Eighteen Questions and Answers with Divination Examples

三傳年月日建克用，有一爻動來生，有一爻動來克，亦謂貪生忘克乎？答曰：寡固不可敵眾也。即如一爻生，一爻克，又自化克，皆不宜也，何況三傳助克乎？

First question: If the "Three Transmissions" of Tai Su, Yue Jian, and Ri Chen all come to overcome the Useful God, and the hexagram also has one line moving to generate the Useful God and another line moving to overcome the Useful God, can this be considered "greed for life and forgetting to overcome"? Answer: The few cannot overcome the many. Even if only one line comes to generate and one line comes to overcome, and the Useful God itself changes to become a self-overcoming, it is already not good;何况 the Three Transmissions are all helping the overcoming god. Therefore, this situation cannot be considered as "greed for life and forgetting to overcome"—the premise of "greed for life and forgetting to overcome" is that the overcoming god is willing to turn to generate the Origin God, but when the Three Transmissions are pressing down, the Hostile God feels secure and will not stop.

又問：月剋日生，日克月生，如何？答曰：匹也。再看動出一爻，生是生；動出一爻，克是克也。

Another question: If the Month Builder is strong and the Day Branch is weak, or if the Day Branch is strong and the Month Builder is weak, how should this be calculated? The answer is: These two forces are equal and can cancel each other out (「匹」means equality). At this point, we look at the Moving Line: if the Moving Line produces a line that supports, we consider it as support; if it produces a line that attacks, we consider it as attack—the outcome depends on which side the additional line favors. This is the principle established by Wang氏 to determine whether the Three Transmissions or the Moving Line is more significant.

占事　占弟病業已臨危？｜占事　占弟被訟吉凶何如？ 卦名　水火既濟之澤火革｜卦名　澤水困之雷風恆 卦宮　坎水　空亡　辰巳　缺爻　午財｜卦宮　兌金　空亡　寅卯　缺爻 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 龍（應）子兄　丙｜辰‖龍　未父　丁｜午｜辰 武　戌官　申‖武　Ｏ　酉兄→申兄　未 虎　ｘ　申父→亥兄［伏］‖虎（應）亥孫 蛇（世）亥兄［午財］‖蛇　ｘ　午官→酉兄 陳　丑官‖陳　辰父 雀　卯孫‖雀（世）寅財

This is the first question with the first two hexagram examples, arranged side by side. On the left, the hexagram is about a brother's illness that is critical, and it is cast as Ji Ji (Hexagram 63) changing to Ge (Hexagram 49), belonging to the Kan palace with water, with an empty period on the days of Chen and Si, and the hexagram lacking the fire element of wife and wealth; the divination was done on the day of Bingshen and the month of Chen. The six lines from top to bottom are: Qinglong (Azure Dragon) Zi water, which is the response line, representing brothers; Xuanwu (Black Tortoise) Xu earth, representing official ghosts; Baihu (White Tiger) Shen metal, representing parents, with the intersecting line moving and transforming into Hai water brothers; Tengshe (Green Snake) Hai water brothers, which is the world line, with the hidden fire element of wife and wealth below; Gouchen (Hook Star) Chou earth, representing official ghosts; and Zhuque (Vermilion Bird) Mao wood, representing children. On the right, the hexagram is about the fortune of a brother being involved in legal matters, and it is cast as Kun (Hexagram 47) changing to Heng (Hexagram 32), belonging to the Dui palace with metal, with an empty period on the days of Yin and Mao; the divination was done on the day of Dingwei, the month of Wu, and the year of Chen. The six lines from top to bottom are: Qinglong (Azure Dragon) Wei earth, representing parents; Xuanwu (Black Tortoise) You gold, representing brothers, with the intersecting line moving and transforming into Shen gold brothers; Baihu (White Tiger) Hai water, representing children, which is the response line; Tengshe (Green Snake) Wu fire, representing official ghosts, with the intersecting line moving and transforming into You gold brothers; Gouchen (Hook Star) Chen earth, representing parents; and Zhuque (Vermilion Bird) Yin wood, representing wife and wealth, which is the world line. Both hexagrams are about the same brother, and the useful god is taken as the brothers' line in both cases.

斷曰：此卦亥水兄弟為用神，辰月克之，申日生之，又得申金動爻生之，臨危有救，果於本日酉時得名醫救活，亥日痊癒。｜斷曰：酉金兄弟為用神，午月克之，未日生之，似可相敵，但動出午火月建相剋，大凶之象。彼云：凶在何時？答曰：今歲辰年太歲相合，自是無妨；化退神於申，恐厄於午年甲月。果至午年甲月而被重刑。

The left hexagram's interpretation: The divination concerns the brother's situation, using the fourth line,亥 water siblings, as the useful god. The earth element of the chen month comes to overcome it, but the metal of the shen day comes to support it. Moreover, the third line, shen metal parents, also moves to support it. This is one overcoming and two supports, indicating a critical situation with rescue. Therefore, it was predicted that there would be a turning point on the same day. Indeed, a famous doctor was invited at the you hour of the day, and the illness was cured by the hai day (the day when the heaven stem and the useful god share the same branch, the useful god is in charge). The right hexagram's interpretation: The fifth line, you metal siblings, is used as the useful god. The fire of the wu month overcomes it, and the earth of the wei day supports it. These two forces could balance each other. However, the third line, wu fire official ghost, also moves, bringing the influence of the month builder to overcome it, which is a very ominous sign. The person asked when the misfortune would occur. The answer was: this year is the chen year, and chen combines with you, the year's ruler holds the useful god, so it is temporarily safe. However, the you metal moves and changes to shen, which is a retreating god, retreating to the shen position, so it is likely to occur in the jia month of the wu year. Later, indeed, in the jia month of the wu year, he was sentenced to a severe punishment. The fire of the wu year is strong, which is the time when the fire overcomes the you metal. These two hexagrams, one saving and one ominous, clearly show that the three transmissions and the moving line should be considered together: if there are more supports than overcomings, it is a rescue; if there are more overcomings than supports, it is a failure.

占事　占妹臨產吉凶？｜占事　一人占自病？ 卦名　火地晉｜卦名　澤風大過之火風鼎 卦宮　乾金　空亡　戌亥　缺爻｜卦宮　震木　空亡　辰巳　缺爻　孫、兄 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 雀　巳官　戊｜午‖武　ｘ　未財→巳孫　乙｜巳 龍　未父　辰‖虎　Ｏ　酉官［伏］　未 武（世）酉兄‖蛇（世）亥父→酉官［午孫］ 虎　卯財‖陳　酉官［伏］ 蛇　巳官［伏］‖雀　亥父［寅兄］ 陳（應）未父［子孫］‖龍（應）丑財

This is the third and fourth divination questions of the first inquiry. The left hexagram is about divining the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the sister's childbirth, and the hexagram drawn is Fire Earth Progress (Jin), belonging to the Qian Palace metal, with the ten-day hollow period of Xu and Hai, and the six relations are complete. The divination was done on the Wuchen day, in the Wu month. The six lines from top to bottom are: Vermilion Bird,巳 fire Official Ghost; Azure Dragon,未 earth Parents; Black Tortoise,酉 gold Siblings, which is the World Line; White Tiger,卯 wood Wealth; Snake,巳 fire Official Ghost, with a hidden god beneath; Gou Chen,未 earth Parents, which is the Response Line, with a hidden god of Zi water Children. For the sister's divination, the Siblings line is taken as the useful god, and the useful god is the fifth line,酉 gold. The right hexagram is about a person divining his own illness, and the hexagram drawn is泽 Wind Great Excess (Da Guo) changing into Fire Wind Cauldron (Ding), belonging to the Zhen Palace wood, with the ten-day hollow period of Chen and Si, and the hexagram is missing the Children and Siblings lines. The divination was done on the Yiwei day, in the Si month. The six lines from top to bottom are: Black Tortoise,未 earth Wealth, with the intersecting line moving and transforming into巳 fire Children; White Tiger,酉 gold Official Ghost, with the repeated line moving, with a hidden god beneath; Snake,亥 water Parents, which is the World Line, transforming into酉 gold Official Ghost, with a hidden god of Wu fire Children; Gou Chen,酉 gold Official Ghost; Vermilion Bird,亥 water Parents, with a hidden god of Yin wood Siblings; Azure Dragon,丑 earth Wealth, which is the Response Line. When divining one's own illness, the World Line is taken as the useful god.

斷曰：酉金兄弟為用神，月剋日生，許之無礙。明日卯時必生，母子平安。應卯時者，酉金與辰日相合也。《黃金策》云：若逄合住，必待沖開。此月剋日生，無憎生克也。｜斷曰：世爻亥水為用神，未土動來克世，酉金動來生世，是謂貪生忘克，化凶為吉矣。但不宜日辰來克，又逄月沖，雖有酉金原神發動相生，如樹無根，生不起也。果卒於卯日。應卯日者，沖去原神之日，忌神共來克害也。

The left hexagram's interpretation states that the useful god is the fifth line, which is the酉 metal sibling. The fire of the午 month comes to overcome it, while the earth of the戊辰 day comes to support it. The overcoming and supporting forces are equal, so there is no obstruction. It is predicted that she will give birth on the卯 hour of the next day, with mother and child safe. The reason it should be at the卯 hour is because the酉 metal is being held by the辰 day. According to The Golden Strategies, "if something is held by a combination, it must wait for a clash to be released." The卯 hour directly clashes with the酉 metal, and once it is released, the birth will occur. Here, the overcoming force of the month and the supporting force of the day are balanced, so there is no question of one overpowering the other. The right hexagram's interpretation states that the useful god is the world line, which is the亥 water. The top line, 未 earth, is activated to overcome the world line, while the fifth line, 酉 metal, is activated to support the world line. The 未 earth, upon encountering the 酉 metal, turns to support the metal and forgets to overcome the water, which is a sign of "preferring support over overcoming" and transforming a bad situation into a good one. However, the Yiwei day brings another 未 earth to overcome the world line, and the巳 month clashes with the亥 water (as巳 and亥 clash). The world line is thus weakened by the month's clash and its root is broken. Even though the 酉 metal original god is activated to support the world line, it is like a tree without roots, so it cannot grow. Later, she indeed died on the卯 day, as the卯 day clashed with the 酉 metal original god, allowing the hostile gods to attack together. Therefore, the event occurred on this day. These two hexagrams illustrate one positive and one negative situation, showing that "preferring support over overcoming" depends on whether the useful god has a root. If it has a root, it can be saved; if not, it cannot be saved.

