Question Five

反吟之凶有輕重分別乎？答曰：凡得反吟卦，用神不變沖剋者，事雖主反覆，亦主事就；第嫌用神化沖剋者，凡謀大凶。

Question five: Does the凶 (misfortune) of a reverse chant hexagram have different degrees of severity? Answer: Whenever a reverse chant hexagram is obtained (either through hexagram transformation or yao transformation that results in mutual conflict), as long as the useful god does not transform into a yao that conflicts or controls it, the matter may be repeatedly reversed and involve much toil, but in the end it will still succeed. What is feared is when the useful god itself transforms into a conflicting or controlling yao — in such cases, any endeavor will be extremely unfortunate. Thus, although both are reverse chant hexagrams, the severity depends first on the useful god and second on what the useful god transforms into: if the hexagram is a reverse chant but the useful god is not, it indicates 'the matter will be repeatedly reversed but eventually succeed'; if the useful god itself is a reverse chant, then it indicates 'the matter will certainly fail'.

占事　占隨官上任如何｜占事　占升選 卦名　水地比之水風井｜卦名　地澤臨之風澤中孚 卦宮　坤土　空亡　戌亥　缺爻｜卦宮　坤土　空亡　申酉　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（應）子財　壬｜卯‖武　Ｘ　酉孫→卯官　乙｜卯 蛇　戌兄　申‖虎（應）Ｘ　亥財→巳父　亥 陳　申孫‖蛇　丑兄 雀（世）Ｘ　卯官→酉孫‖陳　丑兄 龍　Ｘ　巳父→亥財‖雀（世）卯官 武　未兄‖龍　巳父

This is the first two examples of the fifth question. On the left, the divination is about following a superior to take up a post, and the hexagram drawn is Water Earth Bi changing to Water Wind Jing, belonging to the Earthly Branch of坤 (Kun), with the旬空 (empty period) on戌 (Xu) and亥 (Hai). The divination was made on the day of Renshen and in the month of Mao. The six lines, from top to bottom, are: White Tiger, Water, wife's wealth, which is the response line; Qie Snake, Earth, siblings; Gou Chen, Metal, children; Zhu Que, Wood, official ghost, which is the world line, and the changing line produces酉 (You) Metal children; Qing Long, Fire, parents, and the changing line produces亥 (Hai) Water wife's wealth; Xuan Wu, Earth, siblings. The inner trigram卯 (Mao) changes to酉 (You), and巳 (Si) changes to亥 (Hai), with each pair conflicting, which is a reverse chant of the lines. On the right, the divination is about promotion and transfer, and the hexagram drawn is Earth泽 Lin changing to Wind泽 Zhong Fu, also belonging to the Earthly Branch of坤 (Kun), with the旬空 (empty period) on申 (Shen) and酉 (You). The divination was made on the day of Yihai and in the month of Mao. The six lines, from top to bottom, are: Xuan Wu, Metal, children, with the changing line producing卯 (Mao) Wood official ghost; White Tiger, Water, wife's wealth, which is the response line, with the changing line producing巳 (Si) Fire parents; Qie Snake, Earth, siblings; Gou Chen, Earth, siblings; Zhu Que, Wood, official ghost, which is the world line; Qing Long, Fire, parents. The outer trigram酉 (You) changes to卯 (Mao), and亥 (Hai) changes to巳 (Si), also conflicting, which is a reverse chant of the outer trigram.

斷曰：世臨卯木化酉金克沖，內卦爻之反吟也，此行不吉，不去為上。後因官府掣籤得缺，近於賊營辭而不去；及至官府去後，又因他事而去，至七月城破，與官府一同被害。蓋與官同被害者，世上官爻同受酉金之沖剋也；不去而又去者，此內卦反吟之故也。｜斷曰：世臨卯木月建，官星得長生於日，世與官星同臨旺地，許彼升任。果於本月聞由江西升任山東，未及一載復任江西，此外卦之反吟去而復反也。

The left hexagram's interpretation states that the world line is on the卯 wood and moves to produce酉 metal which clashes and controls it. This is a reverse chant within the inner trigram, indicating an unfavorable situation, and thus it is not advisable to go. Later, the official drew a sign that was missing, and the place was near the bandit camp, so he resigned and did not go. However, after the official had already departed, he went for another matter, and in July the city fell, and he died together with the official. Why did he die with the official? Because the world line is exactly on the official ghost line, and both were affected by the clash of酉 metal. Why did he not go yet went? This is precisely the fulfillment of the inner trigram's reverse chant, which signifies indecision and inconsistency. The right hexagram's interpretation states that the world line is on卯 wood, and卯 is also the month builder. The official star is on乙亥 day, and the wood is born in亥, so the world line and the official star are both in a strong position. Therefore, he is allowed to be promoted. Indeed, within this month, it was heard that he was transferred from Jiangxi to Shandong. However, within less than a year, he was transferred back to Jiangxi — this is the fulfillment of the outer trigram's reverse chant, which signifies going away and returning. The two hexagrams present one bad and one good outcome, and the difference lies in whether the useful god is changed and clashed.

占事　占嫂復病吉凶何如？｜占事　占往前處脫貨有利否？ 卦名　山地剝之坤為地｜卦名　風天小畜之乾為天 卦宮　乾金　空亡　子丑　缺爻　兄｜卦宮　巽木　空亡　寅卯　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 龍　Ｏ　寅財→酉兄　丁｜未‖雀　卯兄　戊｜巳 武（世）子孫［申兄］　巳‖龍　巳孫　申 虎　戌父‖武（應）Ｘ　未財→午孫 蛇　卯財‖虎　辰財［酉官］ 陳（應）巳官‖蛇　寅兄 雀　未父‖陳（世）子父

This is the third and fourth divination questions of the fifth session. The left hexagram: Divination about whether the wife's old illness recurring is auspicious or inauspicious, and the hexagram obtained is Mountain Earth剥 changing into Earth Earth坤, belonging to the乾 palace metal, with the旬空 of Zi and Chou, and the hexagram lacking siblings. Divination on the day of Dingsi and in the month of Wei. The six lines from top to bottom: Qinglong寅 woodWealth, the second line moves and transforms into You metal siblings; Xuanwu子 waterChildren, which is the world line, with Shen metal siblings hidden beneath; Baihu戌 earthParents; Tengshe卯 woodWealth; Gouchen巳 fireOfficial Ghost, which is the response line; Zhuque未 earthParents. For the wife, theWealth is the useful god, which is the top line寅 wood. The outer trigram is Gen changing into Kun, both Gen and Kun belong to earth, and their directions are opposite (Gen in Northeast, Kun in Southwest, with丑未寅申 conflicting), which is a reverse chant. The right hexagram: Divination about whether it is beneficial to go to the previous place to deliver goods, and the hexagram obtained is Xiao Xu changing into Qian, belonging to the Xun palace wood, with the旬空 of Yin and Mao, and the hexagram lacking official ghosts. Divination on the day of Wushen and in the month of Si. The six lines from top to bottom: Zhuque卯 wood siblings; Qinglong巳 fireChildren; Xuanwu未 earthWealth, which is the response line, with the intersecting line moving and transforming into Wu fireChildren; Baihu辰 earthWealth, with You metal official ghosts hidden beneath; Tengshe寅 wood siblings; Gouchen子 waterParents, which is the world line. Xiao Xu changing into Qian, and Xun changing into Qian is also a reverse chant.

斷曰：外卦艮變坤，乃卦之反吟也，明是病癒而復病也。但不宜寅木用神化酉金回頭之克，又墓於未月，日辰刑之，此病危於申日。果驗。｜斷曰：小畜卦變幹，是卦之反吟也，所喜世與財爻長生於日。指此占以應爻作地頭，臨午火回頭生合，比前利倍。後此人往返三次，俱得倍利。

Left Trigram Interpretation: The outer trigram changes from Gen to Kun, indicating a reverse chant, which signifies repetition. This corresponds to the situation where the illness improves but then recurs. Unfortunately, the寅wood useful god moves and transforms into酉metal, which turns back torestrainit. The寅wood also enters its墓in the未month (the wood repository is in未). The巳fire of the day branch also刑s the申 (referring to the day branch's刑and clash force), so the illness is predicted to be critical on the申day. Later, this prediction was verified. Right Trigram Interpretation: The small accumulation changes to Qian, also indicating a reverse chant, which originally suggests going back and forth repeatedly. Fortunately, the world line子water and the wife wealth are both born in theWushenday (water and earth are born in申). This divination takes the responding line as the place being gone to. The responding line未earth moves and transforms into午fire, which turns back to generate and harmonize it, showing that the place is more favorable than before. Later, the person went back and forth three times and gained double the benefit each time. Both are reverse chants, one being凶and the other吉, entirely depending on whether the useful god transforms into something that克or 生.

占事　占墳地｜占事 卦名　巽為風之地風升｜卦名 卦宮　巽木　空亡　午未　缺爻｜卦宮　空亡　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 雀（世）Ｏ　卯兄→酉官　戊｜卯 龍　Ｏ　巳孫→亥父　子 武　未財 虎（應）酉官 蛇　亥父 陳　丑財

This is the last hexagram of the fifth question, with the right square left blank. The subject is a burial site, and the hexagram drawn is Xun Wind changing to Sheng Ascending, belonging to the Xun trigram of wood, with the旬空 (ten-day void) on午 and未; the divination was done on a戊卯 day in the子 month. The six lines, from top to bottom: the Vermilion Bird (朱雀) represents卯 wood siblings, which is the World Line (世爻), and the repeated line moves to酉 metal Official Ghost (官鬼); the Azure Dragon (青龙) represents巳 fire children, the repeated line moves to亥 water Parents (父母); the Black Tortoise (玄武) represents未 earth Wealth (妻财); the White Tiger (白虎) represents酉 metal Official Ghost, which is the Response Line (应爻); the Snake (螣蛇) represents亥 water Parents; the Gou Chen represents丑 earth Wealth. The World Line卯 changes to酉, and the fifth line巳 changes to亥, both instances are the original branch being conflicted by the changed branch, which is exactly reverse chant (反吟), and the conflict also involves a controlling relationship.

