The current dynasty

君恕則臣忠，共濟明良之會；國泰則民樂，當推禍褔之原。雖天地尚知其始終，況國家豈能無興廢。本宮旺相，周文王創八百年之基；大象休囚，秦始遺二世主之禍。

The sovereign's virtue leads to the ministers' loyalty; when ruler and minister are in harmony, it is a grand gathering of a wise ruler and virtuous minister working together. When the state is stable, the people are happy. The diviner should investigate the root of these blessings and misfortunes. Heaven and earth have a beginning and an end; how much more so for a single dynasty? How could there not be rise and fall. When divining the state's fortune, one should first examine whether the hexagram belongs to a flourishing or declining state, for this is the fundamental aspect. If the hexagram is in its prime and timely, it is like King Wen of Zhou establishing a foundation that lasted eight hundred years. If the hexagram is weak and confined, it is like the First Emperor of Qin, whose dynasty lasted only two generations before its downfall. Therefore, when divining the fate of a dynasty, one should first determine whether the hexagram belongs to a flourishing or declining state, for this is the key to the whole situation.

九五逄陽，當遇仁明之主；四爻值褔，必多忠義之臣。歲克衰宮，玉樹後花欲謝；年傷弱世，鼎湖龍去不多時。

The fifth line represents the ruler's position; if it is a yang line and receives the right energy, the current ruler must be a benevolent and wise leader. The fourth line represents the position of a minister; if it is occupied by the children (fortune and virtue), there will be many loyal and righteous ministers in the court. If the year's line harms the declining world line, it is like the story of the Yellow Emperor ascending to heaven on a dragon in the Dinghu Lake, indicating that the ruler's reign will be short.

世臨沐浴合妻財，夫差戀西施而亡國。應帶咸池，臨九五武后，革唐命而為周。游魂遇空虞，舜南巡不返；歸魂帶煞，始皇返國亡身。

The world line falls in the position of bathing (a losing place) and combines with the wealth line, indicating a preoccupation with women, like King Fuchai of Wu who loved Xi Shi and eventually caused the fall of his kingdom. The response line carries the salty pool (a love-related ill omen) and is located on the fifth line, which represents the ruler, indicating a female ruler taking power, like Wu Zetian who changed the Tang dynasty to the Zhou dynasty. If the hexagram is a wandering soul hexagram and encounters emptiness, it signifies a journey that does not return, like Yu Shun's southern tour where he died at Cangwu. If the hexagram is a returning soul hexagram and accompanies凶煞 (evil omens), it indicates death on the way back, like Qin Shi Huang's eastern tour where he died at Shaoqiu.

子發逄空，張子房起歸山之計；將星被害，嶽武穆抱籲天之冤。應旺生合世爻，聖主得椒房之助；日辰拱扶子位，東宮攝天子之權。

TheChildren Line moves but falls into vacancy, indicating the image of a virtuous person retreating, like Zhang Liang who, after achieving success, pretended to practice asceticism and retired to the mountains. The general star (representing military authority) is attacked and harmed, indicating the image of a capable general suffering injustice, like Yue Fei who cried out in sorrow. The response line is prosperous and strong and comes to generate and harmonize with the world line, indicating the image of internal support being effective, like a wise emperor receiving assistance from the empress. The day branch supports theChildren Line (which represents the crown prince in state affairs), indicating the image of the eastern palace prince taking over the imperial authority.

世克褔爻，唐玄宗有殺兒之事；子傷君位，隋楊廣有弒父之心。一卦無孫，宋仁宗有絕嗣之嘆；四爻克子，秦扶蘇中趙相之謀。

The World Line goes on to harm the Children Line, which is an image of a father harming his son, like Emperor Xuanzong of Tang killing three sons in one day. The Children Line instead harms the Fifth Line, which is the position of the ruler, indicating a son opposing his father, like Yang Guang, the son of Emperor Yang of Sui, having murderous intentions toward his father. If the Children Line is not present in the entire hexagram, it signifies no heir, like Emperor Renzong of Song lamenting in his later years that he had no successor. The Fourth Line (the position of a minister) harms the Children Line, which is an image of a powerful minister endangering the heir, like Prince Fusu of the Qin dynasty falling victim to the cunning schemes of the chancellor Zhao Gao.

身值動官，唐太宗禁庭蹀血；世安空第，周泰伯讓國逃荊。凶神生合世爻，玄宗信林甫之佞；君位克四位，商紂害比干之忠。

The hexagram body is exactly in the position of the official ghost, indicating an image of internal conflict within the court, like the Xuanwu Gate Incident of Emperor Taizong of Tang, where blood flowed through the palace. The world line remains calmly seated in an empty position, showing a voluntary retreat, like Tai Bo, the eldest son of King Zhou of the Western Zhou dynasty, who gave up the throne to his younger brother and fled to Jingman. A malevolent spirit line that generates and harmonizes with the world line seems to show affection, but in reality, it represents flattery by villains, like Emperor Xuanzong of Tang who trusted Li Linfu's sycophancy. The fifth line, representing the ruler, instead goes on to overcome the fourth line, representing a minister, indicating the ruler killing a loyal minister, like King Zhou of Shang who killed Bi Gan.

離宮變入坎宮，帶凶煞而征欽亡身於漠北；乾象化為巽象，有吉曜而孫鼎足於東南。國之治亂興衰，卦理推詳剖決。

The hexagram shifts from the Li trigram to the Kan trigram. Li is located in the south, and Kan is in the north, symbolizing movement from south to north; if accompanied by malevolent influences, it resembles the two Song emperors, Huizong and Qinzong, being captured and dying in the northern deserts. When the hexagram changes from the Qian trigram to the Xun trigram, Qian is in the northwest and Xun is in the southeast, indicating movement from northwest to southeast; if further accompanied by auspicious stars, it resembles Sun Quan's control over the eastern river region, forming a tripartite balance with Wu and Shu. The rise and fall of a nation is analyzed layer by layer according to these hexagram principles.

