Liu Ren Duan An (六壬斷案) · Volume 3

41）徐承務丁未生六十三歲占墳地，己酉年九月癸卯日辰將卯時。（辰巳空亡，巳午落空），重審，進茹，龍戰，斬關，寡宿。 陳龍 六午未申酉空 朱巳 戌虎 朱 蛇 貴 后 鬼 空辰 蛇 初（空亡） 蛇辰 亥常 巳 辰 卯 寅 財 空巳 朱 中（空亡） 貴卯寅丑子玄 辰 卯 寅 癸 子 甲午 六 末（落空） 后陰

Example 41: Xu Chengwu was born in the year Dingwei and is now 63 years old. He came to consult about a burial site. The time was on the day of Guimao in the ninth month of Jiyou year. The divination was started with the month of Chen as the general and placed on the卯 hour. The day Guimao belongs to the Jiawu decade, with the empty positions falling on Chen and Si. The branches Si and Wu on the Heaven Plate are located in the empty positions. The names of the lessons are five: "Chong Shen" (Re-examination), "Jin Ru" (Advancing and Eating), "Long Zhan" (Dragon Battle), "Zhan Guan" (Cutting the Gate), and "Guasu" (Solitary Guest). The Heaven Plate is set with the general Chen added to the卯 hour. The Nobleman is on卯, with Teng Snake on Chen, Vermilion Bird on Si, Liu He on Wu, Gou Chen on Wei, Qinglong on Shen, Tian Kong on You, Baihu on Xu, Tai Chang on Hai, Xuanwu on Zi, Tai Yin on Chou, and Tianhou on Yin. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Gui, which is in the Chou palace, with Yin on top, riding Tianhou; the second lesson is Yin with卯 on top, riding the Nobleman; the third lesson is the day branch卯 with Chen on top, riding Teng Snake; the fourth lesson is Chen with Si on top, riding Vermilion Bird. The three transmissions are Chen, Si, and Wu: the first transmission is Chen, which falls in the empty position, representing the official ghost, riding Teng Snake; the second transmission is Si, which also falls in the empty position, representing the wife's wealth, riding Vermilion Bird; the third transmission is Jiawu, representing the son's fortune, riding Liu He, and also falling in the empty position.

邵先生曰：此地甚好，但恐此時不可得而葬。徐曰：如何？先生曰：前後左右皆有空穴，山側又有一陰人墳，如何葬得？須於中陪錢去之，然後可葬，必出貴人，最好是水合星辰，山川清秀，文筆雙峰，必是卯龍入首，作乙山辛向也。

Master Shao said: This piece of land is very good, but I fear that we cannot bury here at the moment. Xu Chengwu asked: Why? Master Shao said: This land has hollows in front, behind, left and right, and there is also a woman's grave by the mountain. How can we bury here? We must pay money to move those graves away first, then we can perform the burial; the burial will surely bring a nobleman. The best part of this land is that the water flow conforms to the position of the stars, the mountains and rivers are elegant and refined, and there is a pair of literary peaks in front. It must be a卯 dragon entering the site, with the orientation of 乙 mountain and 辛 direction.

夫辰為墳地，作空亡而發用，故主有空穴，戌亦是墓，加酉，酉作天空，亦是虛墳，以初傳為主山穴，對前戌墓也。卯為子孫作貴人，不為脫氣也。徐宅問汪家買山，汪兄弟三分其二分，將來買長兄一分，故將空棺自埋其內。先前亦有三四個虛穴，皆不葬。徐丈齎錢問汪長兄買之。庚戌年九月葬妻，以後子孫皆中舉及第，皆此地發也。

The Earthly Branch 辰 represents the burial ground, and now it falls on Kongwang with the Initiating Transmission, so it indicates there is an empty cavity in the land. 戌 is also a Storage, and 戌 is placed above 酉, with 酉 multiplied by Tian Kong, which is also an image of a hollow grave. Taking the First Transmission as the main mountain's穴位, facing the preceding 戌 position's Storage. 卯 is the grandson's yao and is multiplied by Nobleman, so it cannot be regarded as a release of energy. Later, the Xu family bought this mountain from the Wang family. The Wang family had three brothers, and two of them had already sold their shares. When they were about to buy the share of the eldest brother, the eldest brother first buried an empty coffin inside. Previously, there were already three or four empty cavities in the land, none of which had real burials. Xu's old master went with money to negotiate with the eldest brother of the Wang family to buy the share. In the year Gengxu, September, the wife was buried, and after that, the descendants consecutively passed the imperial examinations and achieved success, all coming from this land.

先生析曰；巳加辰作貴，巳主雙，故有雙峰，號為文筆星。宅又得貴人，癸見卯不可為脫氣，乃子孫貴人也。申酉為今日水母，故水來去皆合星辰，巳為雙女，故出雙貴人也。

Master Zhao explained that the巳 is placed on the辰 and is riding on the nobleman's energy. The image of巳 represents a pair, so there are two mountain peaks in front of the mountain, called the literary stars. The dwelling position also receives the nobleman's favor. Although the癸 water meets the卯 and is considered to be losing energy, here it should not be viewed as losing energy, but rather as the descendants producing a nobleman. The申 and 酉 are the mother sources of the water of today's癸, so the flow and return of the water are in harmony with the auspicious positions of the stars. The巳 also represents two women, so there will be a pair of noblemen in the future.

42）劉秘教占宅，四十一歲己巳命己酉年六月初一戊申日未將酉時。（寅卯空亡，子丑落空），重審，極陰，勵德。 六朱 陳卯辰巳午蛇 龍寅 未貴 六 蛇 空 陳 兄 癸丑 空 初（落空） 空丑 申后 辰 午 丑 卯 財 辛亥 常 中 虎子亥戌酉陰 午 申 卯 戊 子 己酉 陰 末 常玄

Example 42: Liu Mi asked for a divination regarding his residence. He is 41 years old, born in the year Jisi. The time is on the first day of the sixth month of the year Jiyou, on the day Wushen. The divination was cast using the month of Wei as the general, added to the hour of You. On the day Wushen, it falls in the Jiachen decade, with the empty positions falling on Yin and Mao. The name of the lesson has three parts: "Chong Shen" (Re-examination), "Ji Yin" (Extreme Yin), and "Li De" (Cultivating Virtue). The Heaven Plate is set with Wei as the general added to the hour of You. The nobleman is riding Wei, with Teng Snake riding Wu, Vermilion Bird riding Si, Liu He riding Chen, Gou Chen riding Mao, Azure Dragon riding Yin, Tian Kong riding Chou, Bai Hu riding Zi, Tai Chang riding Hai, Xuan Wu riding Xu, Tai Yin riding You, and Tian Hou riding Shen. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Wu, which is located in the Si palace, with Mao above it, riding Gou Chen; the second lesson is Mao with Chou above it, riding Tian Kong; the third lesson is the day branch Shen with Wu above it, riding Teng Snake; the fourth lesson is Wu with Chen above it, riding Liu He. The three transmissions are Chou, Hai, and You: the first transmission is Gui Chou, representing the brother's yao, riding Tian Kong and falling into the empty position; the middle transmission is Xin Hai, representing the wife's wealth yao, riding Tai Chang; the final transmission is Ji You, representing the son's yao, riding Tai Yin.

邵先生曰：家勢退矣。日上空亡剋日，又作勾陳，舊事百般，盡牽在己，宅上午上，螣蛇帶羊刃主家人爭產，四散分飛。初傳丑作天空在卯，主泥土塞門戶，婦人婢腹常疼痛，又有白帶。自身主脾洩，末傳盡去彼被來年難過，主太陰少婦管家，乙卯年果將住宅拆毀，各人四散分居矣。

Master Zhao said: The family's vitality is declining. The day stem falls on Kongwang and is being overcome by it, and it is riding on Gou Chen, indicating that all old matters will be纠缠 upon oneself. The house position is Wu, with Teng Snake accompanied by Yangren, indicating disputes over property among family members, leading to separation. The first transmission is Chou riding on Tian Kong and falling on Mao, indicating blocked entrances and mud, with frequent stomach pain and white discharge among women and servants in the household, and the master himself suffering from spleen deficiency and diarrhea. The final transmission takes away the life qi, making it difficult to pass through next year; later, family affairs will be managed by a young woman under Tai Yin. In the year of Yimao, the house was indeed demolished, and everyone dispersed and lived apart.

43）郭仲起辛未生三十九歲占宅，己酉年六月甲寅日未將寅時。（子丑空亡，巳午落空），知一，度厄，鑄印，孤辰。 陳龍 六戌亥子丑空 朱酉 寅虎 龍 貴 龍 貴 父 空子 龍 初（空亡） 蛇申 卯常 子 未 子 未 子 丁巳 陰 中（落空）（丁神） 貴未午巳辰玄 未 寅 未 甲 財 壬戌 六 末 后陰

Example 43: Guo Zhongqi was born in the year Xinwei, and is thirty-nine years old. He consulted about his residence. The time was in the year Jiyou, sixth lunar month, day Jiayin. The month general was Wei, and the course was set with Wei added to the寅 hour. The day Jiayin belongs to the Jiayin decade, with the empty place falling on Zi and Chou. The branches巳 and午 on the Heaven Plate fall into the empty place. The course has four names: "Zhi Yi" (knowing one), "Du E" (overcoming danger), "Zhu Yin" (casting an official seal), and "Guchen" (solitary). The Heaven Plate was set with Wei as the general added to the寅 hour. The Nobleman rode on Wei, with Teng Snake on Shen, Vermilion Bird on You, Liu He on Xu, Gou Chen on Hai, Qinglong on Zi, Tian Kong on Chou, Baihu on Yin, Tai Chang on Mao, Xuanwu on Chen, Tai Yin on Si, and Tian Hou on Wu. The four lessons, from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Ji, which is in the寅 palace, with Wei above it, riding the Nobleman; the second lesson is Wei with Zi above it, riding Qinglong; the third lesson is the day branch Yin with Wei above it, riding the Nobleman; the fourth lesson is Wei with Zi above it, riding Qinglong. The three transmissions are Zi, Si, and Xu: the first transmission Zi falls in the empty place, representing the parents' yao, riding Qinglong; the middle transmission Ding Si is the sons' yao, riding Tai Yin, falling into the empty place, and also being the Ding spirit; the final transmission Ren Xu is the wife's wealth yao, riding Liu He.

