Introduction: The Underlying Logic of House Divination —— The Dynamic Balance between House and Person
In the wisdom of Zeng Shan Bu Yi, the core of house prediction lies not in mysterious directional theories, but in the generation and restriction relationship between the "House Line" and the "Person Line." The records clearly state that the golden rule of house divination is: "The 2nd line is the House; the 5th line is the Person."
Wild Crane Elder believed that a house is not just a physical space, but an energy carrier. If the House (2nd line) generates the Person (5th line), the environment nurtures the residents; if the House restricts the Person, it is called "House restricting the Person," which leads to lingering illness and continuous financial loss after moving in. This chapter will lead readers to see through the "past and present life" and hidden risks of a building through the changes of the six line positions.
Section 1: Six Positions Take Shape —— Line Correspondences in House Structure
According to the records, the six lines of a hexagram correspond to different parts of a house, which is vital for locating leaks, damage, or clashes:
1st Line (Foundation, Well): Represents the foundation of the house, drainage ditches, or even small pets at home. If the 1st line is clashed, it represents unstable foundations or drainage issues.
2nd Line (House, Hall): This is the "soul" of house divination. It represents the living room and the main structural body. If the 2nd line is prosperous, the house is solid; if void or broken, the house is old or vacant.
3rd Line (Doorway, Threshold): Represents the inner main door. If the 3rd and 4th lines clash, it represents doors facing each other (Door-to-Door clash), prone to disputes.
4th Line (Doorway, Window): Represents the outer main door or windows. If the 4th line is on the Official/Ghost and moves, guard against thieves entering.
5th Line (Person, Road): Represents the "Person Position." It also represents the road in front of the house. If the 5th line is prosperous, the residents are refreshed; if restricted, their luck is blocked.
6th Line (Wall, Roof): Represents the walls, rooftop, or terrace. If the 6th line is on the Parents line and moves, it represents leaks or repairs on the roof.
Section 2: Energy Imagery of the Six Relatives in Feng Shui
The records in the "House Chapter" precisely match the Five Elements and Six Relatives with specific objects in the living environment:
Parents Line (Functional Spirit/Building): Represents the main body, walls, and roof. If Parents are prosperous, the house is large and sturdy; if they transform into Return Restriction, it means the house is about to be demolished or collapse.
Wife/Wealth Line (Fortune/Kitchen/Toilet): Represents the assets and furniture in the home; functionally corresponds to the kitchen and toilet. If Wealth is prosperous, the family is wealthy.
Officials/Ghosts Line (Worry/Disaster/Altar): House divination most dislikes the Ghost. If the Ghost moves on the 2nd line, the house is "unclean" (supernatural or negative magnetic fields); if on Fire, guard against fire; if on Water, guard against leaks and dampness.
Children Line (Fortune/Corridor): Represents joy, vitality, and sunny areas like corridors. If Children hold the World or move, it can suppress evil spirits and stabilize the house.
Brothers Line (Financial Loss/Walls): Represents gaps in doors and windows, or wall corners that cause "Sha" (clashes) leading to financial loss. If Brothers move, the family suffers from quarrels and money comes and goes.
Section 3: Deep Analysis of Six Gods and Environmental Details
The commentary mentions that the Six Gods are key to judging the "Form" and "Surroundings" of the environment:
Azure Dragon: Represents a new house, tall trees, or a clean water source on the left (Dragon Water).
Vermilion Bird: Represents noise in front of the door, cultural/educational facilities, or heat sources like stoves and electrical boxes.
Sky Turtle: Represents an old house, ongoing renovations/extensions, or dirt mounds and old walls in front.
Soaring Serpent: Represents strange phenomena in the house, or winding roads and utility poles outside (Snake-shaped Sha).
White Tiger: Represents a large road on the right (Tiger Path), or ominous bloodshed. The commentary notes: Tiger governs passages; if the 5th line is Monthly Broken, it means the road surface is damaged.
Black Tortoise: Represents hidden places, sewers, proximity to water, or leaks from unknown sources (Tortoise governs water).
Section 4: Moving and Purifying —— Criteria for Moving House
The records in "Moving and Purifying Chapter 109" provide core guidance for modern home buyers:
1. Moving depends on the movement of the "World Line"
World Moving: Represents the resident's inner desire to leave the current environment.
World Transforming to Retreat Spirit: Represents regret over moving, or that the new home is inferior to the old one.
World Transforming to Advance Spirit: Represents a promotion in luck after moving.
2. Judging the Quality of the New House
Response Line is the New House: If the Response generates or combines with the World, the new house suits you; if it restricts the World, you will face immense pressure and misfortune after moving in.
Fan Yin and Fu Yin: A "Fan Yin" hexagram means you will move again soon; "Fu Yin" means you want to move but are tied down by trifles.