醫不執方，兵不執法，堪推大將之才；能謀事在人，成事在天，當究先師之妙。論觀世應之旺衰，以決兩家之勝負；將褔官之強弱，以分彼我之軍師。

A good doctor does not stick to a single prescription, and a capable general does not rely on a fixed strategy. Only those who can adapt and respond flexibly are considered true generals. As for the saying that plans are made by people and success or failure depends on heaven, this must be investigated through the divination methods passed down by our predecessors. The main principles for divining military affairs are two: first, to determine the strength and weakness of the World Line and the Response Line, thereby judging the superiority and inferiority of our side and the enemy; second, to examine the strength of the Children Line and the Official Ghost Line, thus distinguishing our forces from the enemy's. The Children Line represents our soldiers, who can overcome the Official Ghost Line, while the Official Ghost Line represents the enemy's troops.

父母隆興，立望旌旗之蔽野；金爻空動，側聽金鼓之喧天。財為糧草之本根，兄乃伏兵之形勢。

The parents' hexagram is strong, and the parents represent banners and flags. This indicates a large army with banners blocking the sky and filling the fields. The metal hexagram is empty and active, and metal represents bells, drums, and weapons. This suggests the sound of bells and drums can be heard from the side. The wife's wealth hexagram is the foundation of supplies, so when wealth is strong, military provisions are sufficient; when wealth is empty, supplies are exhausted. The siblings hexagram represents hidden troops, and siblings indicate ambushes and sudden attacks. When active, there are hidden troops.

水興扶世濟川，宜乎輕舟；火旺生身，立寨必安於勝地。父母興持，主帥無寬仁之德；子孫得地，將軍有決勝之才。

A water line that is strong and flourishing comes to support the world line, indicating the image of crossing water with an army, which is favorable for using a light boat to advance quickly. A fire line that is strong and flourishing comes to generate the world line, indicating the image of brightness in the south, and setting up camp and building fortifications must certainly be done on a favorable high ground. If the parents line is strong and holds the world line, the parents represent toil and worry, and the commander will have less of a kind and benevolent virtue. If the children line is timely and in a favorable position, the children represent the divine force for defeating enemies, and the general will possess the ability to win decisive victories.

水爻克子，子孫強，韓信背水陣而陳餘被斬；陰象持兄，兄克應，李訴雪夜走而元濟遭擒。世持子而被傷，可效周亞夫堅壁不戰；應臨官而遭克，當如司馬懿固壘休兵。

The water line although coming to overcome the children line, the children line itself is strong and vigorous, indicating a situation of fighting against the water and winning, just like Han Xin arranging his troops along the riverbank at Jing Xing and defeating the general Chen Yu. A yao of yin sits on the brothers line, and the brothers line goes on to overcome the response line, indicating a secret attack, just like Li Sun's surprise attack on Cai Zhou in the snow at night and capturing Wu Yuanji. The world line sits on the children line but is overcome and injured, indicating that although our army is strong, we temporarily suffer a setback, and we should follow Zhou Yafu's strategy of fortifying the camp and not engaging in battle. The response line is accompanied by the official ghost and is overcome, indicating that the enemy although having troops is themselves trapped, and our side should follow Sima Yi's strategy of digging deep trenches and high walls, and holding back the troops.

世持衰褔得生，扶王剪以六十萬眾而勝楚；卦有眾官臨旺子，謝玄以八千之兵而破秦。兩子合世扶身，李郭同心而興唐室；二褔刑沖化絕，鍾鄧互隙而喪身家。

The world line is sitting on a weak child line but is supported by another line that comes to nourish it, indicating that although the army is tired, the reinforcements are sufficient. This is like Wang Jian requesting sixty thousand troops to defeat Chu. When there are many official ghost lines (enemy troops are extremely strong) but only one child line is strong, it indicates a situation where the few overcome the many. This is like Xie Xuan defeating Fu Jian with only eight thousand elite soldiers. When both child lines come to harmonize with the world line and support the hexagram body, it indicates that the two generals are in harmony. This is like Li Guangbi and Guo Ziyi working together to revive the Tang dynasty. When both child lines conflict with each other and transform into a dead end, it indicates that the two generals are not in harmony. This is like Zhong Hui and Deng Ai suspecting each other, eventually leading to both their families' destruction.

子化死爻，曹操喪師於赤壁；世逄絕地，項羽自刎於烏江。水鬼克身，秦符堅有淝水之敗；火官持世，漢高袓遇平城之圍。

The Children line moves and transforms into a dead position, indicating that my army first achieves victory but then suffers defeat, just like Cao Cao's large army was defeated at the Battle of Red Cliffs. The World Line falls into a terminal position, with no way out, similar to Xiang Yu's desperate situation where he committed suicide by the Wu River. A water-type Official Ghost attacks the World Line, representing defeat due to water, like Fu Jiān's defeat at the Battle of Feishui. A fire-type Official Ghost occupies the World position, indicating being trapped in a dry and fiery place, like Han Gaozu being surrounded by the Xiongnu at Baideng.

應官克世，卦無財，張睢陽食盡而斃；世鬼興隆生合應，呂文煥無援而降。外宮子動化絕爻，李陵所以降虜；內卦褔興生合應，樂毅所以背燕。

The official ghost on the response line is attacking the world line, and the hexagram lacks the wealth line (grain and supplies), indicating a situation where the outer part is surrounded and the inner part has no food, like Zhang Xun defending Suzheng City, who died from running out of supplies. If the official ghost on the world line is strong and instead generates and harmonises with the response line, it signifies a general turning to the enemy's side, like Lu Wenhuan defending Xiangyang without support and surrendering to the Yuan. If the wealth line in the outer trigram becomes active but turns into a dead end, it represents an isolated force advancing deep into enemy territory until exhausted, like Li Ling's defeat and surrender to the Xiongnu. If the wealth line in the inner trigram is strong but instead generates and harmonises with the response line, it indicates a major general from the country turning to the enemy's side, like Yue Yi leaving Yan to join Zhao.