邵先生曰：本命自來墓身，謂之天網自裹。又來本命上發用，又見空亡，中傳又臨空處，乃子息上又見子息，主克子退子，定是星運不利。雖登仕路，亦無寸進。末又見妻財，必是再娶，未年始有萌芽之意。

Shao Master said: The god of the native's destiny comes to the position of the body itself, which is called "heavenly net enclosing itself," meaning that it is as if the person is enclosing themselves. It also initiates from the native's destiny, but the initiating god falls into kongwang; the middle transmission also appears in an empty place. The position of children again sees the children, indicating harm to the son and loss of the son, showing that the stars and fortune are unfavorable. Although this person has entered the official career, there will be no progress at all. The final transmission again sees the wife and wealth爻, which definitely means a need to remarry again; there will be a slight sign of improvement only in the year of Wei.

先生析曰；蓋宅有井，井未克人。若不肯遷移，必主十二年而死。未乃八數，兩個八年是十六年也。先個八年全用，後用一半，故十二年也。次年郭丈即遷居，料想其凶可免。

Master Zhao explained that there was a well in the house, and currently it had not yet harmed anyone; but if they did not move, they would certainly die within twelve years. The number of "Wei" is eight, and two "Wei" combined make sixteen years. The first "Wei" is counted as eight whole years, while the second is taken as half, making twelve years. The old gentleman, Mr. Guo, moved out the next year, and it is believed that the dangerous fate could be avoided.

44）應貢元丁卯生四十二歲占前程，戊申年六月丁丑日午將未時。（申酉空亡，未申落空），退茹，重審。 空虎 龍辰巳午未常 陳卯 申玄 貴 蛇 空 虎 鬼 丙子 蛇 初 六寅 酉陰 亥 子 巳 午 鬼 乙亥 貴 中 朱丑子亥戌后 子 丑 午 丁 子 甲戌 后 末 蛇貴

Example 44: A person named Gong Yuan, born in the year Dingmao, aged forty-two, consulted about his future prospects and official rank. The time was in the year Wushen, sixth month, day Dingchou. The divination was started with the month general of Wu added to the hour of Wei. The day Dingchou belongs to the Jiaxu decade, with the empty position falling on Shen and You. The branches of the Heaven Plate, Wei and Shen, are located in the empty position. The name of the lesson is two: "Retreating Vegetables" (three transmissions descending step by step) and "Re-examination." The Heaven Plate is set with the general of Wu added to the hour of Wei. The nobleman is riding on Hai, below it the Teng Snake rides on Zi, the Vermilion Bird on Chou, the Liu He on Yin, the Gou Chen on Mao, the Azure Dragon on Chen, the Tian Kong on Si, the White Tiger on Wu, the Tai Chang on Wei, the Black Tortoise on Shen, and the Tai Yin on You. The four lessons, from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Ding, which is in the Wei palace, with Wu above it, riding on the White Tiger; the second lesson is Wu with Si above it, riding on the Tian Kong; the third lesson is the day branch Chou with Zi above it, riding on the Teng Snake; the fourth lesson is Zi with Hai above it, riding on the Nobleman. The three transmissions are Zi, Hai, and Xu: the first transmission, Bingzi, is the official ghost yao, riding on the Teng Snake; the middle transmission, Yihai, is the official ghost yao, riding on the Nobleman; the final transmission, Jiaxu, is the son yao, riding on the Heavenly Empress.

邵先生曰：此課雖魁杜天門，不作阻隔論，乃六儀扶護，三奇拱秀，小則郎官，大則侍從，未易量也。因有活人之功，上天降福，北斗拱身，三光拱照，祿神催逼，即日食祿矣。人見此課，將謂退連茹，殊不知甲戌旬，戌為六儀，戌加干謂之朝天，亥子丑為三奇拱照，午乃丁祿臨干，日祿扶身，行年並逼白虎，為催官符使，貴人在三奇之中，而前後拱之，此蛇為吉將，名前一先鋒，高甲無疑矣。

Shao Master said: Although this divination shows the image of "Hekui Du Tianmen" (Hekui in Xu blocking the Tianmen at Hai), it should not be interpreted as an obstruction. In fact, the Six Instruments are supporting and the Three Marvels are guarding, indicating that the fortune is promising. On a smaller scale, the person will attain the position of a magistrate, and on a larger scale, he will be ranked among the attendants of the court, with an unlimited future. Because the person has a meritorious deed of saving a life, heaven bestows blessings upon him: the Big Dipper guards his body, and the sun, moon, and stars shine together upon him. The禄神 (Lushen, the god of official rank) is behind him urging forward, and he is about to receive his salary soon. Others who see this divination may only interpret it as "Tui Lian Ru" (gradually retreating step by step); they do not realize that this is the Jia Xu decade, where Xu is the Six Instrument of this decade. Xu placed on the day stem is called "Chao Tian" (looking up to heaven). The positions of Hai, Zi, and Chou are precisely where the Three Marvels shine together. The position of Wu is the禄神 (Lushen) of Ding fire, and it is placed on the day stem, thus supporting the day stem itself. The year of birth coincides with the White Tiger, which here acts as a symbol of official promotion. The Nobleman is located among the Three Marvels, with military officers guarding both sides. The Teng Snake here has transformed into a favorable general, known as "Qian Yi Xian Feng" (the vanguard of the first rank). Therefore, it is certain that he will pass the imperial examination with distinction.

丁德在亥，戌亥子俱屬陰，故知陰德洪大，神明福佑也。亥為上帝，子為紫微，丑為北斗，是以得上天之降福也。考之貢元三十八歲北虜犯邊，伊在京挾友三十餘輩，庇護李家宅眷七十餘口，兼不識姓名者三十七人；又以所乘舟及朋友舟載渡諸人，自率友沿岸西走，此所以先生見課，即知陰德扶持也。後貢元官至禮部，貴壽兩全。

On a day of the Heavenly Stem Ding, the Deity Guardian is at Hai. Since the positions Xu, Hai, and Zi all belong to the Yin, it is known that this person has deep Yin Virtue and is protected by divine beings. The position Hai represents the Heavenly Emperor, Zi represents the Purple Micro Star, and Chou represents the Northern Dipper. Therefore, it is said that he receives blessings from heaven. Upon investigation: In the thirty-eighth year of Ying Gongyuan's life, northern horsemen invaded the border. He in the capital city gathered over thirty friends, sheltering more than seventy members of the Li family, as well as thirty-seven strangers. He used his own boat and his friends' boats to ferry these people across the river, while he himself led his friends along the riverbank westward. This is why Master Shao could immediately recognize that Yin Virtue was supporting him. Later, Ying Gongyuan held an official post in the Ministry of Rites, achieving both wealth, honor, and a long life.

45）何秀才己未生五十一歲占應試，己酉年正月庚辰日子將酉時。（申酉空亡，亥子落空），彈射，元胎。愛圅曰：古本作何省干，己未閏月十三日丑時生。 朱六 蛇申酉戌亥陳 貴未 子龍 六 貴 虎 陳 財 戊寅 虎 初 后午 丑空 戌 未 寅 亥 鬼 辛巳 陰 中 陰巳辰卯寅虎 未 辰 亥 庚 兄 空申 蛇 末（空亡） 玄常

Example 45: He Xiucai was born in the Jiwei year and is now fifty-one years old, seeking divination for an examination. The time is the Jiyou year, first lunar month, Gengchen day. The divination is cast using the Zi month and the general of You hour. (Editor Cheng Aitu says: the ancient text states 'He Shenggan, born on the thirteenth day of the leap month in the Jiwei year at the Chou hour.') The Gengchen day belongs to the Jiaxu decade, with the empty branch falling on Shen and You. The Heaven Plate's Zi and Hai branches fall in the empty position. The lesson names are 'Shan She' and 'Yuan Tai'. The Heaven Plate is arranged with Zi as the general added to You hour. The nobleman is on Wei, below which Teng Snake is on Shen, Zhu Que on You, Liu He on Xu, Gou Chen on Hai, Qing Long on Zi, Tian Kong on Chou, Bai Hu on Yin, Tai Chang on Mao, Xuan Wu on Chen, Tai Yin on Si, and Tian Hou on Wu. The four lessons, from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Geng, located in Shen, with Hai above it, riding Gou Chen; the second lesson is Hai with Yin above it, riding Bai Hu; the third lesson is the day branch Chen with Wei above it, riding the nobleman; the fourth lesson is Wei with Xu above it, riding Liu He. The three transmissions are Yin, Si, and Shen: the first transmission is Wu Yin, representing the wife's wealth, riding Bai Hu; the second transmission is Xin Si, representing the official's ghost, riding Tai Yin; the third transmission is Shen, falling in the empty position, representing the brother, riding Teng Snake.