Section 5: Practical Case Analysis
Case 1: New Residence, Unstable Population (Source Case)
Background: Mao Month, Gui-Hai Day. Divining due to family unrest after moving into a new house. Hexagram Xu to Guai.
Analysis: Child Shen Metal holds the World and transforms into "Wu Fire Ghost" (Return Restriction). This represents "Self and Child both restricted," an extremely ominous sign. The 2nd line (House) moves to transform into Earth to restrict Water (Wealth injured), representing the wife and servants are also uneasy.
Logic: Wild Crane Elder judged: "Return Restriction on me; by Summer when Fire is prosperous, disaster will strike." He advised moving immediately.
Result: The party hesitated. In the 5th Month (Wu), the Yellow River breached its banks, and all nine family members were swept away.
Lesson: If Return Restriction appears in house divination and responds in a prosperous month, decisive action is mandatory.
Case 2: Leakage and Bathroom Repair (Commentary Case)
Background: Mao Month, Ding-You Day. Divining house Feng Shui. Hexagram Sui.
Analysis: The World line is on Soaring Serpent (long objects). Chou Earth Wealth is the Water Storage (Tomb of Water), on Black Tortoise.
Logic: Black Tortoise governs secrecy; the storage is under the 2nd line. Judged that "sewage pipes or the bathroom" cost a lot of money to repair. The 2nd line (House) is on the Day Master, meaning the house is currently under repair.
Result: Completely correct. This shows how to use Six Gods and line positions to locate "leaks."
Case 3: Seeking Refuge to Survive (Source Case)
Background: Si Month, Bing-Xu Day. Divining where to flee to avoid local turmoil. Hexagram Qian to Da You.
Analysis: Brothers Shen Metal moves to transform into Parents Wei Earth. Others thought Gold moves to generate Water and suggested North.
Logic: Wild Crane Elder judged that Wu Fire Ghost is in season and generates the World (Wei Earth); one should go South.
Conclusion: Those who trusted him fled South and survived; the bandits came from the North and burned the village. Proves that in danger, "the direction that generates the World is the place of blessing."
Section 6: Deep Analysis —— "Ghosts" and "Energy" in the House
The records explore a topic modern people are interested in: What if a house feels "unclean"?
1. Ghost holding World and 2nd Line Movement
If divining for one's own house and a Ghost moves on the 2nd line, it is not necessarily a "ghost" but "unstable energy."
Fire Ghost: May be short circuits or a past fire.
Wood Ghost: May be decaying beams or termite damage.
Metal Ghost: Represents sharp objects causing a clash, or noise from metal banging (Sound Sha).
2. The "Clashing Open" Method
If the House line (2nd line) is in a tomb or trapped, the house luck is stagnant. The commentator notes that sometimes one needs to "Renovate or move furniture" (manually creating a clash) to break the stagnant magnetic field. This is "Movement triggers Change" in Liu Yao.
Section 7: Modern Adaptation for Apartments and High-rises
The commentary provides corrections for modern environments:
Elevators and Stairs: Viewed as extensions of the 5th line (Road). 5th line moving with Soaring Serpent represents elevator failure or dark, winding stairwells.
High-rise Levels: 1st line is the ground/basement; 6th line is the terrace. If you live on the 10th floor, the 2nd line is your home, the 1st line is the neighbor below, and the 3rd line is the neighbor above.
Section 8: Ten Practical Golden Rules for House (Summary)
House generates Person is lucky; Person restricts House is unlucky: The 2nd and 5th line relationship is the soul.
2nd line Void means moving soon: The house is empty; either moving or the family is not thriving.
Parents line is the house body: Transforming to Return Restriction means property loss or collapse.
Ghost in the house brings unrest: Ghost on the 2nd line means hidden diseases or accidents.
Wealth holding World means a wealthy home: Solid material foundation.
Children moving is a town-house talisman: The God of Fortune acting dissolves all clashes.
Fan Yin means frequent changes: Won't live there long; repeated moving.
Black Tortoise governs hidden leaks: Check plumbing issues here.
White Tiger governs road clashes: External environmental Sha is seen here.
World moving means the mind is set on moving: Whether you want to move depends on the World line.
Conclusion of Chapter 14
In the predictive view of Zeng Shan Bu Yi, a house is an extension of the resident's life energy. Good Feng Shui is not a fixed direction, but the harmonious resonance of "House, Person, and Time." Through careful observation of the 2nd and 5th lines, we can not only find physical problems like leaks and cracks but also foresee the rise and fall of the residents' fortunes.
Next Chapter Preview: "Chapter 15: Rewriting Destiny: The Ultimate Operation Manual for Seeking Auspiciousness, Avoiding Non-disputes, and Evading Calamity." We will analyze why "The Sages created the I Ching originally to allow people to seek auspiciousness and avoid harm," and how to use "Children holding the World" as your strongest protective amulet!