鬼雖衰而遇生扶，勿追窮寇；子雖旺而遭剋制，毋急興師。鬼爻暗動傷身，吳王被專諸之剌；子化官爻克世，張飛遭范張之誅。要識用兵之利器，五行卦象並推詳。仁智勇嚴之將，豈越於此，攻守克敵用兵當於時。

The enemy's official ghost may be weak, but if another line supports and strengthens it, do not pursue relentlessly—weakness with support can lead to retaliation and harm. Our children, though strong, are being restrained by another line, so do not rush to attack. If the official ghost is quiet but is stirred up by the day branch (dark movement) to harm the world line, it signifies a secret attack, like King Wu Wang Liao being killed by Zuan Zhu. If the children move and transform into the official ghost to attack the world line, it indicates betrayal by one's own subordinates, like Zhang Fei being killed by his subordinates Fan Jiang and Zhang Da. To recognize the key weapons in warfare, combine the five phases with the hexagram analysis. The four virtues of a general—benevolence, wisdom, courage, and strictness—are also reflected in these principles; in warfare, the key is to seize the right moment for attack and defense.

乾坤定位，人物肇生，感陰陽而化育，分智愚於濁清。既富且壽，世爻旺相更無傷；非夭即貧，身位休囚兼受制。

Heaven and earth have already been established, and only then did humans and all things begin to arise. By receiving the energies of yin and yang, they were transformed into forms. Since the energies received vary between clear and turbid, people differ in intelligence and foolishness. When predicting the fortune and misfortune of a person's life, the first rule is: those who are wealthy and long-lived will have their world line prosperous and strong without being harmed or restrained in the hexagram; whereas those who die young or are poor and lowly will have their hexagram body (or world position) weak and confined, and also subject to restraint. The world line represents oneself, while the hexagram body is the main aspect of the matter being divined. The strength and weakness of these two determine the overall situation of a person's life.

世居空地，終身作事無成；身入墓爻，到老求謀多戾。卦宮衰弱根基淺，爻象豐隆命運高。

If the World Line falls into an empty and barren place, a person will find it difficult to achieve success in their lifetime, as they have no solid foundation. If the Hexagram Body falls into the Storage position, then in old age, their plans and aspirations are likely to be thwarted (the term "戾" means being thwarted or contrary). If the hexagram's associated palace is weak and lacks vitality, this indicates a shallow family background. However, if the six lines of the hexagram are rich and flourishing, then the person's fate is high. When examining the body and life, we should first consider two aspects: one is the hexagram's palace (indicating family background), and the other is the line images (indicating personal circumstances).

若問成家，嫌六沖之為卦；要知創業，喜六合之成爻。動身自旺，獨力撐持；衰世遇扶，因人創立。

If asking about whether one can establish a family and career, the most unfavorable is to draw a hexagram of six clashes—six clashes indicate dispersion, making it hard to gather together. To know whether one can start a business, the most favorable is a hexagram with six harmonies—six harmonies indicate cohesion, and things can be accomplished. If the hexagram body is activated and the self is prosperous and strong, this person is relying on their own strength to support themselves. If the world line is weak but is supported by other lines, this person is able to stand on their own with the help of others. Though both are about establishing a family and career, one is self-reliant from scratch, and the other depends on others, and this distinction is reflected in this aspect.

日時合助，一生偏得小人心；歲月克沖，半世未沾君子德。遇龍子而無氣，總清高亦是寒儒；逢虎妻而旺強，雖鄙俗偏為富客。

When the day branch and hour branch hexagrams come to join and support, this person is able to gain the favor of subordinates and younger generations throughout their life. When the sovereign star and month builder hexagrams come to overcome and clash, this person will not receive the favor of gentlemen for half their life. TheChildren hexagram carries the azure dragon but is weak and lacks vitality; even if the person has a noble character, they will merely be a poor scholar. TheWealth hexagram carries the white tiger and is strong and vigorous; even if the person behaves vulgarly, they will still become a wealthy household. Thus, the six beasts only indicate a person's character and demeanor, while wealth and poverty depend on the strength and vitality of the hexagrams.

父母持身，辛勤勞碌；鬼爻持世，疾病纏綿。遇兄則財莫能聚，見子則身不犯刑。

If the parents' yao is sitting on the hexagram body or the world position, the parents represent toil, indicating that this person will be hardworking all their life without leisure. If the official ghost yao is sitting on the world position, the official ghost represents illness and misfortune, indicating that this person will suffer from continuous illness. If the siblings yao is dominant in the hexagram, siblings act as thieves of wealth, meaning that money will not stay with this person. If the children yao is strong in the hexagram, the children can control the official ghost, meaning that this person will not suffer from legal troubles.

祿薄而遇煞沖，奔走於東西道路；福輕而逢凶制，寄食於南北人家。子死妻空，絕俗離塵之輩；貴臨祿到，出將入相之人。

The wife's wealth (禄) is already weak, and it is further attacked by malevolent stars, so this person has to wander around and make a living on the road. The children's fortune (福) is already slight, and it is further restrained by malevolent lines, so this person can only live by borrowing from people in the north and south, living under others' roofs. The children's line is in a dead position, and the wife's wealth line falls into emptiness, leading to emptiness in both wife and children, indicating someone who leaves home and becomes a recluse. If the nobleman's line is present and the禄神 also arrives, then this is a noble destiny of high officials.