邵先生曰：何丈已兩次赴試，今年雖占試卻不中。惟令郎二十八名。何曰：我子讀書少，安得中？先生曰：此課暮秋雖有喜，又有悲，十月防有炊血之夢。何丈當時望中甚切，臨場病阻，其子入場，全不得意，及放榜，果中二十八名。先生曰：何丈不入場，正使令郎中也。若入場必不教子作此等文字，不下第必矣。吾丈五旬後得官，一二年當壽阻，不能度甲子一周矣。

Master Zhao said: Old He had already taken the examination twice, and although he came to consult about the examination this year, he still did not pass. However, his son would rank twenty-eighth. Old He said: My son has not studied much, how could he pass? Master Zhao said: In this lesson, although there will be good news in late autumn, there will also be sad events. In October, one should be cautious of the sorrow of losing his wife. At that time, Old He was very eager to pass the examination, but he fell ill and could not take the exam. His son entered the examination hall, and he felt very unsatisfied. But when the results were announced, his son indeed ranked twenty-eighth. Master Zhao said: It was precisely because Old He did not take the exam that his son passed. If he had taken the exam, he would certainly not allow his son to write such an article, and then he would definitely fail. He also said: Old He will be able to hold an official position after he is fifty, but within a couple of years, his life will come to an end, and he will not live a full sixty years.

先生析曰；蓋日上亥是庚之子孫，來奪庚之氣，庚去生水，又得勾陳，不落第矣，所以子得中式。亥四申七，四七二十八也。亥為水道，勾乃滯神，加日上，故本身痢疾。庚以寅為妻，加盜氣上，臨於十月，白虎又加，所以喪妻。寅財加亥，雖脫氣，卻六合而長生，不知乃是脫上逢脫，故邵公方敢下此口。然非白虎乘之，其又不可此斷也。

Master Zhao explained that the亥 on the day stem is the son trigram of Geng metal, and it takes away the energy of Geng metal; Geng metal goes on to generate water, but is restrained by Gou Chen, so the person naturally cannot pass the examination, but instead should succeed through his son. The number of亥 is four, and the number of申 is seven; four multiplied by seven gives twenty-eight, which is the rank.亥 also represents the water channel, and Gou Chen is a god of obstruction, placed on the day stem, so the person suffers from dysentery. Geng metal takes寅 wood as wife, but寅 is placed on a weakened position and is in the month of October, with White Tiger added, so it indicates the loss of wife. The wealth trigram寅 is placed on亥, although it is weakening, it forms aLiu He with亥 and is in the long life position; one must know this is actually 'double release', so Master Zhao dared to make such a definite statement. However, it would not have been possible to make such a conclusion without White Tiger being present.

愛圅竊以為干支乘喪門弔客，行年上又見弔客，主孝服。寅財乘虎，而加喪門之上，且行年上未又為寅財之墓，財乃妻，故此喪妻斷也。夜貴在宅乘未閉口，又是本命，故將來雖得官，不久即死。未雖夜貴加宅，然其子既中，則兆於先矣。而邵公後云何君自中，何也？蓋未繫何公本命，故云耳。不可不知。

The compiler Cheng Aitu privately thinks: The day stem and day branch are afflicted by the two malevolent stars, the Mourning-and-Condolence spirit and the Mourning Guest, and the year pillar also shows the Mourning Guest, so this indicates the presence of mourning clothes. The wealth hexagram, which is寅, is riding on the White Tiger and is added upon the Mourning-and-Condolence spirit. Moreover, the year pillar's position of Wei is exactly the burial place of the wealth hexagram. Wealth represents the wife, so from this we can conclude the loss of a wife. The night nobleman is located at the house position and is riding on Wei, forming a closed mouth image. Wei is also his own birth hexagram, so although he may attain an official position, he will soon die. Although Wei is the night nobleman resting on the house position, since his son has passed the examination, the omen will first manifest in the son. Then why does Shao Gong later say that He Jun himself will be successful? Because Wei is exactly He Jun's birth hexagram, so there is this statement. This point should not be overlooked.

子孫生長生地，脫日，奪庚日之神，是子孫得第之兆也。寅在亥地，寅為書籍，寅生巳火，巳生申。十月建亥，寅十死神。妻財發用，無成。日德被三刑沖剋。

There is another note stating that the son and grandson爻 is born in the long life position, it drains the day stem, takes away the qi of the庚 day, which is exactly the sign that the son and grandson will pass the examination. The寅 falls in the position of亥, where寅 represents books, and寅 generates巳 fire, which in turn revives申 metal. The month builder in October is亥, and寅 is the death deity of October. Using the wife and wealth爻 to seek fame and status inherently makes success difficult; and moreover, the virtue of the day stem is further harmed by the three punishments and clashes.

46）應秀才占前程，亦得此課。愛圅曰：應秀才雖同得此課，而月將必不同，故所斷亦異。古本己酉正月並無應秀才課也。 朱六 蛇申酉戌亥陳 貴未 子龍 六 貴 虎 陳 財 戊寅 虎 初 后午 丑空 戌 未 寅 亥 鬼 辛巳 陰 中 陰巳辰卯寅虎 未 辰 亥 庚 兄 空申 陳 末（空亡） 玄常

Example 46: The divination lesson received by a scholar seeking to predict his future is the same as before. (Editor's note: Cheng Aitu says that although the scholar receives the same lesson, the month general must be different from the previous example, so the interpretation differs; the ancient text does not include this lesson for the year Jiyou in the first lunar month.) The lesson remains: the Nobleman is on Wei, Teng Snake on Shen, Vermilion Bird on You, Liu He on Xu, Gou Chen on Hai, Azure Dragon on Zi, Tian Kong on Chou, White Tiger on Yin, Tai Chang on Mao, Black Tortoise on Chen, Tai Yin on Si, and Heavenly Empress on Wu. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is Day Stem Geng, located in the Shen palace, with Hai above it, riding Gou Chen; the second lesson is Hai with Yin above it, riding White Tiger; the third lesson is Day Branch Chen with Wei above it, riding Nobleman; the fourth lesson is Wei with Xu above it, riding Liu He. The three transmissions are Yin, Si, and Shen: the first transmission, Wuyin, is the wife's wealth爻, riding White Tiger; the middle transmission, Xinsi, is the official ghost爻, riding Tai Yin; the final transmission, Shen, falls into the旬空, representing the brother爻, riding Gou Chen.

邵先生曰：此課先失後得，先虛後實，耗廢盡了，卻得妻財起來助起家。因水利中得財，不可不知。若求問功名，不可得也。雖是敗盡再發，兄弟並星散，所可喜者，妻與子成家，末年享福有壽，就店房居住，宅舍無氣也。

Master Zhao said: This lesson indicates a situation of first losing and then gaining, first emptiness and then reality: the family's fortune is first exhausted, then rebuilt through the wife's financial resources. Wealth is obtained from business related to water, something that must be known. If this is used to inquire about official rank, it will not be attained. Although after complete loss one may regain prosperity, brothers will scatter and become estranged. Fortunately, the wife and son can establish their own households, enjoy a comfortable old age and have a long life; however, they must live in a shop house, and the ancestral home lacks life qi.

先生析曰；蓋日上見亥，金生水而脫氣，自然受脫不能發也。又在脫上發用，脫上逢脫，必詩書荒廢，家道空虛，初見妻宮，引歸中傳長生，中又引歸末傳，卻見本身，是破敗後方得妻子起家，因之有福。應果得妻家做酒生理，子皆好，遂享福而終。蓋日上初傳俱脫，卻得妻爻引歸生路；寅上巳乃庚長生也。末傳申加巳，是得生路在末傳。故主晚年亨福也。末申乃是祿神，故晚年享福。

Master Zhao explained that the day stem is seen with Hai, and Geng metal generates Hai water, which is a leakage of energy, so naturally it is drained and cannot be revitalized; the initiating transmission also falls on the leaking position, "leaving the leaking again," which certainly leads to neglect of studies and family decline. The first transmission appears in the wife and wealth palace, leading to the middle transmission's growth position, and the middle transmission leads to the final transmission, which returns to itself. This indicates that after a decline, it was revived through the wife, thus gaining blessings. Indeed, the candidate later relied on his wife's family's wine business, and all his sons were good, so he enjoyed a happy old age. This is because both the day stem and the first transmission are leaking positions, but fortunately the wife's trigram guides the energy back to the path of growth - the Si on寅 is the growth of Geng metal. The final transmission's Shen is placed on Si, which means the path of growth is in the final transmission, so it indicates a prosperous old age; moreover, the final transmission's Shen is also the official position of Geng metal, so it leads to a prosperous old age.

愛圅析曰：巳為店業，祿加之，故因做酒生理而起家，但應秀才不知是何年命。查閱各書皆不載，蓋在當時已逸之也。大凡占前程，祿重於財，邵公諸案皆然，可考而知。

The compiler Cheng Aitu explained that Si represents a shop or business, and the禄神 is also present above it, indicating that one became prosperous through running a wine shop. However, it is unclear exactly which year the person born in the year of Xiucai was, as I have checked various records but found no mention of it; it is likely that the records were already lost at that time. Generally, when divining about one's future, the禄神 is more important than the财爻, as shown in all of Zhao Gong's cases, which can be compared and studied to understand this point.

