Xuanwu · Assignment

玄武遺陰，賊走失。散髮在子，有捕盜之心。升堂在丑，有干求之意。愛寅兮入林而難尋，惡辰兮失路而自制。窺戶在卯也，家有盜賊。反顧在巳也，虛見怖驚。在亥名伏藏，則隱於深遂之鄉。在未為不戒，則敗於酒食之地。截路在午，拔劔在酉，懷惡反傷。折足在申，遭囚在戌，失勢可得。

The text says: The Black Tortoise governs loss, private matters, and thieves fleeing. At Zi it is called "Dispersing," indicating the desire to capture thieves. At Chou it is called "Ascending the Hall," indicating the intention to seek favor. It is favorable at Yin, where after entering the forest it becomes hard to find; unfavorable at Chen, where one loses direction and is confined. At Mao it is called "Peering through the Door," indicating there is a thief in the house. At Si it is called "Looking Back," which is just a false alarm. At Hai it is called "Hidden," indicating hiding in a secluded place. At Wei it is called "Without Caution," indicating exposure in places of food and drink. At Wu it is called "Cutting the Road," and at You it is called "Drawing the Sword," both indicating malicious intent leading to self-harm. At Shen it is called "Breaking the Foot," and at Xu it is called "Being Captured," indicating the thief has lost power and can be caught.

子曰過海，出入進退。丑曰立云，賊失物、欺詐、干求。在寅一說和諧之地，不為災。在辰主官事，一云：魁罡乘武，奴婢逃亡。在巳一云：跣足，進身之象，有人舉薦；未曰朝天，宜於貴。亥主損官在午酉，賊不宜攻。

The explanation states: At Zi, it is called "crossing the sea," indicating movement in and out, going and coming, advancing and retreating. At Chou, it is called "standing cloud," indicating thieves taking away belongings, as well as fraud and requests for favors. At Yin, it is said to be a harmonious place, not causing disasters. At Chen, it relates to official matters; another interpretation says it involves River Chief and Heavenly Gang, indicating servants fleeing. At Si, one interpretation calls it "barefoot," symbolizing an opportunity to gain favor, with someone recommending you. At Wei, it is called "looking up to heaven," suitable for meeting noblemen. At Hai, it indicates loss of official position. As for Wu and You, thieves should not attack.

一云：午為失剱，不為害。又曰：玄武午未兮轉職。申主賊現形，又橫劔主害人，一說武乘玄子申，加卯酉，絕傷。

One account says that when the Black Tortoise is in the hour of Wu, it is called "losing the sword," but it does not cause harm. Another says that the Black Tortoise in Wu or Wei indicates a change in official position. In Shen, it indicates the appearance of thieves, also called "crossed sword," which brings harm to others. Another account says that if the Black Tortoise is in Zi or Shen, and also in Mao or You, it indicates severe injury.

後三玄武后將軍，盜賊奸邪獄訟陳；君子奴逃車馬失，常人家破戶門淫；相生健旺傷財畜，互克衰絕喪繫迍；病者患腰兼脹滿，祟殃河伯溺潭神。

The poem explains: The Nobleman's third position is the Black Tortoise, which represents the rear military commander, governing theft, wickedness, and disputes in court. A gentleman who draws this would experience servants fleeing and vehicles and horses lost; a common person would face family ruin and domestic disorder. When there is mutual generation and strong energy, only property and livestock are affected; but when there is mutual overcoming and weak energy, there may be mourning, burdens, and difficulties. In divination for illness, it indicates lower back pain and abdominal distension, and the calamity involved is associated with the river god and the spirit of drowning in a pond.

於人盜賊、邪視、小人。於祟河伯、水神，一云：廁鬼。於病心腹脹滿，一云：患腰。於五榖為豆。於獸狳、豬之屬，又為蟲。於水中連鱗甲，文章之物。變異為內虛女子之物。色，黑。數，四。

Xuanwu's symbolic representations: In terms of people, it signifies thieves, those with evil glances, and petty persons. In supernatural phenomena, it represents the River God and water deities, sometimes said to be the ghost of the厕神. In diseases, it corresponds to fullness in the chest and abdomen, or alternatively, lower back pain. In the five grains, it is associated with beans. In animals, it represents armadillos and pigs, and also signifies insects. In water, it includes scaled creatures and those with colorful patterns. If there is a variation, it refers to items used by women with hollow interiors. Its color is black, and its number is four.

