The Mysteries of Qimen Dunjia, Part 7: Analyzing the Keys to Fortune and Misfortune

Lecture Nine: Key Points of Qimen Divination

How can we use Qimen Dunjia to select auspicious times and directions?

In broad terms, once the overall setup is determined, as long as it does not fall into unfavorable periods such as the Five Unlucky Days, the Three Wonders Entering the Grave, or the Six Instruments Striking Punishment, then encountering any one of the Three Wonders together with any one of the auspicious doors (Open, Rest, Life) indicates an auspicious direction. If there is an auspicious door without a Wonder, this is called “gaining the door but not the Wonders” and is still considered favorable; conversely, if there is a Wonder without an auspicious door, this is called “gaining the Wonders but not the door,” which also indicates a favorable direction. If neither a Wonder nor an auspicious door is present, the direction is inauspicious. For a more precise choice of time and direction, consider auspicious and inauspicious configurations. First examine the palace where the Qimen aligns; if it does not form an inauspicious configuration, that direction is favorable. Next, check whether the auspicious doors (Open, Rest, Life) fall in an auspicious or inauspicious palace. If the configuration is auspicious, the direction is good; if neither auspicious nor inauspicious appears, it is still usable; if inauspicious, avoid it.

Jia represents noble Yang Wood, while Geng is Yang Metal that restrains Wood, so Dunjia most fears Geng. From the inauspicious configurations in Qimen you can see that when the heavenly plate holds Geng, it often forms an unfavorable pattern. Why must an auspicious direction include the Three Wonders—Yi, Bing, and Ding? Yi is Yin Wood, the sister of Jia. When Yi combines with Geng, it is as if Jia marries Yi to Geng to protect himself—an astute strategy. Jia is Yang Wood and Bing is Yang Fire; Wood generates Fire, so Jia is the father and Bing the son. Bing Fire can subdue Metal and save Jia, like a strong son defending his father—the nemesis of the father’s enemies—so Bing is auspicious. Jia is Yang Wood and Ding is Yin Fire, the daughter; as Yin Fire, Ding can also overcome Geng to save Jia, like a resourceful woman, and is therefore auspicious.

In Qimen Dunjia, the Ten Stems are embodied as the Direct Symbol, the Three Wonders, and the Six Instruments, so it is necessary to outline the traits and meanings of the Ten Stems:

• Jia: Symbolizes heavenly fortune; strong and straightforward. Color: blue; taste: sour; voice: deep and resonant; physique: long and square; has a sprouting, initiating effect. When timely, it can grow into a pillar of society; when untimely, it becomes useless. If severely restrained or harmed, it decays and loses worth. Yet it should not become overly prosperous, or it may lose direction. Its disposition tends toward self-importance and pride, making it aloof and inexperienced in worldly affairs.
• Yi: Symbolizes heavenly virtue; moist and flexible. Color: green; taste: sour-sweet; voice: melodious. Its physique is soft and adaptable, in contrast to Jia.
• Bing: Symbolizes heavenly might; humble yet intense. Color: purple-red; taste: bitter-spicy; voice: strong and powerful. Its form is prominent, like the ankle bone and the upper belly. Its function is to suppress and elevate. When timely, it shines brilliantly; when untimely, it resembles burnt ash. It can produce great talent but rarely endures; it promotes transformation. Its temperament is highly subjective, obstinate, and hard to approach, yet it never flatters.
• Ding: Symbolizes the jade maiden; gentle and charming. Color: light red; taste: refreshing; voice: clear and bright. Its physique is graceful and elegant. When timely, it can dissolve violence and discern deceit; when untimely, it suffers and laments. Those who are unfulfilled, such as widows, can form close ties with it; however, if provoked, it can be dangerous. Its character is soft and cunning, hard to see through.
• Wu: Symbolizes the heavenly martial spirit; impatient, strong, and principled. Taste: sweet-spicy. Voice: robust and powerful. Its physique is rough rather than smooth, deep rather than superficial. When timely, it is decisive and courageous, with a heroic spirit; when untimely, it becomes foolish and dull. Its character is stubborn and cannot be forced.
• Ji: Symbolizes the bright hall; broad-minded, sincere, and honest. Taste: sweet-spicy. Voice: gentle and precise. Its physique is steady and calm. When timely, it can guide and educate all things; when untimely, it becomes foolish and dull. Its character is not stubborn and is generous.
• Geng: Symbolizes the “son of the prison”; strong, sharp, and impatient. Taste: spicy. Voice: powerful and piercing. Its form is simple and distinct. When timely, it is dictatorial and violent; when untimely, it loses its inherent might. With it, one must seek opportunities to influence gently, not forcefully. Its character is decisive and stubborn; it can be subdued by others, but it will never yield.
• Xin: Symbolizes the heavenly court; sharp and pointed. Taste: spicy. Voice: resonant. Its nature is calm, like a needle in a pocket. Its function is like polished jade; when timely, it produces harmonious melodies; when untimely, it sounds like a cracked pot.
• Ren: Symbolizes the heavenly prison; moist and unrestrained. Taste: salty. Voice: loud. Its nature is round and fluid. When timely, it benefits people and things; when untimely, it harms the virtuous and brings misfortune (the worse it is, the worse it becomes). Its character is soft and treacherous. It can share hardship but cannot bring peace.
• Gui: Symbolizes the heavenly net and heavenly concealment; heavy and Yin in nature, with a sound both murky and bright. Its form is heavy and sinking. When timely, it climbs with the powerful and acts with authority; when untimely, it becomes a sycophant without dignity. Its character is simple and straightforward, concerned only with resolving difficulties without distinguishing between good and bad.