朱雀與福德臨身合應，乃梨園子弟；白虎同父爻持世逢金，則柳市屠人。世加玄武官爻，必然樑上之君子；身帶勾陳父母，定為野外之農夫。

The Vermilion Bird (associated with sound) and the Children (associated with music and entertainment) both appear on the Hexagram Body and combine with the Response Line, indicating that the person is a performer in the opera profession. The White Tiger (associated with killing) and the Parents' Line both occupy the World Line, and the line is of the metal element (metal represents weapons), indicating that the person is a butcher in the marketplace. The World Line combines with the Black Tortoise (associated with theft) and the Official Ghost (associated with thieves), indicating that the person is definitely a thief who steals from above, such as a housebreaker. The Hexagram Body combines with the Gou Chen (associated with land) and the Parents (associated with property), indicating that the person is certainly a farmer working in the fields. To determine a person's occupation through divination, use the Six Beasts paired with the Six Relations, and then combine them with the Five Elements to derive the meaning.

財福司權，榮華有日；官兄秉政，破敗無常。卦卜中年，凶煞幸無挫折；如占晚景，惡星尤怕攻沖。

In the hexagram, if the wealth and children are in power and strong, this person will always have prosperous times. However, if the official ghost and siblings are in power, one brings misfortune and the other causes loss of wealth, leading to uncertain decline of the family business. If the divination is about a middle-aged period, as long as noInauspicious Sha (malevolent stars) come, there will be no obstacles. But if it is about the later years, the greatest fear is the attack and conflict from evil stars — in old age, with weakened energy, one cannot withstand even a single clash or attack.

正內不利，李密髫齡迍邅；支卦有扶，馬援期頤矍鑠。一卦和同，張公藝家門雍睦；六爻同擊，司馬氏骨肉相殘。

The primary hexagram's inner third line is unfavorable, indicating early difficulties, much like Li Mi's childhood hardship and frequent obstacles. However, the resulting hexagram (the secondary hexagram) has supportive elements, indicating strong later years, as seen in Ma Yuan who remained vigorous even at nearly a hundred years old. When all six lines of a hexagram are harmonious and consistent, it represents the Zhang Gongyi family who lived together for nine generations with internal harmony. When the six lines conflict with each other, it symbolizes the turmoil of the Western Jin Dynasty's Eight Princes' Rebellion, where brothers turned against each other.

閔子騫考孚內外，父獲生身；孔仲尼父友家邦，兄同世合。世應相生，漢鮑宣娶桓氏少君為婦；晦貞相剋，唐郭曦招昇平公主為妻。

The inner trigram and outer trigram are in mutual correspondence, with the parents' line generating the world line. The relationship between father and son is sincere and trustworthy, symbolizing the example of Min Ziqian, who was extremely filial to his father. The brothers' line combines with the world line, showing brothers working together with affection extending to the community, representing Confucius' example of harmonious relations between father and elder brother. The world and response lines generate each other, indicating a harmonious marital relationship, like Bao Xuan of the Han dynasty who married Huan Shaogong, and his wife was willing to live in simplicity. The inner trigram (Zhen) and outer trigram (Hui) mutually control each other, indicating marital conflict, like Guo Ai (originally Guo Xi) of the Tang dynasty who married Princess Shengping, resulting in marital discord.

箕踞鼓盆歌，世傷應位；河東獅子吼，應制世爻。世值凶而應克，顧聽雞鳴；身帶吉而子扶，喜聞鶴和。

The World Line is harmed by the Response Line, indicating the husband overcomes the wife, like Zhuangzi who played the flute at his wife's funeral. If the Response Line restrains the World Line, it signifies the wife dominates the husband, like Chen Jichang who feared his wife's scolding. If the World Line is already afflicted, and the Response Line further harms it, then one can only be like the virtuous concubine who warns the king, waking early to labor all day, constrained by others all one's life. If the Hexagram Body is accompanied by auspicious spirits and the Children support it, this is the image of "the crane calls and the young responds," indicating harmony between father and son, and a happy family.

福遇旺而任，王育子皆賢；子化凶而房，杜生兒不肖。伯道無兒，蓋為子臨空位；卜商哭子，皆因父帶刑爻。

The descendants' hexagram is prosperous and strong, and the children born are all virtuous. For example, the sons of the families of Ren and Wang all became accomplished individuals. However, if the descendants' hexagram is activated but transforms into a凶 hexagram, the sons born will be unrighteous. For example, the sons of the two famous ministers of the Tang Dynasty, Fang Xuanliang and Du Ruhui, were not capable. When divining that there are no sons, it is because the descendants' hexagram is exactly in the position of empty and lost. For example, Deng You (also known as Bo Dao) of the Jin Dynasty had no sons throughout his life. When divining the sorrow of losing a son, it is because the parents' hexagram brings punishment (the parents hexagram overpowers the descendants' hexagram and adds punishment). For example, Bo Shang, a disciple of Confucius (Zi Xia), lost his son and wept himself blind.

父如值木，竇君生丹桂五枝芳；鬼或依金，田氏聚紫荊三本茂。兄持金旺，喜著荀氏之八龍；弟依水強，驚睹陸公之雙璧。

If the parents' yao belongs to wood and is strong (wood symbolizes flourishing branches and leaves), it indicates many children, each achieving success, like the five sons of Dou Yujun in the Five Dynasties who all passed the imperial examination at the same time, known as "Five Branches of the Crimson Pine." If the official ghost yao follows the metal yao (metal represents firmness and solidity), it signifies brothers living together without dividing the family, like Tian Zhen's three brothers who could not bear to split up, and the purple persimmon tree in front of their courtyard regrew its branches. If the brothers' yao belongs to metal and is strong, it indicates many virtuous brothers, like the eight sons of Xun Shu in the Eastern Han dynasty, known as the "Eight Dragons." If the brothers' yao is strong due to water, it signifies brothers like Lu Ji and Lu Yun, known as the "Two Jade Plates," which is astonishing.

若也爻逢重疊，須現在以推詳。財動克親於早歲，兄衰喪偶於中年。

If the same Six Relation appears multiple times in a hexagram, it should be analyzed one by one according to its current strength and activity, without being vague. If the Wealth爻 is active and克 the Parents爻, it indicates the loss of both parents at an early age (since Wealth克 Parents, and activity signifies speed). If the Siblings爻 is weak and lacks vitality, as Siblings are the opponent of Wealth, the weakness of Siblings implies the isolation of Wealth, leading to the loss of a spouse in middle age.

