Liu Ren Duan An (六壬斷案) · Volume 4

蓋干支上各自刑，賓主不投；行年上申，申是箭，卻不得地。干見酉，支見午，名四勝殺，主各逞其能。陽刃午作青龍，僅得兵部垂顧，初戌作玄武，又六害，如何比得中？鄒後果屢試不中，得趙侍郎權兵部，乃與他一虛官銜。

This is because there are mutual punishments on the day stem and day branch, indicating that the host and guest are not in harmony; the year of birth is Shen, which is represented as an arrow, but it does not have a proper position. The day stem is You, and the day branch is Wu, which is called "Four Victory Evil Star," indicating that all sides will strive to be superior. A yang blade at Wu is accompanied by the Azure Dragon, so he can only receive a little support from the Ministry of War; the first transmission is Xu accompanied by the Black Tortoise, forming the sixth harm, so how can he succeed in the competition? Later, Master Zou indeed failed repeatedly in the examinations, only receiving a honorary title from Mr. Zhao, who was temporarily in charge of the Ministry of War.

先生析曰；蓋巳為弓，申為箭，今有馬有箭，而無弓，所以事終不成也。

Master Zhao explained that the element Si is symbolized as a bow, and the element Shen is symbolized as an arrow. Now, in this divination, there is a horse and an arrow, but there is no bow, so this matter will ultimately not succeed.

57）龔縣尉辛巳生十二九歲，占前程。己酉年十月壬午日寅將寅時，（申酉空亡，申酉落空），伏吟，自任，杜傳。 六陳 朱巳午未申龍 蛇辰 酉空 六 六 常 常 兄 乙亥 常 初 貴卯 戌虎 午 午 亥 亥 財 壬午 六 中 后寅丑子亥常 午 午 亥 壬 兄 丙子 玄 末 陰玄

Example 57: Gong County Magistrate, born in the year Xinsi, came to divinate his future. The time was on the day Renwu of the year Jiyou, in the tenth lunar month. The time of divination was寅 (Yin) hour, and the month general was also寅 (Yin), thus forming a 'Hidden Chant' (伏吟). The day Renwu belongs to the Jiaxu decade, with the empty palace falling on Shen and You. The branches Shen and You on the Heaven Plate also exactly fall on the empty palace. There is also a lesson name 'Self-Appointment' and 'Du Transmission'. The Heaven Plate layout: Nobleman rides on Mao, under which Teng Snake rides on Chen, Zhu Que rides on Si, Liu He rides on Wu, Gou Chen rides on Wei, Qing Long rides on Shen, Tian Kong rides on You, Bai Hu rides on Xu, Tai Chang rides on Hai, Xuan Wu rides on Zi, Tai Yin rides on Chou, and Tian Hou rides on Yin. The four lessons are paired and identical: the壬 water lodges in Hai, the first lesson Hai adds壬, the second lesson Hai adds Hai, both riding Tai Chang; the third lesson day branch Wu adds Wu, the fourth lesson Wu adds Wu, both riding Liu He. The three transmissions are Hai, Wu, and Zi: the first transmission Yi Hai is a brother's yao riding Tai Chang; the middle transmission Ren Wu is a wife's wealth yao riding Liu He; the final transmission Bing Zi is a brother's yao riding Xuan Wu.

邵先生曰：此課本身，現在戴祿，又兼太常，必有兼職之事，俸祿亦增。若論升轉則未。蓋干支自刑，日後因後其寵，遂做不廉之事，又因納一寵妾，貪色尋醫而治，欲解任不能，幸遇一外路監司懇告，遂得解任。伏吟時下未發，只等替時自見耳。

Shao Master said: This divination itself is wearing the禄神 (favorable official rank), and also has Tai Chang (the god of俸禄, salary), so there must be a situation of holding another position in addition to the current one, and the salary will also increase. However, if we talk about promotion or transfer to another post, that is not yet the case. The day stem and day branch mutually form Self-Punishment (self-punishment), so in the future, because of being favored by the superior, he will do something unscrupulous. Also, he will take in a favored concubine, become addicted to women, and need to seek medical treatment. At that time, he would like to resign but cannot, fortunately meeting a supervisor from another region who earnestly explained the situation, and thus he was able to resign. TheHidden Chant (hidden chant) divination will not take effect in the near future, and it will only be clear when the time comes for a change of position.

先生析曰；蓋干支自刑，主自滿月建前一辰，子上是玄武，乃為天醫，沖起行年上午之六合，晝貴又乘後，為干之偏財，乃妾也。上見武合後，故主貪色不正，子又為天醫，故主尋醫之兆。子午乃官員往來之所，道路神也。月建前神是外監司，必外除方解。

Master Zhao explained that the day stem and day branch are self-punishing, indicating that this person is self-satisfied and arrogant. The god at the position before the month builder is the Black Tortoise, which here serves as the Tianyi deity. It conflicts with the Liu He at the hour of Zi in the person's birth year. The daytime noble is accompanied by the Heavenly Empress, who is the day stem's biased wealth, meaning a concubine. The Black Tortoise at Zi and the Heavenly Empress combine, indicating a tendency towards lust and improper behavior. Zi is also Tianyi, suggesting a sign of seeking medical treatment. Zi and Wu are places where officials travel, belonging to the gods of roads. The god at the position before the month builder represents the external officials, so the position can only be resolved with the intervention of officials from outside.

龔尉因主簿壞去，遂權其職，得太守寵，遂傍若無人，乃干支自刑，故自滿也。又納一妾，下稍元合，多不正，正餘言皆驗。亥祿重並，是兼職。

Later verification: A county magistrate, having been dismissed due to the misconduct of the county clerk, took over the clerk's position temporarily. He also gained the favor of the prefect, thus acting as if no one else existed — this precisely verified the case of the day stem and day branch self-punishment leading to self-satisfaction. Later, he took a concubine, and eventually, the Black Tortoise and Liu He (六合) came into conjunction, resulting in many improper actions. Other cases he judged also corresponded accordingly. As for the repeated appearance of the禄神 (Lushen) of亥, it exactly matched the situation of holding two positions simultaneously.

58）郭巡轄本命寅，行年酉，占赴任，己酉年戊申日酉將子時。（寅卯空亡，亥子落空），元胎，比用，不備。郭生戊寅年六月十三日子時，三十二歲四月初一占。 陳六 龍寅卯辰巳朱 空丑 午蛇 龍 朱 常 龍 鬼 空寅 龍 初（空亡） 虎子 未貴 寅 巳 亥 寅 財 辛亥 常 中（落空） 常亥戌酉申后 巳 申 寅 戊 子 戊申 后 末 玄陰

Example 58: Guo Xun's personal destiny belongs to the寅 branch, and his current age corresponds to酉. He is consulting the divination as he is taking office. The time is in the year of Jiyou, day of Wushen. The lesson is started with the酉 month general added to the子 hour. (Guo was born in the year of Wuyin, on the 13th day of the sixth lunar month at the子 hour, aged 32, and consulted on the first day of the fourth lunar month.) The day Wushen belongs to the Jiachen decade, with the empty branches falling on寅 and卯. The Heaven Plate's亥 and子 branches fall in the Kongwang position. The lesson has three names: "Original Fetus", "Comparison and Use", and "Incomplete". The Heaven Plate is set with the酉 general added to the子 hour. The Nobleman is on未, with Teng Snake on午, Vermilion Bird on巳, Liu He on辰, Gou Chen on卯, Azure Dragon on寅, Tian Kong on丑, White Tiger on子, Tai Chang on亥, Black Tortoise on戌, Tai Yin on酉, and Heavenly Empress on申. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson has the day stem戊 in the巳 palace, with寅 on top, riding the Azure Dragon; the second lesson has寅 with亥 on top, riding the Tai Chang; the third lesson has the day branch申 with巳 on top, riding the Vermilion Bird; the fourth lesson has巳 with寅 on top, riding the Azure Dragon. The three transmissions are寅,亥,申: the first transmission is寅, which falls in the empty branch and is the official ghost爻, riding the Azure Dragon; the middle transmission isXinhai, which is the wife's wealth爻, riding the Tai Chang and falling in the empty place; the final transmission is戊申, which is the son's fortune爻, riding the Heavenly Empress.

邵先生曰：大凡占官要見官，今寅值龍作官，奈何寅空，必不得也。卻就支宅上去作朱雀，乃戊祿臨支也，宅神申又加亥為末傳，此仕莫非虛度。蓋寅是官星，巳是祿位，寅乘龍不空，即當赴任，即空反作鬼論，鬼來逼日，去日加支，克支之神，主權攝不正。又戊祿在巳，巳與申合，祿在支，故正任不可望，卻乃食祿。內主陳姓久不足，且當西南上避嫌，待陳姓退去，方得正任。行年上午乘蛇臨行時主婦人纏繞也。

Master Zhao said: In divination regarding official positions, the most important thing is to see the official star. Now the wood of寅 is riding the Azure Dragon to act as the official star, but unfortunately,寅 is falling into Kongwang, so this official position will certainly not be obtained. The official star has instead moved to the day branch's position, riding the Vermilion Bird. This is the禄神 of the earth element戊, which is located at the day branch. The residence god申 is also added on the亥, acting as the final transmission. This indicates that this official position is merely a period of idleness. Originally,寅 is the official star and巳 is the禄 position; if寅 were riding the Dragon without falling into Kongwang, he would have been officially appointed. Now that it has fallen into Kongwang, it should be considered as a ghost: the ghost is pressing the day stem, and the day stem goes to add upon the day branch, becoming the god that conquers the day branch. Therefore, he can only temporarily take on someone else's position without proper authority. Also, the禄 of the earth element戊 is in巳, and巳 and申 are in harmony, so the禄 is located at the day branch. Therefore, there is no hope for an official appointment, but there may be some salary. The main issue is that there is a person named Chen who has been in long-term disagreement with him. He should now go to the southwest to avoid this person, and only after Chen has left can he be officially appointed. The year stem午 is riding the Teng Snake at the time of travel, which also indicates that there will be interference from a woman.

