In the early divinatory text “Fire Pearl Forest,” there is a provision regarding the significance of ‘Nayin’ as an emblematic representation. The text asserts: “Heavenly Stems govern astronomical phenomena, Earthly Branches oversee human affairs, while Nayin manages geography.” This perspective, originating from an authoritative early divination text, highlights the significance of Nayin within the context of Earthly Branches, although it indicates a lack of emphasis on its utilization within the Heavenly Stems, a tendency that persists even in modern times. Despite the proliferation of divination texts, few delve into this aspect.
In actuality, Nayin, as a latent form of information, not only elucidates geographical aspects of hexagrams but can also be extensively applied to human affairs and various other aspects of the hexagram’s six lines. Each line of the hexagram, as well as the changing lines, possesses its Nayin. Such specific and vivid information should not be overlooked lightly. Some details may elude observation within the familial relations or the earthly stems, yet they become glaringly evident upon examination through Nayin.
Consider the following hexagram: In the year of Hai, during the month of Xu, on the day of Xin Chou, Ms. Wang inquires about her husband’s fortune.
Teng Snake – Parents – Gui You – Response
Gou Chen – Siblings – Gui Hai
Zhu Que – Officials and Ghosts – Gui Chou
Qing Long – Wife and Wealth – Wu Wu – Subject
Xuan Wu – Officials and Ghosts – Wu Chen
Bai Hu – Children and Grandchildren – Wu Yin
For married individuals, the husband’s star is examined, aligning with the response line. The response should be in an elevated position, indicating that the husband holds a leadership position, symbolized by the father figure, which represents the workplace and presides over the Kun Palace. At the knee of the serpent, an entity intertwined with agriculture, one observes the resonance of Gui You, where the edge of the sword meets metal. Though society no longer tills the soil with blades, the metaphorical edge of the sword graces the vast expanse of Kun, akin to the mechanization of modern agriculture. Indeed, the director of the county’s agricultural machinery company embodies this essence.
The Vermilion Bird and the official specter converge upon the fourth hexagram. According to the verses of “Sun Bin’s Song of Diagnosing Diseases,” which speaks of “four lungs, a heart meridian, five or six heads,” indicating afflictions pertaining to the heart and lungs. Determining whether it is a cardiac ailment or a respiratory disorder seems ambiguous at first glance. Yet, delving deeper into the resonance, the official position in Gui Chou corresponds to mulberry and Chinese scholar tree wood, resembling the structure of the trachea and lungs. Therefore, it points to pulmonary ailments, specifically bronchitis in this instance. The resonance decisively settles the matter.
From this, it becomes evident that the insights provided by resonance can sometimes supplement the deficiencies of the Six Harmony Animals and Six Relatives in the earthly branches. However, two caveats must be noted. Firstly, one must interpret resonance flexibly, avoiding rigid adherence to literal meanings. With only thirty resonances against the infinite diversity of phenomena, attempting to mechanize interpretations would prove futile. Secondly, it is crucial to integrate insights from the Six Relatives, Six Harmony Animals, and other relevant information to ensure the resemblance to reality.
Employing resonance to seek insights can be approached from several angles:
1. Resonance: What scene emerges when the resonances of the three moving lines in the hexagram containing the auspicious deity are combined? If there are changing lines, incorporate the resonances of the changing lines as well. 2. Within the framework of combination method, sometimes the interpretation of hexagrams can be enriched by integrating the attributes of the trigrams that the governing lines interact with. This fusion can unveil novel dynamics or images within the reading.
3. The understanding of hexagram attributes should be adaptable to modern life, avoiding stagnation in archaic interpretations while steering clear of distorting the essence with contemporary terminology. It requires a bridge between antiquity and contemporary relevance, fostering a skillful associative capacity. For instance: “Earth by the roadside” (connoting highway bandits, street cleaners, construction workers, or roadside garbage heaps), “Water beneath the brook” (embracing tap water, beverage outlets, hotels, or street-side gardens with fountains), “Thunderous fire” (encompassing high-voltage power lines, trains, jet engines, rockets, welders, or popcorn vendors), “Rekindled light” (suggesting flashlights, brilliantly lit ballrooms, Buddhist temples, or monasteries), “Pomegranate wood” (indicating mahjong, urinary stones, pain, dental practitioners, or clinics), “White wax gold” (encompassing surgical blades, security guards, counterfeit currency, imitation jade or gold and silver jewelry, or skincare creams), “Soil atop the city walls” (hinting at high-rise hotels), “Gold beneath the sea” (relating to petroleum extraction), “Golden hairpins and bracelets” (referring to antiques, ornaments, antique markets, or gift shops), and so forth.
4. When combined with the trigrams and hexagrams, the interpretation of hexagram attributes gains depth. For instance, considering “Thunderous fire,” depending on its position within the hexagram, it may signify lightning – including its manifestations in changing or relating hexagrams. In human lines, it may symbolize warfare or heavy weaponry; in terrestrial lines or in the realm of the receptive trigram, it could denote earthquakes or oil reserves. In combination with the trigram Gen, it might represent volcanoes. Thus, the significance of a particular hexagram attribute is contingent upon its contextual placement. This principle underscores a fundamental aspect of hexagram divination. Generally speaking, the determination of auspicious sound primarily hinges upon the interaction between the dominant and responding hexagrams, as well as the appointed deities. For instance, when embarking on a journey, discerning the auspicious sound of the responding hexagram unveils insights into the destination’s ambiance and circumstances. Similarly, in divining the passage of pedestrians, analyzing the amalgamation of auspicious sounds within the three hexagrams associated with the appointed deities reveals the current environment and situation of the individual in transit.
