On the Xinsi day, Wushen year, Shao San翁divined the residence.

戊申年十一月辛巳日寅將酉時，邵三翁癸亥生，邵三翁生於九月初四日亥時，四十六歲，占宅。口鑑。方本占案。

In the year Wushen, the 11th lunar month, on the day Xinsi, using the寅 (Tiger) as the general and starting the calculation with the酉 (Rooster) hour, the divination was performed for Zhao San翁. He was born in the year Guihai, on the 4th day of the 9th lunar month at the hour Hai (Dog), and is 46 years old. The divination concerns his residence. This example is found in the book "Liuren Koujian" and Fang Ben's "Zhan An."

勾合朱蛇 戌亥子丑 后勾空后 財 己卯 后 青酉 寅貴 卯戌申卯 兄 申 空 ◎ 空申 卯后 戌巳卯辛 父 丁丑 蛇 ⊙ 未午巳辰 虎常玄陰

Heavenly and Earthly Plates section: The nobleman starts at寅 (the night nobleman on辛 day). The twelve heavenly generals move in reverse order—寅 has the nobleman, 丑 has the teng snake, 子 has the vermilion bird, 亥 has the liu he, 戌 has the gou chen, 酉 has the azure dragon, 申 has the heavenly void, 未 has the white tiger, 午 has the tai chang, 巳 has the black tortoise, 辰 has the tai yin, and 卯 has the heavenly empress. The four lessons are read from right to left: the first lesson has卯 added to辛 (辛's lodging palace is on戌, so卯 is on戌), the second lesson has申 added to卯, the third lesson has戌 added to巳 (巳 is the day branch), and the fourth lesson has卯 added to戌. The heavenly generals on the four lessons are: on卯 is the heavenly empress, on戌 is the gou chen, on申 is the heavenly void, and on卯 is the heavenly empress again. The three transmissions: the first transmission is卯, with the hidden stem Jimao, representing wife's wealth, riding the heavenly empress; the middle transmission is申, representing brothers, riding the heavenly void, marked with「◎」indicating it falls in the empty period (辛巳 day belongs to the甲戌 period, with the empty period on申 and 酉); the final transmission is丑, with the hidden stem Dingchou, representing parents, riding the teng snake, and the hidden stem in丑 is exactly the stem of this period.

邵彥和曰：此課財作天后，加干發用，乃妻為主。日去加辰，夫往就妻，妻為長，夫反為少也。然汝之妻，本兄之妻，而汝得之，日後只得九年相守。第八年因結生地，與兄弟不足生，雖得此地，而死不得葬也。目下主喪妻，緣是磨塞東門，所以有再娶之患。蓋申為磨，加卯為塞東門也。

Shao Yanhe said: In this divination, the wife's wealth, which is the卯wood, is riding on the Heavenly Empress, and it is added on top of the day stem to act as the initiating transmission, so the wife is the main focus. The day stem is reversed and added to the day branch, indicating the husband going to the wife; the wife is in a position of seniority while the husband is in a position of juniority. However, this wife is originally your elder brother's wife, and later she became yours. In the future, you can only stay together for nine years. In the eighth year, there will be a conflict with your brother over the matter of purchasing a burial ground, although you will obtain the land, the deceased will not be able to be buried. Currently, it indicates the loss of the wife, due to the "grinder" blocking the eastern gate. Therefore, there is a worry of remarrying. The申is the stone grinder, and when it is placed on the卯, it represents the blocking of the eastern gate (since卯is in the direction of due east).

辛以卯為妻。干又就支，反致勾留，上見勾陳故也。申加卯上作天空，申乃今日之同類，而加妻上，是兄之妻也。申同類為兄，加卯妻財上，是為兄之妻。然不加申本空亡，又作天空，必兄已亡過，遂有其妻，所以邵公敢開此口。若申不空，則不可亂斷。

Xin metal takes卯 wood as its wife and wealth. The day stem approaches the day branch, leading to entanglement and delay, because the day branch戌 has Gou Chen. Shen is placed on卯 and also carries Tian Kong. Shen and Xin day stem are both metal, so it is a同类 (same type) added on top of wife and wealth, indicating the wife of the elder brother. Since Shen represents the brother, placed on卯, the wife of the elder brother is indicated. Moreover, Shen is in Kongwang and also carries Tian Kong, showing that the elder brother has already passed away, and the younger brother has thus obtained his wife. Therefore, Shao Yanhe could speak so directly. If Shen were not in Kongwang, such a conclusion could not be drawn.

只得九年相守者，戌加巳，上五下四，共九數也。末丑為辛金之墓；丑土加申金長生上，故為生地。申為兄弟，而丑墓作蛇加之，故與兄弟不足。丑八數，故云八年也。直指雲丑為卯財故得此地，內遁丁鬼，主得此地而死。

The reason it is said that they can stay together for only nine years is because the third lesson has the戌 added to巳. The number of戌 is five and the number of巳 is four, so five above and four below make nine. The final transmission is丑, which is the storage place of辛 metal; 丑 earth is added to the position of the long life of申 metal, so it is called "birth place," which can be used as a burial ground. 申 also represents brothers, and the storage place of丑 is covered by the Teng Snake, so it indicates discord with brothers. The number of丑 is eight, so it is said to be the eighth year. The "Six Yin Direct Pointer" says that丑 can produce卯, which is the wife's wealth, so it can obtain this land; but 丑 contains the hidden丁 ghost, so it indicates obtaining this land but the person is already dead.

