Fourteenth Question

三刑六害犯之必凶乎？答曰：三刑者，寅申巳三全為刑，子卯兩遇為刑，丑未戌三全為刑，辰午酉亥謂之自刑。夫三刑者，用神休囚，有他爻之克，內有兼犯三刑者，主見凶災；中三刑俱全不動，用神不傷損有生扶，從無有驗。六害屢試無驗，故不錄。

Fourteenth Question: If one commits the Three Punishments and Six Harmful Relationships, does it necessarily lead to misfortune? Answer: First, the method of the Three Punishments: the branches of Yin, Shen, and Si must all be present to form the punishment; the branches of Zi and Mao meeting each other form the punishment; the branches of Chou, Wei, and Xu must all be present to form the punishment; and when the branches of Chen, Wu, You, and Hai each appear, it is called "self-punishment." The principle of application is: only when the useful god itself is weak and confined and is further attacked by other yao, and at the same time commits the Three Punishments, does it indicate misfortune. If the Three Punishments are complete but not activated, and the useful god is not injured and is supported by other elements, it has never been verified. As for the Six Harmful Relationships, I have tested them many times and they have never been verified, so they are not included. This point again reflects Wang's consistent attitude of "taking generation and control as the main focus and divine omens as supplementary."

占事　占侄孫病？｜占事　占夫病？ 卦名　風火家人之離為火｜卦名　離為火之山雷頤 卦宮　巽木　空亡　子丑　缺爻　官｜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 蛇　卯兄　庚｜寅‖雀（世）巳兄　戊｜辰 陳（應）Ｏ　巳孫→未財　申‖龍　未孫　午 雀　Ｘ　未財→酉官‖武　Ｏ　酉財→戌孫 龍　亥父［酉官］‖虎（應）Ｏ　亥官→辰孫 武（世）丑財‖蛇　丑孫 虎　卯兄‖陳　卯父

This is the first two examples of the fourteenth question. On the left, the divination is about the illness of a nephew's son, and the hexagram drawn is Wind and Fire Family, changing to Fire and Fire, belonging to the Xun palace wood, with the ten days' emptiness of Zi and Chou, and the hexagram lacking the official ghost. The divination is done on the Gengshen day and寅month. The six lines from top to bottom are: the snake is卯wood siblings; Gou Chen is巳fire children, which is the response line, and the repeated line moves to produce未earth wealth; Vermilion Bird is未earth wealth, the repeated line moves to produce酉metal official ghost; Azure Dragon is亥water parents, with酉metal official ghost hidden beneath; Black Tortoise is丑earth wealth, which is the world line; White Tiger is卯wood siblings. For the nephew's son, the children are taken as the useful god, which is the fifth line巳fire. It is born by the寅month (with the hidden丙in the寅), and it combines with the申day, so the three characters of寅,申, and巳 exactly form the three punishments. On the right, the divination is about a wife's concern for her husband's illness, and the hexagram drawn is Fire and Fire changing to Mountain and Thunder Yí, belonging to the Li palace fire, with the ten days' emptiness of Zi and Chou. The divination is done on the Wuwu day and辰month. The six lines from top to bottom are: Vermilion Bird is巳fire siblings, which is the world line; Azure Dragon is未earth children; Black Tortoise is酉metal wealth, the repeated line moves to produce戌earth children; White Tiger is亥water official ghost, which is the response line, and the repeated line moves to produce辰earth children (辰is the burial place of water, and it also回头克); Snake is丑earth children; Gou Chen is卯wood parents. For the wife's concern about her husband, the official ghost is taken as the useful god, which is the third line亥water.

斷曰：巳火用神月生日合，可治之症；但不宜月建寅、日建申與巳爻會成三刑，恐危。後果死於寅日寅時。｜斷曰：亥水夫星為用，戌土生扶，酉金動來生，但不宜化入墓，又回頭化月建克，又是午日，午酉酉自刑俱全，此病立凶危。果本日午時死。

The left hexagram interpretation states: The fire element, which is the useful god, is supported by the寅 month and combines with the申 day, thus originally a treatable condition; however, the寅 of the month builder, the申 of the day builder, and the巳 in the hexagram form the three punishments, which may be dangerous. Later, he indeed died on the寅 day and寅 hour, when the three punishments were complete. The right hexagram interpretation states: The亥 water is the husband star, that is, the useful god; the戌 earth above transforms into the酉 metal, which in turn generates the亥 water, originally indicating a path of life energy. Unfortunately, the亥 water transforms into the辰 earth, which is the storage of water, indicating the transformation into the tomb; this辰 earth is also the month builder, thus turning back to overcome it. Moreover, the day is午, and the hexagram contains午 (self-punishment) and酉,酉 (self-punishment), with all self-punishments present. The illness immediately becomes dangerous, and indeed he died at the午 hour that day. Both hexagrams indicate misfortune due to the useful god already being injured and further compounded by the three punishments, which matches the previous explanation of the boundary.

占事　占妾近病？｜占事　占一冬生意？ 卦名　巽為風之火天大有｜卦名　山火賁之風火家人 卦宮　巽木　空亡　辰巳　缺爻｜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（世）卯兄　戊｜亥‖武　寅官　庚｜戌 龍　Ｏ　巳孫→未財　戌‖虎　Ｘ　子財→巳父　子 武　Ｘ　未財→酉官‖蛇（應）戌兄 虎（應）酉官‖陳　亥財［申孫］ 蛇　亥父‖雀　丑兄［午父］ 陳　Ｘ　丑財→子父‖龍（世）卯官

This is the third and fourth hexagrams of the fourteenth question. The left hexagram: Divination about a servant woman's recent illness, obtained the hexagram Xun (Wind) changing to Da You (Hexagram 14, Heaven over Fire), belonging to the Xun palace (wood), with the empty days of Chen and Si; divination was done on the fifth day of the fifth month, the month of Xu. The six lines from top to bottom: Zhu Que (Vermilion Bird) with卯 wood siblings, which is the world line; Qiong Long (Azure Dragon) with巳 fire children, the second line moves and changes into Wei earth wife's wealth; Xuan Wu (Black Tortoise) with Wei earth wife's wealth, the third line moves and changes into You metal official ghost; Bai Hu (White Tiger) with You metal official ghost, which is the response line; Tan Sha (Green Snake) with Hai water parents; Gou Chen (Earthly Official) with Chou earth wife's wealth, the fifth line moves and changes into Zi water parents. Divination for the servant woman takes wife's wealth as the main line, which is the fourth line, Wei earth. The hexagram contains the characters Chou, Xu, and Wei, which form a trine. The right hexagram: Divination about business this winter, obtained the hexagram Bi (Luxurious) changing to Jia Ren (Family), belonging to the Gen palace (earth), with the empty days of Chen and Si, the hexagram lacks children and parents; divination was done on the day of Geng Xu, the month of Zi. The six lines from top to bottom: Xuan Wu (Black Tortoise) with寅 wood official ghost; Bai Hu (White Tiger) with Zi water wife's wealth, the second line moves and changes into Si fire parents; Tan Sha (Green Snake) with Xu earth siblings, which is the response line; Gou Chen (Earthly Official) with Hai water wife's wealth, with hidden午 fire children underneath; Zhu Que (Vermilion Bird) with Chou earth siblings, with hidden午 fire parents underneath; Qiong Long (Azure Dragon) with卯 wood official ghost, which is the world line. The world line,卯 wood, receives the support of the month of Zi (the month builder) and is also supported by the day of Hai water.