化父生身，柴榮拜郭英為父；化孫合世，石勒養季龍為兒。世陰父亦陰，賈似道母非正室；身旺官亦旺，陳仲舉器不凡庸。

When a line moves and transforms to produce the parents' line, which then generates the world line, it indicates recognizing someone else as a father, as seen in the case of Emperor Zhaozong of Later Zhou, Chi Rong, who revered Guo Wei as his father. When a line moves and transforms to produce the children's line, which then harmonizes with the world line, it indicates adopting someone else as a son, as seen in the case of Shi Le of Later Zhao, who adopted Shi Jilong (Shi Hu) as his son. If the world line is a yin line and the parents' line is also a yin line, it indicates that the mother is not the wife of the husband, as seen in the case of Jia Sidao of the Southern Song, who was a庶出 (illegitimate child). If the hexagram body is strong and the official ghost line is also strong, it indicates that the person has extraordinary ability, as seen in the case of Chen Feng (Zhang Ju) of the Eastern Han, who at a young age had the ambition to clear the world of corruption.

化子合財，唐明皇有祿山之子；內兄合應，陳白常有孺之之兄。應帶勾陳兼值福，孟德耀復產於斯時；財臨玄武更逢刑，楊太真重生於今日。

The changing line produces the line of children and forms a harmonious relationship with the wealth line, indicating a private relationship between a son-in-law and the wife. This is similar to Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty taking An Lushan as a foster son, leading to disgrace within the palace. The line of siblings in the inner trigram forms a harmonious relationship with the responding line, indicating the elder brother forming connections with outsiders, like the elder brother of the Chen family becoming close to a young boy. The responding line carries Gou Chen (indicating sincerity and simplicity) and coincides with the line of children, indicating a virtuous wife, similar to Lady Meng Guang (whose courtesy name was De Yao), the wife of Liang Hong, who served her husband with respect, a scenario that can be seen today. The wealth line is occupied by Xuan Wu (indicating licentiousness) and encounters a conflict, indicating an unfaithful wife, similar to Yang Guifei (Taizhen) being reborn in this era.

合多而眾煞爭持，乃許子和之錢樹；官眾而諸凶皆避，如隋煬帝之彩花。白虎刑臨，武后淫而且悍；青龍福到，孟母淑而又慈。

In a hexagram, if there are too many harmonious elements and many evils contend for control, it indicates a woman like a prostitute's money tree, as Tang dynasty's Xu Zihe described. If there are many official ghosts in the hexagram but all theInauspicious Spirit retreat, it signifies a woman with many concubines vying for favor, like the colorful flowers in the garden of Emperor Yang of Sui. If the White Tiger brings punishment to the wealth line, it indicates a woman who is both lustful and fierce, like Wu Zetian. If the Azure Dragon brings descendants to the wealth line, it indicates a virtuous and kind woman, like Meng Mother who moved three times to provide a good education for her son.

逢龍而化敗兄，漢蔡琰聰明而失節；化子而生身世，魯伯姬賢德而無疵。合而遇空，竇二女不辱於盜賊；靜而沖動，卓文君投奔於相如。

The wife's wealth is accompanied by the Azure Dragon (indicating beauty and talent), but it transforms into the Bathing (a weak and declining position) or into Siblings, indicating a woman who is intelligent but loses her virtue, like Cai Yan (the Literary Lady) of the Han dynasty who was captured by the Xiongnu. If the wife's wealth transforms into Children and then supports the World Line, it indicates a virtuous and spotless woman, like Lady Bo Ji of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period who upheld propriety and died in a fire. If the wife's wealth is in harmony with another but falls into emptiness, although it seems dangerous, it ultimately remains safe, like the two daughters of Dou who encountered bandits but were not violated. If the wife's wealth is originally still but is stirred by the Day Branch (covert movement), it indicates a woman who takes the initiative to run away secretly, like Zhuo Wenjun who secretly ran away with Sima Xiangru at night.

福引刑爻發動，衛共姜作誓於柏舟；身遭化鬼克刑，班婕妤感傷乎秋扇。二鬼爭權水父沖，錢玉蓮逢汝權於江滸；六爻競合陰財動，秦弱蘭遇陶谷於郵亭。

Critical: The output must be English prose. Do NOT rewrite the text in Chinese. Do NOT paraphrase it in Chinese. Every sentence you write must be in English. Heavenly Stems: Jia = Jia, Yi = Yi, Bing = Bing, Ding = Ding, Wu = Wu, Ji = Ji, Geng = Geng, Xin = Xin, Ren = Ren, Gui = Gui Earthly Branches: Zi = Zi, Chou = Chou, Yin = Yin, Mao = Mao, Chen = Chen, Si = Si, Wu = Wu, Wei = Wei, Shen = Shen, You = You, Xu = Xu, Hai = Hai Trigrams: Qian = Qian (Heaven), Dui = Dui (Lake), Li = Li (Fire), Zhen = Zhen (Thunder), Xun = Xun (Wind), Kan = Kan (Water), Gen = Gen (Mountain), Kun = Kun (Earth) Glossary: Hexagram Body = The Hexagram Body Parents = Parents Children = Children Wealth = Wealth Official Ghost = Official Ghost

鬼弱而未獲生扶，朱淑貞良人愚蠢；官強而又連龍福，吳孟子夫主賢明。若卜嬰孩之造化，乃將福德為用爻。

Official Ghost (husband star) being weak and without any other yao to generate and support it indicates that the husband is dull and incapable, just like Zhu Shuzhen, a female poet of the Song dynasty, who married an unsuitable man. If the Official Ghost is strong and connected with the Azure Dragon and Children (auspicious deities), it indicates that the husband is virtuous and capable, as in the case of Wu Mengzi, the wife of Lu Zhao Gong, who married a wise ruler. These are examples of divination for an adult's fate. If the subject is an infant, then the Children (Fortune Virtue) yao should be taken as the Useful God — this shift leads us to focus specifically on the fate of children.

