Chapter Eighteen: The Six Spirits Section

甲乙日　丙丁日　戊日　己日　庚辛日　壬癸日 元武　青龍　朱雀　勾陳　滕蛇　白虎 白虎　元武　青龍　朱雀　勾陳　滕蛇 滕蛇　白虎　元武　青龍　朱雀　勾陳 勾陳　滕蛇　白虎　元武　青龍　朱雀 朱雀　勾陳　滕蛇　白虎　元武　青龍 青龍　朱雀　勾陳　滕蛇　白虎　元武

This is a table for determining the arrangement of the Six Spirits. The header indicates the heavenly stem of the day on which the divination is performed, divided into six categories. The six rows below correspond to the sixth line down to the first line, from top to bottom. To use the table, refer to the column corresponding to the day's heavenly stem and write the Six Spirits from bottom to top next to each line. On days beginning with Jia or Yi, the Azure Dragon begins at the first line, followed by Vermilion Bird, Gou Chen, Teng Sha, White Tiger, and the top line is Black Tortoise. On days beginning with Bing or Ding, the Vermilion Bird begins at the first line, followed by Gou Chen, Teng Sha, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and the top line is Azure Dragon. On days beginning with Wu, Gou Chen begins at the first line, followed by Teng Sha, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, Azure Dragon, and the top line is Vermilion Bird. On days beginning with Ji, Teng Sha begins at the first line, followed by White Tiger, Black Tortoise, Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, and the top line is Gou Chen. On days beginning with Geng or Xin, White Tiger begins at the first line, followed by Black Tortoise, Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, Gou Chen, and the top line is Teng Sha. On days beginning with Ren or Gui, Black Tortoise begins at the first line, followed by Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, Gou Chen, Teng Sha, and the top line is White Tiger. It is evident that the order of the Six Spirits is always a cycle of Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, Gou Chen, Teng Sha, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise, which remains unchanged, only the starting point varies according to the day's heavenly stem.

諸書無不以青龍為吉，白虎為凶。天元賦曰：身旺龍持多吉處。碎金賦曰：龍動家有喜，虎動家有喪。卜筮元龜曰：滕蛇白虎憂尊長。卜筮大全曰：畏口御刀之白虎，喜赴水之青龍。閱奧章占疾痛滕蛇主死，白虎主喪。此皆不以五行，竟以六神而斷生死。惟千金賦曰：虎興而遇吉神不害其吉，龍動而逢凶曜難掩其凶。此正理也，然則六神而不驗耶乎，乃附合之神也，卦之吉者逢龍而更吉，卦之凶者逢白虎而更凶，且元武主盜賦，朱雀主口舌，無不驗也，至於家宅墳塋不可少也。

Different divination texts all agree that the Blue Dragon is auspicious and the White Tiger is inauspicious. The "Heavenly Origin Treatise" says that if the personal element is strong and the Blue Dragon is present, it usually indicates good fortune; the "Golden Fragments Treatise" states that the movement of the Blue Dragon signifies family happiness, while the movement of the White Tiger signifies family misfortune; the "Essential Guide to Divination" mentions that the Snake and White Tiger indicate worries and troubles for elders; the "Comprehensive Guide to Divination" warns against the White Tiger with a sword and celebrates the Blue Dragon going into water; the "Chapter of Insights" says that the Snake indicates death and the White Tiger indicates mourning when predicting illness. All these statements ignore the Five Phases and rely solely on the Six Spirits to determine life and death. Only the "Treasure of a Thousand Gold" makes sense: if the White Tiger is active but meets auspicious spirits, it does not harm the auspiciousness; if the Blue Dragon is active but meets malevolent stars, it cannot hide the malevolence. So are the Six Spirits really effective? The Wild Crane Elder's view is that the Six Spirits are merely "supporting deities"—if the hexagram itself is auspicious, the presence of the Blue Dragon makes it even more so; if the hexagram itself is inauspicious, the presence of the White Tiger makes it even worse. The Six Spirits cannot alone determine fortune or misfortune. However, the statements about the Black Tortoise indicating theft and the Vermilion Bird indicating disputes are often accurate; especially when predicting family matters or grave sites, the Six Spirits are indispensable.

如戊子日占生產，得山地剝變風地觀卦： 朱雀　妻財寅木′　妻財卯木′ 青龍　子孫子水″世　動　官鬼巳火′ 元武　父母戌土″　父母未土″世 白虎　妻財卯木″　妻財卯木″ 勾陳　官鬼巳火″應　官鬼巳火″ 滕蛇　父母未土″　父母未土″應 子水子孫化絕變鬼，本日落草而亡，卻是青龍臨子孫，亦可謂之喜耶？

This is a real divination case used to refute the old saying that "the Azure Dragon always signifies joy." On a Wuzi day, a divination was performed about childbirth, resulting in the hexagram Mountain Earth Splitting (Bo) changing to Wind Earth Observing (Guan). Starting from the Wuzi day, Gou Chen was on the first line, so the six spirits, from top to bottom, are Vermilion Bird, Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, White Tiger, Gou Chen, and Teng Sha. The primary hexagram, from top to bottom, is: top line, Wealth Yin Wood (Vermilion Bird), fifth line, Children Zi Water (Azure Dragon, world line, active), fourth line, Parents Xu Earth (Black Tortoise), third line, Wealth Mao Wood (White Tiger), second line, Official Ghost Si Fire (Gou Chen, response line), first line, Parents Wei Earth (Teng Sha). In divination about childbirth, the Children line is the useful god, which is the fifth line Zi Water. This Zi Water is active and transforms into Si Fire Official Ghost: water is extinguished at Si, which is "transformation into extinction"; the transformed line is also an Official Ghost, which is "transformation into ghost," resulting in two layers of bad omens. The result was that the infant died on the same day it was born. However, this line is specifically occupied by the Azure Dragon—the Azure Dragon is on the Children line, so can it still be considered a joyful omen?

又如申月甲辰日占兄病得屯之震： 元武　兄弟子水″　官鬼戌土″世 白虎　官鬼戌土′應　動　父母申金″ 勾陳　父母申金″　動　妻財午火′ 媵蛇　官鬼辰土″　官鬼辰土″應 朱雀　子孫寅木″世　子孫寅木″ 青龍　兄弟子水′　兄弟子水′ 子水兄爻為用神，卦中忌神、元神同動，土動生申，申金動而生子水，月建又生子水，至戊申日沉痾復起，其可謂之蛇動死，虎動主喪耶？

Another actual case is used to refute the old saying that "the White Tiger indicates death and the Serpent indicates loss." On the day of Jiachen in the month of Shen, a person consulted about his brother's illness, and the hexagram cast was Zhun (Hexagram 3) changing to Zhen (Hexagram 51). The first line was occupied by the Blue Dragon, so the six spirits, from top to bottom, were Black Tortoise, White Tiger, Gou Chen, Serpent, Vermilion Bird, and Blue Dragon. The original hexagram, from top to bottom, was: the top line was brothers' water (Xuanwu), the fifth line was official ghost戌 earth (White Tiger, the responding line, which was active), the fourth line was parents' metal申 (Gou Chen, which was active), the third line was official ghost辰 earth (Serpent), the second line was children's wood寅 (Zhuque, the world line), and the first line was brothers' water子 (Qinglong). For the consultation about the brother, the brothers' line was the useful god, and the upper line's water was taken as the useful god. In the hexagram, the earth戌 was the hostile god (earth controls water), and the metal申 was the origin god (metal generates water). Both were active at the same time: the hostile god戌 first generated the origin god申, which then generated the useful god子, continuing the mutual generation, turning a bad situation into a good one; moreover, the month builder of Shen also generated the useful god子. Therefore, it was predicted that the brother would recover. Later, on the day of Wushen, he indeed recovered from a long illness and got up again. In this hexagram, the White Tiger was on the official ghost and was active, and the Serpent was also in the hexagram. If we followed the old saying, would it not indicate death or loss? This shows that the six spirits should not be judged in isolation when determining life and death.

