Sima Qian said: From ancient times to the present, those wise kings who established countries, accepted the mandate of heaven, and carried out great undertakings never did so without relying on divination for guidance. Needless to say, before Tang Yao and Yu Shun, this was also the case. With the auspicious omens at Mount Tu, Xia Qi established the Xia Dynasty; flying swallow divination yielded favorable results, leading to the prosperity of the Yin and Shang; and when the divination of the hundred valleys was auspicious, the royal family of the Zhou Dynasty was able to continue. Those kings, when faced with difficult decisions, would refer to the results of augury, using yarrow stalks and turtle shells, which is an eternal truth.
The Di, Qiang, and other barbarian tribes, lacking a formal system of ranks such as monarchs and ministers, also had their own methods of divination to solve difficult problems. Some used metal and stone for augury, while others used plants; different countries had different customs. Nonetheless, they all employed divination to guide wars, attacks, troop deployments, and to strive for victory, believing in their own deities to predict the future.
I heard that in the Xia and Yin dynasties, those who divined would throw away the yarrow stalks and turtle shells after use, feeling that the turtle shells would lose their efficacy if kept for a long time, and the yarrow stalks would also become ineffective if used for too long. By the Zhou Dynasty, however, the diviners treasured the yarrow stalks and turtle shells; they meticulously observed the size and order of the yarrow stalks and shells to ensure accuracy in the results.
Some people believe that wise kings never hesitate in dealing with matters and are never unclear in solving difficulties. They established methods of divination and asking the gods to cope with the decline in later generations. At that time, people were ignorant, not learning wisdom, each sweeping snow in front of their own doors, which means they were only concerned with their own problems, while society was falling apart and morals were dissipated, without boundaries. Thus, divination had to trace back to the most fundamental principles, emphasizing spiritual purity. Some also believe that even sages couldn't match the uncanny accuracy of insects' instincts. They judge good and bad fortune, distinguish right from wrong, often more accurately than humans.
During the time of Emperor Gaozu of Han, the system of divination from the Qin Dynasty was used. The world had just been unified, and the wars weren't over yet. During the short reign of Emperor Hui of Han, Empress Lü held the reins of power. Emperors Wen and Jing of Han carried on as their ancestors had and did not have time to study and investigate the art of divination. Although father and son successively served as diviners, passing down the tradition through generations, much of the divination's subtlety was lost.
It was not until Emperor Wu of Han ascended to the throne that all sorts of skills flourished, talents from various fields were recruited, and skilled craftspeople could show their stuff. Exceptional talent was rewarded, no favorites. Within a few years, a huge divination conference was called. The conference discussed military actions such as attacking the Xiongnu, conquering Dayuan to the west, and subduing the Baiyue to the south. Divination could predict events and favorable outcomes. The generals' victories proved the yarrow and turtle shell divinations right.
Emperor Wu of Han especially valued divination, rewarding with large sums of money. People like Qiu Ziming got rich, won the emperor's favor, and became powerful. Some even used divination and witchcraft to frame rivals—and sometimes it worked. Enemies used this to make false accusations, leading to countless families being wiped out. Officials were terrified, saying the shells and stalks spoke. When the truth came out, the guilty were executed, along with their families.
Hey, this fortune-telling stuff—reading hexagrams and interpreting omens—it's all so mysterious! So, when it comes to picking talent, you've got to consider the results of divination; that's what a wise person would do! The Duke of Zhou used three tortoises to divine, and King Wu recovered from illness; King Zhou of Shang was so tyrannical, yet there was no sign from divination. Duke Wen of Jin wanted to inherit King Xiang's throne, and the divination showed auspicious signs from the Yellow Emperor; in the end, he was appointed to wield the vermilion bow. Duke Xian of Jin was infatuated with Lady Li's beauty, but the divination revealed a hexagram with a mouth (symbolizing disaster), leading to calamity for five generations. King Ling of Chu wanted to betray the Zhou dynasty, but the divination from the tortoise shell showed unusual signs, and he ultimately faced defeat in the Battle of Qianxi. It all comes down to sincerity—you can see it in how things turn out; it's all connected, innit? Those who underestimate divination and say there are no gods are wrong; and those who go against human ethics and only believe in good omens—well, not even the gods can help you then. So, even the *Book of Documents* talks about the doubts around divination. Two out of five strategies involved it, and there were tons of different ways to do it. It worked, but you couldn't rely on it completely.
When I got to Jiangnan, I checked out the local customs and asked some old-timers. They said you only see a thousand-year-old tortoise swimming on a lotus leaf, and a hundred stalks of that divination grass growing from a single root. Moreover, there are no tigers or wolves among the animals there, and no poisonous insects among the plants. People living by the river often raise tortoises and feed them because they believe that tortoises can guide the original energy, benefiting longevity. Makes you think, huh?
Mr. Chu said, "I'm a scholar of the classics, studied under a professor, did some serious work on the Spring and Autumn Annals, and did pretty well for myself in the government. I've been in and out of the palace for over a decade. I particularly like Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian. Sima Qian stated in the Records of the Grand Historian: 'The divination methods of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors differ, as do the divination methods of the various tribes of the Four Barbarians, yet all can be used to judge good and bad fortune.' I have a rough understanding of the main points, so I wrote the Record of Tortoise Shell Divination. I searched everywhere in Chang'an for the Record of Tortoise Shell Divination, but couldn't find it, so I went to the chief diviner's office to ask the old man in charge of the classics—who was knowledgeable in literature and history and had extensive experience—to record the turtle shell divination and compile it into a book."
Ancient lore holds that in ancient times, the Five Emperors and Three Kings would first consult divination stalks and turtle shells before making major decisions. Ancient texts state, "There are hidden spirits underground and rabbit hair above; above are crushed divination stalks, and below is a sacred turtle." This hidden spirit, growing beneath the rabbit hair, resembles a flying bird. When it rains and the night is calm with no wind, the rabbit hair is moved aside, and a fire is used to illuminate the area. When the fire goes out, the location is noted, surrounded by a four-foot cloth, and dug up the next morning. If it is dug to a depth of four to seven feet, the hidden spirit can be found. If it exceeds seven feet, it cannot be found. This hidden spirit is the root of a thousand-year-old pine tree, and consuming it can grant immortality.
It is said that where the divination stalks grow to more than one hundred stems, there is definitely a sacred turtle guarding below, and there is always a covering of green clouds above. Ancient texts also say, "When the world is peaceful and the royal road is prosperous, the divination stalks can grow to a length of one zhang, and can produce more than one hundred stems." Nowadays, people harvest divination stalks without understanding the methods of ancient times. It is difficult to find those that are one zhang long with more than one hundred stems. If one can find those with more than eighty stems and eight feet long, it is already very rare. For common people to use for divination, finding those with more than sixty stems and six feet long is sufficient. Ancient texts record: "Finding a sacred turtle meant untold riches and a family fortune."
There are eight famous turtles. They include the Beidou Turtle, Nanchen Turtle, Wuxing Turtle, Bafeng Turtle, Twenty-eight Constellations Turtle, Sun and Moon Turtle, Jiuzhou Turtle, and Jade Turtle. Each turtle has a unique pattern on its belly, such as a cloud pattern, indicating a specific type of turtle. Here is just a simple introduction, without drawings. Obtaining these turtles does not necessarily require them to grow to a foot and two inches; for common people, getting one that is seven or eight inches is already very precious. Think of precious jewels and treasures—even when hidden deep, they will still radiate brilliance, revealing a divine quality, just like famous turtles and divination stems! Therefore, jade buried in the mountains can nourish trees; pearls grown in deep waters will not dry up the shore, all because of their nourishing effects.