斷曰：未土財爻為用神，不宜化，化金官鬼不宜；巳火原神值旬空、月破，巳火又入墓庫於日辰，又丑戌未三刑見全，無吉兆，即日防之。果卒本日未時。｜斷曰：卯木持世，月建合之，日辰生之，今冬必獲厚利。彼曰：子尊與子爻刑世，有何吉耶？答曰：凡看卦，世用推尊，生克最重，今刑中帶生，謂之貪生忌刑。後一冬果獲大利。

Left Hexagram Interpretation: The earth element of the sixth position, representing wealth, is the useful god and should not normally be activated, yet it transforms into the metal element of the酉 (you) position, representing official ghost (a major inauspicious transformation). The original god, which is the fire element of the巳 (si) position, is both in the旬空 (decade void) and suffers from the month's destruction in the戌 (xu) month. Moreover, the巳 (si) element is buried in the亥 (hai) day (fire is extinguished in亥). In addition, the three punishments involving丑 (chou),戌 (xu), and未 (wei) are all present, and there is no auspicious sign. One should be on high alert that day. Later, the person indeed passed away at the hour of未 (wei). Right Hexagram Interpretation: The wood element of the卯 (mao) position is both supported by the子 (zi) month's month builder and nourished by the water of the亥 (hai) day. Therefore, there will be great profit this winter. The person asked: The子 (zi) and卯 (mao) are naturally in conflict, and the子 (zi) month is punishing my world line. How can there be good fortune? I answered: When interpreting a hexagram, the world line and the useful god are most important, and generation and overcoming are the most crucial. In this case, the punishment involves generation (water nourishing wood), which is called 'greed for generation, fear of punishment' — when there is generation, the punishment is overlooked. Later, indeed, there was great profit during the winter. This question and answer clearly show that the three punishments should not be viewed in isolation from generation and overcoming.

獨靜，獨發，如何應驗？答曰：五爻俱動，惟一爻安靜，謂之獨靜；五爻安靜，惟一爻發動，謂之獨發。若卦中六爻有一爻明動，有一爻遇日辰沖者，非雲獨發也；倘六爻安靜，內有一爻日沖動者，亦云獨發也。然獨靜獨發，不過觀事之成敗遲速，至於吉凶當推用神；如舍用神而決事者，迂且謬也。

The fifteenth question: How do "solo stillness" and "solo movement" manifest? Answer: When all five lines are moving and only one line is still, it is called "solo stillness"; when all five lines are still and only one line is activated, it is called "solo movement." If there is already one line clearly moving in the hexagram and another line is stirred up by the day branch, then it cannot be considered "solo movement." Conversely, if all six lines are originally still and one line is stirred up by the day branch and moves covertly, it is still considered "solo movement." However, "solo stillness" and "solo movement" can only be used to determine the success or failure and the speed or slowness of an affair. As for fortune or misfortune, one must refer to the useful god. If one ignores the useful god and relies solely on "solo movement" to judge matters, it is both backward and absurd.

占事　占自去尋父回？｜占事　占自去尋父回？ 卦名　火天大有之離為火｜卦名　澤火革之水火既濟 卦宮　乾金　空亡　寅卯　缺爻｜卦宮　坎水　空亡　寅卯　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 龍（應）巳官　丙｜午‖龍　未官　丙｜午 武　未父　午‖武　酉父　午 虎　酉兄‖虎（世）Ｏ　亥兄→申父 蛇（世）辰父‖蛇　亥兄［午財］ 陳　Ｏ　寅財→丑父‖陳　丑官 雀　子孫‖雀（應）卯孫

This is the first and second examples of the fifteenth question, both concerning the same matter divined in succession. The left hexagram: the person went to search for his father and asked if he could find him. He cast the hexagram Da You (Fire in Heaven) changing to Li (Fire) which belongs to the Qian palace metal, with the旬空 (empty period) on寅 and卯. Divined on Bingwu day and Wu month. The six lines from top to bottom: Qinglong (Azure Dragon)巳 fire official ghost, which is the response line; Xuanwu (Black Tortoise)未 earth parents; Baihu (White Tiger)酉 metal siblings; Tengshe (Serpent)辰 earth parents, which is the world line; Gouchen (Earthly Dog)寅 wood wife wealth, with the second line moving and changing to丑 earth parents; Zhuque (Vermilion Bird)子 water children. All five lines are still, except the second line寅 wood, which alone moves. The寅 wood directly overcomes the world line's辰 earth parents. The right hexagram: the same person cast another hexagram to confirm the decision. He cast the hexagram Ge (Lake Fire) changing to Ji Ji (Water Fire) which belongs to the Kan palace water, with the旬空 (empty period) on寅 and卯, and the wife wealth is missing. Divined on Bingwu day and Wu month. The six lines from top to bottom: Qinglong (Azure Dragon)未 earth official ghost; Xuanwu (Black Tortoise)酉 metal parents; Baihu (White Tiger)亥 water siblings, which is the world line, with the second line moving and changing to申 metal parents; Tengshe (Serpent)亥 water siblings, with the午 fire wife wealth hidden beneath; Gouchen (Earthly Dog)丑 earth official ghost; Zhuque (Vermilion Bird)卯 wood children, which is the response line. The world line moves and changes to申 metal parents, which comes back to support the world line.

一友人知易，同問其父，執此卦對予曰：寅木一爻獨發，正月得見否？予曰：非也。卦中父爻持世，被寅木剋制，自身不能動，父亦不見也。欲身動見父，必待沖剋寅木之年月也。命彼再占一卦合決之，何得革之既濟卦。｜斷曰：此卦正合前卦。前卦應沖開寅木者，申也；此卦世化申金回頭生，亦應申也。果於申年八月尋父回家。應於申年者，前卦沖去忌神，後卦化出申金父母用神生世也。

A friend who understood the Yi Jing came with his father to ask about his whereabouts. He showed me this hexagram and asked, "The yao of the寅 wood is alone and prominent. Can we see him in the first lunar month?" I replied, "No." In this hexagram, the parents' yao is holding the world line and is being restrained by the寅 wood, so even the self cannot move. Naturally, the father cannot be seen. If one wants to go and see the father, one must wait until the year that clashes with the寅 wood. So I asked him to cast another hexagram for confirmation. He got the hexagram Ge changing into Ji Ji. The interpretation of the right hexagram says: This hexagram exactly matches the previous one. The previous hexagram needed to break through the寅 wood, and the only way was with the申. In this hexagram, the world line of the亥 water moves and changes into the申 metal, which then supports the world line. This also indicates the year of申. Later, the father was indeed found in the eighth lunar month of the year of申 and returned home. Why does it apply to the year of申? In the previous hexagram, the申 clashes with the忌神寅 wood. In the later hexagram, the申 generates the parents' useful god to support the world line. Both hexagrams point to the same character, the year of申. This also shows that when something is unclear, one can cast another hexagram for reference, but the two hexagrams must confirm each other.

