Chapter Twenty-Nine: Advancing and Retreating Gods

進神退神者，爻之動而化也，化進化退，吉凶禍福有喜忌之分，所喜者宜於化進，所忌者宜化退神。 進神 亥化子、寅化卯、巳化午、申化酉、丑化辰、辰化未、未化戌。 退神 子化亥、卯化寅、午化巳、酉化申、辰化丑、未化辰、戌化未。 進神由此而進也，如春天花木枝繁葉茂。退神由此而退也，如秋天花木漸漸凋零。

The terms "advancing god" and "retreating god" refer to the branch that appears after a line is activated: if the transformed branch is further along than the original branch, it is called an advancing god; if it is one step back, it is called a retreating god. Advancing and retreating gods each have their own favorable and unfavorable distinctions—favorable lines (useful god, origin god) should ideally transform into an advancing god, while unfavorable lines (hostile god, enemy god) should ideally transform into a retreating god. There are seven groups of advancing gods:亥 transforms into 子, 寅 transforms into 卯, 巳 transforms into 午, 申 transforms into 酉, 丑 transforms into 辰, 辰 transforms into 未, and 未 transforms into 戌. There are also seven groups of retreating gods:子 transforms into 亥, 卯 transforms into 寅, 午 transforms into 巳, 酉 transforms into 申, 辰 transforms into 丑, 未 transforms into 辰, and 戌 transforms into 未. Water, wood, fire, and metal each consider their adjacent branches for advancement or retreat, such as 亥 advancing to 子, 寅 advancing to 卯. The four earth branches follow the order of 辰, 未, 戌, and 丑 for progression, such as 丑 advancing to 辰, 辰 advancing to 未, and 未 advancing to 戌. Advancing gods move in a forward direction, like the flourishing flowers and branches in spring; retreating gods move backward, like the withering flowers and branches in autumn.

申月癸卯日占鄉試得恆變大過 妻財戌土″應　妻財未土″ 官鬼申金″　動　官鬼酉金′ 子孫午火′　父母亥水′世 官鬼酉金′世　官鬼酉金′ 父母亥水′　父母亥水′ 妻財丑土″　妻財丑土″應 斷曰：酉金官星持世旺相，當時卯日沖之而暗動，又得九五爻上官進神財助生扶，不獨今秋折桂，來春佔鰲頭，果得聯捷。

In the month of Shen and day of Gui Mao, he cast a divination for the local examination. The hexagram drawn was Heng (Thunder over Wind) changing into Da Guo (Lake over Wind). From top to bottom, the lines were: the top line was the wife's wealth in the earth dog (earthly branch) Xu, which was the response line and changed to the wife's wealth in the earth dog Wei. The fifth line was the official ghost in the earth dog Shen (which was active, changing to the official ghost in the earth dog You). The fourth line was the children in the fire horse (earthly branch) Wu, changing to the parents in the water rat (earthly branch) Hai, which was the world line of the resulting hexagram. The third line was the official ghost in the earth dog You (the world line). The second line was the parents in the water rat Hai. The first line was the wife's wealth in the earth ox Chou, which in the resulting hexagram was the response line. The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: for matters of official rank, the official ghost is the useful god. The metal official star You metal is sitting directly on the world line. In the month of Shen, metal is strong, so the useful god is prosperous and strong. On the day of Gui Mao, the wood of Mao is conflicting with it, and a static line being conflicted is called 'covert movement'. The official ghost in the fifth line Shen changes to You, which is an advancing god. There are also two layers of wealth lines, the earth dog Xu and the earth ox Chou, supporting and generating the useful god. Such a hexagram indicates not only success in the autumn local examination but also victory in the spring imperial examination. Later, he indeed passed both exams consecutively.

卯月乙丑日占求婚成否 子孫巳火′　動　父母子水″應 妻財未土″世　動　妻財戌土′ 官鬼酉金′　動　官鬼申金″ 妻財辰土″　兄弟卯木″世 兄弟寅木″應　子孫巳火″ 父母子水′　動　妻財未土″ 斷曰：財爻持世化進神，巳火子動而生世，但因巳火化子水回頭之克，必待午日沖去子水，午火又合世爻，其婚必成，果於午日允婚。或曰：間爻酉金鬼動，豈無阻耶？余曰：鬼化退神雖有被阻而無力也。此卦世爻未土財化旬空，古以財化旬空，謂之動日月而空且不能進，此處未土無力，動散而化空，亦能進矣。

CRITICAL: the output must be English prose. Do NOT rewrite the text in Chinese. Do NOT paraphrase it in Chinese. Every sentence you write must be in English. Heavenly Stems: Jia = Jia, Yi = Yi, Bing = Bing, Ding = Ding, Wu = Wu, Ji = Ji, Geng = Geng, Xin = Xin, Ren = Ren, Gui = Gui Earthly Branches: Zi = Zi, Chou = Chou, Yin = Yin, Mao = Mao, Chen = Chen, Si = Si, Wu = Wu, Wei = Wei, Shen = Shen, You = You, Xu = Xu, Hai = Hai Trigrams: Qian = Qian (Heaven), Dui = Dui (Lake), Li = Li (Fire), Zhen = Zhen (Thunder), Xun = Xun (Wind), Kan = Kan (Water), Gen = Gen (Mountain), Kun = Kun (Earth) Glossary: Wild Crane Elder = Ye He Lao Ren World Line = Shi Yao Response Line = Ying Yao Resulting Hexagram = Bian Gua Advancing God = Jin Shen Retreating God = Tui Shen First Line = Chu Yao Second Line = Er Yao Third Line = San Yao Fourth Line = Si Yao Fifth Line = Wu Yao Top Line = Shang Yao Yi Chou = Yi Chou Parents = Fu Mu Siblings = Xiong Di Children = Zi Sun Wealth = Qi Cai Official Ghost = Guan Gui Question: Divination on the day of Yi Chou in the month of Mao regarding a proposal for marriage, can it succeed? The hexagram, from top to bottom, is: Top Line, the Son of Fire (Si Fire) is active, changing to the Parent of Water (Zi Water), which is the responding line of the resulting hexagram. Fifth Line, the Wealth of Earth (Wei Earth) is the world line, active, changing to the Wealth of Earth (Xu Earth). Fourth Line, the Official Ghost of Metal (You Metal) is active, changing to the Official Ghost of Metal (Shen Metal). Third Line, the Wealth of Earth (Chen Earth) is changing to the Brother of Wood (Mao Wood), which is the world line of the resulting hexagram. Second Line, the Brother of Wood (Yin Wood) is the responding line, changing to the Son of Fire (Si Fire). First Line, the Parent of Water (Zi Water) is active, changing to the Wealth of Earth (Wei Earth). The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: In divination regarding marriage, the Wealth line is used. The Wealth line is exactly holding the world line. Wei Earth changing to Xu Earth is a change to an advancing god. The Son of Fire (Si Fire) at the top line is active and comes to nourish the world line. However, Si Fire changes to Zi Water, which is being retroactively restricted, so one must wait for the day of Wu to remove Zi Water. Moreover, Wu and Wei are in harmony, which is in harmony with the world line, at that time the marriage will surely succeed. Later, indeed, on the day of Wu, the marriage was arranged. Someone asked: The fourth line, the Official Ghost of Metal (You Metal) is active, is there no obstruction? The Wild Crane Elder answered: The Official Ghost of Metal (You Metal) changing to Shen Metal is a change to a retreating god. Although there is obstruction, it does not have strength. In this hexagram, the world line of Wei Earth, which is changing to Xu Earth, is falling into the旬空 (a void in the cycle). According to old sayings, whenever wealth changes into the旬空, it is called "moving and changing into void," and it cannot advance. However, in this case, Wei Earth was already weak, and moving and dispersing further changes into void, it still can advance successfully.

酉月甲辰日占自陳何如 父母酉金″應　父母酉金″ 兄弟亥水″　兄弟亥水″ 官鬼丑土″　官鬼丑土″世 妻財午火″世　動　兄弟亥水′ 官鬼辰土′　動　官鬼丑土″ 子孫寅木″　動　子孫卯木′應 斷曰：世化回頭之克，官化退神，子孫化進神，三爻皆非吉象，大凶之兆，果於次年革職拿問。古以動日月化空破謂之不退，此卦官子孫動休囚而化空破，進者進而退者竟退。

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 Wild Crane Elder interpreted the divination: The World Line is the wife's wealth at the third line, which moves and transforms into the brother at the亥 water. Water comes to overcome fire, which is called 'turning to overcome'. The official ghost at the second line moves and transforms into the official ghost at the丑 earth, which is transforming into the retreating god. Once the official star retreats, the official position is hard to keep. The son at the first line moves and transforms into the卯 wood, which is transforming into the advancing god. The son is the忌神, which is the hostile god that overcomes the official. The hostile god is advancing step by step. The three lines are not auspicious signs, indicating a great凶 omen. Later, indeed, he was dismissed from his post and questioned the next year. According to old sayings, if a moving line is on the day or month and transforms into an empty or broken line, it is called 'not retreating'. In this hexagram, the official star and the son are both weak and confined, moving and transforming into empty or broken lines. What should advance still advances, and what should retreat actually retreats.