何上舍丁丑生三十三歲，於己酉年五月辛巳日申將寅時占前程。口鑑。方本占案。

He Xiangshesheng was born in the year Dingchou, is thirty-three years old, and cast a divination on his official career prospects on the day Xinsi, fifth lunar month, in the year Jiyou, using the hour of Shen with the starting method of adding Shen to Yin. This example is found in the book Liuren Koujian and Fang's Zhanyan.

合朱蛇貴 亥子丑寅 玄合勾陰 官 辛巳 玄 勾戌 卯后 巳亥戌辰 子 乙亥 合 青酉 辰陰 亥巳辰辛 官 辛巳 玄 申未午巳 空虎常玄

The Heaven and Earth Plates section: The Nobleman starts at寅, and the Twelve Heavenly Generals move in reverse order—寅 has the Nobleman, 丑 has the Teng Snake, 子 has the Vermilion Bird, 亥 has Liu He, 戌 has Gou Chen, 酉 has the Azure Dragon, 申 has Tian Kong, 未 has the White Tiger, 午 has Tai Chang, 巳 has the Black Tortoise, 辰 has Tai Yin, and 卯 has the Heavenly Empress. The Heaven Plate is six positions ahead of the Earth Plate, forming a "returning echo" pattern. The four lessons are read from right to left: the first lesson has 辰 added to 辛 (辛 is hidden in 戌, so 戌 position gets 辰), the second lesson has 戌 added to 辰, the third lesson has 亥 added to 巳 (巳 is the day branch), and the fourth lesson has 巳 added to 亥. The heavenly generals on the four lessons are: 巳 has the Black Tortoise, 亥 has Liu He, 戌 has Gou Chen, and 辰 has Tai Yin. The three transmissions: the first transmission is 巳, with the hidden stem Xinsi, which is the official ghost, riding the Black Tortoise; the middle transmission is 亥, with the hidden stem Yihai, which is the son, riding Liu He; the final transmission is again 巳, with the hidden stem Xinsi, which is the official ghost, riding the Black Tortoise. The three transmissions of 巳, 亥, and 巳 move back and forth, exactly resembling the pattern of a returning echo lesson.

邵彥和曰：此課日上見辰，乃濁氣所生，非秀麗也。長生學堂陷入鬼地，來去皆絕，此不是及第課。主三番讀書，四番廢業，少學無成，頭不應尾。五年後做東不成，又去做西，喪妻娶妻，十六年內家計蕩盡，妻嫁武官，子無頭尾。

Shao Yanhe said: In this lesson, the day stem's heavenly stem is the earth of Chen. Chen is the place where turbid qi is born, not a clear and refined image. The main subject's growth and school are trapped in the official ghost place, and both coming and going meet the end. This is not a lesson that can result in passing the imperial examination. The person has read three times and abandoned his studies four times, studied in his youth but achieved nothing, and his affairs have beginnings but no endings. After five years, he will go east to start a business but fail, then turn west. He will first lose his wife and then remarry. Within sixteen years, his family business will be completely ruined, his wife will remarry a military officer, and his son will also have beginnings but no endings.

何上舍發解後，妻家以一莊贈之。己酉年至乙卯年尚如意，乙卯後便不濟，考試皆不利。癸亥年喪妻飲酒無度，家計蕩盡，子留外家，再娶一妻，第十六年上舍死。後妻嫁一武進士。

The actual events were as follows: He Shangshe received a country estate from his wife's family after passing the local examination. From Jiyou year to Yimao year, things went smoothly, but after Yimao year, his situation deteriorated, and he had no luck in subsequent examinations. In Guihai year, his wife died, and he drank excessively, leading to the complete ruin of his family estate. His son was left with his maternal grandfather, and he married again. Sixteen years later, He Shangshe died. His second wife later married a military examiner.

大凡巳亥巳，惟壬日最得便宜，他來我處絕，又是財，只不利占病。丙戌日我往克處逢絕，凡事不利，若占病亦死，行人不來，謀事不遂。若辛巳日，辛生於巳，巳絕於亥，初絕尚可，末又臨絕，長生尚自受克絕，我何望生乎？即不可望生，卻就辰之生，為失十得一，豈不費力耶？

In general, when the three transmissions are all in the positions of巳, 亥, and巳, the most advantageous day is壬 day. What originally harms me arrives at my position and meets its end, and巳 is also the wife and wealth for壬 day. However, this is not suitable for divination regarding illness. OnBingxu day, I go to harm others but meet my end, which is unfavorable for all matters, and for illness it indicates death, with travelers not coming and affairs not succeeding. As forXinsi day: the metal of辛 is born in巳, but巳 meets its end in亥. The first transmission meeting its end is still somewhat acceptable, but the final transmission falls into the place of end, meaning even the place of birth is harmed and meets its end. What hope do I have for vitality? Since I cannot rely on vitality, I can only seek the birth from the earth of辰. But this is losing ten and gaining one, which is not worth the effort.