斷曰：世為穴，臨月建子日生之為吉地；但不宜爻變反吟，子孫與世皆化克沖，不可葬。彼曰：重價己成久矣，地師皆稱美地。後竟葬之，四年內二子一女並自身相繼而卒。

The interpretation: Divining a burial site, the World Line (世爻) represents the grave. In this hexagram, the World Line is the卯 wood, which is born by the Zi month (子月) and the Month Builder (月建), which is water nurturing wood, making it a favorable location. However, the problem is that the line changes into a Reverse Chant (反吟), where the World Line卯 wood transforms into酉 gold, which clashes and controls itself. The Children (子孙) line巳 fire also transforms into亥 water, which clashes and controls itself. This indicates that both the World Line representing the person himself and the Children line representing his descendants are subject to mutual clashes and controls. Therefore, this site is not suitable for burial. The person said that he had already paid a high price for the site, and every geomancer he consulted said it was a good site. In the end, he still buried himself there. Within four years, his two sons, one daughter, and himself all died one after another. This hexagram is a clear example of "the Useful God (用神) transforming into a clash and control," which is a sign of great misfortune. Even though there is the support of the Month Builder and the Day Branch, it cannot overcome the self-inflicted clash and control.

伏吟之凶有輕重分別乎？答曰：伏吟者，憂鬱呻吟之象。內卦伏吟內不利，外卦伏吟外不利，凡占皆不如意，動如不動，懊惱呻吟。占名，久困宦途、淹留仕路；占利，本利消乏；占墳塋宅舍，欲遷不能、守之不利；久病呻吟，婚姻難就，官事兜搭，出行有阻。如問行人，恐他在外憂鬱；如占彼此之勢，內則我心不遂，外則他意難安。欲問吉凶，研究用神生克；要知褔，須詳用忌伏吟。

The sixth question: Is there a difference in the severity of the凶 (misfortune) caused byHidden Chant? Answer: Hidden Chant, where the moving line changes into the same branch as the original, represents a state of worry and lamentation. If the inner trigram isHidden Chant, then internal affairs are unfavorable; if the outer trigram isHidden Chant, then external affairs are unfavorable, and nothing goes smoothly. Although the line moves, it is as if it has not moved at all, leaving only frustration and lamentation. In matters of official rank, it indicates being stuck in the bureaucracy and unable to advance; in matters of wealth, both principal and interest are completely lost; in matters of burial sites or houses, one wants to move but cannot, and staying is also unfavorable; in matters of long-term illness, there is continuous lamentation; in matters of marriage, it is difficult to succeed; in legal disputes, there is confusion and entanglement; in travel, there are obstacles. If the question is about someone away from home, it is feared that he is feeling depressed and unhappy outside; if the question is about the situation between two parties, inner trigramHidden Chant indicates that my heart is not satisfied, while outer trigramHidden Chant indicates that the other party is uneasy. To determine good or bad fortune, one still needs to examine the relationship between the useful god and the moving line; to know whether there is fortune or not, one should carefully check whether theHidden Chant falls on the useful god or the hostile god— if it falls on the useful god, it is a state of being trapped; if it falls on the hostile god, it is actually a good thing.

占事　占兵到，一家當避何處？｜占事　占父在任平安否？ 卦名　天雷無妄之雷天大壯｜卦名　天風姤之雷風恆 卦宮　巽木　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 武　Ｏ　戌財→戌財　乙｜申‖武　Ｏ　戌父→戌父　甲｜申 虎　Ｏ　申官→申官　卯‖虎　Ｏ　申兄→申兄　午 蛇（世）午孫‖蛇（應）午官 陳　Ｘ　辰財→辰財‖陳　酉兄 雀　Ｘ　寅兄→寅兄‖雀　亥孫［寅財］ 龍（應）子父‖龍（世）丑父

This is the first two examples of the sixth question. On the left, the hexagram is: divining about a military disturbance and where a family should flee, the hexagram cast is Wu Wang changing to Da Zhuang, belonging to the Xun palace wood, with the empty days of Zi and Chou; divined on the day of Yi Shen and the month of Mao. The six lines from top to bottom: Xuanwu戌 earth wife wealth, the second line moves but remains戌 earth wife wealth; Baihu申 metal official ghost, the second line moves but remains申 metal official ghost; Tengshe午 fire children, which is the world line; Gouchen辰 earth wife wealth, the fourth line moves but remains辰 earth; Zhuque寅 wood siblings, the fourth line moves but remains寅 wood; Qinglong子 water parents, which is the response line. The fourth line moves and the branch produced is the same as the original branch, both inner and outer trigrams are hidden chants. On the right, the hexagram is: divining about whether the father is safe in his position, the hexagram cast is Gou changing to Heng, belonging to the Qian palace metal, with the empty days of Chen and Si; divined on the day of Jiashen and the month of Wu. The six lines from top to bottom: Xuanwu戌 earth parents, the second line moves but remains戌 earth; Baihu申 metal siblings, the second line moves but remains申 metal; Tengshe午 fire official ghost, which is the response line; Gouchen酉 metal siblings; Zhuque亥 water children, with寅 wood wife wealth hidden below; Qinglong丑 earth parents, which is the world line. The outer trigram has two lines hidden.

內外伏吟，憂鬱未解，所喜世爻午火子孫為自己，應爻子水父母作父母，月建生應，日辰生世，世應安靜，父母與自己無礙。第嫌寅木兄弟爻伏吟，又是月破，昆仲有厄。彼曰：我父母在西方舍親家得無妨否？答曰：西方屬金，生扶父母，萬無憂疑矣。汝自己宜避於東方，東方木能生火，兄弟妻僕俱從汝走，子孫持世，可保無虞。彼回即領家眷往東去，後來覆我曰平安，惟其弟牽念父母往探之，行至半途遭害矣。

Left Hexagram Interpretation: Both inner and outer hexagrams are in hidden chant, indicating unresolved worries. Fortunately, the world line is the fire trigram, representing oneself, and the response line is the water trigram, representing parents; the wood of the卯 month is able to generate the response line (wood generates fire; here, the month builder generates the response line, indicating it is in harmony). On the day ofJiashen, the metal of the申 generates the world line (metal generates water, referring to the day branch being in harmony). Both the world and response lines are quiet, so neither the parents nor oneself are in trouble. However, the wood of the寅 brother is in hidden chant and coincides with the month break, indicating that the brothers will face misfortune. The person asked: My parents are staying with relatives in the west, will there be any problems? Answer: The west belongs to metal, which can generate and support the parents (the water parents receive the support of metal). There is nothing to worry about. You should go east, for the east belongs to wood, which can generate fire, thus supporting the fire of the world line. Take your family and go with your brothers and servants; with the children holding the world line, there will be no problems. He returned home and led his family eastward. Later he wrote back saying he was safe; only his brother was worried about the parents and went to visit, but on the way he was killed—this exactly matches the hidden chant of the寅 wood brother and the month break.

斷曰：獨嫌外卦伏吟，任上必有事故，不得己而呻吟也。彼曰：地獞之變可有礙？答曰：伏吟欲歸而不得，來年辰月平靜，當裁決；午月覆補，此應辰月裁缺者，戌父伏吟又逄破也；應午月覆補者，日辰官星幫比生用，得時而旺也。

The outer trigram is in a state of hidden chant, indicating that the person in charge is unable to act freely and will inevitably face changes, leading to his distress and lamentation. The person asked: Will the local ethnic rebels cause any trouble? The answer is: The image of hidden chant suggests a desire to return but being unable to. The situation will be calm in the year's辰 month, at which time a decision will be made; then in the午 month, there will be a restoration. Why should the decision be made in the辰 month? Because the parents are hidden in the top line,戌 earth, which is in a state of hidden chant, and in the辰 month, it will meet the辰 and戌 conflict, which is the month breaker. Why should the restoration be done in the午 month? Because the official star on theJiashen day shares the same element as the午 fire, and in the午 month, the official star will be strong and timely, thus restoring the position of the father.

占事　客外占眾中安否？｜占事　占妻在家安否？ 卦名　天雷無妄之乾為天卦｜卦名　雷地豫之天地否 卦宮　巽木　空亡　子丑　缺爻｜卦宮　震木　空亡　　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 武　戌財　乙｜寅‖Ｘ　戌財→戌財　卯｜寅 虎　申官　卯‖Ｘ　申官→申官 蛇（世）午孫‖（應）午孫 陳　Ｘ　辰財→辰財‖卯兄 雀　Ｘ　寅兄→寅兄‖巳孫 龍（應）子父‖（世）未財［子父］

This is the third and fourth divination of the sixth question. The left hexagram: a person away from home, asking about the safety of the family, cast the hexagram Wu Wang changing to Qian (Heaven), belonging to the Xun palace wood, with the旬空 (empty period) of Zi and Chou; divination was done on the day of Yimao and the month of Yin. The six lines from top to bottom: Xuanwu戌土 (earthly branch戌, earth element, wife's wealth); Baihu申金 (earthly branch申, metal element, official ghost); Tengshe午火 (earthly branch午, fire element, children); Qinglong子水 (earthly branch子, water element, parents), which is the world line; Gouchen辰土 (earthly branch辰, earth element, wife's wealth), the line changes but remains as辰土; Zhuque寅木 (earthly branch寅, wood element, siblings), the line changes but remains as寅木; the inner trigram has two lines inHidden Chant (hidden chant). The right hexagram: asking about the safety of the wife at home, cast the hexagram Yu changing to Pi, belonging to the Zhen palace wood; divination was done on the day of Mao and the month of Yin. The six lines from top to bottom:戌土 (earthly branch戌, earth element, wife's wealth), the line changes but remains as戌土;申金 (earthly branch申, metal element, official ghost), the line changes but remains as申金;午火 (earthly branch午, fire element, children), which is the response line;卯木 (earthly branch卯, wood element, siblings);巳火 (earthly branch巳, fire element, children);未土 (earthly branch未, earth element, wife's wealth), which is the world line, with the line of Zi water parents hidden below. The outer trigram has two lines inHidden Chant (hidden chant), and the useful god is the top line戌土 (earthly branch戌, earth element, wife's wealth).