丑月丙戌日占父有信至已起程我去迎之可能遇否。 子孫子水″　動　官鬼巳火′ 父母戌土′　動　父母未土″ 兄弟申金″世　動　兄弟酉金′應 兄弟申金′　兄弟申金′ 官鬼午火″　官鬼午火″ 父母辰土″應　父母辰土″世 父化退神，父已歸矣，世化進神而欲去，父爻生世一定相逢，必相會於未日，果得遇未日，應未日，戌父化未，又破又空至未日乃實空實破之日也，若執古法動日月而化空破，謂之退其爻，豈有歸來之日也。

On the day of Bingxu in the month of Chou, I divined about whether I would meet my father who had already started his journey. The hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is the son爻 of water (moving, transforming into the official ghost of fire in the fourth position), the fifth line is the parent爻 of earth (moving, transforming into the parent爻 of earth in the sixth position), the fourth line is the brother爻 of metal (the world line, moving, transforming into the brother爻 of metal in the resulting hexagram, which corresponds to the response line), the third line is the brother爻 of metal, the second line is the official ghost爻 of fire, and the first line is the parent爻 of earth (the response line, which in the resulting hexagram is the world line). The parent爻 of earth (戌) transforms into the parent爻 of earth (未), indicating the father is already on the way back. The world line of metal (申) transforms into the brother爻 of metal (酉), indicating I am about to set out to meet him. The parent爻 also supports the world line, so father and son will certainly meet, and it will be on the day of Wei. Later it turned out that they met on the day of Wei. The reason it is on the day of Wei is because the parent爻 of earth (戌) transforms into the parent爻 of earth (未), which in the month of Chou is being opposed by Chou, resulting in a broken state, and also is in the empty position of the ten-day cycle. On the day of Wei, it is the day when the empty position and broken state are filled. If one rigidly follows old methods, saying that a moving line that meets the day and month and transforms into an empty or broken state is considered to have retreated, then how could there be a day of return?

戌月癸亥日占本年冬今得關差否水澤節變需卦 兄弟子水″　兄弟子水″ 官鬼戌土′　官鬼戌土′ 父母申金″應　父母申金″世 官鬼丑土″　動　官鬼辰土′ 子孫卯木′　子孫寅木′ 妻財巳火′世　兄弟子水′應 丑土官動化進神許丑日必得，果得於丑日。古以動日月化空破，謂之不進，此卦動非日月而化空破，亦能進也。

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 Wild Crane Elder said that on a Guihai day in the month of Xu, someone asked about whether they would get a position in the winter of this year. They cast the hexagram Water Lake (Jie) changing to Water Heaven (Xu). From top to bottom: the top line is a brother's son water, the fifth line is an official ghost戌 earth, the fourth line is a parent's metal (the response line, which in the resulting hexagram is the world line), the third line is an official ghost丑 earth (which moves, changing into an official ghost辰 earth), the second line is a son's卯 wood (changing into a son's寅 wood), and the first line is a wife's财巳 fire (the world line, changing into a brother's子 water, which is the response line of the resulting hexagram). For seeking a position, the official ghost is the useful god. The third line's official ghost丑 earth moves and changes into辰 earth, which is an advancing god. The Wild Crane Elder therefore said that on the day of丑, the person would certainly get the position. Later, it indeed happened. Old sayings say that when a moving line changes into an empty or broken line, it is called 'not advancing'. However, in this hexagram, the moving line is neither the day builder nor the month builder, and the changed line辰 earth also meets an empty or broken line, yet it still advanced successfully.

又如未月丁卯日占功名始得出仕否得火天同人變革卦 子孫戌土′應　動　子孫未土″ 妻財申金′　妻財酉金′ 兄弟午火′　官鬼亥水′世 官鬼亥水′世　官鬼亥水′ 子孫丑土″　子孫丑土″ 父母卯木′　父母卯木′應 余曰：若以古法斷者，子孫動克財官，終身而無官也，餘許辰年出仕，何也？戌土子孫孫雖動幸化退神，不克官也，辰年沖去戌土，是以許之，果於辰年得選豈可謂之動空化日月而不退也。

For example, on a day of Dingmao in the month of Wei, someone asked about when they could attain official position. The hexagram cast was Tong Ren changing (originally written as 'Fire Heaven Tong Ren', but Tong Ren is actually 'Heaven Fire Tong Ren'). From top to bottom: the top line is the grandson in戌 earth (response line, moving, changing to grandson in未 earth), the fifth line is the wife's wealth in申 metal (changing to wife's wealth in酉 metal), the fourth line is the brother in午 fire (changing to official ghost in亥 water, which is the world line of the changing hexagram), the third line is the official ghost in亥 water (world line), the second line is the grandson in丑 earth, and the first line is the parents in卯 wood (in the changing hexagram, it is the response). The Wild Crane Elder said: If we use the old method, the grandson moving line would overcome wealth and official positions, meaning this person would never hold office. But I predicted he would attain office in the year of Chen. Why? Although the grandson in戌 earth is moving, fortunately, the戌 earth is changing to未 earth, which is a retreating god. Once it retreats, it can no longer overcome the official star. In the year of Chen, the year and the month of Chen will clash with戌 earth, removing the戌 earth, so the official star is no longer obstructed, hence I made that prediction. Later, he indeed got an official position in the year of Chen. How can one say that a moving line changing into nothingness or into the day or month cannot retreat?

又如申月辛卯日占病得澤天夬卦變大壯 兄弟未土″　兄弟戌土″ 子孫酉金′世　動　子孫申金″ 妻財亥水′　父母午火′世 兄弟辰土′　兄弟辰土′ 官鬼寅木′應　官鬼寅木′ 妻財子水′　妻財子水′應 此公因抱危症。余曰：子孫持世，明日辰日必遇良醫，果於次日用針而愈。或曰：子孫化退神，何其用藥亦效？余曰：動變皆屬秋金，當相得令，占近事豈可曰退？若占久遠之事，待休囚之時而退者得也，古以動破散而化日月無階無路，謬也。

For example, on a Xinmao day in the month of Shen, divining about an illness, the hexagram cast was Ze Tian Guai changing to Lei Tian Da Zhuang. From top to bottom: the top line is brothers Wu earth (changing to brothers Xu earth), the fifth line is sons You metal (world line, active, changing to sons Shen metal), the fourth line is wife wealth Hai water (changing to parents Wu fire, which becomes the world line of the changing hexagram), the third line is brothers Chen earth, the second line is official ghost Yin wood (response line), and the first line is wife wealth Zi water (in the changing hexagram, it is the response). The illness is very severe. The Wild Crane Elder said: In divination about illness, the sons represent medicine. Since the sons are also holding the world line, on the next day, the day of Chen, there will certainly be a good doctor encountered. Later, indeed, on the next day, the patient was cured by acupuncture. Someone asked: The sons You metal is changing to Shen metal, which is a retreating god. How can the medicine still be effective? The answer is: The moving line and the changing line both belong to autumn metal. In the month of Shen, metal is in its season and is timely. The divination is about a current matter, so how can it be considered retreating? If it were about a long-term matter, then it would have to wait until the metal energy is weak and confined before it would be considered retreating. The old saying that a moving line encountering destruction and dispersion and changing to the day or month is 'without a path or way' is wrong.

又如丑月癸卯日占妻病服藥可愈否？得臨之泰 子孫酉金″　子孫酉金″應 妻財亥水″應　妻財亥水″ 兄弟丑土″　兄弟丑土″ 兄弟丑土″　動　兄弟辰土′世 官鬼卯木′世　官鬼寅木′ 父母巳火′　妻財子水′ 斷曰：兄動化進，神靈莫拘，其妻死於辰日，此乃兄動臨月建而化旬空，亦可謂之不進耶？

For example, on aGuimao day in the丑 month, someone asked about whether their wife's illness could be cured by taking medicine. The hexagram drawn was地泽临 changing to地天泰. From top to bottom: the top line was子孙酉金 (which became the response line in the resulting hexagram), the fifth line was妻财亥水 (the response line), the fourth line was兄弟丑土, the third line was兄弟丑土 (which was activated, changing to兄弟辰土, the world line of the resulting hexagram), the second line was官鬼卯木 (the world line, changing to官鬼寅木), and the first line was父母巳火 (changing to妻财子水). The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: in divination about a wife, the妻财 is the useful god. Brothers are the hostile god that harms the妻财. Now the brothers are activated and have transformed into an advancing god, thus the power to harm the妻财 is increasing step by step, even the gods cannot control it. The wife indeed died on the辰 day. When the brothers line was activated, it was exactly at the month builder of丑 month. The transformed辰土 also fell into the旬空. Can this not be said as 'not advancing'?

又如戌月癸未日占病得乾之夬 父母戌土′世　動　父母未土″ 兄弟申金′　兄弟酉金′世 官鬼午火′　子孫亥水′ 父母辰土′應　父母辰土′ 妻財寅木′　妻財寅木′應 子孫子水′　子孫子水′ 斷曰：久病逢沖莫治，又是父爻持世，妙藥難醫，雖化退神，非病退也，乃精神命脈漸漸消枯之象也，防日月沖破未土而無路矣，果卒於丑月。

For example, on a Guiwei day in the戌 month, a divination was made about illness, and the hexagram cast was Qian (Heaven) changing to Guai (Lake). From top to bottom: the top line is the parent戌 earth (the world line, active, changing to parent未 earth), the fifth line is the brother申 metal (changing to brother酉 metal, which is the world of the changed hexagram), the fourth line is the official ghost午 fire (changing to child亥 water), the third line is the parent辰 earth (the response line), the second line is the wife's wealth寅 wood (in the changed hexagram it is the response), and the first line is the child子 water. The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: a long-term illness with hexagram lines encountering conflict indicates an incurable condition; moreover, the parent line is sitting on the world line—parents are the忌神 of children, and children represent medicine. When the parent line is in control, even the best medicine is ineffective. The change from戌 to未 is a retreating god, but what is retreating is not the illness, but the person's spirit and vital energy gradually withering away; one must also be cautious of the day branch and month builder breaking the未 earth, which would mean no chance of recovery. Later, the person indeed died in the丑 month, which is the month when丑 and未 conflict, and the未 earth was broken.

