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Sanming Tonghui · A Comprehensive Account of the Three Destinies
On the Three Harmonies of the Branch Origins
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Some explain the three harmonies as the operation of a human body. Essence is Heaven's origin and energy spirit's root: essence is energy's mother and spirit its child. Mother and child generate each other; essence, energy, and spirit complete and undispersed are harmony. Branches belong to Human Origin, hence this account. In Shen–Zi–Chen, Shen is Zi's mother and Chen Zi's child. Shen is Water's Birth, Zi its Flourishing, and Chen its energy, as printed. Birth is production, Flourishing completion, and Storehouse gathering. With generation, completion, and gathering, all things attain beginning and end, a natural principle. Thus Shen–Zi–Chen is the Water configuration. If one character is missing, transformation does not complete a configuration and must not be judged as three-harmony transformation. In heaven and earth's principle, two transform through one yin and one yang; three transform through three generating all things. Si–You–Chou, Yin–Wu–Xu, and Hai–Mao–Wei are the same. Earth is not separately named among the five phases because the four other phases all depend on Earth to complete configurations, and all things return to storage in Earth. Complete Chen–Xu–Chou–Wei is nevertheless judged as its own Earth configuration.
Combinations in a chart should form an appropriate configuration. A Bing or Ding birth seeing Hai–Mao–Wei as Seal or Si–You–Chou as Wealth obtains one; Yin–Wu–Xu Fire is its own configuration, Shen–Zi–Chen Water its Office configuration, and Chen–Xu–Chou–Wei Earth its Injury configuration. Bing seeing Si–You–Chou and Ding seeing Yin–Wu–Xu form the Three-Position Emolument configuration. Bing takes Si as Emolument and Ding Wu; You and Chou combine with Si, Yin and Xu with Wu. Luoluzi says: “Emolument has three assemblies.” Huzhongzi says: “Obtaining one divided into three, pluck immortal cassia in the Moon.” This is the meaning; follow the example elsewhere.
Six combinations or three harmonies in a chart indicate a beautiful appearance, settled spirit and energy, love of life and dislike of death, an even and upright heart, adaptable dealings, intelligence, and clear understanding. With generating combinations, undertakings often succeed. Blessing spirits further coming and going deepen blessings: life is easy, skills and talents many, speech harmonious and appearance pleasing, without contesting right and wrong. Supported through blessing and calamity, the person is often cherished. Conquering combinations make one difficult to deal with but easily pleased, often calculating fixed plans, with actions attracting losses. Harmful Killings further joining bring unexpected entanglements and startling calamity, though not profound blame. Death and Extinction combinations leave undertakings unfulfilled, authority slight, spirit vulgar, and others contemptuous; ambitions low and temper narrow, the person favors lesser people, dislikes gentlemen, habitually demeans oneself, and seldom fulfills wishes. Combining with Established Emolument often gives unexpected wealth and reputation. Direct Seal and Noble Person give heavenly favor and help from noble people. Food Spirit gives ample clothing, emoluments, and food. Great Depletion gives discourtesy, base words and conduct, generosity toward low people, and contempt for gentlemen. Salty Pool joining gives illicit conduct, secret sexual relations, and corrupt greed. Official Tally joining attracts punishment, imprisonment, and entangled litigation and obscure disputes. Heavenly Void joining makes actions unrealized and brings deception by low people. For women, combinations bearing Killings are especially feared: Salty Pool gives blemished conduct and a sexual reputation, Great Depletion elopement. Nobility and Emolument within give low status followed by rank. Broadly, combining auspicious spirits is auspicious; combining harmful spirits harmful.
Translator's note: The source prints Water energy for Chen before explaining Storehouse, and explicitly requires all three characters for a transformed configuration. All four harmony groups, the separate Earth group, and every named influence's qualification are retained. Character and social judgments are historical assertions.
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