《扶天广圣如意灵签》

First, Very Auspicious

Qian (Heaven), through the virtue of strength and vigor, brings all things into being and grants free passage, success, suitability, and steadfastness on the right path. The noble person models this virtue, establishing guiding principles and setting enduring laws.

For a weather inquiry: clear skies. The harvests of the fields and silkworms will be abundant; burial will be auspicious; livestock will thrive; and those away from home will arrive soon. Plans will make great progress, and profits will be substantial. Marriage will be harmonious, and legal proceedings will go well. When visiting someone, you will meet a benefactor; journeys will go smoothly. Building a house will bring good fortune and peace. Illness will soon be cured. Lost possessions will be found, and childbirth will go smoothly and bring joy. Thieves will be easy to catch, and prayers and offerings will bring blessings. Strange occurrences will bring no calamity. Moving will be auspicious, the household will be safe, and paperwork will be completed.

All these are signs of great good fortune. They correspond to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei. The direction is due east.

Second, Moderately Auspicious

When you first step on thin frost, you know that solid ice is soon to come. Once the cold Yin energy has gathered to its utmost, spring warmth returns, and the tender shoots of plants all begin to grow. This describes matters that are obstructed at first but gradually improve.

For a weather inquiry: rain. The harvests of the fields and silkworms will be average; burial will be auspicious in some respects. Livestock will fare ordinarily, and those away from home will still be on the road. Plans will make some progress, and profits will be limited. Marriage will take place later than expected. Legal proceedings will begin badly but end well. Visiting someone will meet with some obstacles, while travel will generally go smoothly. Construction should be delayed. Illness will worsen at first, then improve. Lost possessions will take some time to find. Childbirth will encounter difficulties at first, then go smoothly. It will take a while to catch thieves. Prayers and offerings will meet with some response. Strange phenomena will gradually disappear. Do not rush to move. The household will gradually settle down, and paperwork will proceed slowly.

These are signs of initial misfortune followed by good fortune. They correspond to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu. The direction is southwest.

Third, Moderately Auspicious

Blessings do not arrive without cause, and calamities do not fall upon people out of nowhere. If you ordinarily keep to the right path and act according to what is proper, the spirits will protect and approve of you.

Divination for the weather indicates partly cloudy skies. Farming and silkworm raising will proceed steadily, and the fengshui of the grave will be stable. Travelers will arrive late, and livestock will be in ordinary condition. Plans can succeed as hoped, seeking wealth will be favorable, marriage can be accomplished, and legal disputes can be settled peacefully. There will be no obstacles to visiting others, but travel should proceed at a slower pace. Matters such as building a house can go ahead as usual. Illness may fluctuate, but it can be treated; lost items may be recovered, and childbirth will be safe. Thieves can be caught, but prayers and offerings will receive no response. There is no need to worry about strange occurrences, and it is best to keep one’s present home. The household will be safe, and seeking official documents will be suitable.

This is a moderately balanced lot. Its fortunes and misfortunes will come to a response in the numbers three, six, and nine, and in the years, months, days, and hours of Si, You, and Chou; its direction is due west.

Fourth Lot, Moderately Balanced.

I took a fine bow and went hunting on the eastern hillside. On the way, I came upon a roaring bear and shot an arrow into its neck.

Divination for the weather indicates rain. Farming and silkworm raising show promise of a harvest, and the fengshui of the grave is slightly auspicious. No livestock will be lost, and travelers are about to arrive. Plans will succeed only after a delay, and profits from seeking wealth will also come later. Marriage can be accomplished, and legal disputes will cause no trouble. A visit will be permitted, and travel is suitable. Matters such as building a house can begin, and illness will pose no serious problem. Lost items should be searched for, and childbirth will involve some danger. The thieves have already gone far away, and prayers and offerings will bring only partial good fortune. Strange occurrences will bring minor trouble, and moving house will bring slight benefit. The household will ultimately be fortunate, though obtaining official documents will be delayed.

This is a moderately inauspicious lot in which misfortune comes first and good fortune follows. Its fortunes and misfortunes will come to a response in the numbers two, four, and eight, and in the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; its direction is due south.

Fifth Lot, Most Inauspicious.

Peach and plum trees in the eastern garden bloom with red and white blossoms, but wind and rain batter them. The flowers fall and scatter among the mud and sand.

Divination for the weather indicates clear skies. Farming and silkworm raising will yield no harvest, and the fengshui of the grave will bring calamity in the future. The direction is due south.

Fifth Lot, Most Inauspicious.

Peach and plum trees in the eastern garden bloom with red and white blossoms, but wind and rain batter them. The flowers fall and scatter among the mud and sand.

For inquiries about the weather: clear skies. Farming and silkworm raising will yield no harvest; disaster will follow a burial. Livestock will be lost, and those traveling will encounter obstacles. Plans will be difficult to carry out, and seeking wealth will bring no benefit. Marriage will be hard to arrange, and legal disputes hard to resolve. It will be difficult to meet the person you wish to see, and travel will be obstructed. Building a house is inauspicious, and illness will be hard to cure. Lost people or things will be hard to recover, and childbirth will not go smoothly. Thieves cannot be caught; it is unwise to pray or make offerings. Strange occurrences will bring disaster, and moving will invite misfortune. The household will be unsettled, and it will be difficult to obtain documents.

In all these matters, things are auspicious at first but turn inauspicious later. The signs correspond to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; the direction is northeast.

Sixth Lot, Very Inauspicious.

At dawn, you pass through the Taihang Mountains, where the road twists and is hard to travel. After struggling over a long slope, you must continue along a path choked with brambles.

For inquiries about the weather: partly cloudy, partly clear. Farming and silkworm raising will fall short of expectations; a burial will be inauspicious. Livestock will be lost, and those traveling will be hindered. Plans will not go smoothly.

At dawn, you pass through the Taihang Mountains, where the road twists and is hard to travel. After crossing a long slope, you must continue along a path choked with brambles.

For inquiries about the weather: partly cloudy, partly clear. Farming and silkworm raising will yield a poor harvest; a burial will be inauspicious. Livestock will be lost, and those traveling will be hindered. Plans will be difficult to accomplish, and seeking wealth will bring no gain. A marriage may fall apart, and legal disputes will cause trouble later on. There will be many obstacles to meeting the person you wish to see, and travel will not go smoothly. Building a house is unfavorable, and illness will be hard to cure. Lost people or things will be hard to recover, and childbirth may not be carried to term. Attempts to catch thieves will bring little success; prayer and offerings will not help. Strange occurrences will bring disaster, and moving will bring misfortune. The household is inauspicious, and it will be difficult to obtain documents.

In all these matters, things are somewhat auspicious midway, but inauspicious at the beginning and the end. The signs correspond to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Shen, Zi, and Chen; the direction is northwest.

Seventh Lot, Very Inauspicious.

Traveling far to a remote place, your thoughts often turn to your hometown. You stumble onward alone, weighed down by worry.

For the weather, it will be clear. The fields and silkworm farms will yield no harvest, and the fengshui of the grave will be unfavorable, bringing decline to the family. Livestock will suffer calamity and loss, and those who have gone away will not return. Plans will be hard to bring to fruition, and seeking wealth will go poorly. Marriage will be difficult to arrange, and legal disputes will be perilous. Visits will fail to find the people sought, and travel is inadvisable. Building and renovation will bring no good, and illness will be critical. Lost belongings will not be found, and childbirth will be dangerous. There is no need to continue searching for thieves; prayers and offerings will instead invite misfortune. Strange occurrences will lead to legal disputes, and moving house will bring trouble. The household will be deeply unsettled, and matters involving documents will be hard to resolve.

These inauspicious signs correspond to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; the direction is due east.

Lot Eight: Highest Auspice

Mulberry and hemp grow on sunny ground, while millet and broomcorn millet—both grains—are planted in the fields. The household is peaceful, and the livestock thrive and multiply.

For the weather, it will rain. The fields and silkworm farms will yield an abundant harvest, and burial will be auspicious. Livestock will thrive, and those who have gone away will soon return. Plans will go smoothly, and seeking wealth will be favorable. Marriage will succeed, and legal disputes will turn out well. Visits will bring an encounter with a benefactor, and travel will go smoothly. Building and renovation will be safe and proceed well, and illness will soon be cured. Lost belongings will soon be recovered, and childbirth will bring joy. Thieves pursued will be caught, and prayers and offerings will bring blessings. Strange occurrences will cause no harm, and moving house will be auspicious. The household will be peaceful, and matters involving documents will be resolved.

These highly auspicious signs correspond to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; the direction is southwest.

Lot Nine: Middling

Stone steps climb upward through the mist, beside a deep and dangerous ravine. A white deer leads the way, and in the end they reach the Golden Hall, a magnificent and solemn palace.

For the weather, it will be partly cloudy and partly clear. The fields and silkworm farms will yield an average harvest; the direction is southwest.

If asking about cloudy or sunny weather, the sky will be partly cloudy and partly clear. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising will be only half of what is hoped for, and matters concerning graves and burial will go only halfway smoothly. Livestock will fare about average, and travelers will still be on the road. Plans will succeed only in part, and gains from seeking wealth will be limited. Marriage will not come about until later. Legal disputes will begin with danger but eventually turn favorable. There will be slight obstacles in meeting someone, and journeys will go smoothly only in part. It is best to postpone building a house. Illness will be severe at first, then ease. A missing person or lost object will be found only after some delay. Childbirth will begin with danger but end safely. It will take some time to catch a thief, and prayers and offerings will meet with slight success. Strange occurrences will fade away, and it is best to delay moving house or relocating. The household will gradually settle, while paperwork and official matters will be delayed.

All the matters asked about above will begin unfavorably and later improve. Their signs will appear in the numbers three, six, and nine, and in the years, months, days, or hours of the Snake, Rooster, and Ox. The direction is due north.

Lot Ten: Moderate

Living in a humble house, with rough wooden pivots supporting the doorway, one eats coarse food and drinks clear water, yet remains content with what Heaven has ordained, sleeping at ease until the sun is well past its zenith. The simple, poor life described here conveys a state of contentment and peace.

If asking about cloudy or sunny weather, the sky will be clear. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising will be steady, and matters concerning graves and burial will proceed smoothly. Livestock will fare as usual, and travelers will arrive after some delay. Plans will go as hoped, and seeking wealth will be favorable. Marriage can be arranged, and legal disputes will be peaceful and cause no major trouble. There will be no obstacles in meeting someone, but it is best to travel at an unhurried pace. Building a house may proceed as usual, and illness can be treated. Missing people or lost objects can be found, and childbirth will be safe. Thieves can be caught, but prayers and offerings will bring no response. It is best to keep things as they are rather than move house. Strange occurrences will have no effect. The household will be safe, and paperwork and official matters are suitable to handle.

This is a moderate omen, whose signs will appear in the numbers one, five, and seven, and in the years, months, days, or hours of the Pig, Rabbit, and Goat. The direction is northeast.

Lot Eleven: Moderate

The “Nine Hu” birds, said to be linked to the seasons of farming, urge people to plow. I spread out my bedding, take up my hoe, and set to work. The drought demon, said to bring drought, causes disaster; after prolonged rain, life returns once more. The poem depicts the hardships and turns of fortune that can arise in farming.

If asking about cloudy or sunny weather, the sky will be clear. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising looks promising, and matters concerning graves and burial are slightly favorable. Livestock will suffer no losses, and travelers will arrive soon. Plans will succeed only after some delay. Seeking wealth will be favorable, but the gain will come late. Marriage can be arranged, and legal disputes will cause no major trouble. A visit to someone can go ahead, and it is a good time to travel. Building a house may begin, and illness will cause no major concern. It is a good time to search for missing people or lost objects, though childbirth will involve some danger. The thieves have already gone far away. Prayers and offerings will go smoothly only halfway. Strange occurrences will bring minor trouble, and moving house will bring slight benefit. The household will ultimately prosper, while paperwork and official matters will yield results only after a delay.

The preceding lot is moderately inauspicious, though its beginning and end are relatively favorable. It corresponds to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei. Its direction is due east.

In all matters, it is advisable to seek things out; childbirth will involve danger. Those pursuing thieves will find that they have already gone far away. Prayers and sacrifices will bring mixed results. Strange occurrences will bring minor calamity; moving house may bring some benefit. The household will ultimately be fortunate, but letters and news will arrive late.

Lot Twelve: Extremely Inauspicious.

A tall tree may serve as a main beam, but its branches are tangled and its leaves have fallen. Its troubles arise precisely because it has been put to use.

If you ask about the weather, rain is indicated. The fields and silkworms will yield no harvest, and burial will bring misfortune. Livestock will be lost, and travelers will be delayed. Plans will be difficult to carry out, and seeking wealth will bring no benefit. Marriage will not succeed, and lawsuits will be difficult to settle. It will be hard to meet the person you seek; travel will be impeded. Building a house is inauspicious, and illness will be hard to cure. Missing people or lost objects will be difficult to find, and childbirth will be dangerous. Pursuing thieves will not succeed; prayers and sacrifices are ill advised. Strange occurrences will bring calamity, and moving house will invite danger. The household will be unsettled, and documents will be hard to obtain.

The preceding lot is favorable at first and inauspicious later. It corresponds to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu. Its direction is due south.

Lot Thirteen: Extremely Inauspicious.

The harvest is poor and life is hard. One who has not yet finished studying or entered official service is already rushing to seek recognition. Even if one achieves success in office, slackness will lead to dismissal.

If you ask about the weather, conditions will alternate between cloudy and clear. The fields and silkworms will yield a poor harvest, and burial will be inauspicious. Livestock will be lost, and travelers will be delayed. Plans will fail, and seeking wealth will bring no gain. A marriage may fall apart, and lawsuits will drag on and cause trouble. Attempts to meet someone will encounter obstacles, and travel will go poorly. Building a house is unfavorable, and illness will be hard to cure. Missing people or lost objects will be difficult to find, and childbirth will be difficult to bring safely to term. Pursuing thieves will be difficult and bring no benefit; prayers and sacrifices will be of no use. Strange occurrences will bring calamity, and moving house will invite danger. The household will be inauspicious, and documents will be hard to obtain.

The preceding lot is favorable in the middle, but inauspicious at the beginning and end. It corresponds to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Shen, Zi, and Chen. Its direction is southeast.

Lot Fourteen: Extremely Inauspicious.

The current period is deeply unfavorable, bringing sorrow and hardship. Confined at home, one’s wishes are difficult to fulfill; those away from home are also delayed in returning.

A weather divination predicts rain. Crops and silkworms will yield poorly. The fengshui of the family graves is unfavorable and may damage the family’s fortunes; livestock will suffer calamity, and those away will be unable to return. Plans are mostly unsuccessful, seeking wealth is unfavorable, marriage arrangements are difficult to complete, and legal disputes are perilous. Visits will not find the person sought, travel is inadvisable, building a house is unfavorable, and illness is grave. Missing people or lost objects will be difficult to find, and childbirth carries danger. Do not continue searching for or pursuing thieves; prayers and offerings may instead invite misfortune. Strange occurrences may lead to legal disputes, and moving will bring trouble. The household is deeply unsettled, and official documents and other paperwork will be difficult to complete.

All the matters asked about above are inauspicious. The numbers associated with the outcome are two, four, and eight. It will come to pass in the years, months, days, or hours of Yin, Wu, or Xu, according to the sexagenary calendar, and in the southwest.

The Fifteenth Lot, most auspicious.

The sun and moon shine together once more. The household is deeply unsettled, and official documents and other paperwork will be difficult to complete.

All the matters asked about above are inauspicious. The numbers associated with the outcome are two, four, and eight. It will come to pass in the years, months, days, or hours of Yin, Wu, or Xu, according to the sexagenary calendar, and in the southwest.

The Fifteenth Lot, most auspicious.

The sun and moon shine together, and the rivers and mountains stand firm like a belt and whetstone—a traditional image of a realm enduring securely for generations. Jade credentials and golden edicts bring blessings to descendants.

