On the Gui Chou day

己丑年三月癸丑日酉將戌時，長老占休咎。（方本占案）

In the year Jichou, third lunar month, on the day Guichou, the month general was You and the correct time was Xu. A senior monk in a temple asked about fortune and misfortune. The case is recorded in "Fang Ben Zhan An." The month general You was placed over the Xu hour, with the heaven plate lagging one position behind the earth plate. "Xiujiu" refers to fortune and misfortune: "Xiu" signifies good fortune, while "jiu" signifies calamity. The key to this divination lies in the first transmission, which is Zi water riding the Black Tortoise. The Black Tortoise is a spirit associated with theft in the Six Rats system and also represents darkness and concealment. Therefore, Shao Yanhe immediately concluded that the temple would suffer a theft.

朱六｜蛇辰巳午未陳｜貴卯 申龍 常玄常玄 兄 壬子 玄｜後寅 酉空 亥子亥子 兄 辛亥 常｜陰丑子亥戌虎 子丑子癸 鬼 庚戌 虎｜玄常

The twelve palaces of the lesson disk have their earthly branches and the celestial generals riding them: Chen with Teng Snake, Si with Vermilion Bird, Wu with Liu He, Wei with Gou Chen, Mao with Nobleman, Shen with Azure Dragon, Yin with Heavenly Empress, You with Tian Kong, Chou with Tai Yin, Zi with Black Tortoise, Hai with Tai Chang, and Xu with White Tiger. The Nobleman is in Mao, and the generals proceed from Mao in a clockwise direction. The four lessons are read from right to left: the day stem is癸, which is lodged in Chou, and Chou has Zi; Zi has Hai; the day branch Chou has Zi; Zi has Hai. The celestial deities riding the four lessons in order are Black Tortoise, Tai Chang, Black Tortoise, and Tai Chang. The three transmissions are arranged from top to bottom: the first transmission is Zi, with the ten-thousand-year cycleRenzi, which is of the same type as癸 water, representing brothers, riding Black Tortoise; the middle transmission is Hai, with the ten-thousand-year cycleXinhai, also brothers, riding Tai Chang; the final transmission is Xu, with the ten-thousand-year cycleGengxu, Xu earth overcoming癸 water as official ghost, riding White Tiger. The third lesson "Chou has Zi" is the lower deity Chou earth overcoming the upper deity Zi water, which is classified as lower attacking upper, taking Zi as the initiating transmission for a review lesson; Zi retreats one position to Hai, Hai retreats one position to Xu. The three transmissions Zi, Hai, Xu are connected in sequence, and in Six Rats it is called "Lian Ru", indicating that matters are connected one after another, and people follow in a chain; the final transmission Xu riding White Tiger also overcomes the day stem, so it indicates a凶 in human affairs.

邵彥和曰：子作元武加日相合，即作傳，加丑為陽刃大吉，又是僧寺，中傳亥加子作常，亥即元類，作常加子，又是勢害，末虎克日，此課凶矣。必旬日內盜欲入方丈不得，乃入庫下偷三人物，後來干三人命。蓋連茹體也。且損水姓人。果第七日賊入庫，偷監寺副典庫三人物，既覺行者尋蹤往，他客汪家捉獲。將汪氏一鐵椎擊死，因解行者至官獄死。三僧吃棒，一僧患杖死，皆因連茹在不明，末虎作鬼故也。庫中者，丑為庫也。

Shao Yanhe said: The Zi branch is riding on Xuanwu and is placed upon the day stem, and also combines with the day stem. Then it initiates the transmission and enters the transmission. The Zi branch is added upon Chou, which is the yang blade of the癸 day. Chou is called "Daji" in the Six Rats system, and also indicates monasteries. The middle transmission is Hai placed upon Zi and riding Tai Chang. Hai itself is a water deity of the Xuanwu type. Now it rides Tai Chang upon Zi, and forms a harmful situation. The final transmission is Xu with Baihu directly attacking the day stem. This lesson is ominous. Within ten days, thieves will certainly first attempt to steal from the abbot's room but fail, then go to the storeroom and steal from three people. Later, it will involve the death of three people. This is because the lesson pattern is "Lian Ru," meaning one thing follows another in a chain. Moreover, it will injure someone whose surname is associated with water. Later, on the seventh day, thieves entered the storeroom and stole from the abbot, deputy abbot, and storekeeper. After the incident, the monks followed the trail and caught the thieves at the merchant Wang's house, but killed Wang with an iron hammer. Therefore, the monk was sent to the authorities and died in prison. The three monks were beaten with sticks, and one monk died from the beating. All of this was due to the Lian Ru pattern causing confusion and the final transmission Baihu transforming into official ghosts. The theft in the storeroom is because Chou symbolizes a warehouse in terms of objects.

庚辰年浙江大旱，八月癸丑日辰將辰時占雨澤。（張本占案）

In the Gengchen year, Zhejiang experienced a severe drought. On the Guichou day of the eighth lunar month, the month general was Chen and the time of the day was also Chen. The question was asked about when it would rain. This case is recorded in the "Zhang Ben Zhan An." Since the month general and the time of the day were both Chen, the heaven plate and earth plate overlapped, forming a Hidden Chant lesson. "Rain and moisture" refers to the blessing of rain. Although Hidden Chant usually indicates stagnation, in this case, the three transmissions were Chou, Xu, and Wei, successively conflicting with each other. This conflict actually released the癸 water, causing it to descend. Therefore, Shao Yanhe predicted that the rain would come suddenly and be accompanied by wind.

貴后陰玄｜巳午未申 勾勾勾勾 鬼 癸丑 勾｜蛇辰 酉常 丑丑丑丑 鬼 庚戌 虎｜朱卯 戌虎 丑丑丑癸 鬼 丁未 陰｜寅丑子亥｜合勾龍空

The twelve palaces of the lesson disk have their earthly branches and the celestial generals riding upon them:巳 is occupied by the Nobleman,午 by the Heavenly Empress,未 by Tai Yin,申 by the Black Tortoise,辰 by the Teng Snake,酉 by Tai Chang,卯 by the Vermilion Bird,戌 by the White Tiger,寅 by Liu He,丑 by Gou Chen,子 by the Azure Dragon, and亥 by Tian Kong. The Nobleman is located on巳, and all the generals start from巳 and move in reverse order. The four lessons are read from right to left: the day stem is癸, which is lodged in丑, and丑 remains丑; the earthly branch of the day is丑, which is also丑; the first lesson is丑, which is also丑; thus all four lessons are丑, which is a case ofHidden Chant. All the heavenly spirits in the four lessons ride upon Gou Chen. The three transmissions are arranged from top to bottom: the first transmission is丑, which isGuichou according to the ten thousand changes, and丑 earth overcomes癸 water, indicating an official ghost, riding upon Gou Chen; the middle transmission is戌, which isGengxu according to the ten thousand changes, also an official ghost, riding upon the White Tiger; the final transmission is未, which isDingwei according to the ten thousand changes, again an official ghost, riding upon Tai Yin. InHidden Chant there is no overcoming, so the initiating transmission is taken from the day stem's lodged palace,丑.丑 is in conflict with戌, and戌 is in conflict with未, which completes the three punishments. The term「未」here refers to one of the twelve earthly branches, serving as the final transmission's spirit, and the later mention「未时有云」refers to the time of未. TheNayin sound element of丑 belongs to wood, and wood represents wind; Gou Chen belongs to earth and is overcome by wood, so earth is weakened and water leaks out, indicating a sudden storm.

