the Useful God, it indicates frequent misfortunes and disturbances within the year. Even if the Year Sovereign remains inactive, if it is triggered by the Day Branch or a moving line, disaster should still be guarded against. The most critical element in a hexagram is the "Body" (身位), which prefers to be generated and supported rather than harmed or injured. The "body" refers to the "Monthly Hexagram Body" (月卦身). After the hexagram is arranged, one should first check whether the Hexagram Body is present and then examine its relationship with the Month Builder, the Day Branch, and the moving line. The overall fortune or misfortune can be roughly determined. Divination should prioritize the Hexagram Body, and it must not be overlooked. For instance, if the hexagram is the "Obstruction" (困) hexagram, and the Hexagram Body falls on the line of Wu (午), which is the "Official Ghost" (官鬼) in the "Obstruction" hexagram, a strong Official Ghost indicates legal troubles, while a weak Official Ghost suggests illness. The Hexagram Body represents the matter when divining about affairs and represents the person when divining about individuals. It generally favors generation, support, conjunction, and harmony, and dislikes harm—harm refers to punishment, conflict, control, and harm.

世為己，應為人，大宜契合；（世應為賓主之象，世為自己，應為他人。求謀用事，世與應生合比和，則有成就，若刑沖剋害，必主艱難。）動為始，變為終，最怕交爭。（交、重為變爻，為動。動則陰爻變陽爻、陽爻變陰爻。占事以動爻為事之始，以變出爻為事之終。最怕交爭，指主事爻動變出之爻回頭克沖刑害主事爻，乃大凶之兆，即使用爻旺相，也不能稱心遂意。）

The "Shi" line represents oneself, and the "Ying" line represents the other party. The two are most favorable when they are in harmony with each other. Shi and Ying symbolize the relationship between the host and guest: Shi is I, and Ying is the other. When planning or taking action, if Shi and Ying can generate each other, harmonize, or be similar, the matter will succeed. However, if they clash, conflict, or harm each other, there will be many obstacles. The "Dong" line is the beginning of an event, and the "Bian" line is the outcome. The most feared situation is when these two lines contend with each other. In the hexagram lines, "Jiao" and "Chong" both refer to active lines: when a line moves, a yin line becomes a yang line, and a yang line becomes a yin line. When divining, one uses the moving line to observe the beginning of an event and the line it transforms into to see the conclusion. The phrase "most feared is contention" means that the line responsible for the event moves and transforms into another line, which then goes back to harm, clash with, or conflict with the original line. This is called "returning attack," which is a major omen of misfortune. Even if the useful god is strong and prosperous, the matter will not go as desired.

應位遭傷，不利他人之事；世爻受制，豈宜自己之謀？（應爻受傷，不利代占，代占以應為主；世受傷，不利自占，自占以世為主。）世應俱空，人無準實；（世應二爻不宜在空亡之地，世空為自己不實，應空為他人不實。世應俱空，彼此皆不實，謀事必有阻節，卦若安靜，世應空合謂之失約無誠言。）內外競發，事必翻騰。（卦中有一二爻發動，變化有常，生克不亂，自有條理。若內外卦多爻亂動，則吉凶難定，人情無常，必主事體反覆。所以說獨發易取、亂動難尋。）

If the Response Line is injured, divination for others will not go smoothly; if the World Line is restrained, one's own plans will not succeed. When divining for others, the Response Line is the main focus, and if it is injured, it will be detrimental to the other person. When divining for oneself, the World Line is the main focus, and if it is restrained, it will be detrimental to oneself. If both the World and Response Lines fall into 'Kongwang', then neither side's words will be reliable. A World Line in Kongwang indicates that one's mind is not sincere, while a Response Line in Kongwang indicates that the other person's intention is not sincere. Both being empty means that plans will encounter obstacles. If the hexagram is also quiet and the World and Response Lines are in Kongwang but harmonious, it is called mutual failure to keep promises and lack of sincerity. If both inner and outer trigrams are active, the matter will be complicated and changeable. If only one or two lines are active in the hexagram, the changes follow a regular pattern, and the relationships of generation and overcoming are orderly, so the matter can still be clear. However, if all six lines of the inner and outer trigrams are active in a chaotic manner, it is difficult to determine fortune and misfortune, as human feelings are changeable, and the matter will naturally change repeatedly. Therefore, a hexagram with only one line active is easy to interpret, while a hexagram with many lines active is difficult to understand.

世或交重，兩目顧瞻於馬首；應如發動，一心似托於猿攀。（世與應爻皆不宜動，世爻發動主本人三心二意，左顧右盼；應爻發動，主他人心易變遷。）用爻有氣無他故，所作皆成；主象徒存更被傷，凡謀不遂。（用爻有氣無氣，依五行旺相休囚論。旺相為有氣，休囚為無氣。主象義與用爻同。用爻喜旺相有氣，不宜衰弱無力。若用爻有氣別無日辰、動爻刑沖剋害，為上吉好卦，隨心所欲無不稱意。主象徒存，即用爻無氣，如又被日辰、動爻克害刑沖，是大凶下卦，作事枉費心機，必無可成之理。）

If the World Line meets or overlaps and becomes active, the person seeking divination will be like looking only at a horse's head, hesitating and uncertain in both directions. If the Response Line becomes active, the other person's mind will be like a monkey climbing branches, unpredictable and unstable. Both the World and Response Lines should not be active; if the World Line becomes active, it indicates the person is indecisive and fickle-minded. If the Response Line becomes active, it suggests the other person is changeable and unreliable. If the Useful God has strength and is not interfered with, the matter being dealt with will surely succeed. However, if the main image is empty and injured, any plan will not be realized. Whether the Useful God has strength is determined by the Five Phases' 'prosperous and strong' or 'weak and confined'. 'Prosperous and strong' means it has strength, while 'weak and confined' means it lacks strength. The 'main image' is the same as the Useful God. The Useful God prefers to be prosperous and strong, and fears to be weak and helpless. If the Useful God has strength and is not harmed by the Day Branch or the Moving Line through punishment, clash, or control, this is an excellent auspicious hexagram, and everything will go as desired. The term 'main image is empty' refers to the Useful God being present in the hexagram but lacking strength, and further being harmed by the Day Branch or the Moving Line through punishment, clash, or control. This is a great凶 hexagram, and any endeavor will be in vain, with no possibility of success.

有傷須救，（傷，即是主象用爻、身世被卦中其他動爻刑沖剋害。有傷屬不吉。救，是指卦中的動爻或日辰等來剋制傷害用爻之爻。如用爻為申金，卦中有午火動克申金。申金為有傷。如日辰是未，未能合住午火，午火則不能去傷害申金，謂之有救。）無故勿空，（旬空，有有故而空，有無故而空。凡遇日月動爻傷克而在空亡，為有故而空，避之可也。若無刑沖剋害而身世主象自落空亡，為無故而空，大凶之兆。占病必死，占事不成，占人有難。無故而空，雖有日辰動爻生扶而無用。）

When a line is injured, it must be saved. By injury, we mean the main subject, useful god, world line, or hexagram body being attacked by another moving line in the hexagram, which is an inauspicious sign. By saving, we mean another moving line or the day branch stepping in to restrain the harmful line. For example, if the useful god is the metal of Shen, and the fire of Wu is activated in the hexagram to attack the metal of Shen, then the metal of Shen is considered injured. If the day branch happens to be the earth of Wei, which combines with Wu, restraining the fire of Wu, then the fire of Wu cannot attack the metal of Shen, and this is called being saved. If a line falls into emptiness without any reason, it is very bad. "Ten-day emptiness" should be divided into two types: one is emptiness with a reason, meaning the line is being attacked by the month builder, day branch, or another moving line, but it happens to hide in the emptiness, which is avoiding trouble and is not a problem; the other is emptiness without a reason, meaning the body, world line, or main subject is not being attacked by any punishment, clash, or harm, but it falls into emptiness on its own, which is a major ominous sign—predicting death in illness, failure in matters, or danger for people. This kind of emptiness without reason, even if the day branch or moving lines come to support it, will be of no help.

空逢沖而有用。（卦爻空亡，如逢沖則必動，動則不空。所以雖空而有用。如戊午日占天時得井卦，卦中子水父母空，卻被日辰沖動，定主有雨。）合遭破以無功（卦中有合，所謀易遂，如兩人同心協力。唯怕奸詐小人兩邊挑撥。故凡遇合，須防刑沖剋害破合。如寅亥兩爻本相和合，若卦中戌土發動，戌土克了亥水，雖合而無用。）

If a yao falls into kongwang and is then冲动, it may actually be useful. Although a yao is in kongwang, once it is冲动, it must necessarily activate, and once it moves, it is no longer considered kongwang. Therefore, even though it is in kongwang, it can still be used. For example, on a Wuwu day, if one divines about the weather and gets the Well hexagram, the zi water 'parents' yao is in the旬空, but it is冲动 by the day branch wu fire. Since parents represent rain, it can be concluded that there will be rain. However, if a yao that is in harmony is broken, it will be ineffective. When there is harmony in the hexagram, the matter is likely to succeed, just like two people working together. But one should be cautious of deceitful people who might disrupt the harmony. Therefore, whenever there is harmony, one should be careful of the刑, 冲, 克, and 害 that may destroy this harmony. For example, if the yao of yin wood and hai water are naturally harmonious, but the xu earth yao is activated, and xu earth overcomes hai water, then even though there is harmony, it will not have any effect.

自空化空，必成凶咎；（自空，是用神自落空亡。化空，用爻動化出之爻又值旬空。用爻空亡或用爻化為空亡都是謀望無成之凶象。）刑合克合，終見乖違。（合中有刑，合中有克，終究為不吉之象。）動值合而絆住，（動爻如遇合，為合絆住，不能動，只當靜爻論。）靜得沖而暗興。（不動之爻為靜，靜爻如被日辰所沖，則為暗動，暗動以動爻論。）

The useful god falling into the empty branch, or the爻 generated by its movement also falling into the empty branch, will certainly bring about misfortune. "Self-empty" refers to the useful god sitting directly on top of the旬 empty branch; "transformed empty" refers to the useful god moving and transforming into another爻 that also falls into the旬 empty branch. Both situations indicate that the desired outcome will not materialize, representing a凶 omen of failed endeavors. When there is a combination with a刑 or a克 in between, the result will ultimately be discordant and unsmooth—although it seems like things can be achieved, in reality it is not auspicious. If a moving爻 encounters a合, it is restrained by the合 and cannot move, thus being treated as a static爻. A static爻 if being冲 by the day branch will secretly become active, which is called "covert movement." Although it appears to be still, it should be treated as a moving爻 in judgment.

