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Bushi Zhengzong · The Orthodox Tradition of Divination
Eighteen Questions · Three Combination Formations
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Question Four: How do we judge a Three Combination formation within a hexagram?
Reading note: The supplied 八卦 is read through the parallel 入卦, entering the hexagram.
Answer: A formation of the Source or Useful Spirit is auspicious; a formation of the Avoided or Hostile Spirit is ominous. Forming an arrangement means joining forces: what moving line in the hexagram would dare control it?
If three lines all move to form a Useful Spirit arrangement, one must be a Useful Spirit. If they form a Source Spirit arrangement, one must be a Source Spirit. If they form a Hostile or Avoided Spirit arrangement, one must be a Hostile or Avoided Spirit. Base the judgment upon the one line whose obstruction is the key.
Meeting the day’s Clash is called secret movement—this means a still line Clashed by the day. Being filled means a moving empty line meeting the day’s Clash. Break means the Month Commander’s Clash. Where Clash or Break occurs, wait for the time of Combination before the good or ill of the affair manifests. If one line is still and two move, wait until the still line occupies the day. If a still line is in Void, a moving line is in Void, or a changed line is in Void, wait until its departure from Void for good or ill to manifest.
If an empty, still or moving line meets Combination, wait until the time of Clash. If it changes into Combination or combines with the day, or changes into Tomb or enters Tomb through the day, wait for Clash. This refers to three lines all moving, with two unobstructed, and concerns the one line’s own change. If it changes into Extinction or meets Extinction through the day, wait for the time of Birth. This too concerns the one obstructed line.
Reading note: The supplied 雖敢 in the opening is read through the parallel 誰敢, “who would dare.” The interspersed explanations of secret movement, filling, Break and the single obstructed member remain part of the supplied text.
Divination: Two villages fight over drawing irrigation water. Divination: Submitting a petition to seek a vacant appointment.
Hexagram: Li as Fire, changing to Kun as Earth. Hexagram: Qian as Heaven, changing to Water over Heaven, Xu.
Palace: Li Fire. Cycle Void: Zi, Chou. Missing line: [no entry supplied]. Palace: Qian Metal. Cycle Void: Chen, Si. Missing line: [no entry supplied].
Six Beasts; Self/Response; hexagram.
Line; Qian.
Branch; Six Spirits; stems and branches; Six Spirits; Hidden.
Spirit; Hexagram Body; Day.
Chen; Month Commander; Tai Sui; Six Beasts; Self/Response; hexagram.
Line; stems and branches; Six Spirits; stems and branches; Six Spirits; Hidden.
Spirit; Hexagram Body; day designation; Month Commander; Tai Sui.
Green Dragon; Self; Ｏ; Si Brothers; You Wealth; Ding; Mao. Green Dragon; Self; Ｏ; Xu Parents; Zi Descendants; Ding; Si.
Dark Warrior; Wei Descendants; Si. Dark Warrior; Shen Brothers; You.
White Tiger; Ｏ; You Wealth; Chou Descendants. White Tiger; Ｏ; Wu Officer; Shen Brothers.
Soaring Snake; Response; Ｏ; Hai Officer; Mao Parents. Soaring Snake; Response; Chen Parents.
Gouchen; Chou Descendants. Gouchen; Yin Wealth.
Vermilion Bird; Ｏ; Mao Parents; Wei Descendants. Vermilion Bird; Zi Descendants.
Judgment: Inner is our village and outer the other village. Hai–Mao–Wei in the inner hexagram forms Wood; Si–You–Chou in the outer forms Metal. Metal comes to control Wood, but fortunately weak Metal does not control strong Wood, and the day also controls Metal, so there is nothing to fear. Moreover, Six Clashes changes into Clash: the affair will not develop into wrongdoing and will disperse at once.
This was verified. Formations in the inner and outer hexagrams distinguish their side from ours. Without movement there is no formation, and Self and Response are then examined. Here many people share one purpose, each side forming an alliance: this is the spirits’ subtle operation.
Judgment: Yin–Wu–Xu forms a Three Combination Officer arrangement that generates Self. This vacancy will be obtained. Inside, only Yin is missing from movement, so submit the petition on Yin day.
This was verified. It is a case of one member absent, waiting to be used.