鄧果於當年十一月上任，因陳提刑與伊尊人有仇隙，故行至半途，遂不敢往，經過鄂州，素與太守有舊，遂令權公使及酒稅。至次年八月陳替去，鄧始得到任。

Later verification (the original text records the surname as "Deng," which does not match the previous mention of "Guo Xunxia," so it is recorded as is without alteration): He set out for his post in the eleventh month. Because the person in charge of the judicial office, Chen Tingxing, had an old grudge with his father, he did not dare to proceed further. When passing through Ezhou, he was left to temporarily manage the public treasury and liquor tax affairs due to his previous friendship with the governor of Ezhou. In the eighth month of the following year, after Chen Tingxing's term ended and he was transferred away, he was finally able to officially take up his post.

59）徐學士戊辰年正月初四日寅時生，行年四十一歲，占前程。戊申年二月甲子日亥將巳時。（戌亥空亡，寅卯落空），反吟，元胎，渉害。 蛇貴 朱亥子丑寅后 六戌 卯陰 蛇 虎 后 龍 兄 丙寅 后 初（落空） 陳酉 辰玄 子 午 寅 申 鬼 壬申 龍 中 龍申未午巳常 午 子 申 甲 兄 丙寅 后 末（落空） 空虎

Example 59: Xu Xueshi was born on the fourth day of the first lunar month in the year of Wuchen, at the hour of Yin. He is currently 41 years old and is consulting about his future. The time of divination is in the year of Wushen, second lunar month, on the day of Jiazi. The lesson is started with the month general of Hai added to the hour of Si. The general and the hour are in opposition, thus forming 'Reverse Chant'. The day Jiazi belongs to the Jiazi decade, with the empty position falling on Xu and Hai. The branches of Yin and Mao on the Heaven Plate are located in the empty position. There are also lesson names 'Yuan Tai' and 'She Hai'. The Heaven Plate layout: 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, Tai Yin on Chen, Xuan Wu on Mao, and Tian Hou on Yin. The four lessons from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Jia, located in the Yin palace, with Shen above it, riding Azure Dragon; the second lesson is Shen with Yin above it, riding Tian Hou; the third lesson is the day branch Zi with Wu above it, riding Bai Hu; the fourth lesson is Wu with Zi above it, riding Teng Snake. The three transmissions are Yin, Shen, Yin: the first transmission is Bing Yin, representing the brother's yao, riding Tian Hou and falling into the empty position; the middle transmission is Ren Shen, representing the official ghost's yao, riding Azure Dragon; the final transmission is again Bing Yin, still representing the brother's yao, still riding Tian Hou and still falling into the empty position. The beginning and end circle back, exactly matching 'Reverse Chant'.

邵先生曰：此課庚戌年徐充解及第，其子治春秋亦及第，在五甲；本身及第，唱名在第三甲，其子則曰亦霑恩及第，在第五甲；銓試不中，六月授潭州司戶，七月病死。蓋日上見申，讀書人見之為無後，又是太歲來克身，當年可見不寧。何直至庚戌年及第方死耶？

Master Zhao said: According to this lesson, in the year Gengxu, Xu Xueshi will pass the examination with the qualification of chongjie and be listed among the top five. His son, who studies the Spring and Autumn Annals, will also pass the examination, and be listed among the top five. Xu Xueshi himself will be listed in the third category. His son, however, will pass due to the favor of his father's achievement, and be listed in the fifth category. Later, he fails the official examination, and in June he is appointed as the official of Tanzhou's judicial office, but in July he dies. This is because the day stem is in Shen, and for scholars, Shen indicates no descendants. Shen also represents the year's ruler which overcomes the person himself, so that year is unstable. Then why does he die only after passing the examination in the year Gengxu?

先生析曰；蓋行年上子水生甲木，宅上午火制申金，且是催官使者，須見官而後死。及至庚戌年，行年在申，甲木絕於申，故死。初末寅作天后，兩重兩露恩神，在官星之上，官星加寅甲與寅皆承其恩澤。甲乃尊也，父也；寅乃卑也，子也。故俱霑恩。庚戌年身死，甲寅年子死，乃刑沖之故。又行年神克第三課，死神乘白虎入宅，為水所克，又甲木以午為子息，故子必受殃也。

Master Zhao explained that the water of the year pillar can generate the wood of Jia, and the fire of the dwelling position can control the metal of Shen. Moreover, the fire of Wu is the messenger of official rank, so one must first attain official position before death. In the year Gengxu, the year pillar moves to Shen, and the wood of Jia is extinguished in Shen, thus resulting in death. The initial and final transmissions both have the position of Yin, which is occupied by the Heavenly Empress, so two layers of benevolent deities are pressing upon the official star. The official star also rests upon the position of Yin, so both Jia and Yin receive this favor. Jia represents the superior, the father, while Yin represents the inferior, the son, so both father and son receive blessings and pass the examination. In the year Gengxu, the person dies, and in the year Jiayin, the son dies, both due to punishment and clash. Furthermore, the god of the year pillar conquers the third lesson, the Death Deity rides the White Tiger into the dwelling position, which is then conquered by water. The wood of Jia takes Wu as its offspring, so the son is inevitably affected.

60）謝省元乙丑生四十五歲歲占赴省試，己酉年九月甲子日卯將寅時。（戌亥空亡，亥子落空），重審，進茹。 貴后 蛇午未申酉陰 朱巳 戌玄 龍 空 六 陳 財 戊辰 六 初 六辰 亥常 寅 丑 辰 卯 子 己巳 朱 中 陳卯寅丑子虎 丑 子 卯 甲 子 庚午 蛇 末（暗鬼） 龍空

Example 60: Xie Xingyuan was born in the year Yi Chou, and is 45 years old. He is divining for an upcoming provincial examination. The time is Ji You year, September, Jia Zi day. The lesson is cast using the month of Mao as the general, placed on the寅 hour. The Jia Zi day belongs to the Jia Zi decade, with the empty branches falling on Xu and Hai. The Heaven Plate's Hai and Zi branches are in the empty position. The lesson has two names: "Chong Shen" and "Jin Ru". The Heaven Plate is set with the general of Mao added to the寅 hour. The nobleman is riding the Wei branch, followed by Teng Snake on Wu, Vermilion Bird on Si, Liu He on Chen, Gou Chen on Mao, Azure Dragon on Yin, Tian Kong on Chou, Bai Hu on Zi, Tai Chang on Hai, Xuan Wu on Xu, Tai Yin on You, and Tian Hou on Shen. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Jia, located in the Yin palace, with Mao on top, riding Gou Chen; the second lesson is Mao with Chen on top, riding Liu He; the third lesson is the day branch Zi with Chou on top, riding Tian Kong; the fourth lesson is Chou with Yin on top, riding Azure Dragon. The three transmissions are Chen, Si, and Wu: the first transmission is Wu Chen, representing the wife's wealth, riding Liu He; the second transmission is Ji Si, representing the son's branch, riding Vermilion Bird; the third transmission is Geng Wu, representing the son's branch again, riding Teng Snake, with a hidden ghost.

邵先生曰：謝省元三次到場，今次定不得，更五次不遂，不免受文學中心病而死，煩董兄與他說知之，異日亦要課驗，餘不敢面說也。蓋甲日迤邐生去，更不回顧，以此言之，無文學尚可，有則不利。蓋因亥加戌，亥乃甲之長生學堂，甲子旬亥戌空亡，學堂加空，而宅上日貴又乘天空，故虛名文學耳。中末傳巳午脫去，不意午之心病，見蛇病必死。謝果省試不中，後為文學不遂，遂納賄，又是五甲，甚不如意，歸來遂成心病，辛酉年十一月卒。

Master Zhao said: Xie Xingyuan has already taken the examination three times and will certainly not pass this time; furthermore, he will not achieve his wishes in the next five attempts as well. In the end, he is bound to suffer from a heart ailment caused by his frustration in literature and eventually die. Please, Dong brother, convey this message to him — the verification of the course will come in time, and I dare not say this in person. This is because the day stem is Jia Wood, which proceeds smoothly in the direction of growth and decline without turning back. According to this, it would be better if he had no literary talent, but having literary talent is actually detrimental. The reason is that亥 is added on戌:亥 is originally the position of growth and the academy for Jia Wood, but in the Jiazi cycle,亥 and戌 are both Kongwang, meaning the academy is placed on an empty ground; the daytime noble is also accompanied by Tian Kong, so literary talent is just an empty name. The巳 and午 in the middle and final transmissions are both dissipating energy; unexpectedly,午 is the master of heart disease, and午 also meets Teng Snake, so illness is certain to lead to death. Xie Xingyuan indeed failed the provincial examination, later found no success in literature, and resorted to bribing for advancement, but still ended up with a fifth rank, which was very unsatisfactory; after returning home, he developed a heart ailment and died in November of the Xinyou year.

先生析曰；蓋甲木生巳午蛇雀諸火，木又隨火上火，又去南奔，本主便死。因背後有行年見亥，亥加戌，尚有虛名而未死耳。造化前定，所以不由人也。

Shao Master explained that the Jia wood is able to generate fire in the direction of Si, Wu, Teng Snake, and Vermilion Bird, and the wood rises with the fire energy, heading towards the south, which would naturally lead to its demise. However, because there is a year pillar of Hai behind it, and Hai is placed on top of Xu, it can still maintain a superficial reputation and remain alive for now. Destiny has already been determined, so it is beyond human control.