47）徐將仕辛卯生十八歲占前程，戊申年六月戊辰日未將巳時。（戌亥空亡，子丑落空），重審，間傳，失女，渉三淵，徐將仕生於辛卯年三月三十日巳時。 虎常 空未申酉戌玄 龍午 亥陰 虎 龍 常 空 子 壬申 虎 初 陳巳 子后 申 午 酉 未 兄 空戌 玄 中（空亡） 六辰卯寅丑貴 午 辰 未 戊 財 甲子 后 末（落空）（暗鬼） 朱蛇

Example 47: Xu Jiangshi was born in the year Xin Mao. At the age of eighteen, he sought divination about his future. The time was in the year Wu Shen, sixth month, Wu Chen day. The divination was cast using the month general of Wei and placed on the time of Si. (Xu Jiangshi was born on the day of Si in the third month of the year Xin Mao.) Wu Chen day belongs to the Jia Zi decade, with the empty position falling on Xu and Hai. The branches Zi and Chou on the Heaven Plate are located in the empty position. The names of the lesson are four: "Chong Shen" (re-examination), "Jian Chuan" (intermediate transmission), "Shi Nu" (loss of daughter), and "She San Yuan" (crossing three deep abysses), indicating a journey full of hardship. The Heaven Plate was set with the general of Wei added to the time of Si. The nobleman is on Chou, with Teng Snake on Yin, Vermilion Bird on Mao, Liu He on Chen, Gou Chen on Si, Azure Dragon on Wu, Tian Kong on Wei, Bai Hu on Shen, Tai Chang on You, Xuan Wu on Xu, Tai Yin on Hai, and Tian Hou on Zi. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Wu, located in the Si palace, with Wei above it, riding Tian Kong; the second lesson is Wei with You above it, riding Tai Chang; the third lesson is the day branch Chen with Wu above it, riding Azure Dragon; the fourth lesson is Wu with Shen above it, riding Bai Hu. The three transmissions are Shen, Xu, and Zi: the first transmission is Ren Shen, representing the son's yao, riding Bai Hu; the second transmission is Xu, which falls in the empty position, representing the brother's yao, riding Xuan Wu; the third transmission is Jia Zi, representing the wife's wealth yao, riding Tian Hou, which falls in the empty position and also carries an ominous aura.

邵先生曰：涉三淵數主勞，跋涉奔波，勞力無成，干支上午與未合，出身甚妙，歷事三授，兩丁上服，申為子孫，居午火上，難為子息，日後以弟為子，妻又因產而亡，所授之差，一任遠，一任勞，終死於外州矣。四十五六行年到子丑，為過三淵之外，然雖過得此年，亦不濟事也。

Master Zhao said: "This divination lesson 'Involving Three Deep Pits' indicates a life of toil and hardship, with constant travel and effort but no success. The day stem and day branch combine with Wu and Wei, indicating a good birth and prospects for three official appointments and two periods of mourning for parents. The trigram Shen, representing children, sits on top of Wu fire, indicating difficulties in having children, and the younger brother will be adopted as a son in the future. The wife will also die from childbirth. The official positions assigned will include one in a distant place and one in a laborious post, ultimately resulting in death in another province. By the age of forty-five or forty-six, when the year stem reaches Zi and Chou, one will have crossed beyond the three deep pits; however, even surviving that year will not bring any real benefit."

先生析曰；蓋涉三淵，一傳遠一傳，又入空亡上去，況初傳子息居陽刃鬼上，故難得子，中傳同類為兄弟，加子息上，當以弟為子，末妻爻坐空，天后穢神，加之不吉，故因產而亡。戊辰干支皆東南神，辛卯命又是東方，三傳反流入西方，那更涉三淵，順行陷於西北，故死於外州。傳既不回，故子亦不歸也。

Master Zhao explained that "invading three depths" refers to the three transmissions progressing step by step further away, eventually leading into Kongwang. Moreover, the initial transmission's son's yao is seated on top of a yang刃 and ghostly energy, making it difficult to have a son. The middle transmission is of the same type, representing brothers, and is placed on the son's position, so one must take the younger brother as a son. The final transmission's wife's wealth yao is seated in an empty position, and it is occupied by the Heavenly Empress, a foul deity, with an unfavorable influence, so the wife dies from childbirth. The dry branch Wuchen belongs to the Southeast deity, and the birth year of Xinmao is also in the East, yet the three transmissions flow all the way to the West. Adding "invading three depths," which leads to being trapped in the Northwest, the death occurs in a foreign region. Since the three transmissions do not return, the adopted son later does not return home.

徐二十五上銓試中，當年授嶽州尉，二十七丁父憂，二十九授渾州尉，三十丁母憂，三十三授 州司戶，當年冬赴任，三十四妻因產亡，有四女，遂以小弟為子，任滿再授廣西提學干官，又授廣州東莞縣，年四十五遂亡於彼，繼子遂家於彼而不歸。

Later events came true: Xu Jiangshi passed the examination at age twenty-five and was appointed county magistrate of Yuezhou that same year; at twenty-seven his father died and he observed the mourning period; at twenty-nine he was appointed county magistrate of Hunzhou; at thirty his mother died and he observed another mourning period; at thirty-three he was appointed a judicial officer in a certain state, and he went to take office that winter; at thirty-four his wife died from childbirth complications, leaving only four daughters, so he adopted his younger brother as his son. After completing his term, he was appointed as an official in the Guangxi Provincial Academy and then as an official in Guangdong's Dongguan County. He died there at the age of forty-five. His adopted son settled down in that place and did not return.

戊胎在子為月破，生死神坐空亡，又喪車戌哭神故因產死。

Another annotation says: The nurturing position of Wu earth is in Zi, and Zi coincides with the month breaker; the two deities governing childbirth and death are seated on Kongwang; furthermore, Xu is both the chariot of mourning and the deity of weeping, so the wife dies from childbirth.

48）徐教授戊子生二十一歲占前程戊申年甲寅月丙寅日亥將申時。（戌亥空亡，丑寅落空），重審，進退，不備。 朱蛇 六申酉戌亥貴 陳未 子后 六 空 貴 六 財 壬申 六 初（暗鬼） 龍午 丑陰 申 巳 亥 申 鬼 空亥 貴 中（空亡） 空巳辰卯寅玄 巳 寅 申 丙 父 丙寅 玄 末（落空） 虎常

Example 48: Xu Professor was born in the year of Wu Zi. At the age of twenty-one, he sought divination about his future. The time was in the year of Wu Shen, month of Jia Yin, day of Bing Yin. The divination was cast with the month general亥 added to the hour of Shen. The day Bing Yin belongs to the Jia Zi cycle, with the empty positions falling on Xu and Hai. The branches of the Heaven Plate, Chou and Yin, fall in the empty positions. The lesson has three names: "Re-examination", "Advance and Retreat" (a sign of being stuck between two choices), and "Incomplete". The Heaven Plate was set with the general亥 added to the hour of Shen. The nobleman rode on亥, below it was Teng Snake on Xu, Vermilion Bird on You, Liu He on Shen, Gou Chen on Wei, Qing Long on Wu, Tian Kong on Si, Bai Hu on Chen, Tai Chang on Mao, Tai Yin on Chou, Tian Hou on Zi. The four lessons, from right to left: the first lesson, the day stem Bing is in the Si palace, above it is Shen, riding Liu He; the second lesson, Shen has Hai above it, riding the nobleman; the third lesson, the day branch Yin has Si above it, riding Tian Kong; the fourth lesson, Si has Shen above it, riding Liu He. The three transmissions are Shen, Hai, Yin: the first transmission, Ren Shen, is the wife's wealth, riding Liu He, secretly accompanied by a ghost; the second transmission, Hai falls in the empty position, is the official's ghost, riding the nobleman; the third transmission, Bing Yin, is the parents' wealth, riding Yan Wu, also falling in the empty position.

邵先生曰：申本時臨日，為日所克，又丙為夫，申為妻，初傳又臨其上，空亡又臨妻宮，目下主克妻，亥四主克四妻，仲冬子息亦克，以六合不得地也。申為西北之金，到巳之爐冶上，必有聲名於西北也。申乘今日之馬，四維皆是，年高歷任，至老不倦也。宅上丙火受寅而生，不可以外內言也。

Master Zhao said: Shen is originally the god of time, but it is located on the day stem and is overcome by it; Bing fire represents the husband, Shen metal represents the wife, and the first transmission is also pressing upon it. Kongwang also falls on the wife's position, so there is currently an indication of overcoming the wife. The number of Hai is four, indicating that four wives will be overcome in succession. During the middle of winter, even children will be affected, because Liu He is not in a favorable position. Shen is metal of the northwest, falling onto Si, which is the furnace, and thus it is necessarily where it will achieve fame in the northwest. Shen is also riding the post-horse of today, and all four directions are horse lands, indicating that although the age is advanced, he will still hold office continuously and not tire even in old age. The Bing fire in the dwelling position is generated by Yin wood, so it cannot be distinguished by internal or external relations.

將四旬必遇曹姓人而顯身，又坐本命之馬而長生，所以至老不倦也。終於六曹，中傳亥乃月將，不論空亡，但時少遲。月將貴乘臨時上，又臨身作傳，四年之後，便顯自絳帳，從此達於天庭。

By the time he is nearly forty, he will certainly meet a man surnamed Cao who recommends him and brings him to prominence; also, because he is seated upon theThe Post-horse (Post-horse) of his birth destiny and attains long life, he remains active until old age, eventually concluding his career in the six departments (of the Ministry of Works). The middle transmission (中传)亥 is precisely the month general (月将) of that month. All month generals, regardless ofKongwang (Kongwang), merely arrive a bit later. The month general carries the quality of nobility (贵气) and is situated upon the time of divination, also entering the three transmissions (三传) and occupying his own position. Therefore, four years later, he will rise to prominence from the position of teaching (绛帐, a term for a teacher's seat), thus advancing all the way to the imperial court.

又寅來生身，十一月天馬天寅臨天門，玄歸本家，為黑煞，中傳既有天門，末又在天門上以見天，天必出疆見諸侯，然後入奉天子，處六曹中帶刑職者，黑殺之故也。四維主代天子而守四方，必四任也。

Furthermore, the wood of寅 comes to birth the day stem itself: In the eleventh month, the Heavenly Horse and the Heavenly寅 are both located at the Heaven Gate position of亥. The Black Tortoise returns to its native position and transforms into a Black Evil. Since the Middle Transmission has already occupied the Heaven Gate, the Final Transmission also falls upon the Heaven Gate and thus can see the heavens. Therefore, he must first go on a mission abroad to meet the princes, and then return to serve the emperor in court. In the future, he will hold a position that includes criminal justice, which is precisely due to the Black Evil. The four cardinal directions are responsible for guarding the four directions on behalf of the emperor, so he must certainly hold posts in various distant places.