邵彥和曰：伏吟課，定是今日未時有云，一霎時起大風，又下小雨。明日甲寅，一日大風，下微雨。至乙卯日風止，大雨一日，水暴漲也。

Shao Yanhe said: This is a Hidden Chant divination. It predicts that clouds will appear today at the hour of Wei (1 to 3 PM), followed by a sudden strong wind and then some light rain. On the next day, the day of Jiayin, there will be all-day strong winds and some light rain. On the day of Yimao, the wind will stop and there will be all-day heavy rain, with the water level rising sharply.

蓋丑在癸上，即癸丑為初傳，而中戌、末未，疊疊刑開，使癸水下注。癸丑納音屬木，木主風，故未時兼有風，是八月十五日也。至十七日乙卯，是大溪水，故大雨水漲。由丑、寅二日，風以動之也。太陰月宿十五日在戌，十六、十七日在酉，乃是月宿離於畢，畢在酉宮也。十七日朱雀加卯，火敗於卯，而得月離於畢，故主大雨。雨常附陰而降，以酉為太陰之門，純陰之位。凡占雨，但用月宿到今日，看臨在酉，則是月離於畢也。癸丑納音木，克乘神勾陳土，土潰而水漏，故一霎時風雨。甲寅乘六合，木盛多風。至十八日丙火辰土，而納音又土，辰又為八月太陽，上乘螣蛇火神，至是雨霽而晴矣。

The reasoning is as follows: The branch Chou (丑) presses upon the day stem Gui (癸), making Gui Chou the first transmission. The middle transmission is Xu (戌), and the final transmission is Wei (未), which are connected and mutually injurious. This injurious relationship opens up the closed癸 water and causes it to flow downward. The nayin sound element of Gui Chou belongs to wood, and wood represents wind. Therefore, at the hour of Wei (未), there is both cloud and wind. This day is the fifteenth of the eighth month. On the seventeenth, which is Yi Mao (乙卯), the nayin sound element is Great Stream Water, so there is heavy rain and rising water levels. The reason why wind begins on the days of Chou (丑) and Yin (寅) is that wind comes first and stirs up the qi. The position where the moon resides on the fifteenth is Xu (戌), on the sixteenth and seventeenth it is You (酉), which is exactly what the Book of Songs says: "The moon is in the Net mansion" — the Net mansion is in the You palace. On the seventeenth, the Vermilion Bird is positioned over Mao (卯). Fire is in its bath and decline at Mao, so the fire is weak and meets the moon in the Net mansion, thus causing heavy rain. Rain always follows the Yin qi, and You is the gate of Tai Yin and a position of pure Yin. Therefore, to predict rain, one should calculate the position where the moon resides on that day and see if it reaches You, which is "the moon is in the Net mansion." The nayin sound element of Gui Chou belongs to wood, which attacks the earth of Gou Chen (勾陈), and once the earth is broken, water leaks out, hence the sudden arrival of wind and rain. On Jiayin (甲寅), theLiu He is above, and with strong wood qi, there is much wind. On the eighteenth, the heavenly stem is Bing (丙) fire and the earthly branch is Chen (辰) earth, with the nayin sound element also belonging to earth. Chen is the palace of the sun in the eighth month, and above it is Teng Snake, the fire deity. At this point, the rain stops and the weather clears up.

九月癸丑日卯將卯時，某知縣宴客失去銀器衣物，索占。（方本占案）

In the tenth lunar month on the day of Gui-Chou, the month general was Mao, and the time of the day was also Mao. A county magistrate who was hosting a banquet lost silverware and clothing, and sought a divination to find the lost items. The case is recorded in "Fang Ben Zhan An." Since the month general and the time of the day were the same, it was again a hidden chant (fu yin) lesson with the celestial and earthly plates overlapping. This was the same lesson pattern as the previous case which predicted rain. The hidden chant lesson indicates that things have not left their original place, which is the basis upon which Shao Yanhe concluded that the stolen property was still within the magistrate's office and had not been taken out.

貴后陰玄｜巳午未申 勾勾勾勾 鬼 癸丑 勾｜蛇辰 酉常 丑丑丑丑 鬼 庚戌 虎｜朱卯 戌虎 丑丑丑癸 鬼 丁未 陰｜寅丑子亥｜合勾龍空

The distribution of Heavenly Generals in the twelve palaces is:巳 (Si) is occupied by the Nobleman, 午 (Wu) by the Heavenly Empress, 未 (Wei) by Tai Yin, 申 (Shen) by the Black Tortoise, 辰 (Chen) by Teng Snake, 酉 (You) by Tai Chang, 卯 (Mao) by the Vermilion Bird, 戌 (Xu) by the White Tiger, 寅 (Yin) by Liu He, 丑 (Chou) by Gou Chen, 子 (Zi) by the Azure Dragon, and 亥 (Hai) by Tian Kong. The four lessons, read from right to left, are:癸 (Gui) is placed on Chou, Chou is on Chou; Chou is on Chou; the day branch Chou is on Chou; Chou is on Chou, so all four lessons are the same, indicating a Hidden Chant. All the heavenly spirits on the four lessons are occupied by Gou Chen. The three transmissions are: the first transmission is Chou (official ghost, occupied by Gou Chen), the middle transmission is Xu (official ghost, occupied by the White Tiger), and the final transmission is Wei (official ghost, occupied by Tai Yin). The relationship of Chou to Xu and Xu to Wei forms a cycle of mutual punishment. In divination for capturing a thief, special attention is given to the Black Tortoise and the punishing spirit. The Black Tortoise is on Shen, which in symbolic terms represents a high place or building, so the thief is concluded to have come from a high place. The day stem Gui is placed on Chou, which punishes Xu, and Xu represents human laborers and high buildings. The final transmission is Wei, which is the burial place of wood, and Wei contains the Ghost Mansion with Tai Yin above it. Tai Yin governs concealment, and Wei also corresponds to a temple, so the stolen goods are concluded to be hidden in a temple. Chou is both an official star and carries the punishment, so it is concluded that the thief will be captured on the same day.