斷曰：內卦為家中，已是伏吟，恐有變異，呻吟之事出。彼曰：當主何事？答曰：寅月卯日共來克辰土財爻，恐是妻妾奴僕事耳。｜斷曰：戌土財爻又是伏吟，月日相剋，令政必有大厄。彼曰：應在何時？答曰：日辰合戌，目下雖寅卯皆克，可許無妨；交辰月伏吟，又逄月沖，必難逃矣。果於三月乃妻去世矣。

The left hexagram interpretation states: the inner trigram represents the family. Now the inner trigram is in a hidden chant, indicating that there may be a disturbance within the family and some sorrow or lamentation. The person asked which particular matter this refers to. The answer was: the wood of the寅 month and the wood of the卯 day both come to overcome the third line, which is the earth element of the辰, representing wealth. Wealth signifies wife, concubine, and servants, so this likely refers to matters concerning these individuals. The right hexagram interpretation states: the top line, which is the earth element of the戌, representing wealth, is both the useful god and in a hidden chant. The month builder of the寅 wood and the day branch of the卯 wood both come to overcome it. The respected wife is certainly in great danger (「lingzheng」 is a respectful term for a married woman). The person asked when this would occur. The answer was: the卯 day and the戌 earth are in a harmonious relationship (卯戌 harmony). Although there is currently an overcoming by the寅 and卯, it is restrained by this harmony, so it may still be safe. However, once the辰 month arrives, the hidden chant line will meet the辰 earth, resulting in a conflict between the戌 and辰. When harmony meets conflict, it is unavoidable. Later, indeed, the wife died in the third month. These two hexagrams both indicate: a hidden chant merely 'traps' the situation, but for the actual misfortune to occur, it must wait until the trap is opened by a conflict.

爻遇旬空，欲斷為到底全空，卻斷乎填實；欲斷作不空，卻又到底空，何也？答曰：無生有克者，到底空也；有生無克者，待時用也。卦之最凶者，喜用爻之旬空；卦之最善也，忌用爻之旬空。

Seventh question: When a line falls into the旬空, one might think it is empty all the way, but later it fills up and comes true; one might think it is not empty, but it turns out to be empty all the way with no results. What is the reason for this? Answer: The difference lies in one sentence: if there is no line that generates it but there is a line that restrains it, then it is empty all the way; if there is a line that generates it but no line that restrains it, then it is only temporarily hidden, and when the time comes, it can be used. There is another point to consider: when the卦象 is most dangerous, the beneficial and necessary god falls into旬空 (being empty means avoiding a disaster); when the卦象 is best, the most disliked god falls into旬空 (being empty means the good result does not reach reality).

占事　占求財｜占事　占僕何日回？ 卦名　風雷益｜卦名　澤火革 卦宮　巽木　空亡　辰巳　缺爻　官｜卦宮　坎水　空亡　戌亥　缺爻　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 雀（應）卯兄　戊｜巳‖武　未官　甲｜亥 龍　巳孫　戌‖虎　酉父　子 武　未財‖蛇（世）亥兄 虎（世）辰財［酉官］‖陳　亥兄［午財］ 蛇　寅兄‖雀　丑官 陳　子父‖龍（應）卯孫

This is the first two examples of the seventh question. On the left, the divination is about seeking wealth, and the shaken hexagram is Yi (Wind and Thunder), belonging to the Xun palace wood, with the旬空 (empty period) on the days of Chen and Si, and the hexagram lacking the Official Ghost. The divination was performed on the day of Wuxu and the month of Si. The six lines, from top to bottom: Vermilion Bird (Al雀) with卯 wood siblings, which is the Response Line; Azure Dragon (青龙) with巳 fire children; Black Tortoise (玄武) with未 earth wealth; White Tiger (白虎) with辰 earth wealth, which is the World Line, with the hidden Official Ghost under酉 gold; Snake (螣蛇) with寅 wood siblings; and Gou Chen with子 water parents. The World Line is辰 earth wealth, which is exactly in the旬空, and the day of Wuxu has戌 which directly conflicts with辰. On the right, the divination is about when the servant will return, and the shaken hexagram is Ge (Lake and Fire), belonging to the Kan palace water, with the旬空 on the days of Xu and Hai, and the hexagram lacking the wealth. The divination was performed on the day of Jiazi and the month of Hai. The six lines, from top to bottom: Black Tortoise (玄武) with未 earth Official Ghost; White Tiger (白虎) with酉 gold parents; Snake (螣蛇) with亥 water siblings, which is the World Line; Gou Chen with亥 water siblings, with the hidden wealth under午 fire in the third line; Vermilion Bird (朱雀) with丑 earth Official Ghost; and Azure Dragon (青龙) with卯 wood children, which is the Response Line. The divination takes the wealth as the Useful God, and in this hexagram, the wealth is not on the hexagram but hidden under the third line of亥 water, and the World Line of亥 water is exactly in the旬空.

斷曰：辰土財爻持世，因值旬空，戌日沖之，謂之沖空則起，本日即果驗。應於本日者，本日亦是財星沖我也，此沖空有用也。｜斷曰：伏午火財為用神，被日月之克，問其吉凶否？凶也。今問何日回？世空者遲至，忌神旬空旬內必到，己巳日必回。後果驗。驗於巳日者，巳火亦是財星耳，沖其飛而露其伏也。《黃金策》云：空下伏神易於引拔，即此是矣。

The left hexagram interpretation: The wife's wealth in the earthly branch of Chen is in the empty period, but it is affected by the day of Wu Xu, which breaks the emptiness. When the emptiness is broken, it becomes useful, so it is predicted that wealth will be obtained on the same day, and it indeed came true. Why did it happen on the same day? Because the earth of Wu Xu is also wife's wealth, and it is coming to me by breaking the wife's wealth in the world. This is called 'breaking the emptiness to gain usefulness'. The right hexagram interpretation: The useful god is the hidden wife's wealth in the earthly branch of Wu. It is attacked by the day of Jia Zi's Zi water and the month of Hai. Asking about good or bad fortune naturally indicates bad fortune. Now, asking about the day of return: The world line is in the empty period, so the return is delayed; and the hostile god (Hai water siblings) that attacks it is also in the empty period, so within this period the hostile god is powerless, and the person will return. It is predicted that he will return on the day of Ji Si. Later, it indeed came true. Why did it happen on the day of Si? Because the fire of Si is also wealth, and Si also breaks Hai, breaking the flying god that is pressing on the hidden god, so the hidden Wu fire wealth is revealed. The Golden Strategies say 'hidden gods in the empty period are easy to be lifted', exactly referring to this situation.

占事　占見貴求財｜占事　占妻病何日愈？ 卦名　天火同人｜卦名　澤地萃之天地比 卦宮　離火　空亡　戌亥　缺爻｜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）戌孫　丁｜申‖虎　未父　癸｜午 武　申財　卯‖蛇（應）酉兄　丑 虎　午兄‖陳　Ｏ　亥孫→申兄 蛇（世）亥官‖雀　卯財 陳　丑孫‖龍（世）巳官 雀　卯父‖武　未父

This is the third and fourth divination questions of the seventh inquiry. The left hexagram: divination about seeking wealth by visiting a nobleman, and the hexagram cast is Tian Huo Tong Ren, belonging to the Li palace fire, with the旬空 (empty period) on戌 and亥; the divination was performed on Dingmao day and Shen month. The six lines from top to bottom: Qinglong戌 earth children, which is the response line; Xuanwu申 metal wealth; Baihu午 fire siblings; Tengshe亥 water official ghost, which is the world line; Gouchen丑 earth children; Zhuqiao卯 wood parents. For seeking a nobleman, the official ghost is the useful god, and in this hexagram, the亥 water official ghost is in the world line and falls under the旬空. The right hexagram: divination about when the wife's illness will recover, and the hexagram cast is Ze Di Cui changing Tian Di Bi, belonging to the Dui palace metal, with the旬空 on寅 and卯; the divination was performed on Guichou day and Wu month. The six lines from top to bottom: Baihu未 earth parents; Tengshe酉 metal siblings, which is the response line; Gouchen亥 water children, the second line moves and changes into申 metal siblings; Zhuqiao卯 wood wealth; Qinglong巳 fire official ghost, which is the world line; Xuanwu未 earth parents. For divining about the wife, the wealth is the useful god, which is the third line卯 wood, and it falls under the旬空.

斷曰：亥水官星持世，旬空，出旬亥日必見；月建財爻生世，財利如心。果驗。此出空待用也。｜斷曰：卯木財爻為用神，值旬空，有亥水原神相生，次日必愈。有旁人曰：卯爻旬空，宜斷卯日，何言寅日？予曰：汝不知其法，交甲寅日寅木已出空矣，卯木亦是用星耳。果先愈一日，應甲寅日也。

Left hexagram interpretation: The water of亥 is the official star holding the world line, but it falls in the旬空. It will definitely be seen once the current旬 is over, and on the day of亥, it will definitely appear. The month of申 has the month builder which is the wealth element that generates the world line, so seeking wealth will be satisfactory. Indeed, it came true — this is called "out of empty to be used." The element is empty but is generated by something else and not harmed, waiting only for the旬 to end. Right hexagram interpretation: The wood of卯 is the useful god, which is empty, but the fourth line of water of亥, the children element, is activated to generate it (water generates wood). The origin god is strong, so it is predicted that the next day will be good. Someone nearby said: The卯 line is empty, so it should be on the day of卯. Why do you say the day of寅? I said: You don't understand the method — once the day of甲寅 comes, the pair of empty branches of寅 and卯 has already left the旬, and the wood of寅 and the wood of卯 are of the same nature, both being the useful god. Later, it indeed recovered a day earlier, which corresponds to the day of甲寅. These two hexagrams are both examples of "being generated without being harmed, and being used once the emptiness is gone."

