Daily Stars and Spirits
義例五~六·日神
Yellow Road and Black Road Day Classification
黃道黑道
The Twelve-Star Sequence
十二星序
黃黑二道者黃道六黑道六共十有二，以配十有二辰。一青龍，二明堂，三天刑，四朱雀，五金匱，六天德，七白虎，八玉堂，九天牢，十元武，十一司命，十二勾陳。
The Yellow and Black Roads comprise six Yellow Road [stars] and six Black Road [stars], totaling twelve, corresponding to the twelve earthly branches. 1. Green Dragon, 2. Bright Hall, 3. Heavenly Punishment, 4. Vermillion Bird, 5. Golden Coffer, 6. Heavenly Virtue, 7. White Tiger, 8. Jade Hall, 9. Heavenly Prison, 10. Dark Warrior, 11. Controller of Fate, 12. Hook Formation.
Six Auspicious Yellow Road Stars
黃道六吉星
青龍、明堂、金匱、天德、玉堂、司命，為黃道六吉。
Green Dragon, Bright Hall, Golden Coffer, Heavenly Virtue, Jade Hall, and Controller of Fate are the six auspicious Yellow Road [stars].
Six Inauspicious Black Road Stars
黑道六凶星
天刑、朱雀、白虎、天牢、元武、勾陳，為黑道六凶。
Heavenly Punishment, Vermillion Bird, White Tiger, Heavenly Prison, Dark Warrior, and Hook Formation are the six inauspicious Black Road [stars].
Monthly Starting Method for Days
月起日法
其法則寅申青龍起子，卯酉起寅，辰戌起辰，巳亥起午，子午起申，丑未起戌，順行十二辰。月起日則建寅之月子日為青龍，丑日為明堂，依次順數。
The method: in Yin-Shen months, Green Dragon starts at Zi; in Mao-You months, it starts at Yin; in Chen-Xu months, at Chen; in Si-Hai months, at Wu; in Zi-Wu months, at Shen; in Chou-Wei months, at Xu -- proceeding sequentially through the twelve branches. For months starting from days: in the Yin-establishment month, Zi-day is Green Dragon, Chou-day is Bright Hall, and so forth in sequence.
Daily Starting Method for Hours
日起時法
日起時則子日申時起青龍，酉時為明堂，依次順數。
For hours starting from days: on a Zi-day, Shen hour starts as Green Dragon, You hour as Bright Hall, proceeding sequentially.
Twelve Stars Matched to Branches
十二星配辰
司命配子，勾陳配丑，青龍配寅，明堂配卯，天刑配辰，朱雀配巳，金匱配午，天德配未，白虎配申，玉堂配酉，天牢配戌，元武配亥。
Controller of Fate corresponds to Zi, Hook Formation to Chou, Green Dragon to Yin, Bright Hall to Mao, Heavenly Punishment to Chen, Vermillion Bird to Si, Golden Coffer to Wu, Heavenly Virtue to Wei, White Tiger to Shen, Jade Hall to You, Heavenly Prison to Xu, Dark Warrior to Hai.
Astronomical Origin of the Names
天文本義
黃黑道之名本於天文。子午卯酉寅未為黃道，非色名有深義也。司命居北極之位，勾陳為建星之旗，房心為明堂天王布政之宮。
The names 'Yellow Road' and 'Black Road' originate from astronomy. Zi-Wu-Mao-You-Yin-Wei constitute the Yellow Road -- these are not color-names with deep significance. Controller of Fate occupies the position of the North Pole. Hook Formation is the banner of the Establishing Star. The Heart and Chamber mansions form the Bright Hall, the palace where the Heavenly King promulgates governance.
Editorial Commentary
按語
按神樞經載黃黑道十二神應來通書用之，顧此十二神之何以吉何以凶則未言其故。通書又專用之以選時，相沿日久，終身由之而不知其道。
We [the imperial editors] note that the Shenshu Classic records the twelve Yellow-Black Road spirits, which the almanacs have adopted. However, why these twelve spirits are auspicious or inauspicious was never explained. The almanacs use them exclusively for hour-selection, and through long custom, people follow them their entire lives without understanding the underlying principle.
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