Divination Four · Duke Zhuang's Remote Divination of Cheng Xiangyun's Arrival at the Provincial Capital

占驗四、辛卯九月辛巳日辛卯時，莊公遠在江寧，占看東翁程翔雲先生何日到省，蒿矢。 后陰 貴 午未申酉 玄 后貴空白 鬼 壬午 貴 蛇 巳 戌 常 未午子亥 印 癸未 后 朱 辰 亥 虎 午巳亥辛 兄 甲申 陰 六 卯寅丑子 空 勾龍

This is the divination chart for the day of Xin Mao in the ninth month of the year Xin Mao, with the hour of Xin Mao. The question is about when Mr. Cheng Xiangyun from the east house will arrive at the provincial capital. The lesson pattern belongs to "Hao Shi." The four lessons, from right to left, are Hai added to Xin, Zi added to Hai, Wu added to Si, and Wei added to Wu. The three transmissions are: the first transmission is Ren Wu, which is the official ghost riding the nobleman; the middle transmission is Gui Wei, which is the official seal riding the Heavenly Empress; and the final transmission is Jia Shen, which is the brother riding Tai Yin. The Hao Shi lesson is characterized by the four lessons having no mutual conflicts, but being remotely conflicting with the day stem through external spirits. Although the power is weak, the effect comes quickly. In divining about a traveler, it indicates that the person is already on the way.

公遠斷曰：行人自宅中已起程，應於丙戌日到。蓋驛馬臨干，貴人入辰。又蒿矢為用，行人速來，故知其起程。丙戌者，因馬臨戌地，又為發用之墓絕，且寅為本命，午為用神，與戌作合也，後果丙戌日至。

Zhuang Gong Yuan predicted: The traveler has already left home and will arrive on the day of Bingxu. This is because the Post-horse is connected to the day stem, the Nobleman is in the day branch, and the lesson is initiated by the蒿矢 chart, indicating the traveler is coming soon, so he knows he has already started his journey. Why specifically on Bingxu? Because the Post-horse is exactly at Xu, and Xu is the place where the initiating god is buried; furthermore, his true birth is in Yin, and his useful god is in Wu, Yin, Wu and Xu form a complete set. Later, he indeed arrived on the day of Bingxu.

增補占例： 占例一、辛巳二月辛未日丁酉時，問王懷志今晚來否。彈射。 龍空虎常 未申酉戌 玄白 貴后 財 寅 貴 勾 午 亥 玄 亥酉 寅子 父 辰 朱 六 巳 子 陰 酉未 子辛 官 午 勾 辰卯寅丑 朱蛇貴后 斷：彈射課為己謀人，非人謀己，故不來也。 驗：果未來。

In the year Xin Si, second lunar month, day Xin Wei, hour Ding You, the question was asked whether Wang Huazhi would come tonight. The lesson pattern belongs to "Shan She" (Projectile). The four lessons, from right to left, are Zi with Xin, Yin with Zi, You with Wei, and Hai with You. The three transmissions are: the first transmission is Yin (wealth yao) with the nobleman, the middle transmission is Chen (father yao) with the Vermilion Bird, and the final transmission is Wu (official yao) with Gou Chen. The outer circle consists of the earth disk twelve palaces, the heavenly disk deities, and the twelve heavenly generals they are riding. "Shan She" is a type of remote attack lesson, where the day stem remotely attacks the useful god, and the power originates from oneself. The interpretation states: "Shan She" lesson is oneself taking initiative to deal with others, not others taking initiative to deal with oneself, so the person will not come. Verification: indeed, he did not come.

占例二、戌將二月己丑日卯時問：本村小學陳清云耳鳴請假，於校長問按時銷假否。斫輪 貴后陰玄 子丑寅卯 蛇 亥 辰 常 玄勾六陰 卯 玄 朱 戌 巳 虎 卯申酉寅 戌 朱 酉申未午 申丑寅己 巳 白 六勾龍空 斷：斫輪主遲，必不能來也。 驗：果然。

On the day of Jichou, at the卯 hour, with the戌 general and the question asked, the divination revealed that the lesson pattern belongs to "Zhuan Lun" (Chopping the Wheel). The four lessons, from right to left, are:寅 added to己,酉 added to寅,申 added to丑, and卯 added to申. The three transmissions are: the first transmission is卯 with the Black Tortoise, the middle transmission is戌 with the Vermilion Bird, and the final transmission is巳 with the White Tiger. The outer circle shows the twelve earthly branches, the heavenly generals, and the heavenly spirits added upon them. The name "Zhuan Lun" comes from the action of cutting wood to make a cart wheel, where the axe slowly descends, indicating that the matter will certainly be slow and difficult to complete quickly. The interpretation states: "Zhuan Lun" indicates slowness, so he will certainly not return on time. Verification: indeed, he did not return to school on time to cancel his absence.

干謁之利三六合，彼我兩儀欲相洽。六陽公事和諧看，六陰私謀素親狎。 舍益就損忌動用，根斷源消防耗失。逼迫旺祿守舊宜，周遍循環所求得。 初空末吉終有獲，首上尾加干何益（旬尾加旬首）。度亥塞鬼二者推，有阻無阻此處繹。 引從告謁往必唔，任信尋訪必難諧。二貴合害分輕重，六親生克吉凶排。 日德陰神見長短，末傳合處是成期。斫輪空亡須圖改，昴星蛇虎安舊宜。

Seeking an audience with an official and making requests, it is advantageous when the Triple Harmony and Liu He are favorable. The two principles should harmonize with each other. For a hexagram of six yang, it indicates harmony in official matters; for a hexagram of six yin, it suggests private seeking and prior familiarity. If the divination shows "abandoning gain for loss," it is unfavorable for action. If it shows "the root is cut off and the source is exhausted," one should beware of loss. If there is pressure and the day's fortune is prosperous and strong, it is suitable to maintain the status quo. If it shows "comprehensive" or "cyclic," the desired outcome can be achieved. If the first transmission falls into Kongwang but the final transmission is favorable, there will eventually be some gain. If the end of the ten-day period is placed on top of the beginning, going there brings no benefit. "Kui crossing the heavenly gate" and "Gang blocking the ghost's gate" should be analyzed separately; whether this journey is obstructed or not is determined here. If it shows "leading and following," going to request a meeting will surely result in a meeting. If it shows "trust and reliance," going to seek will certainly not be successful. Whether the two noblemen are harmonious or harmful should be weighed; the generation and overcoming among the six relations determine the fortune. The length of the desired outcome can be seen from the hidden spirit of the day's virtue, and the time for success is determined by the final transmission's harmony. If it shows "cutting the wheel" and encounters Kongwang, one must plan a different approach; if it shows "the star of the constellation" and is accompanied by Teng Snake and White Tiger, it is better to remain in the existing situation.

簾幕貴逢黃榜策，魁罡將遇青雲客。鬼斗臨干魁可掄，文華克歲犯時責。 從魁生扶亞魁中，辰未來臨解首逢。萬里風雲看龍奮（蛇化龍），一生泉石有蛇封（龍化蛇）。 六陽月將生光輝，兩貴拱夾榮名遂。墓神覆日文理差，羅網纏身書旨晦。

The presence of the Curtain and Nobleman in the lesson indicates success in the imperial examination; the meeting of Hekui and Tiangang generals signifies a person who rises straight to the clouds. The Dipper and Ghost mansions appearing on the day stem can lead to winning the top prize; however, if the God of Culture and Huagai deity are in conflict with the year stem, it indicates a violation of superiors and a risk of being disliked by the time. If Congkui from You comes to generate and support, one may achieve a secondary top prize; if the gods of Chen and Wei arrive, one may meet the top prize. If the three transmissions transform from Teng Snake to Azure Dragon, it signifies a grand scene of dragons rising amidst stormy skies; if they transform from Azure Dragon to Teng Snake, one's life will only be spent in mountains and forests. A lesson with six yang elements receiving support from the month general indicates a bright future; with two noblemen on both sides, honor and fame can be achieved. If the tomb deity covers the day stem, the reasoning will be poor; if the heaven and earth net surrounds the position, the meaning of the text will be obscure.

德入天門中必崇，河魁度亥失登庸。旬首冠群詳五甲（甲戌甲子甲寅甲辰甲午也），真朱超眾忌三凶（一克太歲，一克幕貴，一榜將出而乘丁馬）。 格見天心貴異常，源消根斷（四下生上也）費商量。雨露潤澤（謂四上生下也）中無慮，刑害空亡取次詳。

The Deity God enters the Heavenly Gate, indicating a high and noble outcome; the Hekui (Xu) crosses the亥 position, losing the opportunity to be recommended. The god at the beginning of the ten-day period is the one who leads all others, so it is necessary to carefully distinguish among Jia Xu, Jia Zi, Jia Yin, Jia Chen, and Jia Wu. The true Vermilion Bird is one that surpasses others, but it is to be avoided if there are three ominous signs: first, if it overcomes the year god; second, if it overcomes the noble official; third, if it appears when the list of candidates is about to be published, riding on the Ding god and the Post-horse. If the lesson conforms to the "Heavenly Heart" pattern, then the status gained is extraordinary; if it is "source exhausted and root cut off," meaning all four lessons are lower gods generating upper gods, then it requires careful consideration. If it is "rain and dew nourishing," meaning all four lessons are upper gods generating lower gods, then the outcome is not to be worried about; as for punishments, harms, and Kongwang (void), they should be examined one by one in order.

占驗一、庚寅七月甲申日丙寅時，宜陵景兄占府院試可入泮否，交車、重審、玄胎，午未空，酉戌落空。 勾六 龍 申酉戌亥 朱 后朱 龍常 鬼 甲申 龍 空 未 子 蛇 寅亥 申巳 父 丁亥 朱 虎 午 丑 貴 亥申 巳甲 兄 庚寅 后 常 巳辰卯寅 后 玄陰

This is the divination board for the day of Jiashen (甲申) in the year Gengyin (庚寅), seventh month, third watch. Jing Brother from Yingle came to consult about whether he can pass the county examination and the prefectural examination. The lesson pattern belongs to "Interchange of Vehicles," "Re-examination," and "Mysterious Fetus." In this旬, the hours of Wu and Wei are empty. The Heaven Plate's酉 and 戌 fall on the empty Earth Plate. The four lessons, from right to left, are巳 added to Jiā, Shen added to Sì, Hai added to Shen, and Yin added to Hai. The three transmissions are: the first transmission is Jiashen (甲申) as the official ghost riding the Azure Dragon, the middle transmission is Dinghai (丁亥) as the father's yao riding the Vermilion Bird, and the final transmission is Gengyin (庚寅) as the brother's yao riding the Heavenly Empress. "Interchange of Vehicles" indicates mutual generation and destruction between the day stem and day branch. "Re-examination" means the lower is attacking the upper and the transmission begins. "Mysterious Fetus" indicates the matter is completed secretly, and it is most auspicious for predicting academic success.

