23. Divination on the Form and Nature

外卦為形，內卦為性；若占其人，以用而定。

When divining a person's appearance and character, the outer trigram indicates the physical form and appearance, while the inner trigram indicates the inner nature and disposition. The outer trigram is on top and on the surface, so it governs the form; the inner trigram is below and within, so it governs the nature. If divining for a specific person, one should not focus solely on the inner and outer trigrams, but rather look at where the useful god falls in the hexagram, which line it is on, and what five phase it belongs to, and determine based on the useful god.

以外卦為形貌，內卦為性情。

The outer three lines of a hexagram represent a person's appearance and physical features, while the inner three lines represent their temperament and character.

乾在外，頭大面圓，逢克則破相；在內，心寬量大。 兌在外，則和悅多言；在內則心小膽大。 離在外，文彩；在內聰明。 震在外，身長有須；在內心暴不定。 巽在外，身長有須；在內心毒而忍，安身不穩。 坎在外，形黑活動；在內心險多智。 艮在外，其頭上尖下大；在內心志固執。 坤在外，厚重；在內主靜，逢凶則魯鈍。

The Trigram Qian (Heaven) appearing externally indicates a person with a large head and round face; if Qian is overcome, there may be facial scars. Qian internally suggests a broad-minded and magnanimous character. The Trigram Dui (Lake) externally shows a person who is amiable and talkative; internally, it indicates a thoughtful mind with courage. The Trigram Li (Fire) externally suggests a person with refined appearance and graceful manner; internally, it indicates intelligence. The Trigram Zhen (Thunder) externally suggests a tall figure with beard; internally, it indicates a quick-tempered and unstable nature. The Trigram Xun (Wind) externally also suggests a tall figure with beard; internally, it indicates a sharp mind capable of endurance, and restlessness in sitting or sleeping. The Trigram Kan (Water) externally suggests a dark complexion and agile movement; internally, it indicates deep thinking and many strategies. The Trigram Gen (Mountain) externally suggests a head that is narrow at the top and broad at the bottom; internally, it indicates stubbornness and unwillingness to change. The Trigram Kun (Earth) externally suggests a sturdy physique; internally, it indicates a calm nature, and if encounteringInauspicious Spirit (malevolent spirits), it may become dull and foolish.

再以五行隨卦之金木水火土通論： 金為人潔白貞廉、骨細肉膩，聲音響亮。為性不受激觸，處事多能，好學，好酒，好歌唱，如帶煞重乃武夫，或多武藝。 木主人物修長，聲音暢快、鬚髮美、眉目秀，坐立身多攲側，為事窒塞，無通變之謀。如死絕則人物瘦小，發黃眉結，柔語細聲，不能自立人也。

When considering people based on the elements of the trigrams, those belonging to the metal element have fair skin, are upright and honest, have thin bones and smooth flesh, and speak loudly. They are sensitive to strong stimulation, are versatile in their abilities, enjoy reading, drinking, and singing. If they are heavily influenced by malevolent stars, they may become warriors or possess many martial skills. Those belonging to the wood element are tall and slender, have a clear and brisk voice, have beautiful facial hair and clear eyes, but their posture is often slanted. They are inflexible and lack adaptability. If the wood trigram is in a dead or critical state, the person will be small and thin, with yellow hair and tangled eyebrows, speak softly and weakly, and have difficulty standing up.

水為人背小團面，色或焦，行動搖擺。為性大寬小急，處事無定見，喜淫、好酒，少誠實。若帶吉神貴福者，乃志量廣大，包含宇宙之才也。 火人面貌上尖下闊、印堂窄、鼻露竅、精神閃爍、語言急速。性躁、聲焦，其色赤或青不定。坐須搖膝，立不移時，臨事敏速，旺乃聰明文章之士。

Those born under the Water element have thin backs and round faces, their complexion sometimes dark, and they walk in a swaying manner. Their nature is broad-minded in general but impatient in details, they lack firm resolve in doing things, and they enjoy both women and alcohol, being rarely sincere. However, if they are accompanied by auspicious deities, noblemen, and fortune virtue, they will have great ambition and the capacity to encompass the universe. Those born under the Fire element have sharp upper faces and broad lower faces, narrow forehead areas, exposed nostrils, and eyes that flicker unpredictably. They speak quickly, are impetuous in temperament, their voices dry and hoarse, and their complexion alternates between red and blue. When sitting, their knees tremble continuously, and they cannot stand still for long. They respond quickly to matters. If the fire is prosperous and strong, they will be intelligent scholars capable of literary achievement.