入墓難克，（動爻入墓，不能去克他爻，他爻入墓，也不受動爻所克。如未日占卦得寅木發動，本能克卦中土爻，但未是木之墓，寅木入墓則不能去克卦中其他土爻。再如辰日占得寅木發動，辰為土之墓，寅木雖然發動，但被克者已藏於墓中，寅木仍不能克。）帶旺匪空。（爻處旺相，謂之有氣，如此爻值旬空，不以空論。可斷為雖日下受阻，過旬而成。）

When a line enters itsStorage, it loses its power to exert influence. This has two aspects: if the moving line that is applying therestrain enters itsStorage, it cannot exert itsrestrain on others; if the line being controlled enters itsStorage, it is no longer subject to therestrain. For example, if the lesson is cast on the day of未, and the寅wood line is activated, the寅wood originally could have controlled the earth lines in the hexagram, but since未 is theStorage of wood, the寅wood is trapped in itsStorage and cannot control the earth lines. Another example: if the lesson is cast on the day of辰, and the寅wood line is still activated, since辰 is theStorage of earth, the earth lines that are being controlled have already retreated into theirStorage, so even though the寅wood is activated, it still cannot control them. If a line is accompanied by旺气, it is not considered empty. A line inprosperous and strong is called having气, and such a line, even if it is exactly in the旬空 period, should not be treated as empty. Instead, it can only be interpreted as temporarily blocked, and once this period is over, the matter can be realized.

有助有扶，衰弱休囚亦吉；（此指用神而言。用神衰弱本為不美，喜得日辰、月建、動爻生扶合併，而不作衰弱論。）貪生貪合，刑沖剋害皆忘。（本來能刑沖剋害他爻之爻，貪合而不再為害，貪合忘刑，貪合忘沖，貪合忘克與貪生忘克一理，參見《闡奧歌章．碎金賦》）

Helpfulness and support can bring good fortune even if the element is weak and confined. This statement specifically refers to the useful god: although a weak and confined useful god is not desirable, if it is supported, assisted, combined with, or joined by the day branch, month builder, or a moving line in the hexagram, it should not be judged solely based on its weakness. If a line is eager to receive support or to combine with another, it will forget the original punishments, clashes, and controls it might have had. A line that originally had the ability to punish or control another line may no longer do so because it is preoccupied with seeking a combination, which is called 'forgetting punishment due to combination', 'forgetting clash due to combination', and 'forgetting control due to combination'. This is the same principle as 'forgetting control due to support', and can be referenced in the 'Chapter of Clarifying the Essentials' from 'Fragments of Gold'.

別衰旺以明克合，辨動靜以定刑沖。（克合刑沖都是有條件的：旺爻能克衰爻，衰爻克不得旺爻，旺爻合得起衰爻，衰爻合不起旺爻。動爻能刑靜爻。靜爻不能刑動爻，動爻沖得起靜爻，靜爻沖不起動爻，日辰能害卦爻，卦爻不能害日辰等，以此類推。兩爻俱靜以旺為先，有動以動為急。上述是辨別刑沖剋合的總的原則，只有如此才能作到事歸於一而無兩端之疑。）

To determine the relationships of control, combination, punishment, and clash, one must first distinguish between decline and strength. Control and combination depend on strength and decline: a strong line can control a weak line, but a weak line cannot control a strong one; a strong line can combine with a weak line, but a weak line cannot combine with a strong one. Punishment and clash also depend on movement: a moving line can punish a static line, but a static line cannot punish a moving one; a moving line can clash with a static line, but a static line cannot clash with a moving one. The day branch can harm the lines in the hexagram, but the hexagram lines cannot harm the day branch. Other cases can be inferred in the same way. When both lines are static, the stronger one takes precedence. If one line moves, the moving line is the primary factor. These are the general principles for determining control, combination, punishment, and clash. By following these principles, conclusions can be reached consistently, avoiding indecision and conflicting interpretations.

併不併、沖不沖，因多字眼；刑非刑、合非合，為少支神。（並，日辰與卦中爻相同為並。如子日占卦，卦中子為用神，則為並。如卦中子爻衰弱，因日辰並之，則為旺論，卦中只有一位子爻與日辰子才能為並，如卦中有兩個子爻，而不能成並。沖也是如此。三刑、三合，都必須三者皆見，而且兩動一靜，靜爻刑，合不起動爻，一動也刑，合不起兩靜，缺一位不能成刑、成合。）

It appears as if there is a 'conjunction' but it does not actually occur, and it seems like there is a 'conflict' but it does not actually take effect, because there are too many similar characters. It seems like there is a 'triple punishment' but it does not actually form, and it seems like there is a 'triple harmony' but it does not actually occur, because the required earthly branches are still missing.the so-called conjunction means that the day branch and a certain line in the hexagram share the same earthly branch: for example, if the day branch is zi, and the hexagram contains a zi line which is the useful god, then the day branch and this zi line form a conjunction. The zi line was originally weak, but with this conjunction, it is treated as prosperous and strong. However, there is a prerequisite for conjunction — the hexagram can only contain one zi line corresponding to the day branch's zi; if there are two zi lines in the hexagram, the day branch cannot specifically conjunction with one, and thus the conjunction does not hold. The principle for conflict is the same. As for triple punishment and triple harmony, all three earthly branches must be present, and the structure must involve two moving lines and one static line: the static line cannot punish the moving line, and the moving line cannot harmonize with the static line; one moving line cannot punish the other two static lines, nor can it harmonize with two static lines. If one of the three is missing, neither punishment nor harmony can occur.

爻遇令星，物難我害；（爻，用神主事爻。令星，月建之五行。物，指能刑沖剋害用神之動爻。如果用神爻與月建的五行相同，則為爻遇令星。那本能刑沖剋害用神的動爻也不能害用神了。）伏居空地，事與心違。（伏，伏神，卦中無用神，伏神又居空亡，所求之事決不能成。）

The useful god, if it shares the same element as the current star of the month, will not be harmed by external factors. Here, the 'line' refers to the useful god, which is the main line involved in the matter. The 'current star' refers to the five phases associated with the month builder. 'Things' refer to the moving lines in the hexagram that can punish, clash, or control the useful god. When the five phases of the useful god match those of the month builder, it is called the line encountering the current star, which is equivalent to receiving the righteous energy of the current month. At this time, the moving lines that are normally capable of punishing, clashing, or controlling the useful god will be powerless. If the useful god is not present in the hexagram but is hidden beneath, especially if it is hidden in the kongwang position, the matter will not go as intended. The term 'hidden' refers to 'hidden god'. When the useful god is not visible in the hexagram, the hidden god is used instead. If the hidden god is also in the kongwang position, the desired outcome will certainly not be achieved.

伏無提挈終徒爾，飛不摧開亦枉然。（伏神空亡，凡事不利。伏神若不空亡，必須沖開飛神，提起伏神事方有望。）空下伏神，易於引拔；（伏神伏於空亡爻下，無阻攔易出。一遇日辰動爻沖合，伏神即為有用。但須注意，伏神有用，總是遲於用神的。）制中弱主，難以維持。（制，指受月建、日辰剋制。用爻休囚又被日辰月建剋制，即使有動爻生扶拱合，也無濟於事。）

A hidden god without support will ultimately be in vain; a flying god that is not broken through is also useless. If a hidden god falls into kongwang, all matters will be unfavorable; even if the hidden god is not in kongwang, it is necessary first to break through the flying god that is on top of it, then lift up the hidden god, so that the matter has hope. Conversely, if a hidden god is exactly under an empty position, it is easy to be lifted out—since there is nothing above to block it, once the day branch or a moving line comes to clash or harmonize with it, the hidden god can be immediately used. However, remember that even if a hidden god can be used, its effective time is always later than that of a ready useful god. The useful god is already weak and confined, and also in a state of being controlled, making it difficult to sustain. Here, 'control' refers to being restrained by the month builder and the day branch. The useful line is already in a state of weakness and confinement, and is also restrained by the day and month, so even if there are other moving lines in the hexagram that come to generate, support, harmonize or assist it, it will ultimately be of no help.

日傷爻真罹其禍，爻傷日徒受其名。（日辰能傷克卦爻，卦爻不能傷剋日辰。月建與爻的關係同此。）墓中人不沖不發，（用爻入墓，則多阻滯，諸事費力難成。須待日辰、動爻沖剋其墓日，方可有用。）身上鬼不去不安。（六親中以官鬼為凶神，占得世爻臨官鬼，為身上有鬼，如果不是當官有公干之人身上有鬼，多凶少吉，須待日辰、動爻克去官鬼才能無憂。）

The day branch can harm the hexagram lines, and if the hexagram lines are harmed, the hexagram truly suffers misfortune; if the hexagram lines harm the day branch, it is only an empty title. This is because the day branch is high and above, capable of overcoming the hexagram lines, while the hexagram lines cannot overcome the day branch. The relationship between the month builder and the hexagram lines is also similar. Once the useful god is buried, it is like a person being locked in a tomb, unable to be released without being broken open: when buried, everything is obstructed, and things are difficult to accomplish. It must wait until the day branch or a moving line comes to overcome the tomb, then the useful god can be used again. If the world line carries the official ghost, it cannot be at peace unless it is removed. Among the six relations, the official ghost is aInauspicious Spirit, and when the world line is on the official ghost, it is like having a ghost on one's body. Unless the person is actually working in the government or on official business, there are more dangers than benefits. Only when the day branch or a moving line overcomes the official ghost can one be free from worries.

德入卦而無謀不遂，（德為天干地支上下皆合，又稱龍神。以主合為妙，克合次之。遇德爻入卦為主象，所謀皆遂。）忌臨身而多阻無成。（忌，忌神。忌神臨身世，不論公私之事皆主阻滯而不順。忌神休囚，辦事費力，忌神旺相，事必不成。）

The "De" line enters the hexagram, and nothing is left unaccomplished.the so-called De refers to a line that is harmonious both in the heavenly stems and earthly branches, also called the Dragon God. Among these, the one that generates me and harmonizes is the best, while the one that overcomes me but harmonizes is次之. If such a De line is present in the hexagram and serves as the main image, then all endeavors will be fulfilled as desired. When the "Je" god is present over the body or the world line, there will be constant obstacles and ultimately no success. The Je god is the line that overcomes the useful god. Once it appears on the hexagram body or the world line, whether it is public or private matters, they will all be obstructed and unsmooth. If the Je god is weak and confined, it only causes difficulty in doing things; if it is prosperous and strong, the matters will be completely impossible to accomplish.