太陰在天為御史大夫中丞，又云：天乙嬪妃綵女也。雷部中霜雪氷凍之神。位居後二家，辛酉金旺秋三月，吉將也。

Tai Yin serves as the Grand Censor and Deputy Grand Censor in the heavens, and some say it is the concubine of Tian Yi Guiren. Within the Thunder Department, it is the deity in charge of frost, snow, and freezing, ranking second after Guiren. Its nayin sound element belongs to Xinyou metal, and it is strong during the three months of autumn, making it a favorable general.

太陰乘金，西方白帝之少女。輔後宮，處人臣之位，有肅殺之權，嚴重有威貌。得地，則正直無私，主台垣諫府，刑章典憲，操天下是非，故於人為信氣，稟少陰嬪媵之職；失地，則為婢為妾，三十六怪之主。愛龍、常、後，畏雀、蛇、空，不立卯午子。

Tai Yin rides on metal, representing the daughter of the Western White Emperor. It assists in the inner court, occupying the position of a minister, holding the power of severity and killing. It is solemn, orderly, and dignified. When it is in a favorable position, it is upright and impartial, governing the office of remonstrance, legal statutes, and the examination of right and wrong throughout the world. In a person, this manifests as the quality of sincerity, inheriting the duties of a minor concubine of the lesser Yin. When it is in an unfavorable position, it becomes a servant or concubine, becoming the master of thirty-six strange phenomena. It prefers to be with Qinglong, Tai Chang, and Tianhou, but fears Zhuque, Teng Snake, and Tiankong, and refuses to stand above卯, 午, or 子.

太陰，主婦女、才帛、金銀、錢物、陰私、喜慶、婚姻。其戾，為陰私、損失，謀事遲滯未成，遠信未至，病疾未痊。旺相相生，主陰人財喜，或為胎產。死囚、刑剋，陰小病患，及陰私、舌口、婢弊不正之事。

Tai Yin governs women, wealth, silver and gold, money and property, private affairs, joy and celebration, and marriage. When Tai Yin is adverse, it indicates private troubles and losses, delays in affairs, delayed news from afar, and illnesses that do not heal quickly. If Tai Yin is prosperous and strong and is mutually generated by the day stem, it signifies good fortune and joy from women or pregnancy and childbirth. If Tai Yin is in a dead or imprisoned state and is afflicted by刑克, it indicates illness among women or young children, as well as private matters, disputes, and misconduct by servants or attendants.

占公訟，太陰入卦與日相生者，宜首罪。占罪，太陰入卦刑剋者，主有神佛願。占盜賊，切忌太陰入卦，或臨日辰，主難獲，天地之私門也。徐曰：太陰、六合來加日，冥福佐之登遠程。

Divination regarding legal cases and litigation: If Tai Yin enters the hexagram and mutually generates with the day stem, it is favorable for the person to confess and admit guilt. Divination regarding criminal responsibility: If Tai Yin enters the hexagram and brings about a situation of mutual overcoming, it indicates that the person still has unfulfilled vows to deities. Divination regarding thieves most fears Tai Yin entering the hexagram, or Tai Yin being on the day branch, both indicating difficulty in capturing the thief, because Tai Yin represents private doors in the universe. Xu said: If Tai Yin and Liu He both fall on the day stem, there will be unseen blessings and assistance, enabling the person to achieve success in distant travels.

占墓宅，太陰入卦，所臨之方，斷其有佛寺及奇羙好物名。占婚，見太陰並酉亥未發用加日辰，其女必不正，或神佛阻，婦人間阻。加日本剋日，曰主淫亂，丙午日見之有財。

Divination for graves and dwellings, if Tai Yin enters the hexagram, then according to the direction it is approaching, there will be a Buddhist temple or something rare and beautiful, or something famous and good in that direction. Divination for marriage, if Tai Yin is seen together with You, Hai, and Wei in the initiating transmission and is added to the day branch, then the woman is certainly improper in her conduct, or is obstructed by deities, or is interfered with by another woman. If Tai Yin is added to the day stem position and overcomes the day stem, it indicates disorder and immorality; however, on Bingwu day, it instead indicates gaining wealth.