斷曰：不但府試高取，院考定然首薦。蓋因月建旬首發用。龍朱乘旺相（龍乘申月建旺，朱乘亥相），現於初中，末傳德祿驛馬，又干支交車生合，傳將進引，斗罡天喜加行年（秋三月天喜在辰，加行年丑上），朱雀乘丁神進氣，文字必貼主司之意。且格合天心（年寅、月申、日申、時寅皆在四課之內），主非常喜慶，掀天揭地也，是以首薦無疑。又問：該就府送考，該就司送考？予曰：六合加於辰未酉籍穩妥，後果首進。

The interpretation says: Not only will the candidate pass the county examination, but he will certainly rank first in the prefectural examination. This is because the initiating transmission is exactly the month builder combined with the first day of the month deity; the Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird are both riding on prosperous and strong energies (the Azure Dragon riding on Shen is the month builder and in its prime, the Vermilion Bird riding on Hai is in a secondary strong position), appearing in the first and middle transmissions. The final transmission is the virtue deity, the禄 deity, and the post-horse deity. The day stem and day branch also interact with each other through generation and combination. The three transmissions are guided by the heavenly generals, advancing step by step. The handle of the Big Dipper and the Tiangang are combined with Heavenly Joy on the year position (in the autumn months, Heavenly Joy is in Chen, and it is added to the year position Chou). The Vermilion Bird rides on the deity of the Ding and brings in the advancing energy, so the article written will certainly meet the examiner's intention. Moreover, the lesson pattern matches the "Heavenly Heart" (the sovereign year is in Yin, the month builder is in Shen, the day builder is in Shen, and the time of divination is in Yin, all within the four lessons), indicating an extremely joyful outcome, with a tremendous reputation, so ranking first is certain. He then asked: Should the candidate be sent for examination by the county or by the department? I said: When the Liu He is added to the positions of Chen, Wei, and You, it is safe to send the candidate for examination through the official records. Later, he indeed ranked first.

占驗二、壬子五月丙戌日己丑時，予住淮安都府前，有江陰六壬袁友，為宿遷陸庠友諱奪翼者占考試，不備、知一、度厄，午未空，丑寅落空。 朱六 蛇 子丑寅卯 勾 蛇空 常蛇 鬼 戊子 蛇 貴 亥 辰 龍 子巳 未子 兄 乙未 常 后 戌 巳 空 巳戌 子丙 父 庚寅 六 陰 酉申未午 虎 玄常

This is the divination chart for the day of Bingxu, on the fifth month of the year Renzi, at the hour of Jichou. I live in Huai'an, Dufuqian. A friend named Yuan You from Jiangyin, who is also interested in the Six壬, divined for Lu Duoyi, a student from Suqian, regarding an examination. The lesson pattern belongs to "Not Complete," "Knowing One," and "Passing Through Obstacles." In this旬, the hours of Wu and Wei are empty. The Heaven Plate's Chou and Yin fall on the Earth Plate's empty positions. The four lessons, from right to left, are Zi over Jia, Wei over Zi, Si over Xu, and Zi over Si. The three transmissions are: the first transmission is Wu Zi, representing the official ghost riding the Teng Snake; the middle transmission is Yi Wei, representing the brother's yao riding the Tai Chang and falling into the empty position; the final transmission is Geng Yin, representing the father's yao riding the Liu He. "Not Complete" refers to the absence of one of the four lessons. "Knowing One" selects one god as the main focus. "Passing Through Obstacles" indicates overcoming difficulties. When these three are present together, it suggests that matters of official rank involve both gains and losses.

斷曰；院試必取，科舉省試未能遂志。問曰：史撫臺已升鳳督去否？余曰：必不能去。蓋因驛馬坐墓（寅為馬臨未），干神歸支（不惟歸支，且為支所墓，為在家不動之象），靜象也。 又問女病，余曰：胎鬼發用，血忌加支（血忌者，正月丑二未三寅四申五卯六酉，五月應在卯；血支者正月自丑順行，五月在巳，此血忌乃血支之誤也。），又四課不備，病主脈息虛弱，心胸不利，以致失血，必因胎產所致，冬月不保。

The interpretation says: The county examination will certainly result in admission, but the provincial examination in the provincial capital will not be fulfilled. The person then asked: Has the governor of the historical office already been promoted to the governor-general of Fengyang? I said: He certainly cannot go. Because the post-horse is sitting on the墓 (the墓 of寅 is 未, and the post-horse is located on 未), and the day stem's spirit returns to the day branch — not only returning to the branch, but being buried by the day branch, which is a sign of stillness at home. Another question was asked about the illness of the woman in the family. I said: The fetal ghost is the initiating transmission, and the blood taboo is added on the day branch. (The arrangement of the blood taboo is: in the first month it is in 丑, in the second month in 未, in the third month in 寅, in the fourth month in 申, in the fifth month in 卯, in the sixth month in 酉. In the fifth month it should be in 卯; the blood branch starts from 丑 in the first month and proceeds in order, so in the fifth month it is in 巳. Therefore, the blood taboo here is actually a mistake for the blood branch.) In addition, the four lessons are not complete. The illness shows weak pulse, discomfort in the chest, and blood loss, which must be due to childbirth, and she will not survive the winter month.

又問：宿遷邊合戰，安堵否？余曰：賊符加干支，冬月必有兵警，然日之陰陽自戰，中傳制初，來兵敗怯而退。干神生支，居守保固，無破城之患（此又不以日祿臨支徒妄作論）。後四事皆驗。

That person asked again: There is warfare on the border of Suyuan, can it remain safe and unharmed? I said: The贼符 is added to the day stem and day branch, there will certainly be military alerts in the month of Winter; but the yin and yang spirits of the day are fighting against each other, and the middle transmission restrains the first transmission, so the attacking army will be timid and retreat. The spirit of the day stem generates and supports the day branch, indicating that the defenders will hold firm and remain secure, with no danger of the city being captured--here, it is not because the day's禄 is present at the day branch that we should wrongly conclude that it will be entirely passive. Later, these four things all came true one by one.

驗一、癸酉七月辛卯日庚寅時，揚州明經宗開先先生偕張向之占科場事，報寅時。（午未空，戌亥落空） 勾龍 六 酉戌亥子 空 涉 龍蛇 貴常 父 乙未 蛇 朱 申 丑 白 害 亥未 午寅 子 丁亥 龍 蛇 未 寅 常 曲 未卯 寅辛 財 辛卯 玄 貴 午巳辰卯 玄 直 后 陰 斷曰；即今中矣。曰：何以報一時即知其中。蓋因先鋒為幕貴（雖寅時，用晝貴，故寅時為幕貴），且臨日上。（寅加戌）月將官貴又加寅命（蓋命在寅，午為月將，乘貴神加之），是以必中無疑。然發用未作旬空，必俟未年太歲填實，方中甲榜。

In the sixth year of the Chongzhen era, on the Guiyou year, seventh month, Xinmao day, Gengyin hour, Mr. Zong Kaiqian, a scholar of the Ming dynasty from Yangzhou, and Zhang Xiangyi came together to inquire about the local examination. The time reported was Gengyin hour. Xinmao day belonged to the Jiashen decade, and the "kongwang" (two branches in the current decade without a matching heavenly stem) were in Wu and Wei. The heavenly gods on the heaven plate, Wu and Hai, were located in the kongwang palace. In the attached divination chart, the twelve palace boxes were arranged with the heaven and earth plates and the twelve "heavenly generals" (nobleman, Teng Snake, Vermilion Bird, Liu He, Gou Chen, Azure Dragon, Tian Kong, Bai Hu, Tai Chang, Xuan Wu, Tai Yin, Tian Hou). On the right, three columns were arranged in order as the "four lessons" (four groups formed by the day stem, day branch, and the heavenly gods above them) and the "three transmissions" (the initial, middle, and final useful gods selected from the four lessons). The four lessons, arranged from right to left, were Yin added to Xin, Wu added to Yin, Wei added to Mao, and Hai added to Wei. The three transmissions were Wei, Hai, and Mao. The initial transmission, Wei, was accompanied by Teng Snake, representing parents; the middle transmission, Hai, was accompanied by Azure Dragon, representing children; the final transmission, Mao, was accompanied by Xuan Wu, representing wife and wealth. The lesson pattern belonged to "she hai" (involving harm) combined with "qu zhi" (straight and curved). Chen Gongxian concluded that he would definitely pass this examination. When someone asked him why he could determine with just one hour, he said that the hour of Gengyin was actually the hidden nobleman. Although it was Gengyin hour, the lesson used the day nobleman, so Gengyin became the hidden nobleman. Moreover, the Gengyin was located on the day stem (the heaven plate Gengyin was placed in the Xu palace where Xin was located). Furthermore, the "month general" of July, Wu, carried the noble god and added to his birth sign, Gengyin. The official star and nobleman both arrived, so he was definitely destined to pass. However, the initial transmission, Wei, was in the kongwang, and it would have to wait until the year of Wei, the great age, filled this void before he could pass the first rank.

占驗二、戊子八月丙辰日，餘住金陵時右方伯東省孫興功老師寫本日辰時，又寫酉時，占兩人鄉試。 虎 常 （子丑空，未申落空） 空 巳午未申 玄 玄胎 青青 勾勾 比 丁巳 勾 青 辰 酉 陰 斬關 辰辰 巳巳 財 庚申 玄 勾 卯 戌 后 伏吟 辰辰 巳丙 父 甲寅 六 六 寅丑子亥 貴 朱蛇 斷曰：辰時者前，列酉時者次之。蓋緣天罡為領袖之神，從魁幕貴在後（天罡乘龍為前五，從魁乘陰為後二），故云。及排辰時課，三傳巳申寅，干乘德祿，支見月將青龍（八月將在辰，乘龍臨支），又祿馬入傳（巳祿寅馬），凡士子已試後得伏吟，必中。

In the fifth year of the Shunzhi era, on the day of Wuzi in the eighth month, while the author was living in Jinling, Master Sun Xinggong from Shandong wrote down this day's time of辰 (chén) and also酉 (yǒu). He asked him to divinate for two people taking the local examination. On the day of Bingchen, the empty period was in Zi and Chou. The Heaven Plate's Wei and Shen deities fell into the Kongwang palace. First, let's examine the lesson at the time of辰: the month general Chén was placed on the time of Chén, the Heaven and Earth plates overlapped, forming a "Hidden Chant" lesson, combined with the "Xuanyu" and "Zhanguan" patterns; the four lessons were Chén added to Si, Si added to Bing, and the three transmissions were Si, Shen, and Yin. The first transmission Si was riding on Gou Chen, representing brothers; the middle transmission Shen was riding on Xuanyu, representing wife and wealth; the final transmission Yin was riding on Liu He, representing parents. Chen Gongxian interpreted that the one who wrote at the time of Chén would rank ahead, while the one who wrote at the time of You would be next. The reason was that Chén was the Tiangang, the leading deity among the twelve deities; You was Congkui, acting as a hidden nobleman in this lesson, and its position was later (Tiangang riding Qinglong occupied the first five positions, while Congkui riding Taiyin occupied the last two positions), thus there was a difference in order. Then arranging the lesson at the time of Chén, the day stem Bing was riding on the day virtue and the禄神 Si, and on the day branch Chén, there was also the month general Chén riding on Qinglong. The禄神 Si and the驿马 Yin both entered the transmission. Anyone who takes the examination and receives a "Hidden Chant" lesson will certainly pass. In the outer circle of the twelve palaces, Qinglong was in the Chén palace, and Taiyin was in the You palace. The two heavenly generals were in front and behind respectively, and the order of rank was determined from here.