徐君當年服滿從吉，得江州德化縣令，次任二月，次任五月，喪妻楊氏，庚戌再娶李氏，辛亥年宣撫使劉大中保舉，得諸王府教授，李氏又亡，又娶毛氏，此應中傳之亥，自絳帳而入絳帳，從此達於內庭，果然四年自諸王教授，出作饒州通判，丁母憂，再得宣州通判，是時曹泳知州，乃奉大涉上客，曹赴京因薦之，徐隨赴，趙氏死，再娶江氏，轉知江陰州軍，召為監察御史，七月除吏部侍郎，出作奉使兼樞密院承旨，八十六，至老不倦。

Later, the predictions came true: Xu Jun was appointed as the magistrate of Jiangzhou Dehua County after completing his mourning period. His next appointment was in February, and the following one in May. In between, his wife Yang died. In the Gengxu year, he married Li again; in the Xinhai year, he was recommended by Xuanfu Shi Liu Dazhong and became a professor in the various王府s. Li died again, and he married Mao. This exactly matched the Middle Transmission's亥, moving from teaching (绛帐) to teaching in the王府s, thus leading towards the inner court. Indeed, four years later, he was assigned as the Tongpan of Raozhou; after his mother's death, he was appointed as the Tongpan of Xuanzhou. At that time, Cao Yong was the governor, and he was a prominent guest at his court. When Cao Yong went to the capital, he recommended Xu Jun, and Xu Jun then went to the capital. Later, the Zhao family died, and he married Jiang. He was transferred to serve as the military governor of Jiangyin, and was summoned to serve as the Inspector General. In July, he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Personnel, and then sent out as an envoy兼任the Chief of the Secretariat. He lived until he was eighty-six, still tireless until old age.

先生析曰；申為妻，上乘六合，是妻入棺。正時申故，斷目下克妻。十月死氣在卯，加命，六合加申，卯木絕申，故言克子。申為日馬，傳送故有聲名，言西北者自申傳亥也。亥臨申生本命之馬，六合為友得貴，因薦本身得官。貴上寅是功曹，乘玄武為武人本家，為黑煞，故主六曹中刑部，亦是曹姓舉薦。寅臨天門，寅玄加亥也。申是西北金方，巳火到彼煅申成器。又巳為爐，雖作天空，然巳在寅受生，不為空爐矣。

Shao Master explained that Shen represents the wife, and Shen is covered by Liu He, which signifies a coffin, indicating the wife entering the coffin; since the time of divination is Shen hour, it is predicted that the wife will be harmed soon. In the tenth month, the death qi is in Mao, and Mao is added to the personal destiny, while Liu He is added to Shen. Since the wood in Mao is in the position of Shen, it is in the state of extinction, thus indicating harm to the children. Shen is the post-horse of the day stem, also known as the messenger god, so there will be fame; the reason fame is in the northwest is because the messenger travels from Shen to Hai. Hai is present in Shen, which gives rise to the post-horse of the personal destiny; Liu He represents friends, and friends meeting a nobleman indicates being recommended by others for officialdom. The寅 above the nobleman is the Gongcao god, and when it is covered by the Black Tortoise, it signifies the family of a warrior, which is the Black煞, so it is predicted that he will be in the Six Offices and handle criminal affairs, and it will still be someone surnamed Cao who recommends him. The寅 is at the heavenly gate, meaning the寅 carries the Black Tortoise and is added to Hai. Shen belongs to the northwest metal direction, and the fire of Si reaches there to refine the metal of Shen into a useful object; Si is also a furnace, although it is covered by Tian Kong, but since Si is born at the position of寅, it is not an empty furnace.

49）楊秀才辛未生三十九歲占前程，己酉年二月庚戌日亥將辰時。（寅卯空亡，酉戌落空），比用，蕪淫。 貴后 蛇子丑寅卯陰 朱亥 辰玄 蛇 常 六 陰 父 庚戌 六 初（落空） 六戌 巳常 子 巳 戌 卯 鬼 乙巳 常 中 陳酉申未午虎 巳 戌 卯 庚 子 壬子 蛇 末 龍空

Forty-Ninth Example: Yang Xiaocai was born in the year Xinwei, and is thirty-nine years old. He consulted about his future prospects. The time was in the year Jiyou, second month, day Gengxu. The divination was cast using the month of Hai as the month general, placed on the Chen hour. The day Gengxu belongs to the Jiachen decade, with the empty positions falling on Yin and Mao. The Heaven Plate's branches You and Xu are located in the empty positions. The name of the divination is two: "Biyong" and "Wuyin" (wasteland and excess, indicating scattered affairs without control). The Heaven Plate is set with Hai as the month general added to the Chen hour. The nobleman is on Chou, with Teng Snake on Zi, Vermilion Bird on Hai, Liu He on Xu, Gou Chen on You, Azure Dragon on Shen, Tian Kong on Wei, Bai Hu on Wu, Tai Chang on Si, Xuan Wu on Chen, Tai Yin on Mao, and Tian Hou on Yin. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Geng, located in Shen, with Mao above it, riding Tai Yin; the second lesson is Mao with Xu above it, riding Liu He; the third lesson is the day branch Xu with Si above it, riding Tai Chang; the fourth lesson is Si with Zi above it, riding Teng Snake. The three transmissions are Xu, Si, and Zi: the first transmission Gengxu is the parent's yao, riding Liu He and falling into the empty position; the middle transmission Yisi is the official ghost yao, riding Tai Chang; the final transmission Renzi is the son's yao, riding Teng Snake.

邵先生曰：到老奔波，只是士人書會而已。庚上見卯空，已是朽木，不堪琢雕。徒有斫輪虛名，戌為模範，亦落空地，雖是巳之爐火，卻無模範鑄，末傳盜氣，主子孫不讀書，宜改業臨於店業之上，四年後得店屋為宅，家計雖不寬，亦不飢寒，子孫以水磨水碓為生計頗好。蓋斫輪不成，正可作水碓之論，磨舂之範而已。雖不富貴，卻有壽。金長生在巳，巳四，二巳得八，巳上見子得九，八九七十二也。

Master Zhao said: This person will be constantly奔波 throughout his life, in the end merely becoming a scholar who is good at reading but not achieving much. On top of the Geng metal, there is a卯, but the卯 is also in an empty position, which means it is already rotten wood, incapable of being carved; he has only the empty reputation of "carving a wheel." The戌 is originally the mold for casting objects, but it also falls into an empty position; although there is the巳 fire, there is no mold to cast. The final transmission is leaking my energy, indicating that the descendants will not be willing to study, and they should change their profession. The third transmission is on top of shops and properties, so four years later he will get a shop as a residence. Although the family's resources are not abundant, they will not suffer from hunger or cold; the descendants will make a living through water-powered grinding and water-powered pounding, which is not bad. Since he cannot become a "carver of wheels," it is just right that he falls into the water-powered pounding; it is merely a model for pounding rice and grinding flour. Although he is not wealthy, he will live a long life: the metal's growth is in巳, and the number of巳 is four, two巳 make eight; on巳 there is a子, which gives nine, and eight multiplied by nine is seventy-two.

楊讀書淹博，累試不中，後徐侍郎知州，令權教授，人稱楊教授，果是虛名。四十二分得店屋居住，其子作水碓生理，果如先生之言。

Later events proved true: Yang Caishi, though well-read and knowledgeable, failed to pass the imperial examinations repeatedly. Later, when Xu Shilang served as the prefect, he appointed Yang to act as a professor, and people began to call him Yang Professor. Indeed, it was just an empty title. At the age of forty-two, he was given a shop to live in, and his son started a business making rice flour using a water-powered mill, which fully confirmed the words of Shao Master.

50）應秀才本命酉占前程己卯日午將丑時。（申酉空亡，丑寅落空），知一，鑄印，乘軒 。 六陳 朱戌亥子丑龍 蛇酉 寅空 龍 貴 玄 陳 父 辛巳 玄 初 貴申 卯虎 丑 申 巳 子 兄 甲戌 朱 中（暗鬼） 后未午巳辰常 申 卯 子 己 鬼 己卯 虎 末 陰玄

Example 50: The person is a scholar whose birth sign is You. He is divining about his future. The day is Ji Mao, using the month of Wu as the general, and the course is set at the Chou hour. Ji Mao day belongs to the Jia Xu decade, with the empty positions falling on Shen and You. The branches of the Heaven Plate, Chou and Yin, are in the empty position. The course has three names: "Know One," "Cast Seal," and "Ride a Chariot." The Heaven Plate is set with Wu as the general added to the Chou hour. The nobleman is on Shen, below it is Teng Snake on You, Vermilion Bird on Xu, Liu He on Hai, Gou Chen on Zi, Azure Dragon on Chou, Tian Kong on Yin, Bai Hu on Mao, Tai Chang on Chen, Tai Yin on Si, Tian Hou on Wu. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is on Ji on the day stem, with Zi, riding Gou Chen; the second lesson is on Zi with Si, riding Xuan Wu; the third lesson is on the day branch Mao with Shen, riding Nobleman; the fourth lesson is on Shen with Chou, riding Azure Dragon. The three transmissions are Si, Xu, and Mao: the first transmission is Xin Si, representing the parent's yao, riding Xuan Wu; the middle transmission is Jia Xu, representing the brother's yao, riding Vermilion Bird, and also being an invisible ghost; the final transmission is Ji Mao, representing the official's yao, riding Bai Hu.