61）趙公占子國子監試，其子戊子年正月十三日酉時生二十二歲，己酉年辛巳日子將亥時。（申酉空亡，酉戌落空），遙克，蒿矢，進茹。 龍空 陳午未申酉虎 六巳 戌常 龍 陳 陰 玄 鬼 壬午 陳 初 朱辰 亥玄 未 午 子 亥 父 癸未 龍 中 蛇卯寅丑子陰 午 巳 亥 辛 兄 空申 空 末（空亡） 貴後

Example 61: Zhao Gong cast a divination for his son's examination at the National Academy. His son was born on the thirteenth day of the first lunar month in the year of the Dog, at the hour of You. He is twenty-two years old. The time is on the day of Xinsi in the year of Jiyou. The divination was cast using the month of Zi as the general and placed on the hour of Hai. The day Xinsi belongs to the Ji Xu decade, with the empty positions falling on Shen and You. The branches of the Heaven Plate, You and Xu, are located in the empty positions. The names of the lesson are three: "Remote Conquest", "Arrow of Artemisia", and "Progressive Consumption". The Heaven Plate is arranged with Zi as the general and placed on the hour of Hai. The Nobleman is riding on Yin, below which Teng Snake is on Mao, Vermilion Bird on Chen, Liu He on Si, Gou Chen on Wu, Azure Dragon on Wei, Tian Kong on Shen, Bai Hu on You, Tai Chang on Xu, Xuan Wu on Hai, Tai Yin on Zi, and Tian Hou on Chou. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Xin, located in the Xu palace, with Hai above it, riding on Xuan Wu; the second lesson is Hai with Zi above it, riding on Tai Yin; the third lesson is the day branch Si with Wu above it, riding on Gou Chen; the fourth lesson is Wu with Wei above it, riding on Azure Dragon. The three transmissions are Wu, Wei, and Shen: the first transmission is Ren Wu, representing the official ghost, riding on Gou Chen; the second transmission is Gui Wei, representing the parents, riding on Azure Dragon; the third transmission is Shen, falling in the empty position, representing the brothers, riding on Tian Kong.

邵先生曰：此課主洩精，否則小便腳手痠痛，四肢無力，二三月皆是病月，四月方安，官星臨廚，必入天廚。今年必高中，官星作幕貴也，癸丑及第寅貴加丑上之故，只是不享，終三十五歲矣。趙生自十九歲每患遺精，公因其病，以婢與之為伴，恐其未有房室也。當年發舉，癸丑及第，為司戶，三月丁巳再授司理，己未丁憂，癸亥三十五歲愛圅按此句當是己丑年生十月十二日死。

Master Zhao said: This lesson indicates a disorder of seminal emission, or else difficulty in urination, pain in the hands and feet, and weakness in the limbs. February and March are both months of illness, and it will be only in April that the condition will ease. The official star is located at the position of the kitchen, so in the future he will certainly enter the office of the Heavenly Kitchen, which is in charge of food and meals. He will certainly pass the examination this year, because the official star is acting as a noble patron from behind the scenes. He will be appointed in the year of Guichou, because the nobleman of the寅 position is added to the丑 position. However, his fortune is not great, and his lifespan will end at the age of thirty-five. The young master of the Zhao family has suffered from seminal emission since he was nineteen years old. His father, Master Zhao, gave him a maid to accompany him, fearing that he had not yet had sexual relations. That year he passed the examination, was appointed in the year of Guichou, and became a magistrate. In the month of March, on the day of Dingsi, he was appointed as a judicial officer. In the year of Jiwei, he observed a period of mourning. In the year of Guihai, he died at the age of thirty-five. (Editor Cheng Aitu notes: This sentence should read that he was born in the year of Jichou and died on the twelfth day of the tenth month.)

先生析曰；蓋十月辛上見亥作元武，一金生二水，水主腎，自然遺洩，不合末又入空，空上又見天空，是得官徒空也。申七未八，空亡減半，平生為亥所苦，故又見癸亥年而死。

Master Zhao explained that in the tenth month, the metal of Xin is seen above Hai and is accompanied by the Black Tortoise, resulting in one layer of metal generating two layers of water; water in the human body corresponds to the kidney, so naturally there is a condition of leakage. Unluckily, the final transmission also falls into Kongwang, and on top of Kongwang comes Tian Kong, so although he obtains an official position, it is all in vain. The number of Shen is seven, and the number of Wei is eight, but because of encountering Kongwang, these numbers are halved. He has been troubled by the water of Hai all his life, so it also corresponds to the year Guihai when his body dies.

62）邵二十一公占孫前程，同此數。邵公繫癸巳年四月十二日丑時生，七十六歲，其孫二十二歲愛圅按邵公之年歲當是戊申年占，其孫乃丁亥命也 龍空 陳午未申酉虎 六巳 戌常 龍 陳 陰 玄 官 壬午 陳 初 朱辰 亥玄 未 午 子 亥 父 癸未 龍 中 蛇卯寅丑子陰 午 巳 亥 辛 兄 空申 空 末（空亡） 貴後

Example 62: Shao Binshi, a man of the twenty-first generation, cast a divination for his grandson's future, and the resulting divination pattern is the same as the previous example. Shao was born on the second hour of the twelfth day of the fourth month in the year Gui Si, and he was seventy-six years old. His grandson was twenty-two years old (the editor Cheng Aitu notes: according to Shao's age, this should have been cast in the year Wu Shen, and the grandson would have been born in the year Ding Hai). The divination pattern remains: the Nobleman is on寅, the Teng Snake on卯, the Vermilion Bird on辰, Liu He on巳, Gou Chen on午, Azure Dragon on未, Tian Kong on申, White Tiger on酉, Tai Chang on戌, Black Tortoise on亥, Tai Yin on子, and Heavenly Empress on丑. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson has the Day Stem Xin residing in the戌 palace, with亥 on top, riding the Black Tortoise; the second lesson has子 on top of亥, riding Tai Yin; the third lesson has the Day Branch巳 with午 on top, riding Gou Chen; the fourth lesson has未 on top of午, riding Azure Dragon. The three transmissions are午, 未, and申: the first transmission isRenwu, representing the official star, riding Gou Chen; the second transmission isGuiwei, representing the parents' yao, riding Azure Dragon; the third transmission is申, falling into the旬空, representing the brothers' yao, riding Tian Kong.

邵先生曰：課主虛洩，宅上火生土，土又生金，不獨前程不顯，尚有天喪之患。蓋連茹喜進不喜空亡，更四年腎病而死。邵公之孫果清瘦患遺洩，至壬子年十二月身死。夫辛金生二水，初鬼作勾，若女占即吉，男子未娶是克也。己酉娶妻後，成癆而卒。末傳同類空，諸孫皆前後喪。

Shao Master said: This divination indicates a condition of deficiency and loss of essence. The position of the dwelling shows fire generating earth and earth generating metal, which not only prevents future success and advancement, but also brings the danger of early death. Because the "connected reeds" divination favors gradual progress, it particularly dislikes falling into kongwang. After four more years, he will die from kidney disease. Shao Master's grandson indeed became thin and suffered from involuntary discharge, and died in December of the Renzi year. The辛 metal generates two waters, and the initial transmission's ghost爻 is occupied by Gou Chen. If a woman is the one consulting, this is actually auspicious; but if a man is consulting and has not yet married, it indicates a harmful influence on his life. After he married in the Jiyou year, he died of a wasting illness. The final transmission's similar brother爻 falls into kongwang, so all his grandchildren died one after another.

先生析曰；蓋亥加辛乃面前脫氣，午勾是日貴作鬼入宅，支干上皆自刑，自支上一陰至亥乃六陰也，一味行陰道，如何得久？更何問功名？愛圅曰，課同斷異因亥為本命而脫干，故其凶較甚。

Master Zhao explained that亥 is placed on 辛, which is a case of direct leakage of energy; 午 multiplied by Gou Chen indicates the daytime noble transforming into a ghost entering the dwelling position; additionally, both the day stem and day branch suffer from self-punishment. Starting from the yin energy on the day branch and counting up to 亥, there are six layers of yin energy, all moving along the yin path, how can this last long? Even more so, there is no hope for official rank or fame. The compiler Cheng Aitu said: this lesson is the same as the previous example in form but differs in interpretation because 亥 is precisely the birth year of his grandson, and 亥 also drains the energy of the day stem, making the ominous signs particularly severe.

63）何知丞丙寅二月三日酉時生，四十三歲，占赴任，戊申年十二月癸丑日丑將未時。（寅卯空亡，申酉落空），反吟，稼穡，勵德，遊子。 虎常 空亥子丑寅玄 龍戌 卯陰 常 朱 常 朱 鬼 丁未 朱 初（丁神） 陳酉 辰后 丑 未 丑 未 鬼 癸丑 常 中 六申未午巳貴 未 丑 未 癸 鬼 丁未 朱 末（丁神） 朱蛇

Example 63: How do we know that someone born on the third day of the second lunar month in the year Bingyin (1624 AD), at the hour of You (酉), is now 43 years old and has come to take office? The time of divination is on the day of Guichou (癸丑) in the twelfth lunar month of the year Wushen (戊申). The month general is Chou (丑), placed on the hour of Wei (未) to start the divination. The hour and the month general are in opposition, forming the 'Reverse Chant' pattern. The day of Guichou belongs to the Jiachen (甲辰) cycle, with the empty position falling on Yin (寅) and Mao (卯). The branches of Shen (申) and You (酉) on the Heaven Plate are located in the empty position. There are also the names of the lessons: 'Jia Se' (Jia Se), 'Li De' (Lide), and 'You Zi' (Youzi). The Heaven Plate layout: the Nobleman is on Si (巳), with Teng Snake on Wu (午), Vermilion Bird on Wei (未), Liu He on Shen (申), Gou Chen on You (酉), Qing Long on Xu (戌), Tian Kong on Hai (亥), Bai Hu on Zi (子), Tai Chang on Chou (丑), Xuan Wu on Yin (寅), Tai Yin on Mao (卯), and Tian Hou on Chen (辰). The four lessons, arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Gui (癸) located in the Chou (丑) position, with Wei (未) above it, riding on Vermilion Bird; the second lesson is Wei (未) with Chou (丑) above it, riding on Tai Chang; the third lesson is the day branch Chou (丑) with Wei (未) above it, riding on Vermilion Bird; the fourth lesson is Wei (未) with Chou (丑) above it, riding on Tai Chang. The three transmissions are Wei (未), Chou (丑), and Wei (未): the first transmission is Ding Wei (丁未), an official ghost, riding on Vermilion Bird, which is the 'Ding God'; the middle transmission is Gui Chou (癸丑), an official ghost, riding on Tai Chang; the final transmission is again Ding Wei (丁未), still an official ghost, still riding on Vermilion Bird, still the 'Ding God'.