A weather divination predicts clear skies. Crops and silkworms will yield abundantly. The fengshui of the family graves is auspicious, livestock will thrive, and those away from home will soon return. Plans will succeed, seeking wealth will be favorable, marriage arrangements can be completed, and legal disputes will end well. An audience with a noble person will go as hoped, travel will be smooth, and building a house will be auspicious. Illness will soon be cured, missing people or lost objects will be found, and childbirth will bring joy. Pursuing thieves will succeed; prayers and offerings will bring blessings. Strange occurrences will cause no trouble, moving will be auspicious, the household will be at peace, and official documents and other paperwork will be completed.

All the matters asked about above are greatly auspicious. The numbers associated with the outcome are one, five, and seven. It will come to pass in the years, months, days, or hours of Hai, Mao, or Wei, according to the sexagenary calendar, and in the northeast.

The Sixteenth Lot, of middling fortune.

Three peaks rise high, while turbid waves surge skyward. Only with the aid of a carriage can one behold the immortals.

When divining the weather, conditions are evenly divided between cloudy and clear. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising is average; burial matters bring both benefit and drawback. The fortunes of the six domestic animals—cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, and dogs—are mixed. Travelers are still on the road. Half of your plans will go smoothly, and gains from seeking wealth will be limited. Marriage will come about only after some delay. Legal disputes begin badly but end well. Visiting someone will meet with a minor obstacle; travel should generally go smoothly. Construction should be postponed. Illness will be severe at first, then ease. A missing person or lost object will be found only after some delay. Childbirth begins with danger but later turns auspicious. It will take time to catch a thief. Prayers and offerings meet with slight success. Strange occurrences will fade away, and relocation should proceed slowly. The household will gradually settle, while paperwork will be delayed.

These matters begin inauspiciously and end auspiciously. The prediction will come to pass in connection with the numbers three, six, and nine, and in the years, months, days, or hours of Si, You, and Chou; the direction is due west.

Lot Seventeen: Moderately Favorable

Illness will not bring disaster, and financial fortune will not increase greatly. Remain calm and keep to the ordinary way; let loyalty and trustworthiness guide your actions.

When divining the weather, expect clear skies. Farming and silkworm raising will be steady, and burial matters will be uneventful. The six domestic animals fare ordinarily, and travelers will be late. Plans will turn out as hoped, and seeking wealth will be favorable. Marriage can succeed, and legal disputes will be settled peacefully. Visiting someone will meet with no obstacle; take your time when traveling. Proceed with construction as usual. Illness can be treated. Missing people or lost objects will be recovered, and childbirth will be safe. Thieves can be caught, but prayers and offerings will bring no response. Strange occurrences pose no problem, and relocation should be avoided for now. The household will be safe, and it is a good time to seek official documents.

These matters are moderately favorable. The prediction will come to pass in connection with the numbers one, five, and seven, and in the years, months, days, or hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; the direction is due east.

Lot Eighteen: Moderately Favorable

The pond’s waters ripple as creatures move beneath the surface. Metal and stone melt and flow; sweet rain falls, bringing abundant water.

When divining the weather, expect rain. Farming and silkworm raising show promise of a harvest, and burial matters are slightly favorable. The entry concerning the six domestic animals is incomplete; overall, the lot is judged moderately favorable. The prediction will come to pass in connection with the numbers one, five, and seven, and in the years, months, days, or hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; the direction is due east.

The nineteenth lot, extremely inauspicious. This lot refers to the story of Feng Fu wrestling a tiger. Feng Fu rolled up his sleeves and leapt from his carriage, charging forward with all his strength, only to stumble over a dead log. The meaning is that someone who intends to press ahead boldly may be held back by acting rashly.

Asked about the weather, the outlook is partly cloudy and partly clear. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising will be poor; disaster may follow a burial. Livestock will suffer losses, and travelers will face delays. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and seeking wealth will bring little benefit. Marriage is unlikely, and lawsuits will be hard to resolve. It will be difficult to meet the person you seek; travel is likely to be obstructed. Building or renovating is inauspicious, and illness will be hard to cure. Lost people or objects will be difficult to find, and childbirth will be difficult. Catching thieves is unlikely to bring results, and prayer and sacrifice are ill-advised. Strange events may bring disaster; moving will be unfavorable, the household will be unsettled, and documents will be difficult to obtain.

The divination text above says this lot begins auspiciously and ends in misfortune. It corresponds to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Shen, Zi, and Chen. Its direction is northwest.

The twentieth lot, extremely inauspicious. A fish lying in hiding fears the otter and drags its tail to the shallows by the riverbank. After a boatman catches it, it cannot escape its ultimate fate: being thrown into a cooking cauldron.

When divining about the weather: rain. The harvests from farming and silkworm raising will be poor, and a burial will be inauspicious. Livestock will be lost, and travelers will face delays. Plans will be difficult to carry out, and seeking wealth will bring no profit. A marriage may change, and lawsuits will bring trouble. Visits to others will meet obstacles, and travel will go poorly. Building a house will be unfavorable, and illness will be hard to cure. Missing people or lost objects will be difficult to find, and childbirth may be dangerous. Pursuing thieves is unlikely to bring results, and prayers and offerings will be of no help. Strange occurrences will bring calamity, and moving may meet with misfortune. The household will be inauspicious, and paperwork will be difficult to complete.

Overall, these divinations are moderately auspicious, but things go poorly at the beginning and end. The confirming numbers are two, four, and eight. The response will come in the year, month, day, or hour of Yin, Wu, or Xu, and the direction is southwest.

Twenty-first lot, very inauspicious

The spirits will punish misdeeds, while ghosts and demons watch the household. The situation is like walking on thin ice or standing at the edge of an abyss; danger could arise at any moment.

When divining about the weather: clear. There will be no harvest from farming or silkworm raising, and a burial will damage the family’s fortunes. Livestock will suffer calamity, and travelers will be unable to return. Most plans will not go as hoped, and seeking wealth will be very unfavorable. A marriage will be difficult to arrange, and lawsuits will be dangerous. Visits to others are unlikely to succeed, and travel is inadvisable. Building a house will be unfavorable, and illness will be grave. Missing people or lost objects will not be found, and childbirth will be perilous. There is no need to pursue thieves any further; prayers and offerings will instead invite misfortune. Strange occurrences will lead to lawsuits, and moving will bring legal trouble. The household will be deeply unsettled, and paperwork will not go as hoped.

All these divinations are inauspicious. The confirming numbers are one, five, and seven. The response will come in the year, month, day, or hour of Hai, Mao, or Wei, and the direction is northeast.

Twenty-second lot, very auspicious

Look up to the vast heavens. With the force of the wind and clouds at your back, proceed freely and unhurriedly to pay a visit to the Heavenly Lord, the revered deity of the celestial realm.

If you draw the preceding lot and ask about the weather, it foretells rain. The harvests from farming and sericulture will be excellent; burial will be auspicious; livestock will thrive; and travelers from afar will arrive soon. Plans will make great progress, and financial pursuits will bring substantial gains. A marriage will go smoothly, and legal proceedings will turn out favorably. You will be able to meet a person of rank, and travel will go smoothly. Building a house and similar undertakings will be auspicious and safe, and illness will soon be cured. Lost belongings can be recovered, childbirth will go smoothly and bring joy, thieves pursued will be caught, and prayers and offerings will bring blessings. Strange occurrences need not cause concern. Moving will be auspicious, the household will be safe, and paperwork will be completed.

All of these are signs of great good fortune. The numbers associated with this lot are two, four, and eight. It corresponds to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu, and its direction is due south.

Lot Twenty-Three: Average

You have deep doubts in your heart and may seek my guidance. You will receive news tomorrow. Calamity will recede and good fortune will arrive; joy and peace will fill the household.

If you ask about the weather, conditions will be evenly divided between cloudy and clear. Harvests from farming and sericulture will be average; burial will have both advantages and disadvantages; livestock prospects will be ordinary; and travelers from afar will still be on the road. Plans will be only partly fulfilled, and financial pursuits will bring some gains. A marriage will be delayed; legal proceedings will begin unfavorably but later improve. Meeting someone will encounter minor obstacles, and travel will go smoothly only in part. It is best to postpone building a house. Illness will begin ominously but end well. Lost belongings will take some time to find. Childbirth will face difficulties at first but end safely. A marriage will be delayed; legal proceedings will begin unfavorably but later improve; meeting someone will encounter minor obstacles, and travel will go smoothly only in part. It is best to postpone building a house. Illness will begin ominously but end well. Lost belongings will take some time to find. Childbirth will face difficulties at first but end safely. The pursuit of thieves will take time to yield results, and prayers and offerings will bring some success. Strange occurrences will dissipate, and moving should be undertaken slowly. The household will gradually settle into stability, while paperwork will be delayed.

These are signs of initial misfortune followed by good fortune. The numbers associated with this lot are three, six, and nine. It corresponds to the years, months, days, and hours of Si, You, and Chou, and its direction is due north.

Lot Twenty-Four: Average

Acting too forcefully can invite trouble, while yielding too readily can lead to humiliation. If you carefully maintain a sense of proportion, the path you follow will be clear.

If you ask about the weather, it will rain. Harvests from farming and sericulture will be steady, and burial matters will proceed smoothly. Livestock prospects will be ordinary, and travelers from afar will arrive late. Plans can be fulfilled, and financial pursuits will be profitable. A marriage can be completed, and legal proceedings can be settled amicably. Meeting someone will pose no obstacle, but travel should proceed at a measured pace. Building a house should follow established conventions, and illness can be treated. Lost belongings can be searched for, and childbirth will be safe. Thieves pursued will be caught, but prayers and offerings will receive no response. Strange occurrences need not cause concern, and it is best to maintain the status quo when considering a move. The household will be safe, and paperwork can be handled.

This lot is overall middling, with both good and bad fortune. It suggests paying attention to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours associated with Yin, Wu, and Xu. The favorable direction is southwest. Childbirth will be safe, and hunting or trapping will bring a catch, but prayers and sacrifices may not prove effective. There is no need to worry too much about strange events. When moving house, it is best to keep things as they are. The household will be safe, and handling or seeking official documents is relatively favorable.

The twenty-fifth lot is middling. Its verse says: after joy, sorrow may follow; but do not assume that grief will last. Though there may be tears at first, in time they will turn to joy.

The weather will be clear. Farming and sericulture show promise, and burial arrangements are somewhat auspicious. Livestock matters are unfavorable. Travelers will arrive. Plans will take longer to come to fruition, and financial gains will be delayed. A marriage can be arranged, and legal proceedings will cause no trouble. A visit to someone will be permitted, and travel is favorable. Construction may begin, and illness will cause no serious difficulty. Look for lost property; childbirth will involve some danger. Thieves have gone far away. Ritual offerings and prayers bring only mixed fortune. Strange events will bring minor misfortune, while moving house may bring a small benefit. The household will ultimately prosper, but documents will arrive late.

This lot begins with bad fortune and ends with good, and is classified as moderately inauspicious. Pay attention to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours associated with Hai, Mao, and Wei. The favorable direction is due east.

The twenty-sixth lot is extremely inauspicious. Its verse draws on the imagery of “Felling Trees” in the Book of Songs: an oriole sings and flies to a tall tree; if it sets out at the wrong time, it must retreat once more to the dark valley. The meaning is that the timing is unfavorable: action is likely to meet with obstacles, and circumstances may worsen.

The weather will be partly cloudy and partly clear. Farming and sericulture will yield no harvest, and a burial may bring misfortune later on. Livestock will be lost, and travelers will face delays. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and financial gain is unfavorable. A marriage will not come about, and legal proceedings will be difficult to resolve. It will be hard to meet the person you wish to see, and travel will be obstructed. Building a house is inauspicious, and illness will be difficult to cure. Lost property will be hard to find, and childbirth will be difficult. Hunting down thieves is unlikely to succeed. Prayers and sacrifices are inadvisable. Strange events will bring disaster, and moving house will invite misfortune. The household will be unsettled, and documents will be difficult to obtain.

This lot begins with good fortune and ends with bad, and is extremely inauspicious. Pay attention to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours associated with Shen, Zi, and Chen. The favorable direction is southeast.

The twenty-seventh lot is extremely inauspicious. Its verse says: the young trees on Ox Mountain are tender and precious, and their timber is excellent; but growing near the outskirts, they cannot escape the ax. The meaning is that even with good qualities, one’s circumstances may make it difficult to remain safe.

For divining whether the weather will be clear or cloudy, the result is clear skies. The harvests from farming and sericulture will be poor, and burial will be inauspicious. Livestock will suffer losses, and travelers will face delays on their way home. Plans will be difficult to carry out, and seeking wealth will be unfavorable. A marriage may undergo a change; lawsuits will be delayed and repeatedly reopened. Visits to others will meet with obstacles, travel will go poorly, building a house will be unfavorable, and illness will be difficult to cure. Lost people or objects will be hard to find, and childbirth carries the danger of a difficult outcome. Pursuing thieves is unlikely to succeed, and prayers and sacrifices will be of no help. Strange events will bring misfortune; moving will be inauspicious, the household will be unsettled, and documents will be difficult to process.

The fortunes described above are “moderately auspicious,” though the beginning and the end are both unfavorable. They correspond to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; the direction is northeast.

Twenty-eighth lot, most inauspicious.

“Yin” represents what is harmful, while “Yang” seeks to drive it away. The spirits are watching over you, and the rewards and consequences of good and evil are clear and just.

For divining whether the weather will be clear or cloudy, the result is rain. Farming and sericulture will yield no harvest, and burial will cause the family fortunes to decline. Livestock will suffer losses, and travelers will be unable to return. Most plans will fail, and seeking wealth will be very unfavorable. A marriage will be difficult to arrange, and lawsuits bring great misfortune. Visits to others will come to nothing; travel is inadvisable, and building a house is unfavorable. Illness will be critical, lost people or objects will not be recovered, and childbirth carries danger. Do not continue pursuing thieves; prayers and sacrifices will instead invite trouble. Strange events will lead to lawsuits, and moving will bring litigation. The household will be extremely unsettled, and documents cannot be processed.

All the matters above are ill omens. They correspond to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; the direction is due south.

Twenty-ninth lot, most auspicious.

By practicing all kinds of good deeds, you will receive blessings and prosperity bestowed by Heaven. Your endeavors will flourish, and you will enjoy abundant good fortune.

For divining whether the weather will be clear or cloudy, the result is partly cloudy and partly clear. Farming and sericulture will yield an excellent harvest, burial will be auspicious, and livestock will thrive. This lot corresponds to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; the direction is due south.

Inquiring about sunshine and rain indicates weather that will be partly cloudy and partly clear. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising will be excellent. Burying one’s ancestors will bring good fortune, and the six kinds of livestock will thrive. Those who have gone away will return soon. Plans will make great progress, and seeking wealth will go smoothly. Marriage arrangements will be completed successfully, and legal proceedings will go well. When visiting someone, you will meet a benefactor; journeys will be smooth. Building a house or carrying out construction will proceed smoothly and auspiciously. Illness will soon be cured. Lost belongings will soon be found, and childbirth will bring good news. Catching thieves will succeed, and prayers and offerings will bring blessings. Even if strange events occur, they will bring no harm. Moving house will bring good fortune. The household will be peaceful, and paperwork matters can be completed.

This is an extremely auspicious omen. It corresponds to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Si, You, and Chou; its direction is due west.

Lot Thirty: Moderate

Stones are laid to make a bridge, but after the water recedes, no fish remain. While traveling, one finds a large clam; when it is split open, a pearl is found inside.

Inquiring about sunshine and rain indicates weather that will be partly cloudy and partly clear. Farming and silkworm raising will yield average results. Burial matters are favorable, though not greatly auspicious. The prospects for the six kinds of livestock are ordinary, and those who have gone away are still on the road. Plans will be partly fulfilled, and seeking wealth will bring some gains. Marriage arrangements will be completed later than expected. Legal proceedings will go poorly at first, then improve. Visits will meet with minor obstacles, and journeys will be only moderately smooth. Building a house should be postponed for now. Illness will seem dangerous at first, then improve. Lost belongings will take some time to find. Childbirth will be difficult at first, then safe. Catching thieves requires waiting. Prayers and offerings will bring slight success. Strange phenomena will fade away; an inauspicious beginning will turn auspicious. Do not rush into moving house. The household will gradually settle down, while paperwork matters will be delayed.

