Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

神數

“Shen Shu”, Spirit Numbers 49-72

Numbers
1-24
25-48
49-72
73-96
97-120
121-144
145-168
169-192
193-216
217-240
241-264
265-288
289-312
313-336
337-360
361-384

049 One shock

沈沈苛染
不見天心
雷門一震
體健身輕

Afflicted by a severe and lingering illness
Not seeing the will of Heaven
The way of thunder is one shock
The system healthy
and the body relaxed
(expl. 049-096)
前標This poem is partly identical to 113.

*

050 Follow your nature

財馬兩匆忙
官祿有定力
豬羊牛犬
自去主張

In a hurry to get both wealth and horses
An official salary is reliable
But as a Pig, Sheep, Ox or Dog
One’s nature is to start one’s own business
(expl. 049-096)

*

051 The peach of immortality

空空空
空裏得成功
蟠桃千載熟
不怕五更風

Empty, hollow, void
Being empty inside achieves success
The peach of immortality ripens
a thousand years
Not fearing the wind of the pre-dawn hours
(expl. 049-096)
  五更 5 nightwatches; 5th nightwatch (3-5 AM).

*

052 Autumn moon

愁臉放
笑顏開
秋月掛高臺
人從千里來

A worried face relaxes
A smiling face opens up
The autumn moon above the high terrace
People come from a thousand miles
(expl. 049-096)
  千里 thousand miles; long distance.

*

053 The moon-toad

須著力
莫遠遊
長竿釣向蟾蛉窟
直欲雲中得巨鰲

You have to put forth effort
Not travel far
With a long rod you fish in the cave of the moon-toad
With dedicated desire you catch the giant turtle Áo in the center of the clouds
(expl. 049-096)
  蟾蛉窟 cave of the moon-toad; the moon. This poem might have a sexual undertone.

*

054 A boat in the desert

無蹤無跡
遠近難見
旱海行舟
空勞費力

No tracks no traces
Far and near seeking is difficult
Sailing a boat in the desert
Efforts are wasted in vain
(expl. 049-096)

*

055 When the right wind blows

細雨濛濛濕
江邊路不通
道途音信遠
憑仗借東風

Continuous drizzling rain and dampness
The riverside path is obstructed
Roads and news are far away
He relied on the help of the east wind
(expl. 049-096)
  This poem is about 'The Battle of Chibi'

*

056 Seeking love *

平地走風煙
時下未能安
高處覓姻緣

From level ground rise clouds and mist
You cannot yet find peace now
In high places you search for your Thread of Fate
(expl. 049-096)
  This poem is about 'The Thread of Fate'

*

057 Inside the flower

正直宜守
妄動生災
利通名達
葉落花開

Stay honest and correct
Rash actions give birth to disaster
Profit of the benefit of a name
When the petals fall
the flower opens its heart
(expl. 049-096)

*

58 The Horse and Ox people of Chu

君子升
小人阻
征戰生離苦
前有吉人逢
信在馬牛人在楚
事要營求妥

The noble man ascends
small people get obstructed
Going to battle causes bitter separation
There are virtuous people ahead to meet you
Trust the Horse and Ox people of Chu
Matters will find their right course
(expl. 049-096)
  馬牛Astrol. signs Horse and Ox. Or: horse-people: soldiers, ox-people: farmers. Horse and ox: war and farming.
  楚 Chu Kingdom, today Hunan and Hubei. Known for its strong and enterprising people.

*

059 My lamp my partner

紛紛復紛紛
欷虛獨掩門
劍眉望燈火
伴我坐黃昏

Over and over and again and again
Sighing empty and alone I shut the door
With furrowed brows I gaze at the lamplight
My partner who keeps me company in the dusk
(expl. 049-096)

*

060 Passing beauty

紅顏美
休掛懷
人在車中
舟行水裏

A beautiful beautiful woman
Stop involving your heart
A person in a carriage
A boat in flowing water
(expl. 049-096)

*

061 Accident day

橋已斷
路不通
登舟理楫
又遇狂風

The bridge is broken
The road obstructed
Embark in a boat and pick up the oars
and you encounter a gale
(expl. 049-096)

*

062 A quiet message

深潭月
照鏡影
一場空
安報信

The moon in a deep pool
A reflection in a mirror
It is nothing real
A quiet message
(expl. 049-096)

*

063 Dragon, horse and rabbit

湖海意悠悠
煙波下釣釣
若逢龍與免
名利一齊周

At lakes and seas you come for leisure
Fishing in the mist-covered water
If you meet dragon and horse and rabbit
Fame and wealth simulteaneously surround you
(expl. 049-096)

*

064 Broken bridges

物不牢
人斷橋
重整理
慢心高

The world is not stable
People break down bridges
It is important to put in order
Rudeness and pride
(expl. 049-096)

*

65 Difficult to get out

入而易
出而難
懨懨到再三
交加意不堪

Entering is easy
Getting out is difficult
Over and over again you are mentally weak
Looking closely at what’s happening you cannot bear it
(expl. 049-096)

*

066 The time of harvest

事遲志速
而且反覆
直待歲寒
花殘果熟

When matters are tardy and ambitions urgent
And it happens repeatedly
Then wait until the cold of winter
When flowers are gone and fruits are ripe
(expl. 049-096)

*

067 The power of graciousness

乘馬前進
所求吉貞
隨時諧美
缺月重明

On horseback going forth
Seeking a lucky omen
Always well-spoken and graceful
The small crescent of the moon is really bright
(expl. 049-096)

*

068 Suspicion

船離在渡月離雲
人出潼關可問津
且向前行去求住
何須疑慮兩三心

The boat leaves the ancient crossing place
The moon leaves the clouds
A person comes out of Tong Pass
It is good to make inquiries
For now to go and seek a place to stay
It is unnecessary to have misgivings or to be irresolute
(expl. 049-096)
  兩三心 two three heart: a heart without focus, fickle.

*

069 A rude awakening *

不足不足
難伸心曲
野塘雨過
月如釣
夢斷邯鄲
眉黛愁

Not enough not enough
Difficulties weigh on your mind
Rain floods a dike in open country
The moon is like a fishing hook
A Han dream wake-up
Worried brows
(expl. 049-096)
  This poem is about 'Han-dream'

*

070 Nothing is 'just this'

美有堪
堪有美
始有終
終有始

Beauty has endurance
Endurance has beauty
Beginnings have ends
Ends have beginnings
(expl. 049-096)
  楚 the etymology of endurance: earth + affection + being.

*

071 A boat in the waves

湖海悠悠
孤舟浪頭
來人未渡
殘照山樓

Endless lakes and seas
A lone boat in the waves
The one who should come did not cross
The sun goes down behind the mountain range
(expl. 049-096)

*

072 Solid locks

深戶要牢局
提防暗裏人
莫言無外事
縱好定遭

Late at night doors need a solid lock
Be on guard for people sneaking in
Don't say that it will not happen
Negligence is liable to meet with disaster
(expl. 049-096)

*