占事　占墳地 卦名　山地剝 卦宮　乾金　空亡　午未　缺爻　兄 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 雀　寅財［伏］　戊｜申 龍（世）子孫［申兄］　子 武　戌父 虎　卯財 蛇（應）巳官 陳　未父

This is the fifth hexagram of the first question, and a single hexagram cannot form a pair. The subject is about the feng shui of a burial site, and the hexagram drawn is Mountain over Earth, Bo, belonging to the Qian trigram of metal. The旬空 is in the branches of Wu and Wei, and the hexagram lacks the element of siblings. The divination was done on the day of Wu Shen, in the month of Zi. The six yao, from top to bottom, are: Vermilion Bird over寅wood wife wealth, with a hidden god beneath; Azure Dragon over子water children, which is the world line, with hidden Shen metal siblings beneath, and the hexagram body is in Zi; Black Tortoise over戌earth parents; White Tiger over卯wood wife wealth; Qie Sha over巳fire official ghost, which is the response line; and Gou Chen over未earth parents. For divination on a burial site, the world line represents the burial site, the response line represents the facing mountain, the yao before the world line represents the opposite case, and the six beasts are used to determine the water mouth and the shape of the sand. In this hexagram, the world line, which is Zi water, receives the mutual generation from the day branch, Shen metal, and also coincides with the month builder of Zi, indicating that the burial site has received the life qi.

斷曰：日辰子孫持世，月建生之，青龍戲水，水必從左繞穴，必近大水，不然長流之水到堂。白虎臨卯木，子卯寅中帶生，是臨財爻為無礙。應為朝山屬火被世克，朝山不高；世前戌土為對案，土克世，對案略高彼。曰：一一皆是，葬後未出三年，二子皆發科甲。

The world line is the water trigram, representing children, and it receives support from the day of Shen, which generates water, and also aligns with the month of Zi, the month builder, making the water energy extremely strong. The azure dragon is also present on this line, indicating that the dragon is playing with water, so it is certain that water will flow around the burial site from the left side, and there must be a large body of water nearby, or else a long flowing stream will reach the bright hall. The white tiger is on the卯 wood, which is generated by the Zi water (as寅 and卯 share the same energy), and it is also the wealth trigram, so the white tiger side is not harmful. The response line is the巳 fire, representing the facing mountain, which is of the fire element and is overcome by the world line's Zi water, indicating that the facing mountain is not very high. The戌 earth in front of the world line serves as a supporting hill, and earth can overcome water (overcoming the world line), so the supporting hill is slightly higher. The person said: everything matches. After burial, within three years, both sons passed the imperial examinations—this is exactly the response of the world line holding the children trigram and encountering a prosperous and supportive situation, which is the sign of the sons' success.

何以謂之回頭克，克者有吉凶乎？答：土爻動而變木，木爻動而變金，金爻動而變火，火爻動變水，水爻動而變土，此是爻之回頭克也。乾兌卦之離，離之坎，坎之艮坤，艮坤之震巽，震巽之乾兌，此是卦之回頭克也。

Second question: What is "retroactive overcoming"? Is this kind of overcoming both auspicious and inauspicious? Answer: It can be divided into two layers. The first is the retroactive overcoming of lines: when a moving line transforms into another line, the transformed line goes back to overcome the original line: when a earth line moves and transforms into a wood line (wood overcomes earth), when a wood line moves and transforms into a metal line (metal overcomes wood), when a metal line moves and transforms into a fire line (fire overcomes metal), when a fire line moves and transforms into a water line (water overcomes fire), when a water line moves and transforms into an earth line (earth overcomes water). The second is the retroactive overcoming of hexagrams: when the original hexagram transforms into another hexagram, the transformed hexagram goes back to overcome the original hexagram's palace: the hexagrams Qian and Dui belong to metal and transform into Li (fire overcomes metal), Li belongs to fire and transforms into Kan (water overcomes fire), Kan belongs to water and transforms into Gen and Kun (earth overcomes water), Gen and Kun belong to earth and transform into Zhen and Xun (wood overcomes earth), Zhen and Xun belong to wood and transform into Qian and Dui (metal overcomes wood).

凡遇回頭克者，徹底克盡。原用二神遇之則凶，忌仇二神遇之反吉也。

Whenever there is a case of reverse overcoming, it means the root is completely destroyed without any remainder. Therefore, one must determine which of the gods is involved: if the origin god or the useful god encounters reverse overcoming, it is凶 (adverse), because the fundamental support is killed by what it has produced itself; if the hostile god or the enemy god encounters reverse overcoming, it is吉 (favorable), because the harmful force is first restrained by itself. This is the distinction of "reverse overcoming brings both good and bad," entirely depending on which line it falls on.

占事　占家宅人口平安否？｜占事　占開店？ 卦名　水天需之乾為天｜卦名　艮為山之地火明夷 卦宮　坤土　空亡　子丑　缺爻　巳父｜卦宮　艮土　空亡　子丑　缺爻 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 虎　ｘ　子財→戌兄　癸｜卯‖蛇（世）Ｏ　寅官→酉孫　辛｜寅 蛇　戌兄　亥‖陳　子財　酉 陳（世）ｘ　申孫→午父‖雀　戌兄 雀　辰兄［伏］‖龍（應）申孫 龍　寅官［巳父］‖武　午父 武（應）子財‖虎　ｘ　辰兄→卯官

This is the first two examples of the second question. On the left, the first hexagram is about whether the family is safe and its members are unharmed. The hexagram drawn is Water Heaven Xu changing to Heaven Qian, belonging to the Earthly Branch of坤 (Kun), with the empty periods of Zi and Chou, and the hexagram lacking the fire element of Si, representing parents. The divination was done on the day Guihai, during the month of Mao. The six lines, from top to bottom, are: White Tiger, Zi water, wife's wealth, with the moving line transforming into Xu earth, representing brothers; Snake, Xu earth, brothers; Gou Chen, Shen metal, children, which is the world line, with the moving line transforming into Wu fire, representing parents; Allo, Chen earth, brothers; Azure Dragon, Yin wood, official ghost, with the hidden line of Si fire, representing parents; Black Tortoise, Zi water, wife's wealth, which is the responding line. The focus is on the top line and the fourth line, where Zi water transforms into Xu earth and Shen metal transforms into Wu fire. Both transformations are instances of the transformed line returning to harm the original line. On the right, the second hexagram is about opening a shop. The hexagram drawn is Mountain Mountain Gen changing to Earth Fire Ming Yi, belonging to the Earthly Branch of Gen, with the empty periods of Zi and Chou. The divination was done on the day Xinyou, during the month of Yin. The six lines, from top to bottom, are: Snake, Yin wood, official ghost, which is the world line, with the repeated line transforming into You metal, representing children; Gou Chen, Zi water, wife's wealth; Allo, Xu earth, brothers; Azure Dragon, Shen metal, children, which is the responding line; Black Tortoise, Wu fire, parents; White Tiger, Chen earth, brothers, with the moving line transforming into Mao wood, representing official ghost. The world line, Yin wood, transforms into You metal, which is also an instance of the transformed line returning to harm the original line.

斷曰：申金子孫持世，化午火回頭之克，乃自身及子孫皆受克也；子水財爻化戌土回頭之克，財為妻妾奴僕，一家受克之卦。後至午月火旺克世，助土克財，財逄月破，一家數口回祿俱死。｜斷曰：世臨木，酉得令當時，目下開張可許；獨嫌日主克世，又化回頭之克，鬼臨世爻，須防疾病，至六月世入墓時當防。果至六月病，至八月店中財物被夥計盜盡，鳴之於官。

Left Hexagram Interpretation: The trigram of the son is held by the metal of Shen, and it moves to transform into the fire of Wu, which comes back to attack it. Fire attacks metal, which is equivalent to the self and the son being attacked together; the top line of the water of Zi, representing wealth, also transforms into the earth of Xu, which comes back to attack it. Wealth represents wife and servants, which is also attacked — all the family is under attack, indicating a hexagram where the whole family is being attacked. Later, in the month of Wu when fire is strong, it attacks the world line of Shen metal and also helps the earth to attack the water of Zi wealth. Wealth is also exactly at the month breaker, resulting in the whole family dying in a fire (the term 'Hui Lu' refers to the god of fire, meaning a fire disaster). Right Hexagram Interpretation: The world line is occupied by the wood of Yin, which is in its season during the month of Yin, so opening a business is still possible for now; however, the metal of You on the day of Xinyou attacks the world line, and the world line moves to transform into the metal of You, which attacks itself. Also, the official ghost is sitting on the world line, so illness should be guarded against; during the month of Wei, when the earth of Wei is the month and the world line of Yin wood is buried, extra caution is needed. Indeed, in the sixth month he fell ill, and in the eighth month the property in the shop was stolen by the servants, leading to a lawsuit with the authorities — the wood of Yin being attacked by the month of Shen is the sign of the event.