酉時三傳子未寅也。初傳太歲空戰，墓貴又入墓庫（用夜貴酉，故亥為幕貴，臨辰為入庫），故次之。放榜時，辰時者陸可球中二十二名，酉時者常熟趙姓中副卷，此二者俱以時斷中也。 六勾青空 子丑寅卯 朱 亥 辰 虎 玄朱 陰六 甲子 六 蛇 戌 巳 常 午亥未子 己未 陰 酉申未午 亥辰子丙 甲寅 青 （似應是三傳午丑申） 貴后 陰玄

The "Three Transmissions" for the lesson at the You hour are Zi, Wei, and Yin. The first transmission, Zi, is both the Tai Su of the Wu Zi year and sits in the empty space of the ten-day cycle, thus clashing with the day. The hidden Nobleman, Hai, falls into the Storage (the Storage is determined by the night Nobleman, You, so Hai becomes the Storage Nobleman, and Hai entering the Chen palace means water entering the Chen Storage). Therefore, this transmission is of secondary importance. When the results were announced, the person who reported the Chen hour, Lu Keqiu, ranked 22nd, while the person who reported the You hour, a Zhao from Changshu, only made it to the supplementary list. Both were determined based on the time they reported. The arranged lesson for the You hour has the Moon General, Chen, added to the You hour. The Heaven Plate includes Zi, Chou, Yin, and Mao above. The four lessons are Zi with Bing, Wei with Zi, Hai with Chen, and Wu with Hai. The riding Heavenly Generals are Liu He, Tai Yin, Zhu Que, and Xuan Wu. The three transmissions are Jia Zi riding Liu He, Ji Wei riding Tai Yin, and Jia Yin riding Qing Long. Later commentators suspect that the three transmissions should actually be Wu, Chou, and Shen. Comparing the two lessons side by side, it is most evident that different times lead to markedly different fortune.

占驗三、丁卯八月乙巳日甲申時，浙江金華何伴鶴來揚相訪，予老母求占：汝兄弟鄉場中否？蒿矢、從革，寅卯空、戌亥落空。 朱六 蛇 丑寅卯辰 勾 玄蛇 常貴 鬼 己酉 玄 貴 子 巳 青 酉丑 申子 子 乙巳 龍 后 亥 午 空 丑巳 子乙 財 癸丑 蛇 陰 戌酉申未 虎 玄常 斷：昆弟皆中，午命在前，亥命在後。蓋因蒿矢見金，如箭有簇，自四發用，箭數合式。朱雀翱翔，文事武備皆得之矣。且貴臨貴位，必得兩貴周旋推薦，後果前後一一不爽。問何以分前後，因三傳逆合，又午命甲寅亥命丁未，故知之。（畢法云：兩貴相逢求兩貴，誠不虛也。）

In the seventh year of Tianchi, on the fourth day of the eighth lunar month, during the hour of Jiashen, He Banhe from Jinhua, Zhejiang, came to Yangzhou to visit. The author's mother asked him to cast a divination: can your brothers pass the examination this time? The lesson pattern is "Hao Shi" combined with "Cong Ge." The empty palace of this旬 is in Yin and Mao. The Heaven Plate's Wu and Hai fall into the empty palace. The four lessons are Zi with Yi, Shen with Zi, Chou with Si, and You with Chou, each riding on "Guiren," "Tai Chang," "Teng Snake," and "Xuanwu" respectively. The three transmissions are You, Si, and Chou, forming a metal pattern. The first transmission is Ji You riding on Xuanwu as official ghost, the middle transmission is Yi Si riding on Qinglong as son, and the final transmission is Gui Chou riding on Teng Snake as wife wealth. The interpretation says: both brothers will pass, the one born in the year of Wu will come first, and the one born in the year of Hai will come later. Because the Hao Shi lesson also sees metal, it is like an arrow with a tip, and since the fourth lesson initiates the transmission, the number of arrows is exactly appropriate. "Zhu Que" flies high, indicating both literary and military affairs are complete. Moreover, the nobleman is exactly in his own position, so two noblemen must be involved in recommending him. Later, the brothers indeed passed the examination one after another, exactly as predicted. Someone asked how to determine the order, and he said that the three transmissions move in reverse and combine, and the one born in the year of Wu has a hidden Ji Yin, while the one born in the year of Hai has a hidden Ding Wei, so the order is clear. The "Bifa Fu" says "Two noblemen meeting, seek two noblemen," which is indeed not empty talk. In the lesson, the nobleman and Tai Chang are at opposite ends, which also corresponds to the idea of two noblemen assisting in sequence.

占驗四、丁丑正月己巳日己巳時子將，滕縣諱盛美張公祖有八門生會試，請六壬諸友所斷之課持出與餘占，無祿，戌亥空、午未落空。 后陰 貴 子丑寅卯 玄 青貴 六陰 子 癸酉 六 蛇 亥 辰 常 未子 酉寅 比 戊辰 常 朱 戌 巳 虎 子巳 寅己 財 乙亥 蛇 六 酉申未午 空 勾龍 斷曰：惟戊戌者必中，其餘皆不然。眾友與餘爭，雲屬牛屬虎者中。予云：放榜時自驗。張公曰：公之斷即與眾不同，此乃吾本房首卷，亦望其中，然昨閱其文，恐未必然。予曰：初末暗拱戌命，月將貴人臨年，是以中甲無疑，朱雀又生墓貴（朱雀乘戌，生幕貴申），其文甚貼主司之意。及放榜果中，始知為常熟蔣畹仙也。（戊戌年生，丁丑年四十歲，行年在巳，貴神乘子臨之，可見，公獻用一歲起丙寅行年法，不用金口訣換旬法。）（又：課名雖為無祿，但亦有中者，可見不可全憑課體。）

In the tenth year of the Chongzhen era, on the fourth day of the first lunar month, at the fourth hour, using the Zi general, a man named Zhang Gongzu from Teng County, whose name is Shengmei, had eight students preparing for the imperial examination. He asked the author to re-cast the divination lesson, as the six壬 (Rén) enthusiasts had already given their interpretations. The lesson is called "No Official Rank," and in this旬 (decade), the empty (kongwang) is in Xu and Hai. The Heaven Plate's Wu and Wei fall into the empty (kongwang) palace. The four lessons are: Yin added to Ji, You added to Yin, Zi added to Si, and Wei added to Zi, each riding on "Tai Yin," "Liu He," "Nobleman," and "Azure Dragon" respectively. The three transmissions are You, Chen, and Hai. The first transmission is Gui You riding on Liu He as the son; the middle transmission is Wu Chen riding on Tai Chang as the brother; the final transmission is Yi Hai riding on Teng Snake as the wife's wealth. Chen Gongxian concluded that only the one born in Wu Xu year would pass, the rest would not. The friends argued with him, saying that those born in the Ox and Tiger years would pass. He replied that the results would be clear when the list was published. Zhang Gongzu said: Your divination is different from everyone else's. This is the first scroll of my family, and I also hope he will pass, but yesterday I read his essay and was worried he might not. He answered: The first transmission You and the final transmission Hai secretly form a Xu, which matches the birth year Wu Xu. The month general and Nobleman also fall on his birth year, so he will certainly pass the first imperial examination. The Vermilion Bird rides on Xu to generate the hidden Nobleman Shen, indicating his essay is very in line with the examiner's intention. After the list was published, he indeed passed, and it turned out to be Jiang Wanxian from Changshu. The annotator said: This person was born in the Wu Xu year, and at the time of the Chongzhen tenth year, he was forty years old, with his birth year in Si. The Nobleman riding on Zi confirms this, showing that Chen Gongxian used the method of starting the birth year from Bing Yin, not the method of changing the decade in the Jin Kou Jie. Also, although the lesson is called "No Official Rank," someone still passed, showing that one cannot solely determine fortune and misfortune based on the lesson pattern. The outer circle of the lesson has Azure Dragon in Zi, Tai Yin in Yin, and Nobleman in Si, with several auspicious signs gathering on the birth year Wu Xu, so others could not benefit from them, hence only one of the eight would pass.

占驗五、甲戌二月戊辰日丙辰時，長興前刑垣禮部諱繼廉王公祖，令小童持字來占，反吟、玄胎，戌戌亥空、辰巳落空。 蛇貴 朱 亥子丑寅 后 玄六 常朱 父 己巳 常 六 戌 卯 陰 辰戌 巳亥 財 乙亥 朱 勾 酉 辰 玄 戌辰 亥戊 父 己巳 常 青 申未午巳 常 空虎 斷曰；素所占者皆不許中，惟此君必中高魁。曰：何也？蓋因戊日返吟是德入天門發用，又丑未兩貴相加，斗鬼相合為魁字，是以必中高魁，不須疑慮沖剋生空，必荷聖恩之象。及發榜后王公祖三公子偕來相顧，乃長興周仲璉先生也。

In the seventh year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Jia Xu in the second lunar month, at the hour of Bing Chen, Wang Gongzu, a man from Changxing who had once served as a judicial affairs official and held a position in the Ministry of Rites, named Ji Lian, sent a boy with a note to seek divination. The lesson pattern was "Reverse Chant" combined with "Black Tortoise's Embryo." The original record noted "Xu Hai Sheng Kong" (which is likely a mistake for "Xu Hai Kong"). The Heaven Plate's Chen and Si fell on the Kongwang palace. The four lessons were: Hai added to Wu, Si added to Hai, Xu added to Chen, and Chen added to Xu, in sequence, with the "Vermilion Bird," "Tai Chang," "Liu He," and "Black Tortoise" respectively. The three transmissions were Si, Hai, and Si. The initial and final transmissions were both Jisi with Tai Chang, representing parents, while the middle transmission was Yihai with Vermilion Bird, representing wife and wealth. The divination stated that usually those who sought divination were not allowed to succeed, but this person would certainly achieve high rank. Why? The daily virtue on Wu day was in Si, and in the Reverse Chant lesson, this virtue was used and fell on Hai, which is "virtue entering the heavenly gate." The two noblemen, Chou and Wei, were interrelated, and the characters "Dou" and "Gui" formed the character "Kui." Therefore, it was concluded that he would certainly achieve high rank, without worrying about the conflicts, clashes, generation, or emptiness in the lesson. He would surely receive imperial favor. After the list of successful candidates was published, Wang Gongzu's third son accompanied him to express gratitude, and they learned that the person divined was actually Zhou Zhonglian from Changxing. The Reverse Chant lesson usually indicates turmoil and reversal, but this lesson, due to the daily virtue being in a favorable position and the two noblemen being interrelated, turned into a sign of achieving high rank.

占驗六、癸未二月乙丑日己卯時，何九敘為泰州孝廉宮子玄占會試，從革、周遍，戌亥空，午未落空。 朱六 蛇 丑寅卯辰 勾 青玄 常貴 子 己巳 青 貴 子 巳 青 巳酉 申子 財 乙丑 蛇 后 亥玄常午 空 酉丑 子乙 鬼 癸酉 玄 陰 戌酉申未 虎 斷曰：此課占會試，必中無疑。緣傳將遞生，格合周遍，且干支交車生合，文思滔滔，題目合舉干之意。又喜朱雀遁丙乘旺，主文章華藻，正合時宜。主試言推薦高甲，當寄聲卓翁。

In the year of Guiwei in the sixteenth year of the Chongzhen era, on the second month, the day of Yichou, and the hour of Jimao, He Jiuxu divined for Gong Zixuan, a candidate from Taizhou, regarding the imperial examination. The lesson pattern is "From Reform" combined with "Comprehensive," and the empty palace of this旬 is in Xu and Hai. The Heaven Plate's Wu and Wei fall within the empty palace. The four lessons are Zi with Yi, Shen with Zi, You with Chou, and Si with You. The three transmissions are Si, Chou, and You. The first transmission is Ji Si, riding the Azure Dragon, representing descendants; the middle transmission is Yi Chou, riding the Teng Snake, representing wife's wealth; the final transmission is Gui You, riding the Black Tortoise, representing officials and spirits. The divination states that this lesson regarding the imperial examination certainly indicates success. The three transmissions, along with the heavenly generals they ride, show a continuous generation, and the pattern perfectly matches "Comprehensive." The day stem and day branch interact and support each other, indicating that the candidate's thoughts flow continuously, and the examination topics align with his strengths. Moreover, the Vermilion Bird hides the fire and rides a strong position, indicating that his writings will be elegant and beautiful, in line with the prevailing style of the time. The chief examiner will certainly recommend him for a high rank. One should send a message to Zhu翁 on his behalf. The outer circle has the Azure Dragon at Si, the Teng Snake at Chou, and the Black Tortoise at You. Although the three transmissions involve officials and spirits, they are transformed by the wood and fire energies, with no obstruction, so the divination is so decisive.