土人頭圓、面方、背方、腹闊。為性持重，處事沉詳，語言簡默，動止不輕。如遇墓絕，乃塊然一物，無智無謀無能之愚人也。

Those born under the Earthly Branch of Earth have round heads, square faces, square backs, and broad bellies. Their nature is steady and cautious, their actions careful and thorough, their speech concise and not talkative, and their behavior not frivolous. If the Earth element is in a墓地 (grave) or绝地 (desolate place), they become dull and inflexible, like a lump of earth, lacking wisdom, strategy, and ability, making them dull-witted individuals.

論女人性形： 金財端正德貞潔，美貌團圓似明月，心性聰明針指高，肌膚一片陽春雪。 木財妖態勝仙娃，能梳雲鬃似堆鴉，身體修長眉眼秀，金蓮慢把翠臺遮。 水性為人多變更，未有風來浪自生，若加玄武咸池並，巧似楊紀體態輕。 火財為人心性急，未有事時言便出，鬃髮焦黃骨肉枯，夫婦和諧難兩立。 土財不短亦不長，絕美人才面色黃，若逢吉曜生佳子，性慢言慳福壽昌。

When discussing the appearance and temperament of a woman based on the Five Phases of the Wealth Hexagram, a woman whose Wealth Hexagram belongs to Metal is upright in behavior, virtuous and chaste, with a round face like the full moon, intelligent in mind, skilled in needlework and embroidery, and with white skin like accumulated snow in spring. A woman whose Wealth Hexagram belongs to Wood is graceful and charming, surpassing celestial beings, with a high, dark hairdo like a cloud, a slender figure, clear eyes, and when walking, her skirt slowly covers her three-inch golden lotus. A woman whose Wealth Hexagram belongs to Water is changeable in nature, stirring up waves even before the wind rises; if further accompanied by the stars Xuanwu and Xianchi, the two stars of romantic affairs, she will have a light and graceful figure, and be as charming as the beauty Yang. A woman whose Wealth Hexagram belongs to Fire is impetuous in temperament, speaking before things happen, with yellowed hair and a thin, bony body, and finds it difficult to harmonize with her husband. A woman whose Wealth Hexagram belongs to Earth has a moderate height, beautiful appearance with a slightly yellowish complexion; if auspicious stars are present, she can give birth to good children, is slow in nature and speaks little, indicating a prosperous and long life.

大小二限，從初世起；陽順陰逆，六位周流。

Calculating the great limit and the small limit both start from the position of the World Line. If the World Line is a Yang line, it moves upward in sequence; if it is a Yin line, it moves downward in reverse. It circulates through the six positions and repeats the cycle once it completes a full round.

卦之大限，以陽世為順，陰世為逆。陽順則自世而上，陰逆則自世而下。每一爻管五年，周而復始。逢生令則吉，遇刑傷則凶。

The overall period of a hexagram is determined by the World Line. If the World Line is yang, it progresses upward; if it is yin, it progresses downward. Progressing upward means counting from the World Line position to the higher positions, while progressing downward means counting from the World Line position to the lower positions. Each line governs five years, and all six lines together cover thirty years. After completing the cycle, it starts again from the beginning. When the line being progressed encounters generation and support or receives assistance from the month's ruler, it is auspicious. If it encounters punishment, clash, or control, it is inauspicious.

