Six Relatives System in Liuyao Divination
Introduction
The Six Relatives (Liuqin 六亲) system is the core foundation of Liuyao divination, serving as the bridge connecting hexagram symbols with human affairs. The "Six Relatives" are not actual family relationships, but six symbolic categories established based on the Five Elements interactions with the hexagram palace's element as the center.
The Six Relatives represent different aspects of human life and affairs through their Five Elements relationships. Mastering this system is crucial for accurate Liuyao divination. This article provides a complete theoretical foundation for learning Liuyao prediction.
Fundamental Rules of Six Relatives
Basic Definition
The Six Relatives are determined based on Five Elements relationships with the hexagram palace's element as "self":
- Parents (父母): Those that nourish me
- Siblings (兄弟): Those same as me
- Wife/Wealth (妻财): Those I control
- Official/Ghost (官鬼): Those that control me
- Children/Descendants (子孙): Those I generate
Key Point: The "self" here refers to the Five Element attribute of the entire hexagram's palace, not the World line or the querent.
Determination Method
Step 1: Determine Hexagram Palace
Each hexagram belongs to one of eight palaces (Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, Dui). For example:
- Thunder over Lake (泽雷随) belongs to Zhen Palace
- Fire over Earth (火地晋) belongs to Qian Palace
Step 2: Determine Palace Element
According to the Eight Palace Five Elements system:
- Qian, Dui palaces: Metal
- Zhen, Xun palaces: Wood
- Kun, Gen palaces: Earth
- Li palace: Fire
- Kan palace: Water
Step 3: Determine Line Earthly Branch Elements
Through Najia line assignment, each line has a corresponding Earthly Branch with its Five Element:
- Zi, Hai: Water
- Yin, Mao: Wood
- Si, Wu: Fire
- Shen, You: Metal
- Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei: Earth
Step 4: Assign Six Relatives by Interactions
Compare each line's Earthly Branch element with the hexagram palace element to determine the Six Relative relationship.
Six Relatives Definition (Using Metal Palace as Example)
- Parents: Nourishes me - Line Element: Earth - Example Branches: Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei
- Siblings: Same as me - Line Element: Metal - Example Branches: Shen, You
- Wife/Wealth: I control - Line Element: Wood - Example Branches: Yin, Mao
- Official/Ghost: Controls me - Line Element: Fire - Example Branches: Si, Wu
- Children: I generate - Line Element: Water - Example Branches: Zi, Hai
Detailed Symbolism of Six Relatives
Parents Lines
Essence: Nourishment, protection, education, support
People Represented:
- Parents, grandparents, teachers, elders
- Protectors, guardians, supervisors
- Landlords, hosts
Objects Represented:
- Houses, buildings, shelters
- Vehicles, boats, transportation
- Clothing, umbrellas, protective items
- Documents, certificates, contracts, licenses
- Academic credentials, diplomas, transcripts
- Phones, messages, communications
Abstract Concepts:
- Education, knowledge, learning
- Hard work, toil, worry
- Responsibility, duty, burden
- Rules, regulations, laws
Characteristics: Indicates hard work and protection, but also constraint. Unfavorable when moving in health divination as it restrains Children (medicine).
Siblings Lines
Essence: Peers, competition, assistance, loss
People Represented:
- Brothers, sisters, cousins
- Friends, colleagues, classmates, peers
- Competitors, rivals
- Business partners
Objects Represented:
- Arms, limbs, body parts
- Doors, walls, barriers
- Similar items, comparable things
Abstract Concepts:
- Financial loss, expenses, depletion
- Arguments, disputes, conflicts
- Obstacles, sharing, barriers
- Cooperation, mutual help, unity
Characteristics: The nemesis of Wife/Wealth. Most unfavorable for wealth-seeking when Siblings are strong and active. However, can also share burdens and represent one's own forces in competition.
Wife/Wealth Lines
Essence: What I control, what I enjoy, property, spouse
People Represented:
- Wife, lover, girlfriend (for male querents)
- Subordinates, employees, servants
- Those under control or management
Objects Represented:
- Money, currency, assets
- Jewelry, valuables
- Food, daily necessities
- Tools, utensils, implements
Abstract Concepts:
- Wealth, profit, income
- Material enjoyment, quality of life
- Financial condition, fortune
- Supply, resources
Characteristics: The source of Official/Ghost (Wealth generates Ghost). Most favorable for wealth and marriage when strong. However, moving Wealth restrains Parents (documents, elders).
Official/Ghost Lines
Essence: Constraint, management, pressure, reputation, illness
People Represented:
- Officials, superiors, leaders
- Husband, boyfriend (for female querents)
- Government, authorities
- Thieves, enemies, spirits
- Doctors, judges
Objects Represented:
- Official positions, ranks, titles
- Work, career, profession
- Illness, injury, symptoms
- Thunder, disasters, accidents
Abstract Concepts:
- Worry, anxiety, pressure
- Danger, risk, threat
- Lawsuits, legal issues
- Supervision, restriction, limitation
- Reputation, status, position
Characteristics: Has dual nature - represents both career/status and illness/disaster. The nemesis of Children lines.
Children/Descendants Lines
Essence: Joy, liberation, creativity, restraining Official/Ghost
People Represented:
- Children, grandchildren, juniors
- Students, disciples, pupils
- Actors, artists, entertainers
- Doctors, pharmacists, healers
- Monks, priests, religious figures
Objects Represented:
- Medicine, medical supplies
- Pets, animals
- Alcohol, entertainment items
- Artworks, creations
- Toys, games
Abstract Concepts:
- Entertainment, joy, pleasure
- Relief, liberation, relaxation
- Removing officials, curing illness
- Medicine, treatment, recovery
- Skills, techniques, crafts
- Creativity, imagination
Characteristics: Known as the "Spirit of Fortune and Virtue," can restrain Official/Ghost (illness, worry), bringing joy and peace. However, also restrains Official/Ghost (career, husband), so women should be cautious when Children are too strong in career or marriage divination.