太陰居申酉，為拔劔，主陰。

Tai Yin is located above Shen and You, called "drawing the sword," governing private and secret matters.

太陰，旺，主嫁娶、陰私事；相，財物、蔽匿；死，陰私、死喪；囚，陰私、囚禁；休，巫醫、蔽匿事。

Tai Yin energy in its旺 state indicates marriage and private matters; in its相 state, it relates to wealth and concealment; in its死 state, it signifies private matters and death; in its囚 state, it relates to private matters and imprisonment; and in its休 state, it concerns witches and concealment.

太陰所為蔽匿，其來禍福不寧。垂簾在子，則妾婦相侮。守局在丑，則尊卑相蒙。被察在戌兮，憂怪異、小人誣譖。遭淫在辰兮，被乖爭、勾連、爭訟。寅跌足，午脫巾，財物文書暗動。亥裸形，巳伏枕，口舌盜賊驚憂，閉戶在酉，看書在未，雅稱士人之正。微行在卯，執正在申，偏宜君子之貞。

The text says: Tai Yin governs matters of concealment and concealment, bringing fortune and misfortune that are unstable. At Zi it is called "Cui Lian," indicating mutual insult between concubines and wives; at Chou it is called "Shou Ju," indicating mutual obstruction between superiors and inferiors. At Xu it is called "Bei Cha," indicating worry about strange occurrences and false accusations from petty people; at Chen it is called "Zao Yin," indicating suffering from disputes, entanglements, and lawsuits. At Yin it is called "Die Zu," and at Wu it is called "Tuo Jin," indicating secret movements of wealth and documents. At Hai it is called "Luo Xing," and at Si it is called "Fu Zhen," indicating disputes, theft, and anxiety. At You it is called "Bi Hu," and at Wei it is called "Kan Shu," indicating proper conduct befitting scholars. At Mao it is called "Wei Xing," and at Shen it is called "Zhi Zheng," indicating especially suitable conduct for the steadfastness of the virtuous.

凡太陰所為雖福，亦是蔽匿之事。子為房，陰為妾，故垂簾相侮。丑尊貴之宅，陰加，故尊卑相蒙。占婚，當主貴人為事，一云：主僧願。戌天空之宅，小人之象，故防譖。辰主乖爭，又為獄，故有訟。一云：戌曰繡衣，主婚。辰曰理冠，求就，又云：墮胎、損婦、跌足、財動。

The commentary says: Whatever is governed by Tai Yin, even if it is a blessing, always carries the meaning of concealment and obscurity. Zi represents the inner chamber, and Tai Yin is also associated with a concubine, hence it is called "chui lian" (drawing the curtain), and it governs mutual deceit and conflict. Chou represents the residence of a noble, and Tai Yin overlaying it leads to mutual obscuring of rank and status; in matters of marriage, it suggests that the nobleman will be involved, or that a monk's vow will be made. Xu represents the residence of Tian Kong (Heavenly Official), symbolizing small people, so one should beware of slander. Chen governs discord and disputes, and also represents prison, hence it indicates litigation. Another interpretation says that in Xu it is called "xiu yi" (embroidered official), governing marriage; in Chen it is called "li guan" (correcting the hat), suggesting that endeavors will succeed; there is also an interpretation that it indicates miscarriage, injury to women, falling down, and the movement of wealth.

寅脫巾，文書動。午其憂喜決於占時。又云：午日披髮，懷憂。寅榮遷、恩錫。金生水在亥，為裸體目。亥玄武，酉金珠，主陰有盜賊，又孕病，又云：孕喜。巳火克酉，為伏枕，陰人口舌。

At寅 it is called "Tuo Jin," indicating the initiation of official documents; at午, whether there is worry or joy depends on the time of divination, and some say that on午 it is called "Pi Fa," indicating inner anxiety. At寅 it also signifies honor, promotion, and rewards. Gold generates water at亥, so it is called "Luo Ti";亥 is where the Black Tortoise resides, and酉 is where precious metals are located, indicating potential theft by women or illness during pregnancy, and some say it signifies the joy of pregnancy. The fire of巳 overcomes the metal of酉, so it is called "Fu Zhen," indicating disputes involving women.