其小限一年一位周流而已。

As for the small limit, it moves through one line position each year, also circulating continuously through the six lines, but its pace is much faster than the great limit.

假如丁酉年七月甲午已巳時，占得大壯，自一歲在世上，至六歲與十歲在六五，至十一歲在上六，至十六在初九，二十一在九二，二十六在九三，甲辰比肩但二十七歲小限在上六，故曰大小二限並兄弟，必先傷妻而後破財，餘仿此。

For example, on the day of Jiawu in the seventh lunar month of the year Dingyou, at the hour of Yisi, the hexagram Da Zhuang was obtained. Da Zhuang belongs to the Kun palace, with the world position at nine four Gengwu, which is a yang line, so it proceeds in the order of the lines. The first year starts from the world position at nine four, the years six to ten proceed to six five, the years eleven to fifteen proceed to upper six, the year sixteen proceeds to initial nine, the years twenty-one to twenty-six proceed to nine two, and the years twenty-six to thirty proceed to nine three. At the age of twenty-seven, the small limit also reaches upper six. This is called the great limit and the small limit both arriving at the brothers line at the same time. Brothers lines both harm the wife and rob wealth, so it is predicted that he will certainly first harm his wife, then suffer financial loss. All other hexagrams are interpreted in the same way.

又有以本體為初，互體為中，化體為末者。

There is another method: the primary hexagram is considered as the first part of a person's life, the nuclear hexagram as the middle part, and the resulting hexagram as the final part, dividing the life journey into three sections for analysis.

又有以本卦管三十年，每爻五年，以之卦管三十年，每爻五年，學者亦可參之。

There is another method: the primary hexagram governs the first thirty years, with each line representing five years; the hexagram that arises from the change governs the next thirty years, also with each line representing five years. Together, they make up exactly sixty years, a Jiazi cycle. Scholars may refer to both for consideration.

喜合婚姻，世應宜靜；財官旺相，婚姻可成。

Divination for marriage most favors the World and Response Lines being mutually generating and harmonious. The World Line represents the male family, and the Response Line represents the female family. Both sides should be calm and stable; any movement indicates someone may regret and the matter will change. Then examine the Useful God: for the male side, look at the Wealth Line, and for the female side, look at the Official Ghost Line. If the Wealth and Official Ghost Lines are prosperous and strong, the marriage will succeed.

世應有動便不成，男家娶妻看財爻，代占同。女家嫁夫用鬼爻。忌動出現，怕沖，若旺相可成，世應相剋不久。世夫應婦。又看何人占之，占夫忌子孫發動，子孫持世不成，占妻忌兄弟發動，兄弟持世不成。間爻為媒，父母為三堂，子孫為嗣，宜靜。卦無子孫不歡喜。

If either the World Line or the Response Line is activated, the marriage will not succeed. When a man seeks to marry, he looks at the Wealth Line; when someone else is consulted on behalf of another, the same applies. When a woman marries, the Official Ghost Line is used. If the Useful God appears and then becomes activated, it is feared that the Day Branch will scatter it; however, if the Useful God is prosperous and strong, the marriage can proceed. If the World and Response Lines are in mutual control, even if the marriage is formed, it will not last long. Usually, the World Line represents the husband and the Response Line represents the wife. It is also important to determine which side is casting the divination: if the woman's side is casting, she should avoid the activation of the Children Line, as the Children Line controls the Official Ghost; if the Children Line holds the World Line, the marriage will not succeed. If the man's side is casting, he should avoid the activation of the Siblings Line, as the Siblings Line competes for wealth; if the Siblings Line holds the World Line, the marriage will not succeed. The intermediate line between the World and Response Lines represents the媒人 (matchmaker), the Parents Line represents the 'Three Halls', and the Children Line represents future offspring. These lines should all be quiet. If there is not even one Children Line in the hexagram, the two families will not be happy in the future.

