Taiyi Golden Mirror Cosmic Board Classic: Volume 3 — Tactical Configurations
太乙金鏡式經·卷三
Taiyi Golden Mirror Cosmic Board Classic: Volume 3 — Tactical Configurations
太乙金鏡式經·卷三
Methods for Ambush, Strike, Press, Imprison, Block, Oppose, and Confront
推掩擊迫囚闗格對法
推掩法 經曰始擊將臨太乙宫謂之掩嵗計遇之王綱失序臣張君弱宜修徳以禳之盖掩襲刼殺之義若掩太乙在陽絶之地君凶隂絶之地臣誅 推擊法 經曰太乙所在宫客目在太乙前一辰為前擊在太乙後一辰為後撃在太乙前一宫為外宫擊在太乙後一宫為内宫撃所為撃者臣凌君卑凌尊下凌上僭也 推迫法 經曰前為外迫後為内迫為上下二目主客大小四將在太乙左右為迫 推囚法 經曰囚者簒戮之義也若文昌將并主客大小四將俱與太乙同宫總名曰囚 推闗法 經曰客主大小將目相宫齊為闗 推格法 經曰客目大小將與太乙對宫為格言政事上下格也 推對法 經曰下目文昌將與太乙衝而相當者為對
THE AMBUSH METHOD: The classic states: When the Initial-Strike General occupies Taiyi's own palace, this is called 'ambush.' In yearly reckoning, when encountered: the sovereign's authority loses order, ministers are insolent, and the ruler is weakened. One should cultivate virtue to avert it. 'Ambush' carries the meaning of surprise attack, seizure, and killing. If the ambush occurs at a yang-extinction location, the sovereign faces danger. At a yin-extinction location, the minister is executed. THE STRIKE METHOD: The classic states: When the Guest Eye is one branch ahead of Taiyi's palace, this is 'forward strike.' One branch behind is 'rear strike.' One palace ahead is 'outer-palace strike'; one palace behind is 'inner-palace strike.' The meaning of 'strike' is: minister encroaching on sovereign, inferior encroaching on superior, subordinate encroaching on ruler — usurpation. THE PRESS METHOD: The classic states: Forward pressing is 'outer press'; backward pressing is 'inner press.' When the Upper and Lower Eyes and the four Host-Guest Major-Minor Generals are to Taiyi's left or right, this constitutes 'pressing.' THE IMPRISON METHOD: The classic states: 'Imprison' carries the meaning of usurpation and slaughter. When the Literary Brilliance General and all four Host-Guest Major-Minor Generals occupy the same palace as Taiyi, this is collectively called 'imprisonment.' THE BLOCK METHOD: The classic states: When Guest and Host Major-Minor Generals and Eyes occupy palaces with matching numbers, this is 'blocking.' THE OPPOSE METHOD: The classic states: When Guest Eyes, Major-Minor Generals face Taiyi from the opposite palace, this is 'opposition' — signifying political affairs blocked between upper and lower. THE CONFRONT METHOD: The classic states: When the Lower Eye and Literary Brilliance General are in direct clash with Taiyi's position, this is 'confrontation.'
These seven tactical configurations (掩, 擊, 迫, 囚, 闗, 格, 對) are the core interpretive vocabulary of the Taiyi system. Each describes a specific spatial relationship between Taiyi and the various generals/spirits on the cosmic board. When these configurations appear in the yearly, monthly, daily, or hourly reckoning, they predict corresponding political or military events.
The configurations map cosmic geometry to political dynamics: 'ambush' = surprise overthrow of authority; 'strike' = subordinate aggression; 'press' = external pressure on the ruler; 'imprison' = total siege of sovereign authority; 'block' = mutual obstruction; 'oppose' = upper-lower deadlock; 'confront' = direct challenge. Together they provide a complete taxonomy of power-struggle scenarios.
'Yang-extinction' (陽絕) and 'yin-extinction' (陰絕) locations are specific palace positions where the corresponding qi is exhausted. According to Zhang Liang's tradition: Palace 1 is 'pure yang'; Palace 9 is 'pure yin.' The extinction locations are where the opposite qi completely disappears — the most dangerous positions for the entity they represent (sovereign for yang, minister for yin).
Ready-Reckoner for Three Gates, Five Generals, Victory and Defeat
太乙三門五將立成勝敗鈐
太乙三門五將立成勝敗鈐 天目武徳 太乙一宫：參將囚，主人小敗。太乙二宫：大將囚，主人小勝。太乙三宫：門具將發，客大勝。太乙四宫：大將迫，主人小勝。 天目太蔟 太乙一宫：天目内迫，主人勝。太乙二宫：門具將發，客大勝。太乙三宫：八門杜，主人勝。太乙四宫：天目格先起敗，主人勝。
READY-RECKONER: THREE GATES, FIVE GENERALS — VICTORY AND DEFEAT: [When] Celestial Eye [is at] Martial Virtue: - Taiyi in Palace 1: Minor General imprisoned. Host suffers minor defeat. - Taiyi in Palace 2: Major General imprisoned. Host achieves minor victory. - Taiyi in Palace 3: Gates complete, Generals deployed. Guest achieves great victory. - Taiyi in Palace 4: Major General pressed. Host achieves minor victory. [When] Celestial Eye [is at] Grand Cluster: - Taiyi in Palace 1: Celestial Eye internally pressed. Host wins. - Taiyi in Palace 2: Gates complete, Generals deployed. Guest achieves great victory. - Taiyi in Palace 3: Eight Gates blocked. Host wins. - Taiyi in Palace 4: Celestial Eye opposed — the side that initiates loses. Host wins.
This ready-reckoner (立成鈐) is the practical heart of Volume 3 — a pre-computed lookup table that allows a military commander to quickly determine the outcome of engagement by cross-referencing two variables: the Celestial Eye's current spirit-position and Taiyi's current palace. 'Gates complete, Generals deployed' (門具將發) is the ideal condition indicating all auspicious gates are open and all generals are in favorable positions.
'Host' (主人) and 'guest' (客) are the two sides in any military engagement. The 'host' is the defending party or the one acting second; the 'guest' is the attacking party or first mover. The Taiyi system provides separate calculations for each side's prospects, allowing the strategist to determine whether to attack or defend.
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