This is an omen that begins inauspiciously and ends auspiciously. It corresponds to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Shen, Zi, and Chen; its direction is northwest.

Lot Thirty-One: Moderate

Be at ease with nature and follow Heaven’s mandate. There will be neither blame nor praise; meet everything with calm and composure.

Inquiring about sunshine and rain indicates clear weather. Farming and silkworm raising will be steady, and burial matters will proceed smoothly. The six kinds of livestock will fare ordinarily, and those who have gone away will return late. Plans will come to fruition, and seeking wealth will be favorable. Marriage arrangements can be completed, and legal proceedings can be settled amicably. Visits will meet with no obstacles, but journeys should proceed at a slower pace. Building a house should continue as usual. Illness can be treated. Lost belongings can be recovered, and childbirth will be safe. Catching thieves will succeed, while prayers and offerings will show no clear response. There is no need to worry about strange events. When moving house, it is best to keep things as they are. The household will be peaceful. Take the initiative in handling paperwork.

The thirty-second lot is of medium fortune. It corresponds to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; its direction is due east.

Look up at the bright full moon, whose radiance fills the sky. A toad in the moon, said to dwell there, veils it; only late at night does the moon become full again.

For questions about the weather, rain is indicated. Farming and silkworm raising hold promise; burial matters are somewhat auspicious; livestock will come to no harm; and those who are away will return. Plans will succeed only later, and profits will come slowly. Marriage can proceed, and official disputes should cause no serious trouble. A visit to another person may be granted; travel and construction are favorable. Illness poses no serious danger. Lost belongings are worth searching for, but childbirth will involve some danger. The thieves have already gone far away. Prayers and offerings bring mixed fortune. Strange occurrences will bring minor misfortune; moving house brings some benefit. The household will ultimately be safe and peaceful, though documents and news will arrive late.

The thirty-third lot is of very poor fortune. It corresponds to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; its direction is southwest. This lot begins auspiciously and ends in misfortune.

Stealing property in secret and seeking profit may bring all that is desired at first. But if careless storage of valuables attracts thieves, the end result will be poverty.

For questions about the weather, conditions will be partly cloudy and partly clear. Farming and silkworm raising will yield no harvest; burial matters will bring trouble later; livestock will suffer losses; and the journey of those who are away will be delayed. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and seeking profit is unfavorable. Marriage is unlikely to succeed, and official disputes will be hard to resolve. Visiting another person will be difficult; travel will be obstructed; and construction is inauspicious. Illness will be difficult to treat, lost belongings hard to recover, and childbirth difficult. Pursuing the thieves will bring no result. Prayers and offerings are inadvisable. Strange occurrences will bring misfortune, and moving house will invite trouble. The household will be unsettled, and documents will be hard to obtain.

The thirty-fourth lot is of very poor fortune. It corresponds to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Si, You, and Chou; its direction is due north.

You wish to cross the water, yet there is no boat. You head east, but a smooth, level road lies before you. Your shoes are worn out and your feet are chafed, the road ahead is still long, and dusk is gradually falling.

Asked about the weather, this sign indicates rain. The fields and silkworm raising are unlikely to yield a harvest, and burial is inauspicious. Livestock will suffer losses, and travelers will face delays. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and seeking wealth will bring no gain. The marriage may encounter changes, and even after a lawsuit is delayed, it will continue to cause trouble. Visits to others will meet with obstacles, and travel will go poorly. Building a house is unfavorable, and illness will be difficult to cure. Lost people or things will be hard to find, and childbirth will be difficult to bring safely to term. Catching thieves is unlikely to succeed, and prayers and offerings will be of no help. Strange happenings will bring calamity, and moving house will invite danger. The household will be unsettled, and documents will be difficult to process.

The above indicates a moderately auspicious sign, but both its beginning and its end are inauspicious. It will come to pass in connection with the numbers two, four, or eight, or in the years, months, days, or hours of Yin, Wu, or Xu; its corresponding direction is due south.

Thirty-Fifth Sign: Lowest and Most Inauspicious

Trouble arises from desire, and calamity from negligence. When beset by this trouble and danger, one goes against the protection of Heaven and Earth.

Asked about the weather, this sign indicates clear skies. Crops and silkworm raising will yield no harvest, and burial will bring decline to the family. Livestock will suffer calamity and loss, and travelers will be unable to return. Plans will be difficult to realize, and seeking wealth will be greatly unfavorable. Marriage will be difficult to arrange, and lawsuits are extremely inauspicious. Visits will not reach the person sought, and travel is inadvisable. Building a house is unfavorable, and illness is critical. Lost people or things will not be recovered. Childbirth will be dangerous. Do not continue searching for thieves; prayers and offerings will instead invite calamity. Strange happenings will lead to lawsuits, and moving house will bring litigation. The household will be deeply unsettled, and documents will be difficult to process.

The above indicates a wholly inauspicious sign. It will come to pass in connection with the numbers one, five, or seven, or in the years, months, days, or hours of Hai, Mao, or Wei; its corresponding direction is northeast.

Thirty-Sixth Sign: Highest and Most Auspicious

Begin your work at sunrise, with your heart set firmly on the good Dao. Follow the patterns of Heaven’s timing, and you will bring in a year’s harvest.

It will come to pass in the years, months, days, or hours of Hai, Mao, or Wei; its corresponding direction is northeast.

The divination for the weather indicates partly cloudy skies with some sunshine. Crops and silkworm raising will yield a great harvest, and burial will be auspicious. Livestock will thrive, and those traveling far away will soon return. Most plans will turn out as hoped, and seeking wealth will bring profit. Marriage will be successful, and legal or official matters will go well. An audience with a person of high status will proceed smoothly, and travel will be unhindered. Building a house will be auspicious, and illness will soon pass. Lost belongings will be found, and childbirth will bring good news. Thieves pursued will be caught, and prayers and offerings will bring blessings. Even strange occurrences will bring no calamity. Moving will be auspicious, the household will be safe, and documents will be processed soon.

This is an omen of great good fortune. It will be fulfilled through the numbers three, six, and nine, and in the years, months, days, or hours of Si, You, and Chou; its direction is southeast.

Lot Thirty-Seven: Moderate Fortune

Without clothes, without even coarse garments, how can one get through this year? When spring comes and the weather warms, the skies will be clear and mild.

The divination for the weather indicates clear skies. Crops and silkworm raising will yield an average harvest, while burial will be only partly auspicious. Livestock will fare ordinarily, and those traveling far away will still be on the road. Plans will mostly succeed, but wealth seeking and buying clothes will bring little; like someone short of clothing, one may wonder how to get through the days ahead. When spring warms, circumstances will improve.

The divination for the weather indicates clear skies. Crops and silkworm raising will yield an average harvest, and burial will be somewhat auspicious. Livestock will fare ordinarily, and those traveling far away will still be on the road. Plans will mostly succeed, and seeking wealth will bring some gain. Marriage will be delayed but will eventually succeed. Legal matters will be unfavorable at first, then turn auspicious. An audience with another person will encounter a minor obstacle, while travel will mostly go smoothly. Building projects should be postponed. Illness will be severe at first, then ease. Lost belongings will take some time to find. Childbirth will involve danger at first, but all will be well in the end. The pursuit of thieves will be delayed, while prayers and offerings will mostly go smoothly. Strange phenomena will dissipate, and moving should be postponed. The household will gradually settle, and paperwork will be delayed.

This is an omen of initial difficulty followed by good fortune. It will be fulfilled through the numbers one, five, and seven, and in the years, months, days, or hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; its direction is due east.

Lot Thirty-Eight: Moderate Fortune

Even the wealthy have little saved, while the poor are not always left destitute. Set aside thoughts that go beyond your proper bounds, and act with an impartial heart.

The divination for the weather indicates rain. Crops and silkworm raising will yield a steady harvest, and burial will proceed steadily. Livestock will fare ordinarily, and those traveling far away will return later than expected. Plans will go smoothly, and seeking wealth will be profitable. The poor, too, will not always be left destitute. Set aside thoughts that go beyond your proper bounds, and act with an impartial heart.

When interpreting the weather, the divination points to cloudy or clear skies and rain. Farming and silkworm raising will be secure, and burial will proceed smoothly. Livestock will fare ordinarily, while travelers will return late. Plans can come to fruition, and seeking wealth will be favorable. Marriage can succeed, and legal disputes can be settled amicably. There will be no obstacle to visiting others, but travel should proceed slowly. House construction should follow the usual course, and illness can be treated. Lost items may be recovered, and childbirth will be safe. Pursuing thieves can lead to their capture, but prayers and offerings will not bring a response. Strange occurrences will cause no harm, and it is best to keep one’s present home. The household will be safe, and seeking documents is appropriate.

This is a moderately favorable lot. It corresponds particularly with the numbers two, four, and eight, and with the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu. Its direction is southwest.

Lot Thirty-Nine: Moderately Favorable

Through diligent study of the classics, one finally achieves learning and stands out for one’s talent. Later, though dismissed and unable to earn a degree through the examinations, one still gains the opportunity to associate with high-ranking officials.

When interpreting the weather, expect partly cloudy skies. Farming and silkworm raising are promising, and burial is somewhat auspicious. Livestock will suffer no losses, and travelers will arrive soon. Plans will take longer to succeed, and profits from seeking wealth will come late. Marriage can succeed, and legal disputes will cause no major trouble. Visits may be approved, and travel is suitable. House construction may begin, and illness will pose no serious problem. Lost items should be searched for, while childbirth will involve some danger. The thieves have already gone far away; prayers and offerings bring only mixed fortune. Strange occurrences may cause minor trouble, and moving house will bring a little benefit. The household will ultimately be safe, and documents will arrive late.

This is a moderately inauspicious lot that begins unfavorably and turns auspicious in the end, and it warns of danger along the way. The thieves have already gone far away; prayers and offerings bring only mixed fortune. Strange occurrences may cause minor trouble, and moving house will bring a little benefit. The household will ultimately be safe, and documents will arrive late. It corresponds particularly with the numbers three, six, and nine, and with the years, months, days, and hours of Shen, Zi, and Chen. Its direction is due west.

Lot Forty: Extremely Inauspicious

With an oar made of cypress and a boat built of pine, one sails across the middle of the river, singing loudly as one goes. Suddenly a violent wind rises, and the waves crash fiercely against the boat, making it sink and rise by turns.

When interpreting the weather, expect rain. Farming and silkworm raising will yield no harvest, and disaster will follow burial. Livestock will suffer losses, and travelers will be delayed. Plans will be difficult to achieve, and seeking wealth will be unfavorable. Marriage will be difficult to arrange, and legal disputes will be hard to resolve. It will be difficult to meet the people one wishes to visit, and travel will be obstructed. House construction is inauspicious, and illness will be difficult to treat. Lost items will be hard to find, and childbirth will be dangerous. Pursuing thieves will not lead to their capture; prayers and offerings are inadvisable. Strange occurrences will bring disaster, and moving house will invite danger. The household will be unsettled, and documents will be difficult to obtain.

These are signs of good fortune followed by misfortune. They should appear in connection with the numbers two, four, and eight, and in the years, months, days, or hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu. The direction is due south.

Forty-First Lot: Very Inauspicious

Diving into the sea to search for a pearl, one endures waves and storms and suffers great hardship. Though the luminous pearl is found, creatures in the water injure the seeker.

For a weather divination, the omen indicates clear skies. The harvest from fields and silkworms will be poor, and a burial will be inauspicious. Livestock will be lost, and travelers will face obstacles. Plans will be difficult to carry out, and efforts to gain wealth will bring no profit. A marriage may fall apart, and a lawsuit will bring trouble later on. Visits and requests for an audience will meet with obstruction, and travel will go poorly. Building a house is unfavorable, and illness will be difficult to cure. Lost objects will be hard to find, and childbirth will be in danger. Overall, fortune and misfortune are mixed, but livestock will still be lost and travelers will still face obstacles; plans will fail, wealth will not be gained, marriage will change, and a lawsuit will bring trouble later on. Requests for an audience will be obstructed, travel will go poorly, building will be unfavorable, illness will be difficult to cure, lost objects will be hard to find, and childbirth will be in danger. Thieves will be difficult to catch, and prayers and offerings will not help. Strange occurrences will bring calamity, and moving house will be dangerous. The household is inauspicious, and official documents will be difficult to complete.

These are signs of good fortune in the middle, but misfortune at the beginning and end. They should appear in connection with the numbers one, five, and seven, and in the years, months, days, or hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei. The direction is northeast.

Forty-Second Lot: Very Inauspicious

When fragile grasses meet a hard frost, they wither and die. Unless they are cold-resistant plants such as pine and cassia, how could they avoid withering?

For a weather divination, the omen indicates rain. There will be no harvest from fields or silkworms, and a burial will bring decline to the family’s fortunes. Livestock will suffer disaster and loss, and travelers will not return. Plans will be difficult to realize, and seeking wealth will be highly unfavorable. Marriage will be difficult to arrange, and lawsuits are gravely inauspicious. Requests for an audience will go unanswered, and travel is inadvisable. Building a house is unfavorable, and illness is critical. Lost objects will not be recovered, and childbirth is perilous. Do not continue searching for thieves; prayers and offerings will instead invite trouble. Strange occurrences will lead to lawsuits, and moving house will bring legal disputes. The household will be deeply unsettled, and official documents will be difficult to complete.

These are signs of complete misfortune. They should appear in connection with the numbers two, four, and eight, and in the years, months, days, or hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu. The direction is southwest.

Forty-Third Lot: Highly Auspicious

Winter passes and summer arrives; at times it rains, and at times the skies are clear. The four seasons follow one another in turn, the grains flourish, and the crops are abundant. The household is deeply unsettled, and official documents will be difficult to complete.

Forty-Third Lot, Uppermost Auspicious: The bitter cold of winter passes, and summer’s heat arrives; sometimes it rains, and sometimes the sky clears. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter follow one another in turn. The crops flourish, and the harvest is abundant.

For questions about the weather, expect partly cloudy skies and partly clear skies. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising will be excellent, and burial is auspicious. Livestock will thrive, and those traveling away from home will return soon. Plans will go smoothly, and seeking wealth will be favorable. Marriage will be harmonious, and legal disputes will have a favorable outcome. When visiting others, you may meet a benefactor; travel will go smoothly. Building a house will bring good fortune and peace. Illness will soon be cured. Lost belongings can be recovered, and childbirth will bring joy. Catching thieves is likely to succeed, and prayers and sacrifices will bring blessings. Strange occurrences will bring no misfortune, and moving house will be auspicious. The household will be safe, and paperwork and other official matters will be completed smoothly.

All these matters are highly auspicious. The numbers associated with this lot are three, six, and nine; the years, months, days, and hours of the Snake, Rooster, and Ox; and the northwest direction.

Forty-Fourth Lot, Moderately Auspicious: In the dim woods on the mountain, monkeys cry out mournfully. The moon rises in the east, just as someone away from home is about to return.

For questions about the weather, expect rain. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising will be average, and burial will bring some benefit, though limited. Livestock prospects are ordinary, and travelers are still on the road. Plans will succeed only in part, and gains from seeking wealth will be limited. Marriage will be delayed, while legal disputes will turn from unfavorable to favorable. Visiting others may bring minor obstacles, and travel will go only partly smoothly. It is best to postpone building a house. Illness will worsen at first, then improve. Lost belongings will take some time to find. Childbirth will be unfavorable at first, then improve. Catching thieves will require waiting, and prayers and sacrifices will bring some relief. Strange occurrences will fade away, and moving house should not be rushed. The household will gradually become secure, while paperwork and other official matters will be delayed.

In all these matters, the outcome turns from unfavorable to favorable. The numbers associated with this lot are two, four, and eight; the years, months, days, and hours of the Tiger, Horse, and Dog; and the due south direction.