卦遇凶星，避之則吉；（凶星，指刑沖剋害。避之，指用爻在旬空，受刑沖剋害之爻在旬空為避，此不為空，只是目下雖阻，過旬即成。）爻逢忌殺，敵之無傷。（忌殺，忌神。忌神發動，凡事不利。敵之，指得到比肩同類的幫助，以眾敵寡之義。用爻遇忌神發動，得日辰、月建、動爻拱扶，用神無有損害。）

When凶星 appear in the hexagram, they can be avoided if possible, turning into good fortune. Here,凶星 refer to刑, 冲, 克, and 害. Avoiding them means that the useful god (用神) is currently in the旬空, meaning the line that is affected by刑, 冲, 克, or 害 is in the旬空, thus avoiding the sharp impact. This kind of empty position is not a complete vacuum, but rather a temporary obstruction; once this旬 is over, the matter can still succeed. If a line encounters theHostile God (hostile god) orInauspicious Sha (dangerous killing), as long as it can withstand it, it will not be harmed. The忌杀 is theHostile God itself. When theHostile God is activated, things are generally unfavorable. Withstanding it means receiving support from similar lines, using the many to counter the few. Even if the useful god meets theHostile God, as long as the day branch, month builder, or moving line in the hexagram supports or helps it, the useful god remains unharmed.

主象休囚，怕見刑沖剋害；用爻變動，忌遭死墓絕空。（休囚則不能敵殺。死墓絕空乃陷井之地，大凶。死不復生，絕不復續，入墓則不能出，墮空則不能起。若主象發動而化入死墓絕空之地，不問公私大小之事，皆主不成。占病逢之必死無疑。）

If the main element is already weak and confined, it is most dangerous to encounter punishment, clash, and control again. If the useful god becomes active and changes, it is most undesirable for it to change into death, tomb, end, or empty. A weak and confined line itself lacks strength and cannot resist the attack of evil forces. The four places of death, tomb, end, and empty are like traps: once dead, it cannot be reborn; once ended, it cannot continue; once buried, it cannot escape; once fallen into empty, it cannot rise again. If the main element becomes active and transforms into these four states, then regardless of public or private matters, big or small, nothing will succeed. If this occurs in a divination about illness, it is certain to result in death.

用化用，有用無用；（用爻動化出之爻仍是用神，為用化用。化出的用爻有的有用、有的無用，需要分辨，一般地說，化進神有用，化退神，化自身或卦變伏吟無用。用爻自化如此，旁爻動化出用神也無濟於事。）空化空，雖空弗空。（動爻旬空，化出之爻又是旬空，為空化空。動爻值空和動爻化空，都不是真空，出了此旬，即為有用。）

The useful god transforms into another useful god; some calculations are valid while others are not. When the line representing the useful god moves, the resulting line is still the useful god, which is called "useful god transforming into useful god." However, the transformed useful god may not necessarily be effective. It is necessary to distinguish: generally, if it transforms into an advancing god, it is effective; if it transforms into a retreating god, or into the same line as itself, or if the entire hexagram becomes a hidden chant, it is ineffective. This applies to the useful god transforming itself. If another line moves and transforms into a useful god, it also does not help. A line that transforms into an empty line, although empty, is not completely empty. If the moving line is already in the empty period, and the transformed line also meets the empty period, this is called "empty transforming into empty." If a line moves during an empty period or transforms into an empty period, neither is a dead empty. As long as it goes beyond this period, it will regain its effectiveness.

養主狐疑，（養，十二宮之第十二位。用神化入此爻主凡事未決，狐疑不定。）墓多闇昧。（墓，十二宮之第九位。凶爻要入墓，吉爻不要入墓。墓為沉滯、闇昧不明之象。用神帶刑動入墓者，占病必死，占訟入獄，參看《通玄妙論．隨官入墓》）

The use of the "Nourishing" position indicates hesitation and indecision. The Nourishing position is the twelfth of the twelve houses; when the useful god moves into this position, it signifies that matters are unresolved and the person is indecisive and doubtful. The "Grave" position indicates obscurity and confusion. The Grave is the ninth of the twelve houses; evil influences are naturally confined in the grave, while good influences should avoid entering the grave. The grave symbolizes stagnation, darkness, and unclear situations. If the useful god is accompanied by punishment and moves into the grave, it indicates death in a divination about illness, or imprisonment in a divination about legal matters. See the section "Following the Official into the Grave" in the "Comprehensive Profound Discourse."

化病兮傷損，（病，十二宮第七位，與長生對沖。用神化入病爻，凡事有損：占病未痊，占物不中，占藥不效，占文書有破綻，占行人未回，占身命帶疾，占婦人必不貞潔，占容貌必有破損。）化胎兮勾連。（胎，十二宮第十一位，主遲滯不響快，占行人主象化胎，必有羈絆未能動身。占盜賊，失脫，若官鬼化入胎爻，主內外勾連。）凶化長生，熾而未散；（用神化為長生，主吉，只是成事稍遲，不如帝旺來得快。但是凶爻化為長生，則禍根已萌，有日漸增長之勢。如占病，子孫化長生病漸減，如官鬼化長生，日加沉重，直至墓絕日，其勢始殺。）

When a yao transforms into the "Disease" position, it indicates suffering. Disease is the seventh position in the twelve houses, directly opposing the "Growth" position. If the useful god moves and transforms into the Disease position, all matters will involve loss: if it is about illness, the illness has not yet healed; if it is about objects, the quality is not good; if it is about medicine, taking it is ineffective; if it is about documents, there are flaws in the text; if it is about a traveler, the person has not yet returned; if it is about one's body, there is an illness; if it is about a woman, her chastity is questionable; if it is about appearance, there is a defect in appearance. When a yao transforms into the "Womb" position, it indicates entanglement and connection. Womb is the eleventh position in the twelve houses, with a nature that is sluggish and not smooth: when it is about a traveler, it indicates a situation where the person is hindered and cannot move; when it is about thieves or lost items, if the "Official Ghost" yao transforms into the Womb position, it indicates internal and external collusion, with family thieves leading outsiders in. A凶爻 transforming into the "Prosperity" position means the disaster is at its peak and will not dissipate. Transforming into the "Prosperity" position is usually a good omen, but the success comes a bit later, not as smooth as transforming into the "Prosperity" position. However, if a凶爻 transforms into the "Prosperity" position, the root of disaster has already begun to sprout and will gradually grow stronger. For example, in a divination about illness, if the "Son" yao transforms into the "Prosperity" position, the illness will gradually improve; if the "Official Ghost" yao transforms into the "Prosperity" position, the illness will gradually worsen, until the "Official Ghost" enters the tomb or reaches the "End" position, then the situation will stop.

吉連沐浴，敗而不成。（沐浴，十二宮之第二位，又稱敗神、主凶。金敗在午，木敗在子，火敗在卯，水土敗在酉。用神化入敗爻凶，忌爻化入敗爻不成凶。）戒回頭之克我，勿反德以扶人。（回頭克是用神自化出忌神，忌神反來克用神。用神發動化出之爻不合世而合應，不合用爻，而合旁爻，為反德以扶人，都是損己利人之象，所求不成。）惡曜孤寒，怕日辰之並起。（惡曜，指刑沖剋害之爻。如無氣或孤立無助，不能傷用神。惟怕日辰扶並惡曜，孤寒得助，終不免受其害。如再值月建更為可怕。）

If a favorable line is connected with "Bathing," it will lead to decline and failure. "Bathing" is the second position in the twelve earthly branches, also known as the "Defeat God," which is considered凶 (unfavorable). The defeat position for metal is at Wu, for wood at Zi, for fire at Mao, and for water and earth at You. If the useful god (用神) transforms into the defeat position, it is凶 (unfavorable); conversely, if the hostile god (忌神) transforms into the defeat position, the凶 (unfavorable) may not occur. One should be cautious about the changing line turning back to harm oneself, and also avoid giving kindness or benefits to others. "Backward control" refers to the useful god initiating an action and transforming into aHostile God, which then turns back to harm the useful god. "Reverse virtue to support others" means that when the useful god initiates an action and transforms into a line, it does not harmonize with the world line (世爻) but instead harmonizes with the response line (应爻), or it does not harmonize with the useful line but instead harmonizes with another line. These are both卦象 (divination patterns) that harm oneself to benefit others, and the desired outcome will certainly not be achieved. Originally, evil lines are weak and isolated, and they are most afraid of the day branch (日辰) coming to support them or to strengthen them. Evil stars are those lines that carry punishments, clashes, and harm. If these evil stars are without strength or are isolated, they cannot harm the useful god. However, if the day branch supports them or joins them, an isolated and weak line gains support, and the useful god will inevitably suffer. If this evil star is also in the month builder's (月建) position, it becomes even more dangerous.

用爻重迭，喜墓庫之收藏。（用爻重迭為太過，如無日辰月建，動爻損之，則須入墓，墓也為庫。如丁丑日占財得益之萃卦，卦中有兩重財爻，初九、上九又化出兩重財爻，日辰又是財，為太過、無濟於事。喜得世上有辰爻為財庫，可受此財。）事阻隔兮間發，（間爻發動，事有阻隔。）心退悔兮世空。（世爻旬空，是本人有退悔之意，不能勇往精進促其事成。）卦爻發動，須看交重；（卦爻發動有兩種情況，一是遇交，由陰變陽；一是遇重，由陽變陰。交主未來，重主過去。如占逃亡，卦有父動，主有音信，若由交而動，須等人來報信；若由重而動，可斷信已先知。其他仿此。）

When there are multiple or repeated useful gods in a hexagram, it is favorable to have a storage place to contain them. When a line is repeated, it indicates excess. If there is no day branch, month builder, or moving line to reduce it, it must be placed in a storage place, as the storage place is also called a repository. For example, on a Dingchou day, someone asks about wealth and gets the hexagram "Benefit" changing into "Cohesion." Originally, there are two layers of "wife wealth" lines in the hexagram, and both the initial nine and the top nine generate another layer of wealth lines. The day branch, which is also Chou, is itself a wealth line. The wealth is so abundant that it becomes useless. Fortunately, the world line is sitting on Chen earth, which is the repository for water wealth. Because there is a repository to contain it, this wealth can be borne. Obstacles arise because of intervening lines in motion: when the two intervening lines between the world and response lines move, there are unexpected obstacles in the affairs. Regret arises because the world line is empty: when the world line is in the旬空 (ten-day void), it indicates that the person themselves has withdrawn and is unwilling to proceed courageously to accomplish the matter. When a hexagram line moves, it is necessary to examine whether it is "intersection" or "repetition." Movement is divided into two types: if it is an intersection, it is a change from yin to yang; if it is a repetition, it is a change from yang to yin. Intersection refers to future events, while repetition refers to past events. For instance, in a divination about a missing person, if the "parent" line moves, it indicates there is news. If the parent line moves by intersection, the news must be reported by someone else; if it moves by repetition, the news has already been heard. Other matters are similarly interpreted.