占驗七、丁丑二月癸未日戊午時，同鄉孝廉孫大宜先生口報午時，占會試中否，予袖傳一課，涉害、從革，申酉空、子丑落空。 青空 勾酉戌亥子 虎 陰空 勾青 印 乙酉 勾 六申 丑 常 卯亥 酉巳 官 丁丑 常 朱未貴后 寅 玄 亥未 巳癸 財 辛巳 貴 蛇午巳辰卯 陰 斷曰：貴德財馬臨身，且居太歲之位，必應今年甲榜。況年上月將青龍主片言入相，又旬首河魁為官乃文明之宿，二者會於行年定是今年甲榜（月將河魁乘青龍臨於行年午上）。後果然。

In the tenth year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Guiwei in the second lunar month, at the hour of Wuwu, a fellow townsman named Sun Dayi, a scholar of virtue, orally stated that the time was noon, and asked whether he would pass the imperial examination. The author then cast a divination lesson in his sleeve. The lesson pattern was "Involvement of Harm" combined with "Metallurgical Transformation." The empty position of this ten-day period was in Shen and You. The heavenly plate's Zi and Chou fell on the empty position. The four lessons were: Si added to Gui, You added to Si, Hai added to Wei, and Mao added to Hai. The three transmissions were You, Chou, and Si. The first transmission was Yi You, riding on Gou Chen, representing the official seal; the middle transmission was Ding Chou, riding on Tai Chang, representing the official star; and the final transmission was Xin Si, riding on Nobleman, representing the wife's wealth. The interpretation stated that the Nobleman, the daily virtue, the wealth爻, and the Post-horse all fell on him, and he also occupied the position of the current year's sovereign. Therefore, it was certain that he would pass the examination this year and be listed among the top ranks. Moreover, the month general of the current year was accompanied by the Azure Dragon, which matched the saying "The Azure Dragon of the month general, a single word leads to a ministerial position." The beginning of the ten-day period, Hekui (Xu), also became the official star, which is a star associated with civilization. The two combined on the current year's position, confirming that he would pass the examination this year. Later, it was indeed verified. This lesson used the current year's position as the key to the divination. The Azure Dragon and Hekui both fell on the position of Wu, and with just one position on the year, the entire situation was determined. This is a typical example in the Six壬 system of using the year's destiny to predict the outcome.

占驗八、丁丑二月乙未日丙戌時，安慶保舉明經，阮實夫代劉若宜先生占會試，蒿矢、連茹，辰巳空、巳午落空。 蛇貴 朱 午未申酉 后 后常 朱六 鬼 丁酉 后 六 巳 戌 陰 酉申 午巳 財 戊戌 陰 勾 辰 亥 玄 申未 巳乙 父 己亥 玄 青 卯寅丑子 常 空虎 斷：為人代占，今年必中。蓋發用日鬼皇恩，中傳河魁天喜，末見長生太陽，最利試場之象，支見幕貴官星。又朱雀生太歲（朱乘午生太歲丑故也），文字華藻合時。課名革故從新，更鄉科而中甲榜必無疑矣。但嫌干支上乘互絕，居官未能遠大。後補刑部主政，恬退不仕。又代占會武中兩名亦此課。予曾占病亦死二人。（此以土絕在巳論，以水土同長生。）

In the year Dingchou of the tenth year of the Chongzhen era, on the day Yiwei of the second lunar month, at the hour Bingxu, Ruan Shifu, a candidate for the imperial examination recommended by the local authorities in Anqing, cast a divination for Liu Ruoyi. The lesson pattern was "Hao Shi" combined with "Lian Ru," and the empty palace of this ten-day period was in Chen and Si. The Si and Wu in the Heaven Plate fell on the empty palace. The four lessons were Si added to Yi, Wu added to Si, Shen added to Wei, and You added to Shen. The three transmissions were You, Xu, and Hai, connected in sequence. The first transmission was Dingyou, riding on "Heavenly Empress" as official ghost; the middle transmission was Wuxu, riding on "Tai Yin" as wife wealth; the final transmission was Jihai, riding on "Black Tortoise" as parents. The divination said: This is for someone else, and he will certainly pass this year. The initiating transmission You is both the day's ghost and carries imperial favor. The middle transmission Xu is "Hekui" and meets "Heavenly Joy." The final transmission Hai is both the long life of Bing wood and meets the solar month general of February, which is most favorable for the examination hall. The day branch also shows ministerial dignity and official stars. Moreover, "Vermilion Bird" rides on Wu to generate the old age of Dingchou's year, indicating elegant and fashionable writings. The lesson name implies renewal, and passing the imperial examination from the local exam to the first class is certain. Only the day stem and day branch's riding spirits are mutually in the state of exhaustion, suggesting that official career cannot be long. Later he was appointed as the chief official of the Ministry of Punishment, then withdrew from official life. The author also used the same lesson to cast for the military examination, and two people passed. He also used it to cast for illness, and two people died. The commentator said that this is calculated based on the earth's exhaustion in Chen and the simultaneous long life of water and earth. The same lesson can result in passing when used for the examination, but death when used for illness, showing that the fortune of the lesson must change according to the matter being asked, and cannot be judged generally.

占驗九、丁丑二月乙未日辛巳時，太倉吳孝廉諱克孝者，偶至安慶阮實夫寓中，相晤間占會試，稼穡、反吟、斬關，辰巳空、戌亥落空。 貴后 蛇 亥子丑寅 陰 龍后 常朱 財 戊戌 朱 朱 戌 卯 玄 未丑 辰戌 財 甲辰 常 六 酉 辰 常 丑未 戌乙 財 戊戌 朱 勾 申未午巳 虎 青空 斷：三傳年命魁罡俱空，如何敢許甲榜？但丑未年丑未日丑未合而為魁，又是必中之象。但中後居官末能滿任，即有丁艱之事。蓋傳課純財，則印爻被克矣，吾鄉閆和陽先生辛未會試，乙丑日占得返吟而中，亦此課也。 （河魁朱雀臨日而發用，亦為關鍵之處。）

On the same day, the second month of the tenth year of the Chongzhen era, the day being Dingchou, the scholar Wu Kexiao from Taicang, by chance visited the residence of Yan Shifu in Anqing and cast a divination for the imperial examination. The lesson pattern was "Jia Se" combined with "Reverse Chant" and "Cutting the Gate." The empty palace of this旬 was in Chen and Si. The Heaven Plate's Wu and Hai fell into the empty palace. The four lessons were Wu over Yi, Chen over Wu, Chou over Wei, and Wei over Chou. The three transmissions were Wu, Chen, and Wu. The first and last transmissions were Wu over Wu, riding the Vermilion Bird, while the middle transmission was Jiachen over Tai Chang. All three transmissions were wealth yao. The interpretation said: the three transmissions and the year's heavenly stem both had the Hekui Wu and Tiangang Chen falling into the empty palace, so it was originally not safe to predict that he would pass the examination. However, the year was Dingchou and the day was Yiwei, with Chou and Wei combining to form the character "Kui," which is a sign of certain success. However, after passing, he would not be able to serve his official term fully, as he would meet the death of his parents, because all the four lessons and three transmissions were wealth yao, and the official yao was injured. The author's fellow townsman Yan Heyang, when taking the examination in the year Xinwei, cast a divination on the day Yichou, which also resulted in success with the same lesson. The commentator reminded that the Hekui Wu riding the Vermilion Bird and initiating from the day stem was also a key point of this lesson. The key point of this lesson is that falling into the empty palace does not necessarily mean it is useless: the two branches Chou and Wei combine to form the character "Kui," thus producing actual results from the empty; however, the three transmissions having too much wealth yao will injure the official yao, making it impossible to have both official success and filial piety.

蛇蚓（巳）象弓空最忌，觜參（申）如矢要如意。仲為中垛孟角花，午貫正鵠季落地。 一課一矢二課二，三課三矢四課四。 發用箭數課中詳，旺相休囚加減記。

The branch Si (Snake) resembles a bow, and it is most unfavorable if it falls empty; the branch Shen (Monkey) resembles an arrow, and it is desirable if it finds a suitable place. The deities of the four middle months (Zi and Wu) are associated with hitting the center of the target, the deities of the four first months (Yin, Shen, Si, and Hai) are associated with hitting the corners and edges of the target, and the deity Wu (Dragon) is associated with penetrating the bull's eye. The deities of the four seasonal months (Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei) are associated with arrows falling to the ground. The first lesson counts as one arrow, the second as two arrows, the third as three arrows, and the fourth as four arrows. The number of arrows corresponding to the initiating transmission should be carefully examined within the lesson, and then adjusted according to the strength, prosperity, rest, and captivity of the four seasons.

占驗一、戊辰八月甲戌日丁亥時，占長兄公明進京會試，炎上、重審、斬關，申酉空、辰巳落空。 虎常 空 丑寅卯辰 玄 白後 后六 財 甲戌 六 青 子 巳 陰 寅午 午戌 子 壬午 后 勾 亥朱蛇午 后 午戌 戌甲 兄 戊寅 白 六 戌酉申未 貴 斷：吾兄必聯捷而去。蓋因河魁臨干發用，貴居命年上下；又太陰臨卯，傳將遞生，格合盤珠，喜朱雀遁乙奇乘長生旺氣，文字甚貼試官之意，傳送加子箭中中垛，是以中甲無疑。放榜時果中三十九名。後官至大元戎，晉官銜，封治安伯。（此課用月將加時法不符課，貴神亦不符課。若照公獻所斷，課體應是： 后陰 貴 丑寅卯辰 玄 后虎 虎六 財 甲戌 六 蛇 子 巳 常 寅午 午戌 子 壬午 虎 朱 亥 午 虎 午戌 戌甲 兄 戊寅 后 六 戌酉申未 空 勾青 太陰乘卯臨未；甲戌旬，亥遁乙乘朱雀。

In the first year of the Chongzhen era, on the 12th day of the eighth month, the day stem was Jia Xu and the hour was Ding Hai. The author cast a divination for his elder brother, Gongming, who was going to take the imperial examination in the capital. The lesson pattern was "Inflaming Ascending" combined with "Re-examining" and "Cutting the Gate." The empty void of this旬 was in Shen and You, and the Heaven Plate's Chen and Si fell on the empty void palace. The four lessons were戌 added to Jia, Wu added to Xu, Wu added to Xu again, and Yin added to Wu. The three transmissions were Wu, Wu, and Yin, forming a fire trinity. The first transmission was Jia Xu riding the Liu He (Six Harmony), representing wife and wealth. The middle transmission was Ren Wu riding the Heavenly Empress, representing children. The final transmission was Wu Yin riding the White Tiger, representing brothers. The divination said: My elder brother will certainly achieve success and pass the examination. Because the Hekui (Xu) was on the day stem and initiated the transmission, the Nobleman was in the upper and lower positions of the native's destiny. The Tai Yin was on Mao, and the three transmissions and the Heavenly General were in successive generation, forming a "Disc" pattern. It was also favorable that the Zhu Que (Vermilion Bird) concealed the Yi Qi and rode the growth and strength of the fire, indicating that the written words would be in harmony with the examiner's mind. The Chuansong (Shen) was Shen added to Zi, which is the image of an arrow hitting the center. Therefore, it was concluded that he would certainly pass the first rank. When the list was published, he indeed ranked 39th. Later, he rose to the position of Grand General, received an official title, and was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Security. The commentator pointed out: This lesson, according to the method of adding the month general to the hour, does not match the original plate listed in the book, and the arrangement of the twelve heavenly generals is also incorrect. If we reverse the lesson according to the explanation in Chen Gongxian's divination, the lesson pattern should be the one attached later: the four lessons remain Wu added to Jia, Wu added to Xu, Wu added to Xu again, and Yin added to Wu. The three transmissions remain Jia Xu, Ren Wu, and Wu Yin. However, the heavenly generals riding them are changed to Liu He, Bai Hu, and Tianhou, and the outer circle of the twelve palaces' heavenly generals are also rearranged accordingly. This would match the statement "Tai Yin is on Mao and is on Wei" and "In the Jia Xu decade, the Yi Qi is concealed in Hai and rides Zhu Que." For a martial arts examination, the emphasis is on the number of arrows and the image of the bow and arrow: in this lesson, the metal Shen is the arrow, added to Zi and hitting the center, and it is supported by the fire trinity, so it was concluded that he would achieve success. Later, his elder brother was enfeoffed as a marquis due to his military achievements, which is consistent with the statement about Chuansong (Shen) added to Zi. This shows that for martial arts divination, one must not only consider the strength of the lesson pattern but also where the bow and arrow fall in the palace.