子與丑合、寅與亥合、卯與戌合、辰與酉合、巳與申合，午與未合。相合法有六：日月合爻者一也。爻與爻合者二也。爻動化合者三也，卦逢六合四也。六沖卦變六合卦五也。六合卦變六合卦六也。日、月合爻者，假令丑月占得坎卦，世爻子水與月建作合是也。爻與爻合者，假令得天風姤卦、世爻丑動化出子水作合是也。卦逢六合者即如天地否卦內外六爻自相和合是也，不動亦是。六沖卦變六和卦者，假令得乾為天乃是八純六沖卦，若外卦三爻值動，乃是乾之泰卦，謂之六沖變六合是了。六合卦變六合者即如占得旅卦變賁卦是也。

The twelve Earthly Branches combine in pairs, making six combinations: Zi and Chou combine, Yin and Hai combine, Mao and Xu combine, Chen and You combine, Si and Shen combine, and Wu and Wei combine. There are six types of combinations. The first type is when the Day Branch or the Month Builder combines with a line in the hexagram. The second type is when two lines within the hexagram combine with each other. The third type is when a line moves and produces a new line that combines with it. The fourth type is when the hexagram itself is a "Six Harmony" hexagram. The fifth type is when a hexagram that is a Six Clashes hexagram changes into a Six Harmony hexagram. The sixth type is when a Six Harmony hexagram changes into another Six Harmony hexagram. Examples: Day and Month combine with a line, for instance, in the month of Chou, if the hexagram is Kan (Water), the World Line, which is Zi Water, combines with the Month Builder Chou. A line combines with another line, for instance, if the hexagram is Tian Feng Gou, the World Line is Cuo Earth, which moves and produces Zi Water, and Zi and Cuo combine. The hexagram itself is a Six Harmony hexagram, for instance, Tian Di Pi, the inner and outer lines already combine in pairs, even if no line moves. A Six Clashes hexagram changes into a Six Harmony hexagram, for instance, if the hexagram is Qian (Heaven), which is a pure hexagram and a Six Clashes hexagram, and if the third line of the outer trigram moves, it changes into Tian Di Tai, which is a Six Harmony hexagram. A Six Harmony hexagram changes into another Six Harmony hexagram, for instance, if the hexagram is Huo Shan Lu, which changes into Shan Huo Bi, and both the original and the changed hexagrams are Six Harmony hexagrams.

爻之合者，靜而逢合，謂之合起。動而逢合，合謂之合絆。爻與爻合謂之合好，爻動化合謂之化扶。爻靜或與日月動爻合者得合而起。即使爻值休囚亦有旺相之意。爻動或與日月動爻合者謂之動逢合而絆住，反不能動之意。爻動與動爻相合，乃得他來合我，與我和好，相助之意。爻動化出之爻回頭相合者，謂之化扶，得他扶助之意。

Combining (he) has different names and different effects. A still line that meets a combination is called "he qi" (combination arising); a moving line that meets a combination is called "he ban" (combination restraining); when two lines combine with each other, it is called "he hao" (mutual combination); when a moving line transforms into another line that comes back to combine with it, it is called "hua fu" (transformation of support). Specifically, if a still line combines with the day branch, month builder, or moving line, it is said to be "raised" by the combination, even if it was originally weak and confined, it now carries a hint of prosperity and strength. If a moving line combines with the day branch, month builder, or moving line, it means the movement is restrained by the combination, making it unable to move, thus delaying matters. If a moving line combines with another moving line, it indicates that someone else is actively coming to be friendly, showing a helping intention. If a moving line transforms into another line that comes back to combine with it, it is called "hua fu" (transformation of support), indicating receiving assistance from others. Therefore, when seeing the character "he" (combination), one must first determine whether the line being combined is still or moving: a still line gains strength through combination, while a moving line is hindered by combination.

凡得諸合，諸占皆以為吉，占名成，占利利就，占婚必成，占身發福，占宅興旺，占風水聚氣藏風、占求謀遂心合意，然必用神有氣相宜，用若失陷無益。卜書曰：萬事若得三六合，諸事必得久遠，有始有終。但宜吉事逢之，事必就，不宜凶事逢之，事之難結。

In general, when a hexagram has a harmonious combination, it is considered auspicious for any matter: if it is about official rank, then official rank can be achieved; if it is about benefits, then benefits can be obtained; if it is about marriage, then the marriage will certainly succeed; if it is about oneself, then good fortune and success will come; if it is about the family, then the family will flourish; if it is about feng shui, then it will gather energy and retain it; if it is about planning matters, then things will go according to one's wishes. However, there is a prerequisite— the useful god must have vitality; if the useful god has already lost its strength and is powerless, then even having a harmonious combination will be of no use. The divination books say: if all things achieve triple harmony and six harmony, all matters can last long and have a beginning and an end. But this statement only applies to auspicious matters: auspicious matters encountering harmony will certainly succeed; however, if ominous matters encounter harmony, it is not good, as it will entangle and not disperse, making it difficult to resolve.

如申月丙子日占出門，得明夷小過。 父母酉金″　官鬼戌土″ 兄弟亥水″　父母申金″ 官鬼丑土″世　動　妻財午火′世 兄弟亥水′　父母申金′ 官鬼丑土″　妻財午火″ 子孫卯木′應　動　官鬼辰土″應 世動破，余曰：合住必有事絆，不能動身。伊曰：因何而阻？余曰：卦中子動變鬼，防兒女不安。彼曰：因小女多病，男家催促成婚，今欲往外求取財物以備妝奩。余曰：所得何病？彼曰：血枯成勞。余曰：卯木子孫申月絕之，子日刑之，且動而變鬼，恐嫁之不及矣。後因病重，此人未去，女死辰日，夫應不去者，世動而逢合也，女死辰日者，卯木子孫變辰土之故也。此乃爻之遇合、卦逢六合之驗也。餘又驗其六沖卦變六合者。

This is a real divination case. On the day of Bingzi (丙子) in the month of Shen (申), someone consulted about going on a long journey, and the hexagram drawn was Ming Yi (地火明夷) changing into Xiao Guo (雷山小过). The primary hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is parents in酉 gold, the fifth line is siblings in亥 water, the fourth line is official ghost in丑 earth (the world line, which is active), the third line is siblings in亥 water, the second line is official ghost in丑 earth, and the first line is children in卯 wood (the response line, which is active). The world line, which is丑 earth, is active but is restrained by the Zi water of the Bingzi day (Zi and Chou are harmonious). The Wild Crane Elder said: when a line is active but is restrained by another, there must be something obstructing the matter, and the journey will not be possible. The person asked: what is the reason for the obstruction? The answer was: in the hexagram, the first line, which is children, is active and changes into official ghost in辰 earth. One should be cautious about the children's instability. The person said: exactly because my youngest daughter is very ill, and the male side is urging me to marry her off, I wanted to go on a journey to earn some money to prepare a dowry. The Wild Crane Elder asked: what illness does she have? The answer was: blood deficiency leading to tuberculosis. The Wild Crane Elder said: the first line is children in卯 wood, and in the month of Shen, metal is strong, so wood is in decline in Shen; the day of Zi also harms卯 wood; and moreover, it is active and changes into official ghost. It is feared that she will not be able to get married in time. Later, the daughter became seriously ill, and the person indeed did not go on the journey, and the daughter died on the day of Chen (辰). The reason for "not being able to go" is because the world line was active and was restrained by a harmonious relationship; the reason for "dying on the day of Chen" is because the children in卯 wood changed into the official ghost in辰 earth. This is an example of a line encountering a harmonious relationship and the hexagram encountering the Six Harmonies. The Wild Crane Elder then further verified the case where a hexagram of Six Clashes changes into a hexagram of Six Harmonies.

如未月丁巳日占已悔婚還可成否得離卦變火山旅： 兄弟巳火′世　兄弟巳火′ 子孫未土″　子孫未土″ 妻財酉金′　妻財酉金′應 官鬼亥水′應　妻財申金′ 子孫丑土″　兄弟午火″ 父母卯木′　動　子孫辰土″世 斷曰：此卦從來難以吉斷，因得屢驗六沖變合，散而復聚，離而必合，此婚一定還成，果於次年三月仍成婚。

This is a real divination case. On the day of Dingsi (丁巳) in the month of Wei (未), someone consulted about a marriage that had already been reconsidered and whether it could still succeed. The hexagram cast was Li (Fire) changing into Lv (Traveler). The primary hexagram, from top to bottom, was: the top line was brothers in the fire of巳 (世爻), the fifth line was children in the earth of未, the fourth line was wealth in the metal of酉, the third line was official ghost in the water of亥 (response line), the second line was children in the earth of丑, and the first line was parents in the wood of卯 (which was active). The active line of卯 wood transformed into children in the earth of辰. The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: looking at this hexagram alone, the useful god is not auspicious, and it is difficult to make a positive interpretation according to the old methods. However, Li (Fire) is a hexagram of six clashes, and the transformed hexagram Lv (Traveler) is a hexagram of six harmony. I have verified many times that this pattern of "six clashes changing into six harmony" always results in dispersion followed by gathering, separation followed by union. Therefore, the Elder concluded that this marriage would definitely still succeed. Later, it indeed came true when the couple married in the third month of the following year.

諸合皆以用神旺者為吉，獨此六沖卦變六合得不看用神，竟以吉斷。占婚姻先吳越而後朱陳，占夫妻先參商後必合好，占功名始則艱駐，終頃榮顯。占求謀先難後易，占身命先困後顯，占風水巧處奇逢，占家宅先衰後盛。

Various forms of harmony require the useful god to be prosperous and strong in order to be auspicious; only the case of "six clashes changing to six harmony" can be directly judged as auspicious without considering the useful god. Its meaning is that things first scatter and then gather, first difficult and then successful. Therefore: in divination about marriage, at first it is like the enmity between Wu and Yue, but later becomes the harmonious marriage of the Zhu and Chen village for generations; in divination about husband and wife, at first they are like the star Shen and the star Shang, appearing one after the other and never meeting, but later they must become harmonious; in divination about official rank, the beginning is difficult and delayed, but eventually it brings honor and prominence; in divination about planning affairs, it first encounters difficulty and then becomes easy; in divination about one's destiny, it first experiences hardship and then achieves success; in divination about fengshui, one will meet extraordinary opportunities at the right place; in divination about the family residence, it first declines and then becomes prosperous.

