Divination on survival or death, near or far (with method for determining the general's fate)

前述雖推限與期，存亡遠近未曾知。有人一去無消息，乃課行年定吉凶。年前寅申意不返，巳亥本鄉心還念。處季已為他方鬼，逢孟身安即便回。乘仲定然多阻滯，或纏疾病尚棲遲。天乙太常臨生旺，必逢高貴挈同隨。龍旺加臨多財帛，天后陰人酒色圍

Although the limits and the time of return have been established, one still does not know whether a person is alive or dead, and how far away they are. If someone goes off and there is no news, their fate is determined by the year they were born. If their birth year is寅 or 申, they will not return by chance; if it is巳 or 亥, they still think of their hometown. If their birth year falls in the seasons of辰, 戌, 丑, or 未, they have already become ghosts in a foreign land; if it falls in the seasons of寅, 申, 巳, or 亥, their body is safe and they will return soon; if it falls in the seasons of子, 午, 卯, or 酉, there will certainly be obstacles, or they may be afflicted by illness and remain abroad. If the "Heavenly Empress" and "Tai Chang" are present in the positions of Growth and Prosperity, they will certainly meet a noble person who will support and accompany them. If the "Azure Dragon" is strong and prosperous, they will gain wealth; if the "Heavenly Empress" appears, they will be surrounded by women, wine, and feasts.

勾雀乘之必構訟，蛇虎臨年惹禍危。總觀神將知凶吉，生辰合日是歸期。三千理外卜將軍，千里須教看歲支。五百里應求月建，百里干臨五十時。其下悉來為到限，日月還須意決疑。

When "Gou Chen" and "Zhu Que" occupy the position, there will certainly be legal disputes; if "Teng Snake" and "Bai Hu" arrive at the year position, trouble and danger will follow. The overall outcome of good or bad can be determined by observing the deities and generals. The day when the person's birth stem aligns with the day stem is the time of return. For those far away over three thousand li, one should consult the "General"煞; for those within a thousand li, one should look at the branch of the Tai Su; for those within five hundred li, one should refer to the Month Builder; for those within a hundred li, one should check the day stem; and for those within fifty li, one should look at the branch of the time. When all the branches under these positions are complete, that is the limit of arrival. However, the exact month and day still need to be decided by oneself.

孟以勝光仲以未，季加傳送加太歲，常來罡下訪將軍，動土備營多不利。凡占行人，將軍法別云，日如度限乃方用，若不度限不用此。三千里將軍下者是，此煞加臨到處為到期。

The method of determining the General's evil influence: in the first year, use 'Shengguang' (Wu); in the middle year, use Wei; in the last year, use 'Chuansong' (Shen). Add these to the year's stem. Usually, search for the General's position below 'Tiangang' (Chen). If you break ground or set up camp in this direction, it is generally unfavorable. When predicting the whereabouts of a traveler, the General's method has a different approach: if the day branch has already passed its limit, it can be used; if not, this method should not be applied. For those far away over three thousand li, use the position of the General's evil influence. Wherever this evil influence falls, that is where the arrival is expected.

將軍三年一移辰，如寅卯辰年在子，巳午未年在卯，申酉戌年在午，亥子丑年在柘。如未年在卯，加臨子者，即正到也。千里而看歲支加未，看臨甚處。五百看月建臨甚處。一百里而看干臨甚處，五十里看支神甚處，即為到期也。

General's Harm lasts three years and moves one sign each year: in the years of寅, 卯, and 辰, it is in 子; in the years of巳, 午, and 未, it is in 卯; in the years of申, 酉, and 戌, it is in 午; in the years of亥, 子, and 丑, it is in 酉 (the original text says 柘). For example, in the year of 未, the General is in 卯. If 卯 is placed on 子, then it is the time to arrive home. Within a thousand li, look at where the Earthly Branch of the Sovereign Year falls after adding 未; within five hundred li, look at where the Month Builder is; within a hundred li, look at where the Day Stem is; within fifty li, look at where the God of the Day Branch is — the place where it is located is the time to arrive.

更課游神春在丑，秋亥冬辰夏子位。加孟未來加仲發，季上相逢不久歸。復有親情不相見，欲得他來意甚思。乃為戲神看立處，冬夏與午同取之。

Now looking at "Youshen" (Wandering Spirit): In spring it is in Chou, in summer in Zi, in autumn in Hai, and in winter in Chen. When Youshen is added to the four young months, the person has not yet set out; when added to the four middle months, they have already started; and when added to the four old months, they will return soon. If there are close friends who have not been seen for a long time and one wishes to invite them, then one should look at where "Xishen" (Drama Spirit) is located; in winter and summer, it is both in Wu position.