又如戌月已卯日占母血崩一年有餘得同人變解 子孫戌土′應　動　子孫戌土″ 妻財申金′　動　妻財申金″應 兄弟午火′　兄弟午火′ 官鬼亥水′世　動　兄弟午火″ 子孫丑土″　動　子孫辰土′世 父母卯木′　動　父母寅木″ 斷曰：卯木父母值臨日建，世爻戌土以生申金，金生亥水，丑土化破，非丑土化進神以塞亥水，此父母爻得旺相水生，精血太旺，至丑月土旺，令父母爻既無水養且化退神，正以絕其源，源絕危險，果卒於丑月，此乃父臨日建不化空破，亦能退也。

For example, on a day of Ji Mao (己卯) in the month of Xu (戌), someone consulted about their mother's prolonged blood discharge, and the divination produced the hexagram Tian Huo Tong Ren (天火同人) changing to Lei Shui Xie (雷水解). From top to bottom, the lines are: the top line is the son's earth (子孙戌土), which is the response line and is active; the fifth line is the wife's metal (妻财申金), which is active and in the changing hexagram becomes the response; the fourth line is the brother's fire (兄弟午火); the third line is the official ghost's water (官鬼亥水), which is the world line and is active, changing into the brother's fire (兄弟午火); the second line is the son's earth (子孙丑土), which is active and changes into the son's earth (子孙辰土), becoming the world line of the changing hexagram; the first line is the parent's wood (父母卯木), which is active and changes into the parent's wood (父母寅木). The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: when consulting about the mother, the parent's line is the useful god. The first line's卯木 parents are exactly the day's establishment on the Ji Mao day. In the hexagram, the戌 earth generates the申 metal, the申 metal generates the亥 water, and the亥 water in turn generates the卯 wood, forming a continuous cycle of mutual generation. The second line's丑 earth could normally block this flow, but since the丑 earth is active and changes into辰, and also meets the month's break, it cannot stop the flow. The parent's line is thus prosperous and strong, receiving continuous generation, which exactly corresponds to excessive blood discharge and erratic flow of vital essence. When the month of Chou (丑) arrives and the earth becomes strong, the parent's line will no longer be nourished by water, and since it is also changing from卯 to寅, it will be a retreating god. Once the source is cut off, danger arises. Later, the mother indeed died in the month of Chou. This shows that even if the parent's line is on the day's establishment and does not change into emptiness or break, it can still retreat.

又如卯月癸酉日占父母近病得萃之否 父母未土″　動　父母戌土′應 兄弟酉金′應　兄弟申金′ 子孫亥水′　官鬼午火′ 妻財卯木″　妻財卯木″世 官鬼巳火″世　官鬼巳火″ 父母未土″　父母未土″ 斷曰：未土父母動化進神，戌值旬空，近病逢空即愈，許次日退災，果於甲戌出空即愈，此乃父爻休囚而化空也，若以古法動日月化空破尚且不進，今休囚而化空，可得愈耶？

For instance, on aGuiyou day in the卯 month, someone consulted about a newly acquired illness of the parents, and the divination produced the hexagramCui (Hexagram 45) changing toPi (Hexagram 12). From top to bottom, the lines are: the top line is parents未土 (which moves, changing into parents戌土, the responding line of the resulting hexagram), the fifth line is brothers酉金 (the responding line, changing into brothers申金), the fourth line is children亥水 (changing into official ghost午火), the third line is wealth卯木 (in the resulting hexagram as the world line), the second line is official ghost巳火 (the world line), and the first line is parents未土. The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: the top line parents未土 moves and changes into戌土, which is an advancing god, but戌土 is exactly in the旬空; 'nearby illness meeting the empty indicates recovery', so he predicted the illness would subside the next day. Indeed, on theJiaxu day, when the空 was lifted, the illness was cured. Here, the parent line itself is weak and confined, and it changes into an empty line. According to the old method, if a moving line is adjacent to the day or month and changes into an empty or broken line, it is still considered unable to advance. Now, with the line already weak and confined and changing into an empty line, should it not be even worse, implying the illness would not recover? Yet the fact is that on the day the空 was lifted, the illness was cured.

又如辰月癸丑日占病得困變解 父母未土″　父母戌土″ 兄弟酉金′　動　兄弟申金″應 子孫亥水′應　官鬼午火′ 官鬼午火″　官鬼午火″ 父母辰土′　父母辰土′世 妻財寅木″世　妻財寅木″ 斷曰：世爻寅木而值旬空，酉金忌神搖於五位，古法謂之避空，餘以為謬也，此時逢空，出空一定遭傷，後卒於六月。應未月者，土爻未土乃世爻之墓，已破，丑日沖開，謂之開墓，以待彼克，而入墓不死也。或問：酉金化退神，如何克木？余曰：丑土生酉金，旺而不退。

For example, on aGuichou day in the辰 month, divining about illness, the hexagram cast isKun (Hexagram 47) changing toXie (Hexagram 40). From top to bottom: the top line is parents 未土 (changing to parents 戌土), the fifth line is brothers 酉金 (which is active, changing to brothers 申金, as the response line of the changing hexagram), the fourth line is children 亥水 (the response line, changing to official ghost 午火), the third line is official ghost 午火, the second line is parents 辰土 (which is the world line in the changing hexagram), and the first line is wife's wealth 寅木 (the world line). The Wild Crane Elder interpreted this as: the world line 寅木 is exactly in the旬空, and the fifth line 酉金, the hostile god, is active and attacking it. According to old methods, this is called 「avoiding the empty」, meaning that the line in the empty position can avoid being harmed. I think this is wrong: currently being in the empty is avoidable, but once the empty period is over, it will certainly be attacked. Later, the person died in June. This corresponds to the month of 未, because the墓 of wood is in 未, and 未土 is exactly theStorage of the world line 寅木; the墓 was already broken by the month, and was opened by the 丑 day, called 「opening the墓」—when the墓 is open, it only waits for the hostile god to attack, and the person is then taken into the墓 by the attack; if the墓 is closed and the attack cannot enter, the person would not die. Someone asked: since 酉金 has transformed into a retreating god, how can it still attack wood? The answer is: the 丑 soil of theGuichou day supports 酉金, so gold is strong and cannot retreat.

又如辰月乙丑日占妻母病得隨之否 妻財未土″應　動　妻財戌土′應 官鬼酉金′　官鬼申金′ 父母亥水′　子孫午火′ 妻財辰土″世　兄弟卯木″世 兄弟寅木″　子孫巳火″ 父母子水′　動　妻財未土″ 斷曰：子水父爻動化未土回頭克父母，上爻未土又化進神以克父，須防戌日，果卒於甲戌日，乃戌土出空之日也，古法散如無也，此卦未土發動，丑日沖之，又化旬空月破，竟不見其散也。

For example, on the day of Yichou in the month of Chen, someone consulted about the illness of his wife's mother. The divination produced the hexagram Sui (泽雷随) changing to Pi (天地否). From top to bottom, the lines are: the top line is the wife's wealth (earth) of Wei soil (the response line, which is active and changes to the wife's wealth of Xu soil), the fifth line is the official ghost of You metal (changing to the official ghost of Shen metal), the fourth line is the parents of Hai water (changing to the children of Wu fire), the third line is the wife's wealth of Chen soil (the world line, changing to the brothers of Mao wood, which becomes the world line of the resulting hexagram), the second line is the brothers of Yin wood (changing to the children of Si fire), and the first line is the parents of Zi water (which is active and changes to the wife's wealth of Wei soil). For the divination of the mother-in-law, the parents' line is taken as the useful god. The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: the first line, Zi water, the parents' line, is active and changes to Wei soil, which turns back to harm it; the top line, Wei soil, changes to Xu soil, which is an advancing god, and as the earth advances, its power to harm the parents increases, so one must beware of the day of Jiaxu. Later, the person indeed died on the day of Jiaxu, which was the day when Xu soil emerged from emptiness. The old method says that an active line is scattered if it is attacked by the day's branch; in this case, the top line, Wei soil, is active and attacked by the day of Yichou, and the resulting Xu soil is also in the旬空 and month breaker, yet it is entirely not scattered.

又如申月乙卯日占出得屯之節 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 斷曰：世臨寅木動而化進神，合當就行，因繫月破，目下未必能行，出月方可，後至亥月方行由燕至粵，次八月歸來。余曰：途中安否？彼曰：往來託庇平安。餘以子孫化進神知其平安，故問之耳。夫應亥月行者，破而逢合之月也。此乃動破化日辰，豈可謂之不能進耶？

For example, on the day of Yimao (乙卯) in the month of Shen (申), someone asked about going on a long journey. The hexagram cast was Zhun (水雷屯) changing into Jie (水泽节). From top to bottom: the top line was brothers' water (兄弟子水), the fifth line was official ghost戌土 (官鬼戌土, the response line), the fourth line was parents申金 (父母申金, which in the transformed hexagram became the response), the third line was official ghost辰土 (官鬼辰土, transforming into official ghost丑土), the second line was sons'寅木 (子孙寅木, the world line, which was active, transforming into sons'卯木), and the first line was brothers'子水 (兄弟子水, transforming into wife's wealth巳火, which became the world line of the transformed hexagram). The Wild Crane Elder said: the world line of sons'寅木 was active and transformed into an advancing god, which should have meant the person was ready to leave. However, since寅 was in the month of申 and was being冲 (conflicted), it fell under the month breaker (月破), so at present, the journey could not be made, and it would have to be after this month. Later, he started his journey in the month of Hai (亥), traveling from Yan to Guangdong, and returned in August of the following year. The Wild Crane Elder asked him if the journey was safe. The person said that the trip both ways was safe, protected by good fortune. This is because the sons' line transformed into an advancing god, and sons' line represents safety and relief from misfortune, hence the question. The journey started in the month of Hai because寅 and亥 are in harmony, and the broken line was harmonized in the month of Hai, allowing it to be used. This is exactly an example of a moving line being broken but transforming into the day's branch. How can it be said that it cannot proceed?