占事　占子病何日愈｜占事　占求財何日到手 卦名　天風姤之天雷無妄｜卦名　風天小畜 卦宮　乾金　空亡　寅卯　缺爻　寅｜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 蛇　戌父　庚｜寅‖蛇　卯兄　庚｜未 陳　申兄　戌‖陳　巳孫　子 雀（應）午官‖雀（應）未財 龍　Ｏ　酉兄→辰父‖龍　辰財［酉官］ 武　Ｏ　亥孫→寅財［寅財］‖武　寅兄 虎（世）Ｘ　丑父→子孫‖虎（世）子父

This is the fifth and sixth divination of the seventh question. The left hexagram: divining the day when the son's illness will recover, the hexagram cast is Tian Feng Gou changing to Tian Lei Wu Wang, belonging to the Qian palace metal, with the ten-day cycle emptying at寅 and卯, and the missing element is exactly寅; the divination was done on the Geng Xu day and寅 month. The six lines from top to bottom: the snake is戌 earth parents; Gou Chen is申 gold siblings; Zhu Que is午 fire official ghost, which is the response line; Qing Long is酉 gold siblings, the second line moves and changes into辰 earth parents; Xuan Wu is亥 water children, the second line moves and changes into寅 wood wealth, and there is also伏寅 wood wealth below; Bai Hu is丑 earth parents, which is the world line, and the intersecting line moves and changes into子 water children. For divining the son, children are the useful god, which is the second line亥 water, it moves and changes into寅 wood, which exactly falls into the ten-day cycle emptiness. The right hexagram: divining when wealth will be obtained, the hexagram cast is Feng Tian Xiao Xu, belonging to the Xun palace wood, with the ten-day cycle emptying at辰 and巳, and the hexagram lacks official ghosts; the divination was done on the Geng Zi day and未 month. The six lines from top to bottom: the snake is卯 wood siblings; Gou Chen is巳 fire children; Zhu Que is未 earth wealth, which is the response line; Qing Long is辰 earth wealth, with伏酉 gold official ghost below; Xuan Wu is寅 wood siblings; Bai Hu is子 water parents, which is the world line. There are two layers of wealth in the hexagram:未 earth is not empty, while辰 earth falls into the ten-day cycle emptiness.

斷曰：亥水子孫化寅木旬空，近病逄空即愈。但嫌亥水化寅木旬空，則不能受酉金之生，必待寅日愈。果驗。此化空出空也。｜斷曰：未月持財，月內必有。今問何日到手？卦中辰土旬空，必關因所現也，斷其辰日得財。果驗。此乃未土之不空而應辰土之空也。

Left Hexagram Interpretation: The water of the亥 (Hai) line, representing children, moves and transforms into the wood of寅 (Yin), but this寅 (Yin) falls into the旬空 (decade void). A recent illness meeting the void signifies recovery, which is a good thing. However, the wood produced by the亥 (Hai) water falls into the void and cannot immediately receive the energy from the fourth line酉 (You) metal, which would generate water and then nourish the wood. Therefore, one must wait until the寅 (Yin) day when the void is lifted for the illness to recover. This is called "transforming into void and emerging from void." Right Hexagram Interpretation: TheWealth (wealth) line of未 (Wei) month is in its season, so there will certainly be wealth this month. Now the question is which day it will arrive. The卦 (hexagram) also shows anotherWealth (wealth) line of辰 (Chen) earth falling into the旬空 (decade void). The key to the matter must lie in this void line, so it is predicted that the wealth will arrive on the辰 (Chen) day. This prediction was indeed fulfilled. This case is particularly intriguing: the non-void未 (Wei) earth does not serve as the fulfillment day, but instead it is the void辰 (Chen) earth that does. In any hexagram, the line that is ill is the one that determines the fulfillment.

占事　占岳母近病｜占事　占子病 卦名　地水師之地風升｜卦名　澤風大過 卦宮　坎水　空亡　申酉　缺爻｜卦宮　震木　空亡　午未　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 蛇（應）酉父　庚｜酉‖虎　未財　壬｜酉 陳　亥兄　辰‖蛇　酉官　辰 雀　丑官‖陳（世）亥父［午孫］ 龍（世）Ｘ　午財→酉父‖雀　酉官 武　辰官‖龍　亥父［寅兄］ 虎　寅孫‖武（應）丑財

This is the seventh question, seventh, the eight trigrams. On the left, the hexagram is earth over water, changing to earth over wind, belonging to the kan palace water, with the empty days of shen and you; the divination is done on the day of gengchen and the month of you. The six lines from top to bottom: the snake is you metal parents, which is the response line; the hook chen is hai water siblings; the vermilion bird is chou earth official ghost; the azure dragon is wu fire wealth, which is the world line, and the changing line is you metal parents; the black tortoise is chen earth official ghost; the white tiger is yin wood children. For the mother-in-law's illness, the parents line is taken as the useful god, which is the top line you metal, which is exactly in the empty days and is combined by the day of gengchen's chen earth (chen and you combine). On the right, the hexagram is marsh over wind, changing to great excess, belonging to the zhen palace wood, with the empty days of wu and wei, and the hexagram lacks children and siblings; the divination is done on the day of ren you and the month of chen. The six lines from top to bottom: the white tiger is wei earth wealth; the snake is you metal official ghost; the hook chen is hai water parents, which is the world line, with the fire children hidden below; the vermilion bird is you metal official ghost; the azure dragon is hai water parents, with the wood siblings hidden below; the black tortoise is chou earth wealth, which is the response line. For the son's illness, the children line is taken as the useful god, which is not in the hexagram but hidden below the world line hai water, and is exactly in the empty days.

斷曰：酉金父母旬空，近病逄空即愈；日辰合之，近病逄合即死。但不宜世持忌神克之，此病必危。問曰：危於何日？答曰：午火自化旬空，旬內不能克之，近病逄空不死，旬內不死，乙酉日防之。果於乙酉日卯時而死矣。｜斷曰：午火子孫伏世爻亥父之下，月建生助亥水克之，目下用神旬空，不受其克，甲午日難逃矣。果死於午日午時，此謂伏無提拔也。

Left Hexagram Interpretation: The metal parents in the酉 position fall into the旬空, indicating that a recent illness should have recovered; however, they are also restrained by the Gengchen day's combination, suggesting death. These two interpretations contradict each other, so we need to look elsewhere: the world line is the fire element, which is theHostile God that overcomes the酉 metal parents. Fire overcoming metal indicates a dangerous illness. When is the danger? The fire element moves and transforms into the酉 metal, which then falls into the旬空, meaning its power is restricted by the empty position. Within this month, it cannot overcome the metal, so death does not occur in this month; we should be cautious on the Yiyou day. Later, the person indeed died at the卯 hour on the Yiyou day—Yiyou is the day when the useful god emerges from the empty position, filling it, and the overcoming effect becomes real. Right Hexagram Interpretation: The fireChildren is hidden under the world line亥 water parents. The month builder in the辰 month supports the亥 water to overcome it. The useful god is currently in the旬空, so it cannot be overcome at the moment. However, on the Jiawu day, it cannot be avoided. Later, the person indeed died at the午 hour on the午 day—this is called 「伏无提拔」: the hidden god has no supporting element to lift it up, and is also overcome by the flying god. The day when the empty position is filled is the day when the bad outcome occurs.

占事　一人占弟死太湖尸首可見否｜占事　一人占父近病 卦名　地雷復｜卦名　地雷復之火雷噬嗑 卦宮　坤土　空亡　寅卯　缺爻　父｜卦宮　坤土　空亡　辰巳　缺爻　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 武　酉孫　乙｜子‖武　Ｘ　酉孫→巳父　甲｜丑 虎　亥財　巳‖虎　亥財　午 蛇（應）丑兄‖蛇（應）Ｘ　丑兄→酉孫 陳　辰兄‖陳　辰兄 雀　寅官［巳父］‖雀　寅官［巳父］ 龍（世）子財‖龍（世）子財

This is the ninth and tenth hexagrams of the seventh question. The left hexagram: someone is divining about his younger brother drowning in Taihu Lake, whether the body can be found. He cast the hexagram of Fu (Hexagram 24), belonging to the Earthly Palace of Earth, with the旬空 (empty period) on寅 and卯, and the hexagram lacks the Parents. The divination was done on the day of Yisi (乙巳) in the month of Zi. The six lines from top to bottom: the Black Tortoise (玄武)酉 metal Children; the White Tiger (白虎)亥 water Wealth; the Green Snake (螣蛇)丑 earth Siblings, which is the Response Line; the Gou Chen (勾陈)辰 earth Siblings; the Vermilion Bird (朱雀)寅 wood Official Ghost, with the hidden巳 fire Parents beneath; the Azure Dragon (青龙)子 water Wealth, which is the World Line. For divining a corpse, the Official Ghost is the Useful God, which is the second line寅 wood, exactly falling into the旬空. The right hexagram: someone is divining about his father's recent illness, casting the hexagram of Fu (Hexagram 24) changing into Shi Ke (Hexagram 21), belonging to the Earthly Palace of Earth, with the旬空 on辰 and巳, and the hexagram lacks the Parents. The divination was done on the day of Jiawu (甲午) in the month of Chou. The six lines from top to bottom: the Black Tortoise (玄武)酉 metal Children, which is a changing line producing巳 fire Parents; the White Tiger (白虎)亥 water Wealth; the Green Snake (螣蛇)丑 earth Siblings, which is the Response Line, which is a changing line producing酉 metal Children; the Gou Chen (勾陈)辰 earth Siblings; the Vermilion Bird (朱雀)寅 wood Official Ghost, with the hidden巳 fire Parents beneath; the Azure Dragon (青龙)子 water Wealth, which is the World Line. For divining about the father, the Parents are the Useful God. The primary hexagram lacks the Parents, so the Parents produced in the change,巳 fire Parents, are also exactly falling into the旬空.