占事　占子嗣｜占事　占雨久傷麥可否？ 卦名　地雷復｜卦名　天火同人之澤火革 卦宮　坤土　空亡　午未　缺爻　父｜卦宮　離火　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 蛇　酉孫　辛｜申‖龍（應）Ｏ　戌孫→未孫　甲｜午 陳　亥財　卯‖武　申財　申 雀（應）丑兄‖虎　午兄 龍　辰兄‖蛇（世）亥官 武　寅官［巳父］‖陳　丑孫 虎（世）子財‖雀　卯父

This is the third and fourth divination questions of the fifteenth. The left hexagram is about offspring, and the hexagram drawn is Fu (Hexagram 24), belonging to the Earthly Palace of Earth, with the empty periods of午 and 未, and the parents line missing in the hexagram. The divination was done on the day of Xinmao and in the month of Shen. The six lines from top to bottom are: the snake (Tengshe)酉 gold line representing children; the Gou Chen亥 water line representing wealth; the Vermilion Bird丑 earth line representing siblings, which is the response line; the Azure Dragon辰 earth line representing siblings; the Black Tortoise寅 wood line representing official ghosts, with the hidden巳 fire line representing parents beneath; and the White Tiger子 water line representing wealth, which is the world line. All six lines are still, except the top line酉 gold line representing children, which is stirred by the卯 day and is considered a covert movement, which is also a unique movement. The right hexagram is about whether prolonged rain will damage the wheat. The hexagram drawn is Tong Ren (Hexagram 13) changing to Ge (Hexagram 49), belonging to the Fire Palace of Fire, with the empty periods of午 and 未. The divination was done on the day of Jiashen and in the month of Wu. The six lines from top to bottom are: the Azure Dragon戌 earth line representing children, which is the response line, and the repeated line is activated, changing to the未 earth line representing children (戌 changing to 未 is a transformation of the retreating god); the Black Tortoise申 gold line representing wealth; the White Tiger午 fire line representing siblings; the snake亥 water line representing official ghosts, which is the world line; the Gou Chen丑 earth line representing children; and the Vermilion Bird卯 wood line representing parents. All five lines are still, except the top line戌 earth line representing children, which is a unique movement.

來占人曰：我有一子因亂失散，今無子，特問將來有子否？斷曰：子水持世，月建作子孫生世，有子之兆；第六爻酉金子孫暗動生世，亦云獨發，在外卦動，所失之子必來之象。問曰：何時得見？予曰：明歲甲辰年與酉金相合，定得意而歸。後果驗。此用神獨發沖而逄合之年也。

The left trigram interpretation: The person came to consult and said that he originally had a son who became separated during the chaos, and now he has no son, so he specially came to ask if he will have a son in the future. I interpreted that the world line is the water trigram, and the month builder of the monkey month is the son trigram coming to the world line, which is a sign of having a son; the top line of the metal trigram, which is the son, is stirred by the day branch and moves covertly, which also indicates a unique development, and since it moves in the outer trigram, which represents the distant, it is the image of a son who has been separated and is about to return. He asked when he would see his son again. I said: In the year of Jiachen, the year of the dragon, the dragon and the酉 (metal) will be in harmony, and the son will certainly return with satisfaction. Later, it indeed came true. This is a case where the useful god, which was uniquely active and stirred, meets a harmonious year, so it should be in the year of the dragon.

一友執此卦問？予曰：戌土子孫一爻獨發，後日丙戌日定該天晴，如何還雨？答曰：爾愛憂麥水傷神，以子孫發動克去世上之鬼，叫爾勿憂，非應晴也，決不傷損。但戌土化退，不能克盡憂心，故天還雨，必待卯日合之則大晴耳。果驗。

On the right side of the hexagram, a friend came with this hexagram to ask: The earth element of the戌 (Bingxu) is theChildren (children) and is the only one that is active. According to the later heaven, on the day ofBingxu (Bingxu), it should clear up, but it is still raining. I answered: You are worried about the long rain damaging the wheat, so the hexagram shows theChildren (children) being active to overcome the official ghost (官鬼), which represents your worries and doubts. This is telling you not to worry — it is not about the weather clearing up, the wheat will not be damaged. However, the戌 (Bingxu) moving and transforming into the retreating god (未), does not completely remove your worry, so the weather remains as before. You must wait until the卯 day, which forms a conjunction with戌, for the weather to clear up. Later, it indeed came true. This example clearly shows the principle of 'when only one line is active, focus on the success or failure and the speed of the matter; for good or bad outcomes, still refer to the useful god (用神).'

占事　占開煤窟何時見煤？｜占事　占女病？ 卦名　風火家人之風雷益。｜卦名　火水未濟之水山蹇 卦宮　巽木　空亡　辰巳　缺爻｜卦宮　離火　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 武　卯兄　甲｜申‖蛇（應）Ｏ　巳兄→子官　庚｜寅 虎（應）巳孫　午‖陳　Ｘ　未孫→戌孫　戌 蛇　未財‖雀　Ｏ　酉財→申財 陳　Ｏ　亥父→辰財［酉官］‖龍（世）Ｘ　午兄→申財［亥官］ 雀（世）丑財‖武　Ｏ　辰孫→午兄 龍　卯兄‖虎　寅父→辰孫

This is the fifth and sixth hexagrams of the fifteenth question. The left hexagram: asking about when coal will be seen from opening a coal mine, and the result is Jia Ren changing to Yi, belonging to the Xun palace wood, with the empty days of Chen and Si; the divination is done on the Jiashen day and the Wu month. The six lines from top to bottom: Xuanwu,卯 wood brothers; Baihu,巳 fire children, which is the response line; Tengshe,未 earth wealth; Gouchen,亥 water parents, with the second line moving and transforming into Chen earth wealth, with the hidden Yu metal official ghost underneath; Zhuque,丑 earth wealth, which is the world line; Qinglong,卯 wood brothers. All five lines are still, only the third line,亥 water, is active, transforming into Chen earth wealth. In the context of mining, wealth represents the desired object. The right hexagram: asking about a daughter's illness, and the result is Wei Ji changing to Jian, belonging to the Li palace fire, with the empty days of Yin and Mao; the divination is done on the Gengyin day and the Xu month. The six lines from top to bottom: Tengshe,巳 fire brothers, which is the response line, with the second line moving and transforming into Zi water official ghost; Gouchen,未 earth children, with the second line moving and transforming into Xu earth children (the transformation is an advancing god); Zhuque,酉 metal wealth, with the second line moving and transforming into Shen metal wealth; Qinglong,午 fire brothers, which is the world line, with the second line moving and transforming into Shen metal wealth, with the hidden Hai water official ghost underneath; Xuanwu,辰 earth children, with the second line moving and transforming into Wu fire brothers (a case of mutual generation); Baihu,寅 wood parents, transforming into Chen earth children. All five lines are active, only one line is still, which is the case of 'solo stillness'.

斷曰：以辰土財爻為用，此卦亥水獨發化出，明示辰月建可見。果至次年清明後始得見煤，此應獨發化出之用神也。｜此卦獨靜，若不看用神斷，寅日生耶？寅日死耶？卦中土為用神，巳午火動來生之，未土子孫化進神，辰土子孫化回頭相生，卦象既吉也，許之寅日愈。果驗。

Left Hexagram Interpretation: The changed Chen earthWealth is taken as the useful god. This hexagram has only the Hai water line alone active, which changes into Chen earth, clearly indicating that coal will be seen in the Chen month (after Qingming) . Later, indeed, coal was found after the second Qingming. This is an example of the "useful god arising from the sole active line." Right Hexagram Interpretation: This hexagram is alone quiet. If we do not consider the useful god and only rely on the "sole quietness" to interpret, would the寅 day be favorable or not? By looking at the useful god, it becomes clear: for a divination about a daughter, theChildren is taken as the useful god. The earth line in the hexagram is the useful god; the responding line Si fire and the world line Wu fire both become active to generate earth; the fifth line Wei earthChildren also changes into an advancing god; the second line Chen earthChildren also changes into Wu fire to generate back to itself. Since the hexagram is entirely favorable, it is allowed that she will recover on the寅 day. Later, this indeed came true.