又如辰月已未日占兄何日歸來得履之兌 兄弟戌土′　動　兄弟未土″世 子孫申金′世　子孫酉金′ 父母午火′　妻財亥水′ 兄弟丑土″　兄弟丑土″應 官鬼卯木′應　官鬼卯木′ 父母巳火′　父母巳火′ 斷曰：兄動化退，已有歸志，但因戌逢月破，在外諸事未遂，六月可望，後至戌月方回，乃應實破之月也，此乃動破而變日月，豈可謂之退不及也？

For example, on a day of Jiwei (己未) in the month of Chen (辰), someone asked about when their older brother would return. The divination resulted in the hexagram Tianze Lv (天泽履) changing to Duiwei Ze (兑为泽). From top to bottom, the lines are: the top line is Brothers Wu Earth (which moves, changing into Brothers Wei Earth, which is the world line of the resulting hexagram), the fifth line is Children Shen Metal (the world line, changing into Children You Metal), the fourth line is Parents Wu Fire (changing into Wealth Hai Water), the third line is Brothers Chou Earth (which in the resulting hexagram is the response line), the second line is Official Ghost Mao Wood (the response line), and the first line is Parents Si Fire. For divination regarding brothers, the brothers' line is the useful god. The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: the brothers' line is moving and changing into a retreating god, which indicates returning, showing that he already has the intention to return; however, Wu Earth is in the month of Chen and is being broken by the month, which is a month breaker, and he has not yet settled his affairs outside, so he is expected to return in June. Later, he returned in the month of Xu (戌), which corresponds exactly to the 'real breaking' month. In this case, the moving line is already broken by the month, and the changed Wei Earth is also the day's Jiwei (己未), so how can it be said that it 'retreats insufficiently'?

又如辰月乙未日占子病得大有變睽，同時祖又占子孫亦得此卦 官鬼巳火′應　官鬼巳火′ 父母未土″　父母未土″ 兄弟酉金′　兄弟酉金′世 父母辰土′世　動　父母丑土″ 妻財寅木′　妻財卯木′ 子孫子水′　官鬼巳火′應 斷曰：父母臨月建化退神，此子死於次日。

For example, on an Ethylene (Yi) and Wei (Wei) day in the Month of the Dragon (Chen), someone consulted about their son's illness, and the hexagram drawn was Da You (Hexagram 14) changing to Kui (Hexagram 38). On the same day, the grandfather consulted about his grandson, and the same hexagram was drawn. From top to bottom: the top line is the Official Ghost (Guan Gui) of the fire (Si fire), which is the response line. The fifth line is the Parents (Fu Mu) of the earth (Wei earth). The fourth line is the Brothers (Xiong Di) of the metal (You gold), which in the changing hexagram becomes the World Line. The third line is the Parents (Fu Mu) of the earth (Chen earth), which is the World Line and is active, changing to the Parents (Fu Mu) of the earth (Chou earth). The second line is the Wealth (Qi Cai) of the wood (Yin wood), which changes to the Wealth (Qi Cai) of the wood (Mao wood). The first line is the Children (Zi Sun) of the water (Zi water), which changes to the Official Ghost (Guan Gui) of the fire (Si fire), which is the response line of the changing hexagram. For the son's consultation, the Children (Zi Sun) line is the Useful God. The first line, Zi water, is the Useful God. The Parents (Fu Mu) are the Hostile Gods, as they overcome the Children. The Wild Crane Elder said: the Parents (Fu Mu) of the earth (Chen earth) is directly aligned with the Month Builder (Yue Jian) of the Month of the Dragon (Chen), so its strength is great. Although Chen changes to Chou, which is a Retreating God, since the month is in command, it cannot be moved for a while. The Hostile God is in power, and the child died the next day.

又如卯月丙寅日衙役占官府升否得解之困 妻財戌土″　妻財未土″ 官鬼申金″應　動　官鬼酉金′ 子孫午火′　父母亥水′應 子孫午火″　子孫午火″ 妻財辰土′世　妻財辰土′ 兄弟寅木″　兄弟寅木″世 斷曰：官動化進神，秋來得令必遷，後報升於巳月，應巳月者，動而逢合之月，申金又長生於巳，此乃動日月而化空破，豈可謂之不進耶？

For example, on a day of Bingyin (丙寅) in the month of Mao (卯), a police officer consulted about whether his superior would be promoted. He cast the hexagram of Xie (雷水解) changing into Kun (泽水困). From top to bottom, the lines are: the top line is wife wealth戌土 (earth) changing into wife wealth未土 (earth), the fifth line is official ghost申金 (metal) (response line, active, changing into official ghost酉金 (metal)), the fourth line is children午火 (fire) changing into parents亥水 (water), which is the response line of the changed hexagram, the third line is children午火 (fire), the second line is wife wealth辰土 (earth) (world line), and the first line is brothers寅木 (wood) changing into the world line in the changed hexagram. For divining about the superior, official ghost is taken as the useful god. The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: the official star is active and changes into an advancing god; he will certainly be promoted when autumn comes and the metal energy is dominant. Later, in the month of Si (巳), the promotion was reported. The response occurred in the month of Si because Si and Shen (申) are in harmony, and the active line met its harmonizing month. Moreover, the long life of metal is in Si. This is another example where the movement and change of an empty or broken line still leads to success. How can we say it does not succeed?

又如巳月乙丑日占試中否得兌之訟 父母未土″世　動　父母戌土′ 兄弟酉金′　兄弟申金′ 子孫亥水′　官鬼午火′世 父母丑土″應　官鬼午火″ 妻財卯木′　父母辰土′ 官鬼巳火′　動　妻財寅木″應 斷曰：未父化進神，巳火官動而生世，吉兆顯然，坐以待報，果於寅日揭榜，中第八名，古法動破散化日月尚不能進，此卦動散化空亦能中矣。

For example, on the day of Yichou in the month of Si, someone consulted about whether they would pass an examination, and the hexagram drawn was Dui (Hexagram 58) changing to Song (Hexagram 6). From top to bottom, the lines are: the top line is the parent earth (the world line, which is active and changes to the parent earth in Xu), the fifth line is the brother metal (changing to the brother metal in Shen), the fourth line is the child water (changing to the official ghost fire, which becomes the world line of the resulting hexagram), the third line is the parent earth (the response line, changing to the official ghost fire), the second line is the wife's wealth wood (changing to the parent earth in Chen), and the first line is the official ghost fire (active, changing to the wife's wealth in Yin, which becomes the response line of the resulting hexagram). In divination for exams, parents represent the foundation of documents and official titles, while official ghosts relate to the position and status. The Wild Crane Elder interpreted that the parent earth in Wei is holding the world line and is changing into an advancing god, and the official ghost fire in Si is active and comes to support the world line, indicating a clear good omen. He advised the person to remain calm and wait for the good news. Later, the results were announced on the day of Yin, and the person passed the exam, ranking eighth. According to old methods, when a moving line meets a broken or scattered line, or when it changes into the day or month, it is considered not favorable. However, in this hexagram, the world line is active and is scattered by the day of Yichou, and the changed earth in Xu falls into the empty period, yet the person still passed the exam.

又如未月丁丑日占母路隔千里何時來得火天大有變井 官鬼巳火′應　動　子孫子水″ 父母未土″　動　父母戌土′世 兄弟酉金′　動　兄弟申金″ 父母辰土′世　兄弟酉金′ 妻財寅木′　子孫亥水′應 子孫子水′　動　父母丑土″ 斷曰：卦初爻子水化出丑父，子與丑合，被合不來，未父化進神，亦應不來，幸得未土生起酉金兄爻，兄化退神而合世，父母必不來，兄弟必來。彼曰：有妹無弟。果於次年三月妹至，此乃兄弟化空，爻空亦能退也。

For example, on a day of Dingchou in the month of Wei, someone asked about when his mother, who was far away, would come back. The hexagram cast was Da You (Hexagram 14) changing to Jing (Hexagram 48). From top to bottom: the top line was the Official Ghost of fire (the Response Line, active, changing to the Son of Water), the fifth line was the Parent of earth (active, changing to the Parent of earth, as the World Line of the resulting hexagram), the fourth line was the Brother of metal (active, changing to the Brother of metal), the third line was the Parent of earth (the World Line, changing to the Brother of metal), the second line was the Wealth of wood (changing to the Son of water, as the Response Line of the resulting hexagram), and the first line was the Son of water (active, changing to the Parent of earth). The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: the first line's water changing to the Parent of earth, water and earth combining, the combination prevents movement, so the mother will not come. The fifth line's earth Parent changing to戌 is an advancing god, advancing means moving forward, also indicating she will not come. Fortunately, the earth Parent supports the fourth line's metal Brother, the Brother changing to申 is a retreating god, retreating means returning, and the metal of申 combines with the World Line of earth. Therefore, the mother will not come, but the brothers will definitely come. The person said: I only have a sister, no brothers. Later, indeed, his sister arrived in March of the next year. In this case, the Brother's change to申 metal fell in the旬空, showing that even though the line was in the旬空, it could still retreat.

又如未月辛丑日占開金銀器皿店得火雷噬嗑化屯卦 子孫巳火′　動　父母子水″ 妻財未土″世　動　妻財戌土′應 官鬼酉金′　動　官鬼申金″ 妻財辰土″　妻財辰土″ 兄弟寅木″應　兄弟寅木″世 父母子水′　父母子水′ 財爻妻財持世化進，生意興隆，甲戌日開張，財源茂盛，妻財持世化進神乃久遠豐隆之象。余曰：代爾擇甲戌日開張，管許大發，果開市於戌日，至今此店興盛豐隆，此乃動日月而空，豈可謂之不進耶？

For example, on the day of Xin Chou (辛丑) in the month of Wei (未), someone consulted about opening a shop selling gold and silver wares. The hexagram drawn was Fire Thunder Shi Ke (噬嗑), changing to Water Thunder Zhun (屯). From top to bottom, the lines are: the top line is the son of Si fire (which is activated, changing to the parent of Zi water), the fifth line is the wife's wealth of Wei earth (the world line, activated, changing to wife's wealth of Xu earth, which is the responding line of the changed hexagram), the fourth line is the official ghost of You metal (activated, changing to the official ghost of Shen metal), the third line is the wife's wealth of Chen earth, the second line is the brother of Yin wood (the responding line, which in the changed hexagram becomes the world line), and the first line is the parent of Zi water. In divination for business, the wife's wealth is the useful god. The wife's wealth holds the world line and changes into an advancing god, which is a favorable omen for thriving business. Choosing the day of Jia Xu (甲戌) to open the shop, the source of wealth will be abundant. The wife's wealth holds the world line and changes into an advancing god, indicating long-term prosperity, not just temporary profit. The Wild Crane Elder said: I have chosen the day of Jia Xu for you to open the shop, and it will certainly bring great success. Later, the shop indeed opened on the day of Xu, and it has remained prosperous to this day. Here, the line of Wei changes into Xu, which is also in the旬空 (ten-day hollow), yet it is activated and still brings in wealth. How can we say it does not bring in wealth?