占事　一人占自久病問過得今年否？｜占事　一人占賣貨？ 卦名　天山遁之天風姤｜卦名　風火家人之風天小畜 卦宮　乾金　空亡　子丑　缺爻　孫、財｜卦宮　巽木　空亡　辰巳　缺爻　官 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 雀　戌父　戊｜申‖武　卯兄　乙｜卯 龍（應）申兄　午‖虎（應）巳孫　未 武　午官‖蛇　未財［伏］ 虎　申兄‖陳　亥父［酉官］ 蛇（世）ｘ　午官→亥孫［寅財］‖雀（世）ｘ　丑財→寅兄 陳　辰父［子孫］‖龍　卯兄

This is the third and fourth divination questions of the second set. The left hexagram: a person is divining about his long-term illness, asking whether he can survive the year, and he cast the hexagram of Tian Shan Duan changing to Tian Feng Gou, belonging to the Qian palace metal, with the empty days of Zi and Chou, and the hexagram lacking children and wealth. The divination was done on the Wuwu day and Shen month. The six lines from top to bottom: Zhu Que Xu soil parents; Qian Long Shen metal siblings, which is the response line; Xuan Wu Wu fire official ghost; Bai Hu Shen metal siblings; Tan She Wu fire official ghost, which is the world line, and the intersecting line moves to produce Hai water children, with Yin wood wealth hidden underneath; Gou Chen Chen soil parents, with Zi water children hidden underneath. The world line Wu fire moves to Hai water, water overcoming fire, which is a case of self-overcoming. The right hexagram: a person is divining about selling goods, and he cast the hexagram of Feng Huo Jia Ren changing to Feng Tian Xiao Xu, belonging to the Xun palace wood, with the empty days of Chen and Si, and the hexagram lacking official ghosts. The divination was done on the Yiwei day and Mao month. The six lines from top to bottom: Xuan Wu Mao wood siblings; Bai Hu Si fire children, which is the response line; Tan She Wei soil wealth, with a hidden god underneath; Gou Chen Hai water parents, with You metal official ghost hidden underneath; Zhu Que Chou soil wealth, which is the world line, and the intersecting line moves to produce Yin wood siblings; Qian Long Mao wood siblings. The world line Chou soil moves to Yin wood, wood overcoming soil, which is also a case of self-overcoming.

斷曰：世爻午火臨日辰，可稱旺相，但不宜申月建生助亥水回頭一克，此人至亥月戌日而故。應亥月者，午火乃日辰之火，彼時亥水不得令，不敢克也；戌日者，火庫在戌也。｜斷曰：丑土財爻持世，卯月克之，未日沖之，謂之散；又化寅木回頭之克，克不獨財克而世亦遭傷矣。後至未月世值月破，回祿傷身而死。

Left Hexagram Interpretation: The world line is the wu wu day branch, with the wu fire in the wu wu day branch, which should be prosperous and strong. However, the shen month's month builder supports the transformed hai water, making the reverse克制 especially strong. Therefore, it is predicted that this person will not live past the hai month, and indeed he died on the xu day of the hai month. Why does it apply to the hai month rather than the present? Because the wu fire is currently supported by the day branch, and the hai water is not yet in its season, so it dares not to克制. Once the hai month arrives, the water is in its season and the fire loses its strength. Why does it apply to the xu day? Because the墓库 of fire is in xu, and the useful god is buried and thus destroyed. Right Hexagram Interpretation: The wife wealth is held by the chou earth as the world line, with the卯 month's wood coming to克 it, and the yi wei day also冲 it (chou and wei are in conflict), which is called "冲散". Moreover, it moves and transforms into the yin wood, which comes back to克 it. This克 is not only against the wife wealth, but also injures the world line itself. Later, in the wei month, the world line chou earth is exactly in the month breaker, and the person died in a fire.

占事　占何日雨？｜占事　占父官事 卦名　地風升之地水師｜卦名　澤地萃之天火同人 卦宮　震木　空亡　戌亥　缺爻　孫、兄｜卦宮　兌金　空亡　戌亥　缺爻 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 龍　酉官　丙｜酉‖雀　ｘ　未父→戌父　戊｜卯 武（應）亥父［伏］　寅‖龍（應）酉兄　辰 虎　丑財［午孫］‖武　亥孫 蛇　Ｏ　酉官→午孫［伏］‖虎　ｘ　卯財→亥孫 陳（世）亥父［寅兄］‖蛇（世）巳官 雀　丑財‖陳　ｘ　未父→卯財

This is the fifth and sixth hexagrams of the second question. The left hexagram: asking about which day it will rain, the hexagram cast is Sheng changing into Shi, belonging to the Zhen palace wood, with the empty days of Xu and Hai, and the hexagram lacking the children and siblings lines; the divination was done on the Bing You day, in the Yin month. The six lines from top to bottom: Qinglong酉 gold official ghost; Xuanwu亥 water parents, which is the response line, with a hidden god below; Baohu丑 earth wealth, with a hidden god of Wu fire children below; Tengshe酉 gold official ghost, the repeated line is activated and changes into Wu fire children; Gouchen亥 water parents, which is the world line, with a hidden god of Yin wood siblings below; Zhuque丑 earth wealth. For predicting rain, the parents line is the useful god, and in this hexagram the亥 water parents line is exactly in the empty days. The right hexagram: asking about the father's legal case, the hexagram cast is Cui changing into Tong Ren, belonging to the Dui palace metal, with the empty days of Xu and Hai; the divination was done on the Wu Mao day, in the Chen month. The six lines from top to bottom: Zhuque未 earth parents, the intersecting line is activated and changes into Xu earth parents; Qinglong酉 gold siblings, which is the response line; Xuanwu亥 water children; Baohu卯 wood wealth, the intersecting line is activated and changes into Hai water children; Tengshe巳 fire official ghost, which is the world line; Gouchen未 earth parents, the intersecting line is activated and changes into Mao wood wealth. For predicting the father's case, the parents line is the useful god.

斷曰：亥水父爻為用神，值旬空；酉金官鬼爻是原神，化午火回頭之克，旬內不雨。至子日有幾點小雨，應於子日者，沖去午火仇神故也。雨小者，旬空無根也。｜斷曰：外卦未土卯月克之，況土值春令氣敗，又會成亥卯未局克之，全無救助，必至重罪。後果斬。

Left Trigram Interpretation: When predicting rain, the parents are considered the useful god. In this hexagram, the亥 water parents are exactly in the旬空 (decade void); the original god that generates them is酉 gold official ghost, but this酉 gold moves and transforms into午 fire, which turns back to克 (overcome) it. The original god is itself overcome, so rain cannot fall, hence the prediction that there will be no rain during this decade. On the子 day, a few drops of light rain fell — why did it happen on the子 day? Because子冲午 (子 and午 are opposing), which removes the午 fire enemy god, allowing the original god to breathe. Why was the rain light? Because the useful god is in the旬空, having no foundation. Right Trigram Interpretation: The outer trigram's未 earth parents (father) are directly overcome by卯 month wood; moreover, earth is naturally weak in spring. The卦 has卯 wood wife wealth moving, which joins with亥 water and未 earth to form theHai-Mao-Wei (Wood triad) wood trinity to overcome it. There is no place for rescue, so it is certain that a serious punishment will be received. Later, he was indeed executed. This example shows that a trinity forming a harmonious combination to overcome the useful god is much heavier than a single line overcoming it.

占事　一人占僕何日回？｜占事　一人占自病 卦名　澤天夬之天澤履｜卦名　離為火之坎為水 卦宮　坤土　空亡　午未　缺爻　父｜卦宮　離火　空亡　戌亥　缺爻 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 龍　ｘ　未兄→戌兄　丁｜巳‖龍（世）Ｏ　巳兄→子官　丙｜午 武（世）酉孫　亥‖武　ｘ　未孫→戌孫　寅 虎　亥財‖虎　Ｏ　酉財→申財 蛇　Ｏ　辰兄→丑兄［伏］‖蛇（應）Ｏ　亥官→午兄 陳（應）寅官［巳父］‖陳　ｘ　丑孫→辰孫 雀　子財‖雀　卯父

This is the seventh of the eight trigrams for the second question. On the left side, a person asked when a servant would return, and cast the hexagram Zhe Tian Guai changing to Tian Ze Lv, belonging to the Kun palace earth, with the旬空 on Wu and Wei, and the hexagram missing the parents. The divination was done on Ding Hai day and Si month. The six lines from top to bottom are: Qing Long Wu earth brothers, with the intersecting line active and changing to Xu earth brothers; Xuan Wu You metal children, which is the world line; Bai Hu Hai water wealth; Tan She Chen earth brothers, with the second line active and changing to Chou earth brothers, with a hidden god below; Gou Chen Yin wood official ghost, which is the response line, with a hidden god of Si fire parents below. The person used the wealth line as the useful god, which is the fourth line Hai water. On the right side, a person asked about his own illness, and cast the hexagram Li Wei Hu changing to Kan Wei Shui, belonging to the Li palace fire, with the旬空 on Xu and Hai. The divination was done on Bing Wu day and Yin month. The six lines from top to bottom are: Qing Long Si fire brothers, which is the world line, with the second line active and changing to Zi water official ghost; Xuan Wu Wei earth children, with the intersecting line active and changing to Xu earth children; Bai Hu You metal wealth, with the second line active and changing to Shen metal wealth; Tan She Hai water official ghost, which is the response line, with the second line active and changing to Wu fire brothers; Gou Chen Chou earth children, with the intersecting line active and changing to Chen earth children; Zhu Quan Mao wood parents. The Li palace fire changing to the Kan palace water is a case of the hexagram turning against itself.

