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Bushi Zhengzong · The Orthodox Tradition of Divination
Eighteen Questions · Cycle Void
Read in English. Switch to Original for word notes, or select text to ask a question.
Question Seven: A line meets Cycle Void. One would judge it completely empty to the end, yet the result corresponds to its being filled. One would judge it not empty, yet it remains empty to the end. Why?
Answer: With no Generation and with Control, it remains empty to the end. With Generation and no Control, it waits for its time to be used. In a most ominous hexagram, Cycle Void of the Useful line is welcome. In a most favorable hexagram, Cycle Void of the Useful line is to be avoided.
Divination: Seeking money. Divination: On what day will a servant return?
Hexagram: Wind over Thunder, Yi. Hexagram: Lake over Fire, Ge.
Palace: Xun Wood. Cycle Void: Chen, Si. Missing line: Officer. Palace: Kan Water. Cycle Void: Xu, Hai. Missing line: Wealth.
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; Response; Mao Brothers; Wu; Si. Dark Warrior; Wei Officer; Jia; Hai.
Green Dragon; Si Descendants; Xu. White Tiger; You Parents; Zi.
Dark Warrior; Wei Wealth. Soaring Snake; Self; Hai Brothers.
White Tiger; Self; Chen Wealth; You Officer. Gouchen; Hai Brothers; Wu Wealth.
Soaring Snake; Yin Brothers. Vermilion Bird; Chou Officer.
Gouchen; Zi Parents. Green Dragon; Response; Mao Descendants.
Judgment: Chen Earth Wealth holds Self and is in Cycle Void. Xu day Clashes with it: this is an empty line raised by Clash. The prediction was verified that very day. It corresponded to that day because the day was also a Wealth star Clashing with me. This is Clash of Void becoming useful.
Judgment: Hidden Wu Fire Wealth is the Useful Spirit and is controlled by day and month. Asked about good or ill, it would be ominous. But the present question is the return date. Self empty means late arrival; the Avoided Spirit in Cycle Void means arrival within the cycle. He must return on Ji Si day. This was verified. Si day corresponded because Si Fire is also the Wealth star: it Clashes with the Flying line and exposes the Hidden. The Golden Counsels says, “A Hidden Spirit beneath Void is easy to draw out.” This is that principle.
Reading note: The supplied 遲, late, is retained; the parallel classical case instead has 速, quick.
Divination: Visiting an eminent person to seek money. Divination: On what day will a wife recover from illness?
Hexagram: Heaven over Fire, Tong Ren. Hexagram: Lake over Earth, Cui, changing to Heaven over Earth, Bi.
Reading note: The supplied changed image says Heaven over Earth while naming Bi; both are retained rather than silently replacing Heaven with Water.
Palace: Li Fire. Cycle Void: Xu, Hai. Missing line: [no entry supplied]. Palace: Dui Metal. Cycle Void: Yin, Mao. 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; Response; Xu Descendants; Ding; Shen. White Tiger; Wei Parents; Gui; Wu.
Dark Warrior; Shen Wealth; Mao. Soaring Snake; Response; You Brothers; Chou.
White Tiger; Wu Brothers. Gouchen; Ｏ; Hai Descendants; Shen Brothers.
Soaring Snake; Self; Hai Officer. Vermilion Bird; Mao Wealth.
Gouchen; Chou Descendants. Green Dragon; Self; Si Officer.
Vermilion Bird; Mao Parents. Dark Warrior; Wei Parents.
Judgment: Hai Water Officer holds Self and is in Cycle Void. On Hai day after departure from the cycle, the visit will occur. Wealth at the Month Commander generates Self: the financial result will satisfy. This was verified. It is departure from Void while waiting for use.
Judgment: Mao Wood Wealth is the Useful Spirit and is in Cycle Void. Hai Water, the Source Spirit, generates it: recovery must occur tomorrow. A bystander said, “Mao is in Cycle Void. You should predict Mao day; why say Yin day?” I answered, “You do not know the method. When Jia Yin day arrives, Yin Wood has already left Void, and Mao Wood is also the Useful star.” Recovery indeed occurred a day earlier, corresponding to Jia Yin day.
Reading note: The supplied final explanation names Yin as leaving Void and Mao as also the Useful star; this order is retained. The parallel classical case reverses those two names.
Divination: On what day will a son recover from illness? Divination: On what day will money come into hand?
Hexagram: Heaven over Wind, Gou, changing to Heaven over Thunder, Wu Wang. Hexagram: Wind over Heaven, Xiao Xu.
Palace: Qian Metal. Cycle Void: Yin, Mao. Missing line: Yin. Palace: Xun Wood. Cycle Void: Chen, Si. Missing line: Officer.