六合卦變六合。爻逢六合已為吉兆，動而變六合謂始終而作合也。占風水百代顯榮。占宅舍千秋基業、占婚姻白頭相守，占功名仕路亨通，占財帛聚積如山，占兄弟累世同居，宜合吉，不宜合凶，諸占用神臨日月者，吉之又吉也。惟占訟獄不利，冤仇難解，及占憂疑怪事，終不開心，占孕胎安，占產難生，若再用神受克，更為凶兆。

Now talking about "Six Harmony Hexagram Changes into Six Harmony Hexagram." When a hexagram meets the Six Harmony, it is already a good omen. If it then changes into another Six Harmony hexagram, it means that from beginning to end, everything is harmonious. In divination for风水, it indicates glory for generations; for residential sites, it signifies an enduring foundation; for marriage, it suggests a long and happy life together; for official rank, it indicates smooth career advancement; for wealth, it means accumulating riches; for siblings, it suggests living together for many generations. However, one must remember: harmony is suitable for good events, not for bad ones. In all such inquiries, if the useful god coincides with the day branch and the month builder, it is even more auspicious. The only exception is in cases of litigation and imprisonment, which are very unfavorable, as grievances persist and are hard to resolve; for matters of worry and strange occurrences, it is also not good, as the mind remains burdened and unresolved; for pregnancy, it indicates a safe pregnancy, but for childbirth, it suggests difficult labor. If the useful god is further weakened by being attacked, it becomes an even worse omen.

如卯月甲寅日占風水得困之節。 父母未土″　子孫子水″ 兄弟酉金′　父母戌土′ 子孫亥水′應　動　兄弟申金″應 官鬼午火″　父母丑土″ 父母辰土′　妻財卯木′ 妻財寅木″世　動　官鬼巳火′世 余曰：占祖塋必有其故，自葬後何事不亨？今日之念因何而起？明以告我，方敢決斷。彼曰：自葬之後功名屢困，年近五旬，尚無子息，是以問之曰：此塋之有疑否？余曰：龍自右脈來，水亦從左而還源，流水不歸漕之故耳。彼曰：何以知之，余曰：亥水子孫化申金生之，申為源流，寅日沖之，若能使水歸漕，不至傍流者，明年起用，再拜丹墀，申年定生鱗種，彼曰：長久安泰否？余曰：六合萬載安然。

This is a real divination. On the day of Jiayin (甲寅) in the month of Mao (卯), someone consulted about the风水 of his ancestors' tomb. The hexagram drawn was Ze Shui Kun (泽水困), changing to Shui Ze Jie (水泽节). The primary hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is parents in Wei earth, the fifth line is siblings in You metal, the fourth line is children in Hai water (the responding line, which is active), the third line is official ghost in Wu fire, the second line is parents in Chen earth, and the first line is wife wealth in Yin wood (the world line, which is active). The Wild Crane Elder first asked: consulting about the ancestors' tomb must have some reason. Since the burial, what event has been unsmooth? Why did you have this thought today? Only after you explain clearly can I give my interpretation. The person said: since the burial, my official career has repeatedly encountered setbacks, and I am nearly fifty without a son, so I want to ask whether this tomb is problematic. The Wild Crane Elder said: the terrain of this land comes from the right side, and the water flows back from the left to its source. The problem lies in the water not returning to its original channel and flowing off to the sides. The person asked: how do you know this? The answer was: the fourth line, Hai water, represents children, which is active and changes into Shen metal to generate it. Shen metal is the source of water; however, the day of Jiayin has Yin wood which conflicts with Shen metal, thus the source is disrupted, causing the water to scatter and not gather. If one can find a way to make the water return to its channel and stop flowing off to the sides, then next year he will be restored to official position and return to court; by the year of Shen, he will certainly have a son. The person then asked: can this be long-lasting and peaceful? The answer was: this hexagram isSix Harmony, which can ensure peace for ten thousand years.

申子辰合成水局、巳酉丑合成金局、寅午戌合成火局、亥卯未合成木局。此三合者有四。一卦之內有一爻動而合局者一也。若兩爻動一爻不動亦成合局者二也。有內卦初爻、三爻、動而變出爻成三合者三也。又有外四多爻、六爻動、動而變出之爻成三合者四也。然此三合者有凶有吉。如占功名合成官局謂之官旺，合成財局財旺生官，倘若合成子孫局者乃傷煞之神也。如占求財合成財局者謂之財庫；合成子孫局者謂之子局生財；倘若合成兄弟局者乃破財、耗財、阻隔之神也。如占祖塋、家宅宜父母爻而合局也。如占婚姻、夫婦、宜財官旺而合局。凡占求謀喜慶之事宜於成局，永遠堅牢。

The Triple Harmony Formation refers to the combination of three branches forming a specific pattern. The branches Shen, Zi, and Chen form a Water Formation; Si, You, and Chou form a Metal Formation; Yin, Wu, and Xu form a Fire Formation; and Hai, Mao, and Wei form a Wood Formation. There are four ways to form a Triple Harmony. First, if all three branches are present within one trigram and one line is activated, the formation is complete. Second, if two lines are activated and one is still, the formation is also considered complete. Third, if the first and third lines of the inner trigram are activated, and the transformed line completes the three branches, the formation is complete. Fourth, if the fourth and sixth lines of the outer trigram are activated, and the transformed line completes the three branches, the formation is complete. The Triple Harmony Formation can be either auspicious or inauspicious, depending on which of the Six Relations it forms. When predicting about official positions, if the formation is an official formation, it indicates a strong official star; if it is a wealth formation, it indicates wealth generating official status, both being favorable. If it forms a children formation, it indicates a harmful official star, which is unfavorable. When predicting about wealth, if the formation is a wealth formation, it is called "wealth repository"; if it is a children formation, it is called "children generating wealth," both being favorable. If it forms a siblings formation, it indicates loss of wealth, expenditure, and obstruction. When predicting about ancestral graves and family dwellings, it is favorable if the parents' lines form a harmony. When predicting about marriage and spouse, it is favorable if the wealth lines and official lines are strong and form a harmony. In general, for matters of planning and celebrations, forming a harmony is favorable, indicating lasting and solid results.

若占官訟、憂疑而合局者，終身團結，其心難於消釋，但三合其局者必要世爻在局者為美，若世爻不在於局內，須要局生世爻為吉，局克世爻為凶，三爻若有兩爻動，不成局，須待後之補湊合成其局，謂之虛三待用。一爻明動一爻暗動亦作兩爻動。三合局中若有一空破者，待填滿之日月成之。有一爻入墓者待沖開之日成之。

In reverse, if one encounters a harmonious combination in a divination concerning legal disputes or matters of worry and doubt, it indicates prolonged entanglement and difficulty in resolving the matter. There is an important condition for a triple harmony formation: it is best if the world line is itself within the formation. If the world line is not within the formation, one should examine whether the formation supports or harms the world line—supporting is favorable, harming is unfavorable. There is another situation: among the three branches, only two lines are active, and the third is entirely absent from the hexagram, so the formation is not yet complete. One must wait until that third line appears later to form the complete triple harmony, which is called 'virtual triple waiting for use'. One should also note that if one line is clearly active and another is covertly active, it is treated as if two lines are active. If one line in the formation is empty or meets the condition of being broken, one must wait until that line is filled in that day or month to complete the formation. If one line enters theStorage (storage), one must wait until the day theStorage is opened to complete the formation.

凡得三合名利婚姻、家宅、風水、用神旺者無不為吉，必要世爻在局為美、若不在於局內須要局生世爻為吉，局克世爻為凶。如占財，財局生世利於我財，局生應利於他。占出行用神在三合內被合而留。占行人用神在三合之內被合不回。又有內卦外卦而成三合者須分內外。如占家宅若屬外宅不宜外卦克內，若居內宅須宜內卦生外卦，又如占彼此之形者，內卦為我，外卦為他。外卦合局而內卦者為吉，克內卦者為凶。

In summary: whenever divining about fame, fortune, marriage, home, or feng shui and obtaining a Triple Harmony Formation, as long as the Useful God is prosperous and strong, there will be no bad outcome. The best situation is when the World Line is within the formation. If the World Line is not within the formation, then we look at whether the formation supports or restrains the World Line; supporting the World Line is auspicious, restraining it is inauspicious. For example, when divining about wealth, if the wealth formation comes to support the World Line, this wealth is beneficial to me; if the wealth formation goes to support the Response Line, then the benefit goes to the other party. When divining about travel, if the Useful God falls within the Triple Harmony and is restrained by it, the person cannot go out and remains behind. When divining about a missing person, if the Useful God falls within the Triple Harmony and is restrained by it, the person cannot return. Additionally, when the Inner Trigram and Outer Trigram each form their own Triple Harmony, we must distinguish between inner and outer: when divining about home, if the residence is the outer home, it is not advisable for the Outer Trigram to restrain the Inner Trigram; if the residence is the inner home, then the Inner Trigram should support the Outer Trigram. For example, when divining about a situation of opposing forces, the Inner Trigram represents my side, and the Outer Trigram represents the other side. If the Outer Trigram forms a Triple Harmony and supports the Inner Trigram, it is auspicious; if it restrains the Inner Trigram, it is inauspicious.

