Chapter 43: The Chapter on Husband and Wife

夫婦之占，亦須分別，或占妻壽，或占夫妻偕老否？或占夫妻和睦否？或占妻有刑傷破敗否？占妾占婢，一卦只占一人，不可概問。 財福生身可遂唱隨之願。應爻合世堪為睦和之兆。 黃金策專以應爻為妻，其故何也？因其身命章中，父子弟兄妻財官鬼，以一卦而兼斷之，設以財為妻者，又以何爻為財帛？不得不以應爻而為妻位。不顧驗與不驗，竟以應爻為妻，雖然以應爻為妻者，亦非全非理也，占妻財爻為重，應爻次之，財爻旺相，應爻空破，仍以吉斷，應爻旺相，財爻空破，即以凶推，應旺財旺，吉而又吉，應破財破，凶而更凶，故以應爻為附和也。

Divination concerning matters between husband and wife must be asked separately: is it about the wife's lifespan? Or whether the couple can live together until old age? Or whether their relationship is harmonious? Or whether the wife has injuries or misfortunes? When divining about a concubine or a servant, one should only divinate about one person at a time, not ask about them together. The text says, "If wealth and fortune support the body, one's wishes for following and accompanying can be fulfilled; if the responding line harmonizes with the main line, it is a sign of harmony." The Golden Strategies specifically uses the responding line as the wife. Why is that? Because its chapter on body and destiny includes parents, children, siblings, wealth, and officials in the same hexagram for interpretation. If the wealth line is used to represent the wife, then which line would represent wealth? Therefore, the responding line must be used as the wife's line. It does not matter whether this is accurate or not; it simply uses the responding line as the wife. Although it uses the responding line as the wife, it is not entirely without reason. When divining about the wife, the wealth line is most important, and the responding line is secondary. If the wealth line is strong and the responding line is empty or broken, it is still considered favorable. If the responding line is strong and the wealth line is empty or broken, it is considered unfavorable. If both the responding line and the wealth line are strong, it is favorable on top of favorable. If both are broken, it is unfavorable on top of unfavorable. Therefore, the responding line can only be considered as an auxiliary line.

財爻或旺、或相、或臨日月、或日月動爻生扶及動而化吉，又與世爻相生合者，如占偕老，定然舉案齊眉，若問和睦，必無反目，若問妻命之妍妯入夫門，夫家隨旺，占妾占婢，指而問者，亦同此斷。 財動化兄，失履遺管之嘆，弟兄持世，鼓盆箕踞之悲。 財動化兄者，乃化鬼、化回頭克、化退神、化絕、化墓、化破、化空之類是也，不拘何問，玉碎珠沉。弟兄持世或兄爻動於卦中，或日月臨兄弟以傷財，或兄化財爻，不拘問妻問妾，皆不得長年。

If the Wealth line is strong, prosperous, or in harmony with the day or month, or if it is supported by the day or month lines, or if it becomes active and transforms into a favorable element, and also relates to the World Line through generation or combination, then if one asks about a happy married life, the couple will certainly live in harmony; if one asks about harmony, they will certainly not end up in conflict; if one asks about the wife's fate, such a woman entering the husband's family will bring prosperity to the husband's household. When asking about a concubine or a servant, simply specify the question and apply the same method of interpretation. The text also says, "If the Wealth line becomes active and transforms into a Brother line, it brings sorrow of losing shoes and pipes; if the Brother line holds the World Line, it brings sorrow of the wife's death." The term "drumming the coffin" refers to the story from the "Zhuangzi" where the husband drums on the coffin after his wife's death, indicating the image of losing a wife. The phrase "Wealth line becomes active and transforms into a Brother line" includes all such transformations, such as transforming into an Official Ghost, transforming into a backwardrestrain, transforming into a retreating god, transforming into a dead end, transforming into a tomb, transforming into a broken state, or transforming into an empty state, regardless of the question asked, all indicate loss and destruction. If the Brother line holds the World Line, or if the Brother line becomes active in the hexagram, or if the day or month directly affects the Brother line to harm the Wealth line, or if the Brother line transforms into the Wealth line, regardless of whether the question is about a wife or a concubine, it indicates that the relationship will not last long.

財旺兄衰終須反目，克財財退必主生離。兄爻持世而財爻旺者，不能克妻，終乘琴瑟，相見如仇。兄爻持世財化退神者，亦同此意，非反目即生離。 酉月辛巳日，占夫婦將來和俁否？得泰卦。 子孫酉金″應　　子孫酉金″應 妻財亥水″　　妻財亥水″ 兄弟丑土″　　兄弟丑土″ 兄弟辰土′世　　兄弟辰土′世 官鬼寅木′　　官鬼寅木′ 妻財子水′　　妻財子水′

The text says, "When wealth is strong and siblings are weak, there will inevitably be a rift; when wealth is overcome, wealth retreats, and it will certainly lead to separation." If the sibling爻 is holding the world position and the wealth爻 is strong, the sibling爻 will not be able to overcome the wife爻, so although the couple live together all their lives, they will treat each other like enemies. If the sibling爻 holds the world position and the wealth爻 transforms into the "retreating god," it means the same thing; either there will be a rift or separation. For example, on the day of Xinsi (辛巳) in the month of You (酉月), someone asks about whether the couple can reconcile in the future, and they draw the Hexagram Tai (地天泰). The six lines, from top to bottom, are: children酉 gold (responding line), wealth亥 water, siblings丑 earth, siblings辰 earth (world line), official ghost寅 wood, and wealth子 water, all being quiet.

兄爻持世以克妻財，幸財爻亥水酉金生之，財旺難於克害。彼曰：目下不和，將來和好否？余曰：巳日沖動亥水，又臨驛馬，妻財臨馬而暗動，心去難留，生離之象。此人自此之彼，常為此事而占，十有除次，若非兄爻持世，定遇財化退神，後竟生離。黃金策：世為一生之本，應為百歲之妻，此卦世應相生，如鮑宣娶恆氏之斷者，失千里也。

The brother line holds the world line, which originally requires it to overcome the wife and wealth line. Fortunately, the wealth line, which is亥 water, is supported by酉 metal, so the wealth line is strong and not easily harmed. He asked: Are they currently not getting along, and can they get along in the future? I said: The巳 day line triggers the亥 water line, and the亥 water line is directly associated with the post horse. The wife and wealth line is associated with the post horse and undergoes covert movement, indicating that the heart has already left, and it cannot be retained, which is a sign of parting. This person kept coming back to consult about this matter, over ten times in total, either the brother line holds the world line or the wealth line transforms into the retreating god. Eventually, they did part. The Golden Strategies say, "The world line represents one's life, and the response line represents one's wife for a hundred years." In this hexagram, the world and response lines mutually generate. If it were interpreted as the ideal couple like Bao Xuan and Huang Shi, it would be completely different.

