Introduction: The Leap from Single Line Analysis to Global Structure
In previous lessons, we focused on the prosperity and dynamic changes of individual lines. However, the brilliance of Liu Yao prediction lies in the "group relationships" between lines and hexagrams. The records in the "Six Combinations Chapter 19," "Six Clashes Chapter 20," and "Following the Ghost into the Tomb Chapter 30" clearly state that when specific structural combinations appear in a hexagram, the generation and restriction of individual lines must often yield to the overall structural force.
By mastering these structures, you can judge: Why do two people clearly in love eventually break up (Combination changing to Clash)? Why can someone terminally ill turn the corner (Clashing open the Tomb)? Why can a seemingly plain partnership achieve great things (Triple Union)?
Section 1: The Six Combinations System —— Gathering, Stability, and Entanglement
"Combination" (He) represents gathering, stability, delay, and entanglement. In divination, combination usually symbolizes "having affection" or "being tied down."
1. Basic Definitions of the Six Combinations
Earthly Branch Combinations: Zi with Chou, Yin with Hai, Mao with Xu, Chen with You, Si with Shen, Wu with Wei.
2. Six Forms of Combinations Recorded in the Text
Month/Day Combining with a Line: E.g., divining in the 5th Month, the World line Zi Water combines with the Month Commander. This represents "being pulled up"; even if the line is weak, there is an intent of promotion.
Line Combining with Line: Two moving lines in the hexagram combine with each other.
Line Moving and Changing into Combination: A line moves and the resulting Changed Line combines with the original Moving Line (Transforming into Combination).
Hexagram Meeting Six Combinations: All six lines in the primary hexagram form pairs of combinations (e.g., Hexagram Denial/Pi).
Six Clashes Changing to Six Combinations: The primary hexagram is Clash, but the changed hexagram is Combination. This represents "Difficult first, easy later," leading to eventual harmony.
Six Combinations Changing to Six Combinations: Stable from beginning to end, but can also represent being so entangled that it is hard to break free.
3. Deep Analysis: The "Dynamic Authority" of Combinations
The "New Commentaries" in the records corrected ancient methods:
Active vs. Passive: Ancient methods required both lines to move to form a combination. Real-world practice proves that as long as one line moves to combine with another, it is "Actively seeking combination."
Combination with Restriction: E.g., Zi combines with Chou, but Chou Earth restricts Zi Water; Si combines with Shen, but Si Fire restricts Shen Metal. This is called "Restriction hidden within Combination." If the Functional Spirit is prosperous, judge it as auspicious; if it is dead/weak in a month of strong Earth, judge it as ominous.
Practical Significance: Wealth and marriage divination love combinations (representing longevity); lawsuits and worries hate combinations (representing "the heart is tied up" and hard to resolve).
Section 2: The Six Clashes System —— Scattering, Speed, and Disintegration
"Clash" (Chong) represents scattering, opposition, speed, and instability.
1. Basic Definitions of the Six Clashes
Earthly Branch Clashes: Zi-Wu, Chou-Wei, Yin-Shen, Mao-You, Chen-Xu, Si-Hai.
2. Six Forms of Clashes Recorded in the Text
Month/Day Clashing a Line: Month clash is "Monthly Break"; Day clash is "Dark Movement" or "Day Break."
Hexagram Meeting Six Clashes: Internal and external trigram lines clash (e.g., Hexagram Qian for Heaven).
Six Combinations Changing to Six Clashes: Considered extremely ominous in Zeng Shan Bu Yi. Represents "Intimate first, distant later" or "Prosperity first, collapse later."
Six Clashes Changing to Six Clashes: Internal and external chaos, discord between high and low; a very ominous sign.
Moving Line Changing into Clash: The Changed Line clashes with its original Moving Line (Return Clash).
Line Clashing with Line: Two lines in the hexagram both move and clash with each other.
3. Deep Analysis: The "Urgency" and "Life-Death" of Clashes
Near Illness heals upon a Clash; Long-term Illness dies upon a Clash: This is a famous quote from the records. Near illness has strong energy; a clash scatters the pathogenic factor. Long-term illness has exhausted vitality; a clash collapses the foundation.
Combination within Clash: If a line is clashed but combined by the Day Master or another Moving Line, it represents "Someone intervening to mediate" or "A turning point within instability."
True vs. False Scattering: Wild Crane Elder emphasized that prosperous lines are clashed but not scattered; only resting/trapped lines without energy are completely disintegrated by a clash.
Section 3: Triple Union Framework —— Qualitative Change and Scale Effect
Triple Union (San He Ju) is the grandest structure in Liu Yao, representing multi-party cooperation, long-term plans, or a powerful energy field.
1. Composition of Triple Unions
Shen-Zi-Chen forms the Water Union.
Si-You-Chou forms the Metal Union.
Yin-Wu-Xu forms the Fire Union.
Hai-Mao-Wei forms the Wood Union.
2. Conditions for a Triple Union
The "Triple Union Chapter" identifies four ways to form a union:
Three lines within one hexagram move to form the union.
Two lines move and one line is still (but prosperous).
The 1st and 3rd lines of the inner hexagram move and change into a line that completes the union with the 2nd line.
The 4th and 6th lines of the outer hexagram move and change into a line that completes the union with the 5th line.
3. Deep Analysis: "Waiting for the Missing Piece" and Success/Failure
Waiting for the Missing Piece: If only two lines move, the missing Branch is needed. Once that Branch appears on a specific Day or Month, the power of the union is triggered. This is incredibly accurate for predicting "Timing."