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

Master Zhao said: This case shows an old post appearing again on top of an old post; I don't know how long you have been waiting. He Zhisheng replied: For three years. Master Zhao said: According to this, it will take until the sixth year to take office. He Zhisheng did not agree. Originally, he intended to take up his post in Guian County, but the Ministry of Personnel assigned him another examination, and indeed he was delayed until the sixth year to take office. Master Zhao also said: This post of Zhisheng will be his last post. Later, he indeed took office in the sixth year and died in the eighth year, with his coffin returning to his hometown.

先生析曰；蓋戊申年未為舊政，初末日辰皆見，又十二月月建丑，又加於舊上，來往皆是舊人，故不能速。未八是八年，滿盤是鬼，丑為墓田，未與常加之故然。

Shao Master explained that in the year of Wushen, the position of Wei represents the previous position. The first transmission, final transmission, along with the day and the heavenly stem, all appear everywhere. Moreover, the month builder in the twelfth month is Chou, which is added to the previous position, so people coming and going are all former officials, hence the matter will not proceed quickly. The number of Wei is eight, so it corresponds to eight years. The entire chart is filled with ghostly lines, Chou is also the grave field, and Wei is adjacent to Tai Chang, so he will finally end his term here.

64）陳學諭辛未十二月二十八日生三十八歲，占前程，戊申年九月甲申日辰將亥時。（午未空亡，亥子落空），比用，鑄印。 陳龍 六戌亥子丑空 朱酉 寅虎 后 空 龍 貴 父 戊子 龍 初（落空） 蛇申 卯常 午 丑 子 未 子 癸巳 陰 中 貴未午巳辰玄 丑 申 未 甲 財 丙戌 六 末 后陰

Example 64: Chen Xueyu was born on December 28th of the Xinwei year, and is now 38 years old. He consulted about his future career. The time of consultation was on the Wushen year, September, on the Jiashen day. The lesson was cast using the Chén month general added to the Hai hour. The Jiashen day belongs to the Jiashen decade, with the empty positions falling on Wu and Wei. The Heaven Plate's Zi and Hai branches fall in the Kongwang positions. The lesson has two names: "Comparison and Use" and "Casting the Seal." The Heaven Plate was arranged with the Chén general added to the Hai hour. The Nobleman is on Wei, with Teng Snake on Shen, Vermilion Bird on You, Liu He on Xu, Gou Chen on Hai, Azure Dragon 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 Jiā in the Yin palace, with Wei on top, riding the Nobleman; the second lesson is Wei with Zi on top, riding the Azure Dragon; the third lesson is the Day Branch Shen with Chou on top, riding Tian Kong; the fourth lesson is Chou with Wu on top, riding Tian Hou. The three transmissions are Zi, Si, and Xu: the first transmission is Wu Zi, the parent's yao, riding the Azure Dragon and falling into the empty position; the second transmission is Gui Si, the son's yao, riding Tai Yin; the third transmission is Bing Xu, the wife's wealth yao, riding Liu He.

邵先生曰：干支皆墓，主前程遲滯，凡事不通。今喜甲申旬未乃空亡，本身之墓既空，漸次脫去，次第亨通。初傳遇貴人六害，不利考試，偏堂太陰亦不利，旬末終為病擾妻宮，加子主無子，今年防被醫人所誤，行年上申為醫而為蛇鬼故耳，本命是木，墓在本身上，貴人又來空，乃是虛貴，宅上又帶墓，宅既不顯，人亦不興，三十發解便不濟，如處雲霧中，妻亦不利。

Shao Master said: When both the day stem and day branch are in the墓 position, it indicates obstacles in career advancement and difficulties in all matters. Now it is fortunate that in the Jiashen decade, the empty position falls on the correct position, so the墓 position has fallen into the empty position, which will gradually loosen, and step by step turn towards smoothness. However, the first transmission meets the nobleman's six harms, which is unfavorable for exams; the偏堂's Tai Yin is also unfavorable. By the end of the decade, it will eventually be disturbed by illness, affecting the wife's palace; with the addition of the子 position, it indicates no children. This year one should be cautious of being misdiagnosed by a doctor - the year's stem is Shen, which represents the doctor, and it transforms into the Teng Snake ghost. His true birth element is wood, and the墓 position is pressing on himself; the nobleman also falls into the empty position, which is a false nobleman. The residence also carries the墓 position, so the residence cannot achieve success, and the person cannot flourish. Even if he passed the local recommendation exam at thirty, it would still be unhelpful, everywhere like being in a fog; matters concerning his wife also go smoothly.

其人果受乳母之氣，得心痛疾，九年而卒，妻血病五年卒。本年患痢，醫人誤為熱症，幾死，庚申年亡。未為木墓。

Later events proved true: this person indeed suffered from the anger of his wet nurse and developed heart pain, dying nine years later; his wife suffered from a blood condition and died five years later. At that time he had dysentery, and the doctor mistakenly treated it as a heat condition, nearly costing him his life; he died in the year Gengshen. This was because the position of the earthy branch Wei is the storage for wood.

65）施主簿乙亥年七月初二日亥時生，三十四歲，占前程。戊申年九月十五丙申日辰將丑時。（辰巳空亡，未申落空），重審，元胎，不備，贅婿。 貴后 蛇申酉戌亥陰 朱未 子玄 虎 陰 陰 蛇 財 丙申 蛇 初（落空） 六午 丑常 寅 亥 亥 申 鬼 己亥 陰 中 陳巳辰卯寅虎 亥 申 申 丙 父 壬寅 虎 末（暗鬼） 龍空

Example 65: The petitioner, born on the second day of the seventh lunar month in the year Yihai, is thirty-four years old and seeks divination about his future. The time of divination is on the fifteenth day of the ninth lunar month in the year Wushen, on the day of Bingshen. The month is Chen, and the lesson is cast with Chen as the month general added to Chou time. The day Bingshen belongs to the Jiawu decade, with the empty branches falling on Chen and Si. The branches of the heaven plate, Wei and Shen, fall in the empty position. The names of the lesson are four: "Re-examination," "Original Fetus," "Incomplete," and "Suzerain's Son-in-law." The heaven plate is set with Chen as the general added to Chou time. The nobleman is on You, with Teng Snake on Shen, Vermilion Bird on Wei, Liu He on Wu, Gou Chen on Si, Azure Dragon on Chen, Tian Kong on Mao, Bai Hu on Yin, Tai Chang on Chou, Xuan Wu on Zi, Tai Yin on Hai, and Tian Hou on Xu. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson, the day stem Ji is in Si, with Shen above it, riding Teng Snake; the second lesson, Shen has Hai above it, riding Tai Yin; the third lesson, the day branch Shen has Hai above it, riding Tai Yin; the fourth lesson, Hai has Yin above it, riding Bai Hu. The three transmissions are Shen, Hai, and Yin: the first transmission, Ji Shen, is the wife's wealth, riding Teng Snake and falling into the empty position; the middle transmission, Ji Hai, is the official ghost, riding Tai Yin; the final transmission, Ren Yin, is the parent's wealth, riding Bai Hu, and secretly carries the ghost.

邵先生曰：支來就干，為干所克，其人無正宅，多在寺觀及外處居住，或在妻家。蓋課名贅婿，所以無正居也。傳見蛇虎必多喪服，將來終於曹職。末傳寅作虎，終於水邊作州府職官而已。其後果丁父母四喪，果於甲子年授江陰軍知錄，己巳有事矣。

Shao said: The day branch comes to meet the day stem and is overcome by it, so this person does not have his own proper residence, mostly living in temples or elsewhere, or staying with his wife's family - the name of this divination is called '赘婿', which is exactly because he does not have a proper residence. Seeing the Teng Snake and White Tiger in the three transmissions indicates many instances of mourning; eventually, he will reach an end in the position of a subordinate official. The final transmission's寅 is ridden by the White Tiger, so he can only hold an official position in a state near water. Later, he indeed suffered four mourning events involving his parents, and in the Jiazi year he was appointed as the chief recorder of Jiangyin military affairs, but by the Jisi year, something happened.

先生析曰；蓋宅加日受克，宅上見亥，金反去生亥，安得正宅？末寅生於亥，丙生於寅，為水邊州府也。寅為曹職，今知錄亦然。大凡占官，寅申為遷轉之神，既為蛇虎所撓，故止於知錄。

Master Zhao explained that the residence is added to the approach day stem and is being overcome by the day stem. On top of that, the position of the residence also sees the presence of Hai, and Sheng metal instead goes to generate Hai water. So how can there be a proper residence? The final transmission's寅 has its growth in Hai, and Bing fire also has its growth in寅, so it is a position of a state government office by water.寅 represents a subordinate position, and the position of Zhilu exactly fits this. Generally, when divining official positions,寅 and申 are the spirits indicating transfer; now they are disturbed by Teng Snake and White Tiger, so the official position can only stop at Zhilu.