邵彥和曰：賊從高處下來作竊，物必藏在神廟中，未出衙門，今日午時二姓徐王人敗。丁己在未，故主二姓人。癸為日主刑戌，戌為人力，又為高樓宿處，伏吟不離本家也。未為木墓，內有鬼宿乘太陰，主神廟，又為隱匿。丑為官星，勾作刑，故獲。果於本衙中神廟龕下尋見，乃是更樓上更夫偷也。人在高處者，元武在申，申為高處也。

Shao Yanhe said: The thief came from a high place to commit the theft, and the stolen goods were definitely hidden in a temple, and had not yet been taken out of the office. The case will be exposed at noon today, involving people from the Xu and Wang families. This is because both Ding and Ji have hidden in Wei, and two heavenly stems are now appearing, so it involves two family names. The day stem Gui is associated with Chou, which is in conflict with Xu. Xu represents servants and also high buildings. This is also a hidden chant lesson, indicating that the stolen goods have not left the family. Wei is the burial place of wood, and it contains the Ghost mansion among the twenty-eight constellations. On top of that, Tai Yin is present, which represents temples and also concealment. Chou is both an official star and carries the punishment of Gou Chen, so it is concluded that the thief will be caught. Later, the lost items were indeed found under the shrine in the office, and they were stolen by the night watchman on the watchtower. The thief was judged to be in a high place because the Black Tortoise is in Shen, and Shen represents a high place in terms of objects.

戊申年八月癸丑日巳將丑時，鄭宣義己亥生（生於五月六日酉時）七十歲，占家宅。（方本占案）

In the year Wushen, eighth lunar month, on the day Guichou, with the month general being Si and the correct time being Chou, Zheng Xuanyi, born in the year Jihai, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month at You time, aged seventy, consulted about his family residence. The case is taken from "Fang Ben Zhan An." "Xuanyi" is a shortened term for Xuanyi Lang from the Song dynasty, belonging to the category of literary officials. The month general Si is placed above the Chou time, with the heaven plate advancing four positions ahead of the earth plate. This lesson's three transmissions form the metal triad of Si-You-Chou, and since August is the time when the metal energy is dominant, it is concluded that the human population is extremely prosperous while the residence's energy is instead being drained and weakened.

虎常｜空酉戌亥子玄｜龍申 丑陰 空朱空朱 父 己酉 空｜陳未 寅后 酉巳酉巳 鬼 癸丑 陰｜六午巳辰卯貴 巳丑巳癸 財 乙巳 朱｜朱蛇

The twelve palaces of the lesson disk are marked with earthly branches and the heavenly generals they ride: on You is Tian Kong, on Xu is Bai Hu, on Hai is Tai Chang, on Zi is Xuan Wu, on Shen is Qing Long, on Chou is Tai Yin, on Wei is Gou Chen, on Yin is Tian Hou, on Wu is Liu He, on Si is Zhu Que, on Chen is Teng Snake, and on Mao is Gu Ren. The Gu Ren is on Mao, and the generals proceed from Mao in a clockwise direction. The four lessons are read from right to left: the day stem is Gui, which is lodged in Chou, and on Chou is Si; on Si is You. The day branch is Chou, which is on Si; on Si is You. The heavenly generals riding the four lessons in order are Zhu Que, Tian Kong, Zhu Que, and Tian Kong. The three transmissions are arranged from top to bottom: the first transmission is You, with the ten thousand years cycle Ji You, You metal generates Gui water as parents, riding Tian Kong; the middle transmission is Chou, with the ten thousand years cycle Gui Chou, Chou earth overcomes Gui water as official ghost, riding Tai Yin; the final transmission is Si, with the ten thousand years cycle Yi Si, which is Gui water's wife wealth, riding Zhu Que. The characters Si, You, and Chou form a metal trinity, and in August metal is strong, so metal generates the day stem's water, indicating prosperity of people; but the day branch Chou, which originally governs the house, is now within the metal trinity and is continuously drained, so the house appears narrow and in decline. Si represents kitchen, stove, and shop, You represents wine and female servants, and the following interpretation is derived from these symbolic meanings step by step.

邵彥和曰：此課人盛宅狹，人與宅替；不出四年，必主修造酒房，廚下一婢酒中死；不要買叔婆之產，必有退悔；又主有三所店，先開二所見財，後開一所主敗；宅前不合置淘鍋，主八年內淘鍋屋下必停喪，是時其家四分矣。鄭兄弟十人，共四十餘口，未曾分；至辛亥年，公果造酒房；十二月婢盜酒飲，醉死。己酉年與叔婆交易，叔婆有子二人，年幼不曾預名，後果退悔。又丙辰戊午二年兩店興旺，己丑又開淘鍋，正對門前，至乙卯二月弟婦死，殯於內。

Shao Yanhe said: In this case, the family is prosperous but the house is cramped, with the people and the house in a state of mutual decline. Within four years, they must definitely build a wine cellar, and a servant girl will die from drinking wine beneath the kitchen; they should not buy property from the aunt's family, for if they do, they will certainly regret it and have to return it; they will also open three shops, the first two will bring profit, but the third will suffer loss; they should not place a pot for washing rice in front of the house, for if they do, within eight years the room where the pot is placed will surely be used for mourning, by which time the family will have split into four branches. At that time, the Zheng family had ten brothers and over forty people in the household, and had not yet divided. In the year Xinhai, Zheng Gong indeed built the wine cellar; in December, a servant girl stole wine and died from drinking too much. In the year Jiyou, they made a transaction with the aunt's family, but the aunt had two sons who were still young and did not sign the contract, and later they indeed regretted it and had to return the property. In the years Bingchen and Wuwu, two shops flourished; in the year Jichou, they set up a pot for washing rice in front of the house, and in the second month of the year Yimao, the wife of the younger brother died, and her spirit was laid to rest in that room.

蓋謂人盛者，癸日遇巳酉丑，八月旺金來生也。宅狹宅替者，丑為宅，值金局而脫氣也。丑為八月死氣，加於酉婢之上，丑上見巳，巳為廚灶，癸水見酉，乃酒也，故主婢死於酒房廚下。三店者，日上、支上、傳上見三個巳，巳為店業。一所敗者，癸水絕於巳故也。又為巳為鍋，值癸水乃淘鍋也。八年者，雙巳四數也。支上巳，末傳巳，皆為日財，故二所見財。日上巳獨不以財爻論，乃絕神加日也，故主敗，丑為宅，上加巳，是必宅前置淘鍋也。

Explain the reasoning: The reason for the prosperity of people is that on a癸 day, the巳, 酉, and 丑 form a metal trinity, and in the eighth month, the metal energy is strong, so the strong metal supports the water of the day stem. The reason for the narrow foundation and declining household energy is that 丑 represents the house, but it is trapped in the metal trinity and continuously loses energy. 丑 is the dead qi of the eighth month, and it is also on the酉, which represents servants; 丑 has a巳 on top, and in terms of objects,巳 represents the kitchen stove;癸 water meets酉, which represents wine, so the servants die in the kitchen. The three shops are because there are three 巳 on the day stem, day branch, and the third transmission, and in terms of objects, 巳 represents shops. One shop will fail because癸 water is in its dead state in 巳. 巳 can also be seen as a pot, and a pot with癸 water is a pot for washing rice. The eight years is because there are two 巳, each counted as four, totaling eight. The 巳 on the day branch and the 巳 on the final transmission are both wealth signs for the day stem, so those two shops have wealth; however, the 巳 on the day stem cannot be considered a wealth sign because it is the dead god of the day stem, so it indicates failure. 丑 represents the house and has a 巳 on top, indicating that a pot for washing rice must be placed in front of the house.