占事　占父遠出何日回？ 卦名　天山遁之雷澤歸妹 卦宮　乾金　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　Ｏ　戌父→戌父　甲｜寅 虎（應）Ｏ　申兄→申兄　辰 蛇　午官 陳　Ｏ　申兄→丑 雀（世）Ｘ　午官→卯［寅財］ 龍　Ｘ　辰父→巳［子孫］

This is the last hexagram of the fifteenth question. The divination concerns the day when the father will return from a distant journey. The hexagram cast is Heaven over Mountain, Dùn, changing to Thunder over Lake, Gui Mei, belonging to the乾 palace with metal attributes. The ten-day cycle is empty for寅 and卯. The hexagram lacks the lines of children and wealth. The divination was performed on the day of Jiayin and in the month of Chen. The six lines from top to bottom are: the Black Tortoise戌 earth parents, the second line moves again and changes to戌 earth (hidden chant); the White Tiger申 metal siblings, which is the response line, moves again and changes to申 metal (hidden chant); the Vermilion Bird午 fire official ghost; the Gou Chen申 metal siblings, which moves again and changes to丑; the Azure Dragon午 fire official ghost, which is the world line, moves and changes to卯, with寅 wood wealth underneath; the Azure Dragon辰 earth parents, which moves and changes to巳, with子 water children underneath. The outer trigram has two lines in hidden chant, and all five lines are moving except the fourth line午 fire, which is quiet. This is a case of solitary stillness.

斷曰：外卦伏吟，在外有憂愁之象。彼曰：無害否？答曰：內卦辰土父母化巳火回頭之生，世爻午火化卯木助火生之，並無有害。第四爻午火獨靜，五月必歸也。後三四月乃父在湖廣生理，不料省城兵亂，五月方歸。

The interpretation states: The outer trigram is in a state ofHidden Chant, indicating the person has worries and troubles outside. The person asks: Is there any harm? I reply: The inner trigram has the earth element, parents, which moves and transforms into the fire element,巳 fire, which comes back to generate the earth element (fire generates earth). The world line,午 fire, also transforms into卯 wood to assist fire in generating earth. The parents, as the useful god, receive continuous generation, and there is no harm. The fourth line,午 fire, is alone and still. Stillness indicates the main factor, so it is predicted that he will return in May (the month of午). Later, in the third or fourth month, his father was doing business in Huguang. Unexpectedly, there was a military disturbance in the provincial capital, and he did not return until May. This hexagram uses the alone and still line to determine the return date, and uses the generation and control of the useful god to determine safety and danger, which conforms to the principle of the question "When a line is alone and still, only look at the speed; for good or bad, still refer to the useful god."

卦得盡靜盡發者，何以斷之？答曰：六爻安靜，無日生沖爻者，謂之盡靜；六爻俱動者，謂之盡發。盡靜者，如春花之含蕊，人未見其妙，一沾雨露油然漸放矣；盡發者，如百卉齊放，人多見其豔，一遇狂風翻然而損矣。故靜者恆美，動者常咎。

Question 16: What should be done when all six lines are still or all six lines are moving? Answer: When all six lines are still and there is no day branch to generate or clash with them, it is called "complete stillness." When all six lines are moving together, it is called "complete movement." Complete stillness is like a flower in spring still in a bud; people cannot see its beauty at first, but once it receives rain and dew, it naturally opens gradually. Complete movement is like all flowers blooming at once, which everyone sees as beautiful, but once a strong wind comes, they wither in an instant. Therefore, stillness often preserves beauty, while movement often brings misfortune. These two sentences are the most essential analogy in the entire book regarding stillness and movement.

占事　占僕近出何日回？｜占事　占今日有人還銀否 卦名　離為火｜卦名　坤為地 卦宮　離火　空亡　申酉　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 蛇（世）巳兄　庚｜午‖陳（世）酉孫　己｜辰 陳　未孫　辰‖雀　亥財　卯 雀　酉財‖龍　丑兄 龍（應）亥官‖武（應）卯官 武　丑孫‖虎　巳父 虎　卯父‖蛇　未兄

This is the first two examples of the sixteenth question, both being still (no movement) hexagrams. On the left, the hexagram is "Fire over Fire" (Li), belonging to the Fire palace, with the旬空 (empty period) of Shen and You; the divination was done on Gengchen day, in the Wu month. The six lines from top to bottom are: the Snake (Tengshe) is the fourth line, a fire element, representing the brothers; the Gou Chen (Hook Earth) is the earth element, representing the children; the Vermilion Bird (Zhuqiao) is the metal element, representing the wealth; the Azure Dragon (Qinglong) is the water element, representing the official ghost, which is the responding line; the Black Tortoise (Xuanshu) is the earth element, representing the children; and the White Tiger (Bahutu) is the wood element, representing the parents. All six lines are still. The person being divined used the wealth line as the basis, which is the fourth line, the metal element, the You metal, which is in the旬空 (empty period) and is combined by the Chen day (Chen and You combine). On the right, the hexagram is "Earth over Earth" (Kun), belonging to the Earth palace, with the旬空 (empty period) of Shen and You; the divination was done on Jiichen day, in the Mao month. The six lines from top to bottom are: the Gou Chen (Hook Earth) is the metal element, representing the children, which is the world line; the Vermilion Bird (Zhuqiao) is the water element, representing the wealth; the Azure Dragon (Qinglong) is the earth element, representing the brothers; the Black Tortoise (Xuanshu) is the wood element, representing the official ghost, which is the responding line; the White Tiger (Bahutu) is the fire element, representing the parents; and the Snake (Tengshe) is the earth element, representing the brothers. All six lines are still. The world line is the metal element, the You metal, representing the children, which is the original god that generates wealth, and it is in the旬空 (empty period) and is conflicting with the Mao day (Mao and You conflict).

斷曰：酉金財爻為用，月剋日生，似可相敵，並無生克。一卦之中惟酉金用神旬空，日合神機現，此但旬空必待出旬合空，雖有半用，須待沖發，交小暑即辛卯日，則酉金值旬不空，沖發必至。果於辛卯日來家，此應靜而逄沖也，合而逄沖也，空待出空也。｜斷曰：酉金原神旬空，日辰沖之，靜而逄沖日起；況日辰臨應沖世，彼必今日巳時送還也。果於本日巳時還一半，乙酉日巳時還清。一半者，靜空沖起有一半之力，而財亦有一半者也；乙酉日還清者，巳經沖起之神值日，是財之原神填足矣，子孫喜悅之星還清，豈不喜耶。

Left Hexagram Interpretation: The酉 metalWealth is the useful god. It is being overcome by午 month and supported by辰 day, with both forces being equal, resulting in neither support nor overcoming. In the entire hexagram, only this酉 metal useful god falls into the旬空, and the day branch also comes to combine with it—this is where the divine mechanism is revealed. Falling into the旬空 and being combined with, it must wait until the旬 is over and this combination is broken by a冲. Although currently half of it is usable, it still needs to be activated. On the day of Xiaoshu, which isXinmao day, the酉 metal has left its旬 and is no longer empty, and卯 comes to冲 it, so the person will definitely come. Later, indeed, on thatXinmao day, he returned home—the hexagram simultaneously fulfilled three aspects: 'stillness met by冲', 'combination met by冲', and 'waiting for the旬 to end and the emptiness to be removed'. Right Hexagram Interpretation: The worldly酉 metal is the original god ofWealth, which is already in the旬空, but is further冲 by己辰 day... (the original text says 'day branch冲 it')—'stillness met by冲' thus activates; moreover, the day branch is on the responding line and comes to冲 the world, so the person will definitely come to return the money today at巳 hour. Later, indeed, on that day at巳 hour, he returned half of it, and onYiyou day at巳 hour, he returned the rest. Why only half? Because the still line falling into the旬空 was冲 up, only having half the strength, so the wealth obtained was only half. Why was it fully returned onYiyou day? The original god that was冲 up reached that day, which was the day, filling its position completely; Children is a joyful god, once the debt is fully repaid, how delightful it is.