動妻旺相，續絃堪許白頭。卦中財爻多現，若分正庶者，自當以應爻臨財而作正妻之位也，倘被日月動爻沖剋及動而化凶，乃結髮之妻傷也。若得他爻之財旺相、或動而化吉及他爻變出之旺相，相生合世爻者，及再醮之事反遂白頭。如若財爻不臨於應，又以正卦之財為正妻，之卦之財為再娶。

The text says, "If the wife line is strong and prosperous, it is possible to marry and live happily until old age." In the hexagram, if there are many wealth lines, when distinguishing between the main wife and a concubine, the wealth line on the response line is considered the position of the main wife. If this line is clashed or controlled by the day or month lines, or if it moves and transforms into something harmful, then the main wife will suffer. If other wealth lines are strong and prosperous, or if they move and transform into something good, or if they are generated from other lines and are strong and prosperous, and also harmonize with the world line, then the second marriage can last until old age. If the wealth line does not fall on the response line, then the wealth line in the primary hexagram is considered the main wife, and the wealth line in the changing hexagram is considered the second wife.

妻財克身，非刑傷必然姤悍。妻財克世，世若休囚空破、或墓絕、或動而變凶、或隨鬼入墓，但逢一者天命夭亡。旺財克世，世爻得地者，雖無刑傷，必遭姤悍。 應財生世，非內助即獲外財。卦中但遇財爻生合世爻，亦不可只以和美斷之，問有應在得妻家之財力也，否則內助必善於持家。

The essay states, "Wealth爻 harms the self, not necessarily indicating punishment or injury, but rather a fierce and jealous nature." "Fierce and jealous" refers to jealousy and stubbornness. When the Wealth爻 harms the World Line, if the World Line is weak and confined, meets an empty position, a broken position, or enters a tomb or a dead position, or if it is activated and becomes harmful, or follows the Official Ghost into a tomb, as long as any of these conditions are present, there is a risk of premature death. If the Wealth爻 is strong and harms the World Line, but the World Line itself is in a favorable position, then although there is no punishment or injury, one is certain to marry a jealous and stubborn wife. The essay also says, "The Wealth爻 generates the World Line, which either means internal support or external wealth." Whenever the Wealth爻 generates or harmonizes with the World Line in a divination, it should not be simply interpreted as harmonious marital relations; sometimes it indicates gaining the financial support of the wife's family, otherwise it suggests that the wife is skilled at managing the household.

如巳月丁未日，占夫妻偕老否？得無妄變觀卦。 妻財戌土′　　兄弟卯木′ 官鬼申金′　　子孫巳火′ 子孫午火′世　　動　　妻財未土″世 妻財辰土″　　兄弟卯木″ 兄弟寅木″　　子孫巳火″ 父母子水′應　　動　　妻財未土″應 滿盤俱是財爻，世爻變出之未土，與世爻相合，此未土之財，乃正妻也，臨日建遇月生扶，不獨偕老，且許賢比周南，果此公美妾十餘，正夫人賢而無妒，夫妻同庚而生，妻活八旬有一，夫年八十二歲。此卦若以世應相沖相剋而斷之，遠如天壤。

For example, on a day of Si month and Dingwei day, a person consulted about whether his wife and he could live together until old age, and obtained the hexagram Wu Wang (Heaven and Thunder) changing into Guan (Wind and Earth). The primary hexagram's six lines, from top to bottom, are: wife's wealth in Xu earth, official ghost in Shen metal, children in Wu fire (the world line, which is active), wife's wealth in Chen earth, siblings in Yin wood, and parents in Zi water (the response line, which is active). The changing hexagram's lines, in order, are: siblings in Mao wood, children in Si fire, wife's wealth in Wei earth (the world line), siblings in Mao wood, children in Si fire, and wife's wealth in Wei earth (the response line). The entire hexagram is filled with wealth lines. Among them, the wealth line that comes from the world line combines with the world line, and this wealth in Wei earth is the true wife. It is right at the day's builder, and is supported by the month's builder. Not only can they live together until old age, but she is also virtuous, comparable to the queen mother praised in the Book of Songs, Zhou Nan. Later, this gentleman indeed had more than ten concubines, but his official wife was virtuous and not jealous. The couple were born in the same year. The wife lived to be eighty-one, and the husband lived to be eighty-two. If this hexagram were interpreted based on the conflict and mutual control between the world and response lines, it would be completely wrong.

凡問子嗣，須明告之，或已有子後還生否？或問現在之子，將來可保長年否？或從未生育，終有子否？ 易告未來，不告已往，即如占天時，神報將來之旱潦，不言昨日之陰晴雨，若含糊而問，假使從前有子，問後來還可生否？後若不生，神必現無子之卦，不報以前之有，乃現將來之無，斷卦之人，依卦而斷，爾肯服耶？又有現今有子，將來若難存者，神亦現無嗣之卦，爾雖以曰有，神告曰無，神肯阿諛耶？

When asking about having children, one must be clear: are you already have a son and asking whether you will have more? Or are you asking whether your current son will live a long life? Or are you asking whether you will ever have children at all? The Book of Changes only reveals the future, not the past. Just like predicting the weather, the gods report future droughts or floods, not the weather of yesterday. If you are vague and ask: you already have a son, but are you able to have more in the future, then if you do not have more, the gods will show a hexagram of no children. It does not report your past having children, but only shows your future lack. The person interpreting the hexagram will give a straightforward answer according to the hexagram. Would you accept it? Also, if you currently have a son but he is destined to die young, the gods will also show a hexagram of no children. You say you have a son, but the gods tell you there is none. Would the gods flatter you then?

即如寅月癸女日，占子嗣多少，得坤之艮。 子孫酉金″世　　動　　官鬼寅木′世 妻財亥水″　　妻財子水″ 兄弟丑土″　　兄弟戌土″ 官鬼卯木″應　　動　　子孫申金′應 父母巳火″　　父母午火″ 兄弟未土″　　兄弟辰土″ 斷曰：鬼變子孫，子孫變鬼，有一而遇者，皆無子也。此卦兩現，無子之兆。彼曰：少年難於子嗣，自五旬之外，連得四子，長子已六歲矣。余曰：依此卦象，恐俱難存。彼甚不悅，豈知婢妾甚多，三五年內生者生，而死者死，生過九子，並無一存，臨終過侄立嗣，承龍世音。

Just as in a divination on the number of children, using the month of寅 (Tiger) and day of癸 (Gui), the hexagram obtained was "Kun (Earth)" transforming into "Gen (Mountain)." The primary hexagram, from top to bottom, was:Children酉金 (Children in the Metal酉, the worldly position and active), Wealth亥水 (Wealth in the Water亥), Siblings丑土 (Siblings in the Earth丑), Official Ghost卯木 (Official Ghost in the Wood卯, the responding position and active), Parents巳火 (Parents in the Fire巳), Siblings未土 (Siblings in the Earth未). The transformed hexagram, in order, was:Official Ghost寅木 (Official Ghost in the Wood寅, the worldly position), Wealth子水 (Wealth in the Water子), Siblings戌土 (Siblings in the Earth戌), Children申金 (Children in the Metal申, the responding position), Parents午火 (Parents in the Fire午), Siblings辰土 (Siblings in the Earth辰). The interpretation stated: when the Official Ghost transforms into Children and the Children transform into the Official Ghost, if either one appears, it indicates no children. In this case, both appear, indicating a sign of no children. He said: I had difficulty in having children when I was young, but after fifty I had four sons, the eldest of whom was six years old. I said: according to this hexagram, I fear they may not survive. He was very unhappy. Little did he know he had many concubines. In the years that followed, some children were born and some died, and in total he had nine sons, none of whom survived. At the end, he had to adopt a nephew to continue the family line.