又一人論曰：癸絕於巳，似矣。然予猶有說焉，丑生於申，寧不絕於巳乎？則絕巳云云者，非其至也。其或癸水克巳，巳為店受克，則自敗。庶幾近是。此二論不知何人之筆，附錄於此，以便對考。要知先開二所見財，似指干支上二巳而言也。後開一所主敗，似指末傳上巳而言也。末傳為歸計，不宜逢絕也。一得之愚，附此備改。

There is another person who remarked: It seems reasonable to say that癸 water is in a state of绝 at巳, but I have another point to make—丑 earth has its growth at申, so why shouldn't it also be in绝 at巳? Therefore, merely stating that癸 water is in绝 at巳 does not fully capture the issue. Perhaps it should be said that癸 water overcomes巳, and since巳 is a business establishment that is overcome, it naturally leads to loss, which would be more accurate. Cheng Shuxun said: The above two discussions are not known to be from which person's hand, so they are temporarily recorded here for readers to compare and refer to. In short, the first two instances of gaining wealth seem to refer to the two巳 in the day stem and day branch; the later instance indicating failure seems to refer to the巳 in the final transmission. The final transmission represents the conclusion of an affair, and it is most unsuitable to fall in a state of绝. This is merely my personal opinion, recorded here for possible correction.

己酉年二月初四癸丑日亥將午時，葉助教丙辰生，生於四月初九寅時，五十四歲，占家宅。（方本占案）

On the Guichou day of the second lunar month in the Jiyou year, the month general is Hai and the hour of the day is Wu. Ye Zuhui, a teacher at the Imperial Academy and local schools, born in the Bingchen year on the ninth day of the fourth lunar month at the寅 hour, now fifty-four years old, consulted about his family home. The case is taken from "Fang Ben Zhan An." "Zuhui" refers to an official in the Imperial Academy and local schools. The month general Hai is placed over the Wu hour. The heaven plate advances five positions ahead of the earth plate. This lesson specifically predicts various illnesses caused by blockage in the water channels of the house, and is a well-known example in the Six Rats system for using the lesson's imagery to determine the layout of a residential house.

空虎｜龍戌亥子丑常｜陳酉 寅玄 空蛇空蛇 財 丙午 蛇｜六申 卯陰 亥午亥午 兄 辛亥 空｜朱未午巳辰后 午丑午癸 鬼 甲辰 後｜蛇貴

The twelve palaces of the lesson disk are marked with earthly branches and the heavenly generals they ride: on戌 is the Azure Dragon, on亥 is the Heavenly Void, on子 is the White Tiger, on丑 is the Tai Chang, on酉 is the Gou Chen, on寅 is the Black Tortoise, on申 is the Liu He, on卯 is the Tai Yin, on未 is the Vermilion Bird, on午 is the Teng Snake, on巳 is the Nobleman, and on辰 is the Heavenly Empress; the Nobleman is located on巳, and the generals proceed in order from巳. The four lessons are read from right to left: the day stem is癸, which is lodged in丑, and on丑 is午; on午 is亥; the day branch is丑, which shows午; on午 is亥. The heavenly generals riding the four lessons in sequence are Teng Snake, Heavenly Void, Teng Snake, Heavenly Void. The three transmissions are arranged from top to bottom: the first transmission is午, with the ten-thousand-year movement ofBingwu, which is the wife wealth of癸 water, riding Teng Snake; the middle transmission is亥, with the ten-thousand-year movement ofXinhai, which is the brother of癸 water, riding Heavenly Void; the final transmission is辰, with the ten-thousand-year movement ofJiachen, which is the official ghost of癸 water, riding Heavenly Empress. The first lesson 「丑上见午」 is the lower god丑 earth (the day stem's lodged palace) counteracting the upper god午 fire, which is a case of lower attacking upper, taking午 as the initiating transmission to form a review lesson;午 moves five positions to reach亥, and亥 moves five positions to reach辰. The final transmission辰 is the earth of Tiangang, which exactly blocks the middle transmission亥 water, stopping the water flow, and thus blocking the flow of blood in the body, which is the key to the entire lesson's diagnosis of illness.

邵彥和曰：主宅後東廁水溝不通，一主人患眼疾，二主人常有腸風瀉痢之疾，三主婦人血脈不通，四主人浮腫而死，只因西北水路閉塞，所以如此。若不開通，定主婦人癲狂重病也。葉家果有人常患眼，兼婦人有病。蓋因西北水溝為人所塞，凡雨後東廁及後屋常為水浸，助教自有腸風疾，妻妾每患吐瀉。

Shao Yanhe said: This case indicates that the water ditch on the east side of the main house's back is blocked. The first owner has eye disease, the second owner often suffers from bloody diarrhea and dysentery, the third owner has blocked blood circulation, and the fourth owner suffers from swelling and eventually dies. All of these are due to the blockage of the water channel in the northwest. If not unblocked, there will certainly be another case of women suffering from severe insanity. Later, the Ye family indeed had people suffering from eye diseases and women also fell ill. The reason was that the water ditch in the northwest was blocked by people. Every time it rained, the east side toilet and the back house were often flooded. The tutor himself had the disease of bloody discharge, and his wives and concubines often had vomiting and diarrhea.

蓋三傳辰土塞亥水，亥克午火，午卻逃臨身宅，身雖制得他，宅卻為他所害，故宅被害而反害人也。干屬水，支屬土，土來克水，中傳又是水，末傳天罡截住，壅塞亥水，故水不通，血脈不行，致生諸病。至戊午年婦人產後遂患癲病，蓋為騰蛇所撓耳。午為心，血脈不通而克心，故有是病。

The principle is as follows: the final transmission, which is the earth element of Chen, blocks the middle transmission, which is the water element of Hai. The water of Hai then goes on to overcome the initial transmission, which is the fire element of Wu. However, the fire of Wu escapes to the day stem and day branch, where it is still controlled by the day stem itself, but the house has already been harmed by the fire. Therefore, the house is harmed first, and then it harms people. The day stem is Gui, which belongs to water, and the day branch is Chou, which belongs to earth. The earth element overcomes the water element. The middle transmission is also water, and the final transmission, Tiangang, which is the earth element of Chen, cuts off the water of Hai, blocking its flow. Thus, the water path is blocked. When the water path is blocked, the blood circulation in the body is also obstructed, leading to various diseases. In the year Wuwu, a woman developed a manic illness after childbirth, which was caused by the disturbance of Teng Snake. The fire element Wu governs the heart in the human body. When the blood circulation is blocked, it turns back to overcome the heart, resulting in this illness.