隨官入墓，未為有子有孫；助鬼傷身，不免多災多病。胎連官鬼，曾經落地之關；子帶貴人，自有登天之日。遇令星如風搖幹，逢絕地似雨傾花。

The son/daughter line follows the official ghost into the grave, even if it is born, it cannot be considered truly having children — the child will have difficulty growing up. If a line in the hexagram helps the official ghost and harms the son/daughter line, the child is bound to suffer many misfortunes and illnesses. If the son/daughter line is in the fetal position and connected to the official ghost, it indicates the child once went through the difficult birth process. If the son/daughter line is accompanied by the nobleman (tianyi), it will eventually have a time of rising high. If the son/daughter line is attacked by the current star (month builder), it is like a strong wind shaking the trunk of a tree, which is dangerous and easily falls. If it falls into the end position, it is like a rainstorm knocking down the flowers, which will soon wither and fall.

子孫化鬼，孝殤十月入冥途；祿貴臨爻，拜住童年登相位。凶煞未攢震卦，李令伯至九歲而能行；吉神皆聚乾宮，白居易未週年而識字。八純頑劣，晉食我狼子野心；六合聰明，唐李白綿心繡口。

Heavenly Stems: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui Earthly Branches: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai Trigrams: Qian (Heaven), Dui (Lake), Li (Fire), Zhen (Thunder), Xun (Wind), Kan (Water), Gen (Mountain), Kun (Earth) Glossary: Six Harmony = Liù Hé Nobleman = Guì Rén Children = Zǐ Sūn Official Ghost = Guān Guǐ When the Son/Child爻 moves and transforms into the Official/Ghost爻, it indicates the death of an infant, as seen in the case of Emperor Shang of the Han Dynasty, who died at only ten months old and entered the Yellow Spring. If the禄神 (Lucky God) andNobleman (Nobleman) are present on the Son/Child爻, it indicates that the child will attain a high position at a young age, as exemplified by Bai Zhu, who became a minister in his youth during the Yuan Dynasty. IfInauspicious Sha (malevolent stars) gather in the Zhen trigram (Zhen governs the feet), and have not dispersed, it indicates that the child will walk late, as seen in the case of Li Mi (whose courtesy name was Lingbo), who could walk only at the age of nine. If吉神 (auspicious stars) gather in the Qian trigram (Qian governs the head and signifies wisdom), it indicates early intelligence, as exemplified by Bai Juyi, who could recognize characters before he was one year old. The eight pure trigrams (all six lines in the same trigram, pure and unadulterated without transformation or change) indicate a stubborn and unruly nature, as seen in the case of Yang She Yi Wei of the Spring and Autumn Period in the state of Jin, who had the ambition of a wolf. The Six Harmony trigram indicates intelligence and harmony, as exemplified by Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty, who had a brilliant mind and eloquent speech.

陽象陽宮，后稷所以岐嶷；陰卦陰爻，晉惠所以戇騃。龍父扶身，效藏燈於祖瑩；歲君值福，希投筆於班超。官鬼無傷，曹彬取印終封爵；父身有氣，車胤囊螢卒顯貴。

The hexagram is a yang hexagram and the palace also belongs to yang; the children's line receives pure yang energy, indicating that the child is intelligent from a young age, like the first ancestor of the Zhou dynasty, Hou Ji, who had the ambitions of an adult even as a child. If the hexagram is a yin hexagram and the lines are also yin lines, excessive yin energy leads to dullness, like Emperor Huizong of Jin who was mentally impaired. The Azure Dragon line supporting the parents' line to reinforce the hexagram body indicates diligence in study, like Zu Ying of the Northern Wei Dynasty who secretly read by candlelight at night. The line of the current year coinciding with the children's line indicates a grand ambition in childhood, like Ban Chao who gave up his pen to join the military. If the official ghost line is not harmed or restrained, it indicates success in officialdom, like Cao Bin of the Song dynasty who picked up a seal at one year old and later indeed received a noble title. If both the parents' line and the hexagram body have energy, it indicates diligent study leading to high status, like Xue Yin of the Jin dynasty who used fireflies in a bag to read, eventually achieving prominence.

金爻動合，啼則無聲；父母靜沖，兒須缺乳。用旺兒肥終易養，主衰兒弱心難為。身臨父母，莫逃鞠養之辛勤；世遇子孫，終見劬勞之報效。若問榮枯，全在六親之決斷；要知壽夭，必須另卜以推詳。

A gold line moves and combines with the children line (gold represents gathering in and severe cutting), indicating a child who cries but without sound and has weak breath. The parents line is still and is attacked by the day branch (parents represent nursing), indicating the child lacks milk. If the useful god is prosperous and strong, the child will be fat and healthy, and will be easy to raise; if the useful god is weak, the child will be thin and weak, and will be difficult to raise. If the hexagram body is on the parents line, the parents cannot avoid the hardship of raising the child. If the world line meets the children line, eventually the children will repay the parents' hard work. In summary, to ask about the prosperity and decline of a lifetime, it all depends on the generation and overcoming of the six relations; to ask about the length of life, that is another matter, and must be carefully examined by another hexagram. One hexagram cannot be used to ask about two matters, as this has already been mentioned in the previous section "On Whether a Hexagram Is Valid or Not."

男女合婚，契於前定；朱陳締結，分在夙成。然非月老，焉知夫婦於當時；不有宓羲，豈識吉凶於今日。欲諧伉儷，須定陰陽。

Matching men and women was already determined in previous lives; the union of two families, as seen in the Tang dynasty's Zhu and Chen village where generations married within the community, was also predestined. However, without the Red Thread of the God of Matchmaking to connect them, who could have known which pair would be suitable? And without Fuxi drawing the trigrams, how could we today discern good or bad fortune? Therefore, to determine whether a marriage will be harmonious, we must first establish yin and yang accurately. The man should take the Official Ghost and the woman the Wealth; a yang line should be paired with a yin line, and only when their positions are appropriate can they be considered harmonious.