春當在巳秋居酉，臨處依前辨速遲。更看游神臨用發論，須看天罡加日辰為到，加孟未，加仲發，加季至。如不見天罡，即看游神發用，主歸也。途處差慢，不見游神，可以度限。

The god of entertainment is in Si in spring and in You in autumn. Wherever it appears, one still determines the speed according to the previous method. One must also check whether the wandering god is at the initiating transmission. One must look at the Tiangang (Chen) added to the day stem and day branch to determine arrival. If the Tiangang is added to the four young months, it has not yet arrived; if added to the four middle months, it has already started; if added to the four old months, it is about to arrive. If the lesson does not contain the Tiangang, then check whether the wandering god is at the initiating transmission; if it is, it also indicates return. If there is a delay on the way and the wandering god is not present, one can use the limit method to calculate.

漁獵太沖為害神，若來加午虎狼嗔。臨丑中刀還走失，伏昴空回不利人

Divination for hunting and fishing uses "Taichong" (Mao) as the harmful deity. If it falls on Wu, it indicates tigers and wolves raging and injuring people; if it falls on Chou, the game may be wounded by arrows but still escape. If it encounters "Hidden Chant" or "Amber Star" lesson patterns, then the hunter will return empty-handed, which is unfavorable for people.

支為魚鳥干為網，支傷斗季獲毛鱗。占時受克為多得，營室宜加日與辰。

The day branch represents fish and birds as prey, while the day stem represents a net: if the day branch is harmed, and the "Dǒu Gāng" (Chen) is also present along with the four seasons, then animals with fur, scales, and fish can be captured. If the time of divination is harmed, the harvest will certainly be abundant. It is even better if the "Yíng Shì" constellation is added to both the day stem and the day branch.

有怪驚人須決憂，三傳神將辨其由（看朱及元武等神）。又看怪是何神物，三空禽物依次求。元作天空水禽物，酉乘六合釜鳴鳩。魁併合時神驚犬，罡附螣蛇井沸流。太乙武兼蛇入廁。傳送光明大吉牛。

If there is an unusual and frightening occurrence at home, one must discern the cause of the trouble by examining the divine generals associated with the three transmissions. Pay special attention to the deities such as 「Vermilion Bird」 and 「Black Tortoise」. Then determine what kind of strange phenomenon it is: if the three transmissions fall into an empty position and 「Tian Kong」 appears, it indicates a water bird; if 「Liu He」 is on酉, it suggests the sound of a cooking pot or a magpie causing disturbance; if 「Hekui」 (戌) and 「Liu He」 appear together, it indicates dogs barking suddenly; if 「Tiangang」 (辰) is attached to 「Teng Snake」, it suggests boiling water from a well; if 「Taiyi」 (巳) is combined with 「Black Tortoise」 and 「Teng Snake」, it indicates a snake entering the toilet; if 「Chuansong」 (申) shows a bright appearance and 「Daji」 (丑) is present, it suggests an ox causing disturbance.

博戲三傳吉將宜（欲知勝負，但看吉將），兩人俱課就年推（兩人合視，行年上吉將克彼人者吉，年上得凶將克此則彼勝）。年上吉神雖立勝，遭彼凶神克也輸。三人以上皆詳此（只看行年上立）。同年主客以乘除（如二人同年，即看主客）。

Gambling games, in the Three Transmissions, a favorable general (吉将) is good (to know the outcome, only look at which side the favorable general is on). When two people gamble, each should cast their own natal year chart (行年课) and analyze it (combining both: if one's favorable general overcomes the other, it is favorable; if one's natal year has a凶将 and is overcome by the other, then the other wins). Even if the natal year has a favorable deity that could win, if it is overcome by the other's凶神, it still results in a loss. For three or more people, this method is used to analyze each person's natal year deity. If two people have the same birth year, the host and guest are distinguished to adjust the calculation (for example, if two people have the same age, see who is the host and who is the guest).

先起為客應為主，客是干兮主是支。支干上下言凶吉，克處之時使可為。對敵從何推勝負，支干年上定贏輸。相剋擇其強者勝，龍常旺相併難爭。

The party that initiates the action is the guest, and the party that responds is the host. The guest uses the day stem, and the host uses the day branch. To determine fortune or misfortune, we look at the heavenly stems and earthly branches associated with the day stem and day branch. The one who can overcome the other has the advantage. To determine the outcome between the two sides, we look at the day stem, day branch, and the year stem. When they are in mutual control, the side with the stronger Five Phases wins. If the other side has the Azure Dragon or Tai Chang and they are prosperous and strong, then it is difficult to compete.