如卯月丁巳日上下兩村因田水撕打得離之坤卦。 兄弟巳火′世　動　妻財酉金″世 子孫未土″　官鬼亥水″ 妻財酉金′　動　子孫丑土″ 官鬼亥水′應　動　父母卯木″應 子孫丑土″　兄弟巳火″ 父母卯木′　動　子孫未土″ 斷曰：內卦為我村，亥卯未合成木局，外卦為人村，巳酉丑合金局來克木，幸衰金不克旺木，不足畏也。況係六沖卦變六沖，有人解散必不成訟，後果勸散。

This is a real divination case. On the day of Dingsi in the卯 month, two villages fought over water rights from a piece of land. The divination resulted in the hexagram Li (Fire) changing to Kun (Earth). The primary hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is Brothers in the fire of巳 (the world line, which is active), the fifth line is Children in the earth of未, the fourth line is Wealth in the metal of酉 (active), the third line is Official Ghost in the water of亥 (the response line, which is active), the second line is Children in the earth of丑, and the first line is Parents in the wood of卯 (active). The Wild Crane Elder interpreted it as follows: the inner trigram represents our village, and the branches亥, 卯, and 未 in the inner trigram form a wood cycle; the outer trigram represents the other village, and the branches巳, 酉, and 丑 in the outer trigram form a metal cycle, with metal overcoming wood. Fortunately, it is now the卯 month, when wood is strong and metal is weak. The weak metal cannot overcome the strong wood, so there is no cause for concern. Moreover, the original hexagram Li (Fire) is a hexagram of six clashes, and the transformed hexagram Kun (Earth) is also a hexagram of six clashes. Six clashes indicate dispersion, meaning that someone will surely intervene to mediate and prevent a lawsuit. Later, it was indeed resolved by people who persuaded them to disperse.

或問：彼此之形，必以世應為主，如何不言世應？余曰：若無內外合局者，須看世應，今彼此兩村即內外兩卦人眾同心，彼此合局，神之如用靈驗顯然，故舍世應而不用也，若非卦化六沖，未有不成非也。

Someone asked: When divining a situation of confrontation between two sides, it has always been customary to focus on the World Line and the Response Line. Why don't you mention the World and Response Lines? The Wild Crane Elder replied: If the inner and outer hexagrams do not each form a complete structure, then naturally we look at the World and Response Lines. But in this case, the two villages happen to have each of the inner and outer hexagrams forming a complete structure, which indicates that both sides have many people working together. The divine spirits use such a hexagram to respond to events, and the clarity of the omen is unmistakable. Therefore, we can disregard the World and Response Lines. He also added: If this hexagram had not transformed into the Six Clashes, this dispute would not have escalated to such a serious extent.

子午相沖、丑未相沖、寅申相沖、卯酉相沖、辰戌相沖、巳亥相沖。相沖之法有六。日月沖爻者一也，卦逢六沖二也，六合卦變六沖三也，沖變六沖四也。動爻變沖五也、爻與爻沖六也。沖者散也，凡占凶事宜於沖散、占吉事而不宜，必兼用神而言，用神旺雖沖不破，用神失陷凶而又凶，六合卦變六沖卦者，用神旺者始吉終凶，圖事難成，有始無終也。爻沖有五：爻與月沖謂月破。爻遇日沖為暗動。休囚而遇日沖謂之日破。動爻化回頭沖。如逢仇敵。爻遇爻沖謂之相殺也。

The twelve Earthly Branches are paired into six conflicting pairs: Zi and Wu conflict, Chou and Wei conflict, Yin and Shen conflict, Mao and You conflict, Chen and Xu conflict, and Si and Hai conflict. There are six types of conflict situations: first, when the day branch or the month builder conflicts with a line; second, when the primary hexagram itself is a hexagram of six conflicts; third, when a hexagram of six harmony changes into a hexagram of six conflicts; fourth, when a hexagram of six conflicts changes into another hexagram of six conflicts; fifth, when a moving line transforms into a line that conflicts with it; sixth, when two lines within the hexagram conflict with each other. The meaning of conflict is "to scatter": for divinations concerning bad events, conflict is favorable as it disperses negative influences, but for good events, conflict is not advisable. However, one must also consider the useful god. If the useful god is prosperous and strong, even though it is conflicted, it will not be broken; but if the useful god has already declined, then the outcome will be even worse. When a hexagram of six harmony changes into a hexagram of six conflicts, even if the useful god is prosperous and strong, it will start off favorable but end in misfortune, making plans difficult to complete and resulting in a beginning without an end. There are five types of lines being conflicted: when a line is conflicted by the month builder, it is called "month breaking"; when a strong line is conflicted by the day branch, it is called "covert movement"; when a weak and confined line is conflicted by the day branch, it is called "day breaking"; when a moving line transforms into a line that conflicts with it, it is like encountering an enemy; and when one line in the hexagram conflicts with another line, it is called "mutual destruction."

如巳月戊戌日占財得風雷益： 兄弟卯木′應　兄弟卯木′應 子孫巳火′　子孫巳火′ 妻財未土″　妻財未土″ 妻財辰土″世　妻財辰土″世 兄弟寅木″　兄弟寅木″ 父母子水′　父母子水′ 辰土財爻持世，因值旬空，戌日沖空填實，本日辰得財。

This is a real divination case. The person asked about seeking wealth on the day of Wu Xu (戊戌) in the month of Si (巳). The hexagram cast was Yi (风雷益), with all six lines still. From top to bottom, the lines are: the top line is the brother's卯wood (response line), the fifth line is the son's巳fire, the fourth line is the wife's wealth未earth, the third line is the wife's wealth辰earth (world line), the second line is the brother's寅wood, and the first line is the parents'子water. In divination about wealth, the wife's wealth line is the useful god. In this case, the wealth line is exactly holding the world line, which is the third line, the辰earth. Unfortunately, it is falling in the旬空 (a period of emptiness). Normally, one should wait until it comes out of the emptiness to get wealth. Fortunately, on this day, which is Wu Xu, there is a conflict between the辰and the戌. This conflict causes the empty line to become active, so the emptiness turns into reality. Therefore, the person received wealth during the辰hour of that day. This is exactly what was mentioned earlier, "when an empty line is conflicted, it becomes real."

又如午月丙辰日占出外經商貿易財如何得恆之豫卦： 妻財戌土″應　妻財戌土″ 官鬼申金″　官鬼申金″ 子孫午火′　子孫午火′應 官鬼酉金′世　動　兄弟卯木″ 父母亥水′　動　子孫巳火″ 妻財丑土″　妻財未土″世 世爻酉金化卯相沖及反覆之卦，幸辰日合之，沖中逢合，又得戌土為財，暗動生世，雖則反覆不常，卻有財利。果此人去而復反者三次，中途發財。前曰：爻動化沖，如逢他敵，乃是化回頭之克也。此卦世爻酉金化卯沖世而不克世，又得辰日沖動戌財生世所以為吉。

This is a real divination case. On the day of Bingchen (丙辰), in the month of Wu (午), someone consulted about the fortune of doing business outside. The hexagram drawn was Heng (雷风恒) changing into Yu (雷地豫). The primary hexagram, from top to bottom, was: the top line was the wife's wealth (妻财) of Xu earth (戌土), the fifth line was the official ghost (官鬼) of Shen metal (申金), the fourth line was the children (子孙) of Wu fire (午火), the third line was the official ghost (官鬼) of You metal (酉金) (the world line, which was active), the second line was the parents (父母) of Hai water (亥水) (also active), and the first line was the wife's wealth (妻财) of Chou earth (丑土). The world line (世爻) of You metal (酉金) became active and transformed into the brothers (兄弟) of Mao wood (卯木). The active world line (世爻) of You metal (酉金) transforming into Mao wood (卯木) created a 'movement and transformation into a conflict' (动而化冲); also, the primary and transformed hexagrams showed signs of fluctuation, seeming unfavorable. Fortunately, the day of Bingchen (丙辰) had the earth (辰) combining with the metal (酉), so the conflict was accompanied by a combination, which restrained the conflict. Also, the day of Bingchen (丙辰) caused the top line's wife's wealth (妻财) of Xu earth (戌土) to move covertly (暗动), which then generated the world line (世爻). Therefore, although the journey was fluctuating and uncertain, there was ultimately profit. Later, this person indeed went and came back, came back and went again, making three trips, and made money on the way. It was previously mentioned that 'a moving line transforming into a conflict is like encountering an enemy,' which refers to the case where the transformation leads to a reverse control (回头克). In this hexagram, the world line (世爻) of You metal (酉金) transformed into Mao wood (卯木), which only conflicted with the world line (世爻) but did not control it (metal can control wood), and also received the movement of the day of Bingchen (丙辰) on the top line's wife's wealth (妻财) of Xu earth (戌土) to generate the world line (世爻), so the fortune was favorable.