陰陽交錯，難期琴瑟之和鳴；內外互搖，定見家庭之撓括。六合則易而且吉，六沖則難而又凶。

If the yao positions in the hexagram are mixed up (the yang yao is actually yin and vice versa), the couple will find it difficult to have harmony in their relationship. The yao of the inner trigram and the outer trigram move against each other, leading to troubles in both families and a disturbed household. If the hexagram is one of the Six Harmony, the matter will be easy and auspicious; if it is one of the Six Clashes, the matter will be difficult and dangerous. When divining for marriage, first determine the overall situation based on this aspect.

陰而陽，陽而陰，偏利牽絲之舉；世合應，應合世，終成種玉之。欲求庚帖，豈宜應動應空；若論聘儀，安可世蛇世弟。

The proper position for a yin line is a yin line, and the proper position for a yang line is a yang line; each occupies its correct place, which is most favorable for matching through the red thread of marriage. The world line approaches and combines with the response line, and the response line also approaches and combines with the world line; they are mutually affectionate and harmonious, eventually achieving a perfect marital relationship (the story of "planting jade" refers to Yang Bo Yong planting stones and obtaining jade, thus marrying a wife). When seeking the birth date and heavenly stem and earthly branch of the bride's family, it is most inauspicious if the response line is active or the response line is empty — this indicates that the other party has not yet decided or is entirely uninterested. When discussing the gift of betrothal presents, it is also not advisable if the world line is accompanied by the snake (indicating suspicion and inconsistency) or if the world line is occupied by siblings (indicating loss of wealth and financial loss).

應生世，悅服成親；世克應，用強劫娶。如日合而世應比和，因人成事；若父動而子孫墓絕，為嗣求婚。

The Response Line generates the World Line, indicating that the other party is willing and agrees, leading to marriage. If the World Line overcomes the Response Line, it suggests that one side is forcing the marriage. If the Day Branch combines with both the World and Response Lines and they are in harmony according to the Five Phases, it means the marriage is arranged with the help of a third party. If the Parents' Line is active and the Children's Line is in a墓 (buried) and 绝 (declining state), meaning the Parents' Line overcomes the Children's Line and the Children's Line has no strength, this indicates that the marriage is for seeking offspring.

財官動合，先私而後公；世應化空，始成而終悔。六合而動象刑傷，必多破阻；世沖而日辰扶助，當有吹噓。

The Wealth line and the Official Ghost line both move and harmonize, indicating that a man and woman first have private feelings and later formally marry. However, the World and Response lines also move and transform into an empty situation, meaning that although they initially agree, they eventually regret it. Although the Hexagram of Six Harmony is obtained, the moving lines bring about punishment and injury, so there will be many obstacles and disruptions in between. Although the World line is affected by a clash, the Day Branch supports and helps it, meaning that someone will spread words in favor of them, and the matter can still succeed.

鬼克世爻，果信綠窗之難嫁；用合身位，方知綺席之易婚。財鬼如無刑害，夫妻定主和諧；文書若動當權，子嗣必然蕭索。

The Official Ghost line is coming to克 the World Line (a female占卜 indicates the Official Ghost represents the husband, and the husband is克 the diviner), which shows the image of a maiden finding it difficult to marry. The Useful God is coming to合 the Hexagram Body, indicating that the wedding is easy to arrange and the marriage proposal is readily accepted. If both the Wealth and Official Ghost lines are not harmed or afflicted, the couple will certainly be harmonious. If the Parents (documents) line is active and in authority, and the Parents克 the Children, it indicates that the couple will have few children in the future.

若在一宮，當有通家之好；若加三合，曾叨會面之親。如逢財鬼空亡，乃婚姻之大忌；苟遇陰陽得位，實天命之所關。

If both parties' useful gods are in the same palace, there is already a close relationship between the two families. If they also form a triple harmony, it indicates that they have met before and are relatives. In a marriage divination, if the wife's wealth or the official ghost falls into the void, it is a major taboo—meaning one spouse has no match. If yin and yang are properly positioned (male yin and female yang, official yin and wealth yang), then it is a destined good match.

應財世鬼，終須婦唱夫隨；應鬼世財，不免夫權妻奪。妯娌不和，只為官爻反動；翁姑不睦，定因妻位交重。

The Response Line is Wealth and the World Line is Official Ghost, with yin and yang reversed in position, indicating that a woman will take charge and the husband will be obedient. If the Response Line is Official Ghost and the World Line is Wealth, the positions are also reversed, leading to the husband's authority being taken by the wife. Disunity among sisters-in-law is due to the Official Ghost line repeatedly moving, as Official Ghost represents the husband of the wife's brother, and movement indicates conflict. Disputes between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law are certainly caused by the Wealth line being strongly active, since Wealth overcomes Parents, and Parents represent the father-in-law and mother-in-law.

父合財爻，異日有新臺之行；世臨妻位，他時無就養之心。空鬼伏財，必是望門之寡婦；動財值虎，定然帶服之婺娘。

The parents' hexagram combines with the wealth hexagram, indicating future disgrace between father-in-law and daughter-in-law (using the story of XinTai, where Duke Xuan of Wei seized his son's wife). The world line is seated on the wealth position (indicating the person is controlled by wealth), suggesting a lack of filial care towards the parents. The official ghost is in an empty position while the wealth hexagram is hidden, meaning the woman is a young widow who has not yet married. The wealth hexagram moves and is accompanied by the white tiger (indicating mourning), meaning the woman is currently a widow in mourning.