66）邵梓材戊寅三月初一辰時生，三十一歲，占前程。戊申年九月二十一壬寅日辰將酉時。（辰巳空亡，亥子落空），重審，六儀，四絕。 朱蛇 六子丑寅卯貴 陳亥 辰后 后 空 朱 玄 財 甲午 玄 初 龍戌 巳陰 辰 酉 丑 午 鬼 辛丑 朱 中 空酉申未午玄 酉 寅 午 壬 父 丙申 虎 末 虎常

Example 66: Zhao Zicai was born on the first day of the third lunar month in the year of Wuyin, at the hour of Chen. He is thirty-one years old and seeks divination about his future. The time of divination is on the twenty-first day of the ninth lunar month in the year of Wushen, on the day of Renyin. The month is Chen, and the hour is You. The lesson is cast with the Chou branch added to the You hour. The day Renyin belongs to the Jiachen decade, with the empty branches falling on Chen and Si. The branches Hai and Zi on the Heaven Plate fall into the empty positions. The lesson has three names: "Chong Shen" (Repeated Review), "Liu Yi" (Six Instruments), and "Si Jue" (Four Extinctions). The Heaven Plate is set with the Chen general added to the You hour. The nobleman is on the卯 branch, with the Teng Snake on the寅, the Vermilion Bird on the丑, the Liu He on the子, the Gou Chen on the亥, the Azure Dragon on the戌, the Tian Kong on the酉, the White Tiger on the申, the Tai Chang on the未, the Black Tortoise on the午, the Tai Yin on the巳, and the Heavenly Empress on the辰. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Ren, located in the Hai branch, with the Wu branch above it, riding the Black Tortoise; the second lesson is the Wu branch, with the Chou branch above it, riding the Vermilion Bird; the third lesson is the day branch Yin, with the You branch above it, riding the Tian Kong; the fourth lesson is the You branch, with the Chen branch above it, riding the Heavenly Empress. The three transmissions are Wu, Chou, and Shen: the first transmission is Jiawu, representing the wife's wealth, riding the Black Tortoise; the middle transmission is Xinchou, representing the official ghost, riding the Vermilion Bird; the final transmission is Bingshen, representing the parents, riding the White Tiger.

邵先生曰：此課名四絕，且干支自刑，又名六害，其不利者有三：一者居偏室無正位，二者妻宮不利，三者眼不明，因他父墳不利，皆是白蟻，左畔已虛空矣，前程非惟不遠，又且壽夭，九年將屋基作田園，家破碎，貴賤皆因酒而敗也。

Master Zhao said: This lesson is called "Four Extremes." The day stem and day branch also form self-punishment, and they also create the six harms. There are three unfavorable aspects: first, he can only live in a side house and not a main house; second, the wife's palace is unfavorable; third, he has poor eyesight. All of these are due to his father's grave being bad, with white ants in the coffin, and the left side has already become hollow and collapsed. His future prospects will not go far, and his lifespan will be short. After nine years, he will have to change the foundation of his house into farmland, and his family business will be broken. Whether he is rich or poor, he will decline because of alcohol.

邵解元聞先生言，欲啟父墳，因兄弟眾多不肯行，妻不生子，常有血氣，至辛亥年病眼武壬皆亥，夾克午，故主亥年而應，男女皆因酒而敗，乙卯年眾拆屋一半作田，一半作園。邵氏居於店屋水死於卯，又卯上得戌作鬼，故卯年應，戊午身喪，己未啟父墳，果骨為蟻食矣。

Shao Jieyuan heard what his father Shao Xianzhang said and originally wanted to open the father's grave and make changes, but because there were many brothers who did not agree, he gave up. His wife could not have a son and often suffered from blood-related illnesses; in the Xinhai year she suffered from eye disease. The Black Tortoise and the壬 water both belong to亥, and they sandwich the午 fire (午 governs the eyes), so it should be in the亥 year. Both men and women in the family declined due to drinking. In the Yimao year, everyone tore down the house, half of it was changed into farmland and the other half into a garden; the Shao family moved to a shop house. The壬 water dies in卯, and卯 is also combined with戌 to become a ghost, so it should be in the卯 year. In the Wuwu year he himself died; in the Jiwei year they opened the father's grave, and the bones in the coffin were indeed eaten by white ants.

先生析曰；蓋壬以申為父，父在墓守白虎，主白蟻。日上午為目為妻，火絕於亥，故不利。丑加午六害，丑為田園，午為層，水克午而屋壞，土克水而以屋成田園，宅上見酉，壬敗於酉，故為所敗，又是破碎，主男婦皆因酒敗也。

Master Zhao explained that the壬 water is considered to have the申 metal as its parent爻, and the parent爻 is sitting in the墓 position, guarded by the White Tiger. The White Tiger represents ants. The午 on the day stem represents both eyes and wife, but fire is extinguished in the亥, so both are unfavorable. The丑 is added on top of the午, forming the six harm: 丑 represents farmland, and午 represents houses; water coming to overcome午 causes damage to the house, while earth overcoming water turns the house into farmland. The position of the house shows酉, and壬 water is weakened by酉, so it is damaged by it;酉 is also the god of breaking, so it indicates that both men and women in the family are ruined by alcohol.

67）鄧省干癸未年十月初七申時生二十六歲，戊申年九月二十一壬寅日辰將未時（辰巳空亡，丑寅落空），元首，元胎，不備，寡宿。占前程。 朱蛇 六寅卯辰巳貴 陳丑 午后 玄 空 貴 玄 財 空巳 貴 初（空亡） 龍子 未陰 申 亥 巳 申 子 壬寅 六 中（落空） 空亥戌酉申玄 亥 寅 申 壬 兄 己亥 空 末（暗鬼） 虎常

Example 67: Deng Xinggan was born on the seventh day of the tenth lunar month in the year Guiwei, at the hour of Shen. He is twenty-six years old and seeks divination about his future. The time of divination is on the twenty-first day of the ninth lunar month in the year Wushen, on the day Jihai. The month is Chen, and the hour Chen is added to the hour Wei to cast the divination. The day Jihai belongs to the Jiachen cycle, with the empty positions falling on Chen and Si. The branches of the Heaven Plate, Chou and Yin, fall in the empty positions. The names of the lesson are four: "Original Head", "Original Embryo", "Incomplete", and "Solitary Guest". The Heaven Plate is set with the hour Chen added to the hour Wei. The Nobleman is on Si, with Teng Snake on Chen, Vermilion Bird on Mao, Liu He on Yin, Gou Chen on Chou, Qinglong on Zi, Tian Kong on Hai, Baihu on Xu, Tai Chang on You, Xuanwu on Shen, Tai Yin on Wei, and Tianhou on Wu. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Ren, which is in the Hai palace, with Shen on top, riding Xuanwu; the second lesson is Shen with Si on top, riding the Nobleman; the third lesson is the day branch Yin with Hai on top, riding Tian Kong; the fourth lesson is Hai with Shen on top, riding Xuanwu. The three transmissions are Si, Yin, and Hai: the first transmission Si falls in the empty position, representing the wife and wealth, riding the Nobleman; the middle transmission Renyin is the son and grandson, riding Liu He and falling in the empty position; the final transmission Jihai is the brother and sibling, riding Tian Kong, and secretly accompanied by a ghost.

邵先生曰：此課與前課大不同，干支皆受上生，日上得申長生，卻即去生寅，初巳貴人作財，日上長生學堂，盡可取功名。但嫌貴空，又為玄所滯，只運司解發而不能及第。初任管銅鐵，次任管坑冶，三任水船官而止。鄧果初任鑄錢有功，再任坑冶司檢踏官，次得明州船塢，歸家而死。

Master Zhao said: This lesson is very different from the previous one. Both the day stem and day branch are being nourished by the superior deity. The day stem receives the deity of growth, which is Shen, and Shen in turn nourishes Yin. The first transmission, Si, is riding on the nobleman and serves as the wealth hexagram. The day stem also occupies the position of growth and the academy, so it is entirely possible to attain official rank. Unfortunately, the nobleman is in an empty position and is obstructed by the Black Tortoise, so he can only be sent for examination by the transfer office, but he does not pass the imperial examination. In his first position, he was in charge of copper and iron, in his second position, he was in charge of mining and metallurgy, and in his third position, he was in charge of waterborne transportation, which was the end of his career. Later, Deng Xinggan indeed first served in casting coins and was rewarded, then served as an inspector in the mining and metallurgy office, and then obtained a position in the shipyard in Mingzhou, and then died at home.

先生析曰；蓋申來生壬為長生學堂，故壬子年發解，初巳作貴為德神加學堂上，寅又加巳生貴生德，故終得前程。銅鐵者，申金也；坑冶司者，巳加申也，水船場者，江湖臨於寅上也。寅木未成船，而卯已成船，故主舡場修造也。

Master Zhao explained that the monkey (申) generates the water of the Ren (壬), which is the position of growth and the academy, so the year Renzi (壬子) is able to pass the examination. The first transmission (初传) is the snake (巳) riding on the nobleman (贵人) and acting as a virtuous deity (德神), placed on the academy; the寅 is added on top of the巳, which both generates the nobleman and the virtuous deity, so ultimately one can have a promising future. The mention of copper and iron is because 申 belongs to metal; the mention of the mining and smelting office is because the fire of the furnace (巳) is placed on the metal (申); the mention of water and shipyards is because the water vapor from rivers and lakes is present on the寅— the寅 wood has not yet become a boat, but by the卯 it becomes a boat, so it indicates managing construction in the shipyard.