Forty-Fifth Lot, Moderately Auspicious: Do not act rashly or let your thoughts run wild. Keep doing good, and work diligently every day without giving up.

When asking about the weather, the forecast is clear skies. Farming and silkworm raising will proceed smoothly, and a burial in the family cemetery will be peaceful. Livestock will be as usual, while someone who has gone away will return late. Plans can succeed as hoped, and seeking wealth will be favorable. A marriage can be arranged, and legal disputes can be settled peacefully. There will be no obstacle to visiting someone, but travel should be taken slowly. Building a house and similar matters should follow the usual procedures; illness can be treated. Lost belongings can be recovered, and childbirth will be safe. A thief can be caught, but prayers and offerings will receive no response. There is no need to worry about strange occurrences, and a move should be postponed for now. The household will be safe, and it is a good time to seek documents.

This is a moderately auspicious lot, associated with the numbers one, five, and seven, and with the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei. Its direction is due east.

Lot Forty-Six, Moderately Auspicious.

Alas. The household will be safe, and it is a good time to seek documents.

This is a moderately auspicious lot, associated with the numbers one, five, and seven, and with the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei. Its direction is due east.

Lot Forty-Six, Moderately Auspicious.

Drums and gongs sound as troops set out to subdue those who refuse to submit. On the way, they encounter the enemy and hold their ground in the woods; reinforcements arrive.

When asking about the weather, expect skies that are partly cloudy and partly clear. Farming and silkworm raising show promise, and a burial in the family cemetery is somewhat auspicious. No livestock will be lost, and someone who has gone away will return soon. Plans will come to fruition later, and profits from seeking wealth will also be delayed. A marriage can be arranged, and legal disputes will cause no serious trouble. A visit will be permitted, and travel is favorable. Building a house and similar matters can get underway; illness will cause no serious trouble. Lost belongings should be searched for, and childbirth will involve some danger. The thief has fled far away. Prayers and offerings will bring only partial good fortune. Strange occurrences will bring minor misfortune, while moving house will bring some benefit. The household will ultimately prosper, and documents will be completed after a delay.

This is a lot that begins inauspiciously but ends auspiciously, associated with the numbers three, six, and nine, and with the years, months, days, and hours of Shen, Zi, and Chen. Its direction is due north.

Lot Forty-Seven, Very Inauspicious.

At that moment, a flock of hawks took wing; the troops set out to complete the campaign. Passing through Maling, they were met by a volley of bolts from hidden crossbows.

In a weather divination, the result is clear skies. But crops and silkworm raising will yield no harvest. Disaster will follow a burial, livestock may be lost, and travelers will meet with obstacles. Plans will be difficult to carry out, seeking wealth will bring no benefit, marriage will not succeed, and lawsuits will be hard to settle. Visitors will be difficult to meet, journeys will be obstructed, building a house will be inauspicious, illness will be difficult to cure, and lost people or objects will be hard to find. Childbirth will be difficult. Catching thieves will be unlikely, prayers and sacrifices are ill-advised, strange occurrences will bring disaster, moving will involve danger, the household will be unsettled, and documents will be hard to obtain.

These divinations begin auspiciously but end in misfortune. They will come to pass in connection with the numbers one, five, and seven, and in the years, months, days, or hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; the direction is northeast.

Forty-Eighth Lot, Most Inauspicious

The sun rises in the east, but clouds and mist veil its light. At dusk it shines briefly, yet happiness cannot last.

In a weather divination, the result is rain. There is initially some hope for farming and silkworm raising, but things later turn unfavorable. The prediction will come to pass in connection with the numbers one, five, and seven, and in the years, months, days, or hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; the direction is northeast.

Forty-Eighth Lot, Most Inauspicious

The sun rises in the east, but clouds and mist veil its light. At dusk it shines briefly, yet happiness cannot last.

In a weather divination, the result is rain. Crops and silkworm raising will yield poor harvests. Burials are inauspicious, livestock will be lost, and travelers will meet with obstacles. Plans will fail, seeking wealth will bring no benefit, a marriage may fall apart, and a lawsuit will drag on for some time. Visits will encounter difficulties, journeys will go poorly, building a house will be unfavorable, illness will be difficult to cure, and lost people or objects will be hard to find. Childbirth will not be safe. Catching thieves will be unlikely, prayers and sacrifices will be of no help, strange occurrences will bring disaster, moving will involve danger, the household will be inauspicious, and documents will be hard to obtain.

These divinations begin auspiciously but turn to misfortune in the end. They will come to pass in connection with the numbers two, four, and eight, and in the years, months, days, or hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; the direction is southwest.

Forty-Ninth Lot, Most Inauspicious

Stay where you are and make no changes, yet disaster will still fall from the sky. Travelers may gain something, while local residents may suffer misfortune.

In a weather divination, the result is partly cloudy and partly clear. Crops and silkworm raising will yield poor harvests. For burials, the corresponding month, day, and hour, as well as the direction, are southwest.

Forty-Ninth Lot, Most Inauspicious

Stay where you are and make no changes, yet disaster will still fall from the sky. Travelers may gain something, while local residents may suffer misfortune.

When divining about the weather, the result is partly cloudy and partly clear. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising will be poor, and a burial will cause the family’s fortunes to decline. Livestock will suffer losses, and those who have gone away will not return. Plans for major undertakings will be difficult to carry out, seeking wealth will bring no benefit, marriage will be hard to arrange, and legal disputes will be dangerous. Visits will not result in meeting the person sought, travel is ill-advised, building a house will bring no good, and illness will be critical. Missing people or lost belongings will not be found, and childbirth will be perilous. There is no need to keep searching for thieves; prayers and offerings may instead bring misfortune. Strange happenings will lead to legal disputes, moving house will invite litigation, the household will be unsettled, and paperwork will be difficult to complete.

All the matters divined above foretell misfortune. The relevant numbers are three, six, and nine; the relevant years, months, days, and hours are those of Si, You, and Chou; the direction is southeast.

Fiftieth Lot — Supreme Auspiciousness

As spring begins, all things between Heaven and Earth bear the spirit of spring. People live in harmony and peace, and all things are nourished by an atmosphere of benevolence.

When divining about the weather, the result is clear. Farming and silkworm raising will yield an abundant harvest, and a burial will be auspicious. Livestock will thrive, and those who have gone away will soon return. Plans will go smoothly, seeking wealth will be favorable, marriage will succeed, and legal disputes will turn out very well. Visits will bring an encounter with a benefactor, travel will go smoothly, and building a house will be auspicious and peaceful. Illness will soon be cured. Missing people or lost belongings will soon be found, and childbirth will bring joy. Thieves will be caught, and prayers and offerings will bring blessings. Strange happenings will cause no harm, moving house will be auspicious, the household will be peaceful, and paperwork will be completed.

All the matters divined above foretell great good fortune. The relevant numbers are one, five, and seven; the relevant years, months, days, and hours are those of Hai, Mao, and Wei; the direction is due east.

Fifty-First Lot — Average

Fish swish their tails as leeches swim in a school. Peach blossoms open in spring, and the spring waters grow warm; then the fish leap over the Dragon Gate.

When divining about the weather, the result is clear. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising will be ordinary, and a burial will be only partly auspicious. Livestock will generally be safe, and those who have gone away are still on the road. Half of one’s plans will succeed, and seeking wealth will bring some benefit. Marriage will succeed, but only after a delay; legal disputes will begin badly and end well. Visits will meet with some obstacles, while travel will generally go smoothly. Building a house should be put off for a while; illness will begin badly and then improve. Missing people or lost belongings will be found only after some delay, and childbirth will begin with danger but then turn out well. Thieves will be caught only after a delay, and prayers and offerings will bring some success. Strange happenings will fade away, and moving house should be delayed. The household will gradually settle down, and paperwork will be delayed.

The previous lot begins ominously and ends favorably. Its signs correspond to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of the Pig, Rabbit, and Goat. Its direction is northeast.

Lot Fifty-Two: Moderate Fortune

Stop when it is time to stop, and act when it is time to act. A noble person who follows this principle can enjoy lasting good fortune and remain on the right path.

When asking about the weather, rain is possible. Farming and silkworm raising will be steady, and repairing a tomb or arranging a burial will go smoothly. For livestock, the northeast is more favorable. Travelers will return late. Plans can succeed, and seeking wealth is favorable. Marriage can be arranged, and disputes can be settled peacefully. There will be no obstacle to visiting someone, but travel should proceed slowly. Keep building work to its usual scale. Illness can be treated. Lost items may be found, childbirth will be safe, and thieves can be caught. Prayers and sacrifices will not bring a response. Strange occurrences will cause no harm, and it is best to stay where you are. The household will be safe, and this is a favorable time to seek official documents.

This is a lot of moderate fortune. Its signs correspond to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of the Tiger, Horse, and Dog. Its direction is due south.

Lot Fifty-Three: Moderate Fortune

The luminous Lingzhi mushroom grows beside thorny brambles. If you can gather the Lingzhi, you can ascend to the Jade Hall—a symbol of distinction or an ideal destination.

When asking about the weather, expect alternating cloud and sunshine. Farming and silkworm raising look promising, and burial arrangements are somewhat favorable. Livestock will suffer no losses, and travelers are about to return. Plans will succeed only after a delay, and profits from seeking wealth will also come late. Marriage can be arranged, and disputes will cause no trouble. You may be granted a visit with someone, and travel is favorable. Building work is auspicious, and illness will not be serious. It is a good time to search for lost items, though childbirth will involve some danger. The thieves have already gone far away, and prayers and sacrifices are generally auspicious. Strange occurrences will bring minor troubles, while moving house offers some benefit. The household will ultimately be safe, and paperwork will take some time to complete.

This lot begins with moderate fortune and ill luck, then turns favorable. Its signs correspond to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of the Monkey, Rat, and Dragon. Its direction is due west.

Lot Fifty-Four: Very Poor Fortune

The beacon fire blazes brightly, and the Ganjiang sword is adorned with a hundred pieces of gold. The grime of the land within the seas is swept away, yet clear, bright light sinks into darkness.

For a weather divination: rain. The fields and silkworms will yield no harvest. Burying ancestors will bring misfortune. Livestock will be lost, and travelers will face delays. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and seeking wealth will bring no benefit. A marriage will be difficult to arrange, and a lawsuit hard to settle. It will be difficult to meet the person you seek; travel will be impeded. Building a house is inauspicious, illness will be hard to cure, lost items will be difficult to find, and childbirth will be dangerous. Catching thieves will not succeed; prayers and sacrifices are inadvisable. Strange calamities will occur, moving house will bring misfortune, the household will be unsettled, and documents will be hard to obtain.

Among these matters, lost items will be difficult to find; childbirth will be dangerous; catching thieves will fail; prayers and sacrifices are inadvisable; strange events will bring calamity; moving house is inauspicious; the household will be unsettled; and documents will be hard to obtain. This lot begins auspiciously but ends in misfortune. Its signs correspond to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; the direction is southwest.

Lot Fifty-Five: Very Inauspicious

A long journey will not go smoothly; you would do better to return home. When a city gate catches fire, even the fish in the moat suffer—meaning that those with no connection to a matter may also be implicated.

For a weather divination: clear skies. The fields and silkworms will yield a poor harvest, and burying ancestors is inauspicious. Livestock will be lost, and travelers will face delays. Plans will fail, and seeking wealth will bring no benefit. A marriage may encounter changes, and a lawsuit will drag on before bringing further trouble. Attempts to meet someone will face obstacles, and travel will go poorly. Building a house is unfavorable, and illness will be difficult to cure. Lost items will be hard to find, and childbirth cannot be assured of safety. Catching thieves will be difficult, and prayers and sacrifices will be of no help. Strange events will bring calamity, moving house will be dangerous, the household will be inauspicious, and documents will be hard to obtain.

Among these matters, journeys will be delayed and travel will go poorly; construction is unfavorable; illness will be difficult to cure; lost items will be hard to find; childbirth cannot be assured of safety; catching thieves will fail; prayers and sacrifices will be of no help; strange events will bring calamity; moving house will be dangerous; the household will be inauspicious; and documents will be hard to obtain. This lot has a slightly auspicious sign in the middle, but misfortune marks both its beginning and end. Its signs correspond to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; the direction is due east.

Lot Fifty-Six: Very Inauspicious

You keep yourself going by forcing down food, yet your body is like that of a walking corpse; the root of the illness lies in your heart and abdomen. Do not think this is a minor injury: calamity will soon arrive.

The matters divined by this lot are mostly inauspicious: the weather will be partly cloudy and partly clear; crops and silkworm raising will yield poor harvests; burials will be unfavorable; and the family’s livelihood may suffer losses. Livestock may easily meet with calamity, and people who have gone away will be slow to return. Plans and efforts to gain wealth will be difficult to fulfill, marriage arrangements may fail, and legal disputes are dangerous. A visit may not find the person you seek. Travel and construction are inadvisable; illness is critical, missing people will be hard to find, and childbirth carries danger. There is little hope of catching thieves. Prayers and sacrifices may instead invite misfortune. If strange events occur in the home, they may lead to legal trouble. Moving is unfavorable, the household will be unsettled, and paperwork will be difficult to complete.

All of these are ominous signs. The numbers associated with the prediction are three, six, and nine. It is more likely to come to pass in the years, months, days, or hours of Si, You, and Chou, and the direction is northwest.

Lot Fifty-Seven: Greatly Auspicious

The Qilin and phoenix appear; auspicious stars shine brightly, and clouds of good fortune rise. These are signs of radiant virtue and the arrival of auspicious blessings—an extraordinary omen.

All matters divined by this lot are auspicious: the weather will be clear, crops and silkworm raising will yield abundant harvests, burials will be favorable, and livestock will thrive. Those who have gone away will soon return. Plans will go smoothly, efforts to gain wealth will be fruitful, marriage will succeed, and legal disputes will turn out very well. A visit will bring you to a noble person; travel will go smoothly, construction will be safe, and illness will soon be cured. Missing people will be found, childbirth will bring good news, and thieves can be caught. Prayers and sacrifices will bring blessings. Strange events will come to nothing. Moving will be auspicious, the household will be at peace, and paperwork will be completed.

All of these are greatly auspicious signs. The numbers associated with the prediction are one, five, and seven. It is more likely to come to pass in the years, months, days, or hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei, and the direction is northeast.

Lot Fifty-Eight: Even

The weather is hot and dry, and plants are nearly withered. When rain comes in time, all things flourish again.

The matters divined by this lot will mostly encounter some difficulties, but may eventually improve: rain is expected; crops and silkworm raising will yield average harvests; and burials will have both favorable and unfavorable aspects. Livestock will fare ordinarily, and those who have gone away are still on the road. Plans and efforts to gain wealth will be only partly successful, and marriage will be delayed. Legal disputes will turn from unfavorable to favorable. Visits will meet with minor obstacles, and travel will not go smoothly. It is best to postpone construction. Illness will turn from unfavorable to favorable; missing people will be found only after some delay; and childbirth will begin with difficulties but later improve. It will take time to catch thieves. Prayers and sacrifices will be somewhat favorable, and strange events will gradually fade away. Do not rush to move; the household will gradually settle down, while paperwork and other matters will be delayed.

The meaning of the lot above is ominous at first, then auspicious. It corresponds to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu. The direction is due south.

Lot 59: Average

Know where to draw the line when advancing or retreating, and choose the right moment for action or stillness. Let changes follow what is reasonable; this is the way of a gentleman.

For divinations concerning the lunar year, month, day, or hour, the direction is due south.

Lot 59: Average

Know where to draw the line when advancing or retreating, and choose the right moment for action or stillness. Let changes follow what is reasonable; this is the way of a gentleman.

