A Far-Fetched Case in the Secret Judgments of Yang Dwellings (Yang Zhai Mi Duan)

Case Eight: The Ren Residence of Kuaiji. Sitting Zi-Wu兼Ren-Bing. Period Seven.

Master Zhang's judgment: The ground in front is high, a great river behind; water light appears in the Qian, Kan, and Gen directions; a large locust tree behind reflects the water in a sheet of green; the house interior is mostly dim. Those who dwell here have both progeny (ding) and wealth (cai) flourishing, because Double Seven arrives at the rear, with the great river behind. Yet in the house there is a female ghost wearing green clothing, appearing at the shen hour (3–5 p.m.). At the beginning of Period Eight, Master Qian opened a door in the wei direction, and since then the ghost has not appeared.

This case is extremely unreasonable. If there truly were a female ghost in the household, how could it necessarily appear only at the shen hour? Moreover, from Period Seven to Period Eight is at least several years, or at most over a decade — how could people continue to dwell there long-term?

Such matters, from antiquity to the present, have no other examples, and they do not accord with common sense. Yet under a different interpretation, they become natural and in accord with method.

Note: In the Qian, Kan, and Gen directions there are all great waters; the locust tree's reflection in the water shows green, and the residence interior is mostly dark — inevitably green light is reflected into the house, appearing like a human figure. As for why opening the door in the wei direction made it cease appearing: it was bringing light into the house, and thus the phenomenon dissolved.