占事　占父在亂軍中吉凶？｜占事　占造墳葬 卦名　山天大畜之澤地萃｜卦名　乾為天之坤為地 卦宮　艮土　空亡　戌亥　缺爻｜卦宮　乾金　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 虎　Ｏ　寅官→未兄　壬｜子‖武（世）Ｏ　戌父→酉兄　甲｜辰 蛇（應）Ｘ　子財→酉孫　申‖虎　Ｏ　申兄→亥孫　子 陳　Ｘ　戌兄→亥財‖蛇　Ｏ　午官→丑父 雀　Ｏ　辰兄→卯官［申孫］‖陳（應）Ｏ　辰父→卯財 龍（世）Ｏ　寅官→巳父［午父］‖雀　Ｏ　寅財→巳官 武　Ｏ　子財→未兄‖龍　Ｏ　子孫→未父

This is the third and fourth hexagrams of the sixteenth question, both being hexagrams of complete manifestation. The left hexagram: asking about the father being trapped among the chaotic troops, the hexagram drawn is Da Xu (Hexagram 26) changing to Cui (Hexagram 45), belonging to the Gen (Mountain) palace of earth, with the empty days of戌 and亥; the divination was done on the Renshen day in the Zi month. The six lines from top to bottom: White Tiger (animal)寅 wood official ghost, the original line is active and changes to the earth of the sixth month, the brother; the snake子 water wife's wealth, is the response line, the original line is active and changes to the metal of酉, the child; Gou Chen戌 earth brother, the original line is active and changes to the water of亥, wife's wealth; Zhu Que辰 earth brother, the original line is active and changes to the wood of卯, official ghost, with the hidden metal of申, the child; Qing Long寅 wood official ghost, is the world line, the original line is active and changes to the fire of巳, parents, with the hidden fire of午, parents; Xuan Wu子 water wife's wealth, the original line is active and changes to the earth of未, brother. All six lines are active. The right hexagram: asking about building a tomb for burial, the hexagram drawn is Qian (Hexagram 1) changing to Kun (Hexagram 2), belonging to the Qian (Heaven) palace of metal, with the empty days of戌 and亥; the divination was done on the Jiachen day in the Zi month. The six lines from top to bottom: Xuan Wu戌 earth parents, is the world line, the original line is active and changes to the metal of酉, brother; Bai Hu申 metal brother, the original line is active and changes to the water of亥, child; Tan She午 fire official ghost, the original line is active and changes to the earth of丑, parents; Gou Chen辰 earth parents, is the response line, the original line is active and changes to the wood of卯, wife's wealth; Zhu Que寅 wood wife's wealth, the original line is active and changes to the fire of巳, official ghost; Qing Long子 water child, the original line is active and changes to the earth of未, parents. All six lines are active.

斷曰：六爻亂動，正亂軍中象也。以化出巳火父母爻為用，月建克之，寅水原神又被日辰沖剋，恐性命難保。後果死無蹤跡。｜斷曰：此卦甚凶，不必細月。彼曰：墳已造成，即候開金井落葬，卜之以決吾房安否？予力止之不可葬。正論之間，有人來報曰：穴場下俱是斗大石塊，不計其數，且並無點穴之處。後有地師看之，則曰：背水走石，不成墳地也。

Left hexagram interpretation: All six lines are in disorder, indicating the chaotic situation of a confused and leaderless army. When divining about the father, the parents are taken as the useful god. Since the primary hexagram has no parents, the parents are taken from the transformed line of the world line, which is the fire snake. However, the water of the month builder in the month of Zi is directly attacking this fire snake, and the original god, which generates the fire snake, is the wood tiger, which is attacked by the metal monkey on the day of Renshen (the monkey is attacking the tiger). Both the useful god and the original god are injured, so it is feared that the life is in danger. Later, the father indeed died, and even the body's whereabouts were unknown. Right hexagram interpretation: This hexagram is extremely ominous, and there is no need to discuss the month in detail. The person said: The tomb has already been built, and only the digging of the pit for burial remains. I divined a hexagram to decide whether this family will be safe. I strongly advised against it, saying that this place is not suitable for burial. As we were talking, someone ran in to report that the bottom of the tomb site was filled with large stones, countless in number, and there was no place at all where a grave could be dug. Later, the geomancer was invited to look at it, and he also said: This is a place where water is behind and stone is in front, and it is impossible to build a tomb. These two hexagrams both fully revealed the truth, just like a hundred flowers meeting the wind, which wither in an instant.

問用神多現，何以取之？答曰：予屢驗者，舍其閒爻而用持世，舍其無權而用月日，舍其不破而用月破，舍用不空而用旬空。天機盡洩於有病之間，斷法總在醫藥之處。

Question 17: When the useful god appears several times in the hexagram, which one should be chosen? Answer: This is my tested and verified four-line mnemonic—when two lines appear together, discard the idle one and take the one that holds the world; discard the one without power or vitality and take the one adjacent to the month builder and day branch; discard the one that is intact and undamaged and take the one exactly at the month breaker; discard the one that does not fall into the empty period and take the one that exactly falls into the ten-day empty period. Why specifically choose the 'diseased' one? Because the heavenly secrets are fully revealed in the diseased place, and the method of judgment always falls on the place where the remedy is applied—the diseased line is precisely the key point of the matter. It is when this line recovers that the matter will be fulfilled.

占事　占求財｜占事　占升遷 卦名　風天小畜｜卦名　地水師之風水渙 卦宮　巽木　空亡　辰巳　缺爻｜卦宮　坎水　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 蛇　卯兄　庚｜未‖武（應）ｘ　酉父→卯孫　甲｜未｜卯 陳　巳孫　子‖虎　ｘ　亥兄→巳財　午 雀（應）未財‖蛇　丑官 龍　辰財‖陳（世）午財 武　寅兄‖雀　辰官 虎（世）子父‖龍　寅孫

This is the first two examples of the seventeenth question, both involving the appearance of the useful god twice. On the left, the divination is about seeking wealth, and the hexagram drawn is Xiao Xu (Hexagram 9), belonging to the Xun palace wood, with the旬空 (ten-day void) on the days of Chen and Si; the divination was performed on the day of Gengzi, in the month of Wei. The six lines, from top to bottom, are: the snake (Tengshe) representing卯 wood siblings; the Gou Chen representing巳 fire children; the Vermilion Bird (Zhuqiao) representing未 earth wealth, which is the response line; the Azure Dragon (Qinglong) representing辰 earth wealth; the Black Tortoise (Xuanshu) representing寅 wood siblings; and the White Tiger (Baihu) representing子 water parents, which is the world line. Wealth appears twice: 未 earth is exactly the month builder and is not void, while 辰 earth falls exactly into the旬空. On the right, the divination is about promotion, and the hexagram drawn is Shi (Hexagram 7) changing into Huan (Hexagram 59), belonging to the Kan palace water, with the旬空 on the days of Chen and Si; the divination was performed on the day of Jia Wei, in the month of Wu, and the year of Mao. The six lines, from top to bottom, are: the Black Tortoise (Xuanshu) representing酉 gold parents, which is the response line, with the intersecting line moving and transforming into卯 wood children; the White Tiger (Baihu) representing亥 water siblings, with the intersecting line moving and transforming into巳 fire wealth; the snake (Tengshe) representing丑 earth official ghost; the Gou Chen representing午 fire wealth, which is the world line; the Zhuqiao representing辰 earth official ghost; and the Qinglong representing寅 wood children. Official ghosts appear twice: 丑 earth is in the旬空, while 辰 earth is broken.