The weather is equally likely to be clear or cloudy. Farming and silkworm raising are steady, as are burial and gravesite matters. Livestock are in ordinary condition. Those away from home will return late. Plans can succeed as hoped, and seeking wealth is favorable. A marriage can be arranged, and legal disputes can be settled peacefully. There is no obstacle to visiting someone, but travel should be taken slowly. Building a house and similar matters can proceed as usual. Illness can be treated. Lost items can be found by searching, and childbirth will be safe. Efforts to catch thieves may yield results. Prayers and sacrifices will bring no response. There is no need to worry about strange occurrences. On moving, it is best to keep things as they are. The household is safe, and this is a favorable time to seek documents.

The meaning of this lot is average. It corresponds to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Shen, Zi, and Chen. The direction is due north.

Lot 60: Average

The se and qin are played, their notes ringing clearly and sweetly. A broken qin string is mended, and afterward its sound is even clearer.

The weather is equally likely to be clear or cloudy. Farming and silkworm raising show promise, and burial and gravesite matters are somewhat auspicious. No livestock will be lost, and those away from home are about to return. Plans will succeed only after some delay, and profits from seeking wealth will come late. A marriage can be arranged, and legal disputes will pose no obstacle. A visit will be permitted, and travel is favorable. Building a house and similar matters can go ahead. Illness will cause no serious trouble. Lost items should be searched for, but childbirth will involve some danger. The thieves have already fled far away. Prayers and sacrifices have mixed prospects. Strange occurrences will bring only minor trouble. Moving offers a little benefit. The household will eventually turn toward good fortune, though documents will be delayed.

The meaning of this lot is average at first, then ominous, but ultimately turns auspicious. It corresponds to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Si, You, and Chou. The direction is southeast.

Lot 61: Very Inauspicious

The sturgeon and tuna thrash and swim in the water. Stranded on shore, they can only gasp with their mouths open. They cared only for the bait they greedily ate; once trapped in a dry cart rut, they rush to find a way to survive.

When asking about fair or cloudy weather, the result is clear skies. The harvest from farming and sericulture will be poor; after the ancestors’ graves are built, calamity will follow. Livestock may be lost or go astray, and travelers will meet with delays along the way. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and seeking wealth will bring no benefit. Marriage is unlikely to come about, and lawsuits will be difficult to settle. Visits are unlikely to be successful, and journeys will be impeded. Building a house is inauspicious, illness will be hard to cure, and lost belongings will be difficult to find. Childbirth will be difficult, catching thieves is unlikely to succeed, and prayers and sacrifices are ill-advised. Strange happenings may bring disaster; moving will invite danger, the household will be unsettled, and documents will be hard to obtain.

The verse says: “The sturgeon and tuna thrash about in the water, their gills exposed as they keep swimming. Only because they crave the bait do they end up struggling to survive in a dried-up cart rut.” The image of fish stranded away from water is used here to show how craving can lead one into difficulty.

For the matters asked about above, things will begin auspiciously and end in misfortune. The numbers connected with the prediction are one, five, and seven; the corresponding times are Hai, Mao, and Wei, and the direction is due east.

Lot Sixty-Two (Very Inauspicious)

The verse says: “Without taking care to secure the baggage, one wears out the servant with toil. Though plainly walking along a level road, one tumbles into a valley.”

When asking about fair or cloudy weather, the result is rain. The harvest from farming and sericulture will be unsatisfactory, and burial at the grave site is inauspicious. Livestock will be lost, and travelers will be delayed. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and seeking wealth will bring no profit. Marriage will encounter setbacks; lawsuits will drag on and cause trouble. Visits will be impeded, and journeys will go poorly. Building or renovation is unfavorable, illness will be hard to cure, and lost belongings will be difficult to find. Childbirth is unlikely to go smoothly, catching thieves is unlikely to yield results, and prayers and sacrifices will be of no help. Strange happenings will bring disaster, moving will invite danger, the household will be inauspicious, and documents will be hard to obtain.

For the matters asked about above, things will be auspicious in the middle, but inauspicious at both the beginning and the end. The numbers connected with the prediction are two, four, and eight; the corresponding times are Yin, Wu, and Xu, and the direction is southwest.

Lot Sixty-Three (Very Inauspicious)

The verse says: “A great peng bird alights beside one’s seat. Asking what this ominous sign means, one is consumed by worry in a humble, straitened dwelling.”

For questions about the weather, conditions are equally likely to be cloudy or clear. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising will be poor. The fengshui of the burial ground is unfavorable and may bring decline to the family; livestock will suffer losses, and those who are away will be slow to return. Plans are unlikely to succeed, financial gain is unfavorable, marriage is unlikely, and legal disputes are perilous. Visits often fail to find the person sought, and travel is inadvisable. Building a house is unfavorable; an illness may become critical, lost belongings cannot be found, and childbirth is dangerous. There is no need to spend effort searching for thieves, while prayers and sacrifices may instead bring misfortune. Strange occurrences may lead to legal disputes, and moving may invite litigation. The household is deeply unsettled, and official documents are difficult to obtain.

These are all inauspicious signs. They will come to pass in connection with the numbers three, six, and nine; the years, months, days, and hours of the Snake, Rooster, and Ox; and the due west.

Lot 64: Most Auspicious

Blessings from the divine have already arrived, and joyful events will soon come to your door. Blessings will come not only in the present, but will also benefit your descendants.

For questions about the weather, rain is indicated. Farming and silkworm raising will yield an abundant harvest, and the burial ground is auspicious. Livestock will thrive, and those who are away will return soon. Plans will go smoothly, financial gain is favorable, marriage can succeed, and legal disputes will have a favorable outcome. You will meet the important person you seek, and travel will go smoothly. Building a house is auspicious, illness will soon be cured, lost belongings can be recovered, and childbirth will bring joy. Thieves can be caught, and prayers and sacrifices will bring blessings. Strange occurrences will cause no harm, moving is auspicious, the household will be peaceful, and official documents can be obtained.

These are all highly auspicious signs. They will come to pass in connection with the numbers two, four, and eight; the years, months, days, and hours of the Tiger, Horse, and Dog; and the due south.

Lot 65: Fair

The road is winding and narrow, making it hard for carts and horses to pass. When traveling through the Wu Gorge, boats are also in danger of capsizing. Take care when climbing mountains and crossing waters. Safety lies in taking level roads and calm waterways.

When asking about the weather, the result is clear skies. Farming and silkworm raising will yield only half a harvest. Burial matters will be half favorable, and the fortunes of the six domestic animals will also be partly auspicious. Those who have gone away are still on the road. Plans will be only partly fulfilled, and gains from seeking wealth will be limited. Marriage will be delayed; legal disputes will begin inauspiciously and end well. Visiting someone will bring a minor obstacle, while travel will be generally smooth. Construction of a house should be postponed. Illness will first be dangerous and then improve. A missing person or lost object will be found after some time. Childbirth will first be perilous and then end safely. Efforts to catch a thief will not succeed until later; prayers and offerings will meet with slight success. Strange occurrences will fade away, and moving house should be done slowly. The household will gradually become stable, while paperwork will be delayed.

In all these matters, things will turn from inauspicious to auspicious. The numbers associated with the outcome are one, five, and seven. It will come to pass in the year, month, day, or hour of Hai, Mao, or Wei, and the direction is northeast.

Lot Sixty-Six: Moderately Auspicious.

Only after repeated honing does a tool become sharp. Since it has been tempered, it must be used and kept with care; be sure not to lose or damage it.

When asking about the weather, expect partly cloudy skies and partly clear skies. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising will be steady, and burial matters will be uneventful. The fortunes of the six domestic animals will be ordinary, and those who have gone away will return late. Plans can be fulfilled as hoped, and seeking wealth will be favorable. Marriage can be accomplished, and legal disputes will be settled peacefully without obstruction. Visiting someone will meet no obstacles, while travel should proceed at a leisurely pace. Build a house according to the usual practices. Illness can be treated. Missing people or lost objects can be found, and childbirth will be safe. Efforts to catch a thief will bring results, but prayers and offerings will not receive a response. Strange occurrences will cause no harm, and when moving, it is best to remain in the old home for the time being. The household will be safe, and paperwork should be pursued actively.

All these matters are of middling fortune. The numbers associated with the outcome are three, six, and nine. It will come to pass in the year, month, day, or hour of Shen, Zi, or Chen, and the direction is northwest.

Lot Sixty-Seven: Moderately Auspicious.

A parrot is skilled at speaking, and its feathers and bearing are vivid and beautiful. Although it has an extra eye, its owner still regards it as precious. The parrot here represents someone distinctive in appearance or speech: even with some shortcomings, they remain cherished by their owner. When asking about the weather, expect clear skies. Farming and silkworm raising have hope of a good harvest, and burial matters are slightly auspicious. The six domestic animals will suffer no losses, and those who have gone away are about to return. Plans will be realized later, and profits from seeking wealth will come slowly. Marriage can be accomplished, and official matters will proceed without obstruction.

When asked about the weather, the answer is clear skies. Farming and silkworm raising are promising, and burial in a graveyard is somewhat auspicious. Livestock will not be harmed, and those who have gone away will soon return. Plans will succeed only later, and wealth will come slowly. Marriage can proceed, and there will be no trouble with lawsuits. Requests to meet others may be granted. It is a good time to travel or begin construction. Illness is not serious. Lost belongings are worth searching for, though childbirth will involve danger. The thieves have gone far away. Prayers and sacrifices are only partly auspicious. Strange occurrences bring minor misfortune, while moving house may bring a little benefit. The household will ultimately be fortunate, but documents will arrive late.

This is a fortune that begins ominously and ends well. Its corresponding numbers are one, five, and seven; it takes effect in the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei, and in the due east direction.

Lot Sixty-Eight, Extremely Inauspicious.

The newly brewed wine spills over time and again, while clear, bright singing has already begun. Joy passes, and sorrow follows; mournful cries soak the lapels.

When asked about the weather, the answer is rain. Farming and silkworm raising will yield no harvest, and disaster will follow burial. Livestock will suffer losses, and those who have gone away will meet obstacles. Plans will fail, and seeking wealth will bring no benefit. Marriage will not succeed, and lawsuits will be difficult to resolve. It will be hard to meet the person you wish to see, and travel will be obstructed. Construction is inauspicious, and illness will be hard to cure. Lost belongings will be difficult to find, and childbirth will be arduous. Attempts to catch the thieves will come to nothing; prayers and sacrifices are ill-advised. Strange occurrences will bring disaster, and moving house will invite danger. The household will be unsettled, and documents will be difficult to obtain.

This is a fortune that begins well and ends badly. Its corresponding numbers are two, four, and eight; it takes effect in the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu, and in the southwest direction.

Lot Sixty-Nine, Extremely Inauspicious.

Having only just recovered from illness, you cook a turtle and paint fresh fish. But you accidentally offend the Ao spirit, and from then on the cooking smoke no longer rises from the household.

When asking about the weather, the result is partly cloudy and partly clear. Farming and silkworm cultivation bring disappointment; burial is inauspicious; livestock may suffer harm; and travelers will meet with obstacles. Plans are difficult to carry out, and seeking wealth brings no profit. A marriage may encounter complications, while a lawsuit will cause trouble in the future. Seeking an audience with someone is likely to be obstructed; travel will go poorly; building a house is unfavorable; and illness will be difficult to cure. Lost items will be hard to recover, childbirth is dangerous, catching thieves is unlikely to succeed, and prayers and sacrifices will be of no help. Calamity may arise from strange occurrences, and moving house is unfavorable. The home is inauspicious, and documents will be difficult to complete.

This describes a lot in which the middle is slightly auspicious, while the beginning and end are inauspicious. It corresponds to the numbers two, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Si, You, and Chou; its direction is due north.

The seventieth lot, greatly inauspicious.

With an evil heart and deceitful conduct, one will ultimately be unable to escape the record kept by ghosts and spirits or the punishment of Heaven’s net.

When asking about the weather, the result is clear. Farming and silkworm cultivation yield nothing; burial will bring ruin to the family’s fortunes; livestock will suffer disaster and loss; and those who leave will not return. Most plans will fail, and seeking wealth is highly unfavorable. A marriage will be difficult to arrange, and a lawsuit is dangerous. One will be unable to meet the person sought; travel is inadvisable; building a house is unfavorable; and illness is critical. Lost items will not be recovered, childbirth is perilous, and there is no need to pursue the matter of catching thieves. Prayers and sacrifices will instead invite disaster. Strange occurrences will lead to lawsuits, and moving house will bring legal trouble. The home is deeply unsettled, and documents will be difficult to complete.

This describes a wholly inauspicious lot. It corresponds to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; its direction is northeast.

The seventy-first lot, greatly auspicious.

When discussing plans, you will be able to reach agreement with others. Both turtle-shell divination and yarrow-stalk divination, ancient methods of divination, indicate good fortune. It is suitable to travel in any direction and attend to matters; by following established rules, you will succeed.

When asking about overcast weather, the result is unsettled; documents will also be difficult to complete.

This describes a wholly inauspicious lot. It corresponds to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; its direction is northeast.

The seventy-first lot, greatly auspicious.

When discussing plans, you will be able to reach agreement with others. Both turtle-shell divination and yarrow-stalk divination indicate good fortune. It is suitable to travel in any direction and attend to matters; by following established rules, you will succeed.

When divining about the weather, the skies will be clear. The fields and silkworms will yield abundant harvests, and a burial will be auspicious. Livestock will thrive, and travelers will return soon. Most plans will go smoothly, seeking wealth will be favorable, a marriage can be arranged, and legal proceedings will go well. When visiting someone, you will meet a person of influence; journeys will be unobstructed. Building a house will be auspicious, and illness will soon be cured. Lost things can be found, childbirth will go smoothly and bring joy, and pursuing thieves will yield results. Prayers and sacrifices will bring blessings. Strange occurrences will cause no harm, relocation will be favorable, the household will be safe, and written matters can be completed.

This divination is greatly auspicious. It corresponds to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; its direction is due east.

Lot Seventy-Two: Moderate Fortune

In the water are a horned dragon and a rat; on land are tigers and wolves. The host welcomes me and lets me dwell in a stone chamber and an orchid hall—a dwelling built of stone and as elegant and pure as an orchid.

When divining about the weather, it will rain. The fields and silkworms will yield half a harvest. Burials, livestock, plans, and the pursuit of wealth will meet with only partial success. Travelers are still on the road, and a marriage will be delayed. Legal proceedings will begin badly and end well. Visiting someone will meet with some obstacles, while travel will generally go smoothly. Construction should be postponed. Illness will first worsen, then ease. Lost things will take longer to find. Childbirth will encounter difficulties at first, then go smoothly. Pursuing thieves will be delayed, and prayers and sacrifices will have some effect. Strange occurrences will fade away. Relocation should be delayed; the household will gradually settle, and written matters will be held up.

This divination begins inauspiciously and ends well. It corresponds to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; its direction is due south.

Lot Seventy-Three: Moderate Fortune

When you understand the constant Way, your heart becomes clear. Holding to your proper place and cultivating yourself are most important. If you carefully observe these counsels, you will avoid hardship.

When divining about the weather, it will be partly cloudy and partly sunny. The fields and silkworms will yield a steady harvest. The direction is due south.

For weather, the sky will be partly cloudy and partly clear. Farm crops and silkworm raising will yield steady harvests, and burials will proceed smoothly. Livestock will fare ordinarily, and those traveling away from home will return late. Plans will succeed as hoped, and seeking wealth will be favorable. A marriage can be arranged, and legal disputes can be settled peacefully. Visits to others will go smoothly, but travel should proceed at a slower pace. Building and construction should follow established practice. Illness can be treated. Lost belongings may be recovered, and childbirth will be safe. Thieves can be caught, but prayers and offerings will receive no response. Strange occurrences will cause no trouble, and a move should be deferred in favor of keeping things as they are. The household will be safe, and it is a good time to seek official documents.

This is a middling lot, with roughly ordinary prospects of fortune and misfortune. It corresponds to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Shen, Zi, and Chen. Its direction is southeast.

Lot Seventy-Four: Middling

A precious mirror shines with radiance, illuminating every lovely face. If dust and grime obscure it, polishing it will make it shine even more brightly.

