A Single Transformation: The Hexagram of Cultivation and Generation

一下。化育卦，生氣之象。孤陽不明，乾天西北。象曰：明明上天，照臨下土，化育群生，開發門戶，事皆豁然，更相瞻睹。詩曰：已到平安地，江山萬里程，綠楊芳草路，風快馬蹄輕。

This hexagram shows only one line appearing at the bottom, while the upper and middle lines are not present. It is called "Hua Yu" (cultivation and transformation), indicating the movement of life qi. A single, isolated yang energy has not yet become clear, and it is paired with the Qian hexagram, located in the northwest. The image text uses the verse from the "Small Ya" section of the "Book of Songs," "Mingming Shang Tian, Zhao Lin Xia Tu" (The bright heavens illuminate the earth below), meaning that the bright heavens illuminate the earth, nurturing all beings, opening doors for people, thus making everything clear and allowing mutual recognition. The poem also says that one has already reached a safe place, yet there remains a journey of thousands of miles across mountains and rivers; willows and fragrant grasses line the path, with swift winds and light horses, making the journey smooth. Although this hexagram only shows a single yang line emerging, its atmosphere signifies a transition from darkness to brightness.

二下。地利卦，安厚之象。陰居陰位，坤地西南。象曰：本立事定，人物齊正，飲食清甘，各保性命。詩曰：杏豔梅香秀氣盈，一番花發一番新，江南若遇人雙口，變化方知在主人。

This hexagram shows only two pieces in the lower position, with no pieces in the upper and middle positions, named "Earth Advantage," indicating stability and solidity. Yin energy resides in the Yin position, paired with the Kun hexagram, located in the southwest direction. The image says that when the foundation is firmly established, things become stable, and people and objects are orderly and properly arranged. Food and drink are clean and delicious, and all things preserve their lives. The poetic verse says that apricot blossoms are bright and beautiful, plum blossoms have a fragrant scent, and a flourishing atmosphere is present; when one arrives in Jiangnan and meets someone with the name containing "Lv," one realizes that the key to change lies in the person in charge. This hexagram is most suitable for divining property and residence.

三下。建候卦，功業之象。三陽助下，乾天西北。象曰：事興功起，英雄基址，聖賢救世，法令得理。詩曰：輕涉波濤一葉舟，如今方得到灘頭，幾年心事才成就，屈指從前多阻愁。又：天生英雄，肇基宏業，因民之力，施恩布澤，君子雍雍，小人孽孽。

This hexagram shows only three lines appearing at the bottom, with none at the top and middle, named "Building a Prince" or "Establishing a Ruler," which corresponds to the phrase "favorable for establishing a prince" in the "Zhou Changes" (I Ching) under the "Zun" hexagram, indicating the beginning of great undertakings. Three yang lines support the lower position, matching the Qian hexagram, located in the northwest. The symbolic interpretation states that a career is rising and achievements are just beginning, which is the time for heroes to lay the foundation. Sages emerge to save the world, and laws become reasonable. The poetic description says riding a small boat lightly through waves, now having reached the shore; long-cherished aspirations are finally realized, and counting back, there have been many obstacles and sorrows. The appended poem says that heaven produces heroes, who establish great enterprises, relying on the strength of the people, spreading kindness and grace; thus, the virtuous are happy, while the petty are anxious and fearful.

四下。送終卦，全陰之象。正陰獨權，坤地西南。象曰：養生送死，祭祀潔豐，孝子策杖，衣服粗凶。詩曰：陰人口舌主憂驚，孝子臨門動哭聲，運退黃金猶失色，雙眉不展事無成。

This hexagram shows only four coins in the lower position, with no coins in the upper and middle positions, named "Sending Off the Final Journey," symbolizing the image of pure yin. Pure and correct yin energy is in charge alone, paired with the hexagram of Kūn (Earth), located in the southwest direction. The symbolic interpretation uses the meaning from "Mengzi · Lianghuibingshang" regarding "nurturing the living and properly burying the dead": caring for the living, properly burying the dead, and performing worship with purity and abundance; the filial son holds a mourning staff and wears coarse hemp mourning clothes. The poetic interpretation says that disputes among women bring worry and disturbance, and when the filial son arrives at the door, there is weeping. When fortune declines, even gold becomes dull, the eyebrows are furrowed, and all affairs fail. This hexagram is particularly significant for divination regarding illness and the household, and it is suitable for divination concerning funerals and worship.

純陰饅。陰饅卦，無形之象。象曰：陰饅無象，兆狀未形，動而有侮，退保其貞。詩曰：逢時多難戰兢兢，戒懼當知履薄冰，要識前程危與險，不籠風裡一枝燈。

This hexagram consists of twelve chess pieces with no characters visible, and it is the last hexagram among the hundred and twenty-five, named "Yin Man" (the original text mistakenly writes "Man" instead of "Man"). It represents an image of complete formlessness, so it is not paired with yin and yang or the eight trigrams. The symbolic interpretation states that the yin energy is slack and there is no hexagram image, indicating that the form of the omen has not yet appeared; at this moment, any movement would invite trouble, while retreating and maintaining stability is the way to preserve correctness. The poetic verse borrows from the "Small Ode: Xiao Min" in the "Book of Songs," saying, "With reverence and caution, as if standing at the edge of a deep abyss, as if walking on thin ice." This expresses that when one is born into a time of many difficulties, one must be cautious and vigilant, like walking on thin ice; if one wishes to recognize the dangers and risks ahead, it is like a single lamp in the wind, always ready to be extinguished (the last line of the text has some errors in different versions). The entire book concludes with this hexagram, serving as a warning to the diviner: when there is no image, one must only remain still and preserve calm.