68）江司戶辛未年十二月廿一日午時生，三十八歲，戊申年十月戊午日卯將寅時，（子丑空亡，寅丑落空）,別責，不備，六儀，占官職。 空虎 龍午未申酉常 陳巳 戌玄 虎 空 空 龍 官 甲寅 蛇 初（落空）（暗鬼） 六辰 亥陰 申 未 未 午 父 戊午 龍 中 朱卯寅丑子后 未 午 午 戊 父 戊午 龍 末 蛇貴

Example 68: Jiang Sihu was born on the 21st day of the 12th lunar month in the year Xinwei, at noon. He is 38 years old and is consulting the divination for his official position. The time of consultation is on the 5th day of the 10th lunar month in the year Wushen. The month is卯 (Mao), and the lesson is started by adding the general of the month to the寅 (Yin) hour. The day Wuwu belongs to the Jiayin decade, with the empty positions falling on Zi and Chou. The branches of the heaven plate, Yin and Chou, are in the empty positions. The lesson has three names: "Bie Ze" (four lessons are incomplete, so another stem or triple harmony is used to start the transmission), "Bu Bei" (incomplete), and "Liuyi" (six instruments). The heaven plate is set with the general of Mao added to the Yin hour. 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, which is in the Si palace, with Wu on top, riding the Azure Dragon; the second lesson is Wu with Wei on top, riding Tian Kong; the third lesson is the day branch Wu with Wei on top, riding Tian Kong; the fourth lesson is Wei with Shen on top, riding Bai Hu. The three transmissions are Yin, Wu, and Wu: the first transmission is Jia Yin, which is the official ghost, riding Teng Snake, falling into the empty position, and is also an invisible ghost; the middle transmission is Wu Wu, which is the parent, riding the Azure Dragon; the final transmission is still Wu Wu, the parent, riding the Azure Dragon.

邵先生曰：司戶今無正位，必主上司責罰，而別有遷改，卯寅乃今日鬼，鬼生午火，午乃日陽刃殺，且是天鬼，在於中末傳，支上未與午合，亦憂宅眷人口有死者。後果病死三人，又為米倉事發，遂罷去也。

Shao said: The official in charge of the household now has no official position, and will certainly be punished by his superior, and will be transferred to another post. The卯 and寅 are the ghost signs of today; the ghost is going to generate the fire of午. The午 is both the yang刃煞 of the day stem and the heavenly ghost, and it is located in the middle transmission and the final transmission. The未 on the day branch combines with午, so there is also worry about the death of someone in the family. Later, indeed three people died of illness; also because the grain store incident was exposed, he was dismissed.

先生析曰；蓋寅乃日鬼，生三個午，十月建亥，合寅來生宅，犯丁神以未中有丁，非旬丁也，丁主動，天空主空屋，宅亦主空，是月困患時氣遂死三人。十月間米因提學檢踏常平倉敗事露，遂致敗斥。

Master Zhao explained that Yin is the ghost trigram of the day stem, and it goes on to generate three layers of Wu fire. The month builder in the tenth month is Hai, which combines with Yin to generate the dwelling position. It also involves the deity Ding - here, Ding is hidden in Wei, not the Ding deity of the ten-day cycle. Ding causes movement, while Tian Kong signifies an empty house, and the dwelling position also indicates emptiness. Therefore, that month the family contracted an epidemic disease and three people died consecutively. In the tenth month, there was also an inspection of the grain stores by the official in charge of education, and the matter was exposed, leading to his dismissal.

69）馮機宜丁亥生二十三歲占前程，己酉年十一月丙子日卯將戌時，（申酉空亡，丑寅落空），重審，鑄印，不備。愛圅曰：當是寅將酉時，不然即非十一月也。 朱六 蛇戌亥子丑陳 貴酉 寅龍 蛇 常 空 蛇 兄 辛巳 常 初 后申 卯空 戌 巳 卯 戌 子 甲戌 蛇 中 陰未午巳辰虎 巳 子 戌 丙 父 己卯 空 末 玄常

Example 69: Feng Ji was born in the year Ding Hai and is twenty-three years old. He consulted about his future career. The time was the year Ji You, the eleventh lunar month, on the day Bing Zi. The divination was started with the month general of卯 (Mao) added to the hour of Xu (Xu). (Editor Cheng Aitu says: Here it should be the general of寅 (Yin) added to the hour of You (You), otherwise it would not be the general of the eleventh lunar month.) The day Bing Zi belongs to the Xu (Xu) stem, with the empty position falling on Shen (Shen) and You (You). The heaven plate has the branches Chou (Chou) and Yin (Yin) in the empty position. The name of the lesson has three: "Chong Shen" (Re-examination), "Zhu Yin" (Seal and Print), and "Bu Bei" (Incomplete). The heaven plate layout: the nobleman is on You (You), with Teng Snake on Xu (Xu), Vermilion Bird on Hai (Hai), Liu He on Zi (Zi), Gou Chen on Chou (Chou), Azure Dragon on Yin (Yin), Tian Kong on Mao (Mao), Bai Hu on Chen (Chen), Tai Chang on Si (Si), Tai Yin on Wu (Wu), Tian Hou on Wei (Wei). The four lessons from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Bing, which is in the Si (Si) position, with Xu (Xu) above it, riding Teng Snake; the second lesson is Xu (Xu) with Mao (Mao) above it, riding Tian Kong; the third lesson is the day branch Zi (Zi) with Si (Si) above it, riding Tai Chang; the fourth lesson is Si (Si) with Xu (Xu) above it, riding Teng Snake. The three transmissions are Si (Si), Xu (Xu), and Mao (Mao): the first transmission is Xinsi (Xin Si), which is the brother's yao, riding Tai Chang; the middle transmission is Jia Xu (Jia Xu), which is the son's yao, riding Teng Snake; the final transmission is Ji Mao (Ji Mao), which is the parent's yao, riding Tian Kong.

邵先生曰：主此人必見迴避，前程未通，卯來克戌，戌去墓丙，丙與巳遂走入宅，為宅所克，定是阻服，服滿得差。又合迴避所惱，尚有九年端坐，方得出頭，數已盡矣。此亂首自下犯上，照管堂上孺人，既有大災難治，皆自己命滯，所以如此。

Master Zhao said: This person is certainly going to encounter an avoidance situation (due to relatives holding the same official position, thus following the regulation to avoid the post), and his prospects will be temporarily blocked. The wood of卯 is coming to overcome the earth of戌, and the earth of戌 is removing the burial place of the fire of丙. The fire of丙 and the fire of巳 then retreat into the house position, only to be overcome by the house itself; this must be due to being hindered by mourning clothes. Only after the mourning period is completed will he be assigned a post. Later, he will again be trapped by the avoidance regulation, and must remain idle for nine years before he can rise, but by then his lifespan will have ended. This divination is called 'Disorder at the Beginning', which indicates rebellion and disorder, so one must be cautious about the elderly lady in the family. Since there is a great disaster, it will be difficult to treat. All of this is due to his own blocked destiny, hence the outcome.

先生析曰；蓋丙火敗於卯，墓於戌，敗神逼克戌墓，戌墓遂來墓日，日遂奔入宅被克，去住不容。宅上巳四，日上戌五，共九年，故主九年。九年後卯主事敗，而加丙墓上，即是敗木，乃棺槨入墓，自然死也。然卯為今日之母，母先入墓，次及我身矣。

Master Zhao explained that Bing fire is weakened at Mao and stored in Xu. The defeated god presses upon Xu, the storage place, causing Xu to turn back and store the day stem. The day stem has no choice but to move into the residence position, yet it is attacked by the residence. The number of Si in the residence position is four, and the number of Xu on the day stem is five, adding up to nine, so the prediction is nine years. After nine years, Mao signifies the failure of things, and it is placed on top of the storage place of Bing fire, which is like rotten wood. Rotten wood entering the storage place is like a coffin being buried, so death is inevitable. However, Mao is also the mother line of today, so the mother enters the storage first, and then it is the person's turn.

馮乃待制之子，授江州安撫，十二月母死阻服，癸丑年再授洪州，因妹丈除江西運使，遂迴避，得台州崇道觀，二十個月得病，戊午年死。

Later events: Feng Jiyi was the son of a certain official and was appointed to the position of governor of Jiangzhou. In December, his mother died, and he was prevented from taking up his post due to mourning regulations. In the year Guichou, he was again appointed to the position in Hongzhou, but because his brother-in-law was appointed as the governor of Jiangxi Transport Affairs, he was required to avoid the post by regulation and was instead given the honorary post of temple official at the Chongdao Temple in Taizhou. He held this position for twenty months and then fell ill, dying in the year Wuwu.

70）劉運干丁卯生四十二歲占前程，戊申年十月乙卯日卯將未時。（子丑空亡，申酉落空），元首，曲直，佚女。 朱六 蛇丑寅卯辰陳 貴子 巳龍 虎 后 常 貴 財 己未 虎 初 后亥 午空 未 亥 申 子 兄 乙卯 六 中（祿神） 陰戌酉申未虎 亥 卯 子 乙 父 癸亥 后 末 玄常

Seventieth Example: Liu Yun Gan was born in the year of Ding Mao, and is forty-two years old, seeking divination about his future. The time is in the year of Wu Shen, tenth month, day of Yi Mao. The lesson is cast with the month general of Mao added to the hour of Wei. The day of Yi Mao belongs to the Jiayin decade, with the empty position falling on Zi and Chou. The branches of Shen and You on the heaven plate are located in the empty position. The lesson has three names: "First Leader," "Bend and Straight," and "Lost Woman" (the three transmissions, Hai, Mao, and Wei, form a wood trinity, symbolizing the bending and straightness of wood). The heaven plate is arranged with the general of Mao added to the hour of Wei. The nobleman rides Zi, beneath it the Teng Snake rides Chou, the Vermilion Bird rides Yin, the Liu He rides Mao, the Gou Chen rides Chen, the Tai Chang rides Si, the Tian Kong rides Wu, the Bai Hu rides Wei, the Tai Chang rides Shen, the Xuan Wu rides You, the Tai Yin rides Xu, and the Tian Hou rides Hai. The four lessons are arranged from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Yi, located in the Chou palace, with Zi above it, riding the nobleman; the second lesson is Zi, with Shen above it, riding the Tai Chang; the third lesson is the day branch Mao, with Hai above it, riding the Tian Hou; the fourth lesson is Hai, with Wei above it, riding the Bai Hu. The three transmissions are Wei, Mao, and Hai: the first transmission is Ji Wei, representing the wife's wealth, riding the Bai Hu; the middle transmission is Yi Mao, representing the brother's wealth, riding the Liu He, and also the禄神 (lucky god); the final transmission is Gui Hai, representing the parents' wealth, riding the Tian Hou.