或問：世應有動便不成何也？答曰：世動男家進退，應動女家不肯，世應有空亦然。 問：忌二字動，忌何爻動也？曰：財官二字。 何為三堂？父母、兄弟、子孫也。

Someone asked: Why does the matter of marriage fail when the World and Response Lines move? The answer is: When the World Line moves, it indicates the male family is indecisive and hesitates; when the Response Line moves, it means the female family refuses. The situation is the same if either the World or Response Line falls into an empty position. Another question: What does it mean to say that the 'two characters' are忌 (to be avoided)? The answer is: It refers to the Wealth and Official Ghost lines. Another question: What is meant by 'three halls'? The answer is: It refers to the three generations of family, namely the Parents, Siblings, and Children.

凡財爻與兄弟合，此婦不廉；五爻持鬼，此婦貌醜；財伏墓下，主生離死別；財伏鬼下，主婦人帶疾，兄伏鬼亦然。財伏兄下，主婦人淫蕩；鬼伏兄下，主男子賭博；身爻值鬼，主帶暗疾，此又不傳之妙。

Whenever the wealth line combines with the siblings line, the woman is not virtuous. If the fifth line holds the official ghost, the woman has an ugly appearance. If the wealth line is buried beneath the storage, it indicates separation and death between husband and wife. If the wealth line is buried beneath the official ghost, the woman is sick, and if the siblings line is buried beneath the official ghost, it is the same. If the wealth line is buried beneath the siblings line, the woman is promiscuous. If the official ghost is buried beneath the siblings line, the man is fond of gambling. If the hexagram body falls directly on the official ghost, the person has a hidden illness. These are all secrets not easily passed on.

占妻看財爻，宜靜；占夫看官爻，宜靜。陽宮端正、陰宮醜陋，在飛上應頭面四肢，在飛下應拙不穩。男占得震巽主再婚；女占得坎離主再嫁。妻在間爻，女有親為主婚；夫在間爻、男有親為主婚，但得時旺相，皆許成。

When divining about a wife, look at theWealth line; this line should be still and not moving. When divining about a husband, look at theOfficial Ghost line; this line should also be still and not moving. If the useful god is in a yang palace, the person has a proper appearance; if it is in a yin palace, the person has an ugly appearance. If the useful god is above the flying god, it refers to the head and limbs, which are exposed parts of the body; if it is below the flying god, it refers to a clumsy body and unstable movements. A man divining about marriage who gets the震 or 巽 trigrams mainly indicates a second marriage; a woman divining about marriage who gets the坎 or 离 trigrams mainly indicates a second marriage. If theWealth line is on the intermediate line between the world and response lines, it indicates that the woman's relatives are involved in the marriage. If the官鬼 line is on the intermediate line, it indicates that the man's relatives are involved in the marriage. As long as the useful god is in season and prosperous, all these situations can be allowed to succeed.

出現忌日沖，世動，男不肯，應動，女生疑。用神如發動，成也見分離。間動有阻隔，或是媒人作鬼，如占女人妍醜。

The useful god appears in the hexagram, then it is undesirable for the day branch to conflict with it. If the world line moves, it indicates the male party is unwilling. If the response line moves, it suggests the female party has doubts. If the useful god moves on its own, even if the marriage is temporarily agreed upon, it will eventually lead to separation. If the intermediate line moves, it indicates there are obstacles in the middle, or the matchmaker is causing trouble. Now let's explain how to judge the beauty or ugliness of a woman.

第五爻為面部，如財福旺相持之，絕色。父母次之，兄弟持之，貌醜陋不妍。上六爻為頭髮，如火坐之，主鬢髮焦黃色。看大腳小腳，專看初爻，初爻是陽，主大腳，初爻是陰，主小腳，重化拆半紮腳。交化單先纏後放。

The fifth line governs the face: if the wife's wealth or children are prosperous and strong in this line, it indicates a very beautiful woman; if the parents are in this line, it is slightly less favorable; if siblings are in this line, it suggests an unattractive appearance. The sixth line above governs the hair: if a fire line is in this line, it indicates thin, dry, and yellowed hair. To determine whether she has big feet or bound feet, examine the first line: if the first line is a yang line, it indicates big feet; if it is a yin line, it indicates small feet. If the first line is a heavy yang line changing to a light yin line, it suggests partially bound feet; if it is a heavy yin line changing to a light yang line, it indicates feet that were bound and then released.