A luminous pearl is produced in the rivers and seas, hidden in clam shells, guarded by dragons. If a king obtains it, he can possess the world for a long time, and all the other countries would send tribute. If one can obtain one hundred stalks of divination stems, and also obtain the divine turtle underneath them for divination, the results of the divination will definitely be accurate enough to determine good or bad luck.
It is said that divine turtles often emerge in the river. Lujiang County can catch twenty turtles that are twelve inches long each year and send them to the diviner in charge of divination. The diviner will choose an auspicious day and take the plastron from the turtle. Interestingly, it takes a thousand years for a turtle to grow to twelve inches long! In ancient times, emperors would use turtle shells for divination in the temple before going to war to see their fortune. There is still a place in Gaomiao where turtles are kept as treasures and offerings!
The book says that by wearing the bones from the front legs of a tortoise on your body, or by hanging the tortoise in the northwest corner of a house, you can enter and exit the backwoods without getting lost. When I was a minor official, I heard a story told by a man named Wan Bishi Zhu Fang, saying that there was a divine tortoise in the magical grove of Jiangnan. This grove, free of tigers, wolves, fierce birds, and poisonous plants, where wildfires cannot burn and axes cannot reach, is truly a magical forest. The divine tortoise lived in this grove, often nesting on lotus flowers. Engraved on its left rib were the words: "In a propitious year, those who obtain me will become a man of honor; with the land in order, the vassals who obtain me will become emperors." If someone wanted to obtain it, they would undergo a period of purification and wait in the forest where white snakes dwelled until they felt like they were being told someone had come, then they would offer wine as a sacrifice and go search for it, and would find it within three days. Pretty amazing, huh?
There was an old man in the south who used a tortoise to support the foot of his bed. After more than twenty years, when the old man died and the bed was moved, the tortoise was still alive! The tortoise could still practice qigong! Someone asked: since the tortoise is so miraculous, why do fortune tellers still kill tortoises to take their shells? In recent years, someone by the river obtained a precious tortoise, and by raising it, their family became very prosperous. Later, this person wanted to give the tortoise away, but someone advised against it, saying that giving it away would bring down the family. As a result, this person dreamt that the tortoise said, "Return me to the water, do not kill me!" But he still killed the tortoise. After killing the tortoise, this person died, and the family fell on hard times. The thoughts of common people and emperors are different; when common people obtain a precious tortoise, they generally will not kill it. However, looking at stories from ancient times, ancient clever rulers would kill tortoises for use.
Song Yuanwang also obtained a tortoise and killed it for use. So there you have it, folks. Just some stories to chew on.
In the second year of King Song Yuan's reign, there was a river spirit who looked like a divine turtle, ordered to go from the Yangtze River to the Yellow River. Upon reaching Quanyang, he was caught in a net by the fisherman Yu Qie and locked in a cage. In the middle of the night, this divine turtle appeared in a dream to King Song Yuan, saying, "My journey from the Yangtze to the Yellow River was interrupted; I've been caught in a net by Yu Qie of Quanyang and am in desperate straits. I heard that you are a benevolent king, so I came to inform you." King Song Yuan was shocked and immediately understood.
The next day, King Song Yuan summoned the court astrologer Wei Ping and asked him, "Last night I dreamt of a figure with an elongated neck and large head, attired in black embroidered robes and seated upon a wheeled conveyance, coming to see me and saying, 'My journey from the Yangtze to the Yellow River was interrupted; I've been caught in a net by Yu Qie of Quanyang and am in desperate straits. I heard that you are a benevolent king, so I came to inform you.' What is this creature?" Wei Ping stood up, looked at the moon, observed the direction of the constellation, determined the date and position, then used tools such as a ruler, carpenter's compass, level, and scale to calculate, combined with the Eight Trigrams, to judge good and bad fortune. He found that this indicated the appearance of some kind of shelled creature.
Wei Ping said to King Song Yuan, "Today is the day of Ren Zi, the constellation is in the area of Altair. The water of the Yellow River is about to rise, and the ghosts and gods are planning something. The Han River flows east to west, and the Yangtze River and the Yellow River are connected; as soon as the south wind rises, the river spirit arrived. The white clouds cover the Han River, everything is blocked. The handle of the Dipper points to the sun, indicating that the messenger is imprisoned. It is wearing black clothes and sitting on a wheeled cart; that is a turtle! Your Majesty, send someone to check it out!" King Song Yuan replied, "Very well!"
So Song Yuanwang sent someone to dash to Quanyang County and asked the county magistrate, "Is there a fisherman named Yuqie among your residents? Yuqie caught a turtle and sent a dream to the king, so the king sent me to find it." The county magistrate quickly checked the household registration and found a total of fifty-five households of fishermen, with one family living upstream, and the owner was named Yuqie. The county magistrate said, "Right away!" and hurried to find Yuqie with the messenger, asking him, "What was your catch tonight?" Yuqie said, "I caught a turtle when I hauled in my net at midnight." The messenger asked, "Where is the turtle now?" Yuqie said, "It's in the cage." The messenger said, "The king sent me for the turtle." Yuqie said, "Okay." He immediately released the turtle from the cage and presented it to the messenger.
The messenger set off, leaving through the Quanyang city gate. At noon, it was dark and stormy, with wind and rain. Dark clouds hung overhead, a swirling mix of blue and yellow; thunder rumbled, pouring rain fell, and howling winds blew past. They entered the main gate and arrived at the east wing. The turtle, soaking wet, shimmered like water.
The turtle looked at Yuanwang, stretched its neck forward, and took three steps before stopping. Then it retracted its neck back to its original position. Yuanwang found it strange and asked Wei Ping, "When this turtle saw me, it first stretched its neck forward. What does this mean? And then retracted its neck. What does this mean?" Wei Ping replied, "This turtle was trapped before and almost died. Your Majesty showed mercy and had it rescued. Now it stretches its neck forward to thank you; retracting its neck, it wants to leave quickly."
King Yuan said, "Great! This magical turtle is unexpectedly so understanding and reasonable! We can't keep it long. Quickly prepare the carriage to send it back; don't waste any time." Wei Ping said, "This turtle is a treasure of the world! Whoever obtains it first can become the emperor, and every word it says is true; every battle it fights can be won. It was born in the abyss, grew in the yellow earth, understands the ways of Heaven, and knows about ancient matters. It lives for three thousand years, never straying from its home, always peaceful and effortlessly moving. Its life spans ages untold; no one knows its limits. It can change color with the seasons: it's yellow in spring and summer, white in autumn, and black in winter. It can hide itself, lying still without eating. It knows the rhythm of yin and yang, understands justice and mercy, and can foresee good fortune and bad. It's always right, always wins. Your Majesty, keep it, and all the lords will bow to you. You must not let it go; only then can the state be stable."
King Yuan said, "This turtle is so divine; it descended from the heavens, fell into the abyss, and in danger, it considers me a wise ruler because of my deep virtues and reliability. That's why it came to tell me. If I don't let it go, then I would be like a fisherman greedy for personal gain. A fisherman wants its meat; I'd want its power. That's selfish below, and unrighteous above. No respect between ruler and subject? No blessings! I can't bear to keep it. I have to let it go."