Generating vs. Restricting: A union is not always good. In career divination, a Bureau of Official stars generating the World is auspicious; a Bureau of Child stars restricting the Official is an omen of lost fame.
Section 4: Following the Ghost into the Tomb —— Closure and Termination
"Following the Ghost into the Tomb" (Sui Gui Ru Mu) is the structure most feared by beginners. The records in Chapter 30 thoroughly demystify and correct this.
1. What is Following the Ghost into the Tomb?
World Line following the Ghost into the Tomb: The World line is Wood, meets a Wei Day (or Wei Earth moves), and Wei Earth is also the "Official/Ghost."
Life Fate Entering the Tomb: The diviner's zodiac sign enters the tomb.
Movement Changing into Tomb: A line moves and produces its tomb.
2. Deep Analysis: The Truth of the Three Tombs and Timing
Wild Crane Elder and the commentators agree that ancient methods overemphasized the ominous nature of the tomb.
Tomb does not equal Death: Entering a tomb represents "Coma, hospitalization, imprisonment, or being stored away." Like a person entering a safe, though they are not free, they are also protected.
Conditions for a True Tomb: Only when the World line or Functional Spirit is resting/trapped and without energy does entering a tomb signify danger. If prosperous, it is merely temporary stagnation.
Timing of Clashing Open: One who enters the tomb must wait for the day the "Tomb is Clashed Open" (e.g., if in a Wei tomb, wait for a Chou day) to see results or wake up from a coma.
Section 5: Practical Case Analysis
Case 1: The Tragedy of Six Combinations changing to Six Clashes (Husband/Wife Harmony)
Background: Mao Month, Yi-You Day. A couple is in litigation due to a dispute. Will they divorce? Hexagram Kun to Jie.
Analysis: The primary hexagram Kun is a Six Combination (partial), but the changed hexagram Jie is a Six Clash.
Logic: Wild Crane Elder judged: Wealth holding World is beautiful, but Combination changing to Clash, plus the World line forming a "Triple Punishment" with the Day. Not only will they divorce, but they must guard against criminal charges.
Result: Adultery was discovered; both were caned and divorced. Proves the iron law: "Combination to Clash—good start, bad ending."
Case 2: "Waiting for the Missing Piece" in Career Timing
Background: Yi Month, Ding-You Day. Divining for an official post. Hexagram Qian to Gou.
Analysis: Yin and Wu move in the hexagram. It only lacks the "Xu" character to form a Triple Fire (Official) Union.
Logic: Prosperous Official generating the World; he will definitely get the post. Since the union "lacks Xu," he must wait for a "Xu Day" for the documents to be submitted and for him to be promoted.
Result: He succeeded on the Xu day.
Case 3: Turnaround in the Tomb (Elder's Illness)
Background: Shen Month, Wu-Chen Day. Divining for husband's illness. Hexagram Tong Ren to Ji.
Analysis: Official Hai Water is the Functional Spirit (Husband). It enters the tomb on a Chen day. Old methods predicted death (Husband star entering tomb).
Logic: Wild Crane Elder pointed out: Hai Water enters the tomb of the Day but is generated by the "Shen Month." Entering the tomb only means "lethargy." Tomorrow is a "Si Day," which clashes open the Hai Water. He will recover.
Result: He recovered the next day. Proves the principle: "Prosperous lines entering the tomb—clash open to rise."
Section 6: Deep Analysis —— Hierarchy of Judgment
I have summarized three "Priorities" for structural judgment:
Trend Priority: In long-term investments or marriage, "Clash to Combination" or "Combination to Combination" is more powerful than the prosperity of a single line.
Speed Priority: Clash is fast; Combination is slow. Near illness, urgent matters, and finding people prefer Clash.
Status Priority: Following the Ghost into the Tomb, Void, and Monthly Break are the "Three Major Flaws." If a line has a structural flaw, one must look for the timing to "Fill, Combine, or Clash Open" to find the turning point.
Section 7: Practical Timing Guide
Combined needs Clashed: If combined or tied down, the matter usually happens on the day/month the "Combination is Clashed Open."
Clashed needs Combined: If hexagram is Six Clashes (unstable), the matter happens when the "Clash is Combined/Stabilized."
Tomb needs Clashed: For those in the tomb, wait for the day the "Tomb is Clashed."
Union needs Completion: For a missing piece in Triple Union, wait for the day the "Missing character is filled."
Section 8: High-Level Practical Summary
Combination Heart-Method: Combination is not always good; look at what is being combined. Combining Wealth is gathering; combining Ghost is anxiety; combining Brother is loss.
Clash Heart-Method: Clash is not always bad; look at what is being clashed. Clashing Illness is healing; clashing Worry is relief; clashing Wealth is dissipation.
Tomb Analysis: Distinguish True and False Tombs. Only when 月剋 (Month restricted), 日剋 (Day restricted), and Moving to Return Restriction AND entering a tomb, is it a dead end.
Conclusion of Chapter 7
Six Combinations, Six Clashes, Triple Union, and the Tomb constitute a three-dimensional model of time and energy. Through these structures, we can see through the entanglements, resolutions, and destinations behind events. This is not just a technique, but a profound insight into the laws of gathering and scattering.
Next Chapter Preview: "Chapter 8: Combining Image and Logic: Personality Traits of the Six Gods (Six Beasts) and Auxiliary Judgment of Mystical Stars." We will analyze why the Azure Dragon isn't always lucky, and why the White Tiger can sometimes be wealth!