酉為正位，故閉戶。未為夏未，迎秋金將至，故看書。卯為門，太陰出之，主正直。申為臨官，故為執政，四者皆，君子則吉，小人凶也。一云：酉主奴婢、疾病，出入防憂。未主傳書、欺詐、破失，又婚事。

You is the proper position of Tai Yin, so it is called "closed door." Wei is the last month of summer, about to welcome autumn, and the metal energy is about to arrive, so it is called "reading books." Mao is the gate, from which Tai Yin departs, so it signifies uprightness. Shen is the official position of metal, so it is called "governing." These four places represent refined and proper signs: they are auspicious for gentlemen but ominous for petty people. Another interpretation says that at You, servants and illness are indicated, and one should be cautious about entering and exiting to avoid worries; at Wei, it signifies transmitting messages, deceit, and loss or damage, and also marriage matters.

後二太陰內史丞，陰私蔽匿事相仍；君子罪名將出入，小人贓奸致憂驚；乘旺相生婚禮驗，逢衰刑剋祀神徵；病者足疾腰傷損，有祟須祈灶有靈。

The poem says: The Nobleman's second position, with Tai Yin, indicates a confidential official, governing secret matters and continuous affairs. A gentleman who divines this may face accusations and exonerations, while a petty person may suffer from hidden crimes and troubles. If it is supported by strong energy and mutually generated with the day, it indicates a successful marriage. If it is weak and suffers from punishment, one should worship deities and make offerings. For illness, it indicates foot injuries and back pain. If there are supernatural disturbances, one must pray to the Kitchen God for relief.

於人與天后同，或云賤妾。於祟女祥並灶及絕嗣鬼。於病心、腹、腰、腳損。於五榖為小麥。於獸雞雉、飛鳥之屬，又為金、鐵、刀、針。變異為野外水中物。色，黃、白。數，六。

Tai Yin's symbolic associations: In terms of people, it is similar to the Heavenly Empress, and some say it represents a lowly concubine. In supernatural phenomena, it relates to female spirits, the kitchen god, and the souls of childless women. In diseases, it signifies injuries to the heart, abdomen, waist, and feet. In grains, it corresponds to wheat. In animals, it represents chickens, pheasants, and flying birds, and also governs metal, iron, knives, and needles; if there is a variation, it refers to creatures from the wild or water. Its colors are yellow and white, and its number is six.

天后在天事天乙，為后妃。雷部陰霖霧雨之神。位居前一家，壬子水旺冬三月，吉將也。

The Heavenly Empress serves the Nobleman in heaven, holding the rank of a concubine. In the Thunder Department, she is the deity in charge of rainy mist and rain. She is positioned right after the Nobleman, and her Nayin sound element belongs to Renzi water. She is most powerful during the three winter months and is considered a favorable general.

天后六陰之極，北方黑帝之五，女處人臣之位，任用財物。為陰戶之事，掌握後宮，配貴人多柔順，主遲滯。體天地之至位，作群侯之慈母。得地，則清真廉潔，高貴尊崇；失地，則淫濫奸邪，雜亂人倫。愛龍、常、貴、合，畏勾、空土神。不立四季。

The Heavenly Empress represents the extreme of six yin, being the fifth daughter of the Northern Black Emperor, who resides in the position of a minister and controls the allocation of wealth. It governs matters within the inner chamber and the harem, and when paired with the Nobleman, tends to show gentleness and compliance. The affairs it oversees are often slow. It embodies the ultimate yin position in heaven and earth, acting as the kind mother to all feudal lords. When it holds power, it is pure, upright, noble, and esteemed; but when it loses power, it becomes licentious, corrupt, and disrupts human relationships. It prefers to be with the Azure Dragon, Tai Chang, Nobleman, and Liu He, but fears Gou Chen and Tian Kong, the earth deities, and does not stand above the seasons of Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei.