Wei Ping said, "No, I heard that if good deeds are not repaid, if a great trust is not returned, if you do not accept the things given to you by Heaven, then Heaven will take back its treasures. Now this divine turtle has journeyed everywhere, from the highest mountains to the lowest valleys, across the land, without suffering any grievances or delays. Now it has arrived in Quanyang, but it has been insulted and imprisoned by fishermen. Although the king released it, the rivers will surely be angry and seek revenge. Feeling wronged, it will conspire with the spirits to bring misfortune upon the people. Uncontrolled flooding will be followed by drought, dust storms, and locust plagues, ruining the harvest. Your Majesty, you may show benevolence, but punishment will surely come. There is no other reason; it is all because of this divine turtle. Even if you regret it later, it will be too late! Your Majesty, please do not let it go!"
King Yuan listened and sighed deeply, saying, "Going against someone's wishes, thwarting their plans—isn't that tyranny? Taking others' things as your own treasures, isn't that plundering? I have heard that tyranny always leads to ruin; things obtained through plundering will not end well. Xia Jie and King Zhou—both brought down by their tyranny and greed. If I listen to your words now, I will lose the reputation of benevolence and end up with the fate of tyranny and plundering. The rivers helped King Tang and King Wu achieve greatness, and I will become like Xia Jie and King Zhou? Before seeing any benefits, I may have to bear the consequences. I am very hesitant; why keep this treasure? Get rid of this turtle, and quickly!"
Wei Ping said, "Your Highness, there is no need to worry. Between heaven and earth, rocks pile up to form mountains that stand tall but do not collapse, ensuring the stability of the earth. Therefore, some things may seem dangerous but are actually safe, while some things that appear light and airy are surprisingly immovable; some individuals may be loyal and honest yet are outshone by those who are full of lies, some may be ugly but can hold high positions, while others may be beautiful but bring disaster to those around them. It's beyond the understanding of ordinary mortals. Throughout the four seasons, if there is an imbalance in the climate, various disasters may occur. Different seasons in the same year bring about such changes in weather. This is why we have spring's birth, summer's growth, autumn's harvest, and winter's dormancy. Some people practice benevolence while others are cruel and oppressive. Cruelty and oppression have their own conditions for survival, just as benevolence has its own timing. All things are like this, making governance difficult to exhaust. Your Highness, listen to my words, and I will explain everything. The sky presents five colors to figure out black and white; the earth grows five grains to discern good and evil. However, common people do not understand this and are similar to animals, living in caves without farming. Chaos and disasters in the world arise from the imbalance of yin and yang, confusion, lack of order, and demons and monsters run rampant, with rumors flying. Sages can discern all things and make sure they each find their place. Animals have males and females to survive in the wild; birds have males and females to inhabit forests and swamps; shelled insects live in valleys. Therefore, in governing the people, we must build cities with streets and alleys inside and field paths outside; allocate land and houses to couples and assign them residences; establish household registrations to distinguish their clans; appoint officials to motivate them with titles and salaries; provide them with silk and hemp for clothing and grains for food; teach them farming, weeding, and fertilizing, ensuring they are well-fed and clothed, leading to prosperity and benefiting from it. Thus, without strong power, nothing can be achieved. Therefore, farmers must work diligently for the granary to be full; merchants must be strong to earn money; women must be skilled for fine cloth; officials must be authoritative for laws to be enforced; generals must be strong for soldiers to be commanded; princes and kings must be powerful to be recognized. Therefore, strength is the beginning of things, the principle of distribution, and the law of all things. As long as one pursues strength, nothing is unattainable. Your Highness, if you do not believe this, have you not heard that the pheasants in exquisite jade boxes come from the Kunlun Mountains, the moon-like pearls from the four seas, and the carved stones and shells bought and sold in the market, and sages consider them treasures? Where treasures are, there the emperor is. Your Highness, even if you consider yourself cruel, it is no different from picking shells by the seashore; even if you consider yourself powerful, it is no more than carving stones in the Kunlun Mountains. There is no fault in obtaining treasures, and possessing them brings no misfortune."
This sacred turtle got caught in a fishing net, and in its dream, it's the country's treasure! What's the king worried about?
Wei Ping continued to explain that there are natural laws that govern how things unfold in this world, which cannot be completely controlled by human power. Some things look dangerous, but aren't; some things look small, but are huge. Similarly, a person's character may not necessarily determine their success—honest and loyal individuals may not be more successful than deceitful ones, and unattractive individuals may hold high positions while beautiful ones may face trouble. It's not something everyone grasps. Throughout the four seasons, with alternating cold and hot weather, unpredictable climate changes are all part of these natural laws. Even within the same year, the weather can vary greatly between different seasons, a phenomenon beyond human control. Hence, we have spring's new life, summer's growth, autumn's harvest, and winter's rest. Some people practice benevolence and righteousness, while others commit violence and oppression; both have their place and time. Everything in the world is like this, endless and beyond complete control. Therefore, the king should not worry excessively.
Wei Ping then said that the heavens show us the difference between right and wrong, just as the earth's bounty reflects the balance of good and evil. However, the common people do not know how to distinguish, acting like animals, just looking for a place to be, not knowing how to make a living. The chaos and disasters in the world occur when yin and yang are out of whack, leading to chaos, rumors, and evil spirits running wild. The wise can distinguish all things, ensuring each finds its place in an orderly manner. Just as male and female animals live separately in the wild, birds have male and female counterparts in forests and swamps, and shelled insects live in valleys. Therefore, governing the people requires you to build homes and roads, give them land to farm, set up a system of officials to motivate them with titles and rewards, provide clothing made from mulberry and hemp, offer food from grains, teach them agriculture, and ensure their livelihood and well-being.
Wei Ping summarized that, as can be seen from this, without strong power, nothing can be achieved. Lazy farmers mean empty barns; if merchants are not capable, they won't make money; if women lack skill, the cloth will be rough; if officials are not strong, orders don’t get followed; if generals are not tough, soldiers cannot be commanded; if kings are not powerful, they will be unknown. Therefore, power is the beginning of all things, the principle of distribution, and the law of nature. As long as you pursue power, there is nothing you cannot obtain. If the king does not believe, he can think about it: pheasants from the Kunlun Mountains are kept in exquisite jade boxes; pearls as bright as the moon come from the four seas; carved stones and shells are bought and sold in the market. When the sage obtains them, they are considered treasures. Treasures are the mark of an emperor. If the king thinks he is cruel, he might as well pick up shells on the seashore; if he thinks he is powerful, it is no more than carving stones on the Kunlun Mountains. There is no sin in obtaining treasures, and there is no disaster in owning them. A divine turtle, caught in a net, dreamt it was a national treasure. Your Majesty, why worry?
That's not quite right. I've heard that those who offer advice bring blessings, while flatterers bring calamity. Rulers who listen to flatterers are fools. However, calamities do not come without cause, and blessings do not appear out of thin air. It is only when the energies of heaven and earth combine that all things can be nurtured. Yin and yang have their laws, following the changes of the four seasons, with the sun moving according to the rules of the twelve months in a year. The sage understands this deeply, which is why they can avoid disasters. A wise ruler follows the example of the sage, and no one dares to deceive the people. Good fortune is made, bad luck is self-inflicted. It's all about balance. Wise rulers see it coming.