斷曰：亥水財爻為用神，亥水雖是月建，不謂月破，但不宜重重土動傷之。諺云：雙拳不敵四手，不獨難望歸期，還要防途中不測。後至午月火旺合未助土時，中途過害矣。｜斷曰：離火化坎水，乃卦變回頭之克；巳火世爻化出子水回頭之克，名為反吟卦。目今午月火旺之時，日主生扶，近來無礙，冬令防之。後果死於戌月丁亥日。應戌月者，世入墓之月也；亥日者，克沖之日也。

Left Hexagram Interpretation: The useful god for the servant is the fourth line,亥 water, which represents wealth. Although亥 water is being clashed by巳 month, it is not considered a true month breaker. The real problem is that the upper line 未 earth and the third line 辰 earth are both strongly active and attacking it. As the saying goes, two fists can't defeat four hands, one water can't resist two earths. Not only is the servant's return date uncertain, but he should also be cautious of accidents on the way. Later, in the month of午, fire is strong and combines with 未 earth, further strengthening the earth's power to attack亥 water. The servant indeed died on the way. Right Hexagram Interpretation: The fire of the li palace changes into the water of the kan palace, which is a case of the hexagram turning back to attack itself. The world line巳 fire also moves and changes into子 water, which again turns back to attack. Moreover,巳 changes into子,亥 changes into午,酉 changes into申, and all six lines are in mutual clashes, forming a reverse chant hexagram. Currently, it is the month of午 when fire is strong, and the day branchBingwu also supports the world line. Therefore, there is no immediate danger, but one should be cautious during the winter when water is strong. Indeed, he died in the month of戌 on the day ofDinghai.戌 is the burial place of fire, and the world line is buried in that month. 亥 day has strong water, which is the day that clashes and controls the world line.

占事　一人占索房價｜占事　占具題 卦名　坎為水之坤為地｜卦名　風澤中孚之山澤損 卦宮　坎水　空亡　午未　缺爻｜卦宮　艮土　空亡　戌亥　缺爻　孫、財 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 武（世）子兄　乙｜卯‖雀　卯官　戊｜申 虎　Ｏ　戌官→未官　酉‖龍　Ｏ　巳父→子財［子財］　辰 蛇　申父‖武（世）未兄 陳（應）午財‖虎　丑兄［申孫］ 雀　Ｏ　辰官→丑官‖蛇　卯官 龍　寅孫‖陳（應）巳父

This is the ninth and tenth divination in the second question. The left hexagram: someone divined about the price of a house and obtained Kan (Water) changing into Kun (Earth), belonging to the Water trigram of Kan, with the empty periods of Wu and Wei; the divination was done on the day of Yiyou and the month of Mao. The six lines from top to bottom: Xuanwu (Black Tortoise) Zi water siblings, which is the world line; Baihu (White Tiger) Xu earth official ghost, the second line moves and changes into Wei earth official ghost; Tengshe (Green Snake) Shen metal parents; Gouchen (Hook Star) Wu fire wife's wealth, which is the response line; Zhuque (Vermilion Bird) Chen earth official ghost, the second line moves and changes into Chou earth official ghost; Qinglong (Azure Dragon) Yin wood children. The Water trigram of Kan changes into the Earth trigram of Kun, with earth overcoming water, which is a self-overcoming in the hexagram. The right hexagram: divining about submitting a memorial with a title (presenting a petition), obtained Zhongfu (Faithful Middle) changing into Sun (Loss), belonging to the Earth trigram of Gen, with the empty periods of Xu and Hai, and the hexagram lacks children and wife's wealth; the divination was done on the day of Wushen and the month of Chen. The six lines from top to bottom: Zhuque (Vermilion Bird) Mao wood official ghost; Qinglong (Azure Dragon) Si fire parents, the second line moves and changes into Zi water wife's wealth, and there is also a hidden Zi water wife's wealth below; Xuanwu (Black Tortoise) Wei earth siblings, which is the world line; Baihu (White Tiger) Chou earth siblings, with a hidden Shen metal children below; Tengshe (Green Snake) Mao wood official ghost; Gouchen (Hook Star) Si fire parents, which is the response line. The fifth line Si fire originally generates the world line, but after it moves, it changes into Zi water which self-overcomes it.

斷曰：坎卦變坤亦是卦變回頭之克，世爻雖得日生，不宜兩重土動來傷。此卦甚凶，不但房價事小，宜防不測之禍。後於午月覆舟而亡。應於午月者，辰戌土鬼出春令遇火增威，世臨月沖也。占房價驗在其命，乃神之預報其凶；占此應彼，占輕應重也。｜斷曰：五位巳火生世，化子水回頭克，不宜具題。問曰：有害否？予曰：巳火雖不能生，幸卦中無動爻克世，利害皆無。後題而果不准行。

Left Hexagram Interpretation: The water of the Kan trigram changes to the earth of the Kun trigram, indicating a case of the hexagram being overcome by itself. The world line, which is the water of the zi trigram, although receives the metal of the yiyou day to generate it, cannot withstand the combined attack of the upper line, the戌 earth and the second line, the辰 earth, both of which are official ghosts. This hexagram is extremely ominous. Although asking about the price of a house is a minor matter, one should be cautious of unexpected calamities. Later, this person drowned in a boat accident in the month of wu. Why did it happen in the month of wu? Because the official ghosts of the chen and xu earths came out in the spring season and were further strengthened by the fire of the wu month. The world line of the zi water was also directly attacked by the wu month. The question was about the price of a house, but the fulfillment was about life and death. This is a divine warning that the question is minor, but the fulfillment is serious. Right Hexagram Interpretation: The fourth line, the fire of si, which is the parents, originally supports the world line. However, once it moves, it changes to the water of zi, which turns around to overcome the parents. The original god is injured, and it is not advisable to submit this petition. The person asked if there would be any harm. I said: although the fire of si cannot support the world line, it is fortunate that there is no moving line to attack the world line, so there is neither benefit nor harm. Later, when the petition was submitted, it indeed did not get approval.

占事　占慮大計 卦名　火山旅之地火明夷 卦宮　離火　空亡　子丑　缺爻　父、官 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 龍　Ｏ　巳兄→酉財　丁｜寅 武　未孫　巳 虎（應）Ｏ　酉財→丑孫 蛇　申財［亥官］ 陳　午兄 雀（世）ｘ　辰孫→卯父［卯父］

This is the last hexagram of the second question. The subject is "considering major matters"—during the examination periods of the Ming and Qing dynasties, officials were anxious about their performance being criticized, so they sought divination. The hexagram obtained is "Lv" (Hexagram 56, Fire Journey) changing into "Ming Yi" (Hexagram 36, Earth Fire Illumination), belonging to the fire hexagram of the Li palace. The旬空 (ten-day void) is on Zi and Chou, and the hexagram lacks the parents and official ghost lines. The divination was done on the day of Dingsi and the month of Yin. The six lines, from top to bottom: the Azure Dragon line is巳 fire siblings, with the second line moving and changing into You metal wealth; the Black Tortoise line is未 earth children; the White Tiger line is酉 metal wealth, which is the response line, with the second line moving and changing into Chou earth children; the Snake line is申 metal wealth, with the hidden line below being Hai water official ghost; the Gou Chen line is午 fire siblings; the Vermilion Bird line is辰 earth children, which is the world line, with the line moving and changing into Mao wood parents, and the hidden line below is also Mao wood parents. The world line, which is辰 earth, moves and changes into Mao wood. Wood overcomes earth, which is a case of self-overcoming.

斷曰：子孫持世化回頭之克，但嫌世位臨之，世為自己，不宜受克，雖有金局生扶，伏官難稱無恙，後果削職。

The interpretation: The "Children" line holds the world line and moves, with the changing line producing a wood element in the "Mao" position, which comes back to restrain it. The "Children" line is originally a blessing deity; if it is located elsewhere, it is not a problem. However, since it is located on the world line, the world line represents oneself, and oneself being restrained is not a good omen. Although the hexagram contains the "Si-You-Chou" triple metal harmony to generate and support the world line (earth generates metal, but metal generates earth, which is actually a leakage, and the metal harmony does not generate the world line), the "Official Ghost" line is hidden and does not appear. In a divination about an examination result, the "Official Ghost" represents the position, and if the official is hidden, the position is unstable. Therefore, it is predicted that he will not be able to retain his official position. Later, he was indeed dismissed from his post. This case perfectly illustrates the general rule mentioned earlier: "The original deity and useful deity encountering a reverse restraint is a bad omen."

生用神者為原神，本主吉，吉中亦有凶者乎？答曰：原神動來生用，用神出現旺相者，其吉更倍也。如用神旬空衰弱，或伏藏不現，待用出旬、得令值日，所求必遂也。如用神旺相，原神休囚不動，或動而變克、變絕、變墓、月破、日沖，或仇神動克原神，或被日月相沖，或化退神，皆不能生用，則用神根蒂被傷，不惟無益而反有損矣！

Third question: The yao that generates the useful god is called the origin god, which originally governs good fortune. But is there also bad fortune within this good fortune? Answer: If the origin god activates to generate the useful god, and the useful god appears in the hexagram and is prosperous and strong, then the good fortune is doubled. If the useful god is in the旬空, weak, or hidden and not revealed, as long as the origin god generates it, when it comes out of the旬, gains the command, and meets the day branch, the desired outcome will certainly be achieved. However, the reverse is also true: even if the useful god is prosperous and strong, but the origin god is weak and inactive; or the origin god although active turns into something that harms, or turns into its end, or turns into its burial, or meets the month breaker, or is conflicted by the day branch; or the enemy god activates to harm the origin god; or the origin god is conflicted by the sun and moon; or the origin god turns into the retreating god — in these cases, the origin god cannot generate the useful god, and the root of the useful god is injured. Not only does it not bring benefit, but it brings harm. This is where "good fortune contains bad fortune" is found.