愚按：家計蕩盡者，亥水加支克支絕支也。子無頭尾者，六合臨沖地也。十六年內者，亥四巳四，四四一十六也。惟喪取妻嫁武官不知何故。

The case of Cheng Shuxun: saying that the family fortune is completely ruined is because the亥 water branch is added to the day branch巳, which both harms the day branch and causes it to reach its end. Saying that the son has a head but no tail is because theLiu He, which governs descendants, is located in a position of mutual conflict. Saying that it happens within sixteen years is because the number of亥 is four and the number of巳 is four, four multiplied by four gives sixteen. Only the statement about the wife dying and then being remarried to a military officer is unknown, and it is unclear on what basis Shao Yanhe made this judgment.

天聖九年辛未歲閏九月初間，李都尉家被賊從後花園入堂內，偷去金銀財物，辛巳日請元軫占之，卯時未將。玉連環末卷。說約。

In the ninth year of Tiansheng during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, which was the year of Xinwei (the Earthly Branch 'Wei' being the branch of the Supreme Year), in the leap September, the Li General's family was robbed. The thief entered through the back garden and stole silver and gold. On the day Xinsi, Yuanzhen was asked to cast a divination. The divination used the hour of Mao and the general of Wei. The original text said 'Mao hour and Wei general', but according to the calculation where the Heaven Plate is eight positions ahead of the Earth Plate, it exactly matches the combination of Mao general and Wei hour. The month of leap September also used the general of Mao, which shows that the words 'hour' and 'general' were reversed in the transmission. This example is taken from the last volume of Yizihuanlianhuan and Luniushu Yao.

龍勾合朱 丑寅卯辰 玄龍勾貴 官 壬午 貴 空子 巳蛇 酉丑寅午 財 戊寅 勾 虎亥 午貴 丑巳午辛 父 甲戌 常 戌酉申未 常玄陰后

The Heaven and Earth plates section: The nobleman starts at午 (Wu) for the daytime nobleman on a辛 (Xin) day. The twelve heavenly generals move in reverse order—午 (Wu) has 'Nobleman',巳 (Si) has 'Teng Snake',辰 (Chen) has 'Vermilion Bird',卯 (Mao) has 'Liu He',寅 (Yin) has 'Gou Chen',丑 (Chou) has 'Azure Dragon',子 (Zi) has 'Tian Kong',亥 (Hai) has 'White Tiger',戌 (Xu) has 'Tai Chang',酉 (You) has 'Black Tortoise',申 (Shen) has 'Tai Yin', and未 (Wei) has 'Heavenly Empress'. The four lessons are read from right to left: the first lesson has午 (Wu) added to辛 (Xin) (辛 (Xin) is寄托 on戌 (Xu), so午 (Wu) is on戌 (Xu)), the second lesson has寅 (Yin) added to午 (Wu), the third lesson has丑 (Chou) added to巳 (Si) (巳 (Si) is the day branch), and the fourth lesson has酉 (You) added to丑 (Chou). The heavenly generals on the four lessons are: 酉 (You) has 'Black Tortoise', 丑 (Chou) has 'Azure Dragon', 寅 (Yin) has 'Gou Chen', and 午 (Wu) has 'Nobleman'. The three transmissions: the first transmission is午 (Wu), with the hidden stemRenwu (Renwu), which is the official ghost, riding the nobleman; the middle transmission is寅 (Yin), with the hidden stemWuyin (Wuyin), which is the wife's wealth, riding 'Gou Chen'; the final transmission is戌 (Xu), with the hidden stem甲戌 (Jiaxu), which is the parents, riding 'Tai Chang'. The three transmissions 午 (Wu), 寅 (Yin), and 戌 (Xu) form the fire triad寅午戌 (Yin-Wu-Xu), which is an 'Inflaming Ascension' lesson.

元軫斷曰：賊有五人，當是年及五旬婦人，原是婢女出身，一目有疾，在郊外東北方五十里墳墓間居住。依此捕之無。後李又索占，元軫曰：不必再占，只能前課推之可。於丙丁日令捕人出東門，轉北伺之，有兩婦人，穿緋衣，負薪而來者詢之，必得賊蹤。

The Heavenly Stems are: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui. The Earthly Branches are: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai. The Trigrams are: Qian (Heaven), Dui (Lake), Li (Fire), Zhen (Thunder), Xun (Wind), Kan (Water), Gen (Mountain), Kun (Earth). Northeast.

如言於丁巳日，捕人伺至午間，果有兩婦人穿紅裙負薪而至。捕人近前，婦人惶遽欲逃，拿住搜其身，上藏有金銀釵釧。切究之，雲伊之鄰婦本是李都尉家舊婢，近因貧困，同其夫與子共五人至李家作賊，二婦知覺，被二婦知覺故分給釵釧。捕人遂押二婦至東北五十里蘇相公墳後，拘獲正賊真贓。其婦果患目也。

Follow his instructions, and on Dingsi day, the constables waited until noon, when indeed two women wearing red skirts and carrying firewood came walking. The constables approached, the women became frightened and tried to flee, but were caught and searched. They were found to be hiding silver and gold hairpins and bracelets. The constables interrogated them severely, and they confessed: the neighboring woman was once an old servant in the household of Li Duyi. Recently impoverished, she had conspired with her husband and son, a total of five people, to commit a theft at Li's house. These two women had discovered the plot, and because of that, they were given the hairpins and bracelets as a way to silence them. The constables then took the two women to the back of the tomb of Su Xianggong, fifty li northeast, where they captured the main thief and recovered the stolen goods. The leading woman was indeed blind in one eye.