又如酉月乙未日占子久出不歸生死如何得坤卦： 子孫酉金″世 妻財亥水″ 兄弟丑土″ 官鬼卯木″應 父母巳火″ 兄弟未土″ 世持子孫以臨月建，未日生之，雖是六沖之卦，此子必歸。果於子年建功卯年得意而歸，此應靜而逢沖之驗也。

This is a real divination case. In the month of You and day of Yiwei, someone asked about his son who had been away for a long time, whether he was alive or dead. The hexagram drawn was "Kun as Earth" (Hexagram 2), with all six lines still. From top to bottom, the lines are: the top line is the son's branch in You metal (the world line), the fifth line is the wife's wealth in Hai water, the fourth line is the brother in Chou earth, the third line is the official ghost in Mao wood (the response line), the second line is the parents in Si fire, and the first line is the brother in Wei earth. For the son, the son's branch is the useful god. In this hexagram, the son's branch is exactly the world line, which is the top line You metal. Moreover, it coincides with the month builder of You month, and is supported by the earth of the day Yiwei to be born (earth generates metal). It is prosperous and strong. Although "Kun as Earth" is a hexagram of six clashes, which indicates dispersion, since the useful god is so powerful, it is still predicted that the son will return. Later, he indeed achieved success in the year of Zi and returned with great success in the year of Mao. This is an example of "even though the static line meets six clashes, as long as the useful god is prosperous and strong, the result will still be favorable."

又有巳月甲寅日占嚴師訓子得天地否卦變乾卦： 父母戌土′應　父母戌土′世 兄弟申金′　兄弟申金′ 官鬼午火′　官鬼午火′ 妻財卯木″世　動　父母辰土′應 官鬼巳火″　動　妻財寅木′ 父母未土″　動　子孫子水′ 以應為用神，世應相合，應臨戌父，巳月生之，乃飽學之士，獨嫌卦變六沖，合而變沖，不久之兆，彼問曰：因何事而不久？餘日：子水子孫值旬空，卦中未土父動，防子孫災變，後果兩月，其子得病，辭師未久而子死矣。

This is a real divination case. On the day of Jiayin (甲寅) in the month of Si, someone consulted about seeking a strict teacher to teach his son, and he cast the hexagram Tian Di Po (天地否) changing to Qian (乾为天). The original hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is parents戌土 (shoulder line), the fifth line is brothers申金, the fourth line is official ghost午火, the third line is wife wealth卯木 (world line, active), the second line is official ghost巳火 (active), and the first line is parents未土 (active). The person consulted took the response line as the useful god, and the response line was the top line, parents戌土, which combined with the world line卯木 (卯 and戌 combine), indicating that the teacher and student would get along well. The戌土 parents were also supported by the fire of the month of Si, indicating a teacher with solid knowledge. Unfortunately, the original hexagram was a hexagram of Six Harmony, but the changed hexagram was a hexagram of Six Clashes, meaning that harmony turned into conflict, which is a sign of something not lasting. The person asked why it could not last. The Wild Crane Elder said: the line of sons子水 in the first line was in the旬空, and the first line parents未土 was active and was attacking it, so there was a warning of disaster for the child. Later, after two months, the child indeed fell ill; shortly after dismissing the teacher, the child died.

凡得六合變六沖者，諸占先合後離、先親後疏、先濃後淡，始榮終悴，得而復失成而後敗、惟占官非，盜賊事者宜之。

If a divination results in a hexagram of Six Harmony changing to one of Six Clashes, regardless of the subject being divined, it indicates a pattern of first coming together then parting, first being close then distant, first intense then fading. It starts with prosperity but ends in decline, something is obtained but then lost, success is achieved but then ruined. However, in cases of divining about legal disputes or theft, this kind of hexagram is actually favorable. This is because Clashes indicate dispersion; disputes will naturally subside and thieves will naturally depart.

如申月已卯日父子七人俱蒙拿問。得巽卦變坤卦： 兄弟卯木′世　動　官鬼酉金″世 子孫巳火′　動　父母亥水″ 妻財未土″　妻財丑土″ 官鬼酉金′應　動　兄弟卯木″應 父母亥水′　動　子孫巳火″ 妻財丑土″　妻財未土″ 此係卦變巽木化坤土，名為化去不克，當主無妨，只因世爻變鬼，卯木化酉金，木破金克，巳火子孫又化亥水，父子兩爻皆被其傷，六沖亂室，一家俱受刑。占法皆以六沖卦宜於官事，喜其沖散，然必看木之大小，又宜兼用神而言，此卦六沖變沖，亦可謂之官事逢沖而散。

This is a real divination case. On the day of Ji Mao (己卯) in the month of Shen (申), a family with seven sons and their father were all arrested and imprisoned. The hexagram divined was Xun (Wind) changing to Kun (Earth). The primary hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is Brothers (卯 wood), which is the world line and is active; the fifth line is Children (巳 fire), which is active; the fourth line is Wealth (未 earth); the third line is Official Ghost (酉 metal), which is the response line and is active; the second line is Parents (亥 water), which is active; and the first line is Wealth (丑 earth). Looking at the entire hexagram, Xun wood changes to Kun earth, which is me overcoming him, called "transformation and not overcoming," which should be harmless. However, there are two problems: first, the world line, which is卯 wood, is active and transforms into酉 metal Official Ghost, so the world line turns into an official ghost; second, the fifth line, which is巳 fire Children, is active and transforms into亥 water, which overcomes fire, thus the children are also harmed. The two lines representing father and son have their useful gods injured, and the six clashes disturb the family, so all the family members were punished. Old methods say that a hexagram of six clashes is suitable for legal matters, taking the meaning of dispersing through clashes; but one must also consider the strength of the yao being clashed and especially the useful gods. In this hexagram, six clashes change into six clashes again. If only following old methods, would it not also be said that "legal matters meet clashes and disperse"?

寅刑巳、巳刑申、子刑卯、卯刑午、丑戌相刑、未辰相刑。又云：辰午酉亥謂之自刑，夫三刑者，余屢試之，或因用神休囚又兼他爻犯之，刑者則見凶，而獨犯三刑得驗者少，占過數十年只驗得一卦。

The branches that are mutually harmful are:寅 harms巳,巳 harms申,子 harms卯,卯 harms午,丑 and戌 harm each other, and未 and辰 harm each other; another view says that the branches 辰,午,酉, and亥 harm themselves, called "self-harm." However, the Wild Crane Elder is cautious about the Three Punishments. He has tested them many times and found that whenever they are verified, it is mostly because the useful god is already weak and confined, and another line is also harming it, thus showing misfortune; cases where only the Three Punishments are involved and the result is verified are actually very rare. After divining for several decades, he has only found one instance that verified. Therefore, the importance of this chapter is not great, and readers should not take the Three Punishments too literally.

如寅月庚申日占子痘症，得風火家人變離卦。 兄弟卯木′　子孫巳火′世 子孫巳火′應　動　妻財未土″ 妻財未土″　動　官鬼酉金′ 父母亥水′　父母亥水′應 妻財丑土″世　妻財丑土″ 兄弟卯木′　兄弟卯木′ 斷曰：巳火子孫既當春令，子孫旺相許之可治，後死於寅日寅時。後悟月建在寅，日建在申，與巳爻子孫共作三刑，獨此一卦，無他爻之傷也，至於子卯、辰戌丑未亦有驗者皆附和而為凶也。

This is the only hexagram that came true. On the day of Gengshen in the Year of the Tiger month, someone consulted about a child developing smallpox and cast the hexagram Wind and Fire, Jia Ren, which changed to Fire, Li. The original hexagram, from top to bottom, was: the top line was Brothers in the Wood of Mao, the fifth line was Children in the Fire of Si (the responding line, which was active), the fourth line was Wealth in the Earth of Wei (which was active), the third line was Parents in the Water of Hai, the second line was Wealth in the Earth of Chou (the world line), and the first line was Brothers in the Wood of Mao. For the child, the Children line was taken as the useful god, and the fifth line, Si fire, was used. At that time, it was the Year of the Tiger month, so Wood was strong and generated Fire, making the Children line prosperous and strong, so the Wild Crane Elder concluded that the child could be cured. But the child later died on the day of the Tiger and at the hour of the Tiger. Only after the fact did it become clear: the month builder was the Tiger, the day builder was the Monkey, and the Children line was the Si fire. The three branches, Tiger, Si, and Monkey, formed the three punishments, and there was no other line in the hexagram that harmed the Children line. This is a true example of the three punishments acting independently. As for the cases of child punishing Mao, and the mutual punishment among Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei, although they sometimes come true, they are actually accompanied by other ominous signs.