Xia Jie and King Zhou of Shang thumbed their noses at the gods, suppressing ghosts and spirits, refusing to let them exert their influence. This was utterly depraved and tyrannical, and they even gathered a group of sycophants. Jie had flatterers like Zhao Liang, who goaded him into wickedness and fueled his insatiable avarice. He killed the loyal minister Guan Longfeng, and the other ministers, fearing for their lives, scrambled to flatter him. The kingdom teetered on the brink of collapse, yet they chirped that all was well; they chanted, "Long live the King!" and "May his reign last forever!" They lulled Jie into a false sense of security and inflated his ego. In the end, King Tang attacked Jie, and Jie died along with his country. He believed those flatterers and ultimately faced punishment himself. The "Spring and Autumn Annals" records this event, and people still remember it to this day.
King Zhou also had a flatterer named Zuo Qiang, who was eloquent and cunning, egging King Zhou on to indulge in luxury and pleasure, claiming he would rule the world and even have a jade bed. He dined with utensils made of rhino horn and jade, using ivory chopsticks for soup. A wise man saw through his deceit, and a brave warrior lopped off his feet. Ji Zi, fearing for his life, disheveled his hair and acted crazy. King Zhou killed Prince Boyi Kao of Zhou, imprisoned Duke Chang of Wen, locked him in a dungeon, and wanted him to die there. By a twist of fate, Duke Chang survived and eventually perished alongside King Zhou. Duke Chang fled to the land of Zhou and received assistance from Jiang Taigong. They raised troops and gathered people to resist King Zhou. Duke Chang fell ill and died, yet people carried his body forward. The prince succeeded to the throne and became the later King Wu. They defeated King Zhou in the Battle of Muye, pursuing him to the foot of Mount Hua. King Zhou's army crumbled, and he fled back to Chaoge, besieged at Lutai. Finally, he burned himself at Lutai, and after his death, no one buried him. His head was impaled on a chariot wheel, paraded through the streets by four horses – a grim spectacle for all to see.
When I think of these things, my heart is churning. These people, they were emperors, all right, but they are arrogant, greedy, showy, and domineering. They ignore loyal ministers and good generals, only listening to those brown-nosers, ultimately becoming the joke of the whole world. And my small country, squeezed between all those powerful states, was as insignificant as a single hair. If I make another mistake, wouldn't that mean the end of my country?
Wei Ping said: "No, the Yellow River, although awesome and grand, cannot compare to Kunlun Mountain; the source of the Yangtze River is also less impressive than the Four Seas, yet people still fight for its treasures, causing the lords to fight each other and trigger wars. Small countries perish as a result, and even large countries are endangered. They kill people's families and kidnap their wives and children, destroy countries, and ruin temples, all for the sake of these treasures. That's just plain tyranny. Therefore, one must first use violence to seize power, then govern with benevolence, not violating the laws of nature, and must be close to wise men; one must follow the changes of yin and yang, get the ghosts and gods on your side, and communicate with heaven and earth, befriending them. In this way, the nobles will bend the knee, and the people will prosper. The country will thrive, and the world will be a better place. King Tang and King Wu did this, and only then did they achieve the position of emperor; the Spring and Autumn Period records these as examples of governing a country. Your Majesty, you're not following the example of Kings Tang and Wu, but rather comparing yourself to the likes of Jie and Zhou. Jie and Zhou are typical tyrants who take tyranny for granted. Jie lived in a simple tile house, while Zhou lived in a luxurious ivory palace. They ripped off the people, wasted everything, and murdered innocent folks. They had people kill livestock, made pockets out of animal skins filled with livestock blood, hung them up for archery, trying to outdo the gods. They ignored the spirits, and those who dared to advise were killed, while flatterers surrounded them. The wise stayed hidden, and the people were too scared to do anything. Heaven sent droughts, and the country witnessed strange phenomena. Swarms of locusts ate everything, ruining the harvests year after year. The people were restless, and the spirits abandoned them. Strong winds blew, and darkness covered the land in daylight. There were eclipses of the sun and moon, plunging everything into darkness. The stars went haywire, losing their natural order. From these signs, how could a country like that possibly survive? Even without King Tang and King Wu, it was destined to perish. Therefore, King Tang defeated Jie, King Wu conquered Zhou, and they did it right, at the right time, and with the people on their side. They became emperors as a result, their descendants lived on; they lived faultlessly, praised by future generations, even to this day. They became emperors because they knew how to use what they had. This tortoiseshell is a precious treasure, used by wise men to share the will of heaven with good rulers. It travels itself; thunder and lightning clear its path, wind and rain protect it, and rivers guide it. Only a truly great king can possess it. Your Majesty, you deserve this treasure, but maybe you're too humble to take it. If you send it away, Song will be in trouble. You'll regret it."
Wei Ping continued, "So, Your Majesty, you should follow the example of Tang and Wu (the exemplary rulers Tang and Wu), not Jie and Zhou. You now possess this tortoiseshell, which is a chance bestowed upon you by the heavens, an opportunity for you to achieve great deeds. You should cherish it, use it to govern the kingdom, and benefit the people. Do not ruin this glorious land for the sake of temporary greed. 'Use force when necessary, but always rule with wisdom and justice,' this is the way of a king. Remember, there is justice in the world; good and evil will be rewarded. Do not underestimate the will of heaven, otherwise the consequences will be unimaginable!" He paused for a moment, his tone even more solemn, "Your Majesty, think carefully before you act!"
King Yuan was overjoyed, practically beside himself with happiness. So King Yuan bowed to the sun in gratitude, performed two large ceremonies before accepting this object. He chose an auspicious day, fasted and bathed, and made all the necessary preparations. Then he killed a white pheasant and a black sheep, used their blood to fill the tortoiseshell, and placed it in the center of the altar. With a knife, he cut open the tortoiseshell, but the tortoise body was unharmed. He set up offerings of wine and meat, placing the tortoise's entrails beside it. Using reeds for divination, the results predicted that he would surely defeat his enemies. The patterns on the tortoiseshell were clear and distinct, with various patterns intertwining in a miraculous way. When craftsmen performed divinations, the results were as accurate as the predictions. The country thus received abundant blessings, and neighboring countries all heard about it. They killed cows to obtain cowhide, used wood from Zheng to make armor. Various plants were used to make weapons, ultimately turning into swords and spears. King Yuan fought battles, conquered cities, and was victorious in every encounter; this success was attributed to the divine turtle. When King Yuan ruled, the Prime Minister of Wei was from Song, which was the strongest country at that time, and such prosperity was seen as a testament to the turtle's power.
So, although the deity can send the Yuan King dreams, it cannot come out of the fisherman's cage by itself; although it can predict accurately, it cannot swim the Yellow River, nor can it navigate the Yangtze; smart guys can help the Yuan King win battles, but they cannot avoid the danger of being injured by swords themselves; although really smart people can foresee the future, they cannot make the prime minister of Wei stop talking. All those big talkers often end up with their own downfall; if things go south, what can even the most capable person do? Smart people stick to their guns, but scholars often just go with the flow. Even smart people can't figure everything out, and wise people don't understand everything; even the most capable person can't do everything; although the sun and moon shine brightly, they can also be obscured by dark clouds; even though Hou Yi was an amazing archer, he wasn't as good as Xiong Qu and Feng Men; even though Yu the Great was brilliant, he couldn't defeat ghosts and gods. When the world's falling apart, how can we expect anyone to be perfect?