議曰：經旬只於元武臨處責之，今元武臨丑，故言東北。武之陰神酉，從丑至酉為五辰，故云五人。三傳逆治，其賊不遠。江村張鋐云：武乘酉，酉陰見巳，巳陰見丑，丑陰又見酉，不能遠遁。酉丑相乘四八之數，故不出五十里。酉金臨丑墓，故云伏墳所。

The reasoning is as follows: The method of capturing thieves has always been to investigate the area where the Black Tortoise is located. In this case, the Black Tortoise is riding on酉 and falls on the Earth Plate at丑, which is in the Northeast. Therefore, the thief is in the Northeast. The hidden spirit of the Black Tortoise is酉, and from the number of丑 to酉 there are five trigrams, indicating there are five thieves. The three transmissions in reverse order suggest that the thieves are not far away. Zhang Fa from Jiang Village said: The Black Tortoise is riding on酉, the hidden spirit of酉 is巳, the hidden spirit of巳 is丑, and the hidden spirit of丑 returns to酉, so the thieves are entangled among these three, and they cannot escape far. The number of酉 is four and the number of丑 is eight, and the product of four and eight is fifty, so the thieves are within fifty li. The metal of酉 falls on the metal tomb of丑, so the thieves are hidden in the graveyard.

愚按：酉為婢，陰見螣蛇巳火，故是婢而有目疾。酉六，丑八，四十八歲，故云年近五旬耳。炎上火局剋制元武，而元武又被陰神巳火所克，故丙丁日必敗露。巳為雙女，乘蛇，故云兩婦穿緋衣。火本無體，因木而發，故因負薪人而敗。

The Cheng Shuxun case: You represents a female servant. The hidden spirit of You meets Teng Snake and巳 fire. Fire injures the eyes, so it is concluded that she was born of a servant and suffers from eye disease. You is counted as six, and Chou is counted as eight. Six times eight is forty-eight, so it is said she is near fifty years old. The three transmissions of Yin, Wu, and Xu form a fire trinity that can overcome Xuanwu. However, the hidden spirit of Xuanwu,巳 fire, turns back to overcome it, so it is determined that the case will be exposed on a Bing day or Ding day.巳 belongs to the star sign 'Double Women' and is occupied by Teng Snake. The color of the snake is red, so it is said that two women are wearing red clothes. Fire itself has no form and needs wood to ignite, so it is concluded that the case will be solved by the person carrying firewood.

愚按：張江村說約云，巳乘蛇，蛇性易驚，故兩婦一見捕人即欲逃也。巳陰見龍，龍屬木，木見火為薪，故皆負薪。巳酉丑三合，輾轉不能相離，故於東北伺之而獲也。其於丁巳日午時者，酉陰見巳、用神午俱克元武也。此解明晰，故備錄之。

Cheng Shuxun also cites: Zhang Jiangcun's "Six壬 Say约" explains it more thoroughly--the巳 is occupied by Teng Snake, which is easily startled, so the two women immediately wanted to run away upon seeing the officers. TheYin Spirit of巳 meets Qinglong, which belongs to wood, and wood meets fire to become firewood, so both of them are carrying firewood. The巳,酉, and丑 form a triple harmony, entangling each other and unable to separate, so they can be captured by waiting in the northeast. As for the time being on the Dingsi day and noon, it is because theYin Spirit of酉 is巳 and the initiating transmission is午, and both巳 and午 can overcome Xuanwu. This explanation is the clearest, so I have recorded it entirely here.

己酉年正月辛巳日子將辰時，仍是戊申太歲。趙監務丁丑生，生於九月十日丑時，三十二歲，占赴任。宋本邵案。口鑑。

In the year Jiyou, during the first lunar month, on the day Xinsi, the calculation was started with the hour of Zi added to Chen. At this time, the beginning of spring had not yet arrived, so the current year's sovereign was still Wushen. The person seeking the divination was Zhao Jianwu, born in the year Dingchou, on the tenth day of the ninth lunar month at the hour of Chou, aged thirty-two, inquiring about taking office. This example is found in the Song edition of Shao Yanhe's "Zhan An" and in "Liu Ren Kou Jian."

龍勾合朱 丑寅卯辰 玄龍勾貴 官 壬午 貴 空子 巳蛇 酉丑寅午 財 戊寅 勾 虎亥 午貴 丑巳午辛 父 甲戌 常 戌酉申未 常玄陰后

This lesson's divination chart is exactly the same as the previous one by Li Dukewei who divined about a thief: the nobleman starts at Wu and moves counterclockwise, with Wu as nobleman, Si as vermilion bird, Chen as azure dragon, Mao as liu he, Chou as gou chen, Zi as tian kong, Hai as bai hu, Xu as tai chang, You as xuan wu, Shen as tai yin, and Wei as tian hou. The four lessons are arranged from right to left as Wu with Xin, Yin with Wu, Chou with Si, and You with Chou. The heavenly generals above the four lessons are Xuan Wu on You, Qing Long on Chou, Gou Chen on Yin, and Guiren on Wu. The three transmissions are Wu (Renwu, official ghost, riding Guiren), Yin (Wuyin, wife's wealth, riding Gou Chen), and Xu (Jia Xu, parents, riding Tai Chang). Yin, Wu, and Xu form a fire trinity, making it a fiery lesson.