Application Rules of Six Relatives
Six Relatives Holding World
When a Six Relative holds the World position, it reflects the querent's current state:
- Parents holding World: Indicates hard work, focus on documents, housing, elders
- Siblings holding World: Unfavorable for wealth, much competition, many peer issues
- Wife/Wealth holding World: Favorable for wealth, good for marriage (males), focus on material matters
- Official/Ghost holding World: Indicates worry and pressure, focus on work, illness, career
- Children holding World: Indicates joy and peace, but unfavorable for seeking position or fame
Effects of Moving Six Relatives
When lines move, they create interactions and changes:
- Parents moving restrains Children: Unfavorable for offspring, medicine, entertainment, but favorable for exams, documents
- Siblings moving restrains Wife/Wealth: Unfavorable for wealth and wife, indicates loss and competition
- Wife/Wealth moving restrains Parents: Unfavorable for elders and documents, may lose reputation due to wealth
- Official/Ghost moving restrains Siblings: Unfavorable for friends and colleagues, indicates pressure or legal issues, but stops financial loss
- Children moving restrains Official/Ghost: Favorable for curing illness, relieving worry, escaping difficulties, but unfavorable for career and husband
Hidden Six Relatives
When a hexagram lacks certain Six Relatives, one must look for hidden ones. These are Six Relatives that should appear in the original palace hexagram but don't appear in the current hexagram.
Hidden Rules:
- Hidden restraining Flying spirit emerges: If hidden spirit can restrain flying spirit, it easily appears
- Flying restraining Hidden harms self: If flying spirit restrains hidden spirit, hidden spirit is difficult to emerge
Comprehensive Six Relatives Analysis
Six Relatives must be analyzed in combination with other factors:
With Strength and Weakness
- Strong Six Relatives have great power and influence
- Weak Six Relatives have little power and small effect
- Dead/imprisoned Six Relatives are nearly useless
With Movement and Stillness
- Moving lines indicate change, static lines indicate stability
- Movement means action, stillness means inaction
- Moving lines have strong interaction power, static lines have weak power
With Void/Empty
- Void indicates emptiness, delay, unreality
- Void lines are temporarily useless
- Becomes useful when emerging from void
With Six Spirits
- Azure Dragon: Joy, documents, food and drink
- Vermillion Bird: Documents, arguments, information
- Hook Chen: Land, prison, obstruction
- Soaring Snake: Falseness, fear, strangeness
- White Tiger: Harm, roads, money
- Black Tortoise: Thieves, secrets, water matters
Six Relatives in Different Divination Types
Wealth Divination
- Wife/Wealth as primary spirit, likes strength and support
- Siblings as adverse spirit, movement causes financial loss
- Children as wealth source, can generate wealth
- Parents moving restrains Children, cutting wealth source
Career Divination
- Official/Ghost as primary spirit, likes strength and vigor
- Children as adverse spirit, movement restrains official position
- Wife/Wealth as source spirit, can generate official position
- Siblings represent competition, strength indicates fierce competition
Marriage Divination
- Male divination: Wife/Wealth as primary spirit, represents wife
- Female divination: Official/Ghost as primary spirit, represents husband
- Parents represent matchmaker, certificates, ceremonies
- Siblings represent obstacles and financial loss
Health Divination
- Official/Ghost as illness spirit, strength indicates serious illness
- Children as medicine spirit, strength indicates recovery
- Parents moving restrains medicine spirit, unfavorable for treatment
- Wife/Wealth represents medical expenses
Examination Divination
- Parents as primary spirit, represents documents and grades
- Official/Ghost represents fame and admission
- Children moving restrains Official/Ghost, unfavorable for fame
- Siblings represent competitors
Important Notes
1. Based on Hexagram Palace
Six Relatives determination must be based on the hexagram palace's Five Element, not the World line element or other standards. This is the fundamental principle.
2. Flexible Symbol Application
Six Relatives meanings are flexible and must be determined by combining specific divination content and hexagram environment. The same Six Relative may represent completely different matters in different divinations.
3. Comprehensive Analysis
Six Relatives cannot be judged in isolation. They must be combined with World/Response, movement/stillness, strength/weakness, void, Six Spirits, month/day for comprehensive analysis.
4. Dynamic Changes
Lines have movement and transformation, and Six Relatives' effects change accordingly. Moving lines have strong effects, static lines have weak effects. Changing lines create new Six Relative relationships.
5. Primary and Secondary
In a hexagram, distinguish between primary Six Relatives (primary spirit) and secondary ones (source spirit, adverse spirit, enemy spirit). Focus on main contradictions, avoid equal treatment.
Summary
The Six Relatives system is the framework of Liuyao prediction, with the core principle of "taking hexagram palace Five Element as self, determining Six Relatives through interactions". Mastering accurate definitions, detailed symbolism, and application rules of Six Relatives is the foundation for any Liuyao analysis.
The essence of the Six Relatives system lies in:
- Fixed rules: Interaction relationships and determination methods are fixed
- Flexible symbols: Specific meanings must be flexibly applied according to divination content
- Comprehensive judgment: Must be analyzed in combination with other factors
- Dynamic changes: Changes with line movement and transformation
Remember, Six Relatives meanings are flexible and must be understood within the dynamic environment of the entire hexagram to make accurate judgments. This complete Six Relatives system description provides a solid theoretical foundation for learning and applying Liuyao prediction.
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