動變比和，當明進退。（動變比合，即木爻變出木爻之類。須分別進神和退神，向未來方向變為進，向已過方向為退。以木為例，寅木化卯木為進神，卯木化寅木為退神。進主吉凶其勢倍增，退主吉凶漸減其威。）殺生身莫將吉斷，用克世勿作凶看，蓋生中有刑害之兩防，而合處有克傷之一慮。（此專談卜易之活法。一般來說世身喜生合而惡傷克，但有變易的情況。如日辰，動爻來生合世、身，而日辰又是用神的忌神，世身為我，雖然日辰、動爻來生我，對我是無用的，因為忌神克用為凶。用神克世身，是事來趕我，是易成易就之象，雖然為克，但不能以凶斷。）

Dynamic lines and changing lines that belong to the same Five Phases must be distinguished as either advancing or retreating.the so-called "like and harmonious" refers to a Wood line transforming into another Wood line. In such cases, one must discern between "advancing god" and "retreating god": if the earthly branches change toward the future direction, it is an advancing god; if they change toward the past direction, it is a retreating god. For example, a Wood line changing from寅 (Yin) to卯 (Mao) is an advancing god, while a Wood line changing from卯 (Mao) to寅 (Yin) is a retreating god. When a line transforms into an advancing god, good things become even better and bad things become even worse, with their influence doubled; when a line transforms into a retreating god, both good and bad outcomes gradually weaken. If aHostile God (hostile god) comes to generate the世身 (world line), it cannot be immediately considered as favorable; if aUseful God (useful god) comes to overcome theWorld Line (world line), it cannot be immediately considered as unfavorable—because within generation there may be hidden dangers of刑 (conflict) and害 (harm), and within harmony there may be a layer of concern regarding overcoming. This section discusses the flexible approach in divination. According to common sense, theWorld Line (world line) andHexagram Body (hexagram body) prefer to be generated and harmonized and dislike being harmed and overcome, but situations can change. For instance, if the day branch or a dynamic line comes to generate and harmonize with the世身 (world line), but this day branch is actually theHostile God (hostile god) of theUseful God (useful god): although the世身 (world line) is me and the day or dynamic lines generating me seem beneficial, it is actually useless, because theHostile God (hostile god) has restrained theUseful God (useful god), and the matter will still not succeed. Another example is when theUseful God (useful god) overcomes the世身 (world line); this is a situation where the matter comes to us actively, which is a favorable sign, even though it is called overcoming, it cannot be considered as凶 (unfavorable).

刑害不宜臨用，（刑爻為主象，必主不利，占事事不成，占物物不好，占病人必死，占人人有疾等。害爻為主象，必壞大事。）死絕豈可持身；（死絕即十二宮中第八位、第十位。死絕二爻臨持世身主象者，必不利。占人有難，占病無救，占醫無效，占事不濟。）動逢沖而事散，（對於沖，不可執一而論。旬空安靜之爻逢沖為起，起則有用，旬空發動之爻逢沖為實，安靜不空之爻逢沖為暗動，發動不空之爻逢沖為散、為脫。此種動爻逢沖，所占之事散脫不成，吉事不成吉，凶事不成凶。）絕逢生而事成。（此談絕處逢生，詳見《通玄妙論．絕處逢生》）

When a爻 is subjected to刑 or 害, it is not favorable for the Useful God. If a爻 that carries 刑 becomes the main image, it will certainly bring misfortune: if it is about an affair, the affair will not succeed; if it is about an object, the object will be of poor quality; if it is about illness, the sick person will have difficulty recovering; if it is about a person, the person will have a physical ailment. If a爻 that carries 害 becomes the main image, it will more likely ruin important matters. 死 and 绝 should not be present on the World Line or Hexagram Body. 死 and 绝 are the eighth and tenth positions respectively in the twelve palaces. If these two positions appear on the World Line, Hexagram Body or the main image, it will inevitably lead to misfortune: if it is about a person, the person will face difficulties; if it is about illness, the illness will have no cure; if it is about a physician, the treatment will be ineffective; if it is about an affair, the affair will not proceed smoothly. When a moving爻 encounters 冲, the matter will scatter. 冲 should not be considered in a general way, but divided into four types: if a旬空 and quiet爻 meets 冲, it is called 「冲起」, and once it is activated, it becomes useful; if a旬空 and moving爻 meets 冲, it is called 「冲实」; if a non-旬空 and quiet爻 meets 冲, it is called 「暗动」; if a non-旬空 and moving爻 meets 冲, it is called 「冲散」 or 「冲脱」. The last type of moving爻 encountering 冲 will result in the matter scattering and failing to take shape—good things cannot become good, and bad things cannot become bad. If a爻 in the 绝 position is supported by generation and support, the matter can still be accomplished, which is called 「绝处逢生」. See the chapter 「绝处逢生」 in the book 「通玄妙论」 for details.

如逢合住，須沖破以成功；（卦中用爻遇日辰合住，或兩爻自相合住，不論喜忌，皆不見效。須待沖破或克破合爻，然後吉者成吉，凶者成凶。）若遇休囚，必生旺而成事。（此談期日之法。期日，即予測事成之日期，需靈活圓變，才無差誤，上節已談用爻合住以沖破日斷，此節說用爻休囚，當以旺相之日斷。期日法尚有，用爻旺相不動，以沖動月日斷；用爻有氣發動，以合日斷，或以本日斷；用爻受制，以制殺月日斷；用爻得時旺動，又遇生扶，此為太旺，應以墓庫月日斷；用爻無氣發動而遇生扶，即以生扶之月日斷；用爻入墓，則以破墓月日斷；用爻空亡，以沖動月日斷；用爻旺空，或空而逢沖、逢並、逢動者，以過旬斷；若占散事，應以用爻死墓絕日斷等等。）

If the useful god is bound by a combination, it must wait until it is broken by a conflict before it can succeed. If the useful god is bound by the day branch or combined with another line in the hexagram, whether the combination is favorable or unfavorable, it will not show any effect; it must wait until there is a conflict to break the combination or arestrain to break the combination, then the good will show as good and the bad will show as bad. If the useful god is in a weak and confined state, it must wait until it enters a prosperous and strong state before it can achieve success. This section discusses the method of determining the 'response date'. The response date refers to predicting the day when something will succeed, and it must be flexibly determined according to the hexagram to avoid inaccuracy. The previous sentence said that if the useful god is bound by a combination, take the day that breaks this combination; this sentence says that if the useful god is in a weak and confined state, take the day when it enters a prosperous and strong state. There are also other rules: if the useful god is prosperous and strong but not moving, take the month or day that conflicts with it; if the useful god has some strength and is active, take the day it combines with or take the day itself; if the useful god is restrained, take the month or day that restrains the harmful element; if the useful god is both in season and strong and is active with support, which is too strong, take the month or day when it enters its storage; if the useful god has no strength but is active and receives support, take the month or day that supports it; if the useful god is in its storage, take the month or day that breaks the storage; if the useful god is empty, take the day that conflicts with it; if the useful god is strong but empty, or empty but meets a conflict, a combination, or an activity, take the day after the current旬; if the divination is about something that needs to disperse, take the day when the useful god reaches its death, storage, or decline. And so on.

速則動而克世，緩則靜而生身。（此節專談期日的急緩。以用爻動靜生克定成日的遲速緩急。動而克世主速，靜而生身主緩。如占來人，若用神動而克世，則速到，用神動而生世則遲到，如靜而生世，就更晚了。）父亡而事無頭緒，福隱而事不稱心。（占法曰：“卦無父母無頭緒，卦無子孫不喜悅，”父母為主事之神，子孫為福德喜慶之神。此節談公事看文書，文書即父母爻，私事看福德，福德即子孫爻。凡占功名，公門、公事，以文書為頭緒，如卦上父母爻空，則事不確實，無有頭緒可尋。占私事，以福德子孫為解憂喜悅之神，如卦中子孫爻伏而不現，事不稱意，有憂無喜。）

Things come quickly when the useful god moves and overcomes the world line; things come slowly when the useful god is still and generates the self. This section specifically discusses the speed of the outcome, determined by the movement and generation or overcoming of the useful god. If the useful god moves and overcomes the world line, the matter will come quickly; if the useful god is still and generates the self, the matter will come slowly. For example, when predicting the arrival of someone, if the useful god moves and overcomes the world line, the person will arrive quickly; if the useful god moves and generates the world line, the person will arrive more slowly; if the useful god is still and only generates the world line, it will be even later. If the "parents" line is not in the hexagram, the matter lacks clarity; if the "children" line is hidden and not present, the matter will not be satisfactory. There is an old saying in divination: "If the hexagram lacks the parents, the matter lacks clarity; if the hexagram lacks the children, the matter lacks joy." The parents are the main line of the matter, and the children are the line of fortune and joy. Here, public matters are seen through documents, and private matters are seen through fortune and joy: documents correspond to the parents line, and fortune and joy correspond to the children line. When predicting achievements, official matters, or government affairs, documents are considered the clue of the matter. If the parents line is empty in the hexagram, the matter will not be realized and will lack clarity. When predicting private matters, the children line is considered the god that brings relief and joy. If the children line is hidden and not present, the matter will not be fulfilled, resulting only in worry and no joy.