Divination: The time of selection for office. Divination: Vindication and restoration to office.
Hexagram: Qian as Heaven, changing to Wind over Heaven, Xiao Xu. Hexagram: Lake over Earth, Cui, changing to Lake over Fire, Ge.
Palace: Qian Metal. Cycle Void: Zi, Chou. Missing line: [no entry supplied]. Palace: Dui Metal. Cycle Void: Wu, Wei. Missing line: [no entry supplied].
Six Beasts; Self/Response; hexagram.
Line; Qian.
Branch; Six Spirits; stems and branches; Six Spirits; Hidden.
Spirit; Hexagram Body; Day.
Chen; Month Commander; Tai Sui; Six Beasts; Self/Response; hexagram.
Line; stems and branches; Six Spirits; stems and branches; Six Spirits; Hidden.
Spirit; Hexagram Body; day designation; Month Commander; Tai Sui.
Green Dragon; Self; Xu Parents; Bing; Yin. Green Dragon; Wei Parents; Ding; Chen.
Dark Warrior; Shen Brothers; Chen. Dark Warrior; Response; You Brothers; Hai.
White Tiger; Ｏ; Wu Officer; Wei Parents. White Tiger; Hai Descendants.
Soaring Snake; Response; Chen Parents. Soaring Snake; Ｘ; Mao Wealth; Hai Descendants.
Gouchen; Yin Wealth. Gouchen; Self; Si Officer.
Vermilion Bird; Zi Descendants. Vermilion Bird; Ｘ; Wei Parents; Mao Wealth.
Judgment: Xu secretly moves in this hexagram. If Yin openly moved, one would judge Wu Fire Officer changing into Wei Earth as Combination and wait for Clash to open it. Here that is not so: Wu Fire openly moves and Xu Earth secretly moves, making a Three Combination Officer arrangement, with Yin alone not moving. Borrow Yin, the Month Commander, to complete the formation: selection must occur this month. This was verified. It is one absent member supplied for use.
Judgment: Si Fire Officer holds Self, occupies the Traveling Horse and secretly moves. Vindication and restoration are imminent. Hai–Mao–Wei in the inner hexagram forms Wealth, a Source Spirit generating Self. Because Wei Earth is in Cycle Void, wait for Wei month: approval of the memorial and an excellent appointment will certainly follow.
This was verified. Wei month was the month that filled the Void.
Divination: A father’s acute illness. Divination: The illness of an aunt by marriage.
Hexagram: Qian as Heaven, changing to Mountain over Fire, Bi. Hexagram: Li as Fire, changing to Earth over Fire, Ming Yi.
Palace: Qian Metal. Cycle Void: Xu, Hai. Missing line: [no entry supplied]. Palace: Li Fire. Cycle Void: Zi, Chou. Missing line: [no entry supplied].
Six Beasts; Self/Response; hexagram.
Line; Qian.
Branch; Six Spirits; stems and branches; Six Spirits; Hidden.
Spirit; Hexagram Body; Day.
Chen; Month Commander; Tai Sui; Six Beasts; Self/Response; hexagram.
Line; stems and branches; Six Spirits; stems and branches; Six Spirits; Hidden.
Spirit; Hexagram Body; day designation; Month Commander; Tai Sui.
Gouchen; Self; Xu Parents; Ji; Chou. Vermilion Bird; Self; Ｏ; Si Brothers; You Wealth; Wu; Chou.
Vermilion Bird; Ｏ; Shen Brothers; Zi Descendants; Mao. Green Dragon; Wei Descendants; Wu.
Green Dragon; Ｏ; Wu Officer; Xu Parents. Dark Warrior; Ｏ; You Wealth; Chou Descendants.
Dark Warrior; Response; Chen Parents. White Tiger; Response; Hai Officer.
White Tiger; Ｏ; Yin Wealth; Chou Parents. Soaring Snake; Chou Descendants.
Soaring Snake; Zi Descendants. Gouchen; Mao Parents.
Judgment: Xu Earth Parents at Self is the Useful Spirit. For a recent illness, Combination with the day is unfavorable. Fortunately Yin–Wu–Xu combines into Fire, generating the Useful Spirit, so the overall image is harmless. Xu is held by Combination, so recovery must wait until tomorrow’s Chen day, when Clash meets Combination. This was verified.