斷曰：未土月建為用，何以辰土旬空？空必關因，竟斷月內辰日得財。果甲辰日巳時到手，此應出空之日時也，正是舍其不空而用空者。｜斷曰：日辰世爻極旺，得月建作官星合世，但卦中兩現官星，一空一破，將何爻為用？斷其何年升遷？則曰：今歲是卯年，來歲辰年，必以辰爻為用，來歲可升。但外卦反吟，常得驗者去而復來。果辰年調至河南，五月又調回，十月開督府，一年兩調一升，皆應實空之年也。

The left trigram interpretation: The earth element wife wealth is at the month builder position, which should be used as the main element. However, the卦 contains another earth element wife wealth at the chen position, which is in the旬空. The reason for being in the旬空 is the key point, so it is directly concluded that wealth will be obtained on the chen day of this month. Later, it indeed happened on the jiachen day at the巳 hour, exactly matching the day and hour when the旬空 was filled. This is an example of 'abandoning the non-empty and using the empty'. The right trigram interpretation: The world line is a strong fire element, and it is also supported by the month builder as an official star to harmonize with the world line. However, there are two official ghosts in the卦, one is in the旬空 and the other is broken. Which one should be used? Which year will there be promotion? I said: This year is the卯 year, next year is the辰 year, so the辰 element should be used. Promotion will happen next year. However, the outer trigram is reverse chant, according to my repeated experience, it indicates going away and coming back. Later, it indeed happened that in the辰 year, he was transferred to Henan, then transferred back in May, and promoted in October to the governor's office. All the two transfers and one promotion within a year were all in the year when the empty element was filled.

占事　占子何日脫難？｜占事　占子久出何日沖 卦名　雷地豫之雷澤歸妹｜卦名　火風鼎之水天需 卦宮　震木　空亡　寅卯　缺爻　父｜卦宮　離火　空亡　申酉　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 龍　戌財　丙｜亥‖龍　Ｏ　巳兄→子官　丁｜未 武　申官　午‖武（應）Ｘ　未孫→戌孫　丑 虎（應）午孫‖虎　Ｏ　酉財→申財 蛇　卯兄‖蛇　酉財 陳　Ｘ　巳孫→卯兄‖陳（世）亥官 雀（世）Ｘ　未財→巳孫［子父］‖雀　Ｘ　丑孫→子官［卯父］

This is the third and fourth divination of the seventeenth question. The left hexagram: Divining the day the son will be released from danger, the hexagram drawn is "Thunder over Earth, Yu" changing to "Lake in the Marsh, Gui Mei," belonging to the Zhen palace wood, with the empty days of寅 and卯, and the hexagram lacking the parents. Divination was done on the day of Bing Hai, in the午 month. The six lines from top to bottom: Qinglong戌 earth wife wealth; Xuanwu申 metal official ghost; Baihu午 fire children, which is the response line; Tengshe卯 wood siblings; Gouchen巳 fire children, with the line moving and transforming into卯 wood siblings; Zhuque未 earth wife wealth, which is the world line, with the line moving and transforming into巳 fire children, with the hidden child water parents underneath. The children appear three times: the午 fire is quiet and is on the day's establishment, while the two巳 fire lines are exactly at the month's break on the午 month. The right hexagram: Divining the day the son will return from a long absence, the hexagram drawn is "Fire over Wind, Ding" changing to "Water over Heaven, Xu," belonging to the Li palace fire, with the empty days of申 and酉, and the hexagram lacking the parents. Divination was done on the day of Ding Wei, in the丑 month. The six lines from top to bottom: Qinglong巳 fire siblings, with the line moving and transforming into子 water official ghost (a reverse control); Xuanwu未 earth children, which is the response line, with the line moving and transforming into戌 earth children (transforming into advancing god); Baihu酉 metal wife wealth, with the line moving and transforming into申 metal wife wealth (transforming into retreating god); Tengshe酉 metal wife wealth; Gouchen亥 water official ghost, which is the world line; Zhuque丑 earth children, with the line moving and transforming into子 water official ghost (子 and丑 combine), with the hidden卯 wood parents underneath.

斷曰：卦中子孫三現，俱生世爻，是必脫厄。日建午爻安靜，兩爻巳火月破，許巳年脫厄。果驗。此乃用神多現，而用占破，驗在有病之爻，實破之年也。｜斷曰：未土化進神，日辰沖之；丑土化子合住；巳火原神動來生用，化子水回頭剋制，目下不來。問曰：終須來否？答曰：午年必來。果於午年午月到家。應午年月者，未土動而日沖，是動沖逄合之年月也；丑土化子水合，合要沖開之年月也；巳火化子水之克，沖去子水是去煞留恩也。

The left hexagram interpretation: In the hexagram, the children's line appears three times and all support the world line. Therefore, the son is sure to be freed from difficulties. Among them, the fire at noon is quiet and directly meets the day branch, while the other two fires at巳 are affected by the month breaker of the午 month. According to the answer to the seventeenth question, we should choose the one in poor condition rather than the one in good condition. Therefore, it is expected that the difficulty will be resolved in the year of巳. Later, it indeed came true. This is exactly the case of "when the useful god appears multiple times, we choose the one affected by the month breaker, and the fulfillment occurs in the year when the sick line is filled." The right hexagram interpretation: The children's line of the earth at未 moves and transforms into an advancing god, but it is attacked by the day branch of Dingwei; the first line of the earth at丑 moves and transforms into water at子, which is combined with the子 by the丑 and子 combination; the top line of fire at巳, which is originally the origin god supporting the useful god, moves and transforms into water at子, which turns around to attack it. All three lines are in poor condition, so the return cannot happen now. The person asked whether he would eventually return. The answer was: it must happen in the year of午. Later, it indeed happened in the year and month of午. Why does it happen in the year and month of午? The earth at未 moves and is attacked by the day branch, which is the year and month of "movement meeting conflict, waiting for combination" (the午 and未 are combined). The earth at丑 is combined with the子, so it needs to be attacked to be separated (the午 attacks the子). The fire at巳 is attacked by the water at子, so removing the water at子 is "eliminating the evil and keeping the kindness" — all three points point to the character 午.

占事　占子嗣多否？ 卦名　坤為地之艮為山 卦宮　坤土　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 虎（世）Ｘ　酉孫→寅官　癸｜寅 蛇　亥財　亥 陳　丑兄 雀（應）Ｘ　卯官→申孫 龍　巳父 武　未兄

This is the last hexagram of the seventeenth question. The subject is about whether there will be many children. The hexagram drawn is Kun (Earth) changing to Gen (Mountain), belonging to the Kun palace of earth, with the empty periods of Zi and Chou. The divination was done on the Guihai day and寅month. The six lines from top to bottom are: White Tiger酉metal Children, which is the world line, and the line moves to produce寅wood Official Ghost; Turtle Snake亥water Wealth; Gou Chen丑earth Siblings; Zhu Que卯wood Official Ghost, which is the response line, and the line moves to produce申metal Children; Qing Long巳fire Parents; Xuan Wu未earth Siblings. The focus is on the world and response lines: the world line is Children moving to produce Official Ghost, while the response line is Official Ghost moving to produce Children—Children and Official Ghost are changing into each other, entangled and unclear.