After Confucius heard this, he said, "Although the divine turtle can predict good and bad fortune, in the end, it is still thin and gaunt, empty inside. Although the sun rules the world, it can also be eclipsed by a three-legged crow; although the moon governs punishment, it can be swallowed by a toad; hedgehogs are at the mercy of magpies, and even the mythical serpent can be harmed by small insects. Although bamboo has its structure, it is hollow inside; although pine and cypress are the kings of the forest, they can only guard the gate. The sun, moon, and stars are not flawless, so they have their imperfections; gold has flaws, white jade has blemishes; things have their smooth times and their rough times; they have their limitations and their inevitabilities; some things are incalculable, some things are overlooked; people have their strengths and their weaknesses. How can one demand perfection? How can things be perfect? Even the heavens are not perfect, so the houses in the world will not have complete roofs but will be built with incomplete tiles to correspond to the imperfections of heaven and earth. All things in the world have their laws, and the imperfection of things is their fundamental existence."
Master Chu said: There was a fisherman who caught a divine turtle while fishing, and this turtle appeared in the dream of King Yuan of Song. King Yuan summoned the scholar Wei Ping and described the appearance of the divine turtle in his dream. Wei Ping consulted the omens, using his ruler and knowledge of the calendar to interpret the turtle's markings and determine its significance. He found that the turtle in the dream was exactly the same as the one caught. Wei Ping advised King Yuan to keep this divine turtle, saying it was a national treasure! In ancient times, divination had to be done with turtles because they had a good reputation, and this practice had been around for a long time. I recorded it and wrote it into a biography.
March, February, January, December, November, the high and low within the central pass; April, the first month, the toes open, the feet spread; May, the first month, the great head bowed; June, July, August, September, October—these are all records of divination, but I will not explain the specific meanings.
The taboos of divination are: the Zi, Hai, and Xu hours cannot be divined, and you can't kill turtles. Don't divine after lunch, and don't divine in the evening when the turtle needs to rest. You can kill and drill turtles on Geng and Xin days. Normally, on the first day of each month, you must make offerings to the turtle. First, wash it with clean water, then give it an egg wash, and take the turtle to make offerings, like you would your ancestors. If a reading's off, wash the turtle with an egg, then stand facing east, burn the turtle shell with thorns or hard wood, dab the shell three times with a dirt-smeared egg, then circle the egg around the shell and pray: "I'm using this egg yolk to get rid of any bad juju, today's a good day." The spirit'll buy it if you're sincere. It sees everything, knows all the signs. If not, burn it, scatter the ashes, and use a different shell for divination. Face north, and make sure the shell's at least a foot and two inches.
Before divination, heat up the drill and poke three holes in the turtle shell; then burn the turtle's head three times; then burn the drilled area again—this is called "correct body," while burning the turtle's head is called "correct foot," each done three times. Next, use the heated drill to circle the turtle shell three times and pray: "Mr. Spirit, you've been through the fire, but you still see the future. You're connected to everything, and nothing's hidden from you. Help me out today. If this works, I'll be healthy and lucky. If not, well, I'll just have to deal with the consequences."
When divining with a mystical turtle, pray like this: "I borrow the power of the mystical turtle! Five witches and five spirits ain't got nothin' on this turtle; it knows when folks are dyin' and when they're born. My intentions are sincere, and I wish to seek something. If I can get it, the turtle's head and feet will both stretch out, things are lookin' up; if not, the turtle's head will lift up, the feet will pull back, and things are lookin' down. This way, we can do the divination."
Now, let's see if this person's illness can be cured. If they're gonna die, their head'll bust open, scary as hell, bones all broken; if they're gonna live, the head's lifted up, feet down.
Next, let's check if the illness is caused by any evil spirits or something else. If it's evil spirits, the turtle'll show it; if not, it'll show that too. If the turtle shows evil spirits inside, that's internal evil; if outside, that's external evil.
Divine again to see if this person can go out. If they can't go out, it's all good; if they can, feet apart, head up, it means there's some external evil at play.
Let's divine again to see if we can get rich. If we can, head up, feet apart, inside and outside matching; if not, head up, feet down, and the turtle's sayin' no.
Divine to see if one can sell or buy slaves or livestock. If successful, head up, feet apart, everything matching; if not, head up, feet down, and the turtle's sayin' no, or it might show that it's all good.
Next, divine to see how many soldiers to bring to fight the bandits and where they're hiding. Can we win? If we can, head up, feet apart, body straight, the turtle's sayin' we'll win big; if we can't win, feet down, head up, body inside down, outside up, the turtle's sayin' we’re in trouble.
Let's do another reading to see if the journey will be smooth. If the journey goes smoothly, it'll be a piece of cake; if not, you'll be upside down, or everything will be alright despite the bumpy ride.
Going to fight bandits, will you encounter them? If you encounter them, head up, feet down—you're in for a rough time; if you don't encounter them, feet open, head up.
Going to ambush bandits, will you encounter them? If you encounter them, head up, feet down—you're in a good position to succeed, but bad luck is at play; if you don't encounter them, feet open, head up.
Have you heard if the bandits have arrived? If they have, things look bad, feet down, head up; if they haven't, feet open, head up, or the divination shows everything will be alright, safe and sound—you can wait a bit longer.
Divine to see if you can move house or resign. If you can move house or resign, there are signs pointing to success, but there are also some challenges; if you can't move house or resign, you have to leave, feet down, the divination will show, or show everything will be alright, safe and sound.
Divine to see if it is auspicious to hold office. If it is auspicious, the divination will show, or show everything will be alright, safe and sound; if it is not auspicious, things will fall apart, head up, feet open.
Divine to see if it is auspicious to live in the house. If it is auspicious, the divination will show, or show everything will be alright, safe and sound; if it is not auspicious, things will fall apart, head up, feet open.
Divine to see if this year's harvest will be good. If it is good, head up, feet open, a good harvest is indicated by a strong, stable structure; if it is not good, feet down, head up—bad luck is at play.
Divine to see if there will be an epidemic this year. If there will be, head up, feet down—a powerful force is at work; if there won't be, body straight, head up, feet open.
Let's toss a hexagram to see if there will be war this year. If there will be no war, the hexagram will show everything's fine; if there will be war, it'll show a strong, powerful stance.
First, let's see if we can encounter a noble person. If we can, the hexagram will show: standing tall, feet spread, and everything's going well inside; if we can't, it'll show: head raised, body bent, feet curled up, like a fish out of water.
Next, let's check if visiting others will be successful. If it will be successful, the hexagram shows: head raised, feet spread, and everything's going well inside; if it will not be successful, the hexagram shows: head raised, feet curled up, reaching out.
Let's see if we can find a fugitive. If we can find them, the hexagram shows: head raised, feet curled up, with inner and outer coordination; if we can't find them, the hexagram shows: head raised, feet spread, a good sign.
Will hunting or fishing be successful? If it will be successful, the hexagram shows: head raised, feet spread, with inner and outer coordination; if it will not be successful, the hexagram shows: feet curled up, head raised, a good sign.
Will you encounter bandits when you go out? If you will encounter them, the hexagram shows: head raised, feet spread, body bent, high outside and low inside; if you will not encounter them, the hexagram shows: it'll be a positive omen.
Next, let's see if it will rain. If it will rain, the hexagram shows: head raised, reaching out, high outside and low inside; if it will not rain, the hexagram shows: head raised, feet spread, a good sign.
Finally, let's check if the rain will stop. If it will stop, the hexagram shows: it'll be a positive omen, feet spread, head raised; if it will not stop, the hexagram shows: everything's good.