Reading note: The supplied first missing-line field names only Yin; no relation is supplied for it.
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.
Soaring Snake; Xu Parents; Geng; Yin. Soaring Snake; Mao Brothers; Geng; Wei.
Gouchen; Shen Brothers; Xu. Gouchen; Si Descendants; Zi.
Vermilion Bird; Response; Wu Officer. Vermilion Bird; Response; Wei Wealth.
Green Dragon; Ｏ; You Brothers; Chen Parents. Green Dragon; Chen Wealth; You Officer.
Dark Warrior; Ｏ; Hai Descendants; Yin Wealth; Yin Wealth. Dark Warrior; Yin Brothers.
White Tiger; Self; Ｘ; Chou Parents; Zi Descendants. White Tiger; Self; Zi Parents.
Judgment: Hai Water Descendants changes into Yin Wood in Cycle Void. For a recent illness, meeting Void means recovery. But because Hai Water changes into Yin Wood in Cycle Void, it cannot receive You Metal’s Generation. Recovery must wait until Yin day. This was verified. It is changing into Void and then leaving Void.
Judgment: Wei month holds Wealth, so money must be available within the month. But asked on what day it comes into hand, Chen Earth in the hexagram is in Cycle Void: the key must lie in what is shown. I predicted receipt on Chen day, and it was verified. Here Wei Earth is not empty, but the result corresponds to Chen Earth’s Void.
Divination: A mother-in-law’s recent illness. Divination: A son’s illness.
Hexagram: Earth over Water, Shi, changing to Earth over Wind, Sheng. Hexagram: Lake over Wind, Da Guo.
Palace: Kan Water. Cycle Void: Shen, You. Missing line: [no entry supplied]. Palace: Zhen Wood. Cycle Void: Wu, Wei. Missing lines: Descendants, 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.
Soaring Snake; Response; You Parents; Geng; You. White Tiger; Wei Wealth; Ren; You.
Gouchen; Hai Brothers; Chen. Soaring Snake; You Officer; Chen.
Vermilion Bird; Chou Officer. Gouchen; Self; Hai Parents; Wu Descendants.
Green Dragon; Self; Ｘ; Wu Wealth; You Parents. Vermilion Bird; You Officer.
Dark Warrior; Chen Officer. Green Dragon; Hai Parents; Yin Brothers.
White Tiger; Yin Descendants. Dark Warrior; Response; Chou Wealth.
Judgment: You Metal Parents is in Cycle Void: in a recent illness, meeting Void means recovery. The day combines with it: in a recent illness, Combination means death. But Self holds the Avoided Spirit and controls it, so this illness must become critical. Asked, “On what day?” I answered, “Wu Fire itself changes into Cycle Void and cannot control it within the cycle. A recent illness meeting Void is not fatal, so there will be no death within the cycle. Beware Yi You day.” She died on Yi You day at Mao hour.
Judgment: Wu Fire Descendants is hidden beneath Hai Parents at Self. The Month Commander generates and assists Hai Water to control it. At present the Useful Spirit is in Cycle Void and does not receive that Control. Jia Wu day will be difficult to escape. He died on Wu day at Wu hour. This is a Hidden Spirit with nothing to draw it out.
Divination: A person asks whether the body of a younger brother who died in Lake Tai can be found. Divination: A person asks about a father’s recent illness.
Hexagram: Earth over Thunder, Fu. Hexagram: Earth over Thunder, Fu, changing to Fire over Thunder, Shi He.
Palace: Kun Earth. Cycle Void: Yin, Mao. Missing line: Parents. Palace: Kun Earth. Cycle Void: Chen, Si. Missing line: 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.
Dark Warrior; You Descendants; Yi; Zi. Dark Warrior; Ｘ; You Descendants; Si Parents; Jia; Chou.
White Tiger; Hai Wealth; Si. White Tiger; Hai Wealth; Wu.
Soaring Snake; Response; Chou Brothers. Soaring Snake; Response; Ｘ; Chou Brothers; You Descendants.
Gouchen; Chen Brothers. Gouchen; Chen Brothers.
Vermilion Bird; Yin Officer; Si Parents. Vermilion Bird; Yin Officer; Si Parents.
Green Dragon; Self; Zi Wealth. Green Dragon; Self; Zi Wealth.
Judgment: In all questions about a dead body, use Ghost as the Useful Spirit. Here Yin Wood Ghost is in Cycle Void, while Hai Water commands the season and secretly moves to combine with it. Plainly the body is in a large body of water. Yin Wood in Cycle Void is held by Combination, so wait for departure from the cycle and a Clash: it can be seen on Geng Shen day.