福德旺隆，育兒賢德。福德即子孫爻，若旺遇生扶，或臨日月，或帝旺長生於日，或動而化吉，必產賢兒。 子孫衰弱，生子愚痴。子孫多衰弱，必生痴愚之子，衰而被克，休囚無氣，或落絕空破，或動而化凶，或日月動爻沖剋，或父化子，子化父，鬼變子孫，或父空持世，皆生生而不有，子孫逢空不礙，必得子沖空實空之年。覺子曰：黃金策，子化兄，生兒不肖，殊不思化兄及回頭之生，如何不肖？註解又曰：化鬼亦不尚，化鬼者百無一活，先不肖而已耶？

The text says, "Fortune Virtue is prosperous, and a virtuous son is born." "Fortune Virtue" refers to the sons' line. If this line is prosperous and strong, and receives support and assistance, or if it is directly on the day or month, or if it is seated on "Prosperity" or "Growth" in the day branch, or if it moves and transforms into something auspicious, then a virtuous son will certainly be born. The text also says, "The sons' line is weak, and the son is foolish." If the sons' line is mostly weak, then a foolish son will be born; if it is weak and further controlled, or if it is in a state of weakness and confinement, or if it falls into "End," "Empty," or "Break," or if it moves and transforms into something ominous, or if it is controlled by the day, month, or moving line, or if parents transform into sons, sons transform into parents, or officials transform into sons, or if parents hold the world position but fall into emptiness, then it indicates a situation of being able to conceive but not able to bear a child. If the sons' line is empty, it does not cause any harm; one just needs to wait until the year when the emptiness is broken or filled to have a son. The "Awakening of the Son" says: The "Golden Strategies" state, "When the son transforms into the elder brother, the son is not virtuous." But it did not consider that transforming into brothers is actually a mutual generation, so how can the son not be virtuous? The commentary also says, "Transforming into a ghost is not good." Transforming into an official ghost results in no survival at all, not just the son being not virtuous.

申月辛卯日，占子嗣，得復卦。 子孫酉金″　　子孫酉金″ 妻財亥水″　　妻財亥水″ 兄弟丑土″應　　兄弟丑土″應 兄弟辰土″　　兄弟辰土″ 官鬼寅木″　　官鬼寅木″ 妻財子水′世　　妻財子水′世 斷曰：身帶吉而子扶，日建沖動上爻子孫而生世，有遠方之子來。彼喜而曰：我於三十七歲有子，已十八矣，因亂失散，至今無所出。余曰：恭喜，明現子從六爻動來生世，此子見歸。彼曰：何時得見？曰：明歲申辰與酉金相合，定然得意而歸。果於次年六月父子相逢。

Heavenly Stems: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui Earthly Branches: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai Trigrams: Qian (Heaven), Dui (Lake), Li (Fire), Zhen (Thunder), Xun (Wind), Kan (Water), Gen (Mountain), Kun (Earth) The person asked about having children in the month of Shen on the day of Xinmao, and obtained the hexagram Fu (Hexagram 24). All six lines were still. The six lines from top to bottom were: Children in You metal, Wealth in Hai water, Siblings in Chou earth (responding line), Siblings in Chen earth, Official Ghost in寅 wood, Wealth in Zi water (the subject). The interpretation said: The subject is accompanied by a good sign and has children supporting him. The metal line of children in You is disturbed by the day of Xinmao, which moves up to the top line and supports the subject, indicating that a son from afar will return. He was happy and said: I had a son at the age of thirty-seven, who is now eighteen years old. Due to war, they became separated, and I have not had any more children. I said: Congratulations. The hexagram clearly shows that the children from the sixth line move to support the subject, so this child will return. He asked when they would meet again. I said: In the year of Shen and Chen, when the day of You metal combines with them, he will certainly return happily. Indeed, in the following year in June, father and son were reunited.

財化子，可辨正出庶出。卦有財而無子孫者，須看變出之爻，變爻子孫。庶出也。即斷曰：正無所出，定得偏生。卦有子孫，亦有子孫變爻，又非此論，即變爻之為晚子。倘若正庶俱已生子，而問賢愚者，以正卦之子為正出，變爻之子為庶出。 子化子，須知本宮他宮。子孫化子孫得驗者二：少年無子得此者，應多生子。現有子得此者，乃應多子而多孫。老年無子得此者，扶他人之子而為子，須宜分別化出他宮者，立異姓之子；化出本宮，立族中子。

The text says, "When wealth transforms into children, it can distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate offspring." If the hexagram contains a wealth line but no children line, one should look at the changing line: if the changing line is a children line, then it is considered illegitimate. One can directly conclude: the legitimate wife has no children, and the child must be from a concubine. If the hexagram originally contains a children line and there is also a changing children line, then this rule does not apply, and the changing children line is considered to represent a son born later in life. If both the legitimate and illegitimate have children, then one should judge based on their virtue and intelligence, using the original children line to represent legitimate offspring and the changing children line to represent illegitimate offspring. The text also says, "When children transform into children, one must know whether it is from the same palace or another palace." When the children line transforms into another children line and the prediction comes true, there are two possibilities: a man who has no children in his youth receives this hexagram, indicating he will have many sons later in life; a man who already has children receives this hexagram, indicating both many sons and many grandsons. For an elderly man who has no children, this hexagram indicates adopting a son, and further distinction is needed: if the changing line belongs to another palace, it means adopting a son from another family; if the changing line belongs to the same palace, it means adopting a son from within the family.

如亥日庚子日，占子孫有無？得屯之節卦。 兄弟子水″　　兄弟子水″ 官鬼戌土′應　　官鬼戌土′ 父母申金″　　父母申金″應 官鬼辰土″　　官鬼丑土″ 子孫寅木″世　　動　　子孫卯木′ 兄弟子水′　　妻財巳火′世 此公年已六旬，並無所出，自知易理，得此卦甚喜，以為世爻子孫又化子孫，月建合之，日辰生之，有子必多，豈知子孫化子孫，原非已出，次年三月終於任立侄孫承嗣。

For example, on a day of亥 (Hai) with a Gengzi (Gengzi) day, someone asked about whether he would have children in the future and received the hexagram Zhun (Water over Thunder) changing to Jie (Water over Marsh). The primary hexagram's six lines from top to bottom are: brothers in water, official ghost in earth (responding line), parents in metal, official ghost in earth, children in wood (world line, active), brothers in water. The changing hexagram is: brothers in water, official ghost in earth, parents in metal (responding line), official ghost in earth, children in wood, wealth in fire (world line). The gentleman was already sixty years old and had no children. He himself understood the principles of the Yi Jing and was very happy to receive this hexagram, thinking that the world line was children and it was transforming into children, the month builder was in harmony with it, and the day branch was nurturing it, so he believed he would definitely have many children. But he did not realize that children transforming into children was not genuine offspring. In the following March, he died in office, and his nephew's son was appointed as his heir.