天后，主宮庭陰私、喜慶、婦人、財物、婚姻、胎產，與賞赦、慶賀、恩澤。其戾，主帷簿不修、陰私不明、欺詐不實、口舌走失。凡占，后乘太歲加日臨門戶。主恩赦之兆立至。更值三陽、三光尤準。占公事最宜見之，如不臨門戶，但入課傳者，則主遲慢。

The Heavenly Empress governs matters within the palace such as private affairs, joy, women, property, marriage, childbirth, as well as rewards, pardons, celebrations, and grace. When it is discordant, it indicates disorder in the household, secret affairs, deceit, verbal disputes, and loss. In divination, if the Heavenly Empress is combined with the year stem and placed over the day stem, it signifies that signs of mercy and pardon will arrive immediately. If it coincides with the Three Yang lessons or the Three Light lessons, the prediction is even more accurate. It is most suitable to see it in divinations concerning government affairs; if it does not appear at the gate but only enters the four lessons and three transmissions, it indicates a delay.

天后所乘神。切忌下賊上，必有小人凌辱之事。葢后是皇后星，女弱之象，不宜為下所制也。占婚，宜后與日相生，及三六合者成，反此不成。天后剋日干，女貪男不肯；日干克天后，男貪女，而女不肯。若卦傳大吉，主先阻後成。

The Heavenly Empress is the star representing the queen, symbolizing a woman's gentle and weak nature. It is most undesirable for the subordinate deity to harm the superior deity, as this indicates that there will be matters of small people humiliating or oppressing others. In matters of marriage, if the Heavenly Empress and the day stem mutually generate, or form a Triple Harmony or Liu He, the marriage will succeed. If the situation is the opposite, the marriage will not succeed. If the Heavenly Empress overcomes the day stem, it indicates that the woman is greedy while the man is unwilling. If the day stem overcomes the Heavenly Empress, it indicates that the man is greedy while the woman is unwilling. If the three transmissions in the hexagram are highly favorable, it suggests that there will be initial obstacles followed by success.

天后乘神，可以定女子性情容貌。天后乘馬，命見解神，主陰人離別。後陰作玄，闇昧不明。後陰作虎，主妻病凶。罡為後，加婦年，主墮胎。

Observing the deity that the Heavenly Empress rides upon can determine the nature and appearance of a woman. If the Heavenly Empress rides the Post-horse and there is also the Relief Deity in the native's destiny, it indicates separation from a woman. If the阴神 of the Heavenly Empress is the Black Tortoise, it suggests ambiguous matters. If the阴神 of the Heavenly Empress is the White Tiger, it indicates serious illness or misfortune for the wife. If the Heavenly Gang is on the Chen hour and the Heavenly Empress is added to the woman's age, it indicates a miscarriage.

天后，陰申陽酉，主淫亂未明。一曰天后多因占女人，忽逢土旺，主災損。若臨午未並壬癸，萬事十謀無一真。

The Heavenly Empress is observed on the hour of Shen on an odd day and on the hour of You on an even day, indicating affairs involving licentiousness that are obscure and unclear. Another interpretation suggests that the Heavenly Empress is mostly relevant when divining matters concerning women. If it coincides with the dominance of earth energy, it signifies calamity and injury. If the Heavenly Empress is present at the hour of Wu or Wei and also meets the influence of Ren or Gui, then all matters will be false, and none of the plans will be genuine.

天后，旺，主嫁娶酒食；相，婦人陰私事；死，主死喪財帛事；囚，奸邪繫事；休，陰私疾病事。

The Heavenly Empress' energy in its旺 state signifies marriage and food and drink; in its相 state, it relates to private matters of women; in its死 state, it indicates death and loss of wealth; in its囚 state, it signifies troubles from wickedness and entanglements; and in its休 state, it relates to private matters and illness.

天后，婦女、敝匿、陰私。守閨在子，治事在亥，動止多宜，臨門在卯，倚戶在酉，姦淫不足。褰帷在戌，伏枕在午，非嘆息則呻吟。裸體在巳，毀妝在辰，不悲憂，則羞辱。優遊閒暇，皆因理髮在寅。修容在申，悚懼驚慌。緣為偷窺在丑，沐浴在未。

The text says: The Heavenly Empress governs women, concealment, and private matters. At Zi it is called "Guarding the Chamber," at Hai it is called "Managing Affairs," one still and one active, both appropriate. At Mao it is called "Approaching the Gate," at You it is called "Leaning on the Door," both indicating illicit relations that bring no benefit. At Xu it is called "Lifting the Curtain," at Wu it is called "Lying on the Pillow," either sighing or moaning. At Si it is called "Bare Body," at Chen it is called "Destroying Makeup," either sorrow or disgrace. Therefore, being at ease and leisurely is because at Yin it is called "Haircut." At Shen it is called "Adorning Appearance," which instead causes fear and alarm, due to at Chou it is called "Stealthy Gaze" and at Wei it is called "Bathing."