有人暫出何時返，從出門時加日支。後星之下辰應到（後星，天罡也）。或見貴人臨貴歸（天罡與貴人加日，並立到）。天罡加季門前待，占值伏吟相見遲

If someone leaves temporarily, when will they return? Start the calculation by adding the time they left to the day branch. The earthly branch under the "Later Star" indicates the time they will return (the Later Star is "Tiangang" or Chen). Alternatively, if the Nobleman is present, they will return together with the Nobleman (when Tiangang and the Nobleman are added to the day stem, it indicates they will arrive immediately). If Tiangang is added to the four seasons, the person is already waiting at the door. If the divination shows "Hidden Chant" lesson, their meeting will be delayed.

擬出行時當去否，須看行年與日辰。太沖傳送魁罡立，或在時前定涉塵。日神年神逢旺相，斗罡中孟往無因。干吉去時宜陸路。支安水道往無迍。太沖若也為蛇虎，車覆船翻必損人。

Intending to go out, whether you should go or not depends on the year stem and the day stem and day branch. If "Too Chong" (Mao), "Chuansong" (Shen), "Hekui," and "Tiangang" are in the same position, or if they fall before the time of divination, it indicates that the journey will involve much toil and hardship. If the heavenly stems on the day and the year stem both meet the condition of being prosperous and strong, and "Dugang" (Chen) falls on the four central or four primary months, then going on the journey will result in nothing. If the day stem is favorable, it is suitable to travel by land; if the day branch is stable, traveling by water will have no obstacles. If "Too Chong" is occupied by "Teng Snake" or "White Tiger," there will be a car accident or shipwreck, and people will be injured.

在事同差作使行，去留猶未決衷情。日辰上下無刑剋，傳往天罡必有徵。支干上下相殘害，用神天乙復還停。貴人背卻支干位（為干支在天乙後勾入臨），天馬行陽並計程（乘天馬主行人得出，天乙前為出陽主行）。行年立用為關鑰，記過猶能據本廳。若值天車來入卦，前途恐遭車馬驚。春巳夏辰秋在未，冬酉行人畏此並。

A person currently in office who is sent on a mission is uncertain whether to go or stay. If the day stem and day branch do not suffer mutual harm, and the three transmissions reach "Tiangang" (Chen), they must go. However, if the day stem and day branch mutually harm each other, and the initiating transmission is "Tianyi Guiren," they should remain. If the nobleman is facing away from the day stem and day branch (meaning the stem and branch fall after Tianyi and are connected to it), and rides on "Tianma" in a yang position, the distance should be calculated. Riding Tianma indicates the person can set out; if it is before Tianyi, it signifies departure, which is yang and indicates movement. The god established in the year of the journey represents the checkpoint and key. Even if there is a mistake, they can still appeal within their own office. If "Tianche" enters the divination, the journey may face danger from vehicles and horses. Tianche appears in巳 in spring, in辰 in summer, in未 in autumn, and in酉 in winter. The person going on a mission is most afraid of encountering it.

運式占逃須辨人，男女良賤位中分。閉口德刑前兩卦，仔細推尋聖若神。假使天魁作元武，元下便是逃者身（欲尋逃者，皆責元武）。天魁去戌知遐邇（凡占逃亡，天魁戌地，一辰一進而，餘仿此，三里遠離三個辰，亦主三伴）。

For divination regarding the escape of a person, first determine who is fleeing, whether male or female, and whether they are of good or bad character, and locate them according to their position in the chart. Refer to the two previously mentioned examples of the "closed mouth," "virtue," and "punishment" hexagrams, and carefully analyze them. This method is highly accurate. If the Heaven Plate "Hekui" (Xu) is occupied by "Black Tortoise," then the place where the fugitive is hiding is beneath the Black Tortoise. In all cases of searching for a fugitive, the Black Tortoise is the main reference. Count from the Heaven Plate Hekui to the Earth Plate Xu position to determine the distance. In divination regarding a fugitive, compare the Heaven Plate Hekui with the Earth Plate Xu. Count each hour as one stage, with three stages indicating a distance of three li, and this also suggests that there are three companions traveling together.