For weather, rain is indicated. Farm crops and silkworm raising have promise of a harvest, and burials are slightly auspicious. Livestock will come to no harm, and those who have left home will soon return. Plans will be realized, while gains from seeking wealth will come slowly. A marriage can be arranged, and legal disputes will cause no trouble. Visits to others can go ahead, and it is a good time to set out on a journey. Building and construction should begin. Illness will pose no great problem and can be treated. Keep searching for lost belongings. Childbirth will involve some danger. The thieves have fled far away. Prayers and offerings will bring only partial good fortune. Strange occurrences will bring minor misfortune, while moving house will bring slight benefit. The household will ultimately be safe, but news concerning documents will arrive late.

This is a lot of misfortune at the outset that turns auspicious in the end. It corresponds to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu. Its direction is southwest.

Lot Seventy-Five: Very Inauspicious

At dawn, one gathers a miraculous lingzhi herb and travels far into a famous mountain. Dense clouds and mist shroud the mountain, and the path is dark; one no longer knows how to find the way back.

When asking about the weather, the result is clear skies. The fields and silkworms will yield no harvest, and disaster will follow a burial. Livestock will suffer losses, and travelers will be delayed on the way. Plans will be difficult to carry out, and seeking wealth will bring no benefit. Marriage prospects will not succeed, and lawsuits will be difficult to resolve. It will be hard to meet the person you wish to see, and journeys will be hindered. Building a house is inauspicious, and illness will be difficult to cure. Lost objects will be hard to recover, and childbirth will be difficult. Efforts to catch thieves are unlikely to succeed, and prayers and offerings are ill-advised. Strange occurrences will bring disaster, and moving house or relocating will bring misfortune. The household will be unsettled, and documents will be hard to obtain.

The signs described above begin auspiciously and end in misfortune. They correspond to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; the direction is northeast.

Lot 76: Lowest Lot (the most inauspicious grade)

Climbing upward on stone steps and grasping at vines is as difficult as ascending to Heaven. The climb brings a brief exhilaration, but on the way back you must face the frost, and the road is perilous.

When asking about the weather, the result is partly cloudy and partly clear. The harvest from the fields and silkworms will disappoint, and burial is inauspicious. Livestock will suffer losses, and travelers will be delayed. Plans will not succeed, and seeking wealth will bring no benefit. Marriage prospects may encounter a change of fortune, while lawsuits will drag on and still bring trouble. Attempts to meet someone will face obstacles, and journeys will go poorly. Building a house is unfavorable, and illness will be difficult to recover from. Lost objects will be hard to find, childbirth will not be safe, efforts to catch thieves are unlikely to succeed, and prayers and offerings will bring no help. Strange occurrences will bring disaster, and moving house or relocating will bring misfortune. The household is inauspicious, and documents will be hard to obtain.

The signs described above show moderate auspiciousness at first: the beginning is difficult, but the end turns to misfortune. They correspond to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Si, You, and Chou; the direction is due west.

Lot 77: Lowest Lot

After the moon reaches fullness, it begins to wane; when the sun reaches its highest point, it must begin to sink toward the west. Be careful and conscientious in all you do, right through to the end, just as you were at the beginning. In this way, you can dispel danger and evil.

For questions about clear or cloudy weather, this lot indicates rain. Crops and silkworms will yield poorly. Burial is unfavorable and may bring the family to ruin. The livestock will suffer misfortune and losses, and those who travel will find it difficult to return. Plans will be hard to carry out, and seeking wealth will bring no benefit. Marriage is unlikely to succeed, and lawsuits are dangerous. Visits will not result in meeting the person sought; travel is inadvisable, building a house is unfavorable, and illness is grave. Lost people or objects will not be found, and childbirth is perilous. Searches for thieves will come to nothing, while prayers and sacrifices may instead bring trouble. Strange occurrences will lead to lawsuits, and moving house may invite litigation. The household will be unsettled, and official documents will be difficult to arrange.

All the prognostications above are inauspicious. They correspond to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; the direction is due east.

Lot 78: Supreme Auspiciousness

A gentleman of upright conduct and trustworthy character is as gentle and lustrous as fine jade. Heaven protects his destiny, granting him lasting and abundant blessings.

For questions about clear or cloudy weather, this lot indicates rain. Fields and silkworms will yield abundantly, and burial is auspicious. Livestock will thrive, and those who travel will soon return. Plans will go smoothly, and seeking wealth will be favorable. Marriage can succeed, and lawsuits will end very well. Visits will bring an encounter with a noble person; travel will go smoothly, and building a house will be safe and auspicious. Illness will soon be cured. Lost people or objects can be found, and childbirth will bring joy. Thieves can be caught, and prayers and sacrifices will bring blessings. Strange occurrences will cause no harm, and moving house is auspicious. The household will be peaceful, and official documents will be handled successfully.

All the prognostications above are greatly auspicious. They correspond to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; the direction is due south.

Lot 79: Middling

When a period of adversity reaches its end, a period of peace and prosperity will rise. Yin energy recedes, and Yang energy follows. The Way of Heaven moves in cycles; things do not depart without returning.

When asking whether the weather will be clear or overcast, the sky will be partly cloudy and partly clear. The harvest from fields and silkworm raising will be average, while matters concerning a grave and burial will bring slight benefit. Livestock prospects are ordinary, and those who have gone away are still on the road. Plans will only be partly realized, and gains from seeking wealth will be limited. Marriage will take longer to arrange. A lawsuit will begin with danger but later turn favorable. Visits may meet minor obstacles, while travel should generally go smoothly. Construction of a house should be postponed. Illness will be severe at first, then improve. It will take some time to hear news about lost property. Childbirth will begin with danger, then end safely. Catching a thief will take time, while prayers and ritual offerings will meet with some success. Strange occurrences will fade away, and moving house should be delayed. The household will gradually become more settled, while paperwork will progress slowly.

The overall pattern of these divinations is ill fortune followed by good fortune. They will come to pass in connection with the numbers three, six, and nine, and with the years, months, days, or hours of Shen, Zi, and Chen; the direction is northwest.

The Eightieth Lot, Average Fortune

A truly wise person may seem dull; a truly capable person may seem clumsy. Only by steadily practicing the virtues suited to the occasion can one be called wise and discerning.

When asking whether the weather will be clear or overcast, rain is indicated. The harvest from fields and silkworm raising will be steady, and matters concerning a grave and burial will be uneventful. Livestock will fare ordinarily, and those who have gone away will return late. Plans will turn out as hoped, and seeking wealth will be favorable. Marriage can be arranged, and lawsuits will proceed peacefully. Visits will encounter no obstacles, while travel should be taken at a slower pace. House construction should proceed as usual, without rushing ahead; illness can be treated. Lost property can be recovered, childbirth will be safe, and catching a thief will succeed. Prayers and ritual offerings will receive no response. There is no need to worry about strange occurrences, and it is best to remain in one’s present home. The household will be safe, and paperwork is suitable to undertake.

This divination indicates average fortune. It will come to pass in connection with the numbers two, four, and eight, and with the years, months, days, or hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; the direction is southwest.

The Eighty-First Lot, Average Fortune

Even a wise person, after considering something again and again, may still make a mistake once. One should carefully choose what is appropriate to do; only then can great good fortune be attained.

This divination indicates average fortune. It will come to pass in connection with the numbers two, four, and eight, and with the years, months, days, or hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; the direction is southwest.

For weather, the sky will be clear. The fields and silkworm cultivation may yield a good harvest, and burial matters are somewhat auspicious. Livestock will come to no harm, and those who have gone away will return. Plans will not come to fruition until later, and profits from seeking wealth will be delayed. A marriage can succeed, and lawsuits will cause no trouble. Permission to visit someone will be granted, and travel is favorable. It is a good time to begin construction or repairs, and illness will not be serious. Lost people or objects should be searched for; childbirth will involve some danger. By the time thieves are pursued, they will already have gone far away. Prayers and offerings bring mixed fortune. Strange occurrences will bring minor calamity, while moving house may bring a small benefit. The household will ultimately prosper, but documents and news will arrive late.

Taken together, these predictions turn from misfortune to good fortune. They correspond to the numbers one, five, and seven, and will come to pass in the years, months, days, or hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei, in the northeast.

Lot Eighty-Two: Very Inauspicious.

In a garden, unusual flowers and plants bloom brightly, like fine jade. Though the blossoms are abundant, they bear no fruit and eventually wither in the wind.

For weather, rain is possible. The fields and silkworm cultivation will yield nothing, and burial will be followed by calamity. Livestock will suffer losses, and those who have gone away will encounter obstacles. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and seeking wealth will bring no profit. A marriage is unlikely to succeed, and lawsuits will be difficult to resolve. You will have difficulty meeting the person you wish to see, and travel will be obstructed. Construction and repairs are inauspicious, and illness will be difficult to cure. Lost people or objects will be hard to find, and childbirth will be difficult. Pursuing thieves will bring no results, and prayers and offerings are inadvisable. Strange occurrences will cause calamity, and moving house will bring danger. The household will be unsettled, and documents will be hard to obtain.

Taken together, these predictions turn from good fortune to misfortune. They correspond to the numbers two, four, and eight, and will come to pass in the years, months, days, or hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu, in the due south.

Lot Eighty-Three: Very Inauspicious.

A bird wounded by an arrow flies high across the sky, like a silver river. When it descends to the riverbank plain to seek food, a bird-catching net is suddenly laid out.

For weather, the outlook is evenly divided between cloudy and clear. The fields and silkworm cultivation hold no promise, and burial is inauspicious. Livestock will suffer losses, and those who have gone away will be delayed. Plans will not succeed, and seeking wealth will bring no profit. A marriage will face complications, and lawsuits will hinder subsequent affairs. Attempts to visit someone will be obstructed, and travel will go poorly. Construction and repairs are unfavorable, and illness will be difficult to cure. Lost people or objects will be hard to find; childbirth will be difficult to bring safely to term. Pursuing thieves is unlikely to succeed, and prayers and offerings will bring no benefit. Strange occurrences will cause calamity, and moving house will bring danger. The household will be inauspicious, and documents will be hard to obtain.

What is described above is a fortune that is moderately auspicious, though unfavorable at the beginning and end. Its outcome is linked to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Si, You, and Chou. Its direction is due north. Prayers and offerings will not help. Strange occurrences will bring disaster, and moving house is unfavorable. The household is inauspicious, and paperwork will be difficult to complete.

The Eighty-Fourth Fortune: Most Inauspicious

Acting as you please in the dim light of the moon, or resorting to deceit, will only spoil matters. It is like walking on ice without taking care: in the end, you will fall and be hurt.

If you ask about the weather, it will rain. Crops and silkworms will yield poorly; a burial will harm the family’s fortunes; livestock will suffer calamity; and those who are away will be unable to return. Plans will be hard to carry out, seeking wealth will be greatly unfavorable, marriage will not succeed, and legal disputes will be dangerous. You will not find the person you wish to visit. Travel and construction are inadvisable. Illness will be critical, lost objects will not be found, and childbirth will be perilous. Do not continue searching for or pursuing thieves. Prayers and offerings will instead invite misfortune. Strange occurrences will lead to legal disputes, and moving house will bring trouble. The household will be deeply unsettled, and paperwork will be difficult to complete.

This fortune is entirely inauspicious. Its outcome is linked to the numbers two and four, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu. Its direction is southwest.

The Eighty-Fifth Fortune: Most Auspicious

Your hands can reach toward the Northern Dipper, and you can lift your head to receive sweet dew from heaven. Your feet tread the stars Chi and Wei, as though moving among the constellations. The Northern Dipper, Chi, and Wei are names of constellations; this image of ascending into the starry sky signifies good fortune.

If you ask about the weather, it will be clear. The month, day, and hour, and the direction, are in the southwest.

The Eighty-Fifth Fortune: Most Auspicious

Your hands can reach toward the Northern Dipper, and you can lift your head to receive sweet dew from heaven. Your feet tread the stars Chi and Wei, as though moving among the constellations. This image of the starry sky signifies good fortune.

If you ask about the weather, it will be clear. Crops and silkworms will yield abundantly, burial will be auspicious, livestock will thrive, and those who are away will soon return. Plans will go smoothly, seeking wealth will be favorable, marriage can succeed, and legal disputes will end very favorably. You will meet the noble person you wish to visit. Travel will go smoothly, construction will be auspicious, illness will soon heal, lost objects will be recovered, and childbirth will bring joy. Thieves can be caught. Prayers and offerings will bring blessings. Strange occurrences will cause no harm, and moving house will be auspicious. The household will be peaceful, and paperwork can be completed.

This fortune is greatly auspicious. Its outcome is linked to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei. Its direction is due east.

The Eighty-Sixth Fortune: Moderately Balanced

Your heart trembles with fear, as though you are about to fall into an abyss. Yet the divine will indeed protect you, and you will remain safe and unharmed.

When asking about cloudy or sunny weather, it will be partly cloudy and partly clear. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising will be average, and burial matters will bring some benefit. Livestock prospects will be ordinary, and travelers are still on the road. Plans will meet with only partial success, and gains from seeking wealth will be limited. Marriage will be delayed. Legal disputes will be unfavorable at first, then turn auspicious. It will not be easy to meet with others, and travel will be only partly smooth. It is best to postpone building a house. Illness will be severe at first, then ease. Lost items will not be found until later. Childbirth will encounter difficulties at first, but end safely. Catching thieves will take some time, while prayers and offerings will meet with slight success. Strange occurrences will fade away, and relocation should be delayed. The household will gradually settle into stability, while paperwork will be delayed.

In all these matters, fortune will turn from misfortune to good fortune. The relevant numbers are three, six, and nine, or the years, months, days, and hours of Shen, Zi, and Chen; the direction is east. Catching thieves will take some time, while prayers and offerings will meet with slight success. Strange occurrences will fade away, and relocation should be delayed. The household will gradually settle into stability, while paperwork will be delayed.

In all these matters, fortune will turn from misfortune to good fortune. The relevant numbers are three, six, and nine, or the years, months, days, and hours of Shen, Zi, and Chen; the direction is southeast.

The Eighty-Seventh Lot: Average (neither greatly auspicious nor greatly inauspicious)

“Beneath a humble gate, one may rest at ease.” This means that one can live peacefully beneath the roof of a simple dwelling. Though one may not achieve distinction in every undertaking or attain success in many fields, there is still enough to be content and enjoy life.

When asking about cloudy or sunny weather, the sky will be clear. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising will be steady, and burial matters will proceed smoothly. Livestock prospects will be ordinary, and travelers will arrive later than expected. Plans can succeed as hoped, and seeking wealth will be favorable. Marriage can be accomplished, and legal disputes can be settled peacefully. There will be no obstacle to meeting with others, but travel should proceed at a measured pace. A house may be built in the usual way, and illness can be treated. Lost items can be recovered, and childbirth will be safe. Thieves can be caught, but prayers and offerings will bring no response. Strange occurrences will cause no harm. It is best to remain where you are for the time being rather than relocate. The household will be safe, and paperwork can be handled.

All these matters are of average fortune. The relevant numbers are one, five, and seven, or the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; the direction is northeast.

The Eighty-Eighth Lot: Average (neither greatly auspicious nor greatly inauspicious)

A divine jiao dragon coils and twists, dormant and trapped in the depths of winter. When the spring thunder roars, it will ride the clouds and wind and soar into the sky.

If you ask about the weather, it may rain. Farming and silkworm raising show promise of a good harvest, and a burial site is somewhat auspicious. Livestock will suffer no losses, and those away from home are about to return. Plans will not come to fruition until later, and financial gains will be slow. A marriage can proceed, and a lawsuit will pose no serious difficulty. There is hope of being granted an audience, and travel is favorable. Groundbreaking and construction are suitable, and illness poses no serious concern. Lost items should be searched for, though childbirth will involve danger. A thief being pursued has already gone far away. Prayers and sacrifices are only partly auspicious; strange occurrences will bring minor misfortune, while moving house offers some benefit. The household will ultimately be safe, but letters and news will arrive late.

This fortune begins with some setbacks and later turns favorable. It corresponds to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; its direction is due south.