鬼雖禍災，伏猶無氣；（官鬼為禍害，但卦中不可無。參見《通玄妙論．無鬼無氣》）子雖福德，多反無功。（子孫爻雖為福德之神，但卦中不宜重迭、過多，多則雜，雜則亂，亂而不專。所以說多反無功。）

"The official ghost" although it signifies calamity, if it is hidden and not apparent, the whole hexagram will lack life qi. The official ghost is indeed a harmful spirit, but the hexagram should not have none at all; this principle can be referred to in the chapter "Without Ghosts and Without Qi" from the book "Tong Xuan Miao Lun." "Offspring" although it represents fortune and virtue, if there are too many, it will not produce the desired effect. The offspring line signifies fortune and joy, but in the hexagram, it is not suitable to have too many: too many will lead to confusion, confusion leads to disorder, and disorder prevents concentration, so having too many will result in no effectiveness.

究父母，推為體統；論官鬼。斷作禍殃；財乃祿神；子為福德；兄弟交重，必主謀為多阻滯；卦身重迭，須知事體兩交關。（此節概論六親。父母、官鬼等五項，後卷還將詳論，此處僅注卦身。卦身指月卦身，為萬物之本體。若卦中有兩處卦身，必是鴛鴦求事，或事關兩處。若帶兄弟，與人同謀，兄弟克世或帶官鬼發動，必有人爭謀其事。卦身不出現，主事未有定向，卦身出現持世、合世、生世，其事已定。卦身宜出現，但不宜變動，動則須防事情有變。若是喜神不以此論。

Investigating the "parents" line is about examining the fundamental nature of a matter; discussing the "official ghost" line determines calamities and troubles; the "spouse wealth" line represents the deity of sustenance; the "sons and daughters" line represents the deity of fortune and virtue; if the "brothers" line meets and activates multiple times, the matter being considered will face many obstacles; if the "hexagram body" appears twice, it indicates that the matter involves two parties or is pursued in two ways. This section generally discusses the six relations. The parents, official ghost, spouse wealth, sons and daughters, and brothers lines are each discussed in detail in the following chapters; here, only the hexagram body is explained. The hexagram body refers to the monthly hexagram body, which is the fundamental nature of all things. If two hexagram bodies appear in the hexagram, it means that one is seeking two matters at once, or that this matter involves two parties. If the hexagram body is accompanied by brothers, it indicates collaboration with others; if brothers overcome the world line, or if brothers are accompanied by the official ghost and activate, there will certainly be someone competing for this matter. If the hexagram body does not appear, it means the matter has not yet taken a definite direction; if the hexagram body appears and holds the world line, combines with the world line, or generates the world line, the matter has already been decided. The hexagram body is preferable when it appears, but it should not change; once it changes, one should be cautious of changes in the matter midway. Of course, if the change results in a favorable deity, this rule does not apply.

卦身遇吉神而化忌爻，主先成後敗，遇凶殺而化吉神，主先難後易。如果本卦無卦身而動爻化出卦身來，主此人來談其事。卦身持世，或在本宮內卦，屬切己之事，臨應爻，他人之事。六爻飛伏皆無卦身，其事沒有根由或無有此事。卦身空亡，諸事難成；休囚死絕，諸事無氣。世與身不能同論，卦身宜作事體看，不應作人身看。若占人，卦身為所占人之身，不是來占人之身。身克世則吉，世克身則凶。身生世、合世，諸事易成；世生合卦身，其事難成。）

If the hexagram body is accompanied by a favorable god but transforms into an inauspicious line, it indicates that the matter will first succeed and then fail. If the hexagram body is accompanied by a harmful force but transforms into a favorable god, it suggests that the matter will first encounter difficulties and then become easy. If the original hexagram does not contain the hexagram body but it is generated by a moving line, it indicates that someone will come to discuss the matter. If the hexagram body is in the position of the world line, or falls within the inner trigram of the original hexagram, it indicates that the matter concerns oneself directly. If the hexagram body is in the position of the response line, it indicates that the matter concerns someone else. If neither the flying god nor the hidden god can find the hexagram body among the six lines, it suggests that the matter has no origin, or perhaps there is no such matter at all. If the hexagram body falls in kongwang, all matters will be difficult to achieve. If the hexagram body is weak and confined or is in the dead or end positions, all matters will lack energy. The world line and the hexagram body should not be considered the same; the hexagram body should be regarded as the matter itself, not as a person. If the divination is about a person, the hexagram body represents the person being divined, not the person seeking the divination. If the hexagram body overcomes the world line, it is favorable. If the world line overcomes the hexagram body, it is unfavorable. If the hexagram body generates or harmonizes with the world line, matters will be easily accomplished. Conversely, if the world line generates or harmonizes with the hexagram body, the matter will be difficult to achieve.

虎興而遇吉神，不害其為吉；龍動而逢凶曜，難掩其為凶；玄武主盜賊之事，亦必官爻；朱雀本口舌之神，然須兄弟；疾病大宜天喜，若臨凶殺，必生悲。出行最怕往亡，如係吉神終獲利，是故吉凶神殺之多端，何如生剋制化之一理。（此節言神殺，吉神為神，凶神為殺。作者認為不可拘於青龍為吉神、白虎為凶神、玄武為盜賊、朱雀為口舌等說法。應根據五行生剋之理靈活變通。此說甚為有理。但作為術數學研究，還應該懂得神殺的用處。大體神殺有附助的作用，大象凶，遇凶殺更凶，大象吉，遇吉神更吉。）嗚呼！卜易者知前則易，求占者籤後而靈：筮必誠心，何仿子日。（卜易者要在掌握占法的基礎上靈活變通。求占者也應懂得求占之理；筮必誠心。只要誠心，可以不顧忌陰陽曆書中關於“子不問卜”的說法。）

The White Tiger is considered aInauspicious Spirit, but if it is accompanied by a吉神, it can still be interpreted as favorable. The Azure Dragon is a吉神, but if it is accompanied by a凶星, it can still be interpreted as unfavorable. The Black Tortoise, although associated with theft, requires the presence of an official star to be effective. The Vermilion Bird, which is related to disputes, needs the presence of a sibling star to be valid. In divination about illness, the presence of the Heavenly Joy star is most favorable, but if it is accompanied by凶stars, it still brings sorrow. In divination about travel, encountering the Going to Death day is most unfavorable, but if it is accompanied by a吉神, it can still bring benefit. This shows that although there are many names for吉神 and凶stars, they are not as reliable as the principle of the Five Phases' generation, overcoming, and transformation. This passage discusses the concept of divine signs and ominous stars. The author's view is that one should not rigidly follow the traditional belief that the Azure Dragon is always favorable, the White Tiger is always unfavorable, the Black Tortoise is always related to theft, and the Vermilion Bird is always related to disputes. Instead, one should flexibly apply the principles of the Five Phases' generation and overcoming. This perspective is reasonable. However, in terms of divination techniques, the use of divine signs and ominous stars still needs to be understood. Generally, divine signs and ominous stars only serve as auxiliary factors. If the overall卦 is already unfavorable and another凶star appears, it becomes even more unfavorable. If the overall卦 is already favorable and another吉神 appears, it becomes even more favorable. It is a pity that those who seek divination first understand these principles can make more accurate judgments, while those who seek divination will find the卦 more effective. Divination is valuable because of sincerity. As long as one is sincere, why should one be concerned about the calendar's saying that "no divination should be done on a子 day"?

天道杳冥，豈可度思旱澇？易爻微妙，自能驗彼之陰晴，當究父財，勿憑水火。（開篇便說天氣的變化可以通過易爻來預測，提出了預測天氣陰晴，以父母爻和妻財爻為主，不能憑水火二爻來斷的主張。這與《闡奧歌章》、《天玄賦》等有明顯的不同。）妻財發動，八方咸仰晴光；父母興隆，四海盡沾雨澤。（卦中父動主有雨，財動主晴。卦無父母，財爻又空，必然無雨；卦無妻財，父爻又空，必然不晴。）

Heaven's ways are profound and difficult to measure, and how could humans guess at droughts and floods without basis? Fortunately, the subtle lines of the Yi hexagrams can reveal the changes of weather. The proper method for divining weather is to examine the "parents" and "spouse and wealth" lines, not to use the water and fire lines of the Five Phases arbitrarily. At the beginning, we must establish this principle: weather changes can be known through the lines of the hexagram, and to determine whether it is sunny or rainy, the "parents" and "spouse and wealth" lines are mainly used, not the water and fire lines—this is clearly different from the methods used in works such as the "Chan Ao Ge Zhang" and "Tian Xuan Fu." The reason for this approach is that the "parents" line is originally the god of rain, and the "spouse and wealth" line is the god of clear weather. Therefore, when the "spouse and wealth" line is activated, the whole world sees bright sunshine; when the "parents" line is flourishing, the whole world receives rain. Conversely, if the hexagram lacks the "parents" line and the "spouse and wealth" line is empty, there must be no rain; if the hexagram lacks the "spouse and wealth" line and the "parents" line is empty, there must be no sunshine.

應乃太虛，逢空而雨晴難擬；（太虛，天空應為天。占天時與占人事一樣，應空則難望。如久晴占雨則無雨，久雨占晴而不晴。若卦雨爻動而應空亦主遲緩，世空則來速。世應俱空雨晴難擬，須詳父母妻財及日辰斷之。）世為大塊，受克則天變非常。（大塊，地，世為地。地為萬物之主。如果世爻受動爻剋制，主有非常之變。如雨爻刑剋，必是惡雨；風爻刑剋，必遭惡風之類。）

When divining about weather, the Response Line represents the Great Void, which is the sky. If the Response Line is empty, it is impossible to predict whether it will rain or be clear. This principle is the same when divining about human affairs: if the Response Line is empty, then expectations will not be fulfilled. For example, after a long period of clear weather, if the Response Line is empty when predicting rain, then rain will not come. Similarly, after a long period of rain, if the Response Line is empty when predicting clear weather, then the weather will not clear. If the line indicating rain in the hexagram moves but the Response Line is empty, it indicates that the rain will come slowly. If the empty line is the World Line instead, then the rain will come more quickly. If both the World and Response Lines are empty, it is even more difficult to determine whether it will rain or be clear, and one must carefully examine the lines of the parents and wife's wealth along with the Day Branch to make a judgment. The World Line represents the Great Mass, which is the earth. The earth is the master of all things. If the World Line is restrained by a moving line, it indicates an abnormal change in the weather. If it is刑克 by the line indicating rain, there will certainly be heavy rain; if it is刑克 by the line indicating wind, there will certainly be strong winds. Other cases can be similarly inferred.