己酉年六月初六癸丑日未將寅時，姜伯達丁卯生四十三歲，占前程。（宋本邵案、口鑑、捷要）

On the day of Gui Chou, the sixth day of the sixth lunar month in the year Ji You, the month general was Wei and the correct time was Yin. Jiang Bodada, born in the year Ding Mao and aged forty-three at that time, asked about his future prospects. The case is cited from the Song edition of Shao Yanhe's "Zhan An," "Liu Ren Kou Jian," and "Liu Ren Jie Yao." Here, "Wei Jiang" refers to the month general of the sixth month, which is one of the earthly branches. The month general Wei is placed on top of the Yin hour. The heaven plate advances five positions ahead of the earth plate. The four lessons and three transmissions are exactly the same as those in the case previously interpreted by Ye Zhaojiao, but since the time of casting the horoscope differs between day and night, the position of the nobleman varies, and thus the heavenly general changes accordingly, leading to a completely different interpretation. This is precisely what Cheng Shuxun's commentary in the following text aims to clarify.

陳六｜龍戌亥子丑朱｜空酉 寅蛇 陳玄陳玄 財 丙午 玄｜虎申 卯貴 亥午亥午 兄 辛亥 陳｜常未午巳辰后 午丑午癸 官 甲辰 後｜玄陰

The twelve palaces of the lesson disk are marked with earthly branches and the heavenly generals riding them: on戌 is the Azure Dragon, on亥 is Gou Chen, on子 is Liu He, on丑 is Vermilion Bird, on酉 is Tian Kong, on寅 is Teng Snake, on申 is White Tiger, on卯 is Nobleman, on未 is Tai Chang, on午 is Black Tortoise, on巳 is Tai Yin, and on辰 is Heavenly Empress. The Nobleman is located on卯, and the generals proceed from卯 in reverse order—this is night nobleman, differing from the day nobleman used in the lesson of Ye's tutor. The four lessons are read from right to left: the day stem is癸, which is lodged in丑, and on丑 there is午; on午 there is亥; the day branch is丑, and on丑 there is午; on午 there is亥. The heavenly generals riding the four lessons in order are Black Tortoise, Gou Chen, Black Tortoise, Gou Chen. The three transmissions are arranged from top to bottom: the first transmission is午, with the ten-day cycle moving to丙午, which is the wife wealth of癸 water, riding Black Tortoise; the middle transmission is亥, with the ten-day cycle moving to辛亥, which is the brother, riding Gou Chen; the final transmission is辰, with the ten-day cycle moving to甲辰, which is the official star, riding Heavenly Empress.午 represents the heart in the human body and the eyes and houses in objects. Now the first transmission午 is overcome by the day stem癸 water; the middle transmission亥, riding Gou Chen, is on the house position, and Gou Chen specializes in disputes and lawsuits; the final transmission辰 is the burial place of癸 day and rides Heavenly Empress, which governs women's blood and energy. These three layers correspond exactly to what Shao Yanhe said about house suffering, wife suffering, and heart suffering.

邵彥和曰：吾子平生有三苦：一為屋苦，二為妻苦，三為心所苦。初午被癸克，婦人常患心血不寧；中亥為同類，臨屋上，主官訟爭產；愛函析曰：勾陳主爭也。此惟夜貴則乘勾，若作亥將午時，則用晝貴，亥乃乘天空，何從而斷其官訟爭屋乎？末墓作天后，主女人血氣之災。自身隨傳入墓，必是公姑干亥山之墳內，有泥水侵棺，走獸入內為穴，所以前程不通。九年心病，又四年遭同族爭產，又五年死。若不動移，必然喪身也。

Shao Yanhe said: You will suffer from three kinds of hardship throughout your life: first, hardship from housing; second, hardship from wife and family; third, hardship from heart disease. The first transmission is Wu, which is overcome by the day stem Gui water, indicating that the woman in the family often suffers from heart discomfort. The middle transmission is Hai, which is of the same type as the day stem and is located on the day branch representing housing, indicating legal disputes and contention over property (Ai Han's analysis says: this is because Gou Chen governs contention. Gou Chen is on Hai because night honor is used; if the lesson is cast starting at the Wu time with day honor, then the sky void would be on Hai, and then how could one conclude there would be legal disputes over property?). The final transmission is Chen, which is the storage of Gui day and is governed by the Heavenly Empress, indicating that the woman in the family will suffer from blood-related calamities. The self follows the three transmissions into the storage, which certainly means that the grandparents' graves are on the Hai mountain, where the graves have been flooded by mud and water, and wild animals have made nests inside, so the future path is blocked. The first nine years are years of heart disease, followed by four years of contention over property with the same clan, then five years of death; if the ancestral graves are not moved, one's life will certainly not be preserved.

伯達乃士人，占課之時，殊不為意，其後宅宇摧損，拆而再造畢，遂心氣發作，日夜呻吟，財物耗散，妻亦心血不安，此九年午所管也。第十年兄弟日夜爭吵，或塞東廁，或開西庫，又爭三處店房，遂致興訟，此四年亥所管也。末辰卻管五年，二年女人血病死，三年自身大病，遂移公婆之墳，啟攢視之，泥土淤塞，除泥改喪，後乃安穩。

Jiang Bodada was a scholar who did not pay much attention when casting a divination. Later, his house collapsed and had to be rebuilt. Soon after the new house was built, he became very angry, suffering from continuous moaning day and night, spending a lot of money, and his wife also developed a heart condition. This was the nine-year period governed by the first transmission, which is the hour of Wu. In the tenth year, there were constant quarrels among his brothers. Sometimes they blocked the eastern toilet, sometimes they opened the western storehouse, and they also disputed over three shophouses, eventually leading to legal disputes. This was the four-year period governed by the middle transmission, which is the hour of Hai. The final transmission, governed by the hour of Chen, covered the remaining five years: in the first two years, a woman in the family died from a blood disease, and in the third year, he himself fell seriously ill, leading to the relocation of his parents-in-law's graves. When they opened the grave, they found the soil blocked and muddy. After clearing the mud and reburial, everything became stable.

蓋午受癸克，走回本家，又受亥克，雖虎賁之勇，亦不能當，所以見諸般不利。午為目、為屋、為妻，故皆不安也。

Explain the reasoning: The fire of Wu is first overcome by the癸 water of the day stem, and it retreats to its original position at Wu. However, it is then attacked again by the middle transmission亥 water. Even with the strength of a brave warrior, it cannot withstand attacks from both sides, so everything goes smoothly. The fire of Wu also represents eyes, houses, and spouses, so these three things all become unsettled.

愚按：此課與葉助教占宅之課同，然彼是亥將午時，故邵公之斷語不同，不知何人將二課皆作亥將午時占，而入於一課二事各斷式例內，剛錯課多矣。今得宋本改正。

Cheng Shuxun notes: This lesson and the previous one where Ye Zhujiao divined a residence are exactly the same in the four lessons and three transmissions; the difference is that the previous one started at the hour of Wei with the time of Wu, using the daytime noble, so Zhao Gong's interpretation was different. It is unknown who mistakenly wrote both lessons as being divined at the hour of Wei with the time of Wu, and included them in the format of "one lesson with two matters, each with its own interpretation," leading to many errors. Now, according to the Song edition, the correction has been made.