The following are interpretations of ancient Chinese divination hexagrams:
The meaning of the hexagram "Heng Ji An" is: If used to divine illness, a seriously ill person will not die that day; a person with a less serious illness will improve immediately and will not die. For those who are imprisoned, those guilty of serious crimes will not be released, while those guilty of minor crimes will be released that day; if not released within a day, you'll be out of luck. If seeking wealth, buying servants, or purchasing livestock, it will be obtained right away; after a day, it'll be too late. Travelers will be unable to leave, but visitors will arrive; if they haven't arrived by dinner time, they won't come at all. You won't catch any thieves; if there are rumors of thieves, they will not come. Official positions will not change, everything will be fine at home, except for a bad harvest, the people will not be sick, and there will be no war that year. If you see someone traveling, their journey will not go smoothly, and they will not be happy. Visiting others will be unsuccessful, finding runaways will be impossible, hunting and fishing will not succeed, you won't encounter any thieves, and there will be no rain, nor will the rain stop.
The meaning of the hexagram "Cheng Zhao" is: The sick will not die, those imprisoned will be released, travelers will be able to travel, visitors will arrive, deals will be successful, and runaways will be found, but not after a day. Asking about travelers, they will not arrive.
The meaning of the hexagram "Zhu Che" is: Inquiring about illness, death will not occur; those imprisoned will be released; travelers will be able to travel; visitors will arrive; deals will not be successful; those who worry need not worry; runaways will not be found.
Heard about this weird divination method the other day called "head up, heels down," which describes a position where your head is up, your feet are down, and you're feeling completely stuck. For illness, it suggests a serious but non-fatal condition; for those imprisoned, release is indicated. But if you're looking to buy things like servants or livestock, you'll have no luck; if you try to go out to do something, it won't work out; if you want someone to visit, no one will come; even if thieves show up, they won't be caught; if you hear any news, it won't come through; if you're hoping to make changes at work, it’ll be fruitless; officials will always be worried; staying at home seems to bring disasters; crops will have poor harvests, and the people will suffer from epidemics; even if there's a war, you won't hear about it. However, if you happen to meet an important person, that would be a good thing. But asking others for help won’t do any good; speaking kindly won't help; trying to find someone to catch a fugitive won't work; fishing and hunting won’t yield anything; and going out won’t lead to encountering thieves. As for whether it will rain or not, or whether the weather will be clear, that's uncertain. In short, the character "莫" (Mo) represents the entire meaning of this divination (meaning 'no result' or 'nothing happens'). Some say the name comes from the character "備" (bei), which can mean "up," hence "仰" (yang). Just jotting this down for myself.
Next, let's take a look at another fortune-telling result of "Stuck in a Rut." This method is the same as the one above, also called "Stuck in a Rut," meaning the head is up, the feet are down, and feeling like you're between a rock and a hard place. Divining illness, although serious, won't lead to death; those arrested won't get out. Buying anything, going out, or getting visitors is impossible; can't catch thieves; hear thieves coming, feel scared, but they never show up; can't change jobs; officials will find themselves constantly worried; staying at home, things aren't going well; poor harvests and widespread disease; no war this year; meeting a noble person is not a good thing; seeking help, chasing fugitives, cannot be accomplished; fishing and hunting yield nothing; no encounters with thieves when out; the weather is unpredictable. Overall, it's not a good omen.
Now let's look at the third fortune-telling result of "Presenting Signs, Stuck in a Rut." This method is similar to the first two, also called "Presenting Signs, Stuck in a Rut." Divining illness, no death; those arrested are still not released; buying anything, going out, or getting visitors is impossible; can't catch thieves; hear thieves coming, but they never show up; can't change jobs; officials will find themselves constantly worried; staying at home, things aren't going well; poor harvests and widespread disease; no war this year; meeting a noble person is not a good thing; seeking help, cannot be accomplished; fishing and hunting yield very little; no encounters with thieves when out; the weather is unpredictable. Overall, things don't look good.
Finally, let's take a look at the divination result of the "raised head, open feet" omen. This divination method is similar to the previous ones. For divining illness, serious illness won't lead to death; those who have been arrested will be released; no luck buying things like servants or livestock; going out to handle affairs will work out; if you're expecting someone, they'll show up; encountering thieves won't happen; hearing about thieves coming, they won't actually arrive; job transfers will go through; officials won't stay in their positions for long; staying at home brings bad luck; crop yields will be poor, with few people suffering from diseases; there will be no war this year; running into someone important may not be a good thing; seeking help from others, chasing fugitives, fishing, or hunting won't pan out; encountering thieves while out is a possibility; the weather's unpredictable, but it leans slightly toward good fortune.
In the first scenario, the divination result is "head up, feet open." If divining illness, it means the person won't die; if detained, they will be released soon, so no need to worry. However, buying things, servants, or livestock won't be possible; wanting to go out for a walk? No luck there; robbery attempts will fail; if someone is expected to come, they'll show up. Hearing about thieves coming, but they won't actually come. Trying to change official positions won't work; staying at home brings bad luck; crop yields will be poor; few people will be sick; there will be no war this year; running into someone important is a possibility; wanting to visit others, chase fugitives, fish, or hunt won't pan out; encountering thieves while out is likely; the weather's a toss-up, but leaning positive.
In the second scenario, the divination result is "Head up, feet open, there is an inside" (see footnote). If divining about illness, it indicates death; if imprisoned, you can be released. Buying stuff, servants, or livestock? Forget about it. Going for a walk is fine; visitors will come; you can rob someone, but you won't see the thief; if you hear about a thief, don't worry, they won't show up; official positions can be changed; you won't be in office long; staying home is bad luck; a bountiful harvest; few people get sick; no war this year; meeting important people is bad luck; visiting, chasing fugitives, fishing, or hunting? Forget it; you won't encounter thieves when going out; the rain will stop; if it does, that's a minor blessing; if it doesn't, that's even better.
In the third scenario, the divination result is "Horizontal blessing, inside and outside, the bridge is self" (see footnote). If divining about illness, choosing a good day will lead to recovery, not death; if imprisoned, you won't be convicted, and you can be released. You can buy things, servants, or livestock; going for a walk is fine; visitors will come; robbery will be successful, and you'll be evenly matched with your opponent; if you hear about a thief, the thief will actually come; official positions can be changed; staying home is auspicious; a great crop; nobody will get sick; no war this year; you can meet nobles, visit others, chase fugitives, fish, and hunt successfully; you will encounter thieves when going out; the rain will stop; if it does, that's a good sign; if it doesn't, that's even better.
*Footnote: The original terms have specific meanings in the context of Chinese divination and may not have direct translations.*
The fourth situation indicates a divination result of "things will go badly, regardless of location or circumstance." For illness, it predicts death; for imprisonment, no release. Attempts at buying anything (servants, livestock, etc.), pursuing fugitives, fishing, or hunting will fail. You won't be able to go out for a walk, and you can't leave; if you hear thieves are coming, they won't show up. If you want to change your official position, it will change; officials will have worries. Staying home, meeting dignitaries, or visiting others will bring bad luck; the crop harvest will be poor; people will get sick; there will be no war this year; and you won't encounter thieves when going out. Regardless of the weather, it’s all considered inauspicious.
The fifth situation indicates a divination result of "fisherman." For illness, it means the illness is serious, but you won't die; if imprisoned, you can be released. Buying, robbing, visiting, pursuing fugitives, fishing, and hunting will all be successful. You can go out for a walk, and others can come too; if you hear thieves are coming, they won't show up. There won't be a change in your official position; staying home is auspicious. The crop harvest will be poor; people will get sick; there will be no war this year; meeting dignitaries is auspicious; you won't encounter thieves when going out. Regardless of the weather, it’s all considered auspicious.
