Verification of Zhang Guande's Ancient Qimen Charts (Part II)
Verification Case One: Mr. Zhang Zhongyuan divining about office
Xianfeng Yimao year (1855), Shen month, White Dew, Upper Ju 9; Renwu day, Jiyou hour; hour head Jia Chen. Mr. Zhang Zhongyuan sought a divination about official career; his life destiny was Wuchen, and the day stem was Gui. The Chief was Qin (Bird) at palace 8; the Duty Envoy was at the Death gate at palace 9; the Chief was clashing, Heaven and Earth were in fan-yin (reversed chanting), and the gates and palaces were in mutual restraint and pressure.
For divining office, the Open gate is primary. It flew into the Dui palace, gaining both the right place and the right time, and additionally the Ding wonder restrains Geng — in the eighth month there would surely be an official assignment to the west, and thus a promotion. However, the Duty Envoy met the Death gate in Li; Li corresponds to the number nine, so he would not live beyond nine years and would pass away at the end of his lifespan.
Case verification: in the eighth month he indeed obtained an assignment to Jingzhou, soon after acted as acting intendant, and nine years later passed away while inspecting customs affairs in Zhejiang.
Commentary: this case matches with Ju 8.
Verification Case Two: Chen Zhaochang of Gucheng divining about his elder brother's illness
Xianfeng Yimao year (1855), Xinsi month, Renzi day, Guimao hour; hour head Jia Wu. Chen Zhaochang of Gucheng sought a divination about his elder brother's illness. The Chief was Ying (Hero) at palace 2; the Duty Envoy was Jing (Scenery) at palace 9; the gates were in a hidden (fu) state.
The Chief flew into the Death gate along with the hour stem; the natal day stem was in Xun — although it was prosperous, it was empty, and the patient could not be cured.
Case verification: he passed away on the third day of the fifth lunar month.
Commentary: this case matches with Yang Dun Ju 6.
Verification Case Three: divining whether the Sigou Pass in the north could be used to evade troops
Xianfeng Xinyou year (1861), Jiawu month, Guichou day, Renxu hour; hour head Jia Yin. Divining whether the Sigou Pass in the north could be used to evade the troops. Yin Ju 9; Heaven was off and the gates were off. Du at palace 5, Assistant at palace 5, and Bi at palace 5 for evasion. The hour stem was assisted by Qian; Rest and the day formed a three-combination facing due east. Under Yi there was Ding — the wonder formation of the Earth Net.
The Assistant and Du flew into the Death and Entombed Death gates, and further overlaid the hour stem; Liu Geng was placed over Zi — there would surely be bandits coming to this direction, and it must not be entered.
Case verification: in the following year bandits indeed arrived.
Commentary: the chart casting for this case was erroneous; it should have been Yin Dun Ju 8. The Xinyou year 1681 is, in the Xianfeng reckoning, the eleventh year of Xianfeng.