邵彥和曰：主今年二月上任。蓋日上官星作貴人，會火局，金被火官逼，行年又來添一層官星來趕，必然動身。須見尊長病酒幾死，即應矣。宅上丁神已動，臨交代之時，必有所阻，得十六個月遭父喪而回。

Shao Yanhe said that the person will take office in February of this year. Because the day stem's heavenly stem is wu, which is the official star, and it is accompanied by the nobleman, and forms a fire trinity, the metal of xin is forced by the fire official star; the year stem also adds another official star to urge and hasten the matter, so he will definitely start his journey. When he meets his superior and almost dies from drunkenness, that will be the appointed time. The heavenly stem of the residence has already activated, and when the transfer of duty occurs, there will certainly be obstacles; after sixteen months of taking office, he will suffer the loss of his father and return home.

趙因前任填補，遂於二月催赴任。二月二日父大醉幾死，越七日而文字果至。八月方交割，以前任官要趙認虧空，方得交代，是以遲至八月也。次年十一月丁父憂歸，共十六個月也。大凡平人怕官鬼劈頭來克，主有官事喪禍；惟仕官赴任，須要官星旺，即赴任也。辛長生於巳，巳為父，巳加酉上見蛇，酉為酒，蛇撓之，所以為病酒。巳午相連，巳應了午便應也。

Later, Zhao Jianwu was urgently sent to take office to fill a vacancy left by his predecessor. In February, he was pressed to take up his post. On the second day of the second lunar month, his father became extremely drunk and almost died. Seven days later, the official document urging him to take office arrived. It wasn't until August that the transfer procedures were completed, because the previous official would not hand over the duties unless Zhao Jianwu acknowledged the financial shortfall. Thus, the transfer was delayed until August. The following year, in November, he returned home due to his father's death, making the total period exactly sixteen months. Generally, ordinary people are most afraid of the official ghost (官鬼) being at the forefront and causing harm, which indicates legal troubles or misfortune related to death. However, for officials taking up their posts, they actually need the official star (官星) to be prosperous and strong. When the official star becomes strong, they should start their duties. Xin metal is longed for in Si, and Si also represents the father. Si is placed on You, which represents wine, and Teng Snake disturbs it, hence the father getting drunk and falling ill. Si and Wu are connected, and once Si is verified, Wu follows immediately.

愚按：遭父喪而回者，因喪吊全入三傳，末為歸計門，作太常，為孝服也。惟十六月字不可解，且何以知為十六個月而非十六年乎。

The case of Cheng Shuxun: The divination concluded that he was returning due to his father's death, because the spirits of Mourning-and-Condolence and visitors had both entered the Three Transmissions, and the Final Transmission was "the gate of returning plans," which was superior to Tai Chang, and Tai Chang governs mourning attire. However, the number of "sixteen months" does not make sense, and there is no explanation as to why it is sixteen months rather than sixteen years. Shao Yanhe did not address this point.

辛卯年正月辛巳日亥將卯時，曹丙道占在京來年釋褐。一針見血。

In the year Xin Mao, first lunar month, on the day Xin Si, using the hour亥 as the starting point for the divination, Cao Bing asked whether he would be able to "release his hair" (i.e., remove his coarse cloth robe and be appointed to an official post) in the following year while in the capital. This example is from "One Needle Sees the Essence."

龍勾合朱 丑寅卯辰 玄龍勾貴 官 壬午 貴 空子 巳蛇 酉丑寅午 財 戊寅 勾 虎亥 午貴 丑巳午辛 父 甲戌 常 戌酉申未 常玄陰后

The lesson is the same as the previous two. The Nobleman starts at Wu and the Twelve Heavenly Generals move in reverse. Wu has the Nobleman, Si has the Teng Snake, Chen has the Vermilion Bird, Mao has Liu He, Yin has Gou Chen, Chou has the Azure Dragon, Zi has Tian Kong, Hai has the White Tiger, Xu has Tai Chang, You has the Black Tortoise, Shen has Tai Yin, and Wei has the Heavenly Empress. The Four Lessons are arranged from right to left as Wu with Xin, Yin with Wu, Chou with Si, and You with Chou. The upper gods and Heavenly Generals are in order: You has the Black Tortoise, Chou has the Azure Dragon, Yin has Gou Chen, and Wu has the Nobleman. The Three Transmissions are Wu (Renwu, official ghost, riding the Nobleman), Yin (Wuyin, wife's wealth, riding Gou Chen), and Xu (Jiaxu, parents, riding Tai Chang). Yin, Wu, and Xu form a fire triad, making it an inflammatory lesson.

邵彥和曰：炎上主文明，貴人乘相氣為用。吾丈是午生人，今午作貴人為用。末見太常乘天魁為印綬，又是天喜神六儀吉將在辰上。行年得天后恩神，炎上三傳相氣。想只是中傳勾陳乘寅加本命上，主遲慢，來年定及第矣。果驗。

Shao Yanhe said: The three transmissions form a fire pattern of ascending flames, and fire governs literary brilliance and brightness; the nobleman also rides on the phase qi and initiates the transmission. You were born in the year of Wu, and now the Wu zhi is acting as the nobleman and initiating the transmission. The final transmission meets Tai Chang riding Tian Kui (Xu), Xu is the god of official seals, and auspicious generals such as Heavenly Joy and the Six Instruments also fall on that hour. The year pillar gains Heavenly Empress, this benevolent deity, and the three transmissions of ascending flames all align with the phase qi. It seems the only missing element is the middle transmission, Gou Chen, riding Yin and adding upon your birth year, which indicates delay; but by next year you will certainly pass the examination. Later, it indeed came true.