父占子，知其易養，子臨貴，難曰成名。父占子，止知易養，難斷高貴，子孫旺相，剋制官星，子若休囚，馬能食祿，所以易養，否則不難知也。子孫化相，或動而化吉、或臨日月、或日月動爻生扶、或長生帝旺，皆許成人，如休囚空破動而變凶，水泡風燈，至於子孫之富與貴者，旺相一遇生扶，自然富貴，若以科甲科名而斷者，及欺人之法也。

The text says, "If a father divines about his son, he can only know whether the son is easy to raise; if the son is in a noble position, it is difficult to predict his future fame." A father divining about his son can only know whether the son is easy to raise, but cannot determine whether he will become noble or not. If the son's line is prosperous and strong, it will restrain the official star; if the son's line is weak and confined, then the official star can receiveofficial stipend. Therefore, being prosperous and strong only indicates that the son is easy to raise, but other matters are not so clear. If the son's line receives the "prosperous" energy, or if it moves and turns into good fortune, or if it is directly on the day or month, or if it is supported by the day or month's moving lines, or if it is in the "growth" or "prosperity" position, then it is allowed that the son will grow up. If the son's line is weak and confined, meets an empty or broken condition, or moves and turns into bad fortune, then it is like a water bubble or a wind lamp, which is unreliable. As for the son's wealth and nobility, if the son's line is prosperous and strong and also receives support, then naturally he will be wealthy and noble. But if one uses this to predict the son's academic success and official rank, that is a trick.

黃金策曰：子帶貴人自有登天之日，又日祿貴臨爻，童年拜相。以貴祿臨子孫化鬼者，不為化鬼而為化官，即許登天拜相。餘查天乙貴人臨爻並無祿到。貴人臨馬上有丁巳日見亥水子孫，乃為貴人，與為同官，餘皆不是有祿者，無貴人馬，此信筆妄談也，何嘗經驗，況余屢占子女，若子孫變鬼，萬無一活。

The Golden Strategies say, "If the child's position is accompanied by the nobleman, he will surely reach heaven." It also says, "If the official's fortune and nobleman are present on the line, a child will become a minister." Furthermore, it states that when the nobleman and the official star are present on the child's line and transform the official ghost, it is not considered transforming the ghost but transforming the official, thus allowing him to reach heaven and become a minister. I have checked: the nobleman appearing on the line does not have the official's fortune present at the same time; when the nobleman is on the post horse, only the case of Dingsi day with亥 water child can be considered as the nobleman and official star appearing together, the rest are not. There is also the case where there is an official's fortune but no nobleman or post horse — this is just random talk, never actually verified. Moreover, I have often cast hexagrams for my children, and whenever the child transforms into the official ghost, there is never a case of survival.

如亥月丙辰日，占子易養否？得姤之旅卦。 父母戌土′　　官鬼巳火′ 兄弟申金′　　動　　父母未土″ 官鬼午火′應　　兄弟酉金′應 兄弟酉金′　　兄弟申金′ 子孫亥水′　　動　　官鬼午火″ 父母丑土″世　　父母辰土″世 亥水子孫臨月建五爻，兄動以相生，旺莫旺於此也，若以吉神論之，丙日以亥為貴人，貴莫貴於此也，豈知子爻變鬼，死於次年五月。

For example, on a day of Bingchen (丙辰) in the month of Hai (亥), divining about whether the son is easy to raise, the hexagram obtained is Gou (天风姤) changing to Lv (火山旅). The lines of the primary hexagram, from top to bottom, are: parents戌土, brothers申金 (which is active), official ghost午火 (which is the responding line), brothers酉金, sons亥水 (which is active), and parents丑土 (which is the subject line). The lines of the resulting hexagram are: official ghost巳火, parents未土, brothers酉金 (which is the responding line), brothers申金, official ghost午火, and parents辰土 (which is the subject line). The son's line, which is亥水, is exactly in the position of the month's builder,亥, and is located on the fifth line. It is also supported by the active brother line, making it extremely strong. If we consider auspicious spirits, on a day of Bing,亥 is considered the heavenly master, and the nobleman is at its peak. But the son's line changes into the official ghost, and the child died in the fifth month of the following year.

黃金策曰：有官鬼無傷，曹彬取印終封爵。覺子曰：官鬼無傷者，必是子孫爻被傷被傷被克休囚無氣，所以不能傷克官鬼，既是如此衰弱之子孫，又封官封爵，餘不信也。又曰：父身有氣，車微顯名。覺子曰：父占子，父為忌神，或動或旺，必於克子，救死不暇，何得顯名？或曰：疑是嬰兒之自占。余曰：嬰兒乃無知無識孩童，占富占貴，全在人之一念，三五歲之嬰孩，可知富貴之念耶？況身命後章有：若卜嬰兒之造化，固知非代占耶。

The Golden Strategies say, "If the official ghost is not harmed, Cao Bin obtained the seal and eventually received a title." Juezi says: The reason the official ghost is not harmed is that the sons'爻 is weakened and restrained, thus unable to harm or control the official ghost. If the sons'爻 is so weak, yet it says he will receive an official title and a noble rank, I do not believe it. It also says, "If the parents'爻 is strong, the carriage will be modest but the name will be prominent." Juezi says: When the parents'爻 is used to divinate the son, the parents'爻 is the hostile god. If it becomes active or becomes strong, it will certainly harm the son. If we cannot save the son's life, how can we talk about a prominent name? Some people say: Perhaps this refers to an infant divining itself. I say: An infant is an ignorant and unenlightened child. Divining wealth and nobility depends entirely on a person's thought. How could a child of three or five years old have the thought of wealth and nobility? Moreover, in the following part of the "Body and Destiny Chapter," there is another sentence: "If one divines the fate of an infant." This shows that divining an infant is originally done by an adult on behalf of the infant, not by the infant itself.

代占六親，不宜世爻化鬼。占父母、兄弟、妻妾、兒孫，先看世爻，雖占六親，常有帶出自身之凶者，世爻化鬼、化回頭克、休囚化空破墓絕及隨鬼入墓，日月同克，休問他人，且防自己。 雖問父母，亦有應兒孫。常見占父母之卦爻中帶出刑傷兄弟兒孫妻妾者，有占兒孫亦有兼應父母兄弟妻妾者，不可不知。此謂占此而應彼也。此論前已表明，餘占而屢見也。

The essay says, "When divining the Six Relations, it is not advisable for the World Line to transform into the Official Ghost." When divining the Parents, Siblings, wife, or children, one should first examine the World Line. Although the divination is about the Six Relations, the hexagram often reveals ominous signs related to the person asking the question: if the World Line transforms into the Official Ghost, transforms back torestrain (counter-克制), or is weak and confined while transforming into emptiness, destruction, burial, or decline, or if it is buried along with the Official Ghost, and the sun and moon both attack it, then one should not ask about others first; instead, one should be cautious about oneself. The essay also says, "Even when divining the Parents, there may be responses related to the children." It is common to see hexagrams about the Parents that also indicate harm to the Siblings, children, or wife, and similarly, hexagrams about the children may also relate to the Parents, Siblings, or wife. This should not be overlooked. This is called divining one thing but responding to another. This principle has already been explained earlier, and I have often observed it in my divination practice.