乾隆丙子年十二月癸丑日丑將申時占婚姻。男辛卯生四十六歲，女壬子生二十五歲。（牧夫占驗）

In the year Bingzi of the Qianlong era, on the day Guichou of the twelfth lunar month, the month general was Chou and the correct time was Shen. The divination was about a marriage matter. The man was born in the year Xinmao and was forty-six years old, while the woman was born in the year Renzi and was twenty-five years old. The case is taken from "Pastureman's Divination Verification." The month general Chou was placed above the Shen time, and the heaven plate advanced five positions ahead of the earth plate, matching the previous two lessons in terms of the heaven and earth plates, but the heavenly generals used differed according to day and night.

陳六｜龍戌亥子丑朱｜空酉 寅蛇 陳玄陳玄 財 丙午 玄｜虎申 卯貴 亥午亥午 兄 辛亥 陳｜常未午巳辰后 午丑午癸 官 甲辰 後｜玄陰

The distribution of Heavenly Generals in the twelve palaces is:戌 is occupied by the Azure Dragon,亥 by Gou Chen,子 by Liu He,丑 by Vermilion Bird,酉 by Tian Kong,寅 by Teng Snake,申 by White Tiger,卯 by Nobleman,未 by Tai Chang,午 by Black Tortoise,巳 by Tai Yin, and辰 by Heavenly Empress. The four lessons, read from right to left:癸 is located on丑, with午 on丑;午 has亥 on it; the day branch丑 has午 on it;午 has亥 on it; the gods above are successively the Black Tortoise, Gou Chen, Black Tortoise, and Gou Chen. The three transmissions are: initial transmission is午 (wealthy wife, occupied by Black Tortoise), middle transmission is亥 (brother, occupied by Gou Chen), and final transmission is辰 (official star, occupied by Heavenly Empress). In divination for marriage, the wealth sign represents the wife and the official star represents the husband. In this case, the wealth sign午 is in use but falls in the绝 position.癸 water is绝 in巳, and午 and巳 are both fire signs, thus losing strength and having no root, indicating that the couple cannot live together in harmony and the family will be poor. The final transmission辰 is both the墓 and storage of癸 day and transforms into official ghost. The Heavenly Empress above it represents an old female relative, causing disturbance in the family. The number of辰 is five, and the number of癸 is also five, so it is predicted that there will be an empty marriage within five years.

王牧夫曰：此婚必成。成後有老陰人不能安靜。然財臨絕地，不能齊眉，亦主貧窮。五年之內一夢醒矣。老陰人者，天后作墓鬼也。五年者，辰數五，癸干亦五數也。婚成後，岳母隨女居子婿家，年老瑣碎，吵鬧無時，三年而卒。妻懷孕，得病分娩，至次年卒。一夢醒矣，五年之內拮据異常，亦主妻家窮極。

Wang Mufu said: This marriage will certainly succeed. After the wedding, there will be an elderly female relative in the family who will cause much disturbance. However, the wealth hexagram is in the state of decline, indicating that the husband and wife will not live together until old age, and the family will be poor. Within five years, this marriage will be like a dream that fades away. The term "old woman" refers to the final transmission on the Chen position, which is occupied by the Heavenly Empress, and the Chen position transforms into the tomb ghost. The term "five years" refers to the number five associated with the Chen position in the Six Rats system, and the day stem Gui also has the number five. Later, the marriage did take place, and the mother-in-law moved in with her daughter to live with the son-in-law. As she grew older, her temper became irritable and she constantly quarreled without ceasing, and she died three years later. The wife became pregnant, but she fell ill during childbirth and died the following year. The phrase "awakening from a dream" precisely refers to the family's unusual financial difficulties within these five years, and also indicates that the wife's family became extremely impoverished.

戊申年十二月癸丑日丑將未時，何知丞丙寅生，生於二月初三日酉時，四十三歲，占赴任。（方本占案）

On the day of Gui Chou in the twelfth lunar month of the Wu Shen year, with the month general being Chou and the hour of Wei, the question concerns the appointment to office. The person in question was born in the year Bing Yin, on the second day of the second lunar month at the hour of You, and is currently forty-three years old. According to the case recorded in "Fang Ben Zhan An," the hour of Wei refers to the third watch of the twelve hours, which is from 1 to 3 pm. "Zhi Cheng" is a general term for assistant officials such as county magistrates and county deputies. The month general Chou is placed on top of the hour of Wei. The heaven plate and earth plate differ by six positions, forming a reverse repetition lesson. Reverse repetition indicates going back and forth, going and returning, so this lesson suggests that he will be delayed in taking up his post.

虎常｜空亥子丑寅玄｜龍戌 卯陰 常朱常朱 鬼 丁未 朱｜陳酉 辰后 丑未丑未 鬼 癸丑 常｜六申未午巳貴 未丑未癸 鬼 丁未 朱｜朱蛇

The twelve palaces of the divination board have their earthly branches and the heavenly generals riding upon them:亥 is occupied by Tian Kong, 子 by Bai Hu, 丑 by Tai Chang, 寅 by Xuan Wu, 戌 by Qing Long, 卯 by Tai Yin, 酉 by Gou Chen, 辰 by Tian Hou, 申 by Liu He, 未 by Zhu Qu, 午 by Teng Snake, and 巳 by Guiren. Guiren is located on 巳, and the other generals start from 巳 and proceed in a clockwise direction. The four lessons are read from right to left: the day stem is 癸, which is assigned to the palace 丑, and on 丑 we find 未; on 未 we find 丑; the day branch is 丑, which also shows 未; on 未 we again find 丑. The upper and lower elements are in mutual conflict, indicating a reverse rhyme. The heavenly generals riding upon the four lessons are in the order Zhu Qu, Tai Chang, Zhu Qu, and Tai Chang. The three transmissions are arranged from top to bottom: the first transmission is 未, which is Dingwei by the ten-day cycle, and 未 earth overcomes 癸 water, indicating an official ghost, riding Zhu Qu; the second transmission is 丑, which is Guichou by the ten-day cycle, also indicating an official ghost, riding Tai Chang; the third transmission is again 未, still an official ghost, riding Zhu Qu. The three transmissions only move between 丑 and 未, all indicating official ghosts. 未 is also a position of Bingfu and an official ghost for 癸 day, so Shao Yanhe called it "Jiu Zheng" — the old official position lingers on, and the new assignment naturally cannot be carried out promptly.

邵彥和曰：此課舊政上又見舊政，不知已有幾年。何曰：有三年。先生曰：以此觀之，第六年方得赴任。何以為不然。蓋何欲歸安縣，被吏部差一考，果六年至任。先生曰：知丞終此任矣。果六年至任，八年喪歸。

Shao Yanhe said: This case is one of an old post overlapping with another old post; I don't know how many years you have already been delayed. He Zhi Chen answered: Already three years. The master said: According to this, it will take until the sixth year to take office. He Zhi Chen did not agree. Originally, he had intended to take up a post in Guai'an County, but was reassigned by the Personnel Department for another performance review, and indeed, he did not take office until the sixth year. The master then said: This magistrate will die in this post. Later, indeed, he took office in the sixth year and served until the eighth year, when his family carried his coffin back.