專以財爻為主象，財爻旺相便吉，若動出官來，主生病招訟，動出兄來，主口舌；若兄爻財爻合住，主有外情不良。如有爻象與財爻三刑六害，必主因此成訟；財化子性善；財化官帶疾；財化兄主淫蕩不良；財化父老成；財化子，性遲緩不管事。

When divining about buying a servant or taking a concubine, the main focus is on the wife and wealth爻. If the wealth爻 is prosperous and strong, it is auspicious. If the wealth爻 moves and transforms into the official ghost爻, it indicates she may get sick or involve in legal disputes; if it moves and transforms into the siblings爻, it suggests there will be verbal conflicts. If the siblings爻 combines with the wealth爻, it suggests she has improper relationships outside. If other yao in the hexagram form the three evils or six harms with the wealth爻, it definitely leads to legal disputes. If the wealth爻 transforms into the children爻, her nature is kind; if it transforms into the official ghost爻, she is sickly; if it transforms into the siblings爻, she is immoral; if it transforms into the parents爻, she is mature and steady. If the wealth爻 transforms into the children爻, it also indicates she is slow and unwilling to manage affairs.

定婦人、女子，看財福二爻，生身世無沖剋是女子，財福生官兄，或官兄旺動是婦人。

To determine whether the subject is an unmarried girl or a married woman, examine the wife-wealth and children lines: if these lines generate and support the hexagram body and the world line without being clashed or controlled by other lines, then the subject is an unmarried girl. If the wealth and fortune lines instead generate the official ghost and siblings, or if the official ghost and siblings are strong and active, then the subject is a married woman.

凡占僱取僕從亦用財爻為主象。財不可太過，又不可無財並空亡，若如此，慵懶不向前。子化財，為人純善；鬼化財、帶疾；兄化財不誠實，多說謊瞞騙人家；父化財，性重作事穩，財化兄，多淫蕩難托財。又看身爻，身是鬼主有疾；身是父，主識字；身是兄，多說謊，身是子，主慈善。身是財最好。如化出鬼，主生病、招口舌；化出兄，主口舌不穩。

When divining about hiring servants or attendants, the wealth爻 is the main symbol. The wealth爻 should not be too strong, nor should there be no wealth or the wealth爻 falling into an empty position; if there is no wealth or the wealth爻 is empty, the servant will certainly be lazy and lazy, unwilling to work. If theChildren changes into the wealth爻, the person is pure and kind; if the official ghost changes into the wealth爻, the person is sick; if the siblings change into the wealth爻, the person is dishonest and likes to lie; if the parents change into the wealth爻, the person is steady and reliable. If the wealth爻 changes into the siblings, the person is likely to be lustful and not trustworthy with money. Also, look at where the hexagram body falls: if the hexagram body is the official ghost, it indicates the person is sick; if it is the parents, it indicates the person can read and write; if it is the siblings, it indicates the person likes to talk and is dishonest; if it is the children, it indicates the person is kind-hearted; the hexagram body being the wealth爻 is best. If the hexagram body changes into the official ghost, it indicates illness and disputes; if it changes into the siblings, it indicates constant disputes and an unstable character.

孕看財爻，胎加龍喜；旺相為男，休囚是女。

When predicting pregnancy and childbirth, examine the wife's wealth爻 (妻财爻), as women use wealth as their essential element. Then identify the 'fetus爻' (胎爻). If the fetus爻 is accompanied by the Azure Dragon (青龙) and Heavenly Joy (天喜), these two auspicious spirits, the pregnancy will proceed smoothly. A prosperous and strong Useful God (用神) indicates the birth of a son, while a weak and confined Useful God suggests the birth of a daughter.

