Introduction: The Hologram of Destiny —— Why is the "Method of Separate Divination" the Core of Life Prediction?
In the system of Zeng Shan Bu Yi, predicting an individual's lifelong fortune is regarded as the "most difficult task." The records open with a revolutionary viewpoint: the "Method of Separate Divination" (Fen Zhan Zhi Fa).
Wild Crane Elder pointed out that traditional divination books claimed a single hexagram could encompass wealth, children, career, and longevity. He argued that this is logically untenable. For example, a prosperous Parent line represents healthy elders, but the Parent line simultaneously restricts the Children line—does this mean a person with long-lived parents is destined to have no children? A moving Brother line represents deep sibling affection but is also the spirit of wealth-robbery—does this mean someone with many siblings is destined for poverty?
Therefore, the records emphasize: "Divine for parents separately; divine for siblings separately. For lifelong wealth, status, romance, children, and longevity—all should be divined separately." This "divide and conquer" approach is the only way to ensure precision and avoid information interference. This chapter will focus on the three most critical sub-topics of life prediction: Wealth, Fame, and Longevity.
Section 1: Lifelong Wealth and Fortune —— The Underlying Logic of Prosperity and Poverty
Chapter 37 clarifies the dialectical relationship between "Wealth" and "Fortune": the World line (Shi) is the foundation, the Wife/Wealth line is the profit, and the Children line (God of Fortune) is the source.
1. The Standard Model for an Abundant Household
An ideal lifelong wealth hexagram must satisfy the condition that the World, Wealth, and Children lines are all free from being trapped or broken.
Prosperous World Line: Represents the subject’s own energy being strong enough to "carry" the wealth.
Prosperous Wealth Line: Represents a lifetime of wide-ranging financial resources.
Prosperous Fortune (Children) Line: Represents wealth having a long-lasting source and continuous momentum for development.
2. Structural Analysis of "Rich House, Poor Inhabitant" and "Prosperity then Poverty"
The records provide several wealth structures with modern enlightenment:
Prosperous Wealth/World with Weak Fortune: This is called "Prosperous Wealth with Void Fortune." It represents being rich for now, but because the "source" (creativity, market, or stamina) is lacking, the glory cannot last.
Prosperous World/Fortune with Weak Wealth: This person will likely inherit existing industries and enjoy a comfortable life but is not good at management; wealth is mostly managed by others or used only for daily expenses.
Prosperous Wealth/Fortune with Injured World: Typical "Rich House, Poor Inhabitant." Though the family is wealthy, the subject is sickly or caught in lawsuits—having money but no life to enjoy it, or acting as a "high-level clerk" managing money for others.
3. The Truth about Brothers Holding the World
The commentary corrects the view that "Brothers holding the World means poverty." If Brothers holds the World but is clashed by the Month/Day acting as Wealth stars, or if Brothers transforms into Wealth, it is called "Self-Strengthening and Self-Prospering." The subject is often a self-made entrepreneur who builds from scratch.
Section 2: Existence of Fame and Rank —— The Destiny of Social Status
Chapter 38 divides the acquisition of social status into three paths:
1. Grand Scholarly Success (Wen Hong Jian Yong): Regular Promotion
Standard: Prosperous Parent holds the World with the Official moving to generate it; or Official holds the World with the Parent moving to generate it.
Imagery: Gaining a position through education, exams, or formal channels. Parents represent the "Seal" (authority), and Officials represent the "Rank."
2. Rank through Contribution (Na Lu Cheng Ming): Exchange of Wealth and Power
Standard: Official holds the World with the Wealth line moving to generate it.
Modern Interpretation: Obtaining management power through investment, sponsorship, or outstanding performance in a commercial institution.
3. Success through Merit: Military Posts and Special Favors
Standard: Wealth and Parent lines are not prominent, but the Official star is uniquely prosperous, or the Year Master moves to generate the World.
Modern Interpretation: Gaining破格 (exceptional) promotion through extraordinary deeds (technological breakthroughs, crisis management) during special periods.
Section 3: Length of Longevity —— The Destination of Life Energy
Longevity prediction is the most solemn part of Zeng Shan Bu Yi. Chapter 39 states: "If the World line is prosperous, take it as a sign of long life; if feeble, guard against an early end."
1. The World Line as the Root of Life
Signs of Longevity: World line is prosperous, values the Month/Day, or receives Return Generation from moving or changed lines. This represents deep roots, allowing one to live to a hundred.
Signs of Early End: World line transforms into a Ghost, Return Restriction, Extinction, or Tomb. The records call this "The setting sun is infinite, but it may not last long."
2. The Dynamic Balance of Original and Restricting Spirits
Original Spirit (Generator): Best if still rather than moving. The records propose a startling view: "For longevity, the Original Spirit should not move; movement indicates a limited lifespan." This is because movement represents life energy being "overdrawn" or "exposed"; once the Original Spirit reaches its stage of Extinction in time, life ends.
Restricting Spirit (Nemesis): Most dislikes movement. If the Restricting Spirit moves to restrict the World and there is no Original Spirit to rescue, the end usually comes in the year the Restricting Spirit is valued or the World line is combined.
Section 4: Following the Ghost into the Tomb —— The Shackles of Lifelong Fortune
The commentary emphasizes the special meaning of "Entering the Tomb" in life prediction:
World Line following the Ghost into the Tomb: In a lifelong hexagram, this represents the subject being unappreciated throughout life, living as if in a trance, failing in all endeavors, or being plagued by chronic illness or psychological pressure.