儒業者，父母世爻同旺，終須變化成龍。日月動爻相生，定是王家儲器。世爻父母皆宜旺相，或動而變吉、或父母持世、日月動爻生合世，攀龍附鳳，指日可期。 財動卦中，青燈不久。子孫持世，自首無成。財動克文章，讀書中道而廢。子動無官之象，皓首必不成功名。

Those who pursue the path of scholarship are said in the text: "If the World Line and the Parents' Line are both prosperous and strong, they will eventually transform into a dragon; if the day and month lines generate and harmonize with each other, they are certainly destined to become a future ruler of a royal family." The World Line and the Parents' Line should both be prosperous and strong, or they should move and bring good fortune, or the Parents' Line should hold the World Line, or the day and month lines should generate and harmonize with the World Line. In such cases, one can expect to rise quickly and associate with powerful figures. The text also says, "If the Wealth Line moves, the lamp will not last long; if the Children's Line holds the World Line, one will remain unaccomplished until old age." If the Wealth Line moves, it will overcome the Parents' Line, which represents scholarly achievements, leading to abandoning studies halfway; if the Children's Line moves, it indicates the absence of an official star, meaning one will not attain official rank even in old age.

九流者，財興官旺，道重人欽。兄動世衰，有毀無譽。財持世，官持世，財官世爻皆宜得地。卦中兄爻持世，只可餬口，難許成家。覺子曰：古以九流，皆以官鬼為吉，殊不知天師家及驅邪治鬼之家，巫師醫家，皆以子旺，能於治鬼，必以子孫持世及子孫發動而為吉也。 百工皆以財為用神，子孫元神，最忌兄爻持世及兄爻旺動者，勞碌終身，餘以求財章同斷。以上皆不宜世爻空破墓絕休囚諸事無成。世若休囚，而又隨鬼入墓及受日月動爻沖剋，或動而化鬼化絕化克者，不唯學業難成，且防不測。

For those engaged in various trades and professions, the text says, "Wealth flourishes and officials are strong, the path is esteemed and people respect it; if the elder brother moves and the world line declines, there will be destruction without praise." It is good if the wealth line holds the world line or the official ghost line holds the world line. Wealth, officials, and the world line should all be in a favorable position. If the elder brother line holds the world line, one can only make a living and cannot hope to establish a family or career. Jue Zi says: Ancients regarded the official ghost as auspicious for all professions, but they did not realize that the Taoist sect, as well as those who exorcise spirits, witches, and physicians, need strong children to control spirits. Therefore, it is auspicious if the children line holds the world line or if the children line moves. For all craftsmen and artisans, the wife's wealth is the useful god and the children are the origin god. The most忌 is if the elder brother line holds the world line or is strong and active, which indicates a life of constant toil. I treat this the same as the "Chapter on Seeking Wealth." None of these professions should have the world line empty, broken, in a tomb, at its end, or weak and confined. Otherwise, nothing will succeed. If the world line is weak and confined and also goes into the tomb of the official ghost, or is attacked by the day or month lines and moving lines, or if it moves and turns into a ghost, an end, or a control, not only will the studies not succeed, but one must also beware of unexpected calamities.

占以金作春秋，毛詩為木，書經為水，火為禮記，土為易經。覺子曰：不可概問，須指定而卜之，禱於神曰：我習此經何如？ 父旺官興，王家棟樑。世空子動，蓬華寒儒。官鬼持世，父動相生，或日月臨父母生世，或官爻旺相、父爻持世，及世爻動而化吉，皆飛騰變化之兆。世空世破，及動而變凶，或子孫財爻持世，父母官鬼空破，須宜另於一經處，誠心再卜。

When divining the study of a particular classic, the metal line corresponds to the Spring and Autumn Annals, the wood line to the Mao Shi (Book of Poetry), the water line to the Shu Jing (Book of Documents), the fire line to the Li Ji (Rites), and the earth line to the Yi Jing (Book of Changes). Ju Zǐ said: one should not ask generally but must specifically choose one classic to divinate, and pray to the deity saying, "How is my study of this classic?" The essay states, "If the father is prosperous and the official ghost is active, it signifies a pillar of the royal family; if the world line is empty and the children are active, it indicates a humble scholar." If the official ghost holds the world line and the parents' line becomes active, or if the sun and moon are directly over the parents' line and the world line, or if the official line is prosperous and strong while the father line holds the world line, or if the world line becomes active and transforms into a favorable condition, these are signs of great change and advancement. If the world line encounters emptiness or destruction, or if it becomes active and transforms into an unfavorable condition, or if the children or wealth lines hold the world line while the parents or official lines are empty or destroyed, one should choose another classic and divinate again with sincerity.

如酉月丙子日，占木經能發否，得益之觀。 兄弟卯木′應　　兄弟卯木′ 子孫巳火′　　子孫巳火′ 妻財未土″　　妻財未土″世 妻財辰土″世　　兄弟卯木″ 兄弟寅木″　　子孫巳火″ 父母子水′　　動　　妻財未土″應 斷曰：卦中旺官合世，不宜初爻朱雀子水文章動化未土回頭之克，宜於改經。彼問：宜改何經？余曰：古法餘占不驗。意欲何經，再占一卦。即卜易經。得天火同人： 子孫戌土′應　　子孫戌土′應 妻財申金′　　妻財申金′ 兄弟午火′　　兄弟午火′ 官鬼亥水′世　　官鬼亥水′世 子孫丑土″　　子孫丑土″ 父母卯木′　　父母卯木′

For example, on a day of Bingzi (丙子) in the month of You (酉), someone consulted about whether studying the "Mao Shi" (Book of Songs), which belongs to the Wood element, would lead to success. The hexagram obtained was "Feng Lei Yi" (Wind and Thunder Gain), changing to "Feng Di Guan" (Wind over Earth View). The lines of the primary hexagram, from top to bottom, were: Brothers Wood (responding line),Children Fire,Wealth Earth,Wealth Earth (world line), Brothers Wood, Parents Water (active). The lines of the changing hexagram, from top to bottom, were: Brothers Wood,Children Fire,Wealth Earth (world line), Brothers Wood,Children Fire,Wealth Earth (responding line). The interpretation was: The official star in a prosperous and strong state is in harmony with the world line, which is a good omen. However, the initial line, "Zhu Que" (Vermilion Bird), which is the Water element, is the line of literature, but it has activated and turned back to be overcome by Earth, so it is advisable to change to studying another classic. He asked which classic to change to. I said: The traditional method of matching the Five Phases with the classics does not work well for me; if you want to study a particular classic, just cast another hexagram. So I first cast the "Yi Jing" (Book of Changes) for the "Tian Huo Tong Ren" (Heavenly Fire Union with People), with all lines quiet, from top to bottom:Children Earth (responding line),Wealth Metal,Siblings Fire,Official Ghost Water (world line),Children Earth,Parents Wood.

余曰：旺官持世，難以為吉。父臨月破，宜再更之。又占書經，得豐之離： 官鬼戌土″　　動　　妻財巳火′世 父母申金″世　　官鬼未土″ 妻財午火′　　父母酉金′ 兄弟亥水′　　兄弟亥水′應 官鬼丑土″應　　官鬼丑土″ 子孫卯木′　　子孫卯木′ 旺父持世，官動生之，因今日子日沖午火傷金，此經相宜。下科壬子沖去午火，管許高發，果於子科中魁。

I said: A prosperous and strong official star holding the world position is actually not necessarily auspicious; the parents' hexagram also meets the 'month breaker', so it should be changed again. Then I divined the Book of Documents and obtained the hexagram 'Thunder and Fire: Fullness' changing into 'Fire in the Lake: Li'. The primary hexagram from top to bottom is: official ghost戌 earth (active), parents申 metal (world position), wife wealth午 fire, brothers亥 water, official ghost丑 earth (response), sons卯 wood; the changing hexagram in order is: wife wealth巳 fire (world position), official ghost未 earth, parents酉 metal, brothers亥 water (response), official ghost丑 earth, sons卯 wood. The prosperous and strong parents hold the world position, and the official ghost is active and comes to generate it. Also, today is the day of Renzi, and the water of Zi will conflict with the fire of午, so the fire of午 will not harm the metal of申. This interpretation is most suitable. The next examination is in the year of Renzi, and the water of Zi will again conflict with the fire of午, ensuring success. Later, he indeed won the first place in the examination of that year.