產孕須尋龍喜胎神。白虎臨於妻財旺相，為男；休囚女。

When divining about childbirth and pregnancy, one must first locate the positions of the Azure Dragon, Heavenly Joy, and theFetal Spirit (fetus deity). If the White Tiger is on the Wealth爻 and the Wealth爻 is prosperous and strong, it indicates a male child. If the Wealth爻 is weak and confined, it indicates a female child.

乾兌坎離在下卦，主順生；震巽艮坤在下卦，主逆產。蓋乾首、兌口、坎耳、離目在下為順，以震足、巽股、艮手、坤腹在下為逆也。

When the lower trigram is Qian, Dui, Kan, or Li, it indicates a normal delivery. When the lower trigram is Zhen, Xun, Gen, or Kun, it indicates a breech delivery. This is because according to the imagery in the "Shuo Gua," Qian represents the head, Dui represents the mouth, Kan represents the ear, and Li represents the eye, all of which are parts of the head. The head being at the lower position indicates a normal delivery. Zhen represents the foot, Xun represents the thigh, Gen represents the hand, and Kun represents the abdomen, all of which are parts below the body. These parts being at the lower position result in a breech delivery.

假令乾宮子孫以水長生在申，到午為胎爻，三合寅午戌三日內生也。

For example, if the son's yao in the Qian palace belongs to water, and water's growth is in Shen. Starting from Shen, count the growth in order: You is bathing, Xu is capping, Hai is officialdom, Zi is prosperity, Chou is decline, Yin is illness, Mao is death, Chen is burial, Si is extinction. Counting to Wu is exactly the "womb" stage, so the Wu yao is the womb yao. Then take the triple harmony of Wu, which is Yin, Wu, and Xu. Therefore, the birth will occur within the three days of Yin, Wu, and Xu.

要知男女，胎爻屬陽生男，胎爻屬陰生女，坤卦六爻安靜生男，此乃陰極動而生陽，又不可專泥也。

To determine whether a child will be male or female, if the胎爻 is yang it indicates a male, and if it is yin it indicates a female. If the Pure Earth (坤) hexagram is obtained and all six lines are still, it actually indicates a male, because when yin reaches its extreme it moves to produce yang. However, this principle should not be followed rigidly.

凡占老孃看間爻，持財子老孃手段高，持父兄官手段低。占奶子，看財爻旺相有乳食，財爻地氣或空，乳少。

When divining about a midwife, examine the intermediate line between the World and Response lines: if the intermediate line holds the Wealth line or the Children line, the midwife is skilled; if it holds the Parents, Siblings, or Official Ghost lines, her skills are poor. When divining about a wet nurse, look at the Wealth line: if the Wealth line is prosperous and strong, the milk is abundant and sufficient for the child; if the Wealth line is in a declining condition or falls into an empty position, the milk is scarce.

科舉功名，於求進職；皆取官多，旺相必得。

Divination for academic success and official promotions takes the official ghost爻 as the useful god. If the official ghost爻 is numerous in the hexagram and prosperous and strong, academic success is certain.

凡占赴試、謁貴、面君、參官、到部謀幹事，看世上有無文書。若父母旺相，可許。但官爻旺相，便吉。忌子孫持世，不中。占赴任，子孫持世或獨發，必不滿任也。

When divining about taking an exam, visiting a nobleman, meeting the emperor, seeing a superior, or going to a government office, first check whether there is a document line on the world line. If the parents are prosperous and strong, it indicates success. As long as the official line is also prosperous and strong, it is a good omen. The most unfavorable situation is when the children line holds the world line, as the children specifically overcome the official line, indicating failure in the exam. When divining about taking an official post, if the children line holds the world line or the children line is alone active, it means the person will not complete one term in office and will be dismissed.