占事　妻占夫近病？｜占事　占風水 卦名　天火同人之離為火｜卦名　澤水困之水澤節 卦宮　離火　空亡　戌亥　缺爻｜卦宮　兌金　空亡　子丑　缺爻　官 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 雀（應）戌孫　戊｜申‖武　未父　甲｜卯 龍　Ｏ　申財→未孫　辰‖虎　酉兄　寅 武　午兄‖蛇（應）Ｏ　亥孫→申兄 虎（世）亥官‖陳　午官 蛇　丑孫‖雀　辰父 陳　卯父‖龍（世）Ｘ　寅財→巳官［巳官］

This is the first two examples of the third question. On the left, the divination is about a wife seeking information regarding her husband's recent illness, and the hexagram drawn is Tian Huo Tong Ren changing to Li Wei Huo, which belongs to the fire hexagram of Li, with the旬空 (empty period) on戌 and亥. The divination was performed on the戊申 day in the辰 month. The six lines from top to bottom are: Zhu Que戌 earth子孙 (children), which is the response line; Qian Long申 metal妻财 (wealth), the second line which moves and changes into 未 earth子孙 (children); Xuan Wu午 fire兄弟 (siblings); Bai Hu亥 water官鬼 (official ghost), which is the world line; Tan She丑 earth子孙 (children); Gou Chen卯 wood父母 (parents). For a wife seeking information about her husband, the official ghost is the useful god. In this hexagram, the亥 water official ghost holds the world line and is in the旬空 (empty period). On the right, the divination is about the风水 (feng shui) of an ancestral tomb, and the hexagram drawn is Ze Shui Kun changing to Shui Ze Jie, which belongs to the metal hexagram of兑, with the旬空 (empty period) on子 and丑, and the official ghost is missing in the hexagram. The divination was performed on the甲寅 day in the卯 month. The six lines from top to bottom are: Xuan Wu未 earth父母 (parents); Bai Hu酉 metal兄弟 (siblings); Tan She亥 water子孙 (children), which is the response line, the second line which moves and changes into申 metal兄弟 (siblings); Gou Chen午 fire官鬼 (official ghost); Zhu Que辰 earth父母 (parents); Qian Long寅 wood妻财 (wealth), which is the world line, and the intersecting line moves and changes into巳 fire官鬼 (official ghost), with another巳 fire official ghost hidden below. The hexagram Kun changes to Jie, and the六合 (six harmony) changes to六合 (six harmony), which is a favorable sign of 'six harmony combining'.

斷曰：世爻亥水夫星墓於辰日，其病若論隨鬼入墓，豈不凶乎？幸申金原神動來生用，又化出未土生助原神，又戌土暗動生助原神，是夫星根蒂固深；所嫌亥水旬空不受其生，必待巳日沖起亥水即愈。果己巳日全愈也。

Left卦 interpretation: The world line is亥 water, which is the useful god representing the husband. The辰 is the storage of water. If we follow the principle of "ghost entering the storage," it would be very ominous. Fortunately, the fifth line申 gold, which is the origin god, is activated to generate the亥 water. This申 gold also transforms into未 earth to support itself. The top line戌 earth is also stirred up by the day branch and moves covertly, coming to support the申 gold. The origin god receives support layer by layer, making the husband's root strong. The only concern is that the亥 water is in the旬空, which cannot receive this flow of life qi. It must wait until the巳 day to冲起 the亥 water (filling the empty to make it real), then the illness will be cured. Later, it indeed recovered on the Jisi day. This卦 clearly shows: the useful god falling into empty does not matter, but the origin god must be strong. When the origin god is strong, the day it comes out of the empty is the time of response.

余曰：占袓塋，必有化故，葬後因何事不亨，今日何事而問，明以告我方敢決斷。彼曰：自葬後被論而歸，年近五旬尚無子息，是以卜此墳有可礙否？余曰：六合化合，風藏氣聚，但嫌亥水申金粄日辰沖之，申乃水之原神，必然原流水不歸漕之故耳。若使水歸漕不至旁流，巳年再拜丹墀，申年生子。後果驗。應巳年起用者，世上寅木化出官星之年也；申年生子者，亥水子孫化出申金回頭之生也。

The divination for the right hexagram and its interpretation: I said, divining the ancestral tomb must have a particular reason—after burial, something unsmooth happened, and today's question is to clarify before I can give an interpretation. The person said: since this tomb was buried, I have been impeached and dismissed from office, and I am nearly fifty without a son, so I consulted about whether this tomb was causing trouble. I said: the hexagram is a change from Six Harmony to Six Harmony, which is exactly a good structure for sheltering wind and gathering energy; however, it is regrettable that the亥 water and申 metal are disturbed by the day branch (日辰). The申 metal is precisely the original god (原神) of the亥 water—this must be due to the water's source not flowing into the main channel, but instead overflowing and dispersing. If the water can be guided back to the main channel and prevented from overflowing, then in the year of巳, he will be able to resume his position, and in the year of申, he will have a son. Later, it indeed came true. Why did it happen in the year of巳? Because the world line (世爻)寅 wood moves and transforms into巳 fire official star, and the official star is the year's value, which is the year of reappointment. Why did it happen in the year of申? Because theChildren (children) of亥 water transforms into申 metal, which comes back to support it, so the year of申 is the year when the children are born.

占事　一人自占近病？｜占事　子占父病？ 卦名　天火同火之火山旅｜卦名　地風升之地水師 卦宮　離火　空亡　午未　缺爻｜卦宮　震木　空亡　戌亥　缺爻　孫、兄 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 雀（應）戌孫　戊‖武　酉官　乙｜寅 龍　Ｏ　申財→未孫　子｜丑‖虎　亥父　丑 武　午兄‖蛇（世）丑財［午孫］ 虎（世）亥官‖陳　Ｏ　酉官→午孫 蛇　丑孫‖雀　亥父［寅兄］ 陳　Ｏ　卯父→辰孫‖龍（應）丑財

This is the third question's third and fourth hexagrams. The left hexagram: a person self-divines about a recent illness, and obtains the hexagram Heavenly Fire Tong Ren changing to Volcanic Travel Lv, belonging to the fire hexagram of the Li palace, with the empty days of Wu and Wei; the divination was done on the day of Wu Zi and the month of Chou. The six lines from top to bottom: Vermilion Bird戌 earth子孙, which is the response line; Azure Dragon申 metal妻财, the second line moves and changes into Wei earth子孙; Black Tortoise午 fire兄弟; White Tiger亥 water官鬼, which is the world line; Snake丑 earth子孙; Gou Chen卯 wood父母, the second line moves and changes into Chen earth子孙. For self-divination of illness, the world line is the useful god, which is the third line亥 water. The right hexagram: the son divines about his father's illness, and obtains the hexagram Earth Wind Sheng changing to Earth Water Shi, belonging to the wood hexagram of the Zhen palace, with the empty days of Xu and Hai, and the hexagram lacksChildren andSiblings; the divination was done on the day of Yi Chou and the month of Yin. The six lines from top to bottom: Black Tortoise酉 goldOfficial Ghost; White Tiger亥 waterParents; Snake丑 earthWealth, which is the world line, with伏午 fireChildren underneath; Gou Chen酉 goldOfficial Ghost, the second line moves and changes into午 fireChildren; Vermilion Bird亥 waterParents, with伏寅 woodSiblings underneath; Azure Dragon丑 earthWealth, which is the response line. For a son divining about his father's illness, the parents are the useful god, which is the second line亥 water, which is exactly in the empty day.

斷曰：自占病，世為用神，世爻亥水，子曰拱之，又得申金原神動來生世，乃不死之症；第嫌申金化出未土乃是月破旬空，則原神無根矣。目下無礙，恐危於春月。至立春日果死。應正月死者，申金原神亦逄月沖，春月木旺，未土又被克也。｜斷曰：亥水父爻為用，雖值旬空，有酉金原神動來生之，可許無礙；但不宜酉金化出午火回頭一克，此乃原神被傷，用神無根矣。此人果死於卯年卯月卯日卯時。應卯日時者，生助午火克沖原神也。

Left Hexagram Interpretation: When divining one's own illness, the world line is considered the useful god. The world line is亥 water. On a Wuzi day, the子 water shares the same element and supports it, and the fifth line 申 gold original god moves to generate and support it. This originally indicates a curable illness. Unfortunately, the moving 申 gold transforms into 未 earth. The 未 earth coincides with the month breaker and falls in the旬 empty position, so what the original god transforms into has no root, and the original god itself becomes unreliable. Therefore, the situation is currently safe, but there is a fear of danger in spring. Indeed, the person died on the day of the Beginning of Spring. Why does it correspond to the first month? Because the original god 申 gold is directly opposed by the month builder in the寅 month, and in spring, the wood is strong. The 未 earth is then further weakened by the wood, and the original god has no support at all. Right Hexagram Interpretation: The parents 亥 water is the useful god, although it falls in the旬 empty position, the third line 酉 gold original god moves to generate and support it, so it originally indicates no danger. However, the moving 酉 gold transforms into 午 fire, which turns back to harm itself. Once the original god is injured, the useful god loses its root. The person indeed died on the卯 year,卯 month,卯 day, and卯 hour. The卯 wood supports the 午 fire, and the strong fire harms and conflicts with the 酉 gold original god. Therefore, when four卯 appear together, the original god is completely destroyed. Comparing these two hexagrams with the previous two, whether the original god has a root or not determines life and death.