邵先生曰：課主吾兄心術多，且又毒，以鼠忌羊頭上，雞驚犬吠喉。凡行皆是妒忌之心，好聞是非，好談人短，所以滅前程也。大凡七殺元辰，若占前程，多妒忌，常占多主事體切害。初破乘武，又是驛馬，面東指西，走南奔北，多圖多覓之人。

Master Zhao said: This lesson shows that you, my elder brother, have too many thoughts and are very jealous. It is like a mouse fearing a sheep's head on top of it, or a chicken startled by a dog barking at its throat—everywhere there are signs of suspicion and mutual harm. Your every action comes from jealousy, you love to listen to gossip and speak ill of others, thus destroying your own future. Generally, if a lesson contains Seven Killers or Yuan Chen, it often indicates a person is jealous. In ordinary divination, it also often indicates that the matter will suffer directly. The first transmission meets a breaking aspect and is occupied by the Black Tortoise, which is also the Post-horse. Therefore, this person faces east but points west, goes south then north, being someone who plots in many directions and schemes everywhere.

身宅皆有貴人，而子作勾陳，申作空亡，謂之指空話空，己以巳為父母，加妻宮，為妻所制，又乘馬與破碎，是不在侍傍，蹤跡不定，一不足也。子息倚身，為身所克，子息難得，二不足也。申犯空亡，作夜貴加宅，是神像不安，三不足也。妻臨身宮，上下夾克，若非不和，便多疾病，四不足也。鑄印乘軒之課，巳作玄武加子，上火下水，玄武為賊，謂之走範。卯作白虎加戌，謂之破模。虎傷卯，又為墜軒，故主功名不成。且防覆墜之患也。

The person's body position and dwelling position both have noblemen, but the child is riding over Gou Chen and the monkey is falling into Kongwang, which is called "pointing to emptiness and speaking of emptiness" — everything mentioned and pointed to fails to reach a real situation. The earth element is governed by the fire element of Si, but the fire is placed in the wife's position and is controlled by the wife, also riding over the post-horse and broken pieces, so the parents are not nearby to care for the person and their whereabouts are uncertain, which is the first deficiency. The child's spirit is based on the person's own position but is controlled by it, so children are difficult to have, which is the second deficiency. The monkey is falling into Kongwang and is also the night nobleman resting on the dwelling position, indicating that the family's worshiped gods are placed improperly, which is the third deficiency. The wife's element is on the person's body position, being pressed from above and below, indicating either marital discord or the wife being often ill, which is the fourth deficiency. Now looking at this "casting the seal and riding the carriage" divination: Si riding over Xuan Wu and placed on Zi, with fire above and water below, Xuan Wu being a thief, this is called "the model has gone wrong" (the model has lost its shape);卯 riding over Bai Hu and placed on Xu, this is called "the model is broken" (the mold is broken). Bai Hu harms卯, also called "falling from the carriage" (falling off the carriage). Therefore, it indicates that official rank is not achieved and one should be cautious of accidents involving falling from a vehicle.

後至壬戌二月因爭役乘轎入城，墜而折足，血氣上攻而死。蓋卯為車轎驢騾，己土死於卯，支神最緊，若非己卯日，不可言死。

Later in the year Renxu, in the second lunar month, he took a palanquin into the city to dispute over the position of a public servant, but he fell off the palanquin, broke his leg, and died from the shock of blood rushing to the head. This is because the卯 represents carriages, palanquins, donkeys, and oxen, and the己 earth is dying in the卯. The day branch's deity is most significant; without the day branch being Jimao, the word 'death' could not have been used.

51）葉助教四十五歲占前程，戊寅日申將未時。（申酉空亡，酉戌落空），重審，進茹。 空虎 龍午未申酉常 陳巳 戌玄 六 朱 空 龍 兄 庚辰 六 初 六辰 亥陰 辰 卯 未 午 父 辛巳 陳 中 朱卯寅丑子后 卯 寅 午 戊 父 壬午 龍 末 蛇貴

Example 51: Ye Zujiao, aged 45, came to consult about his future. The day branch is Wuyin, and the lesson is cast with the month general of Shen added to the hour of Wei. The day Wuyin belongs to the Jiaxu decade, with the empty branch falling on Shen and You. The branches of the Heaven Plate, You and Xu, are in the empty position. The lesson has two names: "Chong Shen" and "Jin Ru". The Heaven Plate is set with the general of Shen added to the hour of Wei. The nobleman is on Chou, with Teng Snake on Yin, Vermilion Bird on Mao, Liu He on Chen, Gou Chen on Si, Azure Dragon on Wu, Tian Kong on Wei, Bai Hu on Shen, Tai Chang on You, Xuan Wu on Xu, Tai Yin on Hai, and Tian Hou on Zi. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Wu, located in the Si palace, with Wu on top, riding on Azure Dragon; the second lesson is Wu with Wei on top, riding on Tian Kong; the third lesson is the day branch Yin with Mao on top, riding on Vermilion Bird; the fourth lesson is Mao with Chen on top, riding on Liu He. The three transmissions are Chen, Si, and Wu: the first transmission is Gengchen, representing the brother's yao, riding on Liu He; the second transmission is Xinsi, representing the parents' yao, riding on Gou Chen; the third transmission is Renwu, representing the parents' yao, riding on Azure Dragon.

邵先生曰：干支皆天羅羊刃，四課發傳歸於日上，主目下赴任，但值羅刃，來年寅行到地盤亥上見子，即湊今日之地網。來年必阻父喪。四十九歲到寅上見卯，即是今日支神，卯六數，初辰五數，中巳四數，共十五年。合作監司之職，十六七年必降官閒住；再八年，連前十五年共二十三年而壽阻。

Master Zhao said: If both the day stem and day branch carry Tian Luo and Yang Ren, and the three transmissions from the four lessons return to the day stem, it indicates that one will be able to take office soon. However, encountering Tian Luo and Yang Ren, next year when the寅 moves to the亥 position on the earth plate and meets the子, it will exactly form today's earth net, so next year one will certainly be hindered by the father's death. At forty-nine years old, when the year stem moves to the寅 position and meets the卯, the卯 is exactly the day branch today: the number of卯 is six, the number of the first transmission 辰 is five, the number of the middle transmission 巳 is four, totaling fifteen years. At that time, one should hold the position of supervisor; after sixteen or seventeen years, one will certainly be demoted and live in retirement; after another eight years, adding up to twenty-three years in total with the previous fifteen, one's lifespan will come to an end.

先生析曰；戊日以午為父又乘青龍；年上子沖午羊刃克父。卯乃戊之官，卯上見 辰，辰為監司，在初傳故有是官。三年由巳到到午，墓絕之地，又午破卯。

Master Zhao explained that the day stem Wu Earth takes the noon fire as its parent爻, and the noon is also occupied by the Azure Dragon; the year stem Zi comes to冲 the noon, which is the Yangren, thus injuring the father. The卯 is the official star of Wu Earth, and there is a辰 on the卯, which represents the position of a supervisor; since it is in the first transmission, there is an opportunity to hold such a position. Within three years, moving from巳 to午, which is a place of墓 and绝, and moreover the午 breaks the卯 (official star), so there will be a demotion in rank.

52）伊秀才戊辰生四十一歲占科試，戊申年癸亥日未將巳時。（子丑空亡，寅卯落空），渉害，不備，間傳，勵德，出戶。 六陳 朱未申酉戌龍 蛇午 亥空 陰 常 貴 陰 鬼 空丑 常 初（空亡） 貴巳 子虎 卯 丑 巳 卯 子 乙卯 陰 中（落空） 后辰卯寅丑常 丑 亥 卯 癸 財 丁巳 貴 末（丁神） 陰玄

Example 52: A scholar named Yi was born in the year of Wuchen and is forty-one years old. He consulted the divination for the imperial examination. The time was in the year of Wushen on the day of Guihai. The month was Wu, and the lesson was set with the general of Wu added to the time of巳. The day Guihai belongs to the Jiayin decade, with the empty positions falling on Zi and Chou. The branches of Yin and Mao on the Heaven Plate are in the empty positions. The lesson has five names: "Involvement of Harm", "Incomplete", "Intermediate Transmission", "Cultivating Virtue", and "Leaving the Door" (leaving the house, indicating movement from within to outside, from difficulty to ease). The Heaven Plate was set with the general of Wu added to the time of巳. The Nobleman is on巳, with Teng Snake on午, Vermilion Bird on未, Liu He on申, Gou Chen on酉, Azure Dragon on戌, Tian Kong on亥, Bai Hu on子, Tai Chang on丑, Xuan Wu on寅, Tai Yin on卯, and Tian Hou on辰. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Gui, which is in the Chou palace, with Mao on top, riding Tai Yin; the second lesson is Mao with Si on top, riding the Nobleman; the third lesson is the day branch Hai, which is in the Chou palace, with Chou on top, riding Tai Chang; the fourth lesson is Chou with Mao on top, riding Tai Yin. The three transmissions are Chou, Mao, and Si: the first transmission is Chou, which is in the empty position, representing the official ghost, riding Tai Chang; the second transmission is Yi Mao, representing the son's branch, riding Tai Yin and falling into the empty position; the third transmission is Ding Si, representing the wife's wealth, riding the Nobleman, and also being the "Ding God".

邵先生曰：課名出戶，占試則吉。太陰乘卯作幕貴，加日干，又日貴在末傳，先晦後明，準擬登科也。明年五甲無疑矣。

Shao Master said: This lesson is called "Going Out," and it is auspicious for an examination. Tai Yin is riding on Mao and acting as a hidden nobleman, added upon the day stem; the nobleman of the day also falls on the final transmission. This is an image of first being hidden and then becoming clear, which can be concluded to mean success. Passing the examination with fifth grade is certain next year.