父爻旺相，就而正焉。父母爻既為師長，又為詩書。延師受教，即以此爻為用神，宜旺相或臨日月及動而化吉。如若休囚空破絕及動而化凶，有素食之譏，無師資之益。 世位相生，博約善誘。父旺生合世爻，成人有德，若克世爻，而世爻得地者，有責成之功。世若休囚，必受師尊之累。

The essay states, "If the father's line is prosperous and strong, it will approach and correct." The father's line represents both teachers and literature. When a teacher is invited to teach, this line should be taken as the useful god, and it is favorable if it is prosperous and strong, or if it is directly on the day or month, or if it moves and transforms into good fortune. If it is weak and confined, meets an empty position, meets a broken position, enters a period of decline, or moves and transforms into bad fortune, then one will only be criticized for eating without gaining anything, and will not benefit from the teacher's guidance. The essay also says, "If the world line is generated by the world line, it will be broad and precise, and good at guiding." If the father's line is strong and generates and harmonizes with the world line, the student will become an adult with virtue; if the father's line overcomes the world line but the world line itself is strong, there may be a supervisory and achieving effect. If the world line is weak and confined, the student will surely suffer from the burden of the teacher.

父入墓中，懶於教訓。父爻入三墓及臨絕者，若非偷安懶惰，定是師不授教。 財臨世上，懦弱不嚴。財爻持世乃我克父母，若非師不嚴，定是我師畏凌。 鬼化文書克世，訟由乎學。鬼動化父母，沖剋世爻，異日必主爭訟，能使日月動爻制服鬼爻，亦不相宜，此何故也？神兆機於動。目前雖可制服，他日鬼逢生旺必見災。非不唯鬼動化父，但繫鬼動克世，或世動變凶，皆不宜從。

The text says, "The father is in the grave, lazy in teaching." If the father line is in the third grave or in the "绝" position, it is not because the teacher is lazy or neglectful, but rather because the teacher is unwilling to teach. The text also says, "Wealth is on the world line, weak and not strict." If the wealth line holds the world line, it means that I overcome the father line. If not because the teacher is lenient, it is because the teacher fears me. The text further says, "The official ghost transforms into documents to overcome the world line, disputes arise from learning." If the official ghost line moves and transforms into the father line to overcome the world line, there will certainly be disputes arising from studying. Even if the official ghost line can be subdued by the day or month lines, it is still not advisable. Why is this so? The divine mechanism is revealed in the moving lines. Although it may be subdued now, if the official ghost line meets a favorable and strong position in the future, disaster will occur. Not only when the official ghost transforms into the father line, but also whenever the official ghost overcomes the world line, or the world line moves and transforms into something harmful, it is not advisable to follow.

月扶世爻日助，青出於藍。世爻旺相，或父母持世，或官星持世，日月動爻生扶，及世爻動而化吉，必有長進，青出於藍。 動衰變旺，先惰後勤。動旺變衰，先勤後怠。父化父而殊經，父化財而多病，化鬼顯貴之交，父化兄貪財好利。 三合連年受教，六沖半載難留。世與父爻兼日月作三合者，情同父子，連年受業，門牆始終成就。卦得六沖，或世克父爻，或父爻克世者，彼此不投，難收一發之功。

The passage says, "The moon supports the world line and the day assists; the blue comes from the indigo." If the world line is prosperous and strong, or if the parents' line holds the world line, or if the official ghost line holds the world line, and if the day and moon lines generate and support the world line, and if the world line moves and transforms into a favorable line, then academic progress will surely be made, and the student will surpass the teacher. The passage also says, "If a line becomes weak and then strong, one starts lazy and then works hard; if a line becomes strong and then weak, one starts hardworking and then becomes lazy." If the father line transforms into another father line, it indicates a change in the subject of study midway; if the father line transforms into a wealth line, it indicates the teacher is often ill; if the father line transforms into an official ghost line, it indicates meeting important officials; if the father line transforms into a sibling line, it indicates the teacher is greedy for wealth and profit. The passage says, "Triple harmony leads to continuous learning for years, while six clashes result in difficulty in staying for even half a year." If the world line and the father line, together with the day and moon lines, form a triple harmony, the teacher and student will have a relationship like father and son, continuously studying year after year, from the beginning to the end of their studies, remaining consistent. If the hexagram shows "six clashes," or if the world line is overcome by the father line, or if the father line overcomes the world line, they will not get along well, and they will not even be able to gain progress for a year or half a year.

父為子而延師者，應為西席，世乃東家，宜世應相生合，不宜相剋相沖，應生世，我得其益，應爻空破，延之不就，應動他有變，世空我意不專。 覺子曰：雖以世應為主，父爻不可缺之，父旺與子孫相合，名實兼收，父動克子孫，無益有害，子動化克，不宜延之，子動化鬼，速宜辭絕。

A father hiring a teacher for his son, the Response Line represents the tutor, and the World Line represents the host. It is favorable for the World and Response Lines to be mutually generating or harmonious, and unfavorable for them to be conflicting or controlling. If the Response Line generates the World Line, the host benefits; if the Response Line is empty or broken, the tutor cannot be invited. If the Response Line is active, there may be a change in the situation. If the World Line is empty, it indicates the host's lack of sincerity. Juezi said: although the World and Response Lines are the main factors, the Parents Line should not be neglected. If the Parents Line is strong and harmonizes with the Children Line, both reputation and actual benefit are gained. If the Parents Line is active and controls the Children Line, hiring the tutor will be harmful. If the Children Line is active and transforms into a controlling relationship, it is not advisable to hire. If the Children Line is active and transforms into the Official Ghost Line, it is necessary to dismiss the tutor quickly.

如寅月戊午日，占子從師。 兄弟巳火′　　兄弟巳火′世 子孫未土″　　子孫未土″ 妻財酉金′應　　妻財酉金′ 妻財申金′　　官鬼亥水′應 兄弟午火″　　子孫丑土″ 子孫辰土″世　　動　　父母卯木′ 子動化克，不宜從之，不聽。後因師責，逃至橋頭，跌折右足。

For example, on a day of Wuwu in the month of Yin, divining about the son studying with this teacher, the six lines from top to bottom are: fire of the snake (brother), earth of the goat (child), metal of the rooster (wealth, responding line), metal of the monkey (wealth), fire of the horse (brother), and earth of the dragon (child, the main line, which is active). The resulting hexagram is: fire of the snake (main line), earth of the goat (child), metal of the rooster (wealth), water of the pig (official ghost, responding line), earth of the ox (child), and wood of the rabbit (parent). The child line is active and turns back to be overcome, which is not suitable for the son to follow this teacher. The master did not listen, and later the child was punished by the teacher, ran to the bridge, and broke his right leg.