上下並都因合數，三十五緣魁在寅（寅七魁五，並方之十二進而。若乘之即五七三十五進而）。貴人順治初玄檢（元武所成為初），天乙逆治武終巡（三傳元武終是）。返吟逃遠玄沖地（返沖即元武對沖），伏即非遙責元鄰（伏吟即元武所居前辰也）。

The number of upper and lower deities should be added or multiplied to deduce: the term "thirty-five" arises because Hekui falls on寅 (Yin), where Yin's number is seven and Hekui's number is five; adding them gives twelve units, while multiplying them results in thirty-five units. When the Nobleman moves in the forward direction, one should search from the initial transmission's Black Tortoise (taking the position of the Black Tortoise as the starting point); when the Nobleman moves in the reverse direction, one should inspect from the Black Tortoise in the final transmission (the Black Tortoise in the third transmission is used). If the divination indicates a return chant, the person being sought has fled far away and should be looked for at the position opposite to where the Black Tortoise is located (return chant means the opposite position of the Black Tortoise). If the divination indicates a hidden chant, the person being sought has not fled far and should be looked for near the Black Tortoise (hidden chant means the position immediately before the Black Tortoise).

武在南方近窯灶，若在北方藏水濱。西為礱磨東林木，未是平田丑墓墳（未近坤，為平田；丑近艮，為墓墳）。武能生日自歸舍，武若生辰問友親。三傳元武並今日（傳中元武與今日之辰並），逃者當回莫告陳。三傳元武賊居處，剛日在干柔在辰。

The Black Tortoise is in the south, and the person hides near the kiln or stove; in the north, they hide by the water; in the west, they are in the mill or grinding house; in the east, they are in the woods. If it falls on the hexagram 'Wei', it is a flat field; if it falls on 'Chou', it is a grave (Wei is near the Earth hexagram and belongs to a flat field; Chou is near the Mountain hexagram and belongs to a grave). The Black Tortoise can benefit the day stem, and the person who has run away will return on their own; if the Black Tortoise benefits the day branch, the person will go to their relatives' or friends' homes to inquire. If the Black Tortoise appears in the three transmissions and aligns with the day branch (meaning the Black Tortoise in the three transmissions is in the same position as the day branch), the person will return by themselves and there is no need to report to the authorities. The place where the Black Tortoise is located in the three transmissions is where the person who has run away is hiding: on strong days such as Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, and Ren, look at the day stem; on weak days such as Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin, and Gui, look at the day branch.

欲覓人逃物走時，還將月宿以加之（月宿即月將也）。男藏室宿勝光捉，婦隱前星神后推（此法加當時之法也）。又去今辰三合墓，以墓加時此法奇。魁罡臨處藏其下，便遑擒之更莫疑（亥卯未以未加時，餘仿此）。

To find the time when a person has fled or an object has been lost, use the method of adding the month general to the hour. For a man hiding, use 'Encampment Mansion' and 'Shengguang' (Wu) to track him. For a woman hiding, use the preceding star and 'Shenhou' (Zi) to locate her. This involves adding these to the current time. Another method: take theTomb Spirit (mound spirit) of the Triple Harmony Formation of the day's branch, and add it to the hour. This method is particularly unusual. Where 'Hekui' and 'Tiangang' are located, the person is hiding beneath them. Act quickly to capture them without hesitation. For example, in the Hai-Mao-Wei wood triad, add Wei to the hour, and follow the same pattern for the others.

若欲就人求借物，月將加時看日辰，上見功曹並大吉，吉將並之宜請陳。太乙勝光遲緩得，酉戌如臨便速之。婦女阻之因亥子，男作嬉難為卯辰。申未若臨虛措意，類在三傳不阻人（亦看三傳決之）。亦看三傳不相剋，當言如意順情因。

If you want to borrow something from someone, use the method of starting a divination with the Month General added to the hour. Look at the Day Stem and Day Branch: if "Gongcao" (寅) and "Daji" (丑) appear above, and there are auspicious generals accompanying, then you should go and ask directly. If "Taiyi" (巳) and "Shengguang" (午) appear, you will have to wait a while before you can borrow it. If 酉 or 戌 are present, you will be able to borrow it quickly. If 亥 or 子 appear, it is women causing trouble. If 卯 or 辰 appear, it is men playing tricks and causing difficulties. If 申 or 未 appear, it is a waste of effort. As long as the spirit associated with the type of item you are borrowing appears in the Three Transmissions, there will be no obstruction (but also need to refer to the Three Transmissions for a final decision). Similarly, if the Three Transmissions do not mutually control each other, it can be determined that everything will go smoothly and people will be pleased.

增附釋三才應事卷之十七終。大清乾隆四十年歲次乙未仲春七日錄竟。

The volume seventeen of "Zeng Fu Shi San Cai Ying Shi" ends here. It was copied on the seventh day of the second lunar month in the year of Yiwei, the fourth year of Qianlong reign of the Great Qing.