欲問前程有與無，日辰虛實定榮枯。臨官帝旺干支遇，爵祿崢嶸任帝都。 六陽數足功名顯，前後引從卿相薦。傳神互克防諍章，課將遍生聲譽遍。 三傳退間蛇倒拔，三傳引進龍飛天。將逢內戰官超轉，德祿天門名顯傳。 鬼曜逢虎號催官，祿神臨支當替役。凶喪羅網返遭遲，富貴日辰丁見疾。

To inquire about prospects in official career, first examine the reality or emptiness of the day stem and day branch to determine prosperity or decline: if the day stem and day branch fall in the positions of officialdom or prosperity, there will be prominent titles and positions in the capital. If the six yang numbers in the lesson are all complete, there will be great achievements in fame and status; if there is a guiding deity in front and a following deity behind, one will be recommended by high officials. If the three transmissions are mutually controlling, beware of someone lodging petitions or accusations; if the three transmissions are all supported by the heavenly generals, reputation will spread far and wide. If the three transmissions gradually retreat, it is called 'snake pulling up its tail'; if they advance step by step, it is called 'dragon flying to heaven'. If the heavenly generals meet internal conflict, it indicates rapid promotion in official position; if the day virtue and day fortune fall on the heavenly gate亥, it indicates widespread fame. The official ghost爻 with the 'White Tiger' is called promoting official position; if the fortune deity is on the day branch, it indicates being replaced in duty. If凶丧之神 and 天罗地网 appear, it causes delay; if a prosperous lesson has the day stem and day branch meeting the ding deity, there will be troubles of change.

魁度天門龍化蛇，貴臨鬼戶蛇成龍。吉課殊情分仕庶，大格異用別賢庸。 天乙卯酉號蹉（蹉跎格）微（微服格），朱雀值鬼防黜落。六處生旺遠大推，凡占墓絕虧官爵。 武視太常文視龍，二神切忌怕逢空。龍常克下鴛班憎，丁克龍常災廢從。 帝旺臨官日辰上，城吏龍常仕途暢。遷期干年支月推，內外日用生克量（龍常生日比日剋日升有內，日生龍常克龍常遷在外）。

The Hekui (Xu) passes through the Heavenly Gate (Hai), and the Azure Dragon transforms into the Teng Snake; the Nobleman is located at the Ghost Gate, and the Teng Snake turns back into the Azure Dragon. It is the same divination lesson, but the official and the common people have different rulers; it is the same pattern, but different Useful Gods can distinguish between the virtuous and the mediocre. If the Nobleman is in the卯 (Mao) or酉 (You) palace, it is called the "Treading Water Pattern" or the "Disguised Pattern." If the Vermilion Bird governs the official ghost, be cautious of failure in exams or dismissal. If all six places in the lesson are in a state of birth and prosperity, one can predict a bright future. However, if an official divination shows the presence of墓 (burial) or绝 (decline), official rank will suffer loss. For military positions, look at Tai Chang; for civil positions, look at the Azure Dragon. These two Heavenly Generals are most afraid of being empty. If the Azure Dragon and Tai Chang overcome the lower, colleagues will dislike each other; if the Ding God overcomes the Azure Dragon and Tai Chang, there will be disasters or dismissal. If the Prosperity and Officialdom positions are on the Day Stem and Day Branch, and the City God, Official God, and Azure Dragon and Tai Chang are all present, the official career will naturally be smooth. For the period of promotion, the year is determined by the Day Stem, the month by the Day Branch. Whether it is an internal promotion or an external appointment is determined by the relationship between the Day Stem and the Useful God— if the Dragon and Tai Chang are born by the Day Stem, or harmonize with or overcome the Day Stem, the promotion is internal; if the Day Stem is born by the Dragon and Tai Chang or overcomes them, the promotion is external.

占驗一、辛未三月甲申日辛未時，萊陽運芝萊、吉安王旋官兩父師代占升遷，重審、玄胎，午未空、酉戌落空。 勾六 青 申酉戌亥 朱 后朱 龍常 鬼 甲申 龍 空 未 子 蛇 寅亥 申巳 父 丁亥 朱 虎 午 丑 貴 亥申 巳甲 兄 庚寅 后 常 巳辰卯寅 后 玄陰 斷：此課大吉，推升官爵必的。何以言之？課中龍常並見，城吏全逢，初傳青龍內戰，必有奇遇趨遷。中傳朱雀生日，公卿交譽。末傳驛馬德祿俱入天門，居官定然顯赫。寅為天吏，天后為恩澤，非天官而可？後屢旨另推七次，終點閔總憲為冢宰。然式中貴履地網，龍神下賊，主自欲退位，次年果請旨歸里。

In the fourth year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Jiashen in the third lunar month of the Xinwei year, two teachers, Yu Yuzhai from Laixiang and Wang Xuan Guan from Jiangan, asked someone to divinate their promotion. The lesson pattern was "Chongshen" combined with "Xuanyai." In this旬, the empty position was in Wu and Wei. The Heaven Plate's You and Xu fell into the empty position. The four lessons were: Si added to Jia, Shen added to Si, Hai added to Shen, and Yin added to Hai. The three transmissions were Shen, Hai, and Yin. The first transmission was Jiashen, riding the Azure Dragon, representing official ghosts. The middle transmission was Dinghai, riding the Vermilion Bird, representing parents. The final transmission was Gengyin, riding the Heavenly Empress, representing brothers. The interpretation said: This lesson is very auspicious, and the promotion of official rank will surely come true. Why? In the lesson, the Azure Dragon and Tai Chang both appear, and the city god and official god are complete. The first transmission's Azure Dragon fighting within itself indicates a fortunate encounter leading to promotion. The middle transmission's Vermilion Bird is born on the day stem, and the ministers and officials will all praise him. The final transmission's Post-horse, along with the day's virtue and fortune, all enter the Heaven Gate亥宫, ensuring official success. Yin is the Heavenly Official, and the Heavenly Empress is the god of grace, so this is not anything but a heavenly appointment of official rank. Later, the court repeatedly recommended others, and after seven times, finally appointed Min Zongxian as the chief minister. However, in the lesson pattern, the nobleman was on the ground web, and the dragon god was in the lower position, indicating that the person himself wanted to resign. The next year, he indeed requested to return home. This lesson is auspicious but also includes retreat: the promotion in the first half and the resignation in the second half both come from the same lesson. The key lies in the nobleman's position and the direction of the dragon god above and below. Readers should not only look at the auspicious signs in the first transmission.

占驗二、丁丑七月戊辰日丁巳時，淮陰蔡熙陽任漢中府時，占楚省楊大司馬何日罷官，連茹、別責，戌亥空、亥子落空。 空虎 青 午未申酉 常 龍勾 空龍 鬼 甲寅 蛇 勾 巳 戌 玄 午巳 未午 印 戊午 龍 六 辰 亥 陰 巳辰 午戊 印 戊午 龍 朱 卯寅丑子 后 蛇貴 斷：司馬尋入相出將矣。而以去任卜之，可乎？蓋因發用驛馬，太歲貴人居命，皆入相之征也。天罡加卯，靜有動機，況課傳天吏天馬全逢，干支上乘羊刃勾陳，出入將相無疑。戊寅六月，思宗召對稱旨，果入相；己卯歲督師討賊，果出將。 本命戊子，行年在卯。 楊嗣昌，（1588—1641年）湖南武陵人，故稱楚省，1641年（辛巳）畏罪自縊。

In the tenth year of the Chongzhen era, on the fourth day of the seventh month, the day being Dingyou and the hour Dingsi, Cai Xiyang, who was serving as an official in Hanzhong, divined the day when Yang Dashima from Hubei province would be dismissed from office. The lesson pattern was "Lian Ru" combined with "Bie Ze." In this旬, the empty (kongwang) was in the戌 and亥. The Heaven Plate's亥 and子 were located in the empty palace. The four lessons were: Wu added to Wu, Wu added to Wu, Si added to Chen, and Wu added to Si. The three transmissions were: Yin, Wu, and Wu. The first transmission was Jiayin riding on Teng Snake, representing official ghosts. The middle and final transmissions were Wuwu riding on Azure Dragon, representing official seals. The interpretation said: This official will soon enter the court as prime minister and go out as a general. To inquire about his dismissal, is it appropriate? Because the initiating transmission was the Post-horse, and the year's master and the nobleman were located on his birth stem, both indicating signs of entering the government. The Tiangang (Chen) was placed on the卯, indicating a hidden motive even in stillness. Moreover, the lesson and transmissions included Heavenly Official and Heavenly Horse, and the day stem and branch were riding on Yangren and Gou Chen, indicating clearly that he would both enter the government and become a general. In the sixth month of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, the emperor summoned him for a meeting and he was in accord with the imperial will, so he indeed entered the cabinet as prime minister. In the twelfth year of Chongzhen, he commanded an army to suppress rebels and indeed became a great general. This person's birth stem was Wu Zi, and his age was in the卯. The person consulted was Yang Dashima, who was born in the sixteenth year of Wanli (1588), from Wuling in Hunan. Hubei was once part of the Chu region, so the book referred to him as from the Chu province. In the fourth year of the Chongzhen era (1641), he committed suicide due to military defeat and fear of punishment. The person consulted was asking about the day of dismissal, but the interpreter answered about entering the government and becoming a general. This is exactly the method of using the lesson pattern even when it does not match the intended question.