三合八卦成局，何以斷之？答曰：原用二神局則吉，忌仇二神局則凶，成局者結黨也。卦中動爻雖敢制之，如三爻齊發合成用神局，必有一爻用神；合成原神局，必有一爻原神；合成仇忌局，必有一爻仇忌，宗其一爻有病關因者斷之。

Fourth question: When the third lines combine to form a pattern, how should it be interpreted? Answer: If the pattern formed is a original god pattern or a useful god pattern, it is auspicious; if it is a hostile god pattern or an enemy god pattern, it is inauspicious.the so-called forming a pattern means that the lines unite to form a group, and their power is much greater than that of a single line. Even if there is a moving line in the hexagram that dares to restrain it, it may not be able to contain it. The method of judgment is: when three lines move together to form a useful god pattern, among these three lines, there must be one that is itself a useful god; if it forms an original god pattern, among these three lines, there must be one that is the original god; if it forms a hostile god or enemy god pattern, among these three lines, there must be one that is a hostile god or enemy god. When making the judgment, focus on the line among these three that is "sick" (fallen empty, being conflicted, being restrained, or self-transformed) as the key point, and determine the timing and auspiciousness based on it.

或遇日沖者曰暗動，此言靜而日沖；曰實，此言動空日辰而逄沖也；曰破，此言月建沖也。但其沖破也，必待相合之期至而應事之吉凶。

Here we divide 'chong' (conflict) into three types: when a still line is conflicted by the day branch, it is called 'andong' (covert movement) — though still, it is actually active and can generate or control other lines; when a line that has already moved but falls into an empty position is conflicted by the day branch, it is called 'shi' (real) — conflicting an empty position makes it real, and the empty position becomes useful; when a line is conflicted by the month builder, it is called 'po' (break) — a month break means it is incomplete and weak. Whenever a line encounters conflict or break, its outcome of good or bad fortune can only be determined on the day when it combines with its counterpart — conflicts need to be combined to determine the result, which is the first rule for determining the time of response.

如一爻靜二爻發者，待一爻靜者值日應事；如一爻靜而逄空者，或動而逄空者，或化而逄空者，待其出空之期應事之吉凶；如空而逄合、靜而逄合、動而合者，必待沖期至而應事之吉凶；如自化合或與日合，如自化墓或墓於日者，必待期沖，此言三爻齊發二爻無病，指自化者言也；如自化絕或絕於日者，必待期生，亦指一爻有病者而言也。

Then there are several situations to determine the timing of the event. First, if among the three lines two lines are active and one is still, the event will occur on the day when the still line is the day branch. Second, if the still line falls into an empty position, or if an active line falls into an empty position, or if the transformed line falls into an empty position, the event will occur on the day when it comes out of the旬. Third, if it falls into an empty position and also meets a harmonious line, or if it is still and also meets a harmonious line, or if it is active but is held by a harmonious line, then the event will occur on the day when it is opened up. Fourth, if it transforms into a harmonious line by itself, or if it harmonizes with the day branch; or if it transforms into a storage position, or if it enters the storage of the day branch — all these cases also require the day when it is opened up (this refers to the situation where among the three lines, only one line is in a problematic state while the other two are healthy). Fifth, if it transforms into a dead position, or if it is dead with respect to the day branch, the event will occur on the day when it is supported and generated (this also refers to the situation where among the three lines, only one line is in a problematic state). In summary: harmony requires a conflict, conflict requires harmony, emptiness requires the day it comes out of emptiness, storage requires the day it is opened up, and dead requires the day it is supported and generated — focus on the line that is in a problematic state, and the timing of the event is when it 'recovers'.

占事　兩村爭戽水鬧毆｜占事　占遞呈圖謀補缺 卦名　離為火之坤為地｜卦名　乾為天之水天需 卦宮　離火　空亡　子丑　缺爻｜卦宮　乾金　空亡　辰巳　缺爻 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 龍（世）Ｏ　巳兄→酉財　丁｜卯‖龍（世）Ｏ　戌父→子孫　丁｜巳 武　未孫　巳‖武　申兄　酉 虎　Ｏ　酉財→丑孫‖虎　Ｏ　午官→申兄 蛇（應）Ｏ　亥官→卯父‖蛇（應）辰父 陳　丑孫‖陳　寅財 雀　Ｏ　卯父→未孫‖雀　子孫

This is the first two examples of the fourth question. The left hexagram: two villages fought over water for irrigation, and the divination resulted in the hexagram "Li (Fire) changing to Kun (Earth)", belonging to the Fire hexagram group, with the empty days of Zi and Chou; the divination was done on Dingyou day and Mao month. The six lines from top to bottom: Qinglong (Azure Dragon) Si fire siblings, which is the world line, and the repeated line moves to change into You metal wealth; Xuanwu (Black Tortoise) Wei earth children; Baitu (White Tiger) You metal wealth, the repeated line moves to change into Chou earth children; Tenshe (Turtle) Hai water official ghost, which is the response line, the repeated line moves to change into Mao wood parents; Gouchen (Hook Star) Chou earth children; Zhuque (Vermilion Bird) Mao wood parents, the repeated line moves to change into Wei earth children. The focus is on the two groups of triple harmony formed by the changing lines: the outer trigram changes into Si You Chou forming a metal triple harmony, and the inner trigram changes into Hai Mao forming a wood triple harmony. The right hexagram: divination about submitting a petition regarding a plot to fill a vacancy, resulting in the hexagram "Qian (Heaven) changing to Xu (Need)", belonging to the Metal hexagram group, with the empty days of Chen and Si; the divination was done on Dingyou day and Si month. The six lines from top to bottom: Qinglong (Azure Dragon) Xu earth parents, which is the world line, and the repeated line moves to change into Zi water children; Xuanwu (Black Tortoise) Shen gold siblings; Baitu (White Tiger) Wu fire official ghost, the repeated line moves to change into Shen gold siblings; Tenshe (Turtle) Chen earth parents, which is the response line; Gouchen (Hook Star) Yin wood wealth; Zhuque (Vermilion Bird) Zi water children. In this hexagram, the Wu and Xu lines move, and only one more Yin is needed to form the fire triple harmony of Yin Wu Xu.

斷曰：內為我村，外為彼村。內卦亥卯未為木局，外卦巳酉丑為金局，金來克木，幸衰金不克旺木，又日主制金，不足畏也。況六沖化沖，不至為非，其事即散。果驗。合成內外兩局，即彼我之分，不動不成局，即看世應。今且人眾同心，彼我合局，神之妙用也。｜斷曰：寅午戌三合官局生世，此缺必得。內少寅字發動，須寅日遞呈可也。後果驗，此虛一待用也。

The left hexagram interpretation: The inner trigram represents our village, and the outer trigram represents the other village. The inner trigram, composed of Hai, Mao, and Wei, forms a wood triad, while the outer trigram, composed of Si, You, and Chou, forms a metal triad. Metal usually overcomes wood, which is unfavorable for me. Fortunately, during the month of Mao, wood is strong and metal is weak, so the weak metal cannot overcome the strong wood. Additionally, the fire of Dingsi day restrains the metal, making it no longer a threat. Moreover, the hexagram Li (Fire) is originally a hexagram of six clashes, and the transformed hexagram Kun (Earth) is also a hexagram of six clashes. Clashes cause dispersion, so the matter will not escalate and will soon subside. Later, this indeed came true. The hexagram is remarkable in that both inner and outer parts form complete triads, clearly distinguishing between the two parties. If the lines do not move, the triad cannot be formed, and at that time, only the world and response lines need to be considered. Now both sides have many people united, so each forms its own group. This is the subtle use of the divine through the formation of triads. The right hexagram interpretation: The triad of Yin, Wu, and Xu forms an official triad that nourishes the world line. This missing element will definitely be filled. However, the hexagram lacks the element of Yin, so it is necessary to submit the application on a Yin day. Later, this indeed came true—this is called 'waiting for the one missing,' where the triad is missing one element, and it waits for the day when that element is present.

占事　占選期｜占事　占辨復 卦名　乾為天之風天小畜｜卦名　澤地萃之澤火革 卦宮　乾金　空亡　子丑　缺爻｜卦宮　兌金　空亡　午未　缺爻 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 龍（世）戌父　丙｜寅‖龍　未父　丁｜辰 武　申兄　辰‖武（應）酉兄　亥 虎　Ｏ　午官→未父‖虎　亥孫 蛇（應）辰父‖蛇　Ｘ　卯財→亥孫 陳　寅財‖陳（世）巳官 雀　子孫‖雀　Ｘ　未父→卯財

This is the third and fourth questions of the fourth inquiry. The left hexagram: asking about when to be appointed to an official position, and the hexagram drawn is Qian (Heaven) changing into Xiao Xu (Hexagram 9), belonging to the Qian Palace (metal), with the empty days of Zi and Chou; the divination was done on the Bingchen day and Yin month. The six lines, from top to bottom: Qinglong (Azure Dragon)戌 (Xu) earth parents, which is the world line; Xuanwu (Black Tortoise)申 (Shen) metal siblings; Baihu (White Tiger)午 (Wu) fire official ghost, with the second line moving and changing into Wei (Wei) earth parents; Tengshe (Turtle Snake)辰 (Chen) earth parents, which is the response line; Gouchen (Hook Earth)寅 (Yin) wood wife's wealth; Zhuqiao (Vermilion Bird)子 (Zi) water children. In this hexagram, the world line戌 (Xu) earth parents is being attacked by the Chen day and is in covert movement, the Wu fire official ghost is clearly moving, only the Yin line has not yet moved. The right hexagram: asking about clearing one's name and restoring the original official position, and the hexagram drawn is Cui (Hexagram 45) changing into Ge (Hexagram 49), belonging to the Dui Palace (metal), with the empty days of Wu and Wei; the divination was done on the Dinghai day and Chen month. The six lines, from top to bottom: Qinglong (Azure Dragon)未 (Wei) earth parents; Xuanwu (Black Tortoise)酉 (You) metal siblings, which is the response line; Baihu (White Tiger)亥 (Hai) water children; Tengshe (Turtle Snake)卯 (Mao) wood wife's wealth, with the intersecting line moving and changing into Hai (Hai) water children; Gouchen (Hook Earth)巳 (Si) fire official ghost, which is the world line; Zhuqiao (Vermilin Bird)未 (Wei) earth parents, with the intersecting line moving and changing into Mao (Mao) wood wife's wealth. The inner trigram of Hai, Mao, and Wei forms a wealth trinity.