彼曰：婢妾三四，在三五年內生者生，死者死，子有九人，並無一存，今後可有子否？予曰：予化鬼，鬼化子，不但狠藉，後難許有。果無子，以侄為嗣。

A person said: There are three or four servant women in the family. In the past few years, some have given birth and some have died, and there have been nine sons in total, but none have survived. Will there be a son in the future? I said: In the hexagram, the descendants change into official ghosts, and the official ghosts change back into descendants. Descendants represent destiny, while official ghosts represent misfortune. The two constantly transform and generate each other, not only causing chaos at present, but also making it difficult to have a son in the future. Later on, indeed, there were no sons, and a nephew was adopted to continue the family line. This hexagram does not focus on the timing of the response, but rather on the image of "descendants transforming into ghosts and ghosts transforming into descendants." This is one way of interpreting the situation when the useful god appears multiple times.

卜者誠心，斷者精明，亦有不驗何也？問曰：此其故在卜者，而不在斷者。乃卜者之意雖誠，或密事難以語人，或問此而意別有在也，所以有不驗之故耳！

Eighteenth Question: If the person seeking divination is sincere and the one interpreting the divination is skillful, why does it still sometimes fail to come true? Answer: The reason lies in the person seeking divination, not in the one interpreting. Although the seeker's intention may be sincere, there are some matters that are private and difficult to share with others; or perhaps they verbally ask about one thing but mentally think about another. Since the useful god is selected based on what they verbally ask, it naturally does not match what they truly desire in their heart, so the divination does not come true. The following six examples of divination are all meant to illustrate this point — they also correspond with the passage in the beginning titled "The Rules of Divination" which states "Those who seek divination without sincerity and without proper conduct."

占事　占伯父何日回？｜占事　占流年 卦名　火山旅之艮為山｜卦名　艮為山 卦宮　離火　空亡　寅卯　缺爻　官、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 雀　巳兄　戊｜酉‖虎（世）寅官　癸｜未 龍　未孫　申‖蛇　子財　亥 武（應）Ｏ　酉財→戌孫‖陳　戌兄 虎　申財［亥官］‖雀（應）申孫 蛇　午兄‖龍　午父 陳（世）辰孫［卯父］‖武　辰兄

This is the first two examples of the eighteenth question. On the left, the first hexagram is "Fire Mountain Travel" changing to "Mountain Earth Stillness," belonging to the Fire hexagram group, with the empty days of寅 and卯, and the hexagram lacking the Official Ghost and Parents. The divination was done on the day of Wushen and the month of You. The six lines from top to bottom are: Vermilion Bird with巳 fire Siblings; Azure Dragon with未 earth Children; Black Tortoise with酉 metal Wealth, which is the Response Line, and the repeated line moves out to戌 earth Children; White Tiger with申 metal Wealth, with亥 water Official Ghost hidden beneath; Snake with午 fire Siblings; Gou Chen with辰 earth Children, which is the World Line, with卯 wood Parents hidden beneath. For the question about the uncle, the Parents are taken as the main element. The Parents are not present in the hexagram, but are hidden beneath the World Line of辰 earth, and also fall on the empty day. On the right, the second hexagram is "Mountain Earth Stillness," belonging to the Earth hexagram group, with the empty days of子 and丑. The divination was done on the day of Guihai and the month of Wei. The six lines from top to bottom are: White Tiger with寅 wood Official Ghost, which is the World Line; Snake with子 water Wealth; Gou Chen with戌 earth Siblings; Vermilion Bird with申 metal Children, which is the Response Line; Azure Dragon with午 fire Parents; Black Tortoise with辰 earth Siblings. The Official Ghost holds the World Line, and is supported and combined by the day of亥 (寅亥 combination).

此卦若問伯父平安否，卯木父伏而不現，被日月動爻克沖，必不安矣。今問其回來否，不以此斷，只可斷用神伏藏受克不來。後果不來，在外平安。｜此人往軍前求名，說占流年，卻不知占名以官爻為官，最喜官星持世；占流年以鬼爻為貴，不宜官鬼持世。予以此理告之。彼曰：煩人援例不知成否？答曰：此卦官星持世，日辰生合，業已成矣。果壬申日文書實收到，應申日，寅木官星日辰合之，合住逄沖之日也。若以流年斷之，則謬矣。

The left hexagram's interpretation: If this hexagram is asked about whether the uncle is safe or not, then the卯wood parents are hidden and not visible, and are further attacked and opposed by the day branch, month builder, and moving line, so it is certain that he is not safe. However, now the question is about whether he will return or not, so we cannot interpret it in the same way. Instead, we can only interpret that the useful god is hidden and attacked, so he will not return. Later, indeed, he did not return, and he was safe outside. The same hexagram, asked in different ways, leads to different interpretations — this is exactly the key point of this question. The right hexagram's interpretation: This person is going to the front to seek a position, he said he was divining the current year, but he did not know that when divining official rank, the official ghost is the official star, and it is most favorable when it holds the world line; while when divining the current year, the official ghost is considered a calamity, and it is most unfavorable when it holds the world line. I explained this principle to him. He then said: I have asked someone to help me get an official position through donation, but I don't know if it will succeed. I said: In this hexagram, the official star holds the world line, and the day branch also supports and combines with it, so the matter has already succeeded. Later, indeed, on the Renshen day, the official document was received. Why did it happen on the day of Shen? The寅wood official star was held by the亥day, and needed to be opened by a conflict, and Shen directly conflicts with寅. If we had interpreted it according to the current year, we would have made a big mistake.

占事　占家宅｜占事　占現任吉凶 卦名　水風井之水澤節｜卦名　水天需 卦宮　震木　空亡　申酉　缺爻　孫、兄｜卦宮　坤土　空亡　午未　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　子父　乙｜申‖武　子財　乙｜子 虎（世）戌財　亥‖虎　戌兄　酉 蛇　申官［午孫］‖蛇（世）申孫 陳　Ｏ　酉官→丑財‖陳　辰兄 雀（應）亥父［寅兄］‖雀　寅官［巳父］ 龍　Ｘ　丑財→巳孫‖龍（應）子財

This is the third and fourth hexagrams of the eighteenth question. The left hexagram is for divining the family residence, and it was cast as Water Wind Jing changing to Water Marsh Jie, belonging to the Zhen palace wood, with the旬空 (empty period) on Shen and You, and the hexagram lacking children and siblings. It was cast on the Yihai day and Shen month. The six lines from top to bottom are: Xuanwu (Black Tortoise) Zi water parents; Baihu (White Tiger) Xu earth wealth, which is the world line; Tengshe (Green Snake) Shen metal official ghost, with the hidden line of Wu fire children below; Gouchen (Hook Star) You metal official ghost, with the second line moving and changing to Chou earth wealth; Zhuque (Vermilion Bird) Hai water parents, which is the response line, with the hidden line of Yin wood siblings below; Qinglong (Azure Dragon) Chou earth wealth, with the intersecting line moving and changing to Si fire children. The response line is exactly on the second line of the residence position, and the inner trigram Si You Chou forms a complete official ghost group. The right hexagram is for divining the fortune of the current official position, and it was cast as Water Heaven Xu, belonging to the Kun palace earth, with the旬空 (empty period) on Wu and Wei, and the hexagram lacking parents. It was cast on the Yizi day and You month. The six lines from top to bottom are: Xuanwu Zi water wealth; Baihu Xu earth siblings; Tengshe Shen metal children, which is the world line; Gouchen Chen earth siblings; Zhuque Yin wood official ghost, with the hidden line of Si fire parents below; Qinglong Zi water wealth, which is the response line. The children are holding the world line.