蓋戊申年未為舊政（愚按：未為病符，故為舊。作日之官鬼，故為舊政也），初末日辰皆見，又十二月月建丑，又加於舊上，來往皆是舊人，故不能速。六故斷其八年扶喪而歸。

Explain the reasoning: In the year of Wushen, the position of Wei in the hour of Zheng represents the former position (Cheng Shuxun notes: Wei is the Bingfu in the divine and ominous factors, hence called "old"; Wei is also the official ghost for the day of Gui, hence called "old government"). This Wei appears in the first transmission, the final transmission, and on the day stem and day branch; it also coincides with the twelfth month's month builder being Chou, which presses upon the old position of Wei. Repeated encounters are with old people and old matters, so things do not progress quickly. Since the predicted time falls in the sixth year, it is concluded that he will serve until the eighth year and then return home with his coffin. (In the original text, the sentence "six therefore concludes the eighth year" has a suspected missing character below the character "six.")

六月癸丑日巳將亥時，壬辰老人占。（一字訣玉連環）

In the sixth month on the day of Guichou, the month general is Si and the correct time is Hai. A man born in the year Renchen comes to cast a divination lesson. The case is taken from "The One Character诀 Zhi Lianhuan." The month general Si is placed over Hai time. The heaven plate and earth plate differ by six positions, making it still a reverse lesson. The four lessons and three transmissions are the same as those in the lesson cast by He Zhongcheng, but this is because it is cast at night and uses the night noble, while the heavenly general is different. Although the old man's question is not explicitly stated, from the lesson it is clear he is asking about illness. The following text by Xu Cibin directly states that the illness was caused by diet and that the man will die within a day or two.

勾合朱蛇｜亥子丑寅 朱常朱常 官 丁未 常｜龍戌 卯貴 丑未丑未 官 癸丑 朱｜空酉 辰后 未丑未癸 官 丁未 常｜申未午巳｜虎常玄陰

The twelve palaces of the lesson disk have their earthly branches and the heavenly generals riding them:亥 is occupied by Gou Chen, 子 by Liu He, 丑 by Vermilion Bird, 寅 by Teng Snake, 戌 by Azure Dragon, 卯 by Nobleman, 酉 by Tian Kong, 辰 by Heavenly Empress, 申 by White Tiger, 未 by Tai Chang, 午 by Black Tortoise, and 巳 by Tai Yin. The Nobleman is located in 卯, and the generals move in reverse from 卯. This is using the night nobleman. The four lessons are read from right to left: the day stem is 癸, which is lodged in 丑, and 丑 has 未; 未 has 丑; the day branch is 丑, which has 未; 未 has 丑. The upper and lower branches are in opposition, indicating a return echo. The heavenly generals riding the four lessons are in sequence Tai Chang, Vermilion Bird, Tai Chang, and Vermilion Bird. The three transmissions are read from top to bottom: the first transmission is 未, which is Dingwei in the ten heavenly stems, representing an official star riding Tai Chang; the middle transmission is 丑, which is Guichou in the ten heavenly stems, also representing an official star riding Vermilion Bird; the final transmission is again 未, still an official star riding Tai Chang. In the Six Rats system, 未 is also called Xiaoji, which symbolizes mutton and wine. Tai Chang represents banquets and feasts; 未 belongs to earth and governs the spleen and stomach. All three transmissions are earth, surrounding the癸 water, preventing the water from flowing freely. Therefore, the diagnosis is that drinking and eating injure the spleen, and there is obstruction in the two excretory functions.

徐次賓曰：此人因酒食過多，傷損肝胃，並下孟血痢；又小腸不通，添心腹脹滿，用藥不效，飲食不進，旦暮而死。蓋日上小吉主羊酒，太常主筵宴，土主脾胃，各乘休氣，故言酒食傷於脾胃也。癸水受未土制，故下痢。三傳皆土，癸水不能流行，故小腸不通。心腹脹滿者，癸亥水不能外行也。蓋小吉為藥，太常為飲食，既為日鬼，故藥不效，食不進矣。且時為日馬，卦得返吟遊子，未遁丁神，老病得之，豈能出入？當是陽魂乘天馬、馭六丁，遊於天涯地角之外，其病身一虛殼耳。又命上乘喪魄，與三傳俱是日鬼，以四鬼守虛殼，豈不應旦墓而死者乎？

Xu Cibin said: This person has eaten too much meat and alcohol, injuring his liver and stomach, and has also developed diarrhea with bloody stools. In addition, his small intestine is blocked, causing distension and fullness in the chest and abdomen. He has taken medicine but it has not worked, and he cannot eat anything. He is expected to die within a day or two. The day stem's heavenly stem is not named 'Xiaoji' in the Six Rens, and the physical signs indicate mutton and alcohol. The 'Tai Chang' is riding on the 'Wei' and indicates a banquet. 'Wei' belongs to earth and governs the spleen and stomach, and these are all in a state of weakness and confinement, so it is said that the person has been injured by alcohol and food. The癸 water is restrained by the 'Wei' earth, hence the diarrhea. All three transmissions are earth, and the癸 water has no way to flow, hence the blockage in the small intestine. The distension and fullness in the chest and abdomen are due to the癸亥 water qi being unable to discharge outward. 'Xiaoji' is also associated with medicine in the physical signs, and 'Tai Chang' is associated with food. Now they have both transformed into the official ghost of the day stem, so the medicine is ineffective and he cannot eat. Moreover, the hour of亥 is the 'Yi Ma' of the癸 day, and the lesson pattern is a 'Youzi' pattern in the reverse repetition. The 'Wei' also hides the 'Ding' spirit. A sick person encountering such a lesson can hardly be expected to move about. This is clearly a yang soul riding on the Heavenly Horse and driving the six Ding, wandering to the ends of the earth. The remaining body is nothing but an empty shell. Moreover, his original destiny is governed by the 'Sangpo' spirit, and the three transmissions are all the official ghosts of the day stem. Four layers of official ghosts guarding a single empty shell, how could it not be that he dies within a day or two?

崇正丁丑年十月癸丑日酉時，太監陳國用占東宮田妃六甲。（指南）

On theGuichou day of the tenth month in the Dingchou year of the Ming Chongzhen era, at the You hour, Eunuch Chen Guoyong divined about the pregnancy of the Eastern Palace Consort Tian. The case is recorded in the "Six壬 Guide." "Chongzheng" refers to Chongzhen, and the Qing dynasty changed the character to avoid taboo. "Liu Jia" refers to pregnancy. The original text only mentions the main hour, and the four lessons and three transmissions are the same as the previous lesson, still a reverse transmission lesson, and the heavenly general is still the night noble. Consort Tian was the favored concubine of the Chongzhen emperor, and the sixth son who died mentioned later was a real event in the Ming palace.