占驗三、戊辰十二月庚寅日庚辰時，徽州汪仙民、邵無奇在京，占少宗伯馬康莊能入相否，涉害、顧祖，午未空、寅卯落空。 六勾 朱 卯辰巳午 青 玄后 六龍 鬼 甲午 龍 蛇 寅 未 空 戌子 辰午 印 壬辰 六 貴 丑 申 虎 子寅 午庚 財 庚寅 蛇 后 子亥戌酉 常 陰玄 斷：不但不能入相，且不日歸鄉。凡在朝為官占得顧祖，多不滿仕。又初中空亡，龍化為蛇，只宜猛省退步，且龍神克下，倘欲強進，定遭不足。後果枚卜不就，次年察處歸里。未久棄人間事從赤松子遊矣。 枚卜者，看能否做得宰相之意也。“顧祖空傳歸里門”，此課之謂也，觀陳分獻所占仕宦三課顧祖，皆以凶斷，可見此定論也，不可以末助初官論之。

In the first year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Gengchen in the twelfth lunar month, at the hour of Gengchen, Wang Xianmin and Shao Wuqi from Huizhou were in the capital and divined whether Ma Kangzhuang, the junior minister, could enter the cabinet and become prime minister. The lesson pattern was "Shehai" combined with "Guzu". In this ten-day period, the empty palace was in Wu and Wei. The Heaven Plate's Yin and Mao fell into the empty palace. The four lessons were Wu added to Geng, Chen added to Wu, Zi added to Yin, and Xu added to Zi. The three transmissions were Wu, Chen, and Yin, each step going backward. The first transmission, Jiawu, was carried by the Azure Dragon as the official ghost; the middle transmission, Renchen, was carried by Liuhe as the official seal; the final transmission, Gengyin, was carried by Teng Snake as the wife's wealth. The interpretation said: not only would he not enter the cabinet, but he would return home within a short time. Those who are officials in the court and receive the Guzu lesson usually do not complete their term. Moreover, the first and middle transmissions fell into the empty palace, the Azure Dragon transformed into Teng Snake, which indicated he should suddenly realize and withdraw early. The dragon god was below and overcame, so if he insisted on advancing, he would certainly suffer misfortune. Later, he indeed failed in the selection for the prime minister's position, and in the following year he was dismissed from office and returned home. Soon after, he gave up worldly affairs and followed Chisongzi to study Daoism. The commentator said: the term "mei bu" refers to whether one can become a prime minister. "Guzu kong chuan gui li men" describes exactly this lesson. Looking at the three times Chen Gongxian encountered the Guzu lesson in the section on official careers, he always made a bad prediction, showing that this is a fixed conclusion. One should not take the final transmission helping the initial transmission as a sign of promotion. The name "Guzu" comes from the idea of the three transmissions looking back to their original clan. When applied to official careers, it means not advancing but retreating. In this lesson, Wu, Chen, and Yin move step by step backward, and they also meet the empty palace, making the retreat very clear. Therefore, the interpretation immediately stated that he would return home soon.

占驗四、丁丑十一月甲子日己巳時，雲間楊方壺太史自燕京抵揚索占，三交、元首、高蓋，戌亥空、未申落空。 朱六 蛇 寅卯辰巳 勾 龍常 白陰 子 庚午 龍 貴 丑 午 青 午酉 申亥 比 丁卯 朱 后 子 未 空 酉子 亥甲 父 甲子 后 陰 亥戌酉申 虎 玄常 斷：龍神發用無氣，又上克下，是以暫歸林下；明春祿馬生龍神（寅年寅月，寅為日祿驛馬，生龍神勝光），定然出山，由此位踐公卿。太史曰：星家云，十二月久利日，更有當塗雅薦。曰：前此何月不利？余曰：勾龍刑剋申酉，七八月間不利。曰：因何不利？答：嫌德蛇相加（蛇乘日德寅臨巳），有邪正同途之非。又問何如，曰：傳中太歲朱雀遙克年上貴人，必為門戶是非。太史遂默然。次年果起官，歷轉宮詹。 雲間者，上海古為松江府，別稱雲間。

In the tenth year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Dingchou in the eleventh lunar month, at the hour of Jisi, Yang Fanghu, a high-ranking official from Yunjian, traveled from Yanjing to Yangzhou and consulted the author. The lesson pattern was "Sanjiao" combined with "Yuanshou" and "Gaugai". The empty palace of this旬 was in Xu and Hai. The Heaven Plate's Wu and Shen fell within the empty palace. The four lessons were: Hai added to Jia, Shen added to Hai, You added to Zi, and Wu added to You. The three transmissions were Wu, Mao, and Zi. The first transmission was Gengwu riding the Azure Dragon as the son; the middle transmission was Dingmao riding the Vermilion Bird as the brother; the final transmission was Jiazi riding the Heavenly Empress as the parent. The interpretation said: the Azure Dragon initiated the transmission but lacked strength, and the upper god was also defeating the lower god, so at present one should temporarily retreat to the woods. In the spring of the next year, the禄 god and the Post-horse would come to nourish the Azure Dragon - in the year of Wuyin, the month of Yin, Yin was both the禄 god of Jia day and the Post-horse, which would exactly nourish the initial transmission's Shengguang Wu. Thus, one would definitely re-emerge and eventually attain a position among the ministers. The official said: According to star and destiny masters, December is long favorable, and there would also be the favor of a powerful person's recommendation. The author asked back: What about the previous months? He answered himself: Gou Chen and Azure Dragon were in conflict with Shen and You, so the months of July and August were unfavorable. The official asked why they were unfavorable, and he said: Because the day's virtue and Teng Snake were combined (Teng Snake was riding the day's virtue,寅, which was located on Si), there was a suspicion of good and evil traveling together. The official asked again about the future, and he said: The heavenly year and Vermilion Bird in the three transmissions would remotely defeat the nobleman on the personal year, which would certainly lead to disputes within the family. The official remained silent. The next year he indeed resumed his position, and later held various posts, eventually reaching the position of Minister of the Imperial Academy. Yunjian was the old name for Shanghai, and this area was once part of Songjiang Prefecture. The lesson was skillful in linking the meanings of departure, staying, rising, and returning with each month: the Azure Dragon lacked strength now, so one should retreat; in the spring of the next year, the禄 god and Post-horse would nourish the Azure Dragon, so one should emerge again; the middle months of July and August were unfavorable due to conflicts, all derived from the relationships of generation and defeat and the alignment or opposition of the gods and generals.

占驗五、庚午十二月丁未日庚戌時遲王兩父師偕予入覲，行到東門索占，八專、斬關，寅卯空、巳午落空。 貴后 蛇 申酉戌亥 陰 常后 常后 官 辛亥 陰 朱 未 子 玄 丑戌 丑戌 子 庚戌 后 六 午 丑 常 戌未 戌丁 子 庚戌 后 勾 巳辰卯寅 虎 青空 斷：所占必是顯宦。蓋發用官貴日德，而式中貴人又居歲君日祿旺位，斷非尋常之官。曰；此公將來何如？曰：不能久任。干支乘墓，祿馬空陷，又太陽入山（月將丑加戌），豈能久居廟堂？次年三月因言請歸。後知為大冢宰王射斗先生也。 干支乘墓，太陽落山，勢力已衰。祿馬空陷，則不可食此祿矣。此辨象而斷事，不以五行生剋為主也。

In the third year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Gengwu in the twelfth lunar month, when the two fathers and teachers, Che and Wang, and the author went to the capital together, they reached the eastern gate and cast a divination. The lesson pattern was "Eight Specials" combined with "Cutting the Gate," and in this旬, the empty position was in the Yin and Mao. The Heaven Plate's Si and Wu were located in the empty position. The four lessons were戌 added to Ding, Chou added to Xu, Xu added to Wei, and Chou added to Xu again. Since the day stem and day branch were in the same palace, it formed the "Eight Specials" pattern. The three transmissions were Hai, Xu, and Xu. The first transmission was Xinhai riding the Tai Yin, which was the official star. The middle and last transmissions were both Gengwu riding the Heavenly Empress, which were the sons and grandsons. The interpretation said that the person being divined was certainly a high-ranking official. The initiating transmission was both the official star and a noble god, and the noble person in the lesson pattern was also in the strong position of the year and the day's禄. It was not an ordinary official position. Someone asked, "What will happen to this man?" He replied, "He will not hold the position for long." The day stem and day branch were both riding the tomb god, and the禄 god and the post-horse were empty and hidden. Moreover, the sun had entered the mountain (the month general Chou was added to Xu in December), so how could he stay in the court for long? In the third month of the following year, this person indeed requested to return home because of his remarks. Later it was known that the person divined was the great official Wang She Dou, the Master of the Grand Secretariat. The annotator said that when the dry and branch ride the tomb and the sun enters the mountain, it is a sign of declining power; when the禄 and post-horse are empty and hidden, one cannot enjoy the salary. This is judging matters based on the lesson image, not primarily on the five phases' generation and overcoming. When divining about officials and nobles, the most important thing is the high or low position of the sun and the month general. When the month general Chou is added to Xu, the sun has already entered the mountain. Even if there are official stars and virtue gods, it can only be a temporary situation. This point is most worth pondering.

占驗六、丁丑四月丙申日丁酉時，安慶阮實夫在燕京索占，不言所事，伏吟、玄胎，辰巳空、辰巳落空。六朱 勾 巳午未申 蛇 蛇蛇 勾勾 兄 乙巳 勾 青 辰 酉 貴 申申 巳巳 財 丙申 蛇 空 卯 戌 后 申申 巳丙 父 壬寅 虎 虎 寅丑子亥 陰 常玄 曰：仕途得此，主有臺省參劾，秋解任去，然繫何命？曰癸酉。此公必居相位，但不久矣。以太陽日貴臨命（月將從魁乘貴人居酉命），非相而何？獨嫌遞克伏吟丁馬，定有參劾行動之事。況太陽西墜，揮戈返景有幾人乎：後知為烏程溫首揆，占後果被論，秋月準馬驛而歸。（任信丁馬須言動，三傳遞克眾人欺，所以斷為參劾行動。） 首輔溫體仁，1628年誣陷錢謙益，1629年誣陷處死袁崇煥，入閣，《明史》列入奸臣類。

In the tenth year of the Chongzhen era, on the fourth month, seventh day, and fourth hour of Dingchou, Ruan Shifu of Anqing sought a divination in Yanjing, but did not state the matter he was inquiring about. The lesson pattern was "Hidden Chant" combined with "Mysterious Embryo." The empty void of this旬 was in Chen and Si, and the Heaven Plate's Chen and Si also fell into the empty void palace. The Heaven and Earth plates overlapped. The four lessons were Si added to Bing, Si added to Si, Shen added to Shen, and Shen added to Shen. The three transmissions were Si, Shen, and Yin. The first transmission was Yi Si riding Gou Chen, representing brothers. The middle transmission was Bing Shen riding Teng Snake, representing wife's wealth. The final transmission was Ren Yin riding Bai Hu, representing parents. The author said: Officials who receive this lesson will be subject to impeachment by the censors, and they will be dismissed in autumn. But what is the person's true birth year? The answer was Guiyou. He then said: This man must certainly hold a position as prime minister, but will not hold it for long. Because the sun, the month general, and the day's nobleman are all located on his birth year (the month general "Congkui" in You, with the nobleman located in You's birth year). What else could it be but a prime minister? However, the three transmissions are in mutual control, and it is also a Hidden Chant with Ding Ma. Therefore, there will certainly be matters of being impeached and having to flee. Moreover, the sun has already set westward; how many people can reverse the sun's shadow with a spear? Later it was known that the divination was about Wen Shoukui of Wucheng. After the divination, he was indeed impeached, and in autumn he left according to the post-horse period. The annotator said: Ding Ma governs speech and action, and the mutual control of the three transmissions indicates being oppressed by many people, so it was concluded to be an impeachment matter. This chief minister was Wen Tiren. In the first year of Chongzhen (1628), he falsely accused Qian Qianyi; in the second year (1629), he falsely accused and killed Yuan Chonghuan, thus entering the cabinet. The "History of Ming" classifies him among the villains. The author did not know who the person was, yet he first concluded that he would hold a position as prime minister, relying precisely on the sun, the month general, and the day's nobleman all being located in the same palace as his birth year.