斷曰：應居二爻，謂之應飛入宅，臨父母必有外姓長者同居。彼曰：從無外人同舍。內卦合成官鬼局，宅內不安。彼曰：無駁雜。木兄弟月破，伏藏官局克之，或昆仲家不利。彼曰：吾占家宅，即日郄同家業師鄉試，實為功名耳。予曰：功名與家宅天遠地隔矣。功名以官鬼為官星，宅以鬼為禍害。既占功名，兄之功名不許，令業師必高中也。彼曰：何以知之？答曰：官局生應不來生世，謂之出現無情與我，無干也。後果至八月酉金實空之月，此人自己頭場貼出，其業師中式第四名。

Left Trigram Interpretation: The response line falls on the second line's dwelling position, which is called "response flying into the dwelling." It also coincides with the parents line, indicating that there must be an elder from another family living together. He said: There have never been outsiders living with me. I said: The inner trigram of Si, You, and Chou forms an official ghost trinity, causing unrest in the dwelling. He said: There is not much disorder. I then said: The寅wood siblings are exactly at the month of Shen, which is the month breaker, so they are hidden and not visible, and are further suppressed by the official trinity, so there is likely misfortune among the siblings. He then said: I called for a dwelling divination, but in fact these days I have been accompanying my private tutor to take the imperial examination, asking about his academic success. I said: Academic success and dwelling are as different as heaven and earth. When divining about academic success, the official ghost is considered an auspicious deity; when divining about the dwelling, the official ghost is considered a harmful deity. Since you are asking about academic success: your own academic success is not destined, but your private tutor will certainly pass. He asked why? I said: In the divination, the official ghost trinity is going to generate the response line, but not the world line, which is called "appearing without concern for me," having nothing to do with me. Later, in the month of You when the metal is solidified, he himself failed in the first round, while his private tutor ranked fourth.

此公因本省有缺出，不便明問，故以現任吉凶而問。殊不知問缺之否，子孫持世不得；占現任之吉凶，子孫持世則休官。予即問明，彼曰：占升遷。答曰：此缺不得。果不得，在任甚安。若以占現任之吉凶，休官必矣，豈非天淵耶。

The right trigram question: This official was asking about the fortune of his current position because there was a vacancy in his province, and he was unable to mention it directly, so he used the name "current position fortune." He did not know that if he had asked whether he could be appointed to the vacancy, the presence of theChildren (children) in the trigram would indicate that he could not be appointed (since子孙 is in conflict with the official position, and the position would not be obtained). If he had asked about the fortune of his current position, the presence ofChildren in the trigram would indicate that he would be dismissed from office. Both situations are unfavorable, but the difference between them is as great as heaven and earth. I then asked him clearly, and he admitted that he was actually asking about promotion. I then answered that he could not be appointed to the vacancy. Later, indeed, he was not appointed, but his current position remained stable. If we had truly interpreted according to the question "current position fortune," we would have predicted that he would certainly be dismissed from office—would that not be a difference as great as heaven and earth?

占事　因母病占問流年｜占事　占功名 卦名　風雷益之天雷無妄｜卦名　澤地萃之天山遁 卦宮　巽木　空亡　辰巳　缺爻　官｜卦宮　兌金　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 蛇（應）卯兄　辛｜午‖蛇　Ｘ　未父→戌父　辛｜午 陳　巳孫　未‖陳（應）酉兄　酉 雀　Ｘ　未財→午孫‖雀　亥孫 龍（世）辰財［酉官］‖龍　Ｘ　卯財→申兄 武　寅兄‖武（世）巳官 虎　子父‖虎　未父

This is the last two examples of the eighteenth question. On the left, the hexagram was cast for a mother's illness, with the year being divined by using a name. The hexagram obtained was Wind and Thunder Yi changing to Heaven and Thunder Wu Wang, belonging to the Xun palace wood, with the旬空 on the days of Chen and Si, and the hexagram lacking the Official Ghost. The divination was done on the day of Xin Wu and the month of Wei. The six lines, from top to bottom: the Snake is a卯 wood sibling, which is the Response Line; Gou Chen is a巳 fire child; Vermilion Bird is a未 earth wealth, with the line moving and changing into午 fire child (with the combination of午 and未); Azure Dragon is a辰 earth wealth, which is the World Line, with a hidden酉 metal Official Ghost underneath; Black Tortoise is a寅 wood sibling; White Tiger is a子 water parent. The World Line is a辰 earth wealth, which is strong and holds the position, but it is exactly in the旬空. On the right, the hexagram was cast for the pursuit of official rank. The hexagram obtained was Marsh and Earth Cui changing to Heaven and Mountain Duan, belonging to the Dui palace metal, with the旬空 on the days of Zi and Chou. The divination was done on the day of Xin Wu and the month of You. The six lines, from top to bottom: the Snake is a未 earth parent, with the line moving and changing into戌 earth parent (with the transformation of the line from未 to戌 indicating an advancing god); Gou Chen is a酉 metal sibling, which is the Response Line; Vermilion Bird is a亥 water child; Azure Dragon is a卯 wood wealth, with the line moving and changing into申 metal sibling (which is a回头克); Black Tortoise is a巳 fire Official Ghost, which is the World Line; White Tiger is a未 earth parent. The Official Ghost holds the position, and the parent is also transforming into an advancing god.

如買賣人問流年，自然以財爻為重。此卦旺財持世，未土之財化午火生合，即許之發財。彼曰：我因老母有病，故來占之，欲占何日安否？予曰：占求財流年與母病是天淵矣。曰：令堂甲辰日危也。果驗，此應世爻辰土出旬之日也。

The left hexagram's interpretation: If a person involved in business comes to ask about the current year, we naturally focus on the wealth line. In this hexagram, the prosperous and strong wealth line is holding the world line, and the fifth line, which is also wealth, is moving and transforming into the fire of午 to generate and harmonise with it. I then predicted that he would become wealthy. He then said: I came to ask because my mother is ill, and I want to know which day will be safe. I said: Asking about wealth in the current year and asking about your mother's illness are as different as heaven and earth! So I changed the focus to the parents line for the mother's illness (in this hexagram, the parents are in the first line, which is the water of子, while the world line, which is辰 soil, is directly attacking the water). I predicted that his mother would be in danger on the day ofJiachen. Later, it indeed came true—the danger occurred exactly on the day when the world line of辰 soil was filled in during the cycle.

此子十二歲，乃父命其占名，若以官爻持世，夏火當令，未土父母為文章化進神，功名有望。豈知父叫子占，此心發於乃父之誠也，是父占子也。卯木不能克父，則父動克子也，此子未戌日而亡。

On the right side of the hexagram: The person who cast the hexagram was a twelve-year-old child, whom his father asked to divinate about his official rank. If we look only at the hexagram itself: The official ghost holds the world position, which is appropriate for summer when fire is strong and in command; the earthy soil parent (representing articles) also transforms into an advancing god — this indicates great hope for official rank. But the truth is that the hexagram was cast by the father, who sincerely asked on behalf of his son. Therefore, in reality, it is the father who is asking about his son, so the useful god should be taken as the children. This changes the interpretation: Although the卯wood wealth moves, it cannot overcome the parents, and the parents' element moves and actually overcomes the children — this child died between the days of未and戌. The entire book concludes with this hexagram, conveying a deep meaning: The hexagram is dead, but human hearts are alive; if one does not clearly determine who is asking and about whom, even with thorough knowledge of hexagram principles, one cannot accurately interpret a hexagram. This is exactly the conclusion of the "Eighteen Questions" and the entire book of The Orthodox Tradition of Divination.