斷曰：凡占尸首以鬼爻為用神，今寅木鬼爻旬空，而亥水乃得令之水暗動合之，明明尸首在於大水之中矣。但寅木旬空被合，須待出旬逄沖，庚申可見。後至庚申日不見，直至丑月甲子旬內壬申日尸首浮起得見。此意何也？總之寅鬼出旬，而亥水太旺，交丑建丑土制水，甲子旬亥水遇空，水空者如水退矣，木在水中非沖不起，故驗於甲子旬壬申日也。豈非神之奇報，學者不可不深究之。

Left Trigram Interpretation: When divining about a corpse, the official ghost is the useful god. In this trigram, the official ghost is the wood of寅, which is in the旬空. The fifth line is the water of亥, which is the current season's water. The day branch冲起 this water, causing it to move secretly and combine with the wood of寅 (寅 and亥 combine). This clearly indicates that the corpse is in a large body of water. However, the wood of寅, although it has left the旬, is now combined, so it must wait until it leaves the旬 again and is冲 again to be seen. Therefore, it is predicted that on the day ofGengshen the corpse will be found. But on the day ofGengshen, the corpse was not found, and it was not until the day ofRenshen in the month of Chou and the旬 of Jiazi that the corpse surfaced and was discovered. Why was this so? In summary, although the official ghost of wood of寅 has left the旬, at that time the water of亥 was too strong, so the corpse was still submerged and could not rise. Once the month of Chou arrived, the earth of Chou could control the water. Then, in the旬 of Jiazi, the water of亥 again fell into the旬空, meaning the water had receded. Wood in water cannot rise without a strong冲 force, so it should be on the day ofRenshen in the旬 of Jiazi (the申冲 the寅). Is this not a marvelous and divine revelation? Scholars must not fail to deeply study this.

斷曰：巳火父母為用神，值旬空，日辰拱之，近病逄空不死；但不利於六合卦，六合即死。予想用空，六合可以相敵；不宜世忌神暗動，外卦巳酉丑合成金局助水克之，此病必凶。曰：凶在何日？答曰：己亥日克沖巳火，還在旬空，不妨，恐危於出旬辛亥日也。果至其日而死，此應出旬又被沖剋也。

The right trigram interpretation states: The fire element parents, which is the useful god, is in the旬空. However, the fire of Jiawu day, which is the same element, supports it through mutual assistance. A recent illness encountering旬空 would not necessarily be fatal. But this trigram is a Six Harmony trigram, and when a recent illness meets Six Harmony, it indicates death. I thought: since the useful god is in旬空, it could counteract the harmful effect of Six Harmony. However, theHostile God on the world line, which is water, is activated by the day branch and moves covertly. The outer trigram, consisting of巳, 酉, and 丑, forms a metal group to support the water, which in turn harms the fire. The illness is therefore very dangerous. When is the danger? The answer is: On Jihai day, although it clashes and controls the巳 fire (巳 and亥 clash), at that time the巳 fire is still in旬空 and thus can avoid it. However, the danger lies in the day after the旬, specifically on Xinhai day. Later, the person indeed died on that day, which exactly matches the saying 'after the旬, it is again clashed and controlled.' These two trigrams show 'empty but with help' and 'empty but with harm,' and thus life and death are decided.

占事　因大旱占何日有雨｜占事　占交疏之人何日未 卦名　風地觀｜卦名　水山蹇 卦宮　乾金　空亡　辰巳　缺爻　孫、兄｜卦宮　兌金　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　卯財　戊｜未‖雀　子孫　戊｜未 龍　巳官［申兄］　戌‖龍　戌父　戌 武（世）未父‖武（世）申兄 虎　卯財‖虎　申兄 蛇　巳官‖蛇　午財 陳（應）未父［子孫］‖陳（應）辰父［巳官］

This is the eleventh and twelfth hexagrams of the seventh question. The left hexagram: because of a severe drought, the question was asked about which day it would rain, and the hexagram cast was Guan (Hexagram 20), belonging to the Qian palace metal, with the旬空 on the days of Chen and Si, and the hexagram lacking the children and siblings. The divination was done on the day of Wuxu, in the month of Wei. The six lines from top to bottom: Vermilion Bird over卯 wood wife wealth; Azure Dragon over巳 fire official ghost, with a hidden line of申 metal siblings; Black Tortoise over未 earth parents, which is the world line; White Tiger over卯 wood wife wealth; Qie Snake over巳 fire official ghost; Gou Chen over未 earth parents, which is the response line, with a hidden line of子 water children. For predicting rain, the parents are the useful god, and in this hexagram the earth parents are the world line and also the month builder. The right hexagram: the question was about when a distant friend would come, and the hexagram cast was Jian (Hexagram 39), belonging to the Dui palace metal, with the旬空 on the days of Chen and Si, and the hexagram lacking the official ghosts. The divination was done on the day of Wuxu, in the month of Wei. The six lines from top to bottom: Vermilion Bird over子 water children; Azure Dragon over戌 earth parents; Black Tortoise over申 metal siblings, which is the world line; White Tiger over申 metal siblings; Qie Snake over午 fire wife wealth; Gou Chen over辰 earth parents, which is the response line, with a hidden line of巳 fire official ghosts. For predicting a casual acquaintance, the response line is the useful god, and the response line of earth parents is exactly in the旬空 and is being attacked by the day of Wuxu.

斷曰：月建未土父母爻為用神，日辰幫比，有雨必大；但巳火官爻為原神值旬空安靜，靜必待沖空，必待出旬，斷辛亥日得大雨。果至其日申酉時得雨五寸。｜斷曰：凡卜至交朋友以兄弟用，今卜交疏之人當以應爻為用。今應爻旬空，得日辰沖起，必待甲辰日到。果驗。

The left hexagram's interpretation: The month builder is the earth element of wu, which is the parents and also the useful god. The earth element of wuxu on the fifth day also supports it, indicating there will be rain and it will certainly be heavy. However, the original god, the fire element of si, which is the official ghost, is in the旬空 and is quiet. Since it is quiet and in the旬空, we need to wait for the冲空 and the end of the旬, so we predict heavy rain on the day of xinhai. Indeed, on that day, there was five inches of rain between shen and you hours. The right hexagram's interpretation: When divining about very close friends, the brothers line is taken as the useful god. But when divining about distant friends, the response line should be taken as the useful god. In this hexagram, the response line, the earth element of chen, is in the旬空, but it is supported by the earth element of wuxu on the fifth day, which will冲起 the旬空 (making it real). Therefore, we predict he will arrive on the day of jiachen, when the earth element of chen is filled. Later, it indeed came true. These two hexagrams show that when a line is in the旬空, we need to determine whether it is "quiet and waiting for the冲" or "already冲起", and the time of fulfillment will be accordingly determined.

占事　占何日有大雨 卦名　雷山小過 卦宮　兌金　空亡　寅卯　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 武　戌父　甲｜未 虎　Ｘ　申兄→酉兄　辰 蛇（世）午官［亥孫］ 陳　申兄 雀　午官［卯財］ 龍（應）Ｘ　辰父→卯財

This is the last hexagram of the seventh question. The divination concerns a day when it rained heavily, and the hexagram obtained is Xiao Guo (Hexagram 62), belonging to the Metal group of the Dui palace, with the empty days of寅 and卯. The hexagram lacks the lines for children and wealth. The divination was performed on the day of Jia Wei and in the month of Chen. The six lines, from top to bottom, are: the Black Tortoise戌 earth parents; the White Tiger申 metal siblings, with the intersecting line moving and transforming into酉 metal siblings (the transformation from申 to酉 is an advancing god); the Vermilion Bird午 fire official ghost, which is the world line, with the hidden line of亥 water children beneath it; the Gou Chen申 metal siblings; the Azure Dragon辰 earth parents, which is the response line, with the intersecting line moving and transforming into卯 wood wealth. For predicting rain, the parents are taken as the useful god, here selecting the initial line's辰 earth parents. It moves and transforms into卯 wood, which is exactly the empty day, and is also subject to self-contraction.

斷曰：日辰辰土父母爻為用神，發動月建幫之，又值土王用事，其辰土旺莫勝，言得雨決不小也。但不宜化卯木旬空，化卯木回頭之克，雖有申化酉金進神克木救土，而卯木旬空，空則謂之畏避，避金之克，致辰土父爻終成病於卯木也，必至甲寅旬乙卯日卯木出空值日，謂之出頭難避，戌土暗動助金克之，而卯木已受金克，不能為害辰土，必待甲寅乙卯日有雨也，至期竟無。至立秋辛酉日申時方雨。應於立秋後酉日者何也？明現申化酉即申月酉日也，卯木出旬值日到底被克不盡，交申月克之，酉日又沖之，方始雨予。因此卦學問又進一層矣。

The first line shows the earth element, represented by the parents, which is the useful god. It is activated and supported by the month builder, which is the earth element. Moreover, it is exactly the time when the earth element is at its peak (the last eighteen days of the four seasons when the earth element is strongest). The earth element is so strong that it cannot be stronger. Therefore, it is certain that the rain will be heavy. Unfortunately, the earth element is weakened by the wood element that arises from its transformation, and this wood element is in the旬空 (a void period). Although the fifth line shows the metal element, which transforms into another metal element (an advancing god), it can weaken the wood and support the earth, but the wood element is still in the旬空. The void means it is hidden, thus avoiding the metal's weakening effect, and the earth element parents are ultimately harmed by this wood. Therefore, we have to wait until the day of Yimao in the Jiayin period, when the wood element emerges from the void and is visible. On that day, the top line, which is the earth element, covertly moves to support the metal element to weaken the wood. Once the wood is weakened by the metal, it can no longer harm the earth element, and the rain will fall. However, on that day, there was no rain. It only rained at the time of the Shenshi hour on the day of Xinyou after the beginning of autumn. Why did it fall on the day of Xinyou after the beginning of autumn? The hexagram clearly shows 'Shen transforming into You'—Shen refers to the month of Shen and You refers to the day of You. The wood element that emerged from the void on the day of Yimao was not completely weakened. It was not until the month of Shen was entered and the day of You arrived that the wood was weakened and the rain finally fell. Wang wrote: Because of this hexagram, my understanding has advanced another level.