邵先生曰：此課身坐貴人，又來生日，三傳又是木局，乙木生亥、旺卯、庫未，自墓傳旺，自旺傳出亥，必由窮途漸至榮顯至侍從。先喪妻害眷屬，而先納兄弟一子，後一小妻大有財物，壽近九十矣。錢此時為朝議郎，辛亥喪妻，乙卯喪子，繼兄子為子，庚申又娶妻，其時年五十四，妻三十九，有數萬貫錢來嫁，後直至吏部侍郎，八十七而終。

Shao Master said: In this case, the person's position is sitting with a nobleman, and the nobleman also comes to be the day stem. The three transmissions further form a wood pattern: ethan wood is born in亥, reaches its prosperity in卯, and is stored in未. Now, from the storage it goes to prosperity, and then from prosperity it goes to the birth in亥, so it is certainly moving from a state of difficulty to one of honor and prominence, eventually reaching the rank of a servant in the court. However, first there will be the loss of a wife, and there will be damage to the family. A son from a brother will be adopted. Later, a wife with wealth will be married. The lifespan is nearly ninety. Later, the fulfillment was as follows (the original text records the surname as 'Qian', which does not match the previous 'Liu Yun Gan', but it is recorded as is): At that time he was a court advisor; in the Xinhai year he lost his wife, in the Yimao year he lost his son, and adopted a son from his elder brother. In the Gengshen year he married again, at the age of fifty-four, his wife was thirty-nine years old and came with several ten-thousand taels of money. Later he rose to the position of deputy minister of the personnel department and died at the age of eighty-seven.

先生析曰；蓋乙卯皆本亥子並生，曲直又助，自墓傳生，一則有壽，二則自微至顯。末亥為天門，木局為持臺，故主侍郎也。此課本主父子同類作六合，是納兄弟之子，妻財空墓乘虎，主先喪偶，卯祿加未，末傳天后長生，歸於祿地，後妻乃未卯祿加之，是後妻財物旺也。又曰：天后是妻，歸卯地也。

Master Zhao explained that Yi and Mao are both generated by the water of Hai and Zi; the curved and straight wood formation also assists. The three transmissions proceed from the storage to the growth, which indicates longevity and rising from obscurity to prominence. The final transmission, Hai, is the heavenly gate, and the wood formation symbolizes the holding of the imperial regulations and provincial offices, so it indicates attaining the position of Deputy Minister. This divination originally had father and son of the same type riding on Liu He, so it signifies a son adopted from a brother. The wife's wealth is in an empty storage and rides on the White Tiger, so the spouse will die first. The禄神 (favorable god) of Mao is placed on Wei, and the final transmission's Heavenly Empress is also the growth, returning to the禄神's location; thus, the wife taken later is exactly the image of Wei and Mao's禄神 overlapping, so her wealth is abundant. Another interpretation says that Heavenly Empress is the wife, and now it returns to the location of Mao.

愛圅析曰：未財為前妻，乘白虎，陰神卯木克之，故喪也。天后為後妻，為長生而臨日祿，故後妻財物旺也。

The compiler Cheng Aitu explains that the wealth hexagram 未 represents the former wife, which is乘 by the White Tiger. The Yin spirit卯 wood comes to overcome it, so the former wife has passed away. The Heavenly Empress represents the wife taken later, which sits on the Growth position and is located on the day stem's禄 position, so the later wife has abundant wealth.

71）鄭子云乙亥生三十四歲，占前程。戊申年十月乙卯日卯將辰時。（子丑空亡，亥子落空），重審，退茹，三奇。 龍空 陳辰巳午未虎 六卯 申常 蛇 朱 朱 六 財 空丑 蛇 初（空亡） 朱寅 酉玄 丑 寅 寅 卯 父 空子 貴 中（空亡） 蛇丑子亥戌陰 寅 卯 卯 乙 父 癸亥 后 末（落空） 貴後

Seventy-first example: Zheng Zi Yun was born in the year of Yihai and is thirty-four years old. He consulted about his future prospects. The time was in the year of Wushen, tenth month, day of Yimao. The class was cast with the month general of卯 (Mao) added to the time of辰 (Chen). The day of Yimao belongs to the Jiayin decade, with the empty palace falling on Zi and Chou. The Heaven Plate's Zi and Hai branches fall in the empty palace. The lesson has three names: "Rechecking", "Retreating", and "Three Marvels". The Heaven Plate was set with the general of Mao added to the time of Chen. The nobleman rode on Zi, below it the Teng Snake rode on Chou, the Vermilion Bird rode on Yin, the Liu He rode on Mao, the Gou Chen rode on Chen, the Azure Dragon rode on Si, the Tian Kong rode on Wu, the White Tiger rode on Wei, the Tai Chang rode on Shen, the Tai Yin rode on You, and the Heavenly Empress rode on Hai. The four lessons, from right to left: the first lesson, the day stem Yi is placed in the Chen palace, with Mao above it, riding Liu He; the second lesson, Mao has Yin above it, riding the Vermilion Bird; the third lesson, the day branch Mao has Yin above it, riding the Vermilion Bird; the fourth lesson, Yin has Chou above it, riding the Teng Snake. The three transmissions are Chou, Zi, and Guihai: the first transmission Chou falls in the empty palace, representing the wife and wealth, riding the Teng Snake; the middle transmission Zi also falls in the empty palace, representing the parents, riding the nobleman; the final transmission Guihai represents the parents, riding the Heavenly Empress, also falling in the empty palace.

邵先生曰：此課主來年再舉，亥年及第高甲，迤邐在朝，更不外任，直至八座位了，卻貶降終不得地，無正宅而居。鄭子云二十九歲發解，三十五又發解，三十七登第，初任臨安教授，歷太學秘書郎司業、工刑二部，皆京官，因與秦檜一言不合而罷。

Master Zhao said: This lesson indicates that the person will again take the imperial examination next year, and will pass the examination in the year of Hai, ranking high among the top candidates. After that, he will serve in the court continuously, without being assigned to any remote posts, eventually reaching a high position in the Ministry of Works. However, he will eventually be demoted and fall from grace, unable to find a stable place to settle down, and will not have a proper residence. Zheng Ziyun passed the local examination at the age of twenty-nine, again passed it at thirty-five, and was admitted to the imperial examination at thirty-seven. He first served as a professor in Lin'an, then held various posts such as the secretary of the Imperial Academy, the deputy director of the National University, and officials in the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Justice, all of which were central government positions. Later, he was dismissed due to a disagreement with Qin Hui over a single statement.

先生析曰；蓋乙祿在卯，迤邐歸亥長生之地，自亥至卯，一帶生旺，地支相連，祿神作太陽，朱雀作儀神，中末若不空，則五府之課，今既迤邐入近天門，故在朝八座也。子為紫微宮，亥為遠穹宮，亦主八座，退入空亡，主晚年謫降矣。

Master Zhao explained that the official position of the Yi wood is in the卯 branch, and the three transmissions gradually retreat back to the亥 branch, which is the place of growth. From the亥 to the卯 branch, the entire path is full of vital and prosperous energy, and the earthly branches are connected to each other. The official position serves as the sun, and the Vermilion Bird serves as the ceremonial deity. If the middle and final transmissions do not fall into Kongwang, then it is a great lesson among the five officials. Now, although the three transmissions have fallen into Kongwang, they still retreat along the path close to the heavenly gate (亥), so they can hold an official position in the court among the eight seats. The子 branch is the Purple Micro Palace, and the亥 branch is the Far Sky Palace, both of which indicate positions among the eight seats. However, since the final retreat leads into Kongwang, it indicates that the person will be demoted in old age.

72）何上舍乙巳年八月二十日午時生，四十歲，占前程，戊申年十月辛酉日卯將未時。（子丑空亡，申酉落空），知一，從革。 陳六 龍丑寅卯辰朱 空子 巳蛇 龍 蛇 陳 龍 官 丁巳 蛇 初（丁神）（暗鬼） 虎亥 午貴 丑 巳 寅 午 父 空丑 龍 中（空亡） 常戌酉申未后 己 酉 午 辛 兄 辛酉 玄 末（落空） 玄陰

Seventy-second example: A man named He Shang was born on the day of Yisi in the eighth lunar month of the year Yi巳, and is now forty years old. He consulted about his future career. The time of consultation was on the day of Xinyou in the tenth lunar month of the year Wushen. The month was卯, and the lesson was cast with the hour of Wei. The day Xinyou belongs to the Jiayin decade, with the empty positions falling on Zi and Chou. The branches of Shen and You on the Heaven Plate are located in the empty positions. The names of the lesson are two: "Zhi Yi" and "Cong Ge" (the three transmissions, Si, You, and Chou, form a metal trinity). The Heaven Plate was set with the hour of Wei, with the nobleman riding Wu, the Teng Snake riding Si, the Vermilion Bird riding Chen, the Liu He riding Mao, the Gou Chen riding Yin, the Azure Dragon riding Chou, the Tian Kong riding Zi, the White Tiger riding Hai, the Tai Chang riding Xu, the Tai Yin riding You, the Heavenly Empress riding Wei. The four lessons, from right to left: the first lesson, the day stem Xin is located in the Xu palace, with Wu above it, riding the nobleman (the original text mistakenly labels the heavenly general as Azure Dragon here); the second lesson, Wu has Yin above it, riding Gou Chen; the third lesson, the day branch You has Si above it, riding Teng Snake; the fourth lesson, Si has Chou above it, riding Azure Dragon (the original text mistakenly writes "Ji" instead of "Si" for the god "Si", and it is recorded as is). The three transmissions are Si, Chou, and You: the first transmission, Ding Si, is the official ghost爻, riding Teng Snake, which is both "Ding God" and a hidden ghost; the middle transmission, Chou, falls in the empty position, as the parent爻, riding Azure Dragon; the final transmission, Xin You, is the brother爻, riding the Black Tortoise, and also falls in the empty position.