野鶴曰：凡占小考，當見占得吉卦，後竟道考無名，何也？動之應近而不應遠，已應府縣之有名也，必須先占縣者，再占府考，又占道考，但得吉卦者，許榜上有名。若有卦而不吉者，勿望道考而成名也。

Wild Heron says: When divining about a small examination, it is common to get a favorable hexagram, but later in the higher examination, the person fails to be listed on the榜. Why is this? The moving line should take effect soon rather than far away. If the favorable hexagram has already indicated success in the county examination and the prefectural examination, then one must first divinate the county examination, then the prefectural, and then the higher examination. Only if all three divinations show favorable hexagrams can one expect to be listed on the榜. If any one of the hexagrams is unfavorable, there is no hope of success in the higher examination.

父旺官興，堪期首選。官衰父發，亦論掄收。官星持世，得日月動爻相生相合，道選無疑。父爻持世，得日月動爻相生相合者，亦要官星有氣，始許成名。 子興財發於卦中，難游泮水。子動克官，財動克父，或持於世爻者皆不宜也。 世破身空兼墓絕，再奮芸窗。世爻空破墓絕，或被日月動爻沖剋及動而變凶者，不能遂志。

The text says, "If the father is strong and the official star is active, it is certain to be chosen first; if the official star is weak and the father is active, it is also considered for selection." When the official star holds the world line and is supported by the day and month lines through generation and harmony, it is certain to be selected. When the father line holds the world line and is supported by the day and month lines through generation and harmony, the official star must also have strength to allow success. The text says, "If the children and wealth are active in the hexagram, it is difficult to enter school." "Enter school" refers to passing the examination. If the children line becomes active and overcomes the official star, or the wealth line becomes active and overcomes the father line, or either of these lines holds the world line, it is not favorable. The text says, "If the world line is broken, empty, in the grave, or in the critical position, and is attacked by the day and month lines or becomes harmful through movement, one cannot achieve success in this examination and must return to the study to make further efforts."

父旺遭傷，收而復棄。沖中逢合，見棄復收。父母旺相，若化休囚空破墓沖，若得日月動爻相合者，謂之沖中逢合必獲績取。 父衰變旺，愈出愈奇。爻化退神，日長日短。父衰動而化回頭生、化進神，文章得意勝於前。皆不宜化退神，化退神者，前篇稍遂，後勁不力，衰化退神及化克化空破墓絕或回頭克者，窗下午日長，場中一日短。

The text says, "The father's strength is injured, first taken in then discarded; when there is a combination in the conflict, it is first discarded then taken in." If the father's line is originally prosperous and strong, but changes to a weak and confined state, or becomes empty, broken, buried, or conflicting, it is first taken in then discarded. If it receives support from the day or month lines and the moving lines, it is called "a combination in the conflict," and ultimately it is still taken in. The text also says, "When the father is weak but turns strong, the more it emerges, the more extraordinary it becomes; when the line changes into a retreating god, the day becomes longer and shorter." If the father's line is weak but turns strong through a return birth or by changing into an advancing god, the writing becomes more and more excellent, and the latter part surpasses the former. All these situations should not change into a retreating god. If it changes into a retreating god, the first part is still smooth, but the latter part becomes powerless. As for when it is weak and changes into a retreating god, or changes into a conflict, emptiness, brokenness, burial, extinction, or a return conflict, during the time of studying hard at the desk, the days seem too long, and during the time of writing the exam, the day seems too short.

如亥月丙戌日，占道考，得豐之革卦。 官鬼戌土″　　官鬼未土″ 父母申金″世　　動　　父母酉金′ 妻財午火′　　兄弟亥水′世 兄弟亥水′　　兄弟亥水′ 官鬼丑土″應　　官鬼丑土″ 子孫卯木′　　子孫卯木′應 父母持世化進神，日建作官而生世，文章愈出愈奇，後勝於前，定蒙首選，果取案首。

For example, on a day of Bingxu (丙戌) in the month of Hai (亥), divining about an examination, the hexagram obtained was Feng (雷火丰), changing to Ge (泽火革). The primary hexagram's six lines, from top to bottom, were: official ghost戌 earth, parents申 metal (world line, active), wife wealth午 fire, siblings亥 water, official ghost丑 earth (responding), children卯 wood. The changing hexagram's lines, in order, were: official ghost未 earth, parents酉 metal, siblings亥 water (world line), siblings亥 water, official ghost丑 earth, children卯 wood (responding). Parents hold the world line and transform into 'advancing god', and the day's Bingxu also acts as an official star to generate the world line. The article becomes increasingly remarkable, the latter part surpasses the former, and it is certain to be selected as the top candidate. Later, he indeed became the top scorer.

父宜旺相，最忌休囚；官宜生身，不宜克世。父與世爻旺相及得日月動爻生扶及動而化吉，全無破綻者，定考超等。若此兩爻旺相而逢生上等；旺而無生，相而遇扶，無刑沖剋破者次之；有一而遇刑沖剋者又次之；世爻受克，教刑不免；世父同受克，劣等無疑。

The text says, "The father line should be prosperous and strong, most忌 being weak and confined; the official line should generate the self, and should not control the world line." If both the father line and the world line are prosperous and strong, and they receive support from the day and month lines or are activated into good changes, with no flaws, they will certainly achieve the highest rank. If both lines are prosperous and strong and also receive support, they are ranked second. If one line is prosperous without support and the other is strong with support, and there are no punishments or clashes, they are third. If one of the lines encounters punishment, clashes, or control, they are fourth. If the world line is controlled, they will inevitably face punishment from the official. If both the world line and the father line are controlled, they are certainly of the lowest rank.

野鶴曰：此云是也，亦要人之通變，觀其世父兩爻輕重而言之，卦之全美世父兩爻有生扶，而六沖變沖反吟伏吟動變克化絕即是破綻。父爻受克而無救，難免塗鴉；世爻受克而有扶，亦業姑許。 覺子曰：此以父爻之旺衰而列等第是也，易之卦得進神考於上等，退而考下等，假使卦無進退之神，何以定之？

Wild Heron said: This is correct, but people should also know about change. One should determine which is more important between the World Line and the Father Line. Even if the hexagram is perfect and both the World and Father Lines are supported and strengthened, if it meets the "Six Clashes," changes into a conflicting hexagram, or involves "Reverse Chant" or "Hidden Chant," or if the movement results in a conflicting change or transformation into a dead end, then there is a flaw. If the Father Line is weakened and not supported, the writing will be sloppy and rejected. If the World Line is weakened but has other supports, it can still bewith difficulty accepted. Jue Zi said: Ranking according to the strength and decline of the Father Line is correct; however, the "Advancing God" in the hexagram indicates the top rank, while the "Retreating God" indicates the bottom rank. If a hexagram has neither an "Advancing God" nor a "Retreating God," then by what standard can one determine the ranking?