靜爻旺相日辰沖之為暗動，靜爻休囚日辰沖之為破，暗動者有喜有忌。用神休囚得元神暗動以相生；忌神明動於卦中，得元神暗動而生用神，此皆謂之喜也。用神休囚無助，若遇忌神克害用神，此皆謂之忌也。占以暗動福來而不知，禍來而不覺。又曰：吉凶之應於動，有急緩之應，則緩非此論，何當不知不覺，報應亦非緩也。

A still line that is itself prosperous and strong, when confronted by the day branch, is called "covert movement." If the line is weak and confined and is then confronted by the day branch, it becomes "day break." Covert movement can be beneficial or harmful. It is beneficial when the useful god is weak and helpless, and the origin god covertly moves to generate it; or when the harmful god clearly moves in the chart, and the origin god covertly moves to support the useful god — these are both good. It is harmful when the useful god is weak and helpless, and the harmful god covertly moves to harm it. Diviners often say that the effect of covert movement is "blessings come without awareness, misfortunes strike without notice." The Wild Crane Elder adds: good and bad outcomes depend on the moving line, which can be fast or slow. The slow ones have another explanation and are not considered covert movement. In fact, covert movement is not slow; it is just not easily noticed, and its consequences arrive just as quickly.

即如寅月已未日占女痘得坤之師卦： 子孫酉金″世　子孫酉金″應 妻財亥水″　妻財亥水″ 兄弟丑土″　兄弟丑土″ 官鬼卯木″應　父母午火″世 父母巳火″　動　兄弟辰土′ 兄弟未土″　官鬼寅木″ 酉金子孫，雖則春令休囚，得日辰生之，二爻巳火動而克金，得未日沖動丑土，土動生金，花雖密以全生。彼曰：目下甚危。余曰：不妨，今日未申時有救，果於申時遇明醫救治，何當緩也？

This is a real divination case. On the day of Jiwei (己未) in the寅 month, someone consulted about his daughter's smallpox, and the hexagram drawn was "Kun (Earth) changing into 'Shi' (Earth over Water)." The primary hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is the Son's Branch in酉 metal (the world line), the fifth line is the Wealth Branch in亥 water, the fourth line is the Sibling Branch in丑 earth, the third line is the Official Ghost Branch in卯 wood (the response line), the second line is the Parent Branch in巳 fire (which is active), and the first line is the Sibling Branch in未 earth. For this divination, the Son's Branch is the useful god, taken from the top line,酉 metal. In the寅 month, wood is strong and metal is weak, so the酉 metal is already weak and confined. Fortunately, the day of Jiwei (己未) has earth to generate it. However, the second line's巳 fire is active, and fire overcomes metal, harming the useful god. At this time, the day of Jiwei also triggers the fourth line's丑 earth—since丑 and未 are opposing, the丑 earth, which was originally strong and still, becomes covertly active when opposed. This covertly active丑 earth generates the酉 metal, saving the useful god. Therefore, although the smallpox rash is dense, the daughter's life can be preserved. The person asking the question said that the condition is very dangerous. The Wild Crane Elder said it was not a problem, and that help would come at the time of Wei and Shen. Later, indeed, at the time of Shen, a skilled doctor came to treat her. This shows how quickly the effect of covert movement can be realized.

占以日辰而沖動爻，謂之沖散，又以爻動沖爻，亦能沖散，予屢試之，旺相者沖之不散，有氣者沖之不散，休囚者間有沖散，亦千百中之一二也，其故何也？神兆機於動，動必有因。雖則今日受制，後逢值日而不散也。

There is a saying in divination: when the Day Branch conflicts with a moving line, it is called "dispersing by conflict"; when one moving line conflicts with another line, it can also disperse that line. The Wild Crane Elder has tested this many times and concluded that a prosperous and strong line cannot be dispersed by conflict, nor can a line with some vitality be dispersed. Only a weak and confined line, without vitality, may occasionally be dispersed, and even then, only once or twice in a thousand times. Why is this so? Because the mechanism of the hexagram is revealed through the moving line. Once a line moves, there must be a reason behind it. Even if it is restrained by the Day Branch today, on the day when that line is active, it will still manifest and not truly disperse.

如丑月丁酉日占父出外一載無音得風水渙變坎卦。 父母卯木′　動　官鬼子水″世 兄弟巳火′世　子孫戌土′ 子孫未土″　妻財申金″ 兄弟午火″　兄弟午火″應 子孫辰土′應　子孫辰土′ 父母寅木″　父母寅木″ 卯木父爻發動而生世，又化子水回頭生許之，在外平安。世空者還至交春即歸，果於二月得意而回。此非卯動酉日沖之？何當散也？李我平日：黃金策以空亡為重，沖散為輕。易冒最重沖散，細閱占驗多因錯課。

This is a real divination case. On the day of Dingyou (丁酉) in the month of Chou (丑), someone consulted about his father who had been away for a year without any news. The hexagram drawn was Huan (风水涣) changing to Kan (坎为水). The primary hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is parents yao (爻) of mulberry wood (卯木) which is moving, the fifth line is siblings yao of fire (巳火) which is the world line (世爻), the fourth line is children yao of earth (未土), the third line is siblings yao of fire (午火), the second line is children yao of earth (辰土) which is the response line (应爻), and the first line is parents yao of tiger wood (寅木). The moving line is mulberry wood (卯木) changing into official ghost yao of water (子水). The father's yao is taken as the useful god (用神), and the upper line's mulberry wood is selected. Since the moving line of mulberry wood is generating the world line (wood generates fire), and it changes into water which in turn generates itself (water generates wood), it is concluded that the father is safe abroad. The world line is currently in the旬空, so it is predicted that he will return only after spring. Indeed, he returned happily in February. Please note: the mulberry wood is clearly moving, but on the day of Dingyou, the酉 metal is conflicting with the卯 wood. According to the theory of 'conflict and dispersion' (冲散), this line should have dispersed already, yet it still came true. How could it be dispersed? Li Woping, the reviser, commented: The Golden Strategies (黄金策) places great emphasis on empty (空亡) and less on conflict and dispersion (冲散), while the book Venturing into the Changes (易冒) gives the highest weight to conflict and dispersion. Upon careful examination of the divination cases preserved in Venturing into the Changes, most of them were wrongly interpreted due to an over-reliance on the theory of conflict and dispersion.

卦變者：變生、變克、變墓、變絕、比和。予得驗者，凡遇卦化克者，不論用神之衰旺皆以凶推。此乃巽卦變坎卦，巽木變坎水謂之化生，水回頭以生木，也即以吉斷。此乃震卦化乾卦，震木變乾金謂之化克，金回頭以克木，也即以凶推。卯月辛巳日來人不言所事。占得巽卦變乾卦。問之所占何事？伊曰：代卜長輩功名。余曰：功名須要親占，代占難取用神，從不敢斷，幸此卦而易見，巽木化乾金，即為化回頭克，為絕卦也，不必問名，壽命不長，果於削職後七月而終。

This chapter discusses the changes of the entire hexagram. When the primary hexagram transforms into another, there are five relationships: transformation of birth, transformation of overcoming, transformation of burial, transformation of extinction, and harmony (same type). The conclusion the Wild Crane Elder reached through his experiments is that whenever the hexagram transforms into an overcoming relationship, regardless of whether the useful god is strong or weak, it is generally a bad omen. For example, when the hexagram Xun (Wind) transforms into Kan (Water), Xun belongs to wood and Kan belongs to water, water comes back to nourish wood, which is called "transformation of birth," and it is a good omen. When the hexagram Zhen (Thunder) transforms into Qian (Heaven), Zhen belongs to wood and Qian belongs to metal, metal comes back to overcome wood, which is called "transformation of overcoming," and it is a bad omen. Here is a real case: on the day of Xinsi in the month of Mao, a person refused to say what he was asking about, and he cast the hexagram Xun (Wind) transforming into Qian (Heaven). The Wild Crane Elder asked him what he was asking about, and he finally said he was asking about his relative's official position. The Wild Crane Elder said: asking about official position must be done by the person himself, and it is difficult to take the useful god when it is done by proxy, so I have never dared to make a judgment. Fortunately, this hexagram is clear at a glance - Xun wood transforms into Qian metal, which is a case of "transformation of overcoming," which is called "extinction," so the official position is not worth asking about, and this relative's lifespan is also not long. Later, this relative was dismissed from his post, and died seven months later.