斷曰：此卦戌爻暗發，寅爻如明動者，必以午火官星化未土作合，合待沖開；今不然，以午火明動、戌土暗動，三合官局，獨少寅動，借寅月建補成三合，本月必選。果驗，此虛一補用也。｜斷曰：巳火官星持世，臨驛馬，暗動，辨復在即。內卦亥卯未合財局，原神生世，因於未土旬空，必待未月定蒙題允，即得美缺。後果驗，未月者實空之月也。

Left Trigram Interpretation: In this hexagram, the戌 (Xu) yao is stirred up by the day branch and is in a covert movement. If the寅 (Yin) yao also moves clearly, then the午 (Wu) fire official star will change into the未 (Wei) earth to harmonize, forming a "harmony" and requiring the opening of the conflict to resolve it. However, this is not the case now: the午 (Wu) fire is clearly moving, and the戌 (Xu) earth is in covert movement. The寅 (Yin)-午 (Wu)-戌 (Xu) triple harmony official structure is missing only the寅 (Yin) element, which can be completed by the month builder of the寅 (Yin) month. Therefore, it is predicted that this month will be favorable. Later, it indeed came true — this is called "virtual one to supplement the essential," where the missing branch is supplemented by the month builder. Right Trigram Interpretation: The巳 (Si) fire official star is holding the world position and is also in covert movement with the post horse, indicating that the process of justification and resumption of duty is approaching. The inner trigram亥 (Hai)-卯 (Mao)-未 (Wei) forms a wealth structure. Wealth is the original god of the official, coming to support the official star on the world. However, the未 (Wei) earth in this structure is falling into the旬空 (ten-day void), so it needs to wait until the未 (Wei) month, when the void is filled, for the official document to be approved. At that time, a good position can be obtained. Later, it indeed came true in the未 (Wei) month — the未 (Wei) month was exactly the month when the fallen branch was filled.

占事　占父急病｜占事　占嬸病 卦名　乾為天之山火賁｜卦名　離為火之地火明夷 卦宮　乾金　空亡　戌亥　缺爻｜卦宮　離火　空亡　子丑　缺爻 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 陳（世）戌父　己｜丑‖雀（世）Ｏ　巳兄→酉財　戊｜丑 雀　Ｏ　申兄→子孫　卯‖龍　未孫　午 龍　Ｏ　午官→戌父‖武　Ｏ　酉財→丑孫 武（應）辰父‖虎（應）亥官 虎　Ｏ　寅財→丑父‖蛇　丑孫 蛇　子孫‖陳　卯父

This is the fifth and sixth hexagrams of the fourth question. On the left, the hexagram for the father's sudden illness is Qian (Heaven) changing into Bi (Mountain Fire), belonging to the Qian hexagram group of metal, with an empty period of戌 and亥; the divination was done on the day of Jimao and the month of Chou. The six lines from top to bottom are: Gou Chen戌 earth parents, which is the world line; Vermilion Bird申 metal siblings, which is a repeated line and has moved, changing into Zi water children; Azure Dragon午 fire official ghost, which is a repeated line and has moved, changing into戌 earth parents; Black Tortoise辰 earth parents, which is the response line; White Tiger寅 wood wealth, which is a repeated line and has moved, changing into Chou earth parents; and Tang Sha子 water children. The lines of Yin and Wu are clearly active, the world line戌 earth is combined with the day branch Jimao, and Yin Wu Xu form a fire trinity. On the right, the hexagram for the aunt's illness is Li (Fire) changing into Ming Yi (Earth Fire), belonging to the Li hexagram group of fire, with an empty period of Zi and Chou; the divination was done on the day of Wu Chou and the month of Wu. The six lines from top to bottom are: Vermilion Bird巳 fire siblings, which is the world line, a repeated line and has moved, changing into You metal wealth; Azure Dragon未 earth children; Black Tortoise酉 metal wealth, a repeated line and has moved, changing into Chou earth children; White Tiger亥 water official ghost, which is the response line; Tang Sha丑 earth children; and Gou Chen卯 wood parents. The lines of Si, You, and Chou are all present, forming a metal trinity.

斷曰：世爻戌土父母為用，近病不宜日合，幸寅午戌合成火局生用，大象無妨，但戌爻被合，必待明日辰日合逄沖而愈也。果驗。｜斷曰：卯木父母爻為用神，外卦巳酉丑合成金局克之，合丑土旬空，旬內無妨，乙丑日防之。果於丑日酉時卒。應於丑日者，出旬之日也。

Left Trigram Interpretation: When divining about the father, the parents' line is taken as the useful god. Here, the earth element parents are represented by the earth dog (戌). The presence of the day branch is most dangerous as it forms a harmonious connection (合), which delays the resolution. In this case, the earth dog is being harmonized by the day branch of Ji Mao (己卯). Fortunately, the combination of Yin (寅), Wu (午), and Xu (戌) forms a fire trigram which supports the earth element useful god. The overall situation is not serious. However, the earth dog line is being harmonized, so it needs to wait until the next day of Chen (辰) when it is opposed (冲), as the opposition of the harmonized connection will lead to recovery. Indeed, this came true later. Right Trigram Interpretation: When divining about the mother-in-law, the parents' line is still taken as the useful god, which is the first line of卯 wood. The outer trigram consists of Si (巳), You (酉), and Chou (丑), forming a metal trigram which strongly controls the卯 wood, which is very dangerous. Fortunately, the Chou earth in this trigram is in the empty period (旬空), so the trigram is not fully formed, and thus it is not too serious within this period. However, one should be cautious about the day of Yichou (乙丑). Indeed, she passed away on the day of Yichou at the hour of You (酉), which corresponds to the day of Chou, when the Chou earth filled the empty period and the metal trigram was fully formed. These two trigrams, one supporting and one controlling, both determine life and death based on the triple harmony (三合). The fulfillment of the prediction occurred at the time when the afflicted line was healed.

占事　占子何日歸｜占事　占父何日歸 卦名　火澤睽之火風鼎｜卦名　艮天大畜之乾為天 卦宮　艮土　空亡　寅卯　缺爻　財｜卦宮　艮土　空亡　辰巳　缺爻　孫、父 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 雀　巳父［子財］　戊｜未‖龍　寅官　丙 龍　未兄　申‖武（應）Ｘ　子財→申孫　申 武（世）酉孫‖虎　Ｘ　戌兄→午父 虎　Ｘ　丑兄→酉孫‖蛇　辰兄［申孫］ 蛇　卯官‖陳（世）寅官［午父］ 陳（應）Ｏ　巳父→丑兄‖雀　子財

This is the seventh of the eight trigrams for the fourth question. The left trigram: asking about when the son will return, the hexagram drawn is Kui (Fire Lake) changing to Ding (Fire Wind), belonging to the Earthly Mansion of Earth, with the empty days of寅 and卯, and the hexagram lacking the wealth line. The divination was done on the day of Wushen and in the month of Wu. The six lines from top to bottom: Vermilion Bird with巳 fire parents, with伏子 water wealth below; Azure Dragon with未 earth siblings; Black Tortoise with酉 metal children, which is the world line; White Tiger with丑 earth siblings, with the moving line generating酉 metal children; Snake with卯 wood official ghost; Gou Chen with巳 fire parents, which is the response line, with the moving line generating丑 earth siblings. For the son, the children are the useful god. The inner trigram has巳,酉, and丑 forming a metal trinity, which is exactly a complete trinity of children. The right trigram: asking about when the father will return, the hexagram drawn is Da Xu (Heavenly Accumulation) changing to Qian (Heaven), belonging to the Earthly Mansion of Earth, with the empty days of辰 and巳, and the hexagram lacking the children and parents. The divination was done on the day of Bingshen. The six lines from top to bottom: Azure Dragon with寅 wood official ghost; Black Tortoise with子 water wealth, which is the response line, with the moving line generating申 metal children; White Tiger with戌 earth siblings, with the moving line generating午 fire parents; Snake with辰 earth siblings, with伏申 metal children below; Gou Chen with寅 wood official ghost, which is the world line, with伏午 fire parents below; Vermilion Bird with子 water wealth. For the father, the parents are the useful god. The hexagram has寅,午, and戌 forming a complete trinity of parents.

斷曰：內卦巳酉丑合成金局作用神，丑土繫月破，必待立秋後甲子日到家。後果驗，此應立秋後者，丑土月破出月則出破矣。果於申予日歸，此其破而逄合也。｜斷曰：寅午戌三合父局，獨有寅字日沖又絕於申日，己亥日必歸。果驗。己亥日到者，此沖中逄合也，絕處逄生也。（寅沖申遇亥合寅也）

The left trigram interpretation: The inner trigram Si-You-Chou forms a metal triple harmony, which is the children's (son's) trigram, so this trigram is taken as the useful god. Within this trigram, the You (丑) earth is exactly the month breaker of the month of Wei, making it the 'sick' line. Therefore, it should respond after it leaves this month and is resolved. The prediction was made for after the beginning of autumn, specifically on the Jiazi day, when he would return home. Later it indeed came true: once the You (丑) earth left the month of Wei, it was no longer the month breaker, and Zi (子) and You (丑) are in harmony, which is 'broken and then joined', so he returned on the Zi day. The right trigram interpretation: Yin, Wu, Xu form a triple harmony of the parents' trigram. Among these, only Yin is affected by the Bingshen day, being both conflicting and dying in Shen (木绝在申), making it the 'sick' line. Therefore, it was predicted that he would return on the Jihai day. Later it indeed came true: Hai (亥) and Yin (寅) are in harmony, which is 'conflict with harmony' — originally being conflicted by Shen, it was resolved by Hai joining Yin; also, Hai can generate Yin wood, which is 'dying and then born again'. The original note explains clearly: Yin was originally conflicted by Shen, but when meeting Hai, it harmonizes with Yin. Both trigrams use the method of 'taking the sick line from the triple harmony to determine the time of response'.