世應俱空，難遂百年之連理；財官疊見，重為一度之新人。夫若才能，官位占長生之地；妻如丑拙，財爻落墓庫之鄉。

The World and Response Lines both fall into the empty position, indicating that both parties lack genuine intention, making it difficult to achieve the wish of a lifelong partnership. If the Wealth or Official Ghost lines appear repeatedly in the hexagram, it suggests that the person is not married for the first time and will need to remarry. To determine if the husband is capable, check whether the Official Ghost line is in the Growth position—being in Growth indicates shrewdness and competence. To assess if the wife is ugly or dull, check whether the Wealth line is in the Storage position—being in Storage signifies dullness and lack of luster.

命旺則榮華可擬，時衰則發達難期。財合財，一舉兩得；鬼化鬼，四覆三番。兄動而爻遇玄武，須防劫騙之謀；應空而卦伏文書，未有執盟之主。

The useful god is strong and in its season, so future success and prosperity can be expected; if the useful god is weak and out of season, success is unlikely. The wife and wealth line is connected with another wife and wealth line, which means gaining both wife and wealth, or gaining servants along with them. If the official ghost moves and transforms into another official ghost, it indicates repeated changes in the marriage, possibly several times. If the siblings line moves and is accompanied by the black tortoise, one should be cautious as the other party may be setting a trap to steal wealth. The response line is empty and the parents (documents) are hidden and not visible in the hexagram, meaning there is no one to take charge of the engagement.

兩父齊興，必有爭盟之象；雙官俱動，斯為競娶之端。日逢父合，已期合巹於三星；世獲財生，終得妝奩於百兩。

Two parents' lines are both activated, indicating that parents represent the marriage contract and the matchmaker. This suggests a situation where two families are competing to take the lead in the marriage and there is a struggle over the engagement. When two official ghost lines are activated, it signifies that two men are competing to marry the same woman. If the day branch combines with the parents' line, the marriage contract has already been finalized, and one can expect the wedding to take place on a auspicious day, as indicated by the phrase "Three Stars in the Sky" from the Book of Songs, referring to the time of marriage. If the world line receives support from the wealth line, it ultimately leads to receiving a substantial dowry, as "a hundred carts" refers to the large amount of wedding gifts.

欲通媒妁，須論間爻。應或相生，乃女家之瓜葛；世如相合，必男室之葭莩。先觀卦象之陰陽，則男女可決；次看卦爻之動靜，則老幼堪推。

To examine the matter of the matchmaker, one should look at the two intermediate lines between the World Line and the Response Line. If the intermediate line is in mutual generation with the Response Line, the matchmaker is a relative of the bride's family. If the intermediate line is in mutual generation with the World Line, the matchmaker is a distant relative of the groom's family (the term 'hua fú' symbolizes a distant relative). First, observe the yin and yang of the hexagram to determine the gender of the person in question; then, examine the movement or stillness of the lines to determine the age of the person — a moving line with yang indicates youth, while a still line with yin indicates old age.

論貧富貴究身命，決美惡可驗性情。雀值兄臨，慣在其中得利；世應沖合，浼他出以為媒。兩間同發，定多月老以爭盟；二間俱空，必無通好以為禮。

To determine the other person's wealth, poverty, prosperity, or decline, examine the line representing their body and life. To judge their appearance's beauty or ugliness and their nature's goodness or wickedness, you can also check the Six Beasts and the Five Phases of the lines. If the intermediate lines have the Vermilion Bird on the Siblings, this indicates that the matchmaker is accustomed to taking advantage (the Vermilion Bird governs speech and the Siblings govern loss of wealth). If the World and Response lines both conflict and harmonize, it means that this person acted as an intermediary to make the match possible. If both intermediate lines are active, it suggests that several matchmakers are competing to arrange the match. If both intermediate lines fall into emptiness, then there is no communication, no mutual affection, and no exchange of marriage proposals.

世應不和，仗冰言而通好；間爻受克，總綺語亦無從。財官沖剋，反招就裡愆尤；世應生扶，必得其中厚惠。一卦吉凶，須察精微委曲；百年夫婦，方知到底團圞。

The World and Response lines are originally not harmonious, relying entirely on the媒人's words to mediate (「冰言」refers to the媒人's words, using the anecdote from the「Jin Shu」about the person named Bing who acted as a媒人). If the intermediate line is attacked, the媒人 is powerless, and even if they speak many good words, the matter cannot be settled. The Wealth line and the Official Ghost line mutually clash, leading to internal grievances in the future. If the World and Response lines support each other, there will certainly be real benefits. To determine the fortune of a hexagram, one must examine its subtle and intricate aspects carefully; whether a couple can eventually reunite after a hundred years is revealed through these details.

此章惟論男卜女婚、女卜男姻之意，今術家不辨其詳，凡擇婿媳、嫁妹、娶嫂，竟不以用神斷，概以官為夫、財為婦，大誤於人。況章內有云：妯娌不和，只為官爻發動；翁姑不睦，定因妻位交重。此二句可證矣！學者當憑用神吉推斷，不可概論財官是也。

This is a commentary by Wang Hongxu: This chapter discusses only the case where a man divines his own marriage or a woman divines her own marriage. Nowadays, diviners do not distinguish clearly. Whenever they are selecting a husband for a daughter, a wife for a son, marrying a younger sister, or marrying a sister-in-law, they do not use the Useful God according to the situation. Instead, they simply take the Official Ghost as the husband and the Wealth as the wife, which causes great harm. Moreover, the chapter clearly states: "Sister-in-law disputes arise because the Official爻 is activated; disputes between the father-in-law and mother-in-law are definitely due to the wife's position being heavy." In these two sentences, the sister-in-law uses the Official Ghost, and the father-in-law and mother-in-law use the Parents. This shows that the original text already uses different Useful Gods according to the person being asked. These two sentences are clear evidence. Scholars should deduce fortune and misfortune based on their respective Useful Gods, and should not universally discuss Wealth and Official Ghost only.