如申月乙巳日，占歲考，得大過之鼎卦。 妻財未土″　　動　　子孫巳火′ 官鬼酉金′　　動　　妻財未土″應 父母亥水′世　　官鬼酉金′ 官鬼酉金′　　官鬼酉金′ 父母亥水′　　父母亥水′世 妻財丑土″應　　妻財丑土″ 斷曰：財動克父，乃不通變之論也。此卦乃亥水父爻持世，申月生之，父旺而身亦旺，巳日沖之，為暗動，未土財爻雖動，喜其生助酉金，酉官生世，名為接續相生，一定篇篇華錦。財生官旺優等。後果取超等補稟。野鶴曰：大凡卦遇六沖變沖及六爻亂動，父旺世旺，還考平等。倘若父衰受刑剋及世爻休囚受克及變凶者，孫山無疑。

For example, on the day of Yisi (乙巳) in the month of Shen (申), divining about the annual examination, one obtained the hexagram Da Guo (泽风大过) changing into Ding (火风鼎). The primary hexagram's six lines, from top to bottom, are: wife wealth in the earth element of Chou (丑土) (which is active), official ghost in the metal element of You (酉金) (which is active), parents in the water element of Hai (亥水) (the world line), official ghost in the metal element of You (酉金), parents in the water element of Hai (亥水), and wife wealth in the earth element of Chou (丑土) (the responding line). The resulting hexagram's lines are: children in the fire element of Si (巳火), wife wealth in the earth element of Chou (丑土) (the responding line), official ghost in the metal element of You (酉金), official ghost in the metal element of You (酉金), parents in the water element of Hai (亥水) (the world line), and wife wealth in the earth element of Chou (丑土). The interpretation states: seeing the movement of wealth immediately saying it harms the father is an ignorant view that fails to consider change. In this hexagram, the parents' line, which is the world line, holds the water element of Hai (亥水), and is supported by the month of Shen (申), thus the parents are strong and the world line and body are also strong; the day of Si (巳) clashes with it, which is called 'covert movement'. Although the earth element of Chou (未土) wealth line is active, it is fortunate that it turns to support the metal element of You (酉金), and the metal element of You (酉金) official star comes to support the world line, which is called 'successive mutual generation', the essay will certainly be splendid throughout. Wealth generates official star, and the official star is strong, so one should expect an excellent result. In the end, he indeed passed the examination with the highest rank and became a廪生. Wild Crane says: generally, when a hexagram encounters 'six clashes', changes into a hexagram of clash, or has chaotic movement among the six lines, even if the parents and world line are strong, one can only expect an average result; if the parents' line is weak and harmed, or the world line is weak and harmed, or changes into a harmful line, then one will certainly fail the examination.

飛神無助身無克，榮辱無施。父爻出現，不旺不衰，雖無生扶，亦無剋制而世爻不被沖剋者，可保平等。 伏藏旺相也遭傷，賞罰不定。 如午月乙卯日，占歲焉，得地天泰卦。 子孫酉金″應　　子孫酉金″應 妻財亥水″　　妻財亥水″ 兄弟丑土″　　兄弟丑土″ 兄弟辰土′世　　兄弟辰土′世 官鬼寅木′　　官鬼寅木′ 妻財子水′　　妻財子水′

The essay states, "Flying God cannot assist, and there is no克制, so there is neither honor nor disgrace." If the father line appears in the hexagram and is neither prosperous nor declining, even though it is not supported or assisted, and there is no control over it, and the world line is not clashed with, then one can expect an equal result, neither honor nor disgrace. The essay also says, "Even if hidden and prosperous, it is still harmed, and rewards and punishments are uncertain." For example, on the day of Yimao in the month of Wu, divining about the annual exam, the hexagram obtained is Tai (Hexagram 11). The six lines are quiet. From top to bottom, they are: children酉 gold (responding line), wealth亥 water, siblings丑 earth, siblings辰 earth (world line), official ghost寅 wood, wealth子 water.

午火月建為父母，而卦中之巳火伏藏於寅木之下，旺而又遇飛神之生，爻逢六合，只不宜日辰克世，發落之日，承宗師面叱念，字法古筆，姑取三等，後悔之。此巳午之火，非又旺也及字端邊，但此卦雖多逢，事卻少見，存之為法。

When the month builder is Wu Fire, it represents the parents. In the hexagram, the Si Fire is hidden beneath the Yin Wood in the second line, which is strong and receives support from the flying god. The hexagram also meets the condition of Six Harmony. However, it is not suitable for the day branch to be Mao Wood, which would harm the world line. On the day of the examination, the examiner directly criticized him, but since his handwriting was said to imitate the style of ancient calligraphers, he was given third place. Afterward, he felt regretful. The Si Fire and Wu Fire mentioned here are not actually strong; their effectiveness is only seen in details such as whether the handwriting is neat. Although such a hexagram is common, the event it predicts is rare. I will record this as a standard case.

以上總而言之，父與世爻旺相遇生扶為上，略有破綻者次之，刑傷有救者又次之，刑傷無救而輕者又次之。世爻父爻被刑沖剋破而重者，劣等必矣。全要通變，須卦之吉凶兼用神衰旺之輕重也。

In summary, when judging the outcome of an annual examination, if both the 'Parents'爻 and the 'World'爻 are in prosperous and strong positions and receive support and assistance, it is an excellent pattern. If both are good but have minor flaws, it is the next level. If they suffer from injuries or harm but have some remedies, it is the next level again. If they suffer from injuries or harm without any remedies, but the damage is not severe, it is the next level. If both the 'World'爻 and the 'Parents'爻 are simultaneously harmed by刑, 冲, 克, or 破, and the damage is severe, then it is definitely a poor outcome. Judging such hexagrams requires flexibility and adaptability; one must consider the overall fortune and misfortune of the hexagram, as well as the degree of strength and weakness of the 'Useful God'.

覺子曰：占稟若不得其秘，而望靈者少也，何也？占稟用財，財乃文章之忌神，不知其竅，卜歲焉而兼問稟，財爻若旺，父母受傷，則如休囚如何得稟？餘有法也，先占歲科之吉凶，再占一卦而問稟，即其秘也。

Li Wenhui (Juezi), the compiler and reviser, said: Divination regarding whether one can be promoted to the廪生 rank requires the use of the 'wife and wealth' line as the 'useful god'. However, the 'wife and wealth' line is actually the 'hostile god' for the 'parents' line, which represents documents and official matters. Those who do not understand this key point often find that when the 'wife and wealth' line is strong in the divination for the annual examination, the 'parents' line becomes weak and confined, making it impossible to be promoted to the廪生 rank. I have another method: first divinate separately to determine the fortune of the annual examination and the academic examination, then cast another divination specifically about the promotion to the廪生 rank. This is the secret to successful divination.

稟以財爻為用神，財爻持世或動而生世為吉，與求財章同斷。有稟而恐換者，忌兄弟持世，兄爻發動及財逢空破墓絕，動而變凶者，有失也，如官鬼兄爻克世者，輕則草糧，重則道罰，倘卦中三合兄局者，亦主草糧。

When the "妻财"爻 is used as the "用神", and the "财爻" is holding the world line or is activated to generate the world line, these are auspicious signs, and the judgment method is the same as in the "Chapter on Seeking Wealth". If one has already received the stipend and fears being replaced, then the "兄弟"爻 holding the world line is inauspicious, as is the activation of the "兄弟"爻, or the "财爻" falling into the旬空, encountering the month breaker, entering the墓, reaching the绝, or being activated to transform into a凶爻; these all indicate loss. If the "官鬼"爻 or "兄弟"爻 comes to克 the world line, the light case results in the suspension of the stipend (original text says "grass grain"), and the severe case leads to punishment by the academic inspector. If the hexagram contains three lines forming a "兄弟"局, it also indicates the suspension of the grain allowance.