月破之爻，欲定其破為無用，卻又應於破；欲謂之不破，郄又到底破而無用，何也？答曰：神機現於破，禍褔之基在於動。動而有生無克之破爻，有出破、填實、合破之法；安靜有克無生之破爻，則到底破矣。

Eighth Question: When a line is broken by the month, one might think it is useless and the matter should happen precisely on this broken line. But if one says it is not broken, it turns out to be completely useless. What is the reason behind this? Answer: The key lies in the word "broken" ("破") where the divine mechanism is revealed. The foundation of fortune and misfortune lies in whether the line is active or not. If a line is active and has a line that generates it but is not overcome by any line, there are three ways to revive it: if it occurs outside of this month, it is called "breaking out of the break" ("出破"); if it meets a day with the same branch, it is called "filling the break" ("填实"); if it meets a line that is in harmony with it, it is called "harmonizing the break" ("合破"). Conversely, if a line is inactive and is not generated by any line but is overcome by others, then it is truly broken and completely useless. Distinguishing a broken line is the same as distinguishing a旬空 (a void in the ten-day cycle): if there is vitality and a rescue, it is false; if there is no vitality and no rescue, it is true.

占事　占訟事｜占事　占將來有官否？ 卦名　地天泰｜卦名　兌為金之天水訟。 卦宮　坤土　空亡　戌亥　缺爻　父｜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（應）酉孫　丁｜戌‖陳（世）Ｘ　未父→戌父　己｜亥 武　亥財　卯‖雀　酉兄　丑 虎　丑兄‖龍　亥孫 蛇（世）辰兄‖武（應）丑父 陳　寅官［巳父］‖虎　卯財 雀　子財‖蛇　Ｏ　巳官→寅財

This is the first two examples of the eighth question. The left hexagram: divination about a legal case, obtained the hexagram of Tai (Heaven over Earth), belonging to the Earthly Palace of Earth, with empty days of Xu and Hai, and the hexagram lacks the parents. Divination was done on Dingmao day and Xu month. The six lines from top to bottom: Azure Dragon酉 gold children, which is the response line; Vermilion Bird亥 water wealth; White Tiger丑 earth siblings; Green Snake辰 earth siblings, which is the world line; Gou Chen寅 wood official ghost, with hidden巳 fire parents beneath; Vermilion Bird子 water wealth. The world line辰 earth is directly attacked by the Xu month, resulting in month breaker, and the wood of卯 day also attacks it. The right hexagram: divination about whether there will be an official position in the future, obtained the hexagram of Dui (Lake) changing to Song (Hexagram 6), belonging to the Metal Palace of Dui, with empty days of Wu and Wei; divination was done on Jihai day and Chou month. The six lines from top to bottom: Gou Chen未 earth parents, which is the world line, and the intersecting line moves, changing into戌 earth parents (the transformation from 未 to戌 is an advancing god); Vermilion Bird酉 gold siblings; Azure Dragon亥 water children; Vermilion Bird丑 earth parents, which is the response line; White Tiger卯 wood wealth; Green Snake巳 fire official ghost, with the repeated line moving, changing into寅 wood wealth. The world line未 earth is directly in the empty day, but is attacked by the Hai day.

斷曰：爻逄六合，官事必審，不宜戌建沖世，乃是月破；卯日克世，必輸無疑。果被杖責，此應日克月破故耳。｜斷曰：未土父母爻持世，化進神未土，雖是旬空，日辰沖之，曰不為空矣。巳火官星動而生世，化出寅木長生，顯然有官。彼問：應在何年？答曰：巳年必然食祿王家也。果於巳年得縣缺，應實破之年也。

The left hexagram interpretation: The hexagram of Tai (Heaven over Earth) is the Six Harmony hexagram. When predicting a legal case and encountering the Six Harmony hexagram, the case is sure to be thoroughly examined and not easily concluded. It is even worse that the month of Xu comes to clash with the world line, making the world line the month breaker. On the day of Dingmao, the wood element comes to attack the world line. The world line is both broken and attacked, so the case is definitely lost. Later, he indeed received punishment. This is called "the day element attacking the month breaker," which results in a complete breakdown. The right hexagram interpretation: The earth element parents in the world are transformed into the earth element of Xu, which is an advancing god. Although the earth element of Wei is in the旬空 (decade void), it is broken by the day of Jihai, which fills the void, making it not void anymore. The initial line's fire official star is activated to generate the world line, and it is transformed into the wood element of Yin. Yin is the place where fire is born, so the official star has a root, clearly indicating that he will hold an official position. The person asked in which year this would happen? The answer was: In the year of Si, he would certainly receive government salary. Later, he indeed got a county position in the year of Si — this exactly corresponds to the "filling" year (Si is the root of the official star, and it is the year it is in).

占事　占父近出何日回？｜占事　占後運功名 卦名　乾為天之澤天夬。｜卦名　艮為山之山地觀。 卦宮　乾金　空亡　午未　缺爻｜卦宮　艮土　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 雀（世）Ｏ　戌父→未父　戊｜辰‖虎（世）寅官　癸｜午 龍　申兄　子‖蛇　Ｘ　子財→巳父　卯 武　午官‖陳　戌兄 虎（應）辰父‖雀（應）Ｏ　申孫→卯官 蛇　寅財‖龍　午父 陳　子孫‖武　辰兄

This is the third and fourth divination of the eighth question. The left hexagram: asking about the day the father will return from a recent trip, the hexagram cast is Qian (Heaven) changing into Guai (Lake), belonging to the Qian palace metal, with the旬空 (ten-day void) on午 and 未; cast on Wuzi day and Chen month. The six lines from top to bottom: Vermilion Bird戌 earth parents, which is the world line, and the repeated line moves and changes into 未 earth parents (戌 changing to 未 is a retreating god, and 未 also falls into the旬空); Azure Dragon申 metal siblings; Black Tortoise午 fire official ghost; White Tiger辰 earth parents, which is the response line; Snake寅 wood wife's wealth; Gou Chen子 water children. The world line戌 earth is directly opposed by the Chen month, forming the month breaker. The right hexagram: asking about future fame and success, the hexagram cast is Gen (Mountain) changing into Guan (Observation), belonging to the Gen palace earth, with the旬空 on辰 and巳; cast on Guimao day and Wu month. The six lines from top to bottom: White Tiger寅 wood official ghost, which is the world line; Snake子 water wife's wealth, the repeated line moves and changes into巳 fire parents; Gou Chen戌 earth siblings; Vermilion Bird申 metal children, which is the response line, and the repeated line moves and changes into卯 wood official ghost; Azure Dragon午 fire parents; Black Tortoise辰 earth siblings. The response line申 metal moves to attack the world line寅 wood, while子 water in the middle serves as a mediator.

斷曰：父母持世，破而化空化退，若執死法，其父不能歸也，莫非轉往他方也，來而復返也。予以朱雀爻動而持世，卯日有信，未日必歸。果於卯日得信，乙未日到家。此應卯日得信者，破而逄合之日也；未日回家者，父化未土旬出空之日也。

Left Trigram Interpretation: The Parents' line holds the World Line, and it is also afflicted by the Month Breaker. What it transforms into is an empty Wei earth, and it is also a Retreating God. If one strictly follows conventional methods, one would conclude that the father will not return, or that he will go somewhere else and come back later. However, I noticed that the Vermilion Bird (which governs messages and communications) is exactly on the active World Line. Therefore, I predicted that on the卯 day there would be news, and on the未 day the father would return home. Indeed, on the卯 day they received the message, and on the乙未 day he arrived home. Why did they receive the news on the卯 day? Because卯 and戌 are in a harmonious relationship, which is a day of 'breaking followed by harmony'. Why did he return home on the未 day? The earth of Wei, which the World Line transformed into, was filled on that day as it was the first day of a new cycle. This divination best demonstrates the use of the methods 'Month Breaker met with harmony' and 'transformation into emptiness and then filling the emptiness'.

斷曰：寅木官星持世，申金動來克之，今年七月必有凶非。彼曰：看因何事？答曰：應動克世，必是仇家。又問：礙於功名否？答曰：若非子水動搖去位，必矣，幸有子水接觸相生，本雲是吉，嫌破而化空，降級不免。果於七月彼此揭參成大非，子月事結，降級調用。後至子年四月原品起用，連官二任。此應子水原神初時空破無力生世，有此禍端；後至填實之年月，仍復有用之驗也。

The right hexagram interpretation states: The寅 wood official star holds the world position, and the response line on the upper 申 metal is activated to clash with it (申 clashes and controls寅). There will certainly be misfortune and disputes in this July (the month of 申). The person asked what the matter was, and the answer was: The response line is activated to clash with the world position, so it must be caused by an enemy. Another question was asked: Does this affect official rank? The answer was: If there were no 子 water in the middle to mediate, the official position would certainly be lost. Fortunately, 子 water both drains the 申 metal and nourishes the 寅 wood. It should be a favorable outcome, but it is regrettable that this 子 water has been broken by the month (子 is broken by the month of 午) and has transformed into an empty 巳 fire. Therefore, a reduction in rank is unavoidable. Later, in July, both parties accused each other, causing a major dispute. By the month of 子, the matter was settled, and a reduction in rank and transfer occurred. By the year of 子 in April, he was reinstated to his original position and served in two consecutive posts. This exactly matches the saying: The original god of 子 water was both broken and empty at first, unable to support the world position, so there was this disaster first. But when the year and month arrived that filled it up, it still played its role.