野鶴曰：夫進神之有四：動旺相而化旺，乘勢而進，一也；動休囚而化休囚，待時而進，二也；動爻變爻有一而值衰，待旺相之日而進者，三也；動爻變爻有一而空破，待填實之日而進者，四也；退神之法有四：動旺相而化旺相或有日月動爻生扶，占近事得時而不退者一也；動休囚而化休囚及時而退者二也；動爻變爻有一而旺相待休囚之時而退者三也；動爻變爻有一而逢空破待填實之日而退者四也。

The Wild Crane Elder summarized that there are four situations for the Advancing God. The first is when both the moving line and the changing line are prosperous and strong, and they are riding the momentum, thus advancing immediately. The second is when both the moving line and the changing line are weak and confined, and they will advance only on the day they receive the right time and command. The third is when one of the moving line or the changing line is weak, and they will advance only on the day it becomes strong again. The fourth is when one of the moving line or the changing line is empty or broken, and they will advance only on the day it is filled. For the Retreating God, there are also four situations. The first is when both the moving line and the changing line are prosperous and strong, or when there is another day branch or month builder, or when the moving line supports the line, and the matter is recent, and it is just the right time, so it cannot retreat immediately. The second is when both the moving line and the changing line are weak and confined, and they will naturally retreat at the appointed time. The third is when one of the moving line or the changing line is still prosperous and strong, and they will retreat only when it becomes weak and confined. The fourth is when one of the moving line or the changing line is empty or broken, and they will retreat only on the day it is filled.

李我平曰：初看易冒，有大進不進不能進祗近理，後見動日月而化空破，無階無路，謂之不進，故知謬也。動爻既臨日月，逢空不空，逢破不破，況化空破？即日月如天，雖化空破，知浮雲之掩日，實空實破之期即是雲開霧散，司令當權，何以謂之不進？又曰：動值破散而變日月謂我位既失，何以得前？殊不知既動而破，自有實破之期，既動而散，自有填實之日，況化日月，名為化旺，後日填實愈旺強，何以謂之不前？伊存格式：申月卯日占兄弟得兌之豐。

Li Woping said: At first, when I read "Yi Mao," I saw that it discussed "advancing gods" divided into "great advancement," "no advancement," and "unable to advance," and thought it was somewhat reasonable. Later, when I saw it say that a moving line encountering the day and month builder and transforming into emptiness and destruction was called "no path and no way," and called it "no advancement," I realized I was wrong. If a moving line is already encountering the day branch and month builder, it is naturally not empty when it should be empty, nor broken when it should be broken. How could merely transforming into emptiness and destruction be considered as such? The sun in the sky is like the day and month builder; even if it transforms into emptiness and destruction, it is only temporary clouds blocking the sun. When it comes to actual emptiness and destruction, it is the day the clouds disperse and the mist clears, the time when the power is in command. How can it be said that it cannot advance? It also said: when a moving line meets destruction and dispersion and transforms into the day and month builder, it is "my position has been lost, how can I move forward?" But in fact, if the moving line has already met destruction, there will be a time of real destruction; if it has already been scattered by a collision, there will be a day when it is filled again. Moreover, if it transforms into the day and month builder, that is called "transformed into prosperity," and when it fills up later, it will be even more prosperous. How can it be said that it cannot advance? The format preserved in "Yi Mao" is as follows: in the month of Shen and the day of Mao, a query about siblings results in the hexagram Dui (Lake) transforming into Feng (Hexagram 55).

父母未土″世　父母戌土″ 兄弟酉金′　動　兄弟申金″世 子孫亥水′　官鬼午火′ 父母丑土″應　動　子孫亥水′ 妻財卯木′　動　父母丑土″應 官鬼巳火′　妻財卯木′ 酉爻兄弟被卯日沖，雖化申為月建，亦不及退，不退者，建也，不及退者，謬也。彼日月將章云：爻臨月將，逢散不散，七月之酉金，雖非月將，奈日不旺，況化月建，動變盡屬堅金，幫助共扶，如山如岡。知曰：焉能沖散？他章俱存占驗，獨此章只存數式，餘故知其乃揣摩之說，非經驗而得也。

This hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is parents earth (the world line, changing to parents earth), the fifth line is siblings metal (moving, changing to siblings metal, as the world line of the changing hexagram), the fourth line is children water (changing to official ghost fire), the third line is parents earth (the response line, moving, changing to children water), the second line is wife wealth wood (moving, changing to parents earth, as the response line of the changing hexagram), and the first line is official ghost fire (changing to wife wealth wood). The "Easy Changes" says: the sibling metal line is in conflict with the卯 day branch. Although the changing sibling metal is exactly the month general, it is only considered "not retreating." Li Woping commented: saying it does not retreat is correct, because the changing line is the month general; saying it is "not retreating" is not coherent. The "Day, Month, and General Chapter" in "Easy Changes" itself says that when a line is in the month general, it does not disperse when confronted with a conflict. Although the sibling metal in July is not the month general, the卯 day branch is not strong. Moreover, the changing line is the month general, and the moving and changing lines are all hard metal, supporting each other, stable as a mountain. How can a single卯 day branch disperse it? Other chapters contain actual cases, but this chapter only lists a few formats, indicating that these statements are speculative rather than derived from actual divination.

古有日墓、動墓、化墓之三墓。世爻隨鬼入墓、本命隨鬼入墓、卦身隨鬼入墓、世身隨鬼入墓。覺子曰：執此數論，若逢辰戌丑未之日，竟不敢占卦，非世臨鬼、即卦身臨鬼、即本命臨鬼，然又不獨辰戌丑未日而他日亦不敢占，何也？卜卦之中不免有二三墓爻發動，非世命而入、即二身而入、及動而化墓、非世爻動化、即二身動化，再不然難保其本命不化墓也。

Old interpretations mention three types of burial: "day burial," "moving burial," and "transformation burial." When the day branch is exactly the storage, it is called day burial. When a moving line in the hexagram is the storage, it is called moving burial. When a moving line transforms into the storage, it is called transformation burial. The objects of burial can be divided into four categories: the world line following the official ghost into burial, the person's birth year branch (the person being divined) following the official ghost into burial, the hexagram body following the official ghost into burial, and the world body following the official ghost into burial. Li Wenhui (pen name: Juezi) said: if one strictly follows these rules, then one would be afraid to cast a hexagram on any day of Chen, Xu, Chou, or Wei, because either the world line is in the official ghost's burial, or the hexagram body is in the official ghost's burial, or the person's birth year branch is in the official ghost's burial, and one of these is bound to occur. Moreover, it is not only on days of Chen, Xu, Chou, or Wei that one cannot cast a hexagram; other days are also unsafe. Why? In a single hexagram, there are inevitably two or three burial lines in motion: either the world line or the person's birth year branch is in burial, or the hexagram body or the world body is in burial; either a moving line transforms into the storage, or the world line moves and transforms into burial, or the second body moves and transforms into burial, and it is not guaranteed that the person's birth year branch will not transform into burial.

一卦之中不必看刑沖剋害破散絕空，凡占疾病凶危之事，只以隨鬼入墓即知凶吉也，余屢於疾病之占卦，卦卦留神，見世爻旺者二身隨鬼入墓而不死也。本命隨鬼入墓而不死也，存留驗，不驗又試，試之不驗，而再試之，一而十，十而百，全不驗者，始盡刪之，便是世爻用爻隨鬼入日墓入動墓或動而化墓，亦是休囚無氣始見危，若旺而有扶亦有求解。

According to that, within a single hexagram there is no need to consider punishments, clashes, conflicts, overcoming, harm, dispersion, separation, emptiness, or exhaustion. For any divination concerning illness or dangerous matters, one can determine fortune or misfortune simply by whether the ghost is buried. Li Wenhui said: I have paid close attention to divination concerning illness for many years, keeping records of every hexagram. I have seen cases where the world line was prosperous and strong, yet the hexagram body and the world line were buried with the ghost, yet the person survived. I have also seen cases where the original fate was buried with the ghost, yet the person survived. All verified cases were kept, while those that did not verify were tried again. If they still did not verify, they were discarded entirely. This shows that even if the world line or the used line is buried with the ghost, buried in the day's tomb, or changes into a tomb, danger is only evident if the line itself is weak and confined. If it is prosperous and strong with support, there is still a chance of salvation.