Okay, so this looks like an ancient divination reading. Let's break it down, bit by bit, in plain English.
First paragraph: "The name of this hexagram is 'Head Up, Heels Down; High Inside, Low Outside.' It symbolizes a head held high, with feet pointing down, reflecting an image of dominance and instability. Divining illness shows a severe but non-fatal condition. Those who are detained will not be released. Seeking wealth, acquiring property, livestock, and servants, as well as finding missing persons, fishing, and hunting, will all be successful. Journeys will be successful. Visitors will arrive. Overcoming robbers is possible. Official transfers will not occur. Officials will face worries, but no serious consequences. Many worries and illnesses at home are expected. The year promises abundance. People will suffer from epidemics. Although there will be signs of war this year, it will not happen. Seeking favors from nobles will prove inauspicious. Encountering robbers while traveling is likely. Fair or foul weather, the outcome is auspicious."
Second paragraph: "This reading, Heng Ji, means 'supported above and a pillar below.'" This hexagram, when viewed horizontally, is auspicious, with something lifted up above and a pillar supporting it below. "A long illness, but they'll pull through." If divining about an illness, even though it may last a long time, death will not occur. "No release for the prisoner." A detained person will not be released. "Forget getting rich. Buying anything – servants, wives, livestock – is a no-go. Finding missing people? Fishing or hunting? No luck." "Will things work out? Will anyone show up?" Will going out for business be successful? No! Will someone come to visit? No. "Forget robbing anyone – you won't even see a robber." Robbing is impossible, and even robbers are not seen. "Will those thieves actually show?" Hearing that thieves are coming, but they actually do not come. "No job change." Will there be a change in official position? No change. "Meeting a VIP at home is good luck." Meeting an honorable person at home is auspicious. "A bumper crop this year." A bountiful harvest this year. "Expect a plague." The people will suffer from epidemic diseases. "No wars this year." There will be no war in the middle of the year. "Safe travels – no bandits." There will be no encounters with robbers during travels. "Rain or shine? Either way, it's all good." Will it rain or not, will it clear up or not? The result is great auspiciousness.
Third paragraph: "The hexagram means 'horizontally auspicious, like an elm growing upwards.'" If you're divining illness, it won't be fatal. "Anyone who's locked up will stay locked up." Trying to get rich, buy stuff, or buy livestock won't work. "Will anything work? Will anyone visit?" Going out for business won't work? No! Will someone come to visit? No. "You won't succeed at robbing anyone, and you won't even see a robber." You'll hear about robbers, but they won't show. "Official positions will not change." Official positions won't change. "Whether in official positions or at home, encountering noble people is auspicious." Whether in official positions or at home, encountering noble people is a good thing. "The year will be prosperous." This year will be prosperous. "There will be epidemics this year, but no war." There will be epidemics this year, but no war. "Trying to see important people or get someone's attention won't work." Trying to visit officials or look for someone won't work. "Fishing and hunting will not be successful." Fishing and hunting won't work. "Going out will not be successful." Going out for business won't work. "Going out without encountering robbers." You'll go out without running into robbers. "It might rain, it might clear up—either way, it's a minor good omen."
The following interpretations are based on the Heng Ji Xia You Zhu hexagram.
Fourth paragraph: "This hexagram, Heng Ji Xia You Zhu, means it is auspicious when viewed horizontally, with a pillar supporting it from below." "For divination of illness, the illness, though severe, will improve; there's no danger of death." "Prisoners will be released." "Seeking wealth, buying goods, buying wives and children, buying horses and cattle, paying respects to officials, pursuing missing persons, fishing, and hunting are all unsuccessful." "Going on a journey: uncertain outcome." "Robbery will not succeed." "When you hear that a thief is coming, he is really coming." "A job change or promotion brings good fortune, but it won't last." "Staying at home spells trouble." "It'll be a lean year." "No epidemics this year." "There will be no war in the middle of the year." "Meeting a nobleman brings good fortune." "You will not encounter robbers on your journey." "Rain is uncertain; it might clear up. Slightly auspicious."
Fifth paragraph: "命曰载所." The name of this hexagram is "Zǎi Suǒ." If you're divining an illness, they'll get better and won't die. "The restrained will be released." Those who are imprisoned will be released. If you're trying to get rich, buy stuff, get a wife/kids, buy cattle and horses, see important people, find someone, fish, or hunt, you'll succeed. If you're going somewhere, you'll get there, and if someone's coming to see you, they will. You might run into thieves, but you won't get robbed. If you hear about thieves, they'll really be coming. Official positions will change. There will be worries at home. Meeting a noble person is auspicious. It'll be a good harvest this year. The people will not suffer from an epidemic. There will be no war this year. Going out won't result in encountering thieves. Will it rain or not? Either way, it will be very auspicious.
The first reading is called "Gen Ge." If used to divine an illness, the person will not die, and the restrained individual will not be harmed. Trying to get rich, buy things, get servants or livestock, ask for help, find someone who ran away, fish, or hunt – none of that will work. You won't be able to go out, and no one will be able to visit. Staying home will be fine, the harvest will be so-so, and nobody will die from sickness. You won't meet any VIPs. Going out won't result in encountering thieves. Will it rain or not? Either way, it will be very auspicious.
The second reading is "Shou Yang Zu Fan Wai Gao Nei Xia." It'll be worrying, but you won't die. People who go out won't come back, long-term illnesses will be fatal, you won't get rich, but meeting a VIP will be good luck.
The third divination reveals that the result is called "externally auspicious, internally inauspicious." In terms of health, one will not die, but there will be bad luck. Shopping in the market will be difficult, and there will be bad luck for officials and their families. Travel will be difficult, appointments will be missed, and prisoners will not be harmed for a long time. Overall, it is auspicious.
The fourth reading indicates that the result is called "things are aligning, both internally and externally." Used to divine health, the illness will heal; prisoners will be released; people can go out; expected visitors will come; and financial ventures can succeed. In short, it is auspicious.
The fifth divination reveals that the result is called "the signs are clear, but the outcome is uncertain." Used to divine health, serious illness may lead to death; prisoners will be released but with worries; hiring help, purchasing livestock, seeking assistance, capturing escapees, fishing, and hunting will all be unsuccessful. Going out will be unsuccessful. Expected visitors will not arrive. One cannot fight thieves, but rumors of thieves may lead to their appearance. Career changes or new positions will bring bad luck to the home; the harvest will be poor, common folk will fall ill, but not fatally, and no wars will occur that year. Wanting to meet a noble person will result in disappointment. There will be no encounters with thieves when going out. The weather is unpredictable, but it is still unfavorable.
The sixth reading indicates that the result is called "signs appear, head up, feet open, externally auspicious, internally inauspicious." Used to divine health, one will not die, but there are external evil spirits. Prisoners will be released but with worries; seeking wealth, hiring help, purchasing livestock, and negotiations will not succeed. One can go out. Expected visitors may come, but they did not. One can fight thieves and may win. Rumors of thieves may or may not prove true. Career changes or new positions will bring bad luck to the home; common folk will fall ill, and wars may occur that year. Seeking assistance, capturing escapees, fishing, and hunting will all be unsuccessful. The weather is unpredictable, and the overall outlook is perilous.