占事　占子病吉凶｜占事　占墳地風水 卦名　艮為山之山水蒙｜卦名　澤山咸 卦宮　艮土　空亡　辰巳　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 武（世）寅官　甲｜寅‖蛇（應）未父　庚｜丑 虎　子財　午‖陳　酉兄　申 蛇　戌兄‖雀　亥孫 陳（應）Ｏ　申孫→午父‖龍（世）申兄 雀　Ｘ　午父→辰兄‖武　午財 龍　辰兄‖虎　辰父［巳官］

This is the fifth and sixth divination of the eighth question. The left hexagram is about the fortune of a son's illness, and the hexagram drawn is Gen as Mountain changing into Meng, which belongs to the Gen palace of earth, with the empty days of Chen and Si. The divination was done on the day of Jiayin, in the month of Wu. The six lines from top to bottom are: Black Tortoise寅wood Official Ghost, which is the world line; White Tiger子water Wealth; Qilin戌earth Siblings; Gou Chen申metal Children, which is the response line, and the third line is activated, changing into Wu fire Parents; Vermilion Bird午fire Parents, which is activated, changing into Chen earth Siblings; Azure Dragon辰earth Siblings. For divination about a son, the Children line is taken, which is the third line,申metal. It is directly opposed by the month of Wu, thus becoming the month breaker. Although the day branch Jiayin wood does not overcome the metal, the fire generated by the change does overcome it. The right hexagram is about the fortune of a tomb site, and the hexagram drawn is Xian, which belongs to the Dui palace of metal, with the empty days of Zi and Chou, and the Official Ghost is missing in the hexagram. The divination was done on the day of Gengshen, in the month of Chou. The six lines from top to bottom are: Qilin未earth Parents, which is the response line; Gou Chen酉metal Siblings; Vermilion Bird亥water Children; Azure Dragon申metal Siblings, which is the world line; Black Tortoise午fire Wealth; White Tiger辰earth Parents, with the hidden巳fire Official Ghost beneath. The world line is申metal, which is directly supported by the day branch Gengshen, and also accompanied by Azure Dragon.

斷曰：申金子孫為用，臨月破，不宜日建克之，又化回頭之克，有克無生，可急回家，汝子死矣。此人未到家，一人報曰：令郎申時去世矣。此應填實之時受克而成也。｜斷曰：日辰臨青龍持世，來龍由左而來，龍虎皆有氣，必然環抱。第嫌應上未土臨月破，應為照山；世前一位為朝案，喜亥水得申日生之，必有朝水，宜取水作朝，不宜取山作向；間爻為明堂，旺相必闊大。彼曰：一一果然。葬可好否？予曰：依予取水作朝、棄山作向，許必大發。彼果依斷，葬後即如所言。

The left hexagram's interpretation says: The metal child爻 is the useful god, but it is exactly at the month breaker of the午 month, and is further attacked by the day branch. It also transforms into午 fire, which turns back to attack it. There is only attack and no support, so you should hurry home, for your son is already not going to make it. The person had not yet arrived home when someone reported that his son died at the申 hour. This exactly corresponds to the time of "filling in": the申 day and申 hour is exactly the time when the broken month爻 is filled in, and once filled in, it actually receives that attack. The right hexagram's interpretation says: The day branch is申 metal, which is at the azure dragon and holds the world line, showing that the coming dragon comes from the left. The azure dragon and white tiger are both present and have strength, so there must be a surrounding and affectionate situation. What is to be concerned about is the response line being未 earth, which is exactly at the丑 month's month breaker. The response line represents the opposite mountain, showing that the opposite mountain is incomplete. The world line's previous one is the facing mountain, and it is good that the亥 water is supported by the申 day (metal generates water). So there must be flowing water in front; therefore, it is suitable to take water as the facing, and not to take mountain as the direction. The intermediate爻 between the world and response lines represents the bright hall. If it is prosperous and strong, the bright hall must be broad. The person said: It is exactly like that, so is it good to bury the body? I said: According to my advice, take water as the facing and give up the mountain as the direction, it will definitely bring great fortune. He followed my advice and after burial, it indeed turned out as I said.

占事　占買宅吉否？ 卦名　澤火革之澤天夬。 卦宮　坎水　空亡　午未　缺爻　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 蛇　未官　辛｜申 陳　酉父　卯 雀（世）亥兄 龍　亥兄［午財］ 武　Ｘ　丑官→寅孫 虎（應）卯孫

This is the last hexagram of the eighth question. The divination concerns whether it is auspicious to buy this house. The hexagram obtained is Ge (Hexagram 49) changing into Guai (Hexagram 43), belonging to the Water Palace of Kan. The旬空 (ten days' void) is on the hours of Wu and Wei, and the hexagram lacks the line of wealth (妻财). The divination was performed on the day of Xinmao and the month of Shen. The six lines, from top to bottom, are: 螣蛇 (Tangshe) of un-earthly soil (未土) representing the official ghost (官鬼); Gou Chen (Gou Chen) of酉 gold representing the parents (父母); Vermilion Bird (Zhuque) of亥 water representing the siblings (兄弟), which is the world line (世爻); Azure Dragon (Qinglong) of亥 water representing the siblings, with the hidden line of午 fire representing the wealth (妻财); Black Tortoise (Xuanwu) of丑 soil representing the official ghost, which moves and transforms into寅 wood representing the children (子孙); White Tiger (Baihu) of卯 wood representing the children, which is the response line (应爻). The world line of亥 water is supported by the month builder of Shen month, and the fifth line of酉 gold parents is stirred up by the day of Xinmao and supports the world line covertly. However, the transformed寅 wood children are directly opposed by the month of Shen and thus become the month breaker (月破), and are also attacked by metal.

斷曰：月建生世，酉金暗動生世，但不宜化寅木子孫臨月破，又受金克，惟防損子。彼竟得此屋，遷入不半月，其子出花而死。後執此卦問余曰：子果死矣，此屋自後可居否？予曰：宜再卜可決。

The month builder of the monkey month comes to generate the world line, and the fifth line, which is the metal of the酉, also covertly moves to generate the world line. The matter of buying a house itself is favorable. However, the branch of the children, which is the寅 wood, is exactly at the month breaker and is further attacked by metal. The children are harmed, so one should be cautious of harm to the children. This person eventually bought the house and moved in, but less than half a month later, his son died of smallpox. Later, he came to me with this hexagram, saying that his son indeed died. He asked if the house could still be lived in. I said that was a different matter and that another hexagram should be cast to determine it. A single hexagram answers only one question, which is a rule repeatedly emphasized in the entire text.

用神不現，看伏神在何爻之下，得出不得出，何以論之？答曰：伏神得出者有四：蓋日月生者、日月持之者，一也；飛神生伏、動爻生者，二也；日月動爻沖剋飛神，三也；飛神空破休囚墓絕於日者，四也。

Question 9: If the useful god does not appear in the hexagram, we need to look for the hidden god and see where it is hidden. But how can we determine whether it will emerge or not? Answer: There are four situations in which the hidden god can emerge. First, if the day branch or month builder generates the hidden god, or if the day branch or month builder is directly on top of it—meaning it has a powerful supporter. Second, if the flying god above it turns to generate the hidden god, or if there is a moving line in the hexagram that generates it—meaning support comes from both above and below. Third, if the day branch, month builder, or moving line clashes and controls the flying god—meaning the thing that is pressing down on it is removed. Fourth, if the flying god itself is weak, broken, or confined, or if it is buried under the day branch and reaches its end—meaning the thing that is pressing down on it has already collapsed. In the end, these four situations boil down to two possibilities: either the hidden god itself is strong, or the flying god is powerless.

伏神不得出者亦有四：休囚無氣者、日月克者，一也；飛神旺相、日月生助飛神、克害伏神者，二也；伏神墓絕於日月及飛爻者，三也；伏神伏囚兼旬空月破者，四也。此四者乃無用之伏神，雖有如無，終不得出。凡用神旺相，如遇旬空，出空之日則出矣。

Hidden gods that cannot emerge also have four cases. The first is when the hidden god itself is weak and confined, and is further attacked by the day branch and month builder. The second is when the flying god is prosperous and strong, and the day and month also support the flying god, making the flying god even more powerful to overcome the hidden god. The third is when the hidden god enters its tomb or reaches its decline in the day branch or month builder, or enters its tomb or reaches its decline in the flying爻. The fourth is when the hidden god is both weak and confined, and also falls into the旬空 and meets the month breaker. These four cases are useless hidden gods, though they exist, they are as if they do not, and will never emerge. Additionally, there is a general rule: if the useful god itself is prosperous and strong, but temporarily falls into the旬空, then on the day it comes out of the旬空, it will emerge—being empty but having vitality does not count as a true hidden god.

占事　占侯文書何日領？｜占事　占逃僕 卦名　山火賁｜卦名　水山蹇 卦宮　艮土　空亡　午未　缺爻　孫、父｜卦宮　兌金　空亡　子丑　缺爻　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 虎　寅官　壬｜卯‖龍　子孫　丁｜辰 蛇　子財　辰‖武　戌父　巳 陳（應）戌兄‖虎（世）申兄 雀　亥財［申孫］‖蛇　申兄 龍　丑兄［午父］‖陳　午官［卯財］ 武（世）卯官‖雀（應）辰父

This is the first two examples of the ninth question. The left hexagram: asking about the day a document will be received, the hexagram drawn is Mountain Fire Bi, belonging to the Earthly Palace of Earth, with the empty days of Wu and Wei, and the hexagram lacks the children and parents. The divination was done on the Renchen day, in the卯 month. The six lines from top to bottom: White Tiger,寅 wood Official Ghost; Qie Sha,子 water Wealth; Gou Chen,戌 earth Siblings, which is the response line; Zhu Que,亥 water Wealth, with the hidden line of申 metal Children; Qing Long,丑 earth Siblings, with the hidden line of午 fire Parents; Xuan Wu,卯 wood Official Ghost, which is the world line. For the document, the parents are taken as the useful god, but the parents are not in the hexagram, hidden under the second line of丑 earth, and also falling on the empty day. The right hexagram: asking about a runaway servant, the hexagram drawn is Water Mountain Jian, belonging to the Metal Palace of the West, with the empty days of Zi and Chou, and the hexagram lacks the wealth. The divination was done on the Dingsi day, in the辰 month. The six lines from top to bottom: Qing Long,子 water Children; Xuan Wu,戌 earth Parents; Bai Hu,申 metal Siblings, which is the world line; Qie Sha,申 metal Siblings; Gou Chen,午 fire Official Ghost, with the hidden line of卯 wood Wealth; Zhu Que,辰 earth Parents, which is the response line. For the servant, the wealth is taken as the useful god, but the wealth is not in the hexagram, hidden under the second line of午 fire.