It was not found on Geng Shen day. Only in Chou month, within the Jia Zi cycle, on Ren Shen day, did the body float up and become visible. Why? Although Yin Ghost had left the cycle, Hai Water was too strong. When Chou month arrived, Chou Earth controlled Water. Within the Jia Zi cycle, Hai Water met Void: Water empty was like the water receding. Wood in water cannot rise without Clash, so the result corresponded to Ren Shen day of the Jia Zi cycle. Is this not the spirits’ remarkable response? Students must examine it deeply.
Judgment: Si Fire Parents is the Useful Spirit and is in Cycle Void. The day supports it: a recent illness meeting Void is not fatal. But a Six Combinations hexagram is unfavorable—Six Combinations means death. I considered the Useful Spirit’s Void and Six Combinations evenly matched. Yet Self as the Avoided Spirit secretly moves, and Si–You–Chou in the outer hexagram combines into Metal, assisting Water to control it. This illness must be ominous. Asked, “On what day?” I answered, “Ji Hai day controls and Clashes with Si Fire, but it is still in Cycle Void, so there is no harm then. I fear danger on Xin Hai day, after it leaves the cycle.” He died that day: departure from the cycle met Control and Clash.
Divination: During a great drought, on what day will rain fall? Divination: On what day will a distant acquaintance arrive?
Reading note: The supplied final 未 is read as 來, arrive, as required by the question and following judgment.
Hexagram: Wind over Earth, Guan. Hexagram: Water over Mountain, Jian.
Palace: Qian Metal. Cycle Void: Chen, Si. Missing lines: Descendants, Brothers. Palace: Dui Metal. Cycle Void: Chen, Si. Missing line: 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; Mao Wealth; Wu; Wei. Vermilion Bird; Zi Descendants; Wu; Wei.
Green Dragon; Si Officer; Shen Brothers; Xu. Green Dragon; Xu Parents; Xu.
Dark Warrior; Self; Wei Parents. Dark Warrior; Self; Shen Brothers.
White Tiger; Mao Wealth. White Tiger; Shen Brothers.
Soaring Snake; Si Officer. Soaring Snake; Wu Wealth.
Gouchen; Response; Wei Parents; Zi Descendants. Gouchen; Response; Chen Parents; Si Officer.
Judgment: Wei Earth Parents, the Month Commander, is the Useful Spirit. The day assists it through the same phase: if rain comes it must be heavy. But Si Fire Officer, the Source Spirit, is in Cycle Void and still. Stillness must wait for Clash, and Void must wait for departure from the cycle. I predicted heavy rain on Xin Hai day. At Shen and You hours that day, rain indeed reached five cun.
Judgment: In divining about an intimate friend, use Brothers. For a distant acquaintance, use Response. Here Response is in Cycle Void and the day Clashes it up: arrival must wait until Jia Chen day. This was verified.
Divination: On what day will heavy rain fall?
Hexagram: Thunder over Mountain, Xiao Guo.
Palace: Dui Metal. Cycle Void: Yin, Mao. Missing lines: Descendants, Wealth.
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.
Dark Warrior; Xu Parents; Jia; Wei.
White Tiger; Ｘ; Shen Brothers; You Brothers; Chen.
Soaring Snake; Self; Wu Officer; Hai Descendants.
Gouchen; Shen Brothers.
Vermilion Bird; Wu Officer; Mao Wealth.
Green Dragon; Response; Ｘ; Chen Parents; Mao Wealth.
Judgment: Chen Earth Parents, the day, is the Useful Spirit. It moves, receives the Month Commander’s support, and occurs during Earth’s period of command: its strength is unsurpassed, so the rain cannot be slight. But it changes into Mao Wood in Cycle Void, a change into returning Control. Shen changing into You Metal as an Advancing Spirit controls Wood and rescues Earth; yet Mao Wood in Cycle Void is said to withdraw in fear, avoiding Metal’s Control. Thus Chen Earth Parents remains obstructed by Mao Wood.
The result should occur on Yi Mao day of the Jia Yin cycle. Mao Wood leaves Void and occupies the day, called exposing its head where escape is difficult. Xu Earth secretly moves to assist Metal’s Control; Mao Wood, already controlled by Metal, cannot harm Chen Earth. Rain should therefore come on that Yi Mao day in the Jia Yin cycle. But no rain fell at the appointed time. It finally rained after Autumn Begins, on Xin You day at Shen hour.
Why correspond to You day after Autumn Begins? Shen changing into You was plainly Shen month and You day. Mao Wood leaving the cycle and occupying its day still had not been completely controlled. Only when Shen month controlled it and You day also Clashed with it did rain begin. Through this hexagram my learning advanced another step.
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