或問：看世上有無文書，何也？答曰：此專用官為主，用爻為輔，所以要父母在世上也。以文書為主，要文書持世無刑剋太歲貼身，必作狀元。

Someone asked: Why should we look at whether there is a document on the world line? The answer is: This branch specializes in using the official ghost as the main element, with auxiliary lines to support it, so it is good for the parents' document to fall on the world line. If we instead take the document as the main element, then the document should be held by the world line without being harmed or restrained, and with the sovereign year closely attached to it, it is certain to achieve a high rank, such as becoming a top scholar.

凡占試，以鬼為主，看伏在何爻下，要日辰生扶合出。且如春占剝卦，官在文書爻下，有氣，日辰合出，主試中試。求職請判，宜官鬼出現，忌動發，在任宜鬼靜，鬼發有動，子動有替。

When divining about examinations, the official ghost is the main focus. One should look at where it is hidden beneath which line. It is favorable if the day branch generates and supports it or combines with it to bring it out. For example, if in spring one draws the Bo hexagram, the official ghost is hidden beneath the official line, has vitality, and is combined with the day branch to emerge, which indicates success in the examination. If it is about seeking employment or requesting a judgment, it is favorable for the official ghost to appear on the hexagram surface and unfavorable if it moves. For someone already in a position, it is favorable for the official ghost to be still; if the official ghost moves, there will be a transfer, and if the children move, someone will take over.

若六爻中只有一爻動最吉。兄動，事不實，難成。若現有氣，可速成，怕落空。易云：動爻急如火。次或出現文書與貴人。但卦中原無或不入卦，或落空，其事難。官與文書俱旺相，亦要持世方可成。應又不克，事體分明。乾兌坎宮，謀事不一，見官用動，其人多出，見亦生嗔。

In the six-line divination, the best fortune comes when only one line moves. If the moving line is the siblings line, the matter is not genuine and difficult to accomplish. If the useful god has already appeared and has strength, the matter can be completed quickly, but be careful that it may fall empty. The school of Change says: the moving line is as urgent as a fierce fire. Next, the divination should include the line of documents and the nobleman. If these are not present in the original hexagram, or if they do not appear in the hexagram or fall empty, the matter will be difficult. Although the official line and the line of documents being prosperous and strong is good, they must also hold the world position to succeed. If the responding line does not come to restrain, the matter will be clearly attainable. If the hexagram comes from the Qian trigram, Dui trigram, or Kan trigram, the matter often cannot be settled in one go. When meeting the official, if the useful god is just moving, the official is likely away, and even if met, he will be angry.

官鬼為主，世我應彼；世應相生，得遇和喜。

Divination for visiting a nobleman should focus on the official ghost line, since the nobleman is considered the official star. The world line represents myself, and the response line represents the other party. If the world and response lines mutually generate and harmonize, it indicates that I will meet the nobleman and the relationship will be harmonious and pleasant.

凡占謁貴，以外卦取，外陽爻可見，外陰爻不見。陰鬼陽世再見，陽鬼陰世已外出。

When divining about visiting a nobleman, the judgment should be based on the outer trigram, because the outer trigram represents the other person. If the outer trigram is a yang line, the person can be seen; if it is a yin line, the person cannot be seen. If the official ghost is yin and the world line is yang, it indicates that one needs to go again to meet the nobleman. If the official ghost is yang and the world line is yin, the nobleman has already left.

出現在家，忌外卦獨發。伏藏應動，皆不見。看財爻旺相出現，忌動用官，看官爻，忌世應坐鬼，又須問見何人，看用爻為主。

If the official ghost appears in the hexagram, it indicates that the person is at home; however, if the outer trigram alone becomes active, the person will leave immediately. If the official ghost is hidden and not revealed, or if it is activated by the response line, it will not be seen. When looking for the wealth line, it should be prosperous and active. However, since this matter uses the official as the useful god, it is forbidden for the wealth line to move and harm the documents. When examining the official line, it is also forbidden for the world line or the response line to be seated on the ghost. In addition, one must clarify who is being referred to and select the useful god accordingly, with everything centered on the useful god.