Judgment: Mao Wood Parents is the Useful Spirit. Si–You–Chou in the outer hexagram combines into Metal to control it. Chou Earth is now in Cycle Void, so there is no harm during the cycle; beware Yi Chou day. She died on Chou day at You hour. Chou day corresponded because it was the day of departure from the cycle.
Divination: On what day will a son return? Divination: On what day will a father return?
Hexagram: Fire over Lake, Kui, changing to Fire over Wind, Ding. Hexagram: Gen Mountain over Heaven, Da Xu, changing to Qian as Heaven.
Palace: Gen Earth. Cycle Void: Yin, Mao. Missing line: Wealth. Palace: Gen Earth. Cycle Void: Chen, Si. Missing lines: Descendants, Parents.
Six Beasts; Self/Response; hexagram.
Line; Qian.
Branch; Six Spirits; stems and branches; Six Spirits; Hidden.
Spirit; Hexagram Body; Day.
Chen; Month Commander; Tai Sui; Six Beasts; Self/Response; hexagram.
Line; stems and branches; Six Spirits; stems and branches; Six Spirits; Hidden.
Spirit; Hexagram Body; day designation; Month Commander; Tai Sui.
Vermilion Bird; Si Parents; Zi Wealth; Wu; Wei. Green Dragon; Yin Officer; Bing.
Green Dragon; Wei Brothers; Shen. Dark Warrior; Response; Ｘ; Zi Wealth; Shen Descendants; Shen.
Dark Warrior; Self; You Descendants. White Tiger; Ｘ; Xu Brothers; Wu Parents.
White Tiger; Ｘ; Chou Brothers; You Descendants. Soaring Snake; Chen Brothers; Shen Descendants.
Soaring Snake; Mao Officer. Gouchen; Self; Yin Officer; Wu Parents.
Gouchen; Response; Ｏ; Si Parents; Chou Brothers. Vermilion Bird; Zi Wealth.
Judgment: Si–You–Chou in the inner hexagram combines into Metal as the Useful Spirit. Chou Earth is at Month Break: he must arrive home on Jia Zi day after Autumn Begins. This was verified. It corresponded to after Autumn Begins because Chou Earth’s Month Break ends when the month ends. He returned on Jia Zi day: this is Break meeting Combination.
Judgment: Yin–Wu–Xu forms a Three Combination Parents arrangement. Yin alone is Clashed by the day and also meets Extinction on Shen day. He must return on Ji Hai day. This was verified. Ji Hai day corresponded because Combination meets Clash and Birth meets Extinction. Yin Clashes with Shen and meets Hai, which combines with Yin.
Reading note: The supplied first case later writes the disrupted 申予日; it is read as 甲子日, Jia Zi day, matching its initial prediction and the parallel classical case.
Divination: Guarding against impeachment. Divination: Is this land suitable for preparing a burial?
Hexagram: Water over Wind, Jing, changing to Wind over Lake, Zhong Fu. Hexagram: Mountain over Thunder, Yi, changing to Heaven over Thunder, Wu Wang.
Palace: Dui Metal. Cycle Void: Xu, Hai. Missing line: Wealth. Palace: Xun Wood. Cycle Void: Zi, Chou. Missing lines: Descendants, Officer.
Six Beasts; Self/Response; hexagram.
Line; Qian.
Branch; Six Spirits; stems and branches; Six Spirits; Hidden.
Spirit; Hexagram Body; Day.
Chen; Month Commander; Tai Sui; Six Beasts; Self/Response; hexagram.
Line; stems and branches; Six Spirits; stems and branches; Six Spirits; Hidden.
Spirit; Hexagram Body; day designation; Month Commander; Tai Sui.
Vermilion Bird; Ｘ; Zi Descendants; Mao Wealth; Wu; Chou. Vermilion Bird; Yin Brothers; Wu; Yin.
Green Dragon; Self; Xu Parents; Chen. Green Dragon; Ｘ; Zi Parents; Shen Officer; Wu.
Dark Warrior; Shen Brothers. Dark Warrior; Self; Ｘ; Xu Wealth; Wu Descendants.
White Tiger; Ｏ; You Brothers; Chou Parents. White Tiger; Chen Wealth; Shen Officer.