占驗七、丙子二月辛巳日辛卯時，湖州陸金吾占總鎮陳東明奉命出師江東，元首、炎上，申酉空、辰巳落空。 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 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。 此課之切入點，在於合中犯煞，發用午火刑干害支，為凶兆。而吉凶之兆，不可全憑此處，看此蜜中之砒毒性如何。干敗支墓，貴履地網，驛馬加臨三合之地，不宜行動，故以凶斷之。 陳東明，總兵陳洪範。

On the day of Xin Ma (辛巳) in the second month of the year Bing Zi (丙子), the ninth year of the Chongzhen era, Lu Jinwu of Huzhou divined for General Chen Dongming, who was ordered to lead an expedition to Jiangdong. The lesson pattern was "Yuan Shou" combined with "Yan Shang," and the empty palace of this ten-day period was in Shen and You. The Heaven Plate's Chen and Si fell on the empty palace. The four lessons were: Wu added to Xin, Yin added to Wu, Chou added to Si, and You added to Chou. The three transmissions were Wu, Yin, and Xu, forming a fire trinity. The first transmission was Ren Wu riding the Nobleman, representing an official star; the middle transmission was Wu Yin riding Gou Chen, representing wife and wealth; the final transmission was Jia Xu riding Tai Chang, representing official seal. The interpretation said: In spring, the fire trinity lesson is appropriate for rising energy, and it also combines with Yuan Shou and the Three Marvels. High official rank is not something that needs to be mentioned again. However, the day stem is in a losing position, the day branch is in a tomb, and it is riding the fire ghost. The Heaven魁 is in the trinity but is afflicted by a凶煞, just like the third line of the Travel卦 in the Zhou Changes, which says, "Traveling, the house is burned, losing servants, the divination is dangerous." Not only will the military campaign be ineffective, but there will also be unexpected troubles. Even if he holds office until the year of Ma (卯), it may not be beneficial. Because Ma is ridden by the White Tiger and the Post-horse, known as "Hui Ma," which is a凶煞 that strips away official rank. Fortunately, the noble trinity generates wood energy, which nourishes the first transmission's official star, so he was only recalled to suppress rebels. In the year of Geng Chen, the heavenly stem is harmed, and Zi water is in command, restraining the fire trinity and causing his resignation, all of which were fulfilled. The commentator said: The key point of this lesson is that theInauspicious Sha is present within the trinity. The initiating transmission's fire harms the day stem and harms the day branch, which is a bad omen. However, good and bad cannot be judged by one aspect alone; one must also consider how poisonous the poison in the honey is. The day stem is in a losing position, the day branch is in a tomb, the Nobleman is on the ground, and the Post-horse is added to the triple harmony, all of which are not suitable for action, so the divination is bad. The person mentioned here, Chen Dongming, is General Chen Hongfan. This lesson is a model of hidden danger within a good omen: the fire trinity naturally indicates success, but once the official star's riding god harms the day stem and day branch, even the best structure is greatly reduced. In military affairs, especially, one must look for theInauspicious Sha within the trinity.

占驗八、丁丑八月己未日戊辰時，經筵講官阮胤平曰：先日吳門申相公以八年講官拜相，吾今亦八年，枚卜如何，八專，子丑空、丑寅落空。 虎常 空 午未申酉 玄 玄常 玄常 比 己未 虎 青 巳 戌 陰 酉申 酉申 子 庚申 常 勾 辰 亥 后 申未 申己 子 庚申 常 六 卯寅丑子 貴 朱蛇 斷：太史雖有公卿推薦，恐不能也。蓋因日比虎刃自他處發用，突有秦人，任風憲兵刑之職者，不由詞館入閣；且中末干支年命俱見羅網，是秦晉梁益之人在中阻隔。又夜貴居本命，太史必賦歸來矣。後果黜。秦中薛國觀先生、蜀中劉宗伯入閣。

In the tenth year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Jiwei in the eighth lunar month, at the hour of Wuchen, the court lecturer Ruan Yinpingsaid: In the past, the official Shen Xianggong from Wumen served as a lecturer for eight years and then was appointed to a high position, and now I have also completed eight years. How will this time's selection go? The lesson pattern is "Eight Specials." In this旬, the empty亡 is in the Zi and Chou. The Chou and Yin on the Heaven Plate fall into the empty亡 palace. The four lessons are Shen plus Ji, You plus Shen, Shen plus Wei, and You plus Shen. The three transmissions are Wei, Shen, and Shen. The first transmission is Jiwei riding the White Tiger as a brother, while the middle and final transmissions are Gengshen riding the Tai Chang as a son and grandson. The interpretation says: Although the historian has recommendations from high officials, it is likely he will not succeed. Because the day's stem is accompanied by the White Tiger and the Yang Ren, which originate from elsewhere, suddenly a man from Shaanxi appears, taking the positions of inspector general and military and criminal affairs, bypassing the Hanlin Academy and directly entering the cabinet. Moreover, the middle and final transmissions, along with the day's stem and branch, and the person's birth year, all show a situation of being caught in a web, indicating that people from the regions of Qin, Jin, Liang, and Yizhong are obstructing him. Also, the night's noble is on his birth year, so the historian will definitely have to resign and return home. Later, he was indeed dismissed, and those who entered the cabinet were Xue Guoguan from Guanzhong and Liu Zongbo from Shu. The key to the Eight Specials lesson is that the companion stem originates from elsewhere, thus the matter is transferred to someone else. Then, by analyzing the division of the Wei and Shen branches, it is possible to determine that the obstructing person comes from the regions of Qin, Jin, Liang, and Yizhong, even identifying their hometowns. This is a typical method in the Six壬 system of using the division of regions to determine people.

吳門申相公，申時行，長洲人，以萬曆年間繼張居正為首輔。 蓋仕宦忌羅網，以羅網為丁憂之象，主退職也。 八專課不從四課上發傳，而自他處發用，有驀然之意。未分秦地雍州，申分晉地（晉地為今山西地）梁州（為今陝西漢中、安康二地區及四川省），後梁又分出益州。 《六壬粹言》一例可參看。

The person referred to as Wu Men Shen Xianggong is Shen Shixing, from Changzhou, who became the chief minister after Zhang Juzheng during the Wanli period. In divination, the career path is most忌 (to be avoided) when the heavens form a net, which symbolizes mourning and retirement. The Eight Special Transmission does not derive the Three Transmissions from the Four Lessons, but from elsewhere, indicating something happening suddenly. According to the division of regions, the hexagram of Wei corresponds to the area of Qin and Yongzhou, while Shen corresponds to the areas of Jin (present day Shanxi) and Liangzhou (present day Hanzhong, Ankang, and Sichuan in Shaanxi). Later, Liangzhou split off to form Yizhou, so the divination suggests that people from Qin, Jin, Liang, and Yizhou are interfering. The following is a lesson from "Essential Words on Liuren" for reference.

庚辰十二月己未日寅時子將，紹友蕭季思占施南府嵩菽圃太守能調首府否。 比 空丑 勾 父 丁巳 常 父 丁巳 常 空 常 空 常 卯 巳 卯 巳 巳 未 巳 己 空虎常玄 卯辰巳午 龍 寅 未 陰 勾 丑 申 后 子亥戌酉 六朱蛇貴 首府必為吳越人所得，太尊未必能調。然卻有別缺署理。且不至一次。蓋因日比月建自別處發用，丑為揚分，是以知為吳越人所得也。中末干支行年得五驛馬，又係皇恩，命上貴登天門，太歲月建，又生其命上神，是以有署理別缺。不止一次也，後果署理鹽法及督糧道事。首府丁公兆祺，江蘇人。

In the year Gengchen, the twelfth lunar month, on the day Jiwei, at the hour Yin, using the Zi general, Xiao Jisi from Shaoxing divined whether the magistrate of Songshupu in Shanyin could be transferred to the capital. In this divination, the day stem and day branch are in the same palace, forming the Eight Special Palace. The four lessons are:巳 over 未, 卯 over 巳, 巳 over 未, and 卯 over 巳. The heavenly general appears as Tai Chang and Tian Kong. The three transmissions are Chou, Si, and Si. The first transmission is Chou, which is the day stem's fellow and meets the旬空, and is occupied by Gou Chen. The middle and final transmissions are both Dingsi, acting as parents, and are occupied by Tai Chang. The interpretation states that the position of the capital will certainly be taken by someone from Wu-Yue, and this official is unlikely to be transferred. However, there are other vacancies that he can be temporarily appointed to, and this will happen more than once. This is because the day stem's fellow is also the month builder, and the transmission originates from elsewhere. Chou is the territory of Yangzhou, so it is known that the position will be taken by someone from Wu-Yue. The middle and final transmissions form fiveThe Post-horse with the day stem and day branch and the year's stem, and it is related to imperial grace. The nobleman of the native stem ascends the heavenly gate, and the year stem and month builder also generate the nobleman of the native stem. Therefore, there will be temporary appointments to other positions, and this will happen more than once. Later, he indeed temporarily managed the salt law and the supervision of grain transportation. The person who obtained the position of the capital was Ding Zhaoqi, a native of Jiangsu. This divination is exactly the same as the one by Ruan Yinpings, both cases involve the person falling into emptiness while another takes the position. They can be compared to understand the differences.

據此課推，嵩太守為亥年生，行年在未。以上二課，皆是八專，比肩不從四課發用，故斷事屬他人。與納甲官臨應爻同斷，《畢法云》“兩貴皆空虛喜期”，亦有此意。 此二課，皆宜分兩段觀之。日比自別處發用，一段也，主己不得此職。中末之神，為干上神，則應己事矣。阮課中末太常洩氣，嵩課中末太常生我，太常者貴官也，形勢異矣。加之年命，高下立判。 嵩課亦末助初傳，但初空亡且是日比，故己無成而預於他人穎。故凡末助初傳者，或二次方成，或當時不得也。 此課宜深思之。

According to this lesson, the official Shong was born in the亥 year and his current age is in the未. Both lessons belong to the category of eight special cases, and the parallel lines do not follow the initiating transmission of the four lessons, so the judgment relates to others. This is the same as the method in the six yao divination where the official star is on the response line. The saying in the "Bi Fa Fu" that "two dignitaries are empty and the auspicious time is empty" also contains this meaning. Both lessons should be viewed in two parts: the parallel line following the initiating transmission from elsewhere is one part, indicating that the person himself cannot obtain the position; the middle and final transmissions are spirits on the day stem, so they relate to the person himself. In the lesson of Ruan Yinping, the middle and final transmissions of "Tai Chang" drained my energy, but in Shong's lesson, the middle and final transmissions of "Tai Chang" generated energy for me. "Tai Chang" is originally the spirit of a noble official, and the situation is completely different. Referring to the year and destiny, the difference becomes clear. Shong's lesson also has the final transmission generating and supporting the initial transmission, but since the initial transmission falls into kongwang and is also the parallel line of the day stem, the person himself does not achieve it but helps others. In general, when the final transmission generates and supports the initial transmission, either the matter will be completed in the second instance or not achieved at the moment. This lesson is worth deep consideration. Scholars should especially carefully distinguish the division of responsibilities between the initial transmission and the middle and final transmissions in the method of judgment.