崇正丙子年二月辛巳日辛卯時，湖州陸金吾占總鎮陳東明奉命出師江東。指南。

In theBingzi year of the Ming Chongzheng era, on theXinsi day andXinmao hour of the second lunar month, Lu Jinwu of Huzhou divined about General Chen Dongming being ordered to march troops to the Jiangdong region. This example is from the "Six壬 Guide."

勾六 青丑寅卯辰朱 玄青勾貴 官 壬午 貴 空子 巳蛇 酉丑寅午 財 戊寅 勾 虎亥 午貴 丑巳午辛 印 甲戌 常 常戌酉申未后 玄陰

This divination chart is slightly different from the previous ones. The heavenly generals are noted on both sides and above the branches of the heaven plate. When read, it is: Chou (ox) has "Azure Dragon," Yin (tiger) has "Gou Chen," Mao (rabbit) has "Liu He," Chen (dragon) has "Vermilion Bird," Si (snake) has "Teng Snake," Wu (horse) has "Nobleman," Wei (sheep) has "Heavenly Empress," Shen (monkey) has "Tai Yin," You (rooster) has "Black Tortoise," Xu (dog) has "Tai Chang," Hai (pig) has "White Tiger," and Zi (rat) has "Heavenly Void." The nobleman still starts at Wu, and the twelve generals proceed in reverse order. The four lessons are read from right to left: the first lesson has Wu with Xin, the second lesson has Yin with Wu, the third lesson has Chou with Si, and the fourth lesson has You with Chou. The upper gods and generals are: on You (rooster) is Black Tortoise, on Chou (ox) is Azure Dragon, on Yin (tiger) is Gou Chen, and on Wu (horse) is Nobleman. The three transmissions are: the first transmission is Wu (Renwu, official ghost, riding Nobleman), the second transmission is Yin (Wuyin, wife's wealth, riding Gou Chen), and the third transmission is Xu (Jiaxu, which is marked as official seal, riding Tai Chang). Yin, Wu, and Xu form a fire trinity, making this a fiery lesson.

斷曰：春得炎上進氣，又合元首三奇，高爵宰官不復言矣。但干敗支墓且乘火鬼，天魁合中犯煞，《易》旅九三「旅焚其次，喪其童僕，貞厲」，不惟興師無濟，且有他虞。即官至卯年亦不見利，由卯上乘白虎驛馬，名為回馬，雖是剝官之煞，幸結貴木局生起初傳官星，故僅撤回討賊。庚辰太歲受克，子水司令制傷火局退位俱驗。

Divination: In spring, the divination shows the "Inflamed" lesson. The fire element is in the rising phase, and it coincides with the "Head of the State" lesson pattern and the auspicious "Three Marvels." High official rank is not needed to be mentioned. However, the day stem is Xin metal, which is in a declining position in the second month, and the day branch is Si, which is the resting place of metal. Moreover, the upper element is a fire ghost. The heavenly stem Wu, which is the guardian, is in the combined structure but is involved in aInauspicious Sha (malevolent star). This exactly matches the "Third Line" statement in the "Travel" hexagram of the Zhou Changes: "The traveler burns his guest house and loses his servant, even maintaining righteousness is dangerous." Not only does the military campaign fail, but there are also other worries. Even if one holds office in the卯 year, there is no benefit: because the卯 is accompanied by the White Tiger and the Post-horse, called "Return Horse," which is aInauspicious Sha (malevolent star) that removes official rank. Fortunately, the卯 forms a wood structure with the亥 and the未, which can generate the initial transmission's official star, so it only results in the withdrawal of troops and the suspension of the campaign against the enemy. In the Gengchen year, the heavenly stem is harmed by the year's ruler, and the Zi water is in command, which restrains and damages the fire structure, causing it to retreat. All these have been fulfilled.

順治己丑年正月辛巳日辛卯時，榆林王總兵諱樸者，其子金吾官在揚，聞大同姜總兵亂。指南。

In the sixth year of the Shunzhi era (Jichou year), in the first lunar month, on the day Xinsi and at the hour Xinmao, General Wang Pu of Yulin had a son who held the position of Jinwu and was in Yangzhou. Upon hearing that General Jiang of Datong had rebelled, he cast a divination to inquire about the fortune and misfortune. This example is from the "Six壬 Guide."

勾六 青丑寅卯辰朱 玄青勾貴 官 壬午 貴 空子 巳蛇 酉丑寅午 財 戊寅 勾 虎亥 午貴 丑巳午辛 印 甲戌 常 常戌酉申未后 玄陰

The lesson is the same as the previous one: Chou is on Qinglong, Yin is on Gou Chen, Mao is on Liu He, Chen is on Zhuqiao, Si is on Teng Snake, Wu is on Guiren, Wei is on Tianhou, Shen is on Taiyin, You is on Xuanwu, Xu is on Taichang, Hai is on Bahu, Zi is on Tiankong. Guiren starts at Wu and the twelve generals move in reverse order. The four lessons, from right to left, are Wu with Xin, Yin with Wu, Chou with Si, You with Chou. The upper gods and heavenly generals in order are You with Xuanwu, Chou with Qinglong, Yin with Gou Chen, Wu with Guiren. The three transmissions are Wu (Renwu, official ghost, riding Guiren), Yin (Wuyin, wife's wealth, riding Gou Chen), Xu (Jiaxu, official seal, riding Taichang). Yin, Wu, and Xu form a fire triad, making it an inflammatory lesson.