日辰主一日之陰晴，（父母動被日辰剋制，主當日無雨。父母爻動，日辰生扶，主當日大雨。財爻動日辰生扶，主當日烈日當空。又日辰為兄弟，其日有風雲，日辰為子孫，早晚有彩霞。日辰有官鬼，其日必陰晦等，餘仿此推。）子孫管九天之日月。（九天之日月，指天上的太陽與月亮。陽爻子孫為日，陰爻子孫為月。不論日月，旺則皎潔，衰則暗淡，空伏雖晴而被雲霧遮掩。子化子，陽主日照霞明，陰主月明星燦。化出墓、絕，始雖明朗，終成晦暗。）

The Day Branch governs the weather conditions of that day, such as whether it is sunny or rainy. If the parents' hexagram moves but is restrained by the Day Branch, there will be no rain that day. If the parents' hexagram moves and is supported by the Day Branch, there will certainly be heavy rain. If the wife and wealth hexagram moves and is supported by the Day Branch, that day will be sunny and clear. If the Day Branch belongs to the brothers, there will be wind and clouds that day. If the Day Branch belongs to the sons, there will be colorful clouds in the morning or evening. If the Day Branch belongs to the officials and ghosts, that day will be gloomy and dark, and so on. The sons' hexagram governs the sun and moon in the sky. A yang son's hexagram represents the sun, while a yin son's hexagram represents the moon. Whether it is the sun or the moon, when it is prosperous and strong, it shines brightly; when it is weak, its light is dim. If the sons' hexagram is empty or hidden, although the sky is clear, the sun and moon will be obscured by clouds. If the sons' hexagram transforms into another son's hexagram, a yang one indicates bright sunlight and colorful clouds, while a yin one indicates a bright moon and shining stars. If it transforms into a墓 or绝, the beginning will be clear and bright, but eventually it will become dark and gloomy.

若論風雲，全憑兄弟；（兄弟爻為風雲。以旺動衰靜論風雲大小、濃淡。旺動則風高雲密，死絕則云淡風輕。化出子孫則清風彩雲，化出官鬼則頑雲惡風。但若問順風、逆風，不能以兄弟爻論，應以子孫爻為順風，官鬼爻為逆風。）要知雷電，但看官爻。（官鬼主雷電，動則有雷聲，旺則霹靂驚雷，化進神同。衰弱為雲中虛閃。卦中兩鬼皆動，雷鳴電閃，鬼化鬼同。鬼化財或卦無父母，雖有雷無雨，待父母值日才可斷有雨。）

To discuss wind and clouds, one should look at the "Brother"爻. The Brother爻 represents the gods of wind and cloud. The strength, prosperity, and movement of the Brother爻 determine the intensity and density of wind and cloud: if it is strong and active, there will be strong wind and dense clouds; if it is in a dead or dying state, the wind will be light and the clouds will be sparse. If the Brother爻 transforms into the "Son"爻, it indicates clear wind and colorful clouds; if it transforms into the "Official Ghost"爻, it signifies stubborn clouds and harsh wind. However, if the question is about whether the wind is favorable or adverse, the Brother爻 should not be used. Instead, the "Son"爻 indicates favorable wind, and the "Official Ghost"爻 indicates adverse wind. To know about thunder and lightning, one should look at the "Official Ghost"爻. The Official Ghost爻 represents thunder and lightning. If it is active, there will be thunder; if it is prosperous and strong, there will be lightning and thunder. If the Official Ghost爻 transforms into the "Advancing God," it is still considered the same. If the Official Ghost爻 is weak, there may only be a flash of lightning without sound. If two Official Ghost爻 are active in the hexagram, there will be thunder and lightning together. If the Official Ghost爻 transforms into the "Wife Wealth"爻, or if there is no "Father"爻 in the hexagram, there will be thunder but no rain. Rain can only be determined on the day when the "Father"爻 is active.

更隨四季推詳，須配五行參決。（父母四時主雨，妻財四時主晴，其他子孫、官鬼、兄弟都應隨四季變化而變，並看五行而定。如父母爻主雨，若臨金水，雨未止；臨火土、雖雨不久；臨土雨雖止而云不散；臨木則有風有雨。妻財爻四時主晴，臨金必有煙霧，臨水必有朝霞，化出父爻反主有雨，臨木晴而有風，臨土晴而有云，臨火日麗中天等。）晴或逢官，為煙為霧；雨而遇福；為電為虹。（卦得晴兆逢官動，有濃煙重霧；得雨兆遇子孫爻動，非有閃電，即有彩虹。）

In addition to the Six Relations, one must also consider the four seasons and combine them with the Five Phases to make a decision. The parents' hexagram represents rain throughout the four seasons, while the wife and wealth hexagram represents clear weather throughout the four seasons. The remaining hexagrams of sons, officials and ghosts, and brothers change according to the seasons, and their forms are determined by the Five Phases they are associated with. For example, the parents' hexagram representing rain: if it is associated with metal or water, the rain will continue without stopping; if it is associated with fire, although it may rain, it will not last long; if it is associated with earth, the rain may stop but the clouds will remain; if it is associated with wood, there will be a combination of wind and rain. The wife and wealth hexagram representing clear weather: if it is associated with metal, there will be smoke and mist; if it is associated with water, there will be morning glories; if it transforms into the parents' hexagram, it will turn into rain; if it is associated with wood, there will be wind in the clear weather; if it is associated with earth, there will be clouds in the clear weather; if it is associated with fire, the sun will shine brightly in the sky. If the clear weather hexagram contains the officials and ghosts, it becomes smoke or fog; if the rain hexagram encounters the sons, it becomes lightning or a rainbow. That is to say, if the hexagram shows a clear weather omen and the officials and ghosts are activated, the sky will surely have thick smoke and heavy fog; if the hexagram shows a rain omen and the sons are activated, it will be either lightning or a rainbow.

應值子孫，碧落無暇疵之半點；（此言得晴卦，應臨子孫者，其日皎潔。）世臨土鬼，黃沙多散漫於千村。（此亦言晴卦，世臨土鬼發動，或土鬼動來沖剋世身，是黃沙漫天之象。世臨土鬼，即世爻五行為土，六親為官鬼。）三合成財，問雨那堪入卦；（卦有三合成局，依五類推之。如三合財局，必然無雨。占晴，卦遇三合父局亦主不晴。）五鄉連父、求晴怪殺臨空。（五鄉，財官父兄子，此五類中，唯父母為雨，此爻空亡或休囚不動，雨未可望。若遇動爻化出父母則主有雨，化出財爻則主晴。）

The Response Line is occupied by the子孙 (offspring), and the sky is clear with no clouds at all — this describes the Clear Weather hexagram: when the Response Line is occupied by the子孙, it indicates a bright and clear day. The World Line is occupied by an official ghost of earth type, and all villages will be filled with yellow sand — this is another way of interpreting the Clear Weather hexagram: when the World Line is occupied by an earth official ghost and it moves, or when the earth official ghost moves and clashes with the World Line, it indicates a scene of yellow sand everywhere. When the World Line is said to be occupied by an earth official ghost, it means that the World Line's Five Phases belong to earth, and its Six Relations identity is official ghost. If the Triple Harmony forms a wealth situation, those who are asking about rain will be most afraid of it entering the hexagram. In the hexagram, whenever there is a Triple Harmony forming a situation, it should be interpreted according to the type of the Six Relations involved: if the Triple Harmony forms a wealth situation, it definitely means no rain; conversely, if one is asking about clear weather and the hexagram forms a parents situation, it definitely means no clear weather. If among the Five Phases there is a connection with the parents, those asking about clear weather will blame the forbidden killing exactly falling into the empty position. The Five Phases refer to wife wealth, official ghost, parents, brothers, and offspring. Among these five, only parents are associated with rain; if the parents line is empty, or weak and confined without movement, there is no hope of rain. If there is a moving line that transforms into parents, it still indicates rain; if it transforms into wife wealth, it indicates a change to clear weather.

財化鬼，陰晴未定；（財主晴明，鬼主陰晦。故遇財化鬼，或鬼化財，或鬼財皆動必主陰晴未定。或先陰後晴，或先晴後陰之象。卦無子孫，財爻助鬼，必不晴。）父化兄，風雨靡常。（父主雨，兄主風，兩爻相化或俱發動皆主風雨交作。論先後當以動者為先，變者為後。俱動則以旺者為先，衰者為後。或定旺多衰少。）母化子孫，雨後長虹垂螮蝀；弟連福德，雲中明月出蟾蜍。（螮蝀，虹的別稱。日月虹霓皆屬子孫，若父爻化出子孫，為雨後見虹；兄爻化出子孫，為雲中漏日、月。）

Heavenly Stems: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui Earthly Branches: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai Trigrams: Qian (Heaven), Dui (Lake), Li (Fire), Zhen (Thunder), Xun (Wind), Kan (Water), Gen (Mountain), Kun (Earth) When the wife's wealth transforms into official ghosts, the weather becomes uncertain. Wealth indicates clear skies, while ghosts indicate overcast conditions. Therefore, when wealth transforms into ghosts or ghosts transform into wealth, or when both wealth and ghost lines are active, it indicates changing weather: either starting overcast and then clearing, or starting clear and then turning overcast. If the hexagram lacks the line of sons, the wealth line instead supports the official ghost line, and it will certainly not clear up. When parents transform into brothers, the weather changes unpredictably. Parents represent rain, while brothers represent wind. When these two lines change or both become active, it indicates rain and wind together. The order of occurrence is determined by: the active line comes first, the transformed line comes later; if both lines are active, the stronger one comes first, the weaker one comes later, or the one with more strength comes first, the one with less strength comes later. When parents transform into sons, it indicates a rainbow appearing after the rain. When brothers are connected to sons, it indicates the moon appearing through clouds. A rainbow is another name for a rainbow, and sun, moon, rainbow, and mist are all governed by the sons line. Therefore, when the parents line transforms into the sons line, it indicates clear skies after the rain with a rainbow appearing; when the brothers line transforms into the sons line, it indicates a break in the clouds allowing sunlight and moonlight to appear.