邵先生曰：官星臨日，初傳應之，謂之催官符，官星又作貴人，辛藏於戌，主庚戌年及第，及第後便丁父母服，服滿赴任，見祿而終酉加空亡故也。止於五十四矣。兄弟相害，因分爭而大生不足，又不得子息力，其旬丁作蛇，不云怪者，辛以巳為德神。子不得力者，空亡也。辛見午為官，巳又助之，名催官符。

Shao Master said: When the official star is on the day stem and the first transmission corresponds with it, this is called "cui guanfu"; the official star also serves as the nobleman. Xin metal is hidden in Xu, so it indicates success in the imperial examination in the year of Gengxu. After success, one must mourn for parents, then take office after the mourning period, and the salary will come to an end—this is because You is added to Kongwang, limiting the lifespan to fifty-four years. Among brothers, they harm each other, leading to disputes over property and causing great discord; there is no support from children. The third transmission's ten-day Ding rides on Teng Snake, which usually indicates strange occurrences, but here it is not mentioned as strange because Xin metal takes Si as its virtue. The statement about children not providing support is because it falls into Kongwang. Xin metal sees Wu as its official star, and Si supports it, so it is called "cui guanfu."

果庚戌及第，壬子丁母憂，乙卯丁父憂，庚申赴利州推官，五十三歲卒。先是戊午年兄弟爭分四次，入官估札以死，子三人皆再娶生，巳為生方作旬丁，又作蛇，是丙丁也。

Later events proved true: in the Gengxu year he indeed passed the examination; in the Renzi year his mother died and he observed mourning; in the Yimao year his father died and he observed mourning; in the Gengshen year he took office as the official of Lizu, and died at the age of fifty-three. Before that, in the Wuwu year, his brothers quarreled over dividing the family property four times, and they had to go to the authorities to appraise the property and make a contract before it ended, and this continued until his death. His three sons were all born from concubines. The position of Si is the direction of the house, and it is accompanied by the day of Ding, and it is also influenced by Teng Snake, which is exactly the image of the fire of Bing and Ding.

金日金局是兄弟爭也。三傳無子爻，故子不得力，五十三者，乃午九酉六，六九五十四也。

There is another commentary stating that on a day of metal, another metal assembly occurs, resulting in too many of the same type, which is an image of brothers competing with each other. Since there is no grandson爻 in the three transmissions, the son is unable to exert influence. As for the age of fifty-three or forty-four, it is because the number of午 is nine and the number of酉 is six, and six multiplied by nine gives fifty-four.

73）童七秀才壬申生三十七歲，占前程，戊申年六月丁巳日未將未時。（子丑空亡，子丑落空），伏吟，元胎，勵德。 虎常 空巳午未申玄 龍辰 酉陰 空 空 常 常 兄 丁巳 空 初（丁神） 陳卯 戌后 巳 巳 未 未 財 庚申 玄 中 六寅丑子亥貴 巳 巳 未 丁 父 甲寅 六 末 朱蛇

Seventy-third example: Tong Qi Xiucai was born in the Renshen year and is thirty-seven years old. He consulted about his future prospects. The time was in the Wushen year, sixth lunar month, Dingsi day. The time was in the Wei hour, and the month general was also Wei, forming a 'Hidden Chant'. The Dingsi day belongs to the Jiayin decade, with the empty palace falling on Zi and Chou. The Zi and Chou branches on the Heaven Plate also fall exactly on the empty palace. There is also a lesson name 'Yuan Tai' and 'Li De'. The Heaven Plate layout: the Nobleman rides on Hai, under which Teng Snake rides on Zi, Zhu Que rides on Chou, Liu He rides on Yin, Gou Chen rides on Mao, Qing Long rides on Chen, Tian Kong rides on Si, Bai Hu rides on Wu, Tai Chang rides on Wei, Xuan Wu rides on Shen, Tai Yin rides on You, and Tian Hou rides on Xu. The four lessons, due to the Hidden Chant, are paired and identical: the fire of Ding is lodged in Wei, the first lesson Wei added with Ding, and the second lesson Wei added with Wei, both riding Tai Chang; the third lesson day branch Si added with Si, and the fourth lesson Si added with Si, both riding Tian Kong. The three transmissions are Si, Shen, and Yin: the first transmission Dingsi is a brother's yao riding Tian Kong, and is also the 'Ding God'; the middle transmission Gengshen is a wife's wealth yao riding Xuan Wu; the final transmission Jiayin is a father's yao riding Liu He.

邵先生曰：此課主來年發解，行年到寅，寅卯同收，只是不及第，又妻為猿猴所迷，四年後移居妻家，因妻家子死，併為一家住。又合主科第，授推官將滿，喪妻，再授財賦，再至任七月而終於奴婢之手，不見子息，一邊動哀，一邊子息喜事至。

Master Zhao said: This lesson indicates that the person will have a breakthrough next year - when the year pillar reaches the寅 (Tiger), both寅 and卯 (Rabbit) will absorb energy, but he will still not pass the imperial examination. It also indicates that his wife will be deceived by a monkey. Four years later, he will have to move to live with his wife's family, because the son of his wife's family has died, and thus the two families will become one and live together. Later, he will still pass the imperial examination and be appointed as a county official. When his term is about to end, he will lose his wife. Then he will be appointed to an official position in charge of finances and revenues, but will die within seven months of taking office, killed by a servant. At the time of his death, he will not see his son by his side. At the same time, he will be mourning, while his son's good news will arrive.

童果次年得解，至今赴省，其家近山，妻為猿猴所迷，終日歌咲不已，鄰人記得先生言治之而愈，四年遂移妻家居七年，妻父母止一子，亡，遂與童共居。戊辰科及第，授南安州司李，任滿妻葉氏亡，再授臨安樓務官，到任七月，二子歸秋試，童死。只有五六奴婢措置後事，及子息來扶喪，次子得第七名解矣。

Later events proved true: Tong Qi Youcai indeed passed the examination the next year, and then went to the provincial capital to take the exam. His home was near a mountain, and his wife was bewitched by a monkey, singing and laughing foolishly all day. The neighbors remembered what Master Shao had said and followed the treatment, which eventually cured her. Four years later, he moved in with his wife's family, where her parents had only one son who had died, so they lived together with the Tong family. In the Wuchen examination, he was appointed as the magistrate of Nan'an County; when his term ended, his wife Ye Shi died. He was then appointed as the official in charge of the Lin'an granary. Seven months after taking office, his two sons returned home to take the autumn examination, and Tong Qi Youcai died, with only five or six servants handling his funeral affairs. When his sons arrived to mourn, they learned that the second son had ranked seventh in the preliminary examination.

先生析曰；蓋丁以末傳寅為學堂，末寅行年卯扶，故次年發解舉。又曰上常為職，初傳臨官天空，主聲譽也，充解。中傳妻宮，元武乘之，並光怪殺，申為猿，武為賊，主猿迷；歸妻家者，日止一丁，巳有兩丁，支上初傳也，皆生於寅。宅為妻，故主入妻家，丁生於寅，故同居，充解及第，皆末傳寅也。死不見子干，傳中無子爻也。

Master Zhao explained that the Ding fire is in the final transmission's寅, which is the place of learning, and the final transmission's寅 is supported by the year's卯, so he passed the examination and was admitted the second year. He also said that the Tai Chang on the day stem indicates an official position, and the initial transmission's official position is occupied by Tian Kong, which indicates fame, so he was able to be admitted. The middle transmission is the wife's house, with the Black Tortoise occupying it, and there is a strange and ominous influence from the申, which is taken as a monkey, and the Black Tortoise is a thief, so it indicates being deceived by a monkey. Regarding entering the wife's family: the day stem has only one Ding, but the巳 position has two Dings (one from the day branch and one from the initial transmission), both of which are in the growth position in寅; the day branch is the wife, so it indicates marrying into the wife's family; the Ding is also in the growth position in寅, so both families live together. As for being admitted and passing the examination, both should be considered in the final transmission's寅. The reason he cannot see his son is that there is no son's element in the three transmissions.

74）陳主簿戊寅生三十二歲占官任吉凶，及問遷擢，己酉年十月庚辰日寅將辰時。（申酉空亡，午未落空），渉害，見機，間傳，顧祖。 六陳 朱卯辰巳午龍 蛇寅 未空 后 蛇 六 龍 官 壬午 龍 初（落空） 貴丑 申虎 子 寅 辰 午 父 庚辰 六 中 后子亥戌酉常 寅 辰 午 庚 財 戊寅 蛇 末 陰玄

Seventy-fourth example: Chen the Clerk was born in the year of Wuyin, is thirty-two years old, and consulted about the fortune of his position and whether he would be promoted. The time was in the year Jiyou, tenth lunar month, day Gengchen. The class was set with the month general Yin added to the time of Chen. The day Gengchen belongs to the Jiaxu decade, with the empty positions falling on Shen and You. The branches of the Heaven Plate, Wu and Wei, are in the empty positions. The name of the class has four: "Involvement of Harm," "Opportunity," (in the class of Involvement of Harm, the divine spirit is taken from the four young positions to initiate the class, indicating the opportunity) "Intermediate Transmission," and "Looking Back to Ancestry" (the three transmissions look back to their root). The Heaven Plate was arranged with the general Yin added to the time of Chen. 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, from right to left: the first lesson is the day stem Geng, located in the Shen palace, with Wu above it, riding on Azure Dragon; the second lesson is Wu, with Chen above it, riding on Liu He; the third lesson is the day branch Chen, with Yin above it, riding on Teng Snake; the fourth lesson is Yin, with Zi above it, riding on Tian Hou. The three transmissions are Wu, Chen, and Yin: the first transmission is Renwu, the official ghost, riding on Azure Dragon and falling into the empty position; the middle transmission is Gengchen, the parents, riding on Liu He; the final transmission is Wuyin, the wife's wealth, riding on Teng Snake.