如申月戊辰日占夫病癸亥命 子孫戌土′應　兄弟巳火′世 妻財申金′　動　子孫未土″ 兄弟午火′　妻財酉金′ 官鬼亥水′世　官鬼亥水′應 子孫丑土″　子孫丑土″ 父母卯木′　父母卯木′ 斷曰：妻占夫，亥水官星為用神，墓於辰日，乃夫星夫命皆入墓於辰日，古法斷之必死，余曰：不獨不死，明日愈。何也？辰日沖動戌土以生申金，因世爻亥水空亡不受其生，明日己巳沖起亥水，得遇金生，其病如失，果於次日大愈。

On the day of Wu Chen (戊辰), in the month of Shen (申), a wife consulted about her husband's illness. Her husband was born in the year Gui Hai (癸亥). The hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is the son's earth (the response line, changing to the brother's fire, becoming the resulting hexagram's world line), the fifth line is the wife's metal (which is active, changing to the son's earth), the fourth line is the brother's fire (changing to the wife's metal), the third line is the official ghost's water (the world line, which in the changing hexagram becomes the response), the second line is the son's earth, and the first line is the parent's wood. The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: when a wife consults about her husband, the official ghost is the useful god, so take the third line's water. Water is buried in Chen, and Wu Chen day is exactly its burial. The husband's star and his birth year (Gui Hai) both enter the burial on the day of Chen, according to the old method, death is certain. I said, however, that he would not die, but recover the next day. Why? On the day of Chen, the top line's earth is disturbed, the earth generates the fifth line's metal, which could then generate the water. However, the world line's water is in the empty state and cannot receive this generation. On the next day, Ji Si (己巳), the巳 and亥 are in opposition, which lifts the empty water, allowing it to receive the metal's generation, and the illness naturally improves. Later, it was indeed the case that the next day he recovered greatly.

又如戌月甲寅日會試能聯捷否？ 父母戌土″　動　妻財寅木′世 兄弟申金″　子孫子水″ 官鬼午火′世　動　父母戌土″ 兄弟申金′　兄弟申金′應 官鬼午火″　官鬼午火″ 父母辰土″應　父母辰土″ 斷曰：世爻隨官入三墓，動墓，化墓，又入月德之墓，明歲辰年沖開墓庫，發榜之期，又遇辰月沖開三墓，不獨連登，定中狀元。日月合成官局旺相當時，卦之全美，如玉無暇，果然如是。

For example, on the day of Jiayin (甲寅) in the month of Xu (戌), someone asked about whether they would pass the imperial examination consecutively. The hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is the parent earth (戌土), which is active and transforms into the wife's wealth (寅木), becoming the world line of the transformed hexagram. The fifth line is the brother metal (申金), which transforms into the son's water (子水). The fourth line is the official ghost fire (午火), which is the world line, active, and transforms into the parent earth (戌土). The third line is the brother metal (申金), which becomes the response in the transformed hexagram. The second line is the official ghost fire (午火). The first line is the parent earth (辰土), which is the response line. The Wild Crane Elder interpreted: the world line is the official ghost fire (午火), which is the official star. Fire is buried in Xu (戌) — the top line, Xu earth, is active, which is 'moving into the burial'. The world line itself transforms into Xu earth, which is 'transforming into the burial'. The month of Xu is also a burial, so the world line is buried three times in succession with the official star. In the next year, the year of Chen (辰), the Chen and Xu will conflict, opening the burial. The announcement of the results will also fall in the month of Chen, opening the three burials again. Thus, not only will they pass consecutively, but they will certainly become the top scorer. Moreover, the day of Jiayin (寅), the line of fire (午), and the earth of Xu (戌) form a fire trinity, with the official star being strong and prosperous. The entire hexagram is perfect, like an unblemished jade. Later, it indeed turned out to be true.

又如申月己丑日占病壬申命得雷風恆 妻財戌土″應　妻財戌土″應 官鬼申金″　官鬼申金″ 子孫午火′　子孫午火′ 官鬼酉金′世　官鬼酉金′世 父母亥水′　父母亥水′ 妻財丑土″　妻財丑土″ 此卦日命隨鬼入墓，世爻隨鬼入墓，世身又落旬空，卦身又臨月破，若執古法斷之，百無一生，因世爻旺相，許未日愈，果起床於未日者，沖開丑墓之日而出也。古法以墓為沉滯昏迷之象，此說近理，此人病中不思湯藥，昏昏沉沉，至未日忽然更醒，不藥而癒，豈可一概謂之隨鬼入墓也。

For example, on the day of Jichou with the month of Shen, a person born on Renshen is asked about his illness. The hexagram Heng (Thunder over Wind) is cast, with all six lines quiet. The top line is the wife's wealth, the earth element, which is the response line. The fifth line is the official ghost, the metal element, Shen. The fourth line is the child, the fire element, Wu. The third line is the official ghost, the metal element, You, which is the world line. The second line is the parents, the water element, Hai. The first line is the wife's wealth, the earth element, Chou. In this hexagram, the person's birth year, Shen metal, and the world line, You metal, are both metal. Metal is buried in Chou. The day is Jichou, which is the burial place. The person's birth year, the world line, and the official ghost are all taken by the day's burial, which is called 'following the ghost into burial'. The world line is also in the旬空 (decade void), and the hexagram body is also in the month's break. If one strictly follows the old method, this is a hexagram with no chance of survival. However, the world line, You metal, is strong and prosperous in the month of Shen. The Wild Crane Elder predicted that the person would recover on the day of Wei. Indeed, on the day of Wei, the person got up from bed. This was because the day of Wei, the Chou burial was broken by the conflict with Wei, allowing the person to escape from the burial. The old method says that being buried leads to stagnation and confusion, which is close to the truth. During the illness, the person did not want to take medicine and was in a daze. On the day of Wei, he suddenly became clear-headed and recovered without taking medicine. This shows that one cannot generally use 'following the ghost into burial' to predict death.

又如未月戊辰日占已定重罪可蒙赦免否 兄弟寅木′應　兄弟寅木′應 父母子水″　父母子水″ 妻財戌土″　妻財戌土″ 官鬼酉金′世　動　妻財丑土″世 父母亥水′　兄弟卯木′ 妻財丑土″　動　子孫巳火′ 世爻隨鬼入動墓，又動而化墓，古以為凶，餘以為吉。斷日月生世，丑墓月破，破羅破網，容易而出。明歲酉年定蒙赦免。果於次年辰月蒙赦而出。

For example, on a day of Wu Chen (戊辰) in the month of Wei (未), someone who has already been sentenced to a serious crime was consulted about whether he would be pardoned. The hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is a brother in the wood of Yin (寅木), the fifth line is the parent in the water of Zi (子水), the fourth line is the wife's wealth in the earth of Xu (戌土), the third line is the official ghost in the metal of You (酉金) (the world line, which is active and changes into the wife's wealth in the earth of Chou (丑土), forming the resulting hexagram's world line), the second line is the parent in the water of Hai (亥水) (changing into a brother in the wood of Mao (卯木)), and the first line is the wife's wealth in the earth of Chou (丑土) (which is active, changing into the son's child in the fire of Si (巳火)). The world line, which is the official ghost in metal, is buried in the earth of Chou (丑). The first line, the earth of Chou (丑), is active, which is called "moving into the burial place." The world line itself also changes into the earth of Chou (丑), which is called "transforming into the burial place." The world line is thus buried twice by the ghost, and according to old sayings, this is considered extremely凶 (fateful). However, the Wild Crane Elder interpreted it as favorable. He said that the earth of the month of Wei (未) supports the world line, and the earth of the day Wu Chen (戊辰) also supports the world line; both the day and the month are coming to support and strengthen it. The burial place of Chou (丑) in the month of Wei is broken by the earth of Wei (未), which is called the "month breaker" — the burial place and storage are broken, just like a net has a hole, making it easy for the person to escape. In the year of You (酉) next year, he will certainly be pardoned. Later, indeed, in the second year, during the month of Chen (辰), he was pardoned and released from prison.

餘因屢試而得驗者，只驗世爻入墓有三：世爻隨鬼入日墓，入動墓，動而化墓。此三墓者，自占看世爻，旺相者非真，代占看用神，用神旺相者非真，惟世爻休囚被克，而又入墓者，是也。墓神破，日月動爻沖破，亦非真也。墓破如破網，容易而出矣。

The Wild Crane Elder said: Through repeated trials, I have found that the true case of the World Line entering its storage is only in three situations: the World Line follows the ghost into the Day Branch's storage, enters the storage of the moving line, or changes into a storage through movement. In these three cases, when divining oneself, one looks at the World Line; if the World Line is prosperous and strong, it is not considered truly entering storage. When divining for others, one looks at the Useful God; if the Useful God is prosperous and strong, it is not considered truly entering storage. Only when the World Line is weak and confined and is further attacked, then it enters storage, is it considered truly entering storage. As for the storage deity itself encountering the Month Breaker, or being broken by the Day Branch, Month Builder, or moving line, these are not considered true storage. A broken storage is like a broken net, making it easy for people to escape.

占功名，世旺得地，沖開墓庫之年月成名，世若空破休囚，始終難成之象；占身命，世旺得地，沖開墓庫之年月發跡。世爻空破休囚，終身寂寞，如日月之無光也；占出仕，出行得世旺得地沖開墓庫之日月遂心。世若空破休囚，多見去而不返。

The method of interpreting "following the ghost into the tomb" is as follows. For divination regarding official rank, if the world line is prosperous and strong, one will achieve fame when the tomb is opened by the year or month. If the world line is empty, broken, weak, or confined, it indicates a persistent failure to succeed. For divination regarding one's life and fate, if the world line is prosperous and strong, one will experience success when the tomb is opened by the year or month. If the world line is empty, broken, weak, or confined, it signifies a lifetime of loneliness and coldness, like the sun and moon losing their brilliance. For divination regarding entering officialdom or traveling, if the world line is prosperous and strong, one will find things to their liking when the tomb is opened by the day or month. If the world line is empty, broken, weak, or confined, it often indicates that one may not return from the journey.