又如午月丙寅日占主病，得離卦變坎卦，離火變坎水，回頭來克，但因午月火旺，許之冬令必危。果卒於九月丁亥日。此皆不看用神之衰旺也。

For example, on a day of Bingyin (丙寅) in the month of Wu (午), a servant was asked to divinate a sickness for his master. The shaken hexagram showed Li (Hexagram 30) as fire transforming into Kan (Hexagram 29) as water. Li belongs to fire, and Kan belongs to water. Water comes back to control fire, which is an instance of transformational control. At that time, it was the month of Wu, when fire was at its peak, so the condition was still manageable. The Wild Crane Elder predicted that danger would come in winter. Indeed, the person died on the day of Dinghai (丁亥) in September. Hai belongs to water, which was the time when water was strong and controlled fire. In these two hexagrams, the diviner did not consider the strength or weakness of the useful god, but simply relied on the transformational control of the hexagram body to determine the ominous outcome. This shows that the transformation of the hexagram body is fundamental.

李我平曰：易冒墓絕章云，日月當令非真，卻不知凶事將來，神機早兆，日月當時雖旺，過時則有消，即如此篇，占主病午月得離變坎，目今夏火雖旺，冬來火衰命絕。易冒反伏章云：（日月非空破，徒往則重。又曰：半徒往徒未半凶吉），種種疑論，皆非經驗。卦體如人之根本，卦變刑剋絕，如樹連根出土，目前枝葉雖青，能保長不朽乎？當時旺，過時而衰，空破雖虛，填實則應，且半凶半吉之論，難作後人法，此書只以回頭克者為凶，見易胃反伏章中之占驗，明是回頭之克，誤作反覆休囚。如寅月癸酉日占長子病。得震之兌，此非震木化兌金回頭之克耶？此二卦竟未看出，土遭木克，木被金傷，以震為長男，占長子所以不吉。殊不知卦變回頭之克，少女亦難保也，今以彼之占驗而謂彼之錯誤，無他說也。

The commentator Li Woping noted that in the chapter on "Mourning and Absolute Decline" of "Yi Mao," it says that "when a line is in the presence of the sun and moon at their proper time, it is not considered a true mourning or absolute decline." However, he fails to understand that when misfortune is about to come, the divine mechanism has already given signs—although the sun and moon may be strong at that time, they will weaken after that season. Taking this hexagram as an example, it was used to divinate a patient's illness in the month of Wu (Summer). Although fire is strong now in summer, it will weaken in winter, and the person's life will be cut short. In the chapter on "Reversal and Concealment" of "Yi Mao," there are also vague statements such as "the sun and moon are not empty or broken, but if they go alone, they will be repeated" and "half going alone leads to half misfortune and half fortune." These ambiguous statements (the original text is now missing in the printed version) are not derived from actual divination experience. A hexagram is like a person's root; once the hexagram changes into a crime, a conflict, or an absolute decline, it is like a big tree being uprooted. Although the branches and leaves are still green now, how can it last long? When it is strong at the right time, it will weaken after that time. Although empty or broken seems powerless at the moment, when it is filled, it will still come true. As for the method of half good and half bad, which is ambiguous, it cannot be used as a standard for later generations. This book only recognizes one principle: any case of reverse conflict is considered bad. Looking at the divination examples in the chapter on "Reversal and Concealment" of "Yi Mao," there is an example where on the day Guiyou in the month of Yin, the illness of the eldest son was divined, and the hexagram was Zhen (Thunder) changing to Dui (Lake). This is clearly a case of Zhen Wood transforming into Dui Metal, which is a reverse conflict. Yet he failed to see this, only talking about earth being overcome by wood and wood being injured by metal, and because the Zhen hexagram represents the eldest son, he concluded that the eldest son would not be good. But he did not realize that since the hexagram itself has been reverse-conflicted, the Dui hexagram, which represents the young woman, is also not safe. Now I use his own example to point out his mistake. There is nothing else to say.

卦有卦變，爻有爻變。卦變者內外動而反伏者同一卦也。如乾卦變坤卦。爻變者內外爻動而反伏者，非同一卦也。如升之觀是也。又有外卦反伏而內卦不動者，如觀之坤是也。又有內卦反伏而外卦不動者如巽之觀是也。內卦反伏，內則不安。外卦反伏，外則不寧。內外反伏者，內外不寧之象也。皆主成而敗，敗而成，有而即無，無而即有，得而失，失而得，來而去，去而來，散而聚，聚而散，動而思靜，靜而思動。

This chapter discusses "reverse chant" (written as "reverse and conceal" in the text). Reverse chant has two levels: one at the level of the hexagram structure, and the other at the level of the lines. Reverse chant at the level of the hexagram occurs when all six lines of the inner and outer trigrams are in motion, resulting in a transformed hexagram that is entirely opposite to the original, such as when the hexagram Qian (Heaven) transforms into Kun (Earth). Reverse chant at the level of the lines occurs when the lines of the inner and outer trigrams are activated, causing the transformed earthly branches to conflict with their original positions, but the hexagrams before and after are not the same pair, such as when the hexagram Sheng (Rising) transforms into Guan (Observing). There are also cases where only the outer trigram is in reverse chant while the inner trigram remains still, such as when Guan (Observing) transforms into Kun (Earth); or cases where only the inner trigram is in reverse chant while the outer trigram remains still, such as when Xun (Wind) transforms into Guan (Observing). The method of interpretation is: if the inner trigram is in reverse chant, the family is unsettled; if the outer trigram is in reverse chant, external affairs are not peaceful; if both inner and outer trigrams are in reverse chant, it indicates a situation where both internal and external matters are unsettled. The overall imagery is one of constant change: success turns into failure, failure turns into success; possession turns into loss, loss turns into possession; arrival turns into departure, departure turns into arrival; dispersion turns into gathering, gathering turns into dispersion; movement turns into a desire for stillness, stillness turns into a desire for movement.

占功名者，用爻旺相，遷而又行往他處，去而仍復來。用神失陷有或降或升，或得或失矣。占財物聚散不常，買賣經營興衰往來不定。占墳墓宅舍，欲遷不遷，或遷之而再遷，或目下就有遷移之事，占以久遠之事者目前就有變動。占天時晴而即雨，雨而又睛。占婚姻反覆難成。占疾病癒而有病。占盜賊官非，見而又見。占出行，行至中途變反，即使到彼，一事無成。占行人外卦反伏者，用神旺相必歸，不然變他處。在外之人而占家宅者，內卦反伏，家庭人口不安。占彼此之形勢者，內卦反伏，我亂他定，外卦反伏，他亂我定。

When classifying divination results by categories, for matters of official rank, if the useful god is prosperous and strong, one will be transferred to another post and then go elsewhere again, eventually returning; if the useful god is weak and lost, there will be fluctuating gains and losses, with ups and downs. For matters of wealth, there will be constant gathering and dispersing; for business ventures, there will be fluctuating success and failure. For matters of graves and houses, one may want to move but cannot, or move and then move again, or there will be immediate relocation; for long-term matters, there will be initial changes. For weather, it will be clear then rain, then clear again after rain. For marriage, there will be repeated difficulties and failure to succeed. For illness, it will improve then recur. For thieves and legal disputes, there will be occurrences repeatedly. For travel, one will go halfway then return, even if reaching the destination, nothing will be achieved. For those away from home, if the outer trigram is reverse chant and the useful god is prosperous and strong, they will surely return; otherwise, they have changed their destination. If a person is away and divines about home, and the inner trigram is reverse chant, there will be unrest among family members. For opposing situations, if the inner trigram is reverse chant, it indicates disorder on our side and stability on the opponent's side; if the outer trigram is reverse chant, it indicates disorder on the opponent's side and stability on our side.

反伏卦用神旺相不變沖剋者雖則反覆，事之必成，第恐用神而化回頭之沖剋者，即是卦變大凶之象，如卯月壬申日占隨官府上任。得比之井： 妻財子水″應　妻財子水″ 兄弟戌土′　兄弟戌土′世 子孫申金″　子孫申金″ 官鬼卯木″世　動　子孫酉金′ 父母巳火″　動　妻財亥水′應 兄弟未土″　兄弟丑土″ 斷曰：世臨官鬼值月建而旺，隨去必成，因內卦反伏，事有反覆，不宜世爻絕於申日又化回頭沖剋，此行不吉，不去者為上，後有官府直接得缺，近於賊營，辭而不去，及至官府去後，忽又因他故而隨去矣，至七月城破與官府一同被害。與官府同害者，世爻與官鬼同受酉金之沖剋也，不去而又去者，卦得反伏之故也。

But not all reverse chant hexagrams are bad: as long as the useful god is prosperous and strong, and there is no change that leads to clash and control, then although there may be ups and downs, the matter will eventually succeed. The most dangerous situation is when the useful god is activated and changes into a reverse clash or reverse control, which indicates a very ominous hexagram. Here is a real case: in the month of卯 (Mao) on the day ofRenshen (Renshen), someone asked whether it was appropriate to follow an official to take up a post. He cast the hexagram of water on earth Bi changing into water on wind Jing. The primary hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is wife wealth zi water (response line), the fifth line is brothers xu earth, the fourth line is sons shen metal, the third line is official ghost mao wood (world line, activated), the second line is parents si fire (activated), the first line is brothers wei earth; the world line mao wood changes into sons you metal. The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: the world line is exactly the official ghost, which is strong because it is the month builder of mao month. Therefore, going along with the official to take up the post itself is feasible. However, the inner trigram is a reverse chant, indicating that the matter will certainly have ups and downs. More seriously, the world line mao wood on the day of renshen meets the "绝" (decline), and changes into you metal, which reverse clashes and controls (mao and you clash, and metal controls wood). Therefore, this journey is not auspicious, and it is better not to go. Later, that official was directly assigned to a post close to a bandit camp, and the person declined to go. But after the official left first, he suddenly went along for another reason. In July, the city was attacked and broken, and he and the official were both killed. He suffered the same fate as the official because the world line and the official ghost were both clashed and controlled by you metal. He decided not to go but then went anyway, which was exactly the reverse chant indicated in the hexagram.