While gaining both the Wonders and the doors is auspicious, certain matters do not necessarily require them. For example, hunting or debt collection can use the Injury Door, while mourning or funerals can use the Death Door. Selecting auspicious times and directions in Qimen also depends on cycles of prosperity and decline. For instance, the Open Door is inherently auspicious and belongs to Metal. If it is in the Kun or Gen palaces, Earth generates Metal—this is called gaining the ground; if it occurs in the Wei month and in autumn, this is called gaining the time. Only when both time and ground are gained is it truly auspicious. The Rest Door belongs to Water and the Life Door to Earth; the same principles of auspiciousness and inauspiciousness apply. For example, the Shock Door is an inauspicious door associated with Metal; but if it is summer and the month reaches the Li palace during a period of imprisonment, its inauspiciousness is neutralized.

The Nine Stars also have their own cycles of strength and weakness, summarized in the verse: “If it accompanies me, it is favorable; in the month of my birth, it is truly prosperous; if it is wasted by parents, it rests on wealth; if imprisoned by ghosts, it is truly not in vain.” For example, Tianpeng is the Water Star, prosperous in October and November, flourishing in early and mid-spring, resting in April and May, wasted in July and August, and imprisoned in March, June, September, and mid-spring. The other stars follow similar patterns of waxing and waning.

Taking the Three Wonders as auspicious: in the Yang Dunjia second configuration, the Yi Wonder at Jia Xu is favorable; it also sits in the Zhen palace, a prosperous position, and combines with the Rest Door, where Water arrives to support it—making it highly effective. However, if it combines with the Shock or Open Doors, Yi Wood is constrained by the Metal door; even in Xun, a prosperous position, its strength is halved. When Qimen meets the Instruments, the symbolism points to reconciliation. For example: heavenly plate Yi Wonder with earthly plate Six Geng; heavenly plate Bing Wonder with earthly plate Six Xin; heavenly plate Ding Wonder with earthly plate Six Ren; heavenly plate Direct Symbol with earthly plate Six Ji; heavenly plate Six Wu with earthly plate Six Gui—these indicate that both sides should negotiate for peace, contests may end in a draw, and disputes can be privately settled. Six Xin combined with Yi signifies the White Tiger’s rampage, as Yin Metal overcomes Yin Wood, bringing a decisive victory for the invaders and certain defeat for the defenders. If it meets the Open or Shock Doors, the rampage is even fiercer; however, if it meets the Rest Door, Yi Wonder gains support from Water, which also drains Metal’s energy, allowing the host and guest to fight to a draw.