父持月建，必然陰雨連旬；（卦中六親皆不宜臨月建，唯有子孫爻遇月建為吉。父臨月建，必主久雨，財臨月建，必主久晴，臨父化水則澇，臨財化火則旱。）兄坐長生，擬定狂風累日。（長生為事萌發之始，然後帝旺直至衰死，故遇長生，卒難止息。父逢長生，雨必連日，兄逢長生，累日大風，官逢長生，陰雲不散，財逢長生，望雨無門，須至墓絕日，方能雨止、風息、雲開、潤雨。）

If the parents' yao is in the energy of the month builder, it will certainly bring continuous rain for ten days or more. When predicting weather, it is generally not favorable for the six relations to be in the month builder's energy. Only the sons' yao benefiting from the month builder's energy is considered auspicious. Parents' yao in the month builder's energy indicates prolonged rain, while wife's wealth yao in the month builder's energy indicates prolonged clear weather. If parents' yao in the month builder's energy also transforms into water, it will result in flooding; if wife's wealth yao in the month builder's energy also transforms into fire, it will result in drought. If the brothers' yao is in the long life position, it indicates that strong winds will blow for several days. Long life is the starting point of a thing's growth, and after that, it proceeds through prosperity before declining and dying. Therefore, whenever a yao falls into the long life position, its effect is difficult to stop immediately. Parents' yao in the long life position indicates continuous rain; brothers' yao in the long life position indicates continuous wind; official ghost yao in the long life position indicates prolonged overcast skies; wife's wealth yao in the long life position indicates no way to request rain. The rain will stop, the wind will cease, the clouds will clear, and the dry land will receive moisture only when that yao reaches the墓 or 绝 position.

父財無助，旱澇有常；（官鬼父母無氣而財爻旺動，必旱；子孫妻財無氣而父母旺動，必澇。卦遇此象，最怕日月動爻來生扶合併。如有日月動爻來生扶合併，則旱澇成災。如父財二爻雖旺動，而有制伏，沒有扶助，旱澇有時，不成大災。）福德帶刑，日月必蝕。（蝕，被雨遮蓋有雨。子孫帶刑動化鬼，或化官鬼動來刑害，或父帶螣蛇來克，皆主日月有蝕。陽爻為日，陰爻為月，如八月庚申日，卜中秋月得家人之觀卦，果應大雨。）

If both the parents and the wife's wealth are not supported by external forces, drought and flood will remain within normal limits. If the official ghost and parents are weak while the wife's wealth is strong and active, it will certainly indicate drought. If the sons and wife's wealth are weak while the parents are strong and active, it will certainly indicate flood. When encountering such a hexagram, the greatest fear is that the day branch, month builder, or moving line comes to support and combine with it — once these supports are present, drought and flood will cause disaster. If the parents and wife's wealth lines are strong but moving, yet are restrained by other lines and lack support, then drought and flood will occur alternately, each in its own time, without causing major disaster. If the sons' line is afflicted by punishment, the day and month will be obscured. Here, "eating" refers to being covered by clouds and rain. If the sons' line is afflicted and transforms into the official ghost, or if the official ghost moves and afflicts the sons, or if the parents carry the "teng snake" to attack the sons, it indicates that the sun and moon will not shine. A yang line representing the sons signifies the sun, while a yin line representing the sons signifies the moon. For example, on the eighth month, Gengshen day, when consulting about viewing the moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival, the hexagram obtained was "Family" transforming into "Observation," and later indeed a heavy rain came as the prediction.

雨嫌妻位之逢沖，（占雨要財爻靜，財爻若被日辰、動爻沖動，則傷父母，求雨無望。父爻發動，雨也不多，不然當日必無雨，至財爻墓絕日方可有雨。若父爻安靜逢沖日有雨。）晴利父爻之入墓。（墓主晦滯，父爻動入墓中無雨而陰滯，財爻動入墓則反之。）子伏財飛，簷下曝夫猶抑鬱；（曝夫，指晾曬物品之人。此言占晴。若徒有財而無子孫、或子孫居空地而又變弱，此日有陰晴之象，因為財雖主晴但不主日，須有子孫出現不空，或遇生扶、或逢沖並方為有日。何況卦無子孫，則財絕源，官鬼專權，必非久晴之兆。）

Divination for rain is most unfavorable when the position of the wife and wealth line is being冲 (conflicted). To seek rain, the wife and wealth line should remain quiet. Once the wife and wealth line is conflicted by the day branch or a moving line, it turns to harm and control the parents line, and rain is unlikely. At this time, even if the parents line is activated, the rain will not be heavy, or there may be no rain at all that day. Rain will only come when the wife and wealth line reaches its墓 (burial) or绝 (decline) day. Conversely, if the parents line is originally quiet, the day when it is activated will bring rain. For divination of clear weather, it is favorable for the parents line to be in墓 (burial). The墓 (burial) signifies darkness and blockage. When the parents line is activated and enters墓 (burial), rain cannot fall, and only cloudy weather remains. If the wife and wealth line is activated and enters墓 (burial), the situation is exactly the opposite; clear weather cannot be achieved. If the descendants line is hidden while the wife and wealth line is alone visible, people drying things under the eaves still feel uneasy. This is regarding divination for clear weather: if the hexagram has the wife and wealth line but not the descendants line, or if the descendants line is empty or weak, then the day will be uncertain, with alternating rain and sun. The reason is that although the wife and wealth line signifies clear weather, it does not signify the sun itself. Only when the descendants line appears and is not empty, or is supported, or is conflicted, will the sky truly have the sun. Moreover, if the hexagram lacks the descendants line, the wife and wealth line loses its source, and the official ghost line alone holds power, which is not a sign of long-term clear weather.

父衰官旺，門前行客尚趑趄。（趑趄，欲進不前時的樣子。此論有雨無雨。父母爻休囚死絕可斷無雨。若得官鬼旺相發動，生扶父爻，亦主有雨。但忌父居空地或在日辰制伏之處，仍為無雨。可斷必有溼雲載雨，凝滯不散。）福合應爻木動交而游絲漫野；（福為子孫，子孫乃曠達之神。若子孫爻臨木動與應爻相合，或臨應爻生合世身，必是風和日暖、游絲蕩揚之天。）

The parents are weak while the official ghost is strong, and the guests at the gate are hesitating to move forward. Tizhju means the state of wanting to move but being afraid to do so. This sentence discusses whether it will rain or not. If the parents' line is weak or in a dead or dying state, it can be judged as no rain. However, if the official ghost is strong and active, and can generate and support the parents, it still indicates rain. One should be cautious if the parents are located in the kongwang position or are being restrained by the day branch, in which case there will still be no rain, only cloudy skies with rain lingering without dispersing, causing people to be indecisive. If the descendants and the response line are in harmony, and the wood line is active and changing, then there will be fine threads of mist floating over the fields. The descendants represent happiness, and the descendants are the deities of openness and cheerfulness. If the descendants are associated with wood and are active, and also harmonize with the response line, or if they are located on the response line to generate and support the main line, it certainly indicates a fine day with gentle winds and warm sunshine, with fine threads of mist floating in the air.

鬼沖身位金星會而陰霧迷空。（鬼臨金爻動來沖剋世身，或臨世身沖剋應爻，主有濃煙重霧迷蔽郊野。）卦值暗沖，雖空有望；（占雨怕父空，占晴怕財空，空而無望。如果日辰沖之，則沖空不空，過旬有望。欲定日期，以沖日、沖時斷。）爻逢合住，縱動無功。（日辰動爻合住財爻不晴，合住父爻不雨。財、父即使發動也主不成。）

The official ghost is conflicting with the position of the hexagram body, and the golden star is meeting it, which indicates dense mist in the sky. This means that if the official ghost is on the metal line and moves to conflict with the world body, or if it is located on the world body and conflicts with the response line, it signifies thick smoke and heavy fog obscuring the fields. If there is an hidden conflict in the hexagram, even if the useful god falls into the empty position, there is still hope. When predicting rain, fear that the parents' line is empty; when predicting clear weather, fear that the wife and wealth line is empty. If something is empty, the desired outcome becomes empty. However, if the day branch conflicts with it, it is called conflicting with the empty, and after this ten-day period, there is hope. To determine the specific day, take the day that conflicts with it or the corresponding hour. If a line is restrained by a combination, even if it moves, it cannot take effect: if the day branch or moving line combines with the wife and wealth line, the sky will not be clear; if it combines with the parents' line, rain will not come. Even if the wife and wealth or parents' lines move, the matter will still not succeed.

合父鬼沖開，有雷則雨；（父爻被合住，本主無雨，但遇官鬼動沖破合，主雷震後降雨。沖爻若是兄弟，主發風後降雨；沖爻是子孫，主閃電後降雨。）合財兄克破，無風不晴。（財爻被合住，本不晴明，若得卦有兄動克破合爻，或日辰是兄，則風先起而後晴，無風則不晴。）

Heavenly Stems: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui Earthly Branches: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai Trigrams: Qian (Heaven), Dui (Lake), Li (Fire), Zhen (Thunder), Xun (Wind), Kan (Water), Gen (Mountain), Kun (Earth) When the parents'爻 is combined and blocked, and the official ghost爻 comes to break it, there will first be thunder and then rain. The parents'爻 being combined and blocked originally indicates no rain, but when the official ghost moves and breaks the combination, rain follows after the thunder. If the breaking force is the brothers'爻, then there will first be wind and then rain; if it is the sons'爻, then there will first be lightning and then rain. When the wife's wealth爻 is combined and blocked, and the brothers'爻 comes to break it, then wind must rise for the sky to clear. The wife's wealth爻 being combined and blocked originally means the sky cannot clear, but if the brothers'爻 in the hexagram moves and breaks the combination, or if the day branch is the brothers'爻, then there will first be a gust of wind and then the sky will clear; if there is no wind, the sky will not clear.