斷曰：游都居支前，賊符侵酉地，且貴人克干發用，又合中犯煞，西北兵動，據城無疑。初傳旺相生合末傳，定主內外奸人勾連；中傳月建克末傳，必然破城殺將。又旬遁丁神臨辰陽入辰陰，更有當地邊界盜賊蜂起，後來終於歸降，蓋因游都臨合處也。但火局旺相於春夏，死於秋冬，又大吉日墓臨支，是主受客愚而墜客計，交秋事敗歸降矣。

Divination indicates that the military general "You Du" is located at the position preceding the day branch, and "Zei Fu" invades the western region of You. With the nobleman overcoming the day stem and initiating the transmission, and the combination of elements being tainted by malevolent stars, it can be concluded that there will be military movements in the northwest, and the enemy will certainly occupy the city. The first transmission is prosperous and strong, and generates and harmonizes with the final transmission, indicating that internal and external traitors are colluding. The middle transmission is the month builder, which overcomes the final transmission, leading to the city being captured and the general being killed. Furthermore, the hidden god Ding, originally from a yang day, enters a yin day, showing that there will be a surge of bandits along the border area, but eventually they will surrender. This is because "You Du" is located in a harmonious combination. However, the fire combination is strong in spring and summer but weak in autumn and winter. Also, the great good star Chou, which is the tomb of the day stem Xin metal, is located on the day branch, indicating that the side is being deceived and falling into the enemy's plan. Therefore, once autumn arrives, the situation will collapse, and surrender will be the only option.

戊申年十一月辛巳日寅將酉時，邵三翁癸亥生，四十六歲，占宅。口鑑。

In the year of Wushen, eleventh month, on the day of Xinsi, using the trine of Yin as the starting point and beginning the calculation at the hour of You, Shao Sanweng, born in the year of Guihai and aged forty-six, divined about his residence. This example is from the "Six Rats Oral Mirror." This case is the same as the previous one titled "In the year of Wushen, eleventh month, on the day of Xinsi, with the trine of Yin at the hour of You, Shao Sanweng divined about his residence," but differs in the version used, with variations in the text. Cheng Shuxun included both versions to facilitate comparison.

六朱 陳戌亥子丑蛇 龍酉 寅貴 後陳空后 財 己卯 后 初 空申 卯后 卯戌申卯 兄 空申 空 中 虎未午巳辰陰 戌巳卯辛 父 丁丑 蛇 末 常玄

This divination chart differs in its presentation from the previous one but contains the same content: "Chen" refers to Gou Chen, and "Long" refers to Qing Long. The three transmissions are directly labeled as initial, middle, and final. The middle transmission is written as "Kong Shen," meaning Shen is in the旬空. The celestial and terrestrial plates: the nobleman starts at寅 and the twelve heavenly generals move in reverse order—寅 has the nobleman,丑 has Teng Snake,子 has Zhu Que,亥 has Liu He,戌 has Gou Chen,酉 has Qing Long,申 has Tian Kong,未 has Bai Hu,午 has Tai Chang,巳 has Xuan Wu,辰 has Tai Yin,卯 has Tian Hou. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is卯 with 辛, the second is申 with 卯, the third is戌 with 巳, the fourth is卯 with 戌; the upper gods and heavenly generals are: on卯 is Tian Hou, on戌 is Gou Chen, on申 is Tian Kong, on卯 is Tian Hou. The three transmissions: initial transmission is卯 (Ji Mao, wife's wealth, riding Tian Hou), middle transmission is申 (in Kongwang, brother, riding Tian Kong), final transmission is丑 (Ding Chou, parents, riding Teng Snake).

邵彥和曰：此課乃妻為主，日去加辰，夫去脫妻，妻為長，夫反為少也。然汝之妻，本兄之妻，而汝得之，日後只得九年相守。第八年因作生地，與兄弟不足，生難得此地，而死不得葬也。目下主喪妻，緣是磨壓東門，所以有再娶之患也。

Shao Yanhe said: This divination focuses on the wife. The day stem combines with the day branch, indicating the husband is leaving to consume the wife; the wife is older while the husband is younger. However, this wife originally belonged to your elder brother, and later came to you. In the future, you will only be together for nine years. In the eighth year, due to disputes over the burial ground with your brother, you will have a conflict. Although you manage to obtain the land while alive, after death you will not be able to be buried there. Currently, the divination indicates the loss of the wife, caused by a grinding stone pressing on the east gate, hence the worry of remarrying. (This version reads 'the husband leaves to consume the wife' and 'a grinding stone presses on the east gate,' while the previous version reads 'the husband goes to meet the wife' and 'a grinding stone blocks the east gate,' with the two versions differing in wording.)

