Taiyi Golden Mirror Cosmic Board Classic: Volume 1 — Computational Methods

COMPUTING ACCUMULATED YEARS FROM THE SUPERIOR EPOCH: Since the Superior Epoch, eras have stretched endlessly into the distance, and computational methods have varied. Although elaborate terms have been devised, they have been useless. From the Superior Epoch jiazi year to the fifteenth year of Tang Kaiyuan [727 AD], the total count was 40,801. Your minister notes that Song Kun's epoch-setting resembled a child's game — computing downward he could not obtain the sexagenary day, computing upward he could not find the winter solstice. For over three hundred years, students have been numerous, but reaching Li Chunfeng, they merely imitated his errors. Your minister has now separately compiled a jiazi-epoch quarter-remainder calendar method sharing the same epoch as the Taiyi system, raising it to full utility. Obtaining the Superior Epoch jiazi winter solstice and extending downward, it aligns with the yearly reckoning. The Taiyi palace-travel advances without violating the quarter-remainder system and retreats without losing the epoch-cycle standard. From the Superior Epoch's primordial chaos jiazi year to the present Tang Kaiyuan twelfth year [724 AD], jiazi year: the accumulated total is 1,937,281. COMPUTING THE GRAND YEAR'S POSITION: Set down the accumulated years from the Superior Epoch jiazi. Remove multiples of 360; from the remainder, remove multiples of 60. Count outward from jiazi — the result is the earthly branch where the Grand Year resides.

COMPUTING TAIYI'S POSITION: Take the accumulated years from the Superior Epoch. Remove multiples of 360 (the grand cycle). From the remainder, remove multiples of 72 (the epoch-cycle). Then remove multiples of 24 (the Taiyi minor cycle). Divide the remainder by 3 — the quotient is the palace number; any remainder is the number of years since entering that palace. Count from Palace 1, proceeding forward through eight palaces, skipping the central fifth. The result gives Taiyi's current palace and the years since entry. COMPUTING THE CELESTIAL EYE'S POSITION: Set down the accumulated years. Remove multiples of 360, then 72, then 18 (the Celestial Eye cycle). Count from Martial Virtue, proceeding forward through the sixteen spirits. At Yin Virtue and Great Martial, pause for an extra count. The result gives the Celestial Eye's current position. COMPUTING THE RECKONING SPIRIT'S POSITION: Set down the accumulated years. Remove multiples of 60. Count from the Yin position, proceeding backward through twelve earthly branches. The result gives the Reckoning Spirit's position.

COMPUTING TAIYI HOURLY HEXAGRAM-TRANSFORMATIONS: The classic states: 'The Grand Duke [Jiang Ziya] condensed it for what his armies needed, to illuminate the fortune and misfortune of military affairs.' Zhang Liang, together with the Four Greybeards, outlined and fixed the computational art. Yang-escape: Taiyi begins at Qian and proceeds forward. Yin-escape: Taiyi begins at Xun and proceeds in reverse. It circuits the eight directions, governing from the eight palaces. THE EIGHT GATES METHOD: Zhang Liang said: In yang-escape, from the winter solstice: on jia-days at midnight (jiazi onward), the Open Gate is on duty. On bing-days at midday (jiawu onward), the Life Gate is on duty. On ji-days at midnight, the Alarm Gate is on duty. On xin-days at midday, the Rest Gate is on duty. Gates shift every thirty hours. In yin-escape, from the summer solstice: on jia-days at midnight, the Blockade Gate is on duty. On bing-days at midday, the Death Gate is on duty. On ji-days at midnight, the Wound Gate is on duty. On xin-days at midday, the Scenery Gate is on duty. Yang-escape's four gates: Open, Life, Alarm, Rest. Yin-escape's four gates: Blockade, Death, Wound, Scenery.

LUNAR LODGES AND TERRITORIAL FIELD-ALLOCATION: Dipper and Ox govern Wu-Yue, belonging to Yang-zhou and Jiao-zhou (Chou). Girl, Emptiness, and Danger govern Qi, belonging to Qing-zhou (Zi). Chamber and Wall govern Wei, belonging to Bing-zhou (Hai). Strider and Bond govern Lu, belonging to Xu-zhou (Xu). Stomach, Pleiades, and Net govern Zhao, belonging to Ji-zhou (You). Beak and Triaster govern Jin, belonging to Yi-zhou (Shen). Well and Ghost govern Qin, belonging to Yong-zhou (Wei). Willow, Star, and Extended Net govern Zhou, belonging to the Three Rivers (Wu). Wings and Chariot-Board govern Chu, belonging to Jing-zhou (Si). Horn and Gullet govern Zheng, belonging to Yan-zhou (Chen). Base, Chamber, and Heart govern Song, belonging to Yu-zhou (Mao). Tail and Winnowing-Basket govern Yan, belonging to You-zhou (Yin). THE TAIYI PRESENT-MOMENT METHOD: Compute the solar degree after the two solstices and add the hour-position. Then determine the Taiyi and Celestial Eye classifications to complete the hourly reckoning. Establish the Five Generals format with the Celestial Worthy's morning and evening governing spirits. Celestial Worthy (noble spirit, earth): governs noble people, introductions, and advancement. In flourishing phase: auspicious. In imprisoned or dead phase: inauspicious. First Forward — Coiling Snake (fire): governs alarm, terror, and combat. Inauspicious. Second Forward — Vermilion Bird (fire): governs documents, verbal disputes, and clothing. Inauspicious. Third Forward — Six Harmonies (wood): governs all matters of accord and marriage. Auspicious. Fourth Forward — Hook Array (earth): governs detention and combat. Inauspicious. Fifth Forward — Green Dragon (wood): governs official promotion, wealth, and marriage. Auspicious.