子宜靜，亥宜動。又云：子主貴人、婚禮、遠信、盜賊，亥主陰人病，占訟必獄。卯酉為門戶，主姦淫，家事不寧。午為水胎，故伏枕，主孕病。戌為獄，水受克，故褰衣，主失物訟事。水淫於巳，故裸體，姦淫之羞。辰為牢獄，故毀妝，主遺失衣物、官訟。又云：魁罡作後，家藏惡疾陰人。一云：在辰婚產。

It is said that in the hour of Zi, stillness is favorable, while in the hour of Hai, action is favorable. Some say that in Zi, there is a nobleman, marriage, news from afar, and thieves; in Hai, there is a sick person of the阴人, and if there is a lawsuit, it will surely lead to imprisonment. The hours of Mao and You are the gates, so they are associated with adultery and domestic unrest. Wu is the position of the water's conception, so it is called "伏枕," indicating illness during pregnancy. Xu is the prison, and water is weakened here, so it is called "褰衣," indicating loss of property and lawsuits. Water overflows in Si, so it is called "裸体," representing disgraceful adultery. Chen is the prison, so it is called "毁妆," indicating loss of clothing and legal disputes; some also say that if the River Chief and Heavenly Gang are associated with the Heavenly Empress, there is a hidden sick person in the family who suffers from a serious illness; another saying is that in Chen, there is marriage and childbirth.

寅為毛髮，水生木，故理髮。一云：文書不決。申為容，水生之地，故修容。一云：奸私。寅亥合而丑近之，故偷窺，主陰私。一云：主婚禮。又云：后乘丑加支為用，夜夢鬼交。未為衣服，水受克，故沐浴，主婦人憂。又云：陰后在小吉，主婦人婚。一云：男進田宅。

The branch Yin governs hair and fur, and water nourishes wood, so it is called "haircut"; another interpretation says it relates to pending official documents. The branch Shen governs appearance, as it is the birthplace of water, so it is called "beautification"; another interpretation says it relates to secret affairs. Yin combines with Hai and Chou is adjacent to Yin, so it is called "sneaking a peek," governing private matters; another interpretation says it relates to marriage. There is also a saying that the Heavenly Empress rides on Chou and joins the day branch to initiate transmission, governing dreams of ghostly encounters at night. The branch Wei governs clothing, as water is restrained here, so it is called "bathing," governing women's worries; another interpretation says Tai Yin and the Heavenly Empress falling on Xiao Ji Wei governs women's marriage matters, another says it relates to a man acquiring land and property.

後一天后綵女嬪，惟須禁錮莫因循；君子遷官會賓客，小人陳儀議婚姻；旺相維持妻妾產，休囚傷害暗私淫；病成痢疾腰肢患，祟犯河官溺死神。

The poem says: The Heavenly Empress, who is the noblewoman following the Nobleman, is the beautiful lady-in-waiting, who should only abide by restrictions and not be careless or negligent. A gentleman who divines this will be promoted in office and gather guests, while a petty person will set up marriage gifts and discuss marriage. When the energy is prosperous and strong, it supports the wife and concubines and is associated with childbirth. When the energy is weak and confined, it causes harm and secretly involves illicit relationships. When divining illness, it indicates dysentery and ailments in the waist and limbs, and the spirit causing the illness is the river god and the ghost of someone drowned.

於人貴流婦人。於祟水神、溺鬼。病陰陽不調，大小便不利，臟腑之疾。於五榖稻、豆。於獸鼠、蝠，又為女人用物。變異為金石、草木之屬。色，潔白。數，九。

The symbolic representations of the Heavenly Empress include: in terms of people, she represents a noble and distinguished woman. In terms of supernatural beings, she symbolizes water deities and ghosts of those drowned. In terms of diseases, she signifies imbalance of yin and yang, obstruction of urination and defecation, and disorders of internal organs. In terms of grains, she corresponds to rice and beans. In terms of animals, she represents rats and bats, and she also presides over items used by women; if there is a variation, it refers to metals, stones, herbs, and plants. Her color is white and pure, and her number is nine.