勾合朱蛇｜亥子丑寅 朱常朱常 官 丁未 常｜龍戌 卯貴 丑未丑未 官 癸丑 朱｜空酉 辰后 未丑未癸 官 丁未 常｜申未午巳｜虎常玄陰

The distribution of Heavenly Generals in the twelve palaces is:亥 is occupied by Gou Chen, 子 by Liu He, 丑 by Vermilion Bird, 寅 by Teng Snake, 戌 by Azure Dragon, 卯 by Nobleman, 酉 by Tian Kong, 辰 by Heavenly Empress, 申 by White Tiger, 未 by Tai Chang, 午 by Black Tortoise, and 巳 by Tai Yin. The four lessons, read from right to left, are:癸 is located on 丑, 丑 has 未; 未 has 丑; the day branch 丑 has 未; 未 has 丑. The Heavenly Generals corresponding to these are Tai Chang, Vermilion Bird, Tai Chang, and Vermilion Bird respectively. The three transmissions are 未, 丑, and 未, all of which are official stars of the day stem. The Heavenly Generals for these are Tai Chang, Vermilion Bird, and Tai Chang respectively. To determine the gender of the fetus, we look at yin and yang: both 丑 and 未 are yin branches, but due to the reciprocal nature of the lesson, they turn to yang. The Heavenly General on the day branch and the day branch itself are of the same nature, so it is certain to be a male fetus. As for the time of death, we look at the fetal god: the fetal god is sandwiched between two conflicting forces and lacks vitality. The final transmission is on 卯, which is the position of the eastern palace and the zodiac sign of the rat. However, it is attacked by the酉 general and the yin killer in the lesson, so it is predicted to occur in the year of 卯.

陳公獻曰：此男子之祥也，然生而難育，應在卯年。蓋因純陰返陽，支上神與支相比，故主男必矣。然而卯年不育者何也？胎神夾克無氣，此追魂之魔，卯為東宮子宿，受酉將陰殺沖剋，是以知其卯年不育。未幾田妃生第六子，卯年命殞。

Chen Gongxian said: This is a favorable omen for giving birth to a boy, but the child will be difficult to raise and should be in the year of Mao. Because this divination shows a pure yin image turning into yang, and the heavenly stem on the day branch also shares the same energy as the day branch, so it is determined to be a male fetus. Then why can't the child survive in the year of Mao? Because the fetal spirit is blocked and controlled by both sides, resulting in no life qi, which is a凶魔 (evil spirit) that steals souls; the year of Mao is the position of the Eastern Palace Prince's star mansion, yet it is precisely attacked by the酉 general and the yin killer used in the divination, thus it is known that the child cannot survive in the year of Mao. Soon after, the Tian妃 gave birth to her sixth son, and the child died in the year of Mao.

戊辰年寅月癸丑日亥將辰時，餘思五兄占僕病吉凶。（牧夫占驗）

On theGuichou day of the寅 month (the first lunar month) in theWuchen year, the month general is亥 and the correct hour is辰. I was thinking about consulting my fifth brother regarding the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the illness of a servant in the household. The case is taken from《Mùfū Zhànyàn》. The month general亥 is placed on top of the辰 hour. The heavenly plate advances seven positions ahead of the earthly plate. To divinate the illness of a servant, one should take the day branch as the position of the servant and use戌 as the class god representing the servant. Then one should examine whether the class god has a path of survival.

合朱蛇貴｜子丑寅卯 貴虎貴虎 子 ◎卯 貴｜勾亥 辰后 卯申卯申 鬼 庚戌 龍｜龍戌 巳陰 申丑申癸 財 乙巳 陰｜酉申未午｜空虎常玄

The twelve palaces of the lesson disk have their earthly branches and the celestial generals riding them: Zi (rat) has Liu He (Six Harmonies), Chou (ox) has Vermilion Bird, Yin (tiger) has Teng Snake, Mao (rabbit) has Nobleman, Hai (pig) has Gou Chen, Chen (dragon) has Heavenly Empress, Xu (dog) has Azure Dragon, Si (snake) has Tai Yin, You (rooster) has Tian Kong, Shen (monkey) has White Tiger, Wei (sheep) has Tai Chang, and Wu (horse) has Black Tortoise. The Nobleman is located on Mao, and all the generals start from Mao and move in reverse. The four lessons are read from right to left: the day stem is癸 (Gui), which is lodged in Chou (ox), and on Chou there is Shen (monkey); on Shen there is Mao. The day branch is Chou (ox), and on Chou there is Shen; on Shen there is Mao. The celestial generals riding the four lessons in order are White Tiger, Nobleman, White Tiger, and Nobleman. The three transmissions are arranged from top to bottom: the first transmission is Mao, marked 「◎」 indicating it is in the empty period, representing the son and daughter of癸 water, riding Nobleman; the middle transmission is Xu, with the hidden transmission being Geng Xu, Xu earth overcoming癸 water as official ghost, riding Azure Dragon; the final transmission is Si, with the hidden transmission being Yi Si, representing the wife and wealth of癸 water, riding Tai Yin. The second lesson 「Shen on Mao」 is where the lower god Shen metal overcomes the upper god Mao wood, which is a case of lower overcoming upper, taking Mao as the initiating transmission to form a review lesson. The day stem and day branch both have Shen metal, which overcomes the first transmission's Mao wood. In terms of physical objects, Mao wood represents a coffin. Xu is the class god representing a servant, and the final transmission Si is also confined within the coffin. Therefore, Wang Mufu concluded that this servant must die.

王牧夫曰：此課占僕病，大凶不治，必死。來日寅沖去支上長生是凶期耳。蓋主占僕，干支乘金克卯木為棺槨，為鑄印，為煉尸。而戌為僕之類神，巳在棺槨之內，安能望其生乎？至死日果死。占病五十以上，亦不宜得顧祖課。餘首為程姑母占，斷以必不能起。蓋顧祖乃返本殺也，後為人得此屢驗，附記於此。

Wang Mufu said: This divination concerns the illness of a servant, which is extremely ominous and untreatable, certain death is inevitable. Tomorrow is a Yin day, and the Yin trigram will clash with the day branch's long life, which is the metal Shen. This is the day of misfortune. Since the master is divining for the servant, both the day stem and day branch are occupied by the metal Shen, which overcomes the wood Mao. The wood Mao symbolizes a coffin in terms of objects. This pattern is also known as "casting a seal" and "reducing a corpse." The Xu is the class god of the servant, and the final transmission Si is trapped within the coffin. How could he possibly survive? On that day, he indeed died. Those who are over fifty years old should not receive the "Gu Zu" lesson. The first time I divined for Cheng's aunt, I predicted she would certainly not recover, for "Gu Zu" is the killing force of returning to the original. Later, when I divined for others and received this lesson, it often proved accurate, so I have recorded it here.