斷曰：午火父母為用神，伏於二爻丑土之下，又值旬空，許甲午日出空必領。果驗，此應出旬之日也。｜斷曰：占僕以財爻為用神，取兌卦二爻卯木伏於本卦二爻午火之下，午火為飛神，卯木為伏神。今申金持世剋制卯木，終不能逃；但因伏去生飛，名為洩氣，盜去財物必盡於爐火之家。許甲子日拿獲。果於子日得窩賭鐵匠之家，申時拿獲。應子日者，沖剋午火之飛神，生起卯木之伏神也。《黃金策》云：伏無提挈終徒爾，飛不推開亦枉然，此卦應驗是矣。

The left hexagram's interpretation: The fire of the fifth line, representing the parents, is the useful god, hidden beneath the second line of earth, and is also falling in the旬空. It is predicted that on the Jia Wu day, the parents will be found. Later it was indeed verified—this is an instance of the rule mentioned earlier, that when the useful god is prosperous and meets the旬空, it will be found when the旬 is over. The right hexagram's interpretation: When divining about a servant, the wife's wealth is the useful god. Since there is no wealth in this hexagram, we take the second line of the first hexagram of the Dui trigram, which is the wood of卯, as the wife's wealth, hidden beneath the second line of fire. The fire is the flying god, and the wood is the hidden god. Now the world line of metal is controlling the wood, meaning the servant will eventually be caught. However, the hidden wood is generating the flying fire, which is a sign of leakage. This indicates that the stolen property will certainly be spent in a household with a fire. It is predicted that on the Jia Zi day, the servant will be caught. Later, he was indeed caught on the Shen hour at a blacksmith's house where people were gambling. Why did it happen on the Zi day? Because the water of Zi is conflicting with the fire of the flying god, while also supporting the wood of the hidden god. The flying god is pushed away, and the hidden god is promoted, which is favorable. The Golden Strategies say, "If the hidden god is not promoted, it will be in vain; if the flying god is not pushed away, it is also in vain." This hexagram is a clear example of this.

占事　占父病｜占事　占子病 卦名　地雷復｜卦名　地風升 卦宮　坤土　空亡　子丑　缺爻　父｜卦宮　震木　空亡　子丑　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 龍　酉孫　丙｜卯‖龍　酉官　丙｜酉 武　亥財　辰‖武　亥父　辰 虎（應）丑兄‖虎（世）丑財［午孫］ 蛇　辰兄‖蛇　酉官 陳　寅官［巳父］‖陳　亥父［寅兄］ 雀（世）子財‖雀（應）丑財

This is the third and fourth divination questions of the ninth inquiry. The left hexagram is about the father's illness, and the hexagram drawn is Fu, belonging to the Earthly Palace of Earth, with the empty days of Zi and Chou, and the parents are missing from the hexagram. The divination was done on Bingchen day and Mao month. The six lines from top to bottom are: Azure Dragon酉 gold children; Vermilion Bird亥 water wealth; White Tiger丑 earth siblings, which is the response line; Qilin Chen earth siblings; Gou Chen寅 wood official ghost, with the parents hidden beneath the second line寅 wood; Zhu Que子 water wealth, which is the world line. For the father's divination, the parents are required, but they are not present in the hexagram and are hidden beneath the second line寅 wood. The right hexagram is about the son's illness, and the hexagram drawn is Sheng, belonging to the Thunder Palace of Wood, with the empty days of Zi and Chou, and the children and siblings are missing from the hexagram. The divination was done on Bingyou day and Chen month. The six lines from top to bottom are: Azure Dragon酉 gold official ghost; Vermilion Bird亥 water parents; White Tiger丑 earth wealth, which is the world line, with the children hidden beneath it午 fire; Qilin酉 gold official ghost; Gou Chen亥 water parents, with the siblings hidden beneath it寅 wood; Zhu Que丑 earth wealth, which is the response line. For the son's divination, the children are required, but they are not present in the hexagram and are hidden beneath the world line丑 earth, and the丑 earth is exactly on the empty day.

斷曰：巳火父母伏於二爻寅木之下，飛來生伏，伏遇長生，許次日愈。果驗。｜斷曰：午火子孫伏於世爻丑土之下，丑土旬空，易於引拔，午日必愈。果驗。

The left hexagram's interpretation states: the fire parent is hidden at the second line beneath the wood of寅, which nourishes fire, indicating 'a flying god generates the hidden god'; moreover, the long life of fire is in寅, so the hidden god, being beneath the flying god, receives nourishment, thus predicting that he will recover the next day. Indeed, it came true. The right hexagram's interpretation states: the fire child is hidden beneath the earth of丑, which is in the旬空. Since the flying god is in the旬空, it cannot restrain the hidden god beneath, which matches the previous statement 'when the flying god is in the旬空, the hidden god is likely to emerge', thus predicting that the day of the hidden god's value will surely bring recovery. Later, it indeed came true. These two hexagrams are both cases where the hidden god emerges: one is 'a flying god generates the hidden god', and the other is 'the flying god is in the旬空'.

占事　占大例桑葉貴賤｜占事　占病有何鬼神為禍？ 卦名　水火既濟｜卦名　風天小畜 卦宮　坎水　空亡　子丑　缺爻　財｜卦宮　巽木　空亡　戌亥　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 蛇（應）子兄　庚｜辰‖雀　卯兄　戊｜寅 陳　戌官　申‖龍　巳孫　辰 雀　申父‖武（應）未財 龍（世）亥兄［午財］‖虎　辰財［酉官］ 武　丑官‖蛇　寅兄 虎　卯孫‖陳（世）子父

This is the fifth and sixth hexagrams of the ninth question. The left hexagram: divining the price of mulberry leaves this year (the "big example" refers to the general market price), the hexagram cast is Water and Fire Both Achieved (Ji Ji), belonging to the Kan palace water, with the旬空 (empty period) of Zi and Chou, and the hexagram lacks the wife's wealth. The divination was done on Geng Shen day and Chen month. The six lines from top to bottom: the snake (Teng She) Zi water siblings, which is the response line; the Gou Chen Xu earth official ghost; the Vermilion Bird Shen metal parents; the Azure Dragon Hai water siblings, which is the world line, with the Wu fire wife's wealth hidden beneath it; the Black Tortoise Chou earth official ghost; the White Tiger Mao wood children. For divining prices, the wife's wealth is used, but this hexagram lacks the wife's wealth, with the Wu fire wife's wealth hidden beneath the world line Hai water. The right hexagram: divining what ghost or spirit is causing the illness, the hexagram cast is Wind over Heaven, Small Accumulation (Xiao Xu), belonging to the Xun palace wood, with the旬空 (empty period) of Xu and Hai, and the hexagram lacks the official ghost. The divination was done on Wu Chen day and Yin month. The six lines from top to bottom: the Vermilion Bird Mao wood siblings; the Azure Dragon Si fire children; the Black Tortoise Wei earth wife's wealth, which is the response line; the White Tiger Chen earth wife's wealth, with the You metal official ghost hidden beneath it; the snake (Teng She) Yin wood siblings; the Gou Chen Zi water parents, which is the world line. For divining ghosts and spirits, the official ghost is used, but this hexagram lacks the official ghost, with the You metal official ghost hidden beneath the third line Chen earth, and combining with the flying god Chen earth (Chen and You combine), the day branch Chen earth also combines with it.

斷曰：午火財爻為用，伏於世爻亥水之下，申日生扶亥水，午火財爻又絕在亥，葉價賤主無疑也。旁人曰：目今現價三錢，不為賤論，如先生之言，必以三錢價為賤論耶？予曰：非也。目下尚早，三錢之價人之慮貴，是年規定價也；今問大例價，必至大市斷之。旁人曰：大市何日貴？何日賤？答曰：交甲子旬亥水值空，惟巳午日好賣；交甲戌旬亥水值旬，午火財爻永不得起，則漸漸賤矣。果驗。

Left卦 interpretation: The fire wife wealth is the useful god, hidden under the world line亥 water; on the day ofGengshen, the metal申 gold goes to generate and support the flying god亥 water, making the flying god stronger; however, the fire's dead place is at亥, and the hidden god is located at the dead place — the price of mulberry leaves is certainly low. Someone else said: The current price is three coins, which is not low, so according to the master's words, should three coins be considered low? I said: No. The current time is still early, the price of three coins is set by people fearing high prices and is the annual regulation price; now the question is about the market's big price, which must be determined when the big market comes out. Someone else asked: On which days is the big market expensive and on which days is it cheap? The answer: When entering the Jiazi ten-day period, the water亥 is in the旬 empty, the flying god becomes empty, the hidden god can be expressed, only on the days of巳 and午 are the goods good to sell; when entering the Jiaxu ten-day period, the water亥 gains strength in the旬, the fire wife wealth can no longer rise, and the price gradually goes down. Later, it indeed came true.

斷曰：凡卜鬼神以官爻為用，今官鬼伏於辰爻之下，與飛神作合，又得日辰合之。予想伏合乃藏匿之象，酉金是正氣之神，第三爻為房室，即斷曰：汝家房中藏有神像作崇。彼曰：仙哉！果有觀音軸藏於廚中，後送至寺內，病癒。七月庚辰日亦得此卦，予亦如前斷。彼曰：有銅達摩祖師在匣中，命其送於寺內，其痛亦愈。

The right side of the hexagram interpretation says: When divining about ghosts and spirits, the official ghost is the useful god. In this hexagram, the official ghost, which is酉 metal, is hidden in the third line under辰 earth, and it combines with the flying god, which is also辰 earth. The day branch is also辰 earth, which combines with the official ghost again. I thought: being hidden and then being combined with, is the image of concealment; 酉 metal is a righteous spirit (not a malevolent ghost), and the third line represents the room. Therefore, I concluded: there is a spirit image hidden in your house causing trouble. The person said: it's really accurate! Indeed, there is an image of Guanyin stored in a kitchen cabinet at home, and after it was sent to the temple, the illness was cured. On another occasion, on the seventh month, on a Gengchen day, someone cast this same hexagram again. I interpreted it in the same way, and he said: there is a bronze Da Mo master statue in a box; he sent it to the temple, and his illness was also cured. This case clearly shows how the image of 'being hidden and then combined' is taken: when combined, it is concealed, and when concealed, it is not visible, so it is concluded that the spirit image is hidden.