占求財圖利，世旺者，沖墓之日月而成，若空破休囚，終無成日；占婚姻，世旺得地及財爻有氣而生世者，沖墓之日月而成，若空破休囚，非病於他鄉即流落也；占胎產，子孫入動墓化墓者，旺則沖墓之日月即生。財爻空破休囚，妻遭產厄，子孫空破，子必危亡；

When divining about seeking wealth and profit, if the World Line is prosperous and strong, it will succeed on the day or month when theStorage is opened. If the World Line is empty, broken, or weak and confined, there will be no success. When divining about marriage, if the World Line is prosperous and strong and the wealth line has vitality to support the World Line, it will succeed on the day or month when theStorage is opened. If the World Line is empty, broken, or weak and confined, the result will be either death away from home or being away from home. When divining about childbirth, if theChildren line enters a moving墓 or transforms into a墓, as long as it is prosperous and strong, it will result in childbirth on the day or month when theStorage is opened. If the wealth line is empty, broken, or weak and confined, the mother will face difficulties in childbirth. If theChildren line is empty, broken, the child will be in danger of death.

占入公門，世旺得地，沖墓之年月如心，空破休囚，常遭枷鎖刑獄；占家宅，世旺者，或得財爻生世，沖開之年月興家。空破休囚，身衰家破。占祖塋者與家宅同；惟占新塋未葬者，旺相休囚皆不宜也；占偷關偷險，世爻旺相，又得生扶，難而無危，憂心難釋，鬼在身邊故耳；占訟事，世旺者得理，空破休囚被克者，必遭刑獄。

Divination for entering the government office to serve: if the World Line is prosperous and strong, then in the year or month when the storage is opened, one will be satisfied. If the World Line is empty, broken, weak and confined, one will often suffer from shackles and imprisonment. Divination for the family residence: if the World Line is prosperous or there is a wealth line that generates the World Line, then in the year or month when the storage is opened, one will establish a family and achieve success. If the World Line is empty, broken, weak and confined, the person will decline and the family will break down. Divination for the ancestral tomb is the same as divination for the family residence. Only for newly dug graves that have not yet been buried, regardless of whether the World Line is prosperous or weak, if the ghost enters the storage, it is not suitable. Divination for private border crossing or dangerous smuggling: if the World Line is prosperous and supported, although difficult, there will be no great danger, but the mind remains unsettled because the official ghost is nearby. Divination for lawsuits: if the World Line is prosperous, one can hold the right; if the World Line is empty, broken, weak and confined and is also attacked, one will certainly suffer from punishment and imprisonment.

諸占世爻若旺，墓爻而值空破，待墓爻填實之日月而吉；世爻空破休囚者，又在墓爻填實這日月而凶。古以世臨破鬼，如占防患，禍患潛消，餘以為非。月破既為白虎鬼，目下雖無妨，實破之年月非吉。如申月己未日占賊來否得大畜之泰卦 官鬼寅木′　動　子孫酉金″應 妻財子水″應　妻財亥水″ 兄弟戌土″　兄弟丑土″ 兄弟辰土′　兄弟辰土′世 官鬼寅木′世　官鬼寅木′ 妻財子水′　妻財子水′ 彼時土賊興發常來，鄉人了無寧日。一日忽報賊來，此人攜妻而避，因小女未隨，復去抱女，同遭賊害，夫應自身之死者，世臨破鬼而入日墓，女之死者，上爻鬼變子孫之故耳。豈可謂世臨破鬼，禍患消耶。

In summary, for all types of divination, if the world line is prosperous and strong, and the tomb line is properly empty and broken, then the day or month when the tomb line is filled will be auspicious; if the world line is empty, broken, and weak, then the same day or month when the tomb line is filled will be inauspicious. An old saying states that if the official ghost sits on the world line with the month breaker, and if one is divining about prevention of calamities, the calamity will naturally disappear; however, the Wild Crane Elder disagrees: since this month breaker official ghost is accompanied by the White Tiger, although it may not cause trouble now, once it reaches the actual breaking year or month, it will not be a good omen. Here is a real case. On the day of Jiwei (己未) in the month of Shen (申), someone asked if bandits would come, and the hexagram cast was Da Xu (山天大畜) changing to Tai (地天泰). From top to bottom: the top line is the official ghost of yin wood (发动, changing to the son of you metal, which is the response of the changing hexagram), the fifth line is the wife's wealth of zi water (response line, changing to wife's wealth of hai water), the fourth line is the brother of xu earth (changing to the brother of chou earth), the third line is the brother of chen earth (in the changing hexagram as the world line), the second line is the official ghost of yin wood (world line), and the first line is the wife's wealth of zi water. At that time, bandits were everywhere, frequently raiding, and the village was not at peace. One day, a report came that the bandits had arrived. This person took his wife to hide, but because his little daughter did not come along, he went back to get her, and both father and daughter were killed by the bandits. His own death should be indicated by the official ghost sitting on the world line with the month breaker — yin wood in the month of Shen is broken by the month's Shen, and yin wood also enters the day's tomb (the tomb of wood is in wei). The daughter's death should be indicated by the official ghost on the top line being active and changing to the son — in the divination about the daughter, the son is the useful god, and the useful god is changed by the official ghost, indicating a clear ominous sign. Thus, how can one say that when the world line is on the broken official ghost, the calamity will naturally disappear?

（鬼臨月破，不動者不驗。）李我平曰：此論雖隨墓令人刮目，每卦之動墓多見，倘再遇辰戌丑未之日，疊疊墓爻，若兼世命二身，非此即彼，以入墓也，真無暇他論，況諸書章不言及旺衰，概以隨墓不吉，如占功名旺官臨身，豈可曰履仕途而不返，占防災世臨月破又隨鬼入墓，豈可竟曰無憂，顛倒凶吉，不得不為正之。

The original text adds a note here: Although the official ghost is afflicted by the month breaker, if it remains quiet and unmoving, it should not come to pass. Li Woping says: The Wild Crane Elder's discussion on burial is indeed worthy of attention. Movement and burial in the hexagram are common occurrences. If this is further combined with days of Chen, Xu, Chou, or Wei, where burial is layered upon burial, and if the world line, native's fate, hexagram body, and world body are all considered, then one is buried or the other is buried, making it very complicated to handle other matters. Moreover, various books discuss the concept of the official ghost being buried, but they never mention the strength or decline of the爻. They only say that being buried is inauspicious. Then, when predicting official positions, if the official star is prosperous and strong and also attached to the body, can we say that the person will not return from office once he enters the officialdom? When predicting disaster prevention, if the world line is afflicted by the month breaker and also buried with the official ghost, can we say that there will be no worries? This reverses the fortune and misfortune, and it is necessary to correct this.

五爻俱動，一爻不動，謂之獨靜；五爻不動，一爻獨動，謂之獨發。事之成敗，由乎用神；應期遲速，亦由乎用神；獨發獨靜，古有驗之，余試亦有驗也，皆在驗事應之後，如會神機，非初敢執之而斷禍福與應期也。況卦得獨靜雖少，而獨發者多，如舍其用神，執之而決事者，謬也，過也。

In the six lines of a hexagram, if five lines are moving and only one is still, it is called 'dú jìng' (sole stillness); if five lines are still and only one is moving, it is called 'dú fā' (sole movement). The success or failure of an affair depends on the 'yòng shén' (useful god); the speed or delay of the outcome also depends on the 'yòng shén'. 'Dú jìng' and 'dú fā' have been verified by ancient people, and the Wild Crane Elder himself has tested them, but these were only recognized as coinciding with divine wisdom after the event had occurred, not used at the beginning to judge fortune or determine the time of fulfillment. Moreover, although hexagrams with 'dú jìng' are rare, those with 'dú fā' are more common. If one ignores the 'yòng shén' and decides the outcome solely based on a single 'dú fā' line, that would be wrong and excessive.

曾於辰月甲戌日占迎請父王靈柩允否？ 官鬼巳火′應　官鬼巳火′世 父母未土″　父母未土″ 兄弟酉金′　兄弟酉金′ 父母辰土′世　子孫亥水′應 妻財寅木′　動　父母丑土″ 子孫子水′　妻財卯木′ 彼有門客知易，謂寅木一爻獨發，化出丑父，乃應正月得見父靈。余曰，此隔靴搔癢也。卦中父爻持世，據被寅木剋制，乃身不能動，靈亦不能動也。欲身動而靈動，必待沖開寅木之年月也，再請一卦，合而決之。

He once consulted a divination on whether the permission would be granted to welcome the spirit coffin of his father, on the day of Jia Xu in the month of Chen. The hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is the Official Ghost of Fire in Si (the Response Line, and in the resulting hexagram it is the World Line), the fifth line is the Parents of Earth in Wei, the fourth line is the Brothers of Metal in You, the third line is the Parents of Earth in Chen (the World Line, changing into the Children of Water in Hai, which is the Response Line of the resulting hexagram), the second line is the Wealth of Wood in Yin (which is active, changing into the Parents of Earth in Chou), and the first line is the Children of Water in Zi (changing into the Wealth of Wood in Mao). The owner had a guest who understood the I Ching, who said: the line of Yin Wood in the second position is the only active line, changing into the Parents of Earth in Chou, which indicates seeing the spirit coffin of the father in the first lunar month. The Wild Crane Elder said: this is like scratching an itch with a boot. The Parents line is holding the World Line, but it is being restrained by the active line of Yin Wood — the self is unable to move, so the spirit coffin also cannot move. In order for the person and the spirit coffin to move, one must wait until the year and month that can break through the Yin Wood. Therefore, another hexagram was consulted, and the two hexagrams were combined for the final interpretation.