先生析曰；蓋癸亥乃六甲極日，日去就支，主終身如斯而已。喜得舊蒙晦窒，斯道發輝而出。幕貴傳出又出而向日貴，日貴在夜貴之上，故先晦後明。且行年午上乘申，為干支長生，繫文星學堂，合起日貴，寅上辰為本年，晝夜貴人拱之，故必及第也。

Master Zhao explained that Guihai is the end of the cycle of the Six Jia. The day stem relates to the day branch, and thus the person's destiny is set for life. Fortunately, the previous confusion and blockage are now about to shine through. The nobleman from behind is gradually revealed, shifting from night nobleman to day nobleman; and the day nobleman is above the night nobleman, so it starts dark and becomes bright. Moreover, the year's Wu position is occupied by Shen, which is the place of growth in the stem and branch, and is connected to the position of the literary star and school, thus combining with the day nobleman. The Chen on寅 is exactly the current year, with the day and night noblemen surrounding from both front and back, so the person is certain to be successful.

伊乃伊知縣之弟，屢試不中，今先生許其中，渠甚不信，及試果得第，次年中五甲矣。

I Hsiu was the younger brother of I Zhi xian, who had failed in several examinations. Now Mr. Shao promised that he would certainly pass, but I Hsiu did not believe it. When he took the examination, he indeed passed. The next year he also ranked among the top five in the examination.

53）應寺簿甲戌生三十六歲占前程，己酉年七月丁丑日午將辰時。（申酉空亡，戌亥落空），重審，間傳，凝陰，孤寡。 六朱 陳未申酉戌蛇 龍午 亥貴 空 常 貴 朱 財 空酉 朱 初（空亡） 空巳 子后 巳 卯 亥 酉 鬼 乙亥 貴 中（落空） 虎辰卯寅丑陰 卯 丑 酉 丁 子 丁丑 陰 末（丁神） 常玄

Example 53: A person born in the year Jiaxu, aged thirty-six, consulted about his future. The time was Jiyou year, seventh lunar month, Dingchou day. The divination was cast using the month general of Wu added to the time of Chen. Dingchou day belongs to the Jiaxu decade, with the empty position falling on Shen and You. The branches of Wu and Hai on the Heaven Plate are located in the empty position. The names of the lesson are four: "Chong Shen" (re-examination), "Jian Chuan" (intermediate transmission), "Ning Yin" (condensed Yin energy), and "Gu Gu" (both Guchen and Guasu appear). The Heaven Plate was set with the general of Wu added to the time of Chen. The nobleman is on Hai, with Teng Snake on Wu, Vermilion Bird on You, Liu He on Shen, Gou Chen on Wei, Qinglong on Wu, Tian Kong on Si, Baihu on Chen, Tai Chang on Mao, Xuanwu on Yin, Tai Yin on Chou, and Tian Hou on Zi. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Ding, located in the Wei palace, with You above it, riding Vermilion Bird; the second lesson is You with Hai above it, riding the nobleman; the third lesson is the day branch Chou with Mao above it, riding Tai Chang; the fourth lesson is Mao with Si above it, riding Tian Kong. The three transmissions are You, Hai, and Chou: the first transmission is You, which falls in the empty position, representing the wife's wealth, riding Vermilion Bird; the middle transmission is Yi Hai, representing the official ghost, riding the nobleman and falling in the empty position; the final transmission is Ding Chou, representing the son's wealth, riding Tai Yin, and is also the "Ding God".

邵先生曰：寺簿中年，水作官星，宜作朝郎，可為難及。奈何滿局皆貴人，是多謀也。身與初中皆空，慕十不得一，是徒費心也。日上發用加亥官星，末傳支又加亥上，是日支投絕，支來迎絕，兼支上得卯木，丁火敗於卯，丑土死於卯，此非酒色事。蓋日上太歲作雀，是欲上書言事，為此何益？徒貶竄耳。然寺簿所虧有二，斷至如此，其一寵妾而賤妻，其二不孝母，故滅前程，且壽不永。若能改過，尚可延年也。

Master Zhao said: The official's career is in its middle stage. Water is the official star for the day stem of Ding Fire, which should have led him to a position in the imperial court, something others could not reach. Unfortunately, all the hexagrams are occupied by noblemen, and having too many noblemen brings no true honor, only showing excessive scheming. His position and the first, middle, and final transmissions all fall into empty positions, so his aspirations are unfulfilled, and his efforts are wasted. The initiating transmission is on the day stem and adds upon the亥 (Hai) which is the official star, and the final transmission on the day branch also adds upon the亥 (Hai). This means the day stem is heading towards its end, and the day branch is also approaching its end. Moreover, the day branch has the卯 (Mao) wood, which weakens the Ding Fire, and the丑 (Chou) earth is dead in the卯 (Mao). This is not a matter of indulgence in wine and women. The day stem is occupied by the year stem with the Vermilion Bird, indicating he wants to submit a memorial criticizing current affairs. But what benefit does this bring? Only a punishment and exile. However, the official has two shortcomings, leading to this situation: one is favoring his concubine and neglecting his wife, and the other is being disrespectful to his mother. Therefore, his career is ruined, and his lifespan is short. If he can change his ways, he may prolong his life.

應嘿嘿而去，果作書十條呈上，內四條言張廂劉四廂等，或死或竄，實無辜。此時秦檜正嫌此說，若非指明，必招竄貶也。

The monk from the temple left silently. Later, he indeed submitted ten memorial petitions, four of which defended Zhang Xiang and Liu Si Xiang and others, stating that they were either killed or exiled and were actually innocent. At that time, Qin Hui was particularly wary of such remarks; fortunately, the petitions did not mention names, otherwise he would certainly have suffered punishment such as exile or demotion.

先生析曰；蓋日上太歲作雀，是欲上書也。日貴作鬼，加歲剋日，是上書必竄也。三傳及日上俱貴人，貴多不貴，慕十不得一也。丁日申為妻，酉為妾，酉加日上，夫又作貴人加之，反克申，申又窗戶發，是寵妾而賤妻也。丁以卯為母，而酉制之，是寵妾而不敬母也。母本宮見巳，會起酉丑，是與母隔而不同居也。丁自敗卯、死酉、絕亥，虧倫傷本，造物不容，何問前程耶？若能克己修德則可，否則禍不旋踵矣。

Shao Master explained that the day stem is occupied by the year stem with the Vermilion Bird, and since the Vermilion Bird governs documents and speech, it indicates the need to submit a petition. The day's nobleman transforms into a ghost, and when it joins the year stem to attack the day stem, submitting a petition will surely result in exile. The three transmissions together with the day stem are all noblemen, but having too many noblemen is not beneficial, so even if ten things are desired, none can be obtained. For a day stem of Ding fire, the wife is in Shen and the concubine in You. Now You is placed on the day stem, and the husband's side has a nobleman joining, which turns to attack Shen. Moreover, Shen is located in the position of the window, indicating favoring the concubine over the wife. Ding fire takes卯 as its mother, but You metal comes to control卯 wood, showing favoring the concubine over the mother. The mother's native palace has巳, which combines with You and Chou to form a trinity, meaning the mother is separated and not living together. Ding fire is weakened by卯, dies by You, and is extinct by Hai, indicating a loss of human relations and damage to the root. Nature cannot tolerate this, so what is there to ask about future prospects? If one can restrain oneself and cultivate virtue, there may still be hope, but otherwise, misfortune will arrive quickly.

酉，丁妾也；辛，丁妻也。妾加日上，寵妾也。辛入亥中，丙日絕。卯，丁母也，酉克之，寵妾制母，使母與妻俱在宅上，而獨與妾居。酉丑，從革課。

There is another annotation which says: You is the concubine of Ding fire, and Xin is the wife of Ding fire. When the concubine is placed above the day stem, it signifies favoring the concubine. Xin metal is found within Hai, which is precisely the place where Bing fire is extinguished. Mao is the mother of Ding fire, and You metal comes to overcome it, meaning favoring the concubine to suppress the mother; as a result, both the mother and the wife remain in the house position, while he alone resides with the concubine. In the divination, You and Chou form a trine, belonging to the category of from-reform lessons.

54）馬知丞一作宋馮丞戊辰生四十二歲，占升遷。己酉年十月丙子日卯將丑時。（申酉空亡，戌亥落空），重審，間傳，勵德，登三天。 蛇貴 朱未申酉戌后 六午 亥陰 龍 虎 貴 朱 子 庚辰 龍 初 陳巳 子玄 辰 寅 酉 未 兄 壬午 六 中（暗鬼） 龍辰卯寅丑常 寅 子 未 丙 財 空申 蛇 末（空亡） 空虎

Example 54: Ma Zhi Cheng (also known as Song Feng Cheng in another version) was born in the year of Wu Chen, is 42 years old, and is consulting the divination for promotion. The time is in the year of Ji You, tenth month, day of Bing Zi. The divination is started with the month of卯 (Mao) as the general and placed on the hour of Chou. The day of Bing Zi belongs to the旬 of Jia Xu, with the empty positions falling on Shen and You. The Heaven Plate has the branches of Xu and Hai falling in the empty positions. The name of the lesson has four parts: "Chong Shen" (Re-examination), "Jian Chuan" (Intermediate Transmission), "Li De" (Cultivating Virtue), and "Deng San Tian" (Reaching the Three Heavens) (the three transmissions ascend step by step, indicating the image of promotion). The Heaven Plate is arranged with the general of Mao added to the hour of Chou. The Nobleman is riding酉 (You), below which Teng Snake rides Shen, Vermilion Bird rides Wei, Liu He rides Wu, Gou Chen rides Si, Azure Dragon rides Chen, Tian Kong rides Mao, Bai Hu rides Yin, Tai Chang rides Chou, Xuan Wu rides Zi, Tai Yin rides Hai, and Tian Hou rides Xu. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Ji riding the branch Si, with Wei above it, riding Vermilion Bird; the second lesson is Wei with You above it, riding Nobleman; the third lesson is the day branch Zi with Yin above it, riding Bai Hu; the fourth lesson is Yin with Chen above it, riding Azure Dragon. The three transmissions are Chen, Wu, and Shen: the first transmission is Geng Chen, the son's yao, riding Azure Dragon; the middle transmission is Ren Wu, the brother's yao, riding Liu He, and also an invisible ghost; the final transmission is Shen, falling in the empty position, the wife's wealth yao, riding Teng Snake.