謁見，用支出現旺相不動，在家；若空、沖、散，不在。世應相生合則吉，相剋必凶。

Going to visit, if the useful god is on a line that appears in the hexagram, is prosperous and strong, and not moving, then the person is at home. If the useful god is in an empty position, is being冲 (conflicted), or is being冲散 (scattered by conflict), then the person is not at home. If the world line and response line mutually generate or harmonize, it is auspicious. If they mutually control, it will be inauspicious.

世克應，或克用爻、皆致怨之象。當俯仰小心。應克世、或用爻克世，皆願見，亦憂刑。應用相剋不及相生也。卦有身，相見更看用爻，用爻生身尤好；卦無身又無用爻，或用爻空亡，終不見。

If the World Line is in conflict with the Response Line, or if the World Line is in conflict with the Useful God, it indicates a sign of attracting hatred from others. In such a case, one should be particularly cautious in their actions and movements. If the Response Line is in conflict with the World Line, or if the Useful God is in conflict with the World Line, the Nobleman is willing to see you, but you yourself will have to bear some worries and responsibilities. In general, conflicts between the Response Line, the Useful God, and the World Line are not as favorable as mutual generation. If the hexagram has a Hexagram Body, whether one can meet depends on the Useful God. The best situation is when the Useful God generates and supports the Hexagram Body. If there is no Hexagram Body, no Useful God, or if the Useful God falls into the Empty Wasteland, then ultimately, one will not be able to meet.

財福出現，買賣必利；世應相生，交易可成。

Divination for trade: if both the Wealth line and the Children and Fortune Virtue lines appear in the hexagram, the transaction will certainly be profitable. Wealth represents the principal and profit, while Fortune Virtue is the source of generating wealth. Then examine the relationship between the World line and the Response line: if they mutually generate each other, the transaction will succeed.

卦占買賣，惟要財福出現，如無不利。若是兄宮發動於上爻，必知地頭不吉。凶殺泊四五，途路坎坷多。

When divining for business transactions, it is essential that both the wealth line and the fortune virtue line appear in the hexagram. If these two lines are not present, it will be unfavorable. If the siblings line is active at the top line, it indicates that the destination of the goods is not auspicious. If malevolent influences are stationed at the fourth or fifth lines, there will be many difficulties along the way.

財支持世克身得利，發動克身亦利。外克內，應克世，易得財；內克外，世克應難得利。

The World Line is occupied by the Wealth Line, which comes to克 the Hexagram Body and brings profit. When the Wealth Line is activated and克 the Hexagram Body, it also brings profit. When the Wealth Line克 the Hexagram Body, it signifies that wealth is coming into one's possession. When the Outer Trigram克 the Inner Trigram and the Response Line克 the World Line, it is easy to gain wealth. Conversely, when the Inner Trigram克 the Outer Trigram and the World Line克 the Response Line, it is difficult to gain profit.

內旺相，外無氣，其物先貴後賤。 財旺相，主貴、宜賣；財休囚主賤，宜買。

The inner trigram is prosperous and strong while the outer trigram has no vitality, indicating that this type of goods will first be expensive and then become cheap, so it is advisable to sell them early. If the wealth hexagram is prosperous and strong, it indicates high prices and is suitable for selling; if the wealth hexagram is weak and confined, it indicates low prices and is suitable for buying.

兄財不利，鬼動賤發，月建臨財則吉，官鬼臨庫，公財吉，私財凶。

Siblings and wealth lines appearing together indicate an unfavorable situation because siblings steal wealth. If official ghosts are activated, the price of goods will be low and they are likely to be sold off easily. If the month builder is on the wealth line, it is favorable. If official ghosts are on the warehouse position, it is auspicious for official business but inauspicious for private business.

卦有二身三身者，財當與人分共，本宮鬼化財可求，本宮財化鬼防失。

In a single hexagram, if two or three hexagram bodies appear, this wealth should be shared with others. If the official ghost in the native's palace changes into a wealth line, then wealth can be sought. However, if the native's wealth line changes into the official ghost, one should be cautious of financial loss.