又如卯月已亥日占升遷，得臨變中孚。 子孫酉金″　動　官鬼卯木′ 妻財亥水″應　動　父母巳火′ 兄弟丑土″　兄弟未土″世 兄弟丑土″　兄弟丑土″ 官鬼卯木′世　官鬼卯木′ 父母巳火′　父母巳火′應 斷曰：世臨卯木月建之官，又長生於亥日，世與官星同臨旺地，許之即升，果於本月聞報，由江西升任山東，未及一載復任江西，應本月升者卯官而值月令升山東者，官臨卯木，復任江西者，外卦反伏，去之而復反也。

Another example of a real case with an opposite outcome. On the day of Jihai (己亥) in the month of Mao (卯), someone consulted about a promotion. The hexagram drawn was "Lin" (地泽临) changing into "Zhong Fu" (风泽中孚). The primary hexagram, from top to bottom, was as follows: the top line was the son's metal (子孙酉金, which was active), the fifth line was the wife's water (妻财亥水, which was the response line and active), the fourth line was the brother's earth (兄弟丑土), the third line was also the brother's earth (兄弟丑土), the second line was the official ghost (官鬼卯木, which was the world line), and the first line was the parent's fire (父母巳火). The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: the world line is the official ghost of wood (卯木官鬼), which is exactly the month's builder (月建) of the month of Mao; wood is long-lived in亥, and this day is the day of亥, so the world line and the official star are both in a strong position, so he is allowed to be promoted immediately. Later, he indeed received the news of promotion that same month, from Jiangxi to Shandong; within less than a year, he was transferred back to Jiangxi. The promotion happened in the same month because the official star of卯木 was in the month's command; the transfer to Shandong was because the official star was on卯木 (卯 is in the east-northeast, corresponding to the direction of Shandong); and the return to Jiangxi was because of the outer trigram's reverse chant (反吟), meaning he would go and then come back. Although both cases involved reverse chant (反吟), the previous hexagram had the world line turning back to clash and control (回头冲克), which was ominous, while this hexagram had the official star in a strong position, which was auspicious. Thus, reverse chant itself does not necessarily indicate good or bad fortune.

反伏者有內外伏呤者，內外憂鬱呻吟之象。內卦動變伏吟，內則呻吟，外卦動變伏吟，外則憂鬱。占名者久困官途，淹留任路。占利者財源耗散，無利可圖。占墳塋宅舍，欲遷而不能，守之而不利。占婚姻而不樂。占疾病呻吟。占口舌官非，事非難解。占出行總於動移。占行人在外憂鬱。占彼此之形勢者，內卦為我，外卦為他，內伏吟我心不遂，外伏吟他忌不安。然伏吟而較反吟者，反吟有沖有克，爻若受克，得禍不輕。伏吟之卦，用神旺相，沖開之年月，其志則伸，用神休囚，沖開之年月，憂鬱不吉。

There is also "Hidden Chant" (伏吟) opposite to "Reverse Chant" (反吟): when the moving line changes into the same earthly branch as its original position, it remains unchanged, symbolizing inner depression and sorrow. If the inner trigram moves and becomes Hidden Chant, there is inner sorrow; if the outer trigram moves and becomes Hidden Chant, there is sorrow in external affairs. In divination regarding official rank, one is stuck in the official position for a long time without promotion. In divination regarding wealth, the source of wealth is wasted and there is no profit. In divination regarding graves and houses, one wants to move but cannot, and staying is also unfavorable. In divination regarding marriage, although married, one is not happy. In divination regarding illness, the illness is prolonged and painful. In divination regarding disputes and legal matters, the issues are entangled and hard to resolve. In divination regarding travel, one cannot move. In divination regarding someone who is away, the person is outside feeling depressed. In divination regarding mutual situations, the inner trigram represents oneself, and the outer trigram represents the other. Inner Hidden Chant indicates one's heart is unsatisfied, while outer Hidden Chant indicates the other is restricted and uneasy. Compared to Reverse Chant, Hidden Chant is more about stagnation, while Reverse Chant involves both conflict and restriction. When a line is restricted, the misfortune is severe. In a Hidden Chant hexagram, if the useful god is prosperous and strong, then in the year or month when the conflict is resolved, one's aspirations can be realized; if the useful god is weak and confined, even after the conflict is resolved, there will still be sorrow and unfavorable outcomes.

如申月癸巳占父外任平安。得到姤之恆卦： 父母戌土′　動　父母戌土″應 兄弟申金′　動　兄弟申金″ 官鬼午火′應　官鬼午火′ 兄弟酉金′　兄弟酉金′世 子孫亥水′　子孫亥水′ 父母丑土″世　父母丑土″ 斷曰：巳火日辰生父母，當許在任平安，獨憂卦得伏吟，乃是不祥之象，任上必有事故，不得意以呻吟也。彼曰：開地方苗獨之變，可有妨礙否？余曰：日建生父，他事無礙。有問：何時歸來？余曰：伏吟欲歸而不能，辰年可歸，後知苗獨作亂，地方不祥，驚險異常，寅年占卦，辰年缺歸，午年又官者，占時遇巳日扶起午火之官，當日亥水克之而不盡，今午火官星值年依然旺矣。

This is a case of a hidden chant (伏吟). On the day of Guisi (癸巳) in the month of Shen (申), someone asked about the safety of his father who was serving in an official post. He cast the hexagram Tian Feng Gou (天风姤), which changes to Lei Feng Heng (雷风恒). The primary hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is the parent戌土 (parents in the earth branch戌), which is moving; the fifth line is the brother申金 (brother in the earth branch申), which is moving; the fourth line is the official ghost午火 (official ghost in the earth branch午), which is the response line; the third line is the brother酉金 (brother in the earth branch酉); the second line is the child亥水 (child in the earth branch亥); the first line is the parent丑土 (parents in the earth branch丑), which is the world line. The two moving lines have the same earth branches as their original positions (戌 remains戌, 申 remains申), which is a hidden chant. The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: On the day of Guisi, the fire of巳 (巳火) generates the parents' line (fire generates earth), indicating that his father will be safe in his post. However, the hexagram being a hidden chant is an ominous sign, meaning that there will certainly be incidents in his place of duty, and he will be in a state of frustration and unhappiness. The person asked: There is currently a rebellion by the Miao people, will that cause any problems? The answer was: The day's stem (日建) generates the parents' line, so other matters will not be affected. He then asked: When will he be able to return? The answer was: A hidden chant indicates a desire to return but being unable to, so he will not be able to return until the year of Chen (辰). Later it was learned that the Miao people had caused disturbances, making the area very unstable and dangerous. The hexagram was cast in the year of Yin (寅), and indeed, the father did not return until the year of Chen (辰), and in the year of Wu (午) he was appointed again. The reason for his reappointment in the year of Wu (午) is that on the day of the divination, the earth branch巳 (巳) supported the official ghost line午火 (午火 official ghost), and although there was亥水 (亥 water) to overcome it, it was not completely effective. When the official ghost line午火 (午火) became the ruling stem of the year, it naturally became strong again.

李我平曰：易林補遺有曰，爻有伏吟不吉，術者未聞卦有反吟最凶，占卜家誰覺？不看用神之衰旺竟以反吟為畏途，今野鶴此論法，比之井卦，世途沖，事反伏，身受其殃。臨之中孚，世官得地，雖反伏，官連遷轉，教人之法，何等透澈。

The editor Li Woping remarked: The "Supplements to the Forest of Changes" mentioned that "when a line is in hidden chant, it is not auspicious," but the diviners failed to take notice; it also said "when a hexagram is in reverse chant, it is most ominous," yet how many truly understood this? They did not examine the strength and decline of the useful god, but upon seeing reverse chant, they regarded it as a dangerous path. Now the views of the Wild Crane Elder are much clearer: in the case where the hexagram Water and Earth in Harmony changes to Water and Wind in the Well, the world line is afflicted by clash and control, and the matter is also in reverse chant, thus suffering its consequences; in the case where the hexagram Earth and Earth in Approach changes to Wind and Lake in the Middle Trust, the world line and the official star both gain strength, although it is also reverse chant, the official position is continuously promoted. The same reverse chant may bring either good or bad fortune, depending entirely on the useful god. This kind of teaching is truly clear and thorough.