占驗九、辛未四月己未日戊辰時，東省兵長垣仇庸足先生占，八專、曲直，子丑空、辰巳落空。 朱蛇 六 酉戌亥子 貴 玄蛇 玄蛇 財 癸亥 蛇 勾 申 丑 后 卯亥 卯亥 鬼 乙卯 玄 青 未 寅 陰 亥未 亥己 兄 己未 龍 空 午巳辰卯 玄 虎常 斷：此課占功名，將來遠大，非常格也。傳將木局，官星崢嶸，喜本命丁馬恩星以化之，為逢凶化吉也。且木逢初夏，正在榮旺之時，又蛇化為龍，將來事業日新，功名顯赫，不待言矣。後歷任通州，擢南大司農、大司馬，請告歸里。

In the fourth month of the fourth year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Jiwei and the hour of Wu Chen, Wu Guan Yu, a military officer from Changyuan, Shandong, came for a divination. The lesson pattern was "Ba Zuan" combined with "Qu Zhi." The empty palace of this旬 was in Zi and Chou. The Heaven Plate's Chen and Si fell within the empty palace. The four lessons were:亥 added to Ji, Mao added to Hai, Hai added to Wei, and Mao added to Hai again. The three transmissions were Hai, Mao, and Wei, forming a wood pattern. The first transmission, Gui Hai, rode on Teng Snake, representing wife and wealth. The middle transmission, Yi Mao, rode on Xuan Wu, representing official ghosts. The final transmission, Ji Wei, rode on Qing Long, representing brothers. The interpretation said: This lesson concerning official rank will certainly achieve great success, not an ordinary pattern. The three transmissions and the Heavenly General formed a wood pattern, with the official star rising high. Moreover, the native's birth chart had Ding Shen, the Post-horse, and the Favor Star to resolve the unfavorable aspects, turning danger into good fortune. Furthermore, wood was flourishing in early summer, and Teng Snake transformed into Qing Long. Therefore, his career would constantly renew and his official rank would become prominent, which is self-evident. Later, this person successively held posts in Tongzhou, was promoted to the Grand Minister of Nanjing, and finally resigned to return home. There are two notable points in this lesson: first, although Ba Zuan is a miscellaneous pattern, encountering a wood pattern at the right time led to great achievement. Second, although the official ghost riding Xuan Wu is not a good sign, the native's Ding Shen, Post-horse, and Favor Star dispelled the bad influence, showing the importance of the native's birth chart in Six壬 divination.

占驗十、癸酉七月甲寅日壬申時，浙嘉善諱龍正陳先生在京會試時，占同鄉少宗伯諱士升錢太史可能入相否，元首，子丑空、戌亥落空。 六勾 朱 卯辰巳午 青 玄后 玄后 財 壬戌 玄 蛇 寅 未 空 戌子 戌子 鬼 庚申 虎 貴 丑 申 虎 子寅 子甲 子 戊午 龍 后 子亥戌酉 常 陰玄 斷：發用干支旬空日敗，本不許入相。然餘終以入相許之。因中傳驛馬皇詔，末傳月將青龍，又歲建乘太常作官星加臨年命。經曰；太常入官鄉當朝執政，月將乘青龍片言入相。非宰執而何？嫌龍神克歲君（龍乘午克太歲酉），將來未必不獲意於君上而退位。後如其占。 據《明史》，南京禮部侍郎錢士升（1575—1652年）、以九月庚戌日升禮部尚書、東閣大學士，丙子年致仕。禮部尚書的職責類似於古代的“宗伯”，故尚書稱大宗伯，其副手侍郎稱少宗伯。

In the sixth year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Jiayin in the seventh lunar month of the year Guiyou, Mr. Chen, a renowned scholar from Jia Shan in Zhejiang province, was taking the imperial examination in the capital. He divined whether Mr. Qian, a fellow native and esteemed official, could be appointed as a grand secretary. The lesson pattern was "the first sovereign," with the empty palace in the Zi and Chou branches for this旬. The Heaven Plate's Wu and Hai branches fell into the empty palace. The four lessons were Zi with Jia, Xu with Zi, Zi with Yin, and Xu with Zi. The three transmissions were Wu, Shen, and Wu. The first transmission was Renshen with the Black Tortoise as the wife's wealth, the middle transmission was Gengshen with the White Tiger as the official ghost, and the final transmission was Wuwu with the Azure Dragon as the son and grandson. The divination said: the initiating transmission's god was both in the empty palace and in the day's decline, so it was not supposed to be allowed to become a prime minister. However, the diviner still predicted that he would be appointed. This was because the middle transmission was the post-horse and carried the imperial decree, and the final transmission was the month's general with the Azure Dragon. The sovereign also rode the Tai Chang and added the official star to his year's destiny. The classics say that when Tai Chang enters the official's territory, he should govern the court. When the month's general rides the Azure Dragon, a single statement can lead to becoming a prime minister. Is this not the position of a prime minister? The only concern was that the Azure Dragon (which rides the Wu branch) was in conflict with the sovereign (which rides the You branch). In the future, he would inevitably not meet the emperor's will and be dismissed. Later, it indeed turned out as predicted. According to the "History of the Ming Dynasty," Qian Shisheng, the former Minister of Rites of the Nanjing, was appointed Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Eastern Hall on the day of Gengxu in the ninth lunar month, and retired in the year Bingzi. The Minister of Rites' duties were close to those of the ancient Grand Master of Rites, so the Minister of Rites was called the Grand Master of Rites, and his deputy, the Minister of Rites, was called the Lesser Master of Rites. The most skillful part of this divination was that the initiating transmission was both empty and declined, yet the diviner still predicted he would become a prime minister. Instead of taking the decline of the first transmission, he took the post-horse and imperial decree of the middle and final transmissions, and used the Tai Chang riding the sovereign and adding the official star to his year's destiny as the basis. First, he looked at the location of the useful god, then at the conjunctions of the year and destiny, and balanced both before making the judgment. This is the consistent method of Mr. Chen Gongxian in divining official positions.

占驗十一、癸酉二月甲子日己巳時，丹陽賀中憐先生居大寅臺時請占，反吟、玄胎、見機，戌亥空、辰巳落空。 蛇貴 朱 亥子丑寅 后 蛇虎 后龍 兄 丙寅 后 六 戌 卯 陰 子午 寅申 鬼 壬申 龍 勾 酉 辰 玄 午子 申甲 兄 丙寅 后 青 申未午巳 常 空虎 斷：朝官占此必主去位。賀曰：未去。曰：是何年生。己丑日。此必會狀之命，但不能久居於朝堂矣。蓋見任得夜貴即為不仕閒官也。況干支乘死絕，又德喪祿絕，四月尚有溫旨留，交秋必馳驛而去。朱雀月將加巳生日，我知其四月有溫旨相留。課傳二馬沖我，知其秋交馳驛而去。後知為宜興周首揆占。

In the sixth year of the Chongzhen era, on the day of Jiazi in the second lunar month of the year Guiyou, Mr. He Zhonglian of Danyang, while serving as the official in Dayin Terrace, sought a divination. The lesson pattern was "Reverse Chant" combined with "Xuan Tai" and "Jian Ji." The empty void of this旬 was in Xu and Hai. The Heaven Plate's Chen and Si fell on the empty void palace. The four lessons were Shen added to Jia, Yin added to Shen, Wu added to Zi, and Zi added to Wu. The three transmissions were Yin, Shen, and Yin. The initial and final transmissions were both Bingyin, riding on "Heavenly Empress" as brothers. The middle transmission was Renshen, riding on "Azure Dragon" as official ghosts. The interpretation said: a person in official position who receives this lesson will certainly lose his position. He said: he has not yet left. The questioner asked which year he was born in, and the answer was Jichou. He then said: this must be a person with a destiny of a top scholar or状元, but he cannot stay in the court for long. Because the current official received the night noble, becoming an inactive official; moreover, the day stem and day branch both rode on dead and absolute positions, losing the day virtue and the禄神 entering absolute. In April there would be a gentle imperial edict to retain him, but by the time autumn came, he would certainly leave by post-horse. The "Vermilion Bird" rode on the month general and added to Si to birth the day stem, so it was known that in April there would be a warm imperial edict. The twoThe Post-horse in the lesson transmissions conflict with me, so it was known that in autumn he would leave the capital by post-horse. Later it was found out that the person divined was Zhou Shoukui of Yixing. This lesson also predicted the month of leaving office: staying in April and leaving when autumn began. The basis were the Vermilion Bird on Si giving birth to the day stem and the twoThe Post-horse in the lesson transmissions, showing that within the same lesson, different deities and generals manage different periods of time.

由此例可知斷月令之法，學者識之。 宜興，縣名，在江蘇省。 周首輔，周延儒，公訟章占驗五亦是為此人所占，生年己丑，萬曆四十一年（1613）癸丑狀元，癸酉年行年在午。此課是歸鄉之占，因同黨溫體仁打擊，後復出仕，因欺上瞞下，於1643年癸未被賜死。 此課斷秋交，而公訟章斷六月後，說法略有不同，不知以何為是。據《明史》莊烈帝紀，六月庚辰日，周延儒致仕。 此課大勢，為德喪祿絕的四絕體，主凶。雖龍神居於日上，但不以吉論。且變體門中，未為幕貴，加於年上與加於日上同斷，在朝官不宜。 巳上朱雀亥水生日，故主有溫旨相留，雖乘月將但空，故只是虛與恩澤，溫旨而已。但為何突然說四月？以巳為占時先鋒，故言之，若巳不為之，則不可此斷矣。 二馬者，寅為驛馬沖干上龍神，申為天馬沖日干寄宮，干與干上神皆我之象也，故曰二馬沖我。

From this example, one can see the method of determining the month. Scholars should remember it. Yixing is a county in Jiangsu Province. The person referred to as Zhou Shoufu is Zhou Yanru: he was born in the Jichou year, passed the imperial examination as the top candidate in theGuichou (Guiyou) year, 1613, and in theGuiyou (Guiyou) year, his age was in the Wu (午) position. The fifth divination in the Gongsong chapter of this book is also for him. This divination concerns his return to his hometown. He was dismissed from office due to the attacks from his colleague Wen Tiren, but later regained his position as an official. Eventually, he was executed in theGuiwei (Guiwei) year, 1643, for deceiving the emperor and misleading the court. This divination was cast in the time of the transition to autumn, while the Gongsong chapter cast it after June, and there is a slight discrepancy between the two accounts. It is unclear which is correct. According to the "Ming History · Zhuanglie Emperor's Annals," Zhou Yanru resigned on the庚辰 (Gengchen) day of June. The overall situation of this divination is the four absolute losses: the day stem is in decline, its fortune is cut off, and it is in the position of loss. This indicates an ominous outcome. Although there is a dragon god residing above the day stem, it cannot be considered auspicious. Moreover, according to the theory of transformation, the Wei (未) is considered a minister of the court, and when it is added to the age position or the day stem, it is interpreted the same way. It is not suitable for officials in office. The巳 (Si) position has the "Zhuque" (朱雀) with the亥 (Hai) water coming to birth the day stem, so it indicates the emperor's imperial edict to retain him. However, since the亥 water is both under the month general and falls into an empty position, it is only a superficial grant of favor and an imperial edict. Why is the time suddenly specified as April? Because the巳 (Si) is the vanguard of the time, so it is used to determine the month. If the巳 were not the vanguard, then such a determination could not be made. The term "two post-horses" refers to the寅 (Yin) as the post-horse conflicting with the dragon god on the day stem, and the申 (Shen) as the heavenly horse conflicting with the palace where the day stem resides. The day stem and the god above it both represent the self, so it is said that two horses are attacking me. The commentator compares the two interpretations to show that one should not rely on a single method to determine the timing.