又得澤火革變既濟 官鬼未土″　兄弟子水″應 父母酉金′　官鬼戌土′ 兄弟亥水′世　動　父母申金″ 兄弟亥水′　兄弟亥水′世 官鬼丑土″　官鬼丑土″ 子孫卯木′應　子孫卯木′ 余曰：此正前卦相合，前卦應沖開寅木者，申也。此世化申金回頭生，亦應申月。世臨虎動因喪事，而卯木沖動九五，又來生世，今年申酉月必蒙恩。眼下月破，萬萬不能。後應申月所請準，酉歲迎靈而歸，兩卦皆是獨發，可執之耶。

The second hexagram is Ze Hu Ge changing to Shui Hu Ji Ji. From top to bottom: the top line is Official Ghost Wu Earth (changing to Brothers Zi Water, which is the response line of the changing hexagram), the fifth line is Parents You Metal (changing to Official Ghost Xu Earth), the fourth line is Brothers Hai Water (the world line, which is active, changing to Parents Shen Metal), the third line is Brothers Hai Water (in the changing hexagram it is the world line), the second line is Official Ghost Chou Earth, and the first line is Descendant Mao Wood (the response line). The Wild Crane Elder said: this hexagram is in harmony with the previous one. The previous hexagram needed to break the寅 Wood, and what can break寅 Wood is申; this hexagram has the world line Hai Water active and changing to Shen Metal, which is mutual generation, and this should also be in the month of申. The world line is occupied by the White Tiger and is active, which indicates that the matter is about a funeral. The first line Mao Wood also moves the fifth line You Metal, which then comes to generate the world line. Therefore, this year in the month of申 and the month of酉, the request will certainly be approved. At present, the Hai Water is in the month breaker, so nothing can be done. Later, in the month of申, the request was indeed approved, and in the year of酉, the coffin was brought back. These two hexagrams are both single active lines, showing that a single active line cannot be taken as a fixed rule.

又如午月甲申日防漲水沖去麥子 子孫戌土′應　動　子孫未土″ 妻財申金′　妻財酉金′ 兄弟午火′　官鬼亥水′世 官鬼亥水′世　官鬼亥水′ 子孫丑土″　子孫丑土″ 父母卯木′　父母卯木′應 友人執此而問。余曰：戌土子孫一爻獨發，昨日丙戌，定皆大晴，如何還雨，余曰：爾憂麥被水沖，神以子孫發動克去身邊之鬼示爾憂非，應晴也。雖則目下晴，決不漲水，即以此卦而決陰晴，卯日必大晴也，彼曰：何也？余曰：動而逢合之日晴，則爾無憂也。果於卯日大晴。

For example, on a day of Jiashen (甲申) in the month of Wu (午), someone asked about preventing a big flood from washing away the wheat. The hexagram, from top to bottom, was: the top line was the son of Xu earth (the response line, which was active, changing to the son of Wei earth), the fifth line was the wife's wealth of Shen metal (changing to the wife's wealth of You metal), the fourth line was the brother of Wu fire (changing to the official ghost of Hai water, which became the world line of the resulting hexagram), the third line was the official ghost of Hai water (the world line), the second line was the son of Chou earth, and the first line was the parent of Mao wood (which became the response in the resulting hexagram). A friend asked about the concept of a single line being active: the son of Xu earth on the top line was the only active line. The previous day was Bingxu (丙戌), which is supposed to be a clear day, but it rained instead. The Wild Crane Elder answered: You are worried about the wheat being washed away by water, so the spirits use the active son line to overcome the official ghost near you, telling you that your worry is unnecessary, and the response is that it will be sunny. Although it has already cleared up, there will be no flood. If you decide solely based on this hexagram, the day of Mao (卯) will definitely be sunny. The person asked why. The answer was: When an active line meets a harmonious day, it will be sunny. Xu and Mao harmonize, so on that day you will have no worries. Later, it indeed rained heavily on the day of Mao.

又如辰月甲午日開煤 得家人變益卦 兄弟卯木′　兄弟卯木′應 子孫巳火′應　子孫巳火′ 妻財未土″　妻財未土″ 父母亥水′　動　妻財辰土″世 妻財丑土″世　兄弟寅木″ 兄弟卯木′　父母子水′ 丑土財爻持世，日生之，許其可開。問應何時見煤？余曰：財靜未月沖開，應在六月。及至六月，竟不見煤，歇而開，開而歇，未年占卦，至亥年辰月始得見煤，此乃應於獨發亥水化辰土，年月俱應，斷卦之時，誰以亥年辰月而斷耶？

For example, on a Jiawu day in the Chen month, someone asked about opening a coal mine and got the hexagram Jia Ren changing into Yi. From top to bottom: the top line is brothers卯wood (which becomes the response in the changing hexagram), the fifth line is children巳fire (response line), the fourth line is wealth未earth, the third line is parents亥water (which is active, changing into wealth辰earth, which is the world line of the changing hexagram), the second line is wealth丑earth (world line, changing into brothers寅wood), and the first line is brothers卯wood (changing into parents子water). In divination for opening a mine, the wealth line is the useful god. The wealth line丑earth is in the world position, and the fire of Jiawu day is able to generate it. The Wild Crane Elder thus said that the person could open the mine. The person asked when he would see coal, and the answer was that the wealth line was quiet, so he had to wait until the Wei month to shake open the丑earth, which should be in June. But when June came, there was still no coal, with the mine opening and stopping alternately. The hexagram cast in the Wei year eventually showed coal only in the Hai year and Chen month. This exactly corresponds to the isolated亥water and the earth it transformed into, with亥representing the year and辰representing the month, both of which matched. But at the time of interpreting the hexagram, who could have predicted the specific year and month of 'Hai year and Chen month' from just this line?

又如寅月庚戌日占女病 兄弟巳火′應　動　官鬼子水″ 子孫未土″　動　子孫戌土′ 妻財酉金′　動　妻財申金″世 兄弟午火″世　動　妻財申金′ 子孫辰土′　動　兄弟午火″ 父母寅木″　子孫辰土″應 古有以獨靜之爻而斷應期，譬如此卦，寅木獨靜，若不看用神，斷寅日生也？斷寅日死也？餘以卦土為子孫，雖則休囚，得巳午火動而生之，未土子孫化進神，辰土子孫化回頭生，許之寅日當愈，然亦不敢竟斷，命伊母再占一卦。

For example, on a day of Gengxu in the month of Yin, someone asked about the illness of their daughter. The hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is brothers in the fire (response line, active, changing to official ghost in the water), the fifth line is children in the earth (active, changing to children in the earth), the fourth line is wealth in the metal (active, changing to wealth in the metal, as the world line of the changing hexagram), the third line is brothers in the fire (world line, active, changing to wealth in the metal), the second line is children in the earth (active, changing to brothers in the fire), and the first line is parents in the wood (changing to children in the earth, as the response line of the changing hexagram). Ancient people used the solitary still line to determine the time of response: for instance, in this hexagram, only the first line of the wood is still. If we do not consider the useful god, should we predict the daughter's recovery on the day of寅 or her death on the day of寅? The Wild Crane Elder took the earth line in the hexagram as the children, since in divination for a daughter, children are the useful god. Although earth is weak and confined in the month of寅, it is supported by the fire of巳 and午. The earth line at the fifth position, which is children, changes to戌, which is an advancing god. The earth line at the second position, which is children, moves and changes to午 fire, which is mutual generation. Based on this, he predicted that she would recover on the day of寅. However, he was still not certain, and asked her mother to cast another hexagram.

父母戌土′　父母戌土′ 兄弟申金′　兄弟申金′ 官鬼午火′應　官鬼午火′世 兄弟酉金′　動　父母辰土″ 子孫亥水′　動　妻財寅木″ 父母丑土″世　動　子孫子水′應 亥水子孫化寅木空亡，近病逢空即愈，出空之日也。與前卦相合。余曰：寅日大愈，目下病體雖重，管許無虞。果於寅日全愈。此雖應前卦一爻獨靜，必應用神之旺也，又得後卦顯然，方敢以寅日決之。

The following hexagram, from top to bottom, is: the top line is parents in the earth dog (戌土), the fifth line is siblings in the monkey (申金), the fourth line is official ghost in the horse (午火) (which is the response line, and in the resulting hexagram it is the world line), the third line is siblings in the rooster (酉金) (which is active, changing to parents in the dragon (辰土)), the second line is children in the pig (亥水) (which is active, changing to wealth in the tiger (寅木)), and the first line is parents in the ox (丑土) (world line, active, changing to children in the rat (子水), which is the response of the resulting hexagram). For the question about the daughter, children are still taken as the useful god: the second line, children in the pig (亥水), is active, and the resulting寅木 (tiger) falls into the旬空 (decade void). "Nearby illness meeting void means recovery," so it should be on the day when the void is removed. This matches exactly with the previous hexagram's prediction. The Wild Crane Elder then said: the day of寅 is very good, although the illness is still severe, it will certainly be fine. Later, indeed, the illness was completely cured on the day of寅. This time, although it should be on the寅 wood of the single quiet line in the previous hexagram, it still should be on the useful god being prosperous and strong; since the later hexagram explains it so clearly, it was safe to use the day of寅 for the prediction.

李我平曰：易冒以吉凶之生由乎動，所以重於動而輕於用。事應之來不驗於用神於卦象，此教人重於獨靜，獨靜不用用神者明矣。又云：雖不離用而亦不執用爻也，此又教人用用神、不用用神也。又曰：獨發靜可用，時日吉凶須審用卦，又教人重於用卦也。留書傳世，須一字開後人之茅塞，一言破千古之疑患，即曰用用神之，又曰不用用神主，既無定，何以為法，得此可以醒世。

Li Woping says: "Yi Mao believes that fortune and misfortune arise from the movement of the lines, so it emphasizes the moving lines and downplays the useful god; it also says that the verification of events does not depend on the useful god but on the hexagram, which clearly teaches people to value the state of complete stillness, and in such stillness, the useful god is not needed. It also says 'although not separate from the useful god, it is also not fixed on the useful god,' which becomes teaching people to both use and not use the useful god. It also says that a single moving line or a single still line can be used, but the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of time and date must be examined through the hexagram, which again teaches people to value the hexagram. A book passed down through generations should be able to clarify people's confusion with one word and resolve ancient doubts with one sentence. Now, it alternates between saying to use the useful god and not to use it, and its stance is not fixed, so what can be taken as a standard? Only with this chapter by the Wild Crane Elder can people be awakened."