The seventh divination result is called "head held high, feet planted, body stooped, inner and outer forces aligned." It is used to divine illness, which is serious but not fatal; a person who is detained will not be released for a long time; attempts at financial gain, acquiring servants or livestock, or engaging in fishing or hunting will be unsuccessful. Going out will be unproductive, and visitors won't arrive. You can fight off thieves, and it will be effective. It is said that there are thieves, and indeed they will come. Official positions will not change. If you hold an official position, your home will not be auspicious, the crops will fail, and the common people will fall ill. Although there may be wars in that year, they will not come to you. Meeting a noble person will bring great joy. Seeking help from others or trying to retrieve a runaway will be to no avail. Encountering thieves is very dangerous.
The first hexagram says this hexagram is called "inside restrained, outside hanging." You cannot go out, visitors will not come, sick people will die, those detained will not be released, attempts at financial gain and acquiring goods will be fruitless, and people you wish to see will not appear. Despite these challenges, the overall outlook is positive, "a really good outcome."
The second hexagram is called "horizontal fortune, inner and outer forces aligned, self-bridge, elm, head held high, upper pillar, feet planted, body stooped." If you divine illness, although serious, it will not be fatal; if you divine imprisonment, the detention will be long, but no conviction will be made. Attempts at financial gain, acquiring servants, concubines, horses, or cows, visiting high-ranking officials, searching for missing persons, or engaging in fishing and hunting will all be unsuccessful. You cannot go out, and visitors will not come. If you hold an official position, you will encounter noble people at home, which is a good sign; if you seek a job transfer, it will not happen. Expect a lean year; the people will fall ill, and there will be wars, but they will not reach you. Going out may lead to encounters with robbers; you might hear rumors but see no results, and the weather remains uncertain, though it will eventually clear up. "A really good outcome."
The third hexagram is called "head held high, feet planted, body stooped, inner and outer forces aligned." Divining illness reveals that the illness is very serious, but not fatal; holding an official position will not be successful; you can go out, but visitors will not come, and attempts at financial gain will be fruitless, as will seeking help from others. Nevertheless, the overall outlook is positive, "good fortune."
The fourth hexagram, called "Obstruction with a Pillar Below." If you're asking about someone, they'll come, but not on the day you specify – it'll be later. If someone's sick and doesn't improve within a day, they'll die. You won't get anywhere, and you won't get any money or goods. The prisoner will be freed.
The fifth hexagram, called "Self-Raising Inside and Out." If someone's sick, it will take a long time to recover, but they won't die; the prisoner will take a long time to be freed; you'll get some money, but not a lot; you won't get anywhere, and the person you're waiting for won't show, but you can meet an important person. "Auspicious."
The sixth hexagram, called "Rising Inside and Falling Outside, Light Foot Disease." You won't get any money or goods, but you can go out. The sick person will improve, the prisoner cannot be released, the expected person will come, but you won't meet an important person. "Auspicious."
The seventh hexagram, called "External Obstruction." You won't get any money or goods, you can't go out, the person you're waiting for won't show, the prisoner cannot be released; this is a bad sign, "Inauspicious." The sick person will die, you won't get any money or goods, but you can meet an important person. "Auspicious."
The eighth hexagram, called "Self-Raising Inside and Coming from the Outside, Proper Foot Disease." You can go out, the expected person will come, you'll get some money, but not a lot; the sick person will take a long time to die, the prisoner cannot be released, but you can meet an important person. "Auspicious."
The ninth hexagram, called "This Obstruction with a Pillar Above, Self-Raising Inside and Sufficient Feet." If you're divining for wealth, it can be obtained; the sick person won't die; the prisoner won't be harmed, but they can't be released for now; it's uncertain whether you'll go out, whether someone will visit, or if you'll meet anyone, but everything will work out, "All things are auspicious."
The tenth hexagram, called "This Obstruction with a Pillar Above, Self-Raising Inside and Pillar Ready for Action." If you're divining for wealth, it can be obtained; the sick person will die, but will be revived; the prisoner won't be harmed and will eventually be released; it's uncertain whether you'll go out, whether someone will visit, or if you'll meet anyone, but everything will work out, "All things are auspicious," and military action is possible.
The eleventh hexagram is called "External Deception." Divination for wealth yields nothing. Illness will not be fatal, but will recur. Those who are imprisoned will face trouble with the law. Hearing news will not result in any loss. Going out and visitors are uncertain.
The twelfth hexagram is called "Internal Deception." Divination for wealth yields nothing. Illness will not be fatal, but will recur. Those who are imprisoned will face calamities, but will eventually come out safely. Going out and visitors are uncertain, as well as meeting people.
In the first scenario, one stands tall and feels relaxed both internally and externally. When divining, the result will be as desired. Illness will not be fatal, and there will be no guilt, allowing freedom of movement. Farming, market activities, fishing, hunting—everything will proceed smoothly.
In the second scenario, one is curled up tight like a fox or a badger. When divining, the result will be unfavorable. Illness may lead to death, recovery will be difficult, and escaping imprisonment will be challenging. However, one can settle down and get married, but getting around and seeing people is uncertain.
In the third scenario, one curls up tight like a fox. When divining, the result will be unfavorable. Illness may lead to death, and being detained will result in bearing guilt. Getting around and seeing people is uncertain, and what you say won’t matter; nothing will go smoothly.
In the fourth scenario, one's head is lowered, body curled up, joints bent. When divining, the result will be unfavorable. Illness may lead to death, and being detained will result in guilt. The awaited person may not come. Getting around and seeing people is uncertain.
In the fifth scenario, one stands tall and feels relaxed both internally and externally. When divining, the result will be unclear. Illness will not be fatal, but recovery will be difficult, and escaping imprisonment will be challenging. Getting around and seeing people is uncertain; overall, it’s bad news.
The sixth situation, the body is lying horizontally like an elm tree, with the head raised and the body drooping. When divining, it is difficult to get their wish. Recovery from illness is challenging, but death is unlikely. Escaping from detention is difficult, but there is no imminent danger. One can stay at home and get married.
The seventh situation, the body is lying horizontally like a pillar, with the joints bent and the limbs relaxed. When divining about illness, the person won't die on the day of divination but will pass away the next day.
The eighth situation, the body is lying horizontally like a pillar, with feet curled up, the inner limbs relaxed, and the outer limbs drooping. When divining about illness, the person won't die on the day of divination but will pass away the next day.
The ninth situation, the head is hanging low, and the feet are curled up, with the outer limbs extended but the inner limbs not. The sick person will die of anxiety before the divination is finished. The divination is rash, with results being miles off; although the person won't die that day, the consequences are severe.
The tenth situation, the head is raised, and the feet are curled up. When divining, the results are unfavorable, and being detained implies guilt. People may scare him with words, but won't cause harm. Whether he can leave or return, or even be seen, is uncertain.
In short, "outside" signifies others/women, while "inside" signifies oneself/men; a lowered head denotes sorrow; "large" refers to the body, and "small" to the limbs.
The main rules are:
- Sick: curled feet – survival; stretched feet – death.
- Walking: stretched feet – can reach; curled feet – cannot reach.
- Movement: curled feet – cannot walk; stretched feet – can walk.
- Seeking advice: stretched feet – can receive; curled feet – cannot receive.
- Detained: curled feet – cannot leave; stretched feet – can leave.
In illness divination, death with outstretched feet indicates an imbalance, with internal energy exceeding external energy.