Lot 89, very inauspicious

Guests gather as the sheng pipes and music are played. Matters will ultimately turn out well, but letters and news will arrive late.

This fortune begins with some setbacks and later turns favorable. It corresponds to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; its direction is due south.

Lot 89, very inauspicious

Guests gather as the sheng pipes and music are played. Joy reaches its height, then turns to sorrow, and tears soak the clothes.

If you ask about the weather, expect partly cloudy skies. Farming and silkworm raising will yield no harvest, and a burial will be followed by calamity. Livestock will be lost or suffer losses, and travelers will face delays. Plans will be difficult to achieve, and financial gain will be unfavorable. A marriage cannot proceed, and a lawsuit will be difficult to resolve. It will be hard to find the person you wish to visit, and travel will be obstructed. Groundbreaking and construction are inauspicious, and illness will be difficult to cure. Lost items will be hard to recover, and childbirth will be difficult. Pursuing a thief will bring no result, and prayers and sacrifices are inadvisable. Strange occurrences will bring disaster, and moving house will invite danger. The household will be unsettled, and documents will be difficult to obtain.

This fortune begins favorably and later turns inauspicious. It corresponds to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Si, You, and Chou; its direction is due west.

Lot 90, very inauspicious

Business travel goes poorly, leaving you no choice but to return home and plant millet and other grains. Just as the harvest is near, days of heavy rain arrive.

When divining about the weather, the result is partly cloudy and partly clear. The fields and silkworm raising will both fall short of expectations. Burial is inauspicious, livestock may suffer losses, and travelers will meet with obstacles. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and seeking wealth will bring no gain. A marriage may break apart, while a lawsuit will drag on for a long time. Visiting someone will be difficult, travel will go poorly, building a house will be unfavorable, and illness will be hard to cure. Lost belongings will be difficult to recover, childbirth will be dangerous, pursuing thieves is unlikely to succeed, and prayers and offerings will be of no help. Strange occurrences may bring disaster, moving will invite danger, the household will be unsettled, and documents will be difficult to complete.

For all the matters divined above, things begin favorably but end in misfortune. The corresponding numbers are three, six, and nine; the years, months, days, and hours are those of Shen, Zi, and Chen. The direction is northwest.

Lot 91, Very Inauspicious

Disaster gathers around you, and every action brings danger. Things grow more difficult as you go on; exhausted in body and mind, you ultimately fall into hardship.

When divining about the weather, the result is clear skies. The crops and silkworm industry will yield nothing. Burial will bring decline to the family; livestock will suffer losses, and those who go away will not return. Most plans will come to nothing, and seeking wealth is highly unfavorable. A marriage will be difficult to arrange, and a lawsuit will bring great misfortune. You will find it difficult to meet the person you wish to visit. Travel and building a house are both inadvisable, and illness will be critical. Lost belongings cannot be recovered, and childbirth will be dangerous. There is no point in pursuing thieves; prayers and offerings may instead bring misfortune. Strange occurrences will lead to lawsuits, and moving will entangle you in litigation. The household will be deeply unsettled, and documents will be difficult to complete.

All the matters divined above are inauspicious. The corresponding numbers are one, five, and seven; the years, months, days, and hours are those of Hai, Mao, and Wei. The direction is due east.

Lot 92, Very Auspicious

Spring thunder awakens the creatures in hiding, and all things flourish in harmony. The Yinglong soars into the sky, and wind and clouds rise in its wake.

The weather will alternate between clear skies and rain. Sericulture and crop yields will be average, as will matters concerning burial. Livestock prospects are ordinary, and those who have gone away will return late. Plans and financial pursuits will meet with only partial success; marriage will be delayed. Litigation will go poorly at first, then improve. Visiting others may face slight obstacles, and travel will be only partly favorable. Building and renovation should be postponed. Illness will be severe at first, then ease. A missing person or lost object will take time to find. Matters concerning childbirth will go poorly at first, then improve. Catching a thief will be delayed, while prayers and offerings will bring modest results. Strange disturbances will fade away. Do not rush a move. The household will gradually settle, and paperwork will progress slowly.

This divination indicates misfortune followed by good fortune. It corresponds to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Si, You, and Chou. The direction is due north.

Lot 94: Neutral.

The spirits are supremely efficacious, and human beings are the most honored in the world. People and spirits are attuned to one another; this begins with cultivating oneself.

The weather divination predicts rain. Farm and sericulture yields will be steady, and burial in the grave will be peaceful. The prospects for livestock are ordinary, and those traveling away from home will return late. Plans can proceed as hoped, and seeking wealth is favorable. Marriage can succeed, and legal disputes can be settled peacefully. There will be no obstacles in visiting others, but travel should be taken slowly. Building and renovation will proceed as usual, and illness can be treated. Lost items can be recovered, and childbirth will be safe. Pursuing thieves will lead to their capture, but prayers and offerings will receive no response. Strange occurrences will cause no harm, and it is best to keep one’s current home. The household will be safe, and it is a good time to seek official documents.

This is a moderately favorable lot. Its resonant numbers are two, four, and eight; it corresponds to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu, and its direction is due south.

Lot 95, Moderately Favorable

I urge my horse onward, racing along a broad, level road. Even if I meet rough ground and fall, I will spring up and press ahead again.

The weather divination predicts clear skies. Farm and sericulture yields show promise, and burial in the grave is slightly auspicious. Livestock will come to no harm, and travelers will soon arrive. Plans will ultimately succeed, though only after a delay; seeking wealth is favorable, but progress will be slow. Marriage can succeed, and legal disputes will cause no serious trouble. A visit to others can go ahead, and a long journey is favorable. Building and renovation are suitable to begin, and illness poses no serious concern. Lost items should be sought, and childbirth may involve some danger. The thieves have already gone far away. Prayers and offerings bring only partial good fortune; strange occurrences will bring minor misfortune, while moving house offers a slight advantage. The household will ultimately prosper, but official documents will be delayed.

This lot begins in misfortune and ends in good fortune. Its resonant numbers are one, five, and seven; it corresponds to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei, and its direction is northeast.

Lot 96, Very Unfavorable

Flowers in the land of Cao are blooming in abundance, basking in the spring sunshine. When the White Dew arrives and the flowers and trees wither, where will they go?

For weather, the signs are evenly divided between cloudy and clear. The fields and silkworms will yield no harvest. Disaster will follow a reburial. Livestock will be lost, and travelers’ journeys will be delayed. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and seeking wealth will bring no benefit. Marriage arrangements are difficult to conclude, and lawsuits will be hard to settle. It will be difficult to meet the person you wish to see, and travel will be impeded. Building a house is inauspicious, and illness will be hard to cure. Lost people or things will be hard to find, and childbirth will be difficult. Catching thieves will not succeed; prayer and sacrifice are inadvisable. Strange occurrences will bring disaster, and moving will invite danger. The household will be unsettled, and documents will be difficult to obtain.

The matters divined above will begin favorably and end badly, with three setbacks along the way. Building or renovation is inauspicious, and illness is hard to cure; the lost will be difficult to find, and childbirth will be difficult; catching thieves will be unsuccessful, and prayer and sacrifice are inadvisable; strange occurrences will bring disaster, moving is unfavorable, the household will be unsettled, and documents will be hard to obtain.

The matters divined above will begin favorably and end badly. They will come to pass in connection with the numbers three, six, and nine, and in years, months, days, or hours of the Shen, Zi, and Chen zodiac signs. The direction is southeast.

Lot 97: Very Inauspicious

If you do not think matters through and plan carefully, you will ultimately be held responsible for your own mistakes. Even if you receive a pardon, you will still lament your illness.

For weather, the signs point to clear skies. The fields and silkworms will yield a poor harvest, and burial is inauspicious. Livestock will be lost, and travelers will be delayed. Plans will fail, and seeking wealth will bring no benefit. Marriage faces the prospect of collapse, and lawsuits will bring further entanglements. You may encounter obstacles when trying to meet someone, and travel will not go smoothly. Building or renovation is unfavorable, and illness is hard to cure. Lost people or things will be hard to find, and childbirth is unlikely to go safely. Catching thieves will be difficult, and prayer and sacrifice will bring no benefit. Strange occurrences will cause disaster, and moving or traveling will go poorly. The household is inauspicious, and documents will be difficult to obtain.

Among the matters divined above, the middle period is somewhat favorable, but both the beginning and the end are inauspicious. They will come to pass in connection with the numbers one, five, and seven, and in years, months, days, or hours of the Hai, Mao, and Wei zodiac signs. The direction is due east.

Lot 98: Very Inauspicious

Strange occurrences will appear one after another, and the household’s wealth and possessions will be depleted. Disasters will arrive in succession; seek to avert them through ritual prayers as soon as possible.

The signs concern the weather: overcast skies or rain. The fields and silkworms will yield no harvest, and relocating a grave will bring decline to the family. Livestock will suffer harm, and people who have gone away will be slow to return. Plans will be difficult to carry out, and seeking wealth will go poorly; marriage will be hard to arrange, and legal disputes will be perilous. Visits will come to nothing, and travel is ill-advised. Building a house will bring misfortune, illness will be grave, lost possessions will not be recovered, and childbirth will be dangerous. Do not continue pursuing the thieves. Prayers and sacrifices may instead invite calamity. Strange happenings will lead to legal disputes; moving house will bring lawsuits. The household will be deeply unsettled, and official documents will be difficult to process.

These are all inauspicious omens. They correspond to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; the direction is southwest.

Lot 99, Most Auspicious

An auspicious celestial sign appears, as the qi of the second black star converges. Flying, walking, and hidden creatures of the natural world will each find a fitting place to settle.

The signs concern the weather: skies will be partly cloudy and partly clear. The fields and silkworms will yield abundant harvests, and relocating a grave will be auspicious. Livestock will thrive, and people who have gone away will soon return. Plans will go smoothly, and seeking wealth will be favorable; marriage will succeed, and legal disputes will have a good outcome. You will meet the important person you seek, and travel will be smooth. Building a house will be safe and auspicious, illness will soon be cured, lost possessions will be recovered, and childbirth will go smoothly and bring joy. The thieves will be caught, and prayers and sacrifices will bring blessings. Strange happenings will cause no harm. People who have gone away will soon return. Plans will go smoothly, and seeking wealth will be favorable; marriage will succeed, and legal disputes will have a good outcome. You will meet the important person you seek, and travel will be smooth. Building a house will be safe and auspicious, illness will soon be cured, lost possessions will be recovered, and childbirth will go smoothly and bring joy. The thieves will be caught, and prayers and sacrifices will bring blessings. Strange happenings will cause no harm. Moving house will be auspicious, the household will be peaceful, and official documents will be processed successfully.

These are all highly auspicious omens. They correspond to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Si, You, and Chou; the direction is due west.

Lot 100, Neither Auspicious nor Inauspicious

The weariness in your heart has not yet subsided, and your body is consequently exhausted. Only through devoted practice of the mysterious Dao can you attain long life.

Weather divination indicates a clear sky. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising will be only half of what was hoped for, and matters concerning burial will be only partly favorable. The fortunes of the six domestic animals are ordinary, and travelers are still on the road. Plans will succeed only in part, and financial gains will be limited. Marriage will take place later than expected. A lawsuit will begin badly and end well. Visiting someone will involve a minor obstacle, and travel will go smoothly only in part. Construction of a house should be postponed. Illness will begin badly and end well. A missing person or lost item will be found only after some delay. Childbirth will begin badly and end well. Catching thieves will take time, and prayers and offerings will meet with some success. Strange phenomena will fade away. A move should be made slowly, the household will gradually become settled, and paperwork will be delayed.

All these matters begin badly and end well. The numbers indicating their fulfillment are one, five, and seven; they correspond to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei, and to the northeast.

Strange phenomena will fade away. A move should be made slowly, the household will gradually become settled, and paperwork will be delayed.

All these matters begin badly and end well. The numbers indicating their fulfillment are one, five, and seven; they correspond to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei, and to the northeast.

Lot 101: Moderately favorable

Do not deceive yourself with words and thereby deceive Heaven. The spirits see all things clearly and plainly; nothing escapes them, not even the smallest detail.

Weather divination indicates a clear sky. The harvest from farming and silkworm raising will be steady, and matters concerning burial will be stable. The fortunes of the six domestic animals are ordinary, and travelers will return late. Plans will succeed, and financial gain is favorable. Marriage can be arranged, and lawsuits will proceed peacefully. Visiting someone will bring no obstacles, though travel should be taken slowly. House construction should follow customary practice. Illness can be treated. Missing people and lost items can be found, and childbirth will be safe. Thieves can be caught, but prayers and offerings will receive no response. There is no need to worry about strange events. A move should be postponed, and the household should remain as it is. The home will be safe, and it is a favorable time to seek official documents.

These matters are of moderate fortune. The numbers indicating their fulfillment are one, five, and seven; they correspond to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei, and to due east.

Lot 102: Moderately favorable

A stork calls from a shadowy place, while a flock of egrets gathers to feed. Suddenly they ride the wind from Heaven and fly far across the eight directions, beyond the distant horizon.

The number indicating fulfillment is seven; it corresponds to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei, and to due east.

Lot 102: Moderately favorable

A stork calls from a shadowy place, while a flock of egrets gathers to feed. Suddenly they ride the wind from Heaven and fly far across the eight directions, beyond the distant horizon.

When asking about the weather, rain is possible. Farming and silkworm raising show promise, and burial matters are somewhat favorable. Livestock will suffer no losses, and those who have gone away will soon return. Plans will take longer to succeed, and gains from seeking wealth will also come slowly. A marriage can proceed, and legal disputes will pose no obstacle. A visit to someone will be received, and travel is favorable. Building a house may begin, and illness is not serious. Lost belongings are worth searching for, though childbirth will involve some danger. The thieves have already gone far away. Prayers and rites are only half favorable; strange occurrences may bring minor trouble, while moving house offers some benefit. The household will ultimately prosper, though letters and news will arrive late.

This is a moderately inauspicious lot: things begin poorly but turn favorable in the end. Its confirming numbers are two, four, and eight. It is associated with the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu, and with the south.

Lot One Hundred and Three — Very Inauspicious

The paulownia is fine wood for making a zither, yet it has been burned as firewood beneath the stove. Smoke rises, and I cannot help but sigh.

When asking about the weather, expect skies that are partly cloudy and partly clear. Farming and silkworm raising will bring no harvest, and misfortune will follow a burial. Livestock will suffer losses, and those who have gone away will face obstacles. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and seeking wealth will bring no profit. A marriage will be difficult to arrange, and legal disputes will be hard to resolve. It will be difficult to meet the person you wish to visit, and travel will be hindered. Building is inauspicious, and illness will be difficult to cure. Lost belongings will be hard to find, and childbirth will be difficult. Attempts to catch thieves will fail; prayers and rites are ill-advised. Strange occurrences will bring misfortune, and moving house will invite trouble. The household will be unsettled, and documents will be hard to obtain.

This lot begins favorably and ends badly. Its confirming numbers are three, six, and nine; matters will encounter delays. Building is inauspicious, and illness is hard to cure. Lost belongings will be hard to find, and childbirth will be difficult. Attempts to catch thieves will fail, and prayers and rites are ill-advised. Strange occurrences will bring misfortune, moving house is unfavorable, the household will be unsettled, and documents will be hard to obtain. Its confirming numbers are three, six, and nine. It is associated with the years, months, days, and hours of Shen, Zi, and Chen, and with the northwest.

Lot One Hundred and Four — Very Inauspicious

A carp leaps in a shallow pool, thinking it can follow the current into the great river. But the fisherman Yuqie has already set his net ahead.

When asking about rain or shine, rain is expected at first. Crops and silkworm raising will yield poorly, and burial in a grave will bring ill fortune. Livestock will suffer losses, and travelers will have their journeys obstructed. Plans will be hard to bring to fruition, and seeking wealth will bring no gain. A marriage may break apart, and a lawsuit will bring trouble later on. Visiting someone will meet with obstacles, and travel will not go smoothly. Building a house is unfavorable, and illness will be difficult to cure. Lost people or belongings will be hard to find, and childbirth will be difficult to protect. Hunting will be difficult, and prayers and offerings will be of no help. Strange occurrences will bring calamity, and moving house will invite danger. The household will be inauspicious, and paperwork will be hard to complete.

