Yuan Hai Zi Ping (New Edition Combined Official Version with Sound, Meaning, and Annotations)

Author: Song Xusheng (compiled)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-02-01
Features: The book Yuanhai Ziping, compiled by Yang Cong of the Ming Dynasty in the 27th year of the Jiajing era (1548 AD), was supplemented by the eunuch Li Qin. The original author was not signed. Li Xuzhong's Fate Book is not listed in the Tang Dynasty's Arts and Literature Catalogue, but it appears in the Song Dynasty's Catalogue as Li Xuzhong's Fate Framework in Two Volumes. Although it has been (circulated) since then, it has been fragmented and incomplete. Only the Yongle Dadian (Yongle Encyclopedia) and the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries) under the category of Numerology are relatively complete. Regarding its content, the preface of the Siku Quanshu states: "After a thorough examination of the book's principles, it primarily discusses the 60 Jiazi cycles, without mentioning the time of birth in terms of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Its method largely aligns with Han Yu's Muzhi (Inscription on the Tomb), which mentions the birth year, month, and day, but it later frequently refers to the four pillars. This concept actually originated in the Song Dynasty and contradicts the earlier text. Additionally, many of the official titles mentioned in the book are from the Song Dynasty, indicating that it was not entirely written by Li Xuzhong but rather by someone in the Ming Dynasty." From this, it can be seen that before Li Xuzhong of the Tang Dynasty, there were those who discussed fate based on the Na Yin Five Elements and those who focused on the year. Li Xuzhong, however, discussed fate by combining the year, month, and day. It was not until Xu Zhiping of the Song Dynasty that the four pillars were used to discuss fate, which is why the art of fate discussion is also known as the Zhiping method. Compared to Li Xuzhong's method, Zhiping's method is indeed much superior. Its essence lies in three key points. First, it prioritizes the day, combined with the four pillars, providing a more comprehensive understanding of fate changes and improving accuracy. Second, it clearly states the principle of the "using element," emphasizing its supreme importance. For example, the saying "Using the element as an official does not harm, using it as wealth cannot be taken away" is exceptionally profound. Third, it establishes frameworks and clarifies the roles of family members, making each judgment distinct. In this way, the entire process of fate discussion forms a very complete theoretical system.