占事　占防恭劾｜占事　占地造葬可否 卦名　水風井之風澤中孚｜卦名　山雷頤之天雷無妄 卦宮　兌金　空亡　戌亥　缺爻　財｜卦宮　巽木　空亡　子丑　缺爻　孫、官 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 雀　Ｘ　子孫→卯財　戊｜丑‖雀　寅兄　戊｜寅 龍（世）戌父　辰‖龍　Ｘ　子父→申官　午 武　申兄‖武（世）Ｘ　戌財→午孫 虎　Ｏ　酉兄→丑父‖虎　辰財［申官］ 蛇（應）亥孫［卯財］‖蛇　寅兄［午孫］ 陳　Ｘ　丑父→巳官‖陳（應）子父

This is the ninth and tenth hexagrams of the fourth question. The left hexagram: divining about being accused by a newly appointed governor, the hexagram drawn is Water Wind Jing changing to Wind Lake Zhong Fu, belonging to the Metal group of the Dui palace, with the empty days of Xu and Hai, and the hexagram lacking the wealth line. Divined on the day of Wu Chen, in the month of Chou. The six lines from top to bottom: Vermilion Bird, water,Children, the line is active and changes to the wood of卯, wealth; Azure Dragon, earth, parents, is the world line; Black Tortoise, metal, siblings; White Tiger, metal, siblings, the line is active and changes to earth of丑, parents; Snake, water,Children, is the response line, with the wood of卯, wealth hidden underneath; Gou Chen, earth, parents, the line is active and changes to fire of巳, official ghost. The world line of earth is Wu, which is exactly the empty day, but is being attacked by the day of Chen. The right hexagram: divining whether a piece of land can be used for burial, the hexagram drawn is Mountain Thunder Yi changing to Heaven Thunder Wu Wang, belonging to the Wood group of the Xun palace, with the empty days of Zi and Chou, and the hexagram lacking the children and official ghost lines. Divined on the day of Wu Wu, in the month of Yin. The six lines from top to bottom: Vermilion Bird, wood, siblings; Azure Dragon, water, parents, the line is active and changes to metal of申, official ghost; Black Tortoise, earth, wealth, is the world line, the line is active and changes to fire of午, children; White Tiger, earth, wealth, with the metal of申, official ghost hidden underneath; Snake, wood, siblings, with the fire of午, children hidden underneath; Gou Chen, water, parents, is the response line. The world line of earth is Wu, which together with the day of Wu and the month of Yin forms the fire trinity of Yin, Wu, Xu.

此公囚新換撫軍防其參劾。予曰：此卦甚奇，世空逄日沖不為空矣，世不受克而暗動，雖無參論，離任不免。彼曰：既無參論如何離任？予曰：世爻暗動必主動搖，內卦合金局生應，果知此位已屬他人矣。後因裁他處缺上臺，題留他處官頂此公位將，此將公赴京另補，此亦少見少聞之事，知我者惟神用也。

The interpretation of the left trigram's question and answer: This official is worried about being impeached because he has a new governor. I said: This hexagram is very unusual. The world line, which is the戌 earth, although it falls in the旬空 (a period of emptiness), is countered by theWuchen day, which fills the emptiness, making it real. Therefore, it is no longer considered empty. The world line is neither being harmed nor is it secretly moving, so he will not be impeached, but he will have to resign. He asked: If he is not impeached, why would he have to resign? I said: The world line is secretly moving, indicating that his position is unstable. The inner trigram, which consists of巳, 酉, and 丑, forms a metal group to support the response line (which represents another person), showing that this position has already been taken by someone else. Later, it turned out to be true: because a position was cut in another place, the superior requested that an official from another place be transferred to take this position, and he was sent to Beijing to be assigned a new post. Such an event is rare and seldom heard of, and only the divine can foresee it through divination.

斷曰：世爻戌土春天休囚，化午火子孫回頭之生，日辰月建共成三合。青龍臨水化申長生，水源極遠，必從左而來；但化月破，戌土剋日為沖散，此水有時干否？彼曰：正是。予曰：無妨，卦中日月世與子孫共成三合，自然亡者安、生者樂，葬之必發。辰年下葬，酉年孫中亞魁，子年次孫又登鄉榜。

The world line is the earth dog (戌) which in spring is weak and confined. However, it moves and transforms into the fire child (午), which comes back to support the world line. In addition, the day branch (戊午) and the month builder (寅) combine with the world line to form the triple harmony of fire (寅午戌), which together support the earth. The azure dragon is on the water (子) and transforms into metal (申), which is the place of birth for water. This shows that the water source is very far away and the water must come from the left. However, the metal (申) is exactly at the month breaker (寅), and the earth dog (戌) also controls water and is scattered by the day branch. I asked: will this water sometimes dry up? The person replied: exactly so. I said: no problem. The day branch, month builder, world line, and children form a complete circle, so the deceased will be at peace and the living will be happy, and the burial will surely bring success. I then predicted that the burial will take place in the辰 year, the酉 year the grandson will win the top prize, and the子 year the second son will pass the local examination. (This hexagram uses the world line as the burial site and the children as the descendants. The triple harmony supports the world line, so it predicts the descendants' academic success.)

占事　占何日雨止｜占事　占妻去搖會可得否 卦名　火風鼎之火澤暌｜卦名　雷風恆之山風蠱 卦宮　離火　空亡　　缺爻　父｜卦宮　震木　空亡　　缺爻　兄 六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲／六獸·世應·卦爻·干支·六神·干支·六神·伏神·卦身·日辰·月建·太歲 巳兄　申｜巳‖（應）Ｘ　戌財→寅兄　酉 （應）未孫‖申官 酉財‖Ｏ　午孫→戌財 Ｏ　酉財→丑孫‖（世）酉官 （世）亥官‖亥父［寅兄］ Ｘ　丑孫→巳兄［卯父］‖丑財

This is the eleventh and twelfth divination in the fourth question. The left hexagram: divining when the rain will stop, the hexagram drawn is Fire Wind Ding changing to Fire Lake Kui, belonging to the Fire hexagram of the Li palace, with the parents missing from the hexagram; the divination was done on the day of Shen and the month of Si. The six lines from top to bottom: fire of Si (the siblings); earth of Wei (the children), which is the response line; metal of You (the wealth); metal of You (the wealth), the second line moves and changes into earth of Chou (the children); water of Hai (the official ghost), which is the world line; earth of Chou (the children), the intersecting line moves and changes into fire of Si (the siblings), with wood of Mao (the parents) hidden beneath the first line. For divining rain, the parents are the useful god; in this hexagram, the parents are not present in the hexagram but are hidden beneath the first line, and they are also in the empty period. The branches of Si, You, and Chou form a wealth pattern, and the wealth directly restrains the parents. The right hexagram: divining whether the wife can win in a lottery meeting (a folk gathering where people contribute money and a lottery determines the winner), the hexagram drawn is Thunder Wind Heng changing to Mountain Wind Gu, belonging to the Wood hexagram of the Zhen palace, with the siblings missing from the hexagram; the divination was done on the day of You. The six lines from top to bottom: earth of Xu (the wealth), which is the response line, the intersecting line moves and changes into wood of Yin (the siblings); metal of You (the official ghost); fire of Wu (the children), the second line moves and changes into earth of Xu (the wealth); metal of You (the official ghost), which is the world line; water of Hai (the parents), with wood of Yin (the siblings) hidden beneath it; earth of Chou (the wealth). The branches of Yin, Wu, and Xu form a fire pattern, but this pattern supports the response line rather than the world line.

若執古法，父伏空無雨，才褔動晴明，今不然。巳酉丑合成財局克父，父若不空受其克是無雨也；今伏而又空，謂之避克，其雨不能止，必待卯日出透出空被克方可雨止。後至甲日其雨更大，卯日大晴。其寅日雖出空而寅未載卦中，不受其克，果大雨也。｜若執古法，財動褔生會必得也，今亦不然。應上之財非財也，乃鄰友之妻也。寅午戌會成火局生應克世，卯月合應沖世，是謂出現無情於我，會局有情於建他，必鄰人之妻會也。果驗。

The left hexagram's interpretation: If one strictly follows old methods, the parents are hidden and empty, so there should be no rain; the wife's wealth and children are active, so the weather should clear up. But now it is not like that. The Si-You-Chou combination forms a wealth trinity to overcome the parents. If the parents are not empty, being overcome naturally means no rain; but they are both hidden and empty, which is called 'avoiding the overcoming.' Since they are not overcome, the rain does not stop. It must wait until the卯 day, when the parents'卯 wood emerges and is no longer empty, then they can be overcome, and the rain will stop. Later, on the甲 day, the rain became heavier, and on the卯 day, it cleared up greatly. On the寅 day, although the parents emerged from concealment, the寅 character is not in the hexagram, so it is not affected by the trinity's overcoming, hence that day was still heavy rain. The right hexagram's interpretation: If one strictly follows old methods, when the wife's wealth is active and the children are born, this must surely be successful. But now it is not like that. The wealth in the responding line is not my wealth; it belongs to a neighbor's wife. The寅午戌 combination forms a fire trinity to generate the responding line, but it also overcomes the world line. The卯 month also combines with the responding line to conflict with the world line, which is called 'the useful god appears but is unkind to me.' The combination is friendly to others, so the result must be the neighbor's wife. Later, it indeed came true. Both hexagrams break away from the rigid adherence to old methods: the same yao images must be considered in terms of whom they are friendly or unkind to, and whether they can overcome or not.