申為磨，中卯為壓東門也。辛以卯為妻，上見天后，妻為主。干又就支，反致勾留，上見勾陳故也。申加卯上作天空，申乃今日之同類，而加妻上，是兄之妻也。申同類為兄，加卯妻爻上，是為兄之妻。

Shen is a stone mill, placed on Mao, thus pressing upon the eastern gate (Mao is located in the direction of Due East). Xin day, with Mao wood as wife's wealth, also sees the Heavenly Empress on Mao, so wife is the main focus. The day stem tends towards the day branch, yet brings about hindrance and delay because the day branch has Gou Chen. Shen is placed on Mao and rides Tian Kong: Shen and the day share the same metal element, which is the same as the day stem, so the same element is placed on the wife's wealth, indicating the wife of the elder brother. Shen, being brothers, is placed on Mao, the wife's element, thus forming the image of 'the wife of the elder brother'.

然不加申酉空亡，又作天空，必兄已亡過，遂有其妻，所以邵公敢開此口。若申不空，則不可亂斷。末丑，辛之墓；加於同類之上，並蛇丑八數，是以八年因開生地，與兄弟不和，丑土生申金，乃生地也。九年死者，戌加巳，上五下四，共九數也。

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) Shao Yanhe dared to make such a statement because the branches Shen and You are both in Kongwang, and Shen is further overlaid by Tian Kong. This indicates that the elder brother must have already passed away, and the younger brother thus married his wife. Therefore, Shao Yanhe made such a bold assertion; if Shen were not in Kongwang, one could not make such a hasty conclusion. The final transmission is Chou, which is the tomb and storage of Xin metal. It is placed on top of the same branch Shen metal, and it also carries Teng Snake. Chou's number is eight, so it refers to the eighth year when there was a disagreement with the brother over the opening of the tomb. Chou soil can generate Shen metal, so it is called "birth place." The statement about dying in the ninth year is because the third lesson Wu is placed on Si, and the upper five and lower four combine to form the number nine. (This version states, "Chou soil generates Shen metal, hence it is called 'birth place.'" The previous version states, "Chou soil is placed on top of the long life of Shen metal, hence it is called 'birth place.'" The explanations are slightly different.)

四月辛巳日越王召范蠡占鄭妃六甲。心鏡注引越覆經。

On the Xinsi day of the fourth month, King Goujian of Yue summoned Fan Li to cast a divination, to determine whether the concubine Zheng had conceived (the term "Liujia" refers to pregnancy). This example is found in the annotations of the book "Liu Ren Xin Jing," which cites the text "Yue Fu Jing."

蛇貴后陰 丑寅卯辰 龍蛇貴常 鬼 壬午 常 朱子 巳玄 酉丑寅午 財 戊寅 貴 合亥 午常 丑巳午辛 父 甲戌 勾 戌酉申未 勾龍空虎

Heavenly and Earthly Plates: The Nobleman starts on寅 and the Twelve Heavenly Generals move in reverse order — on寅 is 'Nobleman', on丑 is 'Teng Snake', on子 is 'Vermilion Bird', on亥 is 'Liu He', on戌 is 'Gou Chen', on酉 is 'Azure Dragon', on申 is 'Tian Kong', on未 is 'White Tiger', on午 is 'Tai Chang', on巳 is 'Black Tortoise', on辰 is 'Tai Yin', and on卯 is 'Heavenly Empress'. The arrangement of the Heaven Plate (which is eight positions ahead of the Earth Plate) is the same as in the previous example of Li Duwei's divination of a thief's case. The month general used in April is申, and the corresponding plate here is申 general added to the子 hour. The子 hour belongs to night, so the Night Nobleman is on寅, whereas in the previous case the Day Nobleman was on午, hence the Heavenly Generals are entirely different. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is午 added to辛, the second is寅 added to午, the third is丑 added to巳, and the fourth is酉 added to丑; the upper gods and Heavenly Generals are sequentially: on酉 is Azure Dragon, on丑 is Teng Snake, on寅 is Nobleman, and on午 is Tai Chang. The three transmissions: the first transmission is午 (Renwu, this is marked as official ghost, riding Tai Chang), the middle transmission is寅 (Wuyin, wife's wealth, riding Nobleman), and the final transmission is戌 (Jiaxu, parents, riding Gou Chen).

范蠡對曰：今課上勝光克下，產男矣。後鄭妃果產男也。

Fan Li answered: In this divination, the upper god Shengguang (Wu fire) overcomes the lower god. The upper is strong and the lower is weak, indicating the birth of a son. Later, the Zheng妃 indeed gave birth to a son.

愚按：越覆經久已遺失，今課經集載丁丑日酉將子時，巳加酉為用，上是旺火克下死金，上強下弱，故決生男。如秋占，火囚氣，課皆陰，則未然也。予不知御青先生所集出於何書。至袖中經所引，日辰、月將、正時與心鏡注同，至以巳加酉為用，則又錯也，餘不敢以之為據，而附塔式之於此。

Cheng Shuxun's case: The book "Yue Fu Jing" has long been lost. The current version in "Ke Jing Ji" is for a day of Dingchou, with You as the month general and Zi hour of the day. It uses Si added to You as the initiating transmission. The upper god is a strong fire, and the lower god is a weak metal, so it is concluded to be a male child. However, if this divination is done in autumn, fire is in a state of captivity, and all four lessons are yin, then it cannot be interpreted in this way. I do not know from which book Mr. Guo Yüqing's compilation of this case comes. As for the one cited in "Xiu Zhong Jing," the day branch, month general, and correct time all match the annotations in "Xin Jing," but it uses Si added to You as the initiating transmission, which is wrong. I dare not take it as a basis, so I merely append this lesson here.