邵先生曰：登三天本主升遷之象，但登不過關。關者，子日也。斷不過關，難以升遷。若跳過則又進銳退速，目下必有阻，堂上孺人定難久遠。白虎入宅，父母乘之，主父母棺內白蟻蝕壞，遂成災咎，不利子孫。

Master Zhao said: "The phrase 'ascending the three heavens' originally indicates a sign of promotion, but unfortunately, the ascent fails to pass the gate. This gate refers to the day branch, which is the Zi branch. Since it is judged that the gate cannot be passed, promotion is difficult; even if one forces the way through, it would mean rapid advancement but quick retreat. There must be current obstacles, and the elderly mother is likely not to live much longer. The White Tiger enters the dwelling position, and the parents' hexagram is riding upon it, indicating that the parents' coffin is damaged by termites, leading to disaster and misfortune, which is unfavorable for the descendants."

先生析曰；蓋辰為命，為丙火子孫，自子升起登三天，卻及身而止午撞巳而止，故曰及身，末傳雖透過身去，又是空亡，所以子孫不利也。

Shao Master explained that Chen is the original destiny and also the son爻 of Bing fire. The three transmissions start from the Zi position and ascend upward through three levels, but they stop at the original destiny itself—when reaching Wu, it collides with Si (the lodging palace of Bing) and cannot proceed further, hence the saying 'stops at the body'. Although the final transmission moves forward one step through the body position, it falls into Kongwang, which is unfavorable for the son爻.

55）趙將仕丁巳生一十二歲占武試，戊申年十二月庚辰日子將子時。（申酉空亡，申酉落空），伏吟，自任，元胎，趙生於丁巳年六月七日亥時。 蛇貴 朱巳午未申后 六辰 酉陰 六 六 后 后 兄 空申 后 初 勾卯 戌玄 辰 辰 申 申 財 戊寅 龍 中 龍寅丑子亥常 辰 辰 申 庚 鬼 辛巳 雀 末 空虎

Example 55: Zhao Jiangshi was born in the year Dingsi, at the age of twelve, and consulted the divination for the military examination. The time was on the day of Gengchen in the twelfth lunar month of the year Wushen. The time of consultation was the first hour (zi), and the month general was also zi, resulting in a 'Hidden Chant' (fu yin). Zhao Jiangshi was born on the seventh day of the sixth lunar month in the year Dingsi at the hour of hai. On the day of Gengchen, the ten-day period was Jiaxu, with the empty palace falling on shen and you. The branches shen and you on the heaven plate also fell exactly on the empty palace. There is also a lesson name 'Self-appointment' and 'Original Fetus'. The heaven plate layout: the nobleman rode wei, under it the teng snake rode wu, the vermilion bird rode si, the six unions rode chen, the gou chen rode ma, the azure dragon rode yin, the heavenly void rode chou, the white tiger rode zi, the tai chang rode xiu, the black tortoise rode xu, the tai yin rode you, and the heavenly empress rode shen. The four lessons, due to the hidden chant, are identical in pairs: the metal element (geng) is lodged in shen, the first lesson shen added geng, the second lesson shen added shen, both riding the heavenly empress; the day branch chen added chen, the fourth lesson chen added chen, both riding the six unions. The three transmissions are shen, yin, and si: the first transmission shen fell on the empty palace, representing the brother's element, riding the heavenly empress; the middle transmission wuyin was the wife's wealth element, riding the azure dragon; the final transmission xinsi was the official ghost element, riding the vermilion bird.

邵先生曰：將仕之祿，乃虛祿也。夫武職兵權，惟要金盛，無金何武？此課無武有文，今任必不赴，改岳廟之職，就彼處宜讀書取科第也。己酉中舉，庚戌登科，二甲二十一名。

Shao Master said: Zhao will not get a real official position. All military posts and military power require strong metal energy; if the metal energy is insufficient, how can one hold a military post? This divination does not show military signs but rather literary signs, so the current official position will certainly not be obtained, and he will be reassigned to an idle post at the mountain temple; there he will be able to study and take the imperial examination. He will pass the examination in the Jiyou year and be admitted in the Gengxu year, ranking second among the top twenty-one in the second class.

先生析曰；蓋庚祿在申，祿空，太常又不入傳，故不可為武。寅上青龍入廟，天后為恩澤神，故宜習文。末巳作朱雀，一為長生，又為官星學堂，故主科甲。日干天地盤皆空，祿空，故武不成。宜岳廟者，宅上見辰，辰為山崗，寅為廟，故宜就岳廟讀書而取功名也。

Master Zhao explained that the庚 metal's禄 is in申, but now it falls into Kongwang, and the Tai Chang, the god ofofficial stipend, does not enter the three transmissions, so one cannot become a military officer. The寅 has the Azure Dragon in its proper position and in its temple, and the Heavenly Empress, which is the god of grace, is also present, so it is suitable for studying literature. The final transmission has巳, which is occupied by the Vermilion Bird. Since巳 is the long life of庚 metal, and also the position of official star and academy, it indicates success in the imperial examination. The day stem meets Kongwang both on the Heaven Plate and the Earth Plate, and even the禄 is empty, so the military path is not feasible. The suggestion to go to the mountain temple is because the dwelling position has 辰, which represents hills, and 寅 represents temples, so one should study in the mountain temple to seek official rank.

趙不信，後果不能赴廣南任，遂授潭州岳廟，因邀數人同讀書，己酉投國子監中舉，庚戌及第。末傳命上巳乘朱雀為文章，又日之長生學堂官星，庚德在申與巳合，應得文官。

Zhaojiangshi did not believe at first. Later on, he indeed failed to be appointed to the post in Guangnan, and was instead given an idle post at the Yue Temple in Tanzhou. He then invited several people to study together, and in the year Jiyou he took the examination for the Imperial Academy and passed, and in the year Gengxu he was officially appointed. This exactly fulfilled the final transmission: the trine of the native's destiny has the snake (si) multiplied by the Vermilion Bird (Zhuque), which signifies literary achievement. The si is also the place of growth, the academy, and the official star for the day stem. The virtue god of Geng metal is in Shen, and Shen combines with si, so he should become an official in the literary field.

56）鄒大官人庚辰生三十歲占比試弓馬取功名，己酉年四月初一戊申日酉將申時。（寅卯空亡，卯辰落空），昂星，轉蓬。 空虎 龍午未申酉常 陳巳 戌玄 玄 常 空 龍 兄 庚戌 玄 初 六辰 亥陰 戌 酉 未 午 子 己酉 常 中 朱卯寅丑子后 酉 申 午 戊 父 丙午 龍 末 蛇貴

Example 56: Zou Da Guanren was born in the year Gengchen, and is thirty years old. He is divining to determine the outcome of a competition in archery and horseback riding to gain a reputation in martial arts. The time is on the first day of the fourth lunar month in the year Jiyou, on the day of Wu Shen. The month general is You, which is placed on the hour of Shen to cast the divination. On the day of Wu Shen, it belongs to the Jiachen decade, with the empty positions falling on Yin and Mao. The Heaven Plate has the branches of Mao and Chen falling in the empty positions. The name of the divination is two: "Mao Star" (also known as "Tiger's Gaze," when there is no mutual overcoming among the four lessons, the initiating transmission is taken from Mao Star) and "Zhuangpeng" (like a flying蓬 following the wind, indicating wandering without a fixed place). The Heaven Plate is arranged with You as the general placed on the hour of Shen. The nobleman is on Chou, below which is Teng Snake on Yin, Vermilion Bird on Mao, Liu He on Chen, Gou Chen on Si, Azure Dragon on Wu, Tian Kong on Wei, Bai Hu on Shen, Tai Chang on You, Xuan Wu on Xu, Tai Yin on Hai, and Tian Hou on Zi. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Wu, which is in the Si palace, with Wu above it, riding on Azure Dragon; the second lesson is Wu above Wei, riding on Tian Kong; the third lesson is the day branch Shen, with You above it, riding on Tai Chang; the fourth lesson is You above Xu, riding on Xuan Wu. The three transmissions are Xu, You, and Wu: the first transmission is Geng Xu, which is the brother's yao, riding on Xuan Wu; the second transmission is Ji You, which is the son's yao, riding on Tai Chang; the third transmission is Bing Wu, which is the parent's yao, riding on Azure Dragon.

邵先生曰：課得昴星，名虎視，身上有馬而無弓，馬帶陽刃，若見焦黃馬，決不可騎，為他所害。況所走之地，有汙穢，不可令新衣人在傍，如要去，須先解禳。

Master Zhao said: The divination shows the "昴 star," also known as "虎视." You have a horse nearby but no bow, and the horse is accompanied by a yang刃. If you encounter a horse of a dull yellow color, you must not ride it, for riding it will cause harm. Moreover, the place you are going to has a foul atmosphere, and you must not have someone wearing new clothes nearby. If you must go, you should first perform a ritual to remove the evil influence.