The Path to Liberation: One must wait for the Year or Month that "Clashes open the Tomb" to truly flourish. The records say: "A person in the tomb flourishes in the year of the clash." This provides great psychological comfort to those in adversity.
Section 5: Practical Case Analysis
Case 1: Wealth Prosperity Generating Official; Seeking Fame through Wealth
Background: Xu Month, Ren-Zi Day. Divining for lifelong fame. Hexagram Heng to Dui.
Analysis: Yin Wood Wealth holds the World and transforms into the Official.
Logic: This is called "Transforming into an Official star," representing that fame must be sought through financial means (investment).
Detail: The hexagram meets Six Combinations changing to Six Clashes. Combination means a smooth start; Clash means "A beginning but no end."
Result: The subject eventually passed the exams but could not serve in office because he went blind (the Official star belongs to Fire, which was injured in the Six Clash).
Case 2: Self-Strengthening and Self-Prospering; Building from Scratch
Background: Shen Month, Gui-Zi Day. Divining for lifelong wealth. Hexagram Tai to Lin.
Analysis: The World line is Chen Earth, receiving generation on a Zi Day without punishment or clash.
Logic: This is "Self-Strengthening," representing a self-made man.
Outcome: The subject originally had a small family estate but lost it due to gambling. He asked about the future. Wild Crane judged: Brothers holds the World and transforms into Retreat; he cannot make a fortune and can only barely subsist. He died in poverty in a Chou year. This shows that "Self-Strengthening" without Wealth/Fortune support is just "barely holding on."
Case 3: God of Fortune holding World; A Life of Purity
Background: You Month, Gui-Chou Day. Divining: "Besides fame, what else can I do?" Hexagram Dao to Fu.
Analysis: The Children line moves and meets the Azure Dragon.
Logic: Children is the "Spirit of Detachment." Holding the World or moving represents a subject with high aspirations who does not care for wealth or rank.
Conclusion: The subject eventually gave up his inheritance and entered the Hua Mountains to study the Tao. This confirms the personality of "Fortune holding World—transcending the mundane."
Section 6: Deep Analysis —— "Time-Space Alignment" in Life Prediction
I have summarized three modern judgment dimensions for life prediction:
1. Separation of "Wealth" and "Status"
Modern society often sees "Wealthy but not Noble" or "Noble but not Wealthy."
Prosperous Wealth with Weak Official: Rich but without status. Suitable for business, not politics.
Prosperous Official with Weak Wealth: Noble but not rich. Has status and reputation but possesses "empty pockets" or is a pure academic.
2. Redefining "White Tiger on Wealth"
The commentary points out: White Tiger on Wealth holding the World, though ancient methods considered the person uncultured, real-world practice proves "the household is solid and wealthy." In modern terms, this often represents "High-risk, high-reward" or "highly professional" jobs (surgeons, legal officials) that are hard and cold but very lucrative.
3. Turning Points for "Void" in Lifelong Fate
A Void World line is normally a major taboo. However, the correction states: If the World is prosperous but void, or moves to transform into void, this is called "Prosperous but Vacant." It represents being mediocre in youth but suddenly flourishing in middle age when the void is "Clashed or Filled."
Section 7: The "Three No-Look" Principles for Longevity
Based on the text, I have compiled the following erroneous concepts to discard:
Do Not Look at Stars: Do not judge death just because you see Loss Gate. A prosperous World line is immune to ten thousand stars.
Do Not Look at Hexagram Names: Ancient methods claimed hexagrams like Da Guo were ominous. Wild Crane stated: "Life and death depend solely on the Functional Spirit; others are unreliable."
Do Not Look at Line-Years: Ancient methods gave each line 5 years (totaling 30). The records call this "Deception"; a diviner must never rigidly follow this.
Section 8: Ten Practical Golden Rules for Life Prediction (Summary)
Separate Divination is King: Wealth, status, life, and children must be divined separately.
World line is the Foundation of Life: If the World is extinct, all is over.
Children is the Source of Wealth: Wealth without fortune is like a tree without roots.
Official/Parent Generating means Fame: Formal promotion depends on these two.
Wealth generating Official means Promotion via Capital: The logic of modern corporate提拔.
Brothers holding World means Financial Depletion: Unless it transforms into Wealth, money is hard to keep.
Following the Ghost into Tomb means Anxiety: Living in a cage until the year of the clash.
Transforming to Advance means Thriving: Transforming to Retreat means a bleak old age.
Fan Yin means Life Waves: Repeated moves and starting over only to fail mid-way.
A single sincere thought moves the Divine: Life matters require total sincerity.
Conclusion of Chapter 16
Life prediction is the most philosophically deep part of Zeng Shan Bu Yi. It tells us that wealth and longevity are not isolated points but a line woven by energy and structure. Through the "Method of Separate Divination," we can clearly see the distribution of fate across wealth, career, and health. The purpose of predicting fate is to allow us to charge forward in prosperous years and cultivate ourselves in weak years. As the records say, "Knowing the mechanism is divine." When you see through this master ledger, you can face life's ups and downs with a more composed mind.
Next Chapter Preview: "Chapter 17: Traveling Ten Thousand Miles: Precise Predictions for Travel, Sailing, and the Return of Travelers." We will analyze why "The Void World arrives quickly," and how to use the "Children Line" as your favorable wind signal!