For the fortunes described above, the middle period is better, while the beginning and end are unfavorable. The numbers that correspond are two, four, and eight; the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu; and the southwest direction.

Lot 105, extremely inauspicious

A pile of firewood has already caught fire, yet you still lie on it asleep. The seeds of disaster took root long ago, and even the spirits will not protect you.

When asking about rain or shine, the sky will be clear. Crops and silkworm raising will yield nothing, and burial in a grave will bring ruin to the family. Livestock will suffer calamity and loss, and those who travel will not return. Plans will go very badly, and seeking wealth will bring great loss. A marriage will be difficult to arrange, and a lawsuit bodes great ill fortune. You will not get to see the person you visit, and travel is inadvisable. Building a house is unfavorable, and illness will be critical. Lost people or belongings will not be recovered, and childbirth will be dangerous. Stop searching for thieves; prayers and offerings will instead invite calamity. Strange occurrences will lead to lawsuits, and moving house will bring disputes. The household will be deeply unsettled, and paperwork will be hard to complete.

All the fortunes described above are ominous. The numbers that correspond are one, five, and seven; the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; and the northeast direction.

Lot 106, moderately auspicious

Climbing a mountain, there is no cart to ride; crossing water, there is no bridge. Suddenly you step onto the blue clouds, and then you can fly freely through the vast heights.

When asking about rain or shine, the weather will be partly cloudy and partly clear. Crops and silkworm raising will yield an average harvest, and burial in a grave will bring both benefit and harm. Livestock fortunes will be ordinary, and travelers will still be on the road. Half of what you plan will come to pass, and seeking wealth will bring only a little gain. A marriage will be delayed, and a lawsuit will begin badly but end well. Visiting someone will meet with slight obstacles, and travel is acceptable. Building a house should be postponed, and illness will begin ominously but later improve. Lost people or belongings will be found only after some delay, and childbirth will begin dangerously but later turn auspicious. Catching thieves will take time, while prayers and offerings will meet with some success. Strange occurrences will fade away, and moving house should be delayed. The household will gradually become peaceful, and paperwork will be processed slowly.

The matters listed above are initially inauspicious but later turn auspicious, though the outcome will be slow to appear. Illness begins badly and then improves. A lost person or object will take some time to find. Childbirth is dangerous at first but later becomes safe. A thief will be caught only after some delay. Prayers and sacrifices bring slight success. Strange occurrences will fade away. Do not rush a move. The household will gradually settle, and paperwork will be delayed.

All these matters begin inauspiciously and end auspiciously. Their timing is likely to correspond to the numbers three, six, or nine, or to the years, months, days, or hours of Si, You, or Chou; the direction is due north.

Lot 107: Moderately Auspicious

Do not let favor or disgrace alter your resolve, and pay no heed to the order or disorder of worldly affairs. Hold fast to the Great Dao and dwell with people of virtue.

Weather: clear. Harvests from the fields and silkworms will be steady. A burial will proceed smoothly. Livestock will fare moderately. Those traveling away from home will return late. Plans will succeed, and seeking wealth will be favorable. Marriage can be accomplished; legal disputes will be peaceful and cause no trouble. There will be no obstacle to meeting someone, but travel should be taken slowly. Construction should proceed as usual. Illness can be treated. Lost people or objects can be found, and childbirth will be safe. Thieves can be caught. Prayers and sacrifices will not bring a response. Strange occurrences will cause no harm. It is best to keep to the present home. The household will be safe, and seeking official documents will be favorable.

All these matters are moderately auspicious. Their timing is likely to correspond to the numbers one, five, or seven, or to the years, months, days, or hours of Hai, Mao, or Wei; the direction is due east.

It is best to keep to the present home. The household will be safe, and seeking official documents will be favorable. All these matters are moderately auspicious. Their timing is likely to correspond to the numbers one, five, or seven, or to the years, months, days, or hours of Hai, Mao, or Wei; the direction is due east.

Lot 108: Moderately Auspicious

Uncarved jade lies among the mountains, formed within them. At first it looks no different from sand or stone, but in the end it meets Bian He, the man who recognized the jade and presented the He Shi Bi, and its value is revealed.

Weather: rain. There is hope of a harvest from the fields and silkworms. A burial is slightly auspicious. Livestock will suffer no losses. Those traveling away from home are about to return. Plans will come to fruition only after some delay, and wealth will likewise come later. Marriage can be accomplished; legal disputes will cause no trouble. A meeting may be granted, and travel is favorable. Construction may begin, and illness will cause no harm. Search for lost people or objects. Childbirth will involve some danger. The thieves have gone far away. Prayers and sacrifices bring mixed fortune. Strange occurrences may cause slight trouble. Moving will bring some benefit. The household will ultimately be safe, and paperwork will be completed after a delay.

All these matters are unfavorable at first but turn auspicious in the end. Their timing is likely to correspond to the numbers two, four, or eight, or to the years, months, days, or hours of Yin, Wu, or Xu; the direction is due south.

Lot 109: Extremely Inauspicious

Even a fine, well-trained horse may run a thousand miles in a single burst, but if it is yoked alongside an inferior horse, in the end it too will die beside the manger with the inferior one.

When asking about the weather, it will alternate between cloudy and clear. The crops and silkworms will yield nothing, and moving a grave will bring disaster. Livestock are likely to be lost, and travelers will meet with obstacles. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and seeking wealth will bring no benefit. A marriage will be difficult to arrange, and a lawsuit will be hard to settle. It will be difficult to find the person you wish to visit; travel will be obstructed. Building a house is inauspicious, and illness will be hard to cure. Lost items will be difficult to recover, and childbirth will not go smoothly. Catching thieves will come to nothing, and praying or making offerings is inadvisable. Strange occurrences will bring disaster, relocation will invite danger, the household will be unsettled, and the documents you seek will be hard to obtain.

For the matters asked about above, fortune comes first and misfortune follows. The signs are the numbers three, six, and nine, and the years, months, days, or hours of Shen, Zi, and Chen; the direction is southeast.

Lot 110, Lowest Grade

The cart ahead has already overturned, yet those behind continue along its tracks. A cart carries the scriptures across the open plain, but in the end its axle still breaks.

When asking about the weather, it will be clear. The crops and silkworms will fall short of expectations, and burial in a grave will be inauspicious. Livestock will be lost, and travelers will be obstructed. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and seeking wealth will bring no gain. A marriage may fall apart, and a lawsuit will drag on and still bring trouble. Visiting someone will meet with obstacles, and travel will go poorly. Building a house is unfavorable, and illness will be hard to cure. Lost items will be difficult to recover, and childbirth will be hard to bring safely to term. Catching thieves is unlikely to yield results, and praying or making offerings will be of no help. Strange occurrences will bring disaster, relocation will be dangerous, the household will be inauspicious, and the documents you seek will be hard to obtain.

For the matters asked about above, fortune holds at first but turns to misfortune in the end. The signs are the numbers one, five, and seven, and the years, months, days, or hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei; the direction is northeast.

Lot 111, Lowest Grade

The swallow searches far and wide for food, but fire has consumed its nest. With nowhere left to rely on, it can only cry out in grief without stopping.

The first lot says: If asked about the weather, the answer is clear skies. The crops and silkworms will fare poorly, and the fengshui of the grave site will bring decline to the family. Livestock will suffer losses, and those who have gone away will not return. Plans are unlikely to succeed, seeking wealth is unfavorable, marriage will be difficult to arrange, and lawsuits are extremely inauspicious. A visit will not find the person sought; travel is ill-advised, building work is unlucky, illness is critical, lost objects cannot be found, and childbirth carries danger. Searching for thieves will yield no result, while prayers and sacrifices will instead invite misfortune. Strange occurrences in the home may lead to a lawsuit, and moving house also brings the risk of litigation. The household is deeply unsettled, and official documents are difficult to process.

All of these divinations are extremely inauspicious. They correspond to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Hai, Mao, and Wei. The direction is due east.

Lot One Hundred Twelve: Moderate

When wrongdoing has accumulated to its utmost, disaster soon follows. One should bow in repentance and take oneself to task in order to avert ruin.

If asked about the weather, the answer is rain. The crops and silkworms will yield about half a harvest, and matters concerning a burial site will be only half favorable. Livestock will meet with mixed fortune, and those who have gone away are still on the road. Plans and the pursuit of wealth will both meet with only partial success. A marriage will succeed after a delay; a lawsuit will be unfavorable at first, then turn auspicious. A visit will encounter some obstacles, while travel will generally go smoothly. Building work should be postponed. Illness will be unfavorable at first, then improve; lost objects will be found only after some time; childbirth will be dangerous at first, then become safe. It will take a while for a search for thieves to produce results, while prayers and sacrifices will meet with slight success. Strange occurrences will soon dissipate, and moving house should not be rushed. The household will gradually settle, and official documents will progress slowly.

These divinations begin inauspiciously and end auspiciously. They correspond to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu. The direction is southwest.

Lot One Hundred Thirteen: Moderate

Words may become the beginning of misfortune, while actions should put virtuous conduct first. Take care in both speech and deeds, and you may enjoy a long life.

As for the weather, it may be partly cloudy and partly sunny. Farming and silkworm raising should proceed steadily, and burials will also go smoothly. Livestock are doing about as usual, while those who have traveled far will return late. Plans can come to fruition, and seeking wealth is favorable. A marriage can succeed, and a legal dispute can be settled peacefully. Visiting someone will pose no obstacles, though travel should proceed at a slower pace. House construction should continue as usual, and illness can be treated. Lost items can be recovered, and childbirth will be safe. Catching thieves will succeed, but prayers and offerings will bring no response. There is no need to worry about strange occurrences, and a move should be postponed. The household will be at peace, and written documents are favorable for seeking.

This is a moderately favorable lot, corresponding to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Si, You, and Chou. Its direction is due west.

Lot 114: Moderately Favorable

A graceful, fragrant orchid grows lush and green beneath the shade. A fine person delights in me, so I gather the orchids and weave them into an ornament to wear.

As for the weather, it will be clear. Farming and silkworm raising look promising, and burial is somewhat auspicious. No livestock will be lost, and those who have traveled far are about to arrive. Plans will take longer to succeed, and wealth will come late. A marriage can succeed, and a legal dispute will cause no major trouble. A visit can go ahead, and travel is favorable. House construction is suitable to begin, and illness is not serious. Lost items are worth looking for, though childbirth may involve some danger. The thieves have gone far away, and prayers and offerings are half auspicious. Strange occurrences may bring minor trouble, and moving will bring some benefit. The household will ultimately be fortunate, while written documents will appear later.

This is a moderately inauspicious lot that begins badly but turns fortunate in the end. It corresponds to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu. Its direction is due south.

Lot 115: Very Inauspicious

Know when you have enough, and you will not suffer disgrace. Know when to stop, and you will not face danger. If you fail to heed this advice, calamity will follow.

This is a moderately inauspicious lot that begins badly but turns fortunate in the end. It corresponds to the numbers two, four, and eight, and to the years, months, days, and hours of Yin, Wu, and Xu. Its direction is due south.

When divining whether the weather will be clear or rainy, the result is clear skies. Farming and silkworm raising will yield no harvest, and calamity will follow a burial. Livestock will be lost, and travelers will face delays. Plans will be hard to bring to fruition; seeking wealth will be unfavorable, marriage will be difficult to arrange, and legal disputes will be hard to resolve. It will be difficult to meet someone you wish to see; travel will be obstructed, building a house will be inauspicious, and illness will be hard to cure. Lost belongings will be difficult to recover, childbirth will be difficult, attempts to catch thieves will come to nothing, and prayers and offerings are ill-advised. Strange events will bring calamity, moving will invite danger, the household will be unsettled, and documents will be difficult to obtain.

The fortunes described above begin auspiciously and end in misfortune. They correspond to the numbers one, five, and seven, and to the Hai, Mao, and Wei years, months, days, and hours. The direction is northeast.

Lot 116: Extremely Inauspicious

While gathering herbs on a mountain, someone looks up and sees a Green Youth—a boy in green robes often found in Daoist legends. The road to the heavenly realm stretches ever farther away, and he cannot follow the youth on his journey.

When divining whether the weather will be clear or rainy, the result is partly cloudy and partly clear. Farming and silkworm raising will disappoint, and burial will be inauspicious. Livestock will be lost, and travelers will face delays. Plans will fail, seeking wealth will bring no profit, marriage shows signs of breaking apart, and legal disputes will drag on and bring distress. Attempts to meet someone will be obstructed, travel will go poorly, building a house will be unfavorable, and illness will be hard to cure. Lost belongings will be difficult to recover, childbirth will be difficult to bring to term, attempts to catch thieves will have little result, and prayers and offerings will be of no benefit. Strange events will bring calamity, moving will go poorly, the household will be inauspicious, and documents will be difficult to obtain.

The fortunes described above are slightly auspicious in the middle, but dangerous at the beginning and end. They correspond to the numbers three, six, and nine, and to the Shen, Zi, and Chen years, months, days, and hours. The direction is northwest.

Lot 117: Extremely Inauspicious

Someone advises the homeowner to bend the chimney and move the firewood farther away—a reference to “bending the chimney and moving the firewood,” taking precautions against fire in advance—but the homeowner ignores the advice. Later, the homeowner serves beef and wine to reward the guests, but by then they have all been burned and left with scorched faces.

When divining whether the weather will be clear or rainy, the result is clear skies. Farming and silkworm raising will yield no harvest, and burial will cause the family’s fortunes to decline. Livestock will suffer losses, and travelers will be unable to return. Most plans will fail, seeking wealth will be very unfavorable, marriage will be difficult to arrange, and legal disputes will be extremely inauspicious. You will not meet the person you wish to see; travel is ill-advised, building a house is unfavorable, and illness will be critical. Lost belongings will not be found, childbirth will be dangerous, and attempts to catch thieves will come to nothing. Do not seek prayers or offerings, or calamity will follow. Strange events will bring calamity and entangle you in legal disputes; moving will invite legal trouble. The household will be deeply unsettled, and documents will be difficult to obtain.

All the matters above are extremely inauspicious. They will come to pass on days, months, or years associated with the numbers one, five, and seven, and with Hai, Mao, and Wei; the direction is due east.

Lot 118: Very Inauspicious

The dark cicada drinks dew and prefers to rest high in a poplar tree. A mantis waits nearby for its chance, and suddenly the cicada meets disaster.

For weather, this foretells rain. The harvests from farming and silkworm raising will be poor. Disaster will follow a burial, and livestock will be lost.

The dark cicada drinks dew and prefers to rest high in a poplar tree. A mantis waits nearby for its chance, and suddenly the cicada meets disaster.

For weather, this foretells overcast skies and rain. The harvests from farming and silkworm raising will be poor. Disaster will follow a burial, and livestock will be lost. Travelers will face delays; plans will not go as hoped; seeking wealth will bring no benefit; and marriage arrangements will not succeed. Lawsuits will be hard to settle. Visits will fail because the person sought cannot be found, and journeys will be hindered. Building a house is inauspicious, and illness will be hard to cure. Lost objects will be difficult to recover, childbirth will not go smoothly, and attempts to catch thieves will fail. It is not a good time to pray or make offerings. Strange occurrences will bring disaster, moving will invite danger, the household will be unsettled, and documents will be difficult to obtain.

All the matters above will begin auspiciously and end in misfortune. They will come to pass on days, months, or years associated with the numbers two, four, and eight, and with Yin, Wu, and Xu; the direction is southwest.

Lot 119: Very Inauspicious

The crescent moon is faint at dusk. It gradually grows rounder by the third and fifth days of the month. Its light briefly appears clear, then thick clouds cover it again.

For weather, this foretells alternating clouds and sunshine. The harvests from farming and silkworm raising will be unsatisfactory. As for burial…