坎巽互交，此日雪花飛六出；（八卦屬象，乾為天、為晴，坤為地、為陰，坎為水、為雨雪冰雹，離為太陽、為霞為電，艮為雲，震為雷，巽為風，兌為星、月、霧、露類。若冬月卜卦遇坎化巽，或巽變坎，必有風雪飄揚之象。）陰陽各半，今朝霖雨慰三農。（三農，指居住在平地、山、澤三種地方的農民。古人有“陰陽和而後雨澤降”之說。凡占天時得陰陽各佔一半的卦，必然有雨。大體為：純陽卦安靜，占雨不雨，占晴必晴，動則主雨。純陰卦安靜，占晴不晴，占雨必雨，動則主晴。純陰卦動出父爻終有雨，純陽卦動出財爻終有晴。）

The hexagram Kan (Water) and Xun (Wind) interact with each other, indicating snowflakes falling from the sky on this day. Each of the eight trigrams represents specific phenomena: Qian (Heaven) represents heaven and clear weather, Kun (Earth) represents earth and darkness, Kan (Water) represents water, rain, snow, and hail, Li (Fire) represents the sun,霞 (mist), and lightning, Gen (Mountain) represents clouds, Zhen (Thunder) represents thunder, Xun (Wind) represents wind, and Dui (Lake) represents stars, moon, fog, and dew. If during the winter month the hexagram Kan transforms into Xun or Xun transforms into Kan, water and wind meet, which indicates a scene of wind and snow. In the hexagram, yin and yang each occupy half, and today's good rain will comfort the farmers living in flat land, mountainous areas, and marshy places. Ancient people said that only when yin and yang are in harmony can rain fall, so if a hexagram with equal numbers of yin and yang lines is used to predict weather, rain is certain. The general rule is: a hexagram with all yang lines is calm, and if it predicts rain, there will be no rain, but if it predicts clear weather, it will definitely be clear. If there is movement, it will bring rain. A hexagram with all yin lines is calm, and if it predicts clear weather, there will be no clear weather, but if it predicts rain, it will definitely rain. If there is movement, it will bring clear weather. A hexagram with all yin lines that changes into parents will eventually bring rain, while a hexagram with all yang lines that changes into wife and wealth will eventually bring clear weather.

兄弟木興繫巽風，而馮姨何其肆惡；（興，動。馮姨，水神。占天時，遇兄弟屬木在巽宮乘旺而動刑剋世爻，主有颶風暴雨之災。）妻財火動屬乾陽，而旱魃胡爾行凶。（旱魃，古代傳說能造成旱災的怪物，也稱旱神，旱鬼。占天時得財臨火動，或從火化，或化火爻，或變入乾卦而又遇月建、日辰、動爻生扶合助，必主大旱。若六爻無水，父母死絕，或父與水爻在空，而財福當權旺動，也主大旱。）

Heavenly Stems: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui Earthly Branches: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai Trigrams: Qian (Heaven), Dui (Lake), Li (Fire), Zhen (Thunder), Xun (Wind), Kan (Water), Gen (Mountain), Kun (Earth) When the brothers' line belongs to wood and becomes active, and it is associated with the Wind trigram Xun, the water deity will become unrestrained and act wickedly. "Xing" means to become active or to move. "Feng Ai" refers to an ancient water deity. If in divination about weather, the brothers' line is wood, located in the Xun trigram, and becomes active while in its strong state to harm the world line, it indicates a storm with heavy rain causing disaster. When the wife's wealth line belongs to fire and becomes active, and it is associated with the pure yang of Qian trigram, the drought demon will act recklessly. The drought demon is a mythical creature that causes drought, also called the drought deity or drought ghost. If in divination about weather, the wife's wealth line is fire and becomes active, or comes from fire, or transforms into a fire line, or changes into the Qian trigram, and also receives support and assistance from the month builder, day branch, moving line, it will certainly indicate a severe drought. If among the six lines there is no water at all, and the parents' line is in a dead or dying state, or the parents' line and the water line both fall into emptiness, while the wife's wealth and brothers' lines are in a strong and active state, it will also indicate a severe drought.

六龍御天，只為蛇興震卦；五雷驅電，蓋緣鬼發離宮。（不注）土星依父，雲行雨施之天；木德扶身，日暖風和之果。（土主雲、父主雨，土臨父動有云行雨施之象。木主風、財主晴，木臨財動，有日暖風和之景。）多霧多煙，爻上財官皆動。（財動主晴，官動主陰，官旺財衰，大霧重如細雨；鬼衰財旺，煙迷少頃開晴。）

Six divine dragons rule the sky, solely because the 'Tengshe' (Green Snake) is activated in the Zhen (Thunder) hexagram; five directional thunder gods drive away lightning, entirely due to the official ghost being activated in the Li (Fire) palace—Zhen governs thunder, Li governs lightning, and the snake resembles a dragon, hence this image. These two lines are not annotated in the original text. The planet Saturn is attached to the parent爻, which signifies clouds gathering and rain falling; the wood virtue supports the hexagram body, resulting in warm days and gentle winds. Earth governs clouds, the parent governs rain, and when the earth爻 is attached to the parent and moves, it represents thick clouds bringing down nourishing rain; wood governs wind, wealth governs clear weather, and when the wood爻 is attached to the wife wealth and moves, it represents warm days and gentle winds. Dense fog arises because the wife wealth and official ghost are both activated. Wealth movement signifies clear weather, official ghost movement signifies overcast skies: when the official is strong and wealth is weak, heavy fog is like light rain; when the official is weak and wealth is strong, the misty vapor dissipates quickly and the weather clears.

身值同人，雖晴而日輪含耀；世持福德，縱雨而雷鼓藏聲。（同人，兄弟爻。凡占天時，被世爻所克者必無所求之象。如占晴兄弟持世，兄動則克財，財雖旺相，亦非皎潔天氣。子孫持世則克官鬼，官若發動雖有雨而無雷。）父空財伏，須究輔爻；（輔爻，即原神。占雨以父母為用，官鬼為原神，即輔爻，占晴以財為用神，子孫為輔爻。若卦中財父皆空，或俱不出現，或一空一伏，雨晴難定，須察輔爻衰旺動靜，方可決斷。如鬼爻旺動，日、月、動爻又來生合，主有雨。子孫旺動，鬼爻墓絕主晴。如官與子俱靜，則依有日辰生合沖並者斷。）

The hexagram body is located on the same trigram as the trigram of the same person, which is the brother line. Even if the sky is clear, the brightness of the sun remains hidden; the world line holds the fortune virtue, which is the son line. Even if it rains, the sound of thunder remains concealed. In divination about weather, if the world line is in a position to overcome something, there is no favorable outcome. When predicting clear weather and the brother line holds the world line, the brother line's movement will overcome the wife's wealth, and even if the wife's wealth is prosperous and strong, it cannot bring about clear skies. When the son line holds the world line, it will overcome the official ghost, and even if the official ghost moves, there will only be rain without thunder. If the parents are empty and the wife's wealth is hidden, we must examine the auxiliary lines. The auxiliary line is the origin god. When predicting rain, the parents are the useful god, and the official ghost that generates the parents is the origin god. When predicting clear weather, the wife's wealth is the useful god, and the son line that generates the wife's wealth is the origin god. If in the hexagram both the wife's wealth and the parents are empty, or neither appear, or one is empty and the other is hidden, then whether it will rain or be clear is uncertain. We must then look at the strength, movement, and condition of the auxiliary lines to make a decision. For example, if the official ghost is strong and moving, and the day branch, month builder, and moving line also generate and harmonize with it, then rain is expected. If the son line is strong and moving, and the official ghost is in a state of burial or decline, then the weather will clear. If both the official ghost and the son line are quiet, then we should look at which of the day branch's relationships—generation, harmonization, conflict, or conjunction—will determine the outcome.

剋日取期，當明占法。（此節談預測日期。占雨看父爻，久晴占雨父爻衰弱，主旺日有雨，父爻安靜，沖動日有；父爻發動，逢值日有；月建是財，出月斷，卦無父母，財多墓絕日有。久雨占晴，財爻衰弱，生旺日晴。日辰是財，當日晴，卦無財爻，父母墓絕日晴。月建是父，出月晴。日辰是父，雖有氣，當日必不能晴。若衰爻遇有扶起者，即以扶爻斷之。如占一日陰晴，以時刻甲子取期。）

To determine a specific date, one must understand the method of finding the appropriate time. For predicting rain, look at the parents'爻: after a long period of clear weather, if the parents are weak, take the day when they become strong again for rain; if the parents are quiet, take the day when they are activated; if the parents are active, take the day they are in the chart. If the month builder is the wife's wealth, rain will occur after this month. If there are no parents but many wife's wealth, take the day when the wife's wealth enters its tomb or reaches its end. For predicting clear weather after prolonged rain, look at the wife's wealth爻: if the wife's wealth is weak, take the day when it becomes strong again for clearing; if the day branch is exactly the wife's wealth, it will clear that day; if there is no wife's wealth in the chart, take the day when the parents enter their tomb or reach their end; if the month builder is the parents, clear weather will occur after this month; if the day branch is the parents, even if the wife's wealth has strength, it will not clear that day. If a weak爻 is supported by another爻, use that supporting爻 to determine the day. If the divination is about clear or rainy weather within a single day, move the Jiazi to the hour to find the appropriate time.

要盡其詳，別陰陽而分晝夜；（陰陽之分以卦宮取，不以爻象論。陽為晝，陰為夜。或外卦陽爻以上午斷，內卦陽爻以下午斷，外卦陰爻以上半夜斷、內卦陰爻以下半夜斷。陽化陰，晝興夜作；陰化陽，夜興晝作。又陽宮陽爻午前推之，陽宮陰爻午後推之等。）欲推其細，明衰旺以定重輕。（衰旺以四時定，旺則重，衰則輕。有氣而又臨生旺之地者愈甚，無氣而又臨墓絕之地者尤微。旺變衰，先重後輕；衰變旺，先輕後重。）能窮易道之精微，自與天機而吻合。（不注）

To explain the heavenly circumstances thoroughly, one must distinguish yin and yang to differentiate day and night. Here, yin and yang are determined by the trigrams rather than individual lines: yang represents day, and yin represents night. There is also a more detailed method: the yang lines of the outer trigram indicate the morning, the yang lines of the inner trigram indicate the afternoon, the yin lines of the outer trigram indicate the upper half of the night, and the yin lines of the inner trigram indicate the lower half of the night. When yang transforms into yin, it begins in the day and acts at night; when yin transforms into yang, it begins at night and acts in the day. For example, a yang line in the yang trigram is pushed forward in the morning, a yin line in the yang trigram is pushed forward in the afternoon, and so on. To predict the heavenly circumstances precisely, one must understand the decline and strength to determine the weight. Decline and strength are judged by the four seasons: when something is strong, its influence is heavy; when it is weak, its influence is light. If there is energy and it is located in a favorable position, its influence is heavier; if there is no energy and it is located in a dead position, its influence is lighter. When something changes from strong to weak, it first becomes heavy and then light; when it changes from weak to strong, it first becomes light and then heavy. If one can thoroughly explore the subtle aspects of the Book of Changes, naturally one will align with the heavenly mechanism.