Soaring Snake; Response; Hai Descendants; Mao Wealth. Soaring Snake; Yin Brothers; Wu Descendants.
Gouchen; Ｘ; Chou Parents; Si Officer. Gouchen; Response; Zi Parents.
This official feared impeachment by the newly appointed provincial governor. I said, “This hexagram is extraordinary. Self is empty but meets the day’s Clash, so it is no longer empty. Self suffers no Control and secretly moves: although there will be no impeachment, leaving the post cannot be avoided.” He asked, “Without impeachment, why would I leave?” I replied, “Self secretly moving must mean movement and change. The inner hexagram combines into Metal and generates Response: I know this post already belongs to someone else.”
Later, a post elsewhere was abolished. The superior petitioned to retain its officer by putting him in this man’s position, while sending this man to the capital for another appointment. This was a rarely seen or heard affair. Only the working of the spirits understands me.
Judgment: Xu Earth at Self is in Rest and Imprisonment in spring. It changes into Wu Fire Descendants’ returning Generation; the day and Month Commander jointly form a Three Combination. Green Dragon on Water changes into Shen, its Birth: the water’s source is very distant and it must come from the left. But it changes into Month Break, and Xu Earth controls the day and scatters it by Clash. “Does this water sometimes dry up?” He said, “Exactly.” I said, “There is no harm. The day, month, Self and Descendants jointly form a Three Combination. Naturally the dead will rest and the living rejoice. Burial here must bring prosperity.” Burial took place in Chen year. In You year, a grandson attained ya-kui, a leading provincial examination rank. In Zi year, the next grandson also passed the provincial examination.
Reading note: The supplied 囚 in the opening is read as 因, “because of,” following the parallel. The compressed transfer narrative is rendered without supplying any additional official or appointment.
Divination: On what day will the rain stop? Divination: Will the wife receive the payout in a rotating savings association drawing?
Hexagram: Fire over Wind, Ding, changing to Fire over Lake, Kui. Hexagram: Thunder over Wind, Heng, changing to Mountain over Wind, Gu.
Palace: Li Fire. Cycle Void: [no branches supplied]. Missing line: Parents. Palace: Zhen Wood. Cycle Void: [no branches supplied]. Missing line: Brothers.
Six Beasts; Self/Response; hexagram.
Line; Qian.
Branch; Six Spirits; stems and branches; Six Spirits; Hidden.
Spirit; Hexagram Body; Day.
Chen; Month Commander; Tai Sui; Six Beasts; Self/Response; hexagram.
Line; stems and branches; Six Spirits; stems and branches; Six Spirits; Hidden.
Spirit; Hexagram Body; day designation; Month Commander; Tai Sui.
Si Brothers; Shen; Si. Response; Ｘ; Xu Wealth; Yin Brothers; You.
Response; Wei Descendants; Shen Officer.
You Wealth; Ｏ; Wu Descendants; Xu Wealth.
Ｏ; You Wealth; Chou Descendants. Self; You Officer.
Self; Hai Officer; Hai Parents; Yin Brothers.
Ｘ; Chou Descendants; Si Brothers; Mao Parents; Chou Wealth.
If one clung to the old rule, hidden and empty Parents would mean no rain, and moving Wealth and Blessing would mean clear weather. Here it is otherwise. Si–You–Chou combines into Wealth to control Parents. If Parents were not empty and received that Control, there would be no rain. Now it is both hidden and empty: this is called avoiding Control, and the rain cannot stop. Wait until Mao day, when it emerges, leaves Void and is controlled; only then can the rain stop. On the supplied Jia day the rain grew heavier, and on Mao day it became very clear. Although Yin day had left Void, Yin was not contained in the hexagram and did not receive its Control, so heavy rain indeed fell.
If one clung to the old rule, moving Wealth with Blessing generating would mean receiving the association payout. Here too it is otherwise. Wealth on Response is not money: it is a neighbor or friend’s wife. Yin–Wu–Xu gathers into Fire, generating Response and controlling Self. Mao month combines with Response and Clashes with Self. This is appearance without favorable relation to me, while the formation favors the other person. The neighbor’s wife must receive the payout. This was verified.
Reading note: The first case’s supplied 甲日 is retained as Jia day; the parallel spells out Jia Yin day. The source’s savings-association drawing is not turned into a generic prediction of wealth.
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