Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

神數

“Shen Shu”, Spirit Numbers 97-120

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

097 Starting the journey

報道上林
春色鮮明
提鞭快著
馬上行程

Important news from Shanglin
Spring is colorful and bright
Raise the whip and make it snap
Saddle up and start your journey

 上林Shànglín (上林苑 Shàng hunting p,rk): built by Qín II in Cháng’ān, is a place for the emperor to hunt for sport. See 'Shanglin'
 馬上 On horse, at once, right away.

098 Rats

鼠入土穴
最可安身
日中不見
靜夜巡行

Rats go into holes
Their favorite shelter
They are not seen at noon
In the silence of the night
they make their rounds

099 Astride a crane

打起平生志
西南好去遊
腰纏十萬貫
騎鶴上揚州

All your life raise your aspirations
It is good to leave for the Southwest
Your travel money 100.000 strings
Astride a crane high over YangZhou

 騎鶴上揚州 (idiom) to have unbounded ambition.

100 The black dragon’s pearl

喜喜喜
終防否
獲得驪龍頷下珠
忽然失卻
還在水裏。

Such happiness!
Finally an end to stagnation
Winning the pearl
from the fangs of the black dragon
Suddenly losing it
It is still here in the water

101 Peace

國有賢士
廷無佞臣
干戈不用
常亨太平

The state has distinguished men
The court has no flatterers
Weapons of war are not needed
There is constant peace and tranquility

102 Foster happiness

泰來否已極
諸事莫憂心
但須養元福
做些好事
行些方便
一點丹靈獨得真

Peace comes when stagnation reaches its peak
Do not worry about everything
One only needs to foster vitality and happiness
Produce some good deeds and go somewhere one belongs
A little bit of cleverness and all is truly yours

 泰否Hexagrams 11 and 12.

103 Thousand years

民樂業
官吏清
雍熙之世復見
于今告諸人
千秋鴻業
仗此望明君

The people like their jobs
and the officials are just and honest
A time of harmony and prosperity
comes back in sight
Tell all people now
About the innumerable years
of achievements of rulers
On this depends the hope for a wise monarch

104 Solid as Mt. Tai

安如泰山
穩如盤石
放膽前行
中通外直

Solid as Mount Tai
Firm as a rock
Act boldly and with confidence
The inside connecting directly
to the appearance

 泰山 Taishan, mount Tai. Tai: hexagram 11.

105 Cloud ladder

月中有丹桂
人終攀不著
雲梯足下生
此際好落腳

On the moon orange osmanthus blooms
At last a person climbs up but cannot touch it
A cloud ladder appears under his feet
Now it is good to rest

  雲梯 Cloud ladder, scaling ladder, firefighting ladder.
  終 End, finish, whole, to die.

106 Alone

天間一孤雁
嘹嚦歎離群
試問知君者
而今有幾人

In heaven’s space one solitary goose
Warbling loudly laments being alone
May we ask a gentleman if he knows
Are there any people now like this?

107 Autumn leaves

紅葉無顏色
凋零一夜風
鄰雞醒午夢
心事總成空

Red autumn leaves lose their color
Scattered about in one night of wind
A neighborhood chicken wakes you
from dreaming at noon
Worry accomplishes nothing

  Wakes up or wakes you up.

108 Tangled affairs

事如麻
理多錯
日掩雲中
空成擔擱

Affairs like hemp fibers
Principles in tangles
The sun hides behind clouds
Emptiness turns into delay

109 The easy highway

勿上舊轍
甘駕新車
東西南北
穩步康衢

Do not embark on past old ruts
A sweet drive in a new car
In all four directions
Steadily on a level and easy highway

 東西南北 East West South North, all corners of the world; the four directions, point of decision.

110 Dream

夜夢被鼠驚
醒來不見人
終宵廢寢直到天明

Dreaming in the night and startled by a rat
Waking up not seeing anyone
All night sleepless
Until dawn

111 Commenting the weather

秋霜肅
夏日炎
新花鮮了舊花淹
世情看冷暖
逢者不須言

Autumn frost is chilling
summer days are burning hot
New flowers are fresh
old flowers are pappy
Generations have watched changes in temperature
Meet one who doesn’t need to comment

112 A hero's will

來展英雄志
馳驅不憚勞
敢將休咎卜
酉北奪前標

You didn’t exhibit a hero’s will yet
Do your utmost without fearing hard work
Handle predictions of weal and woe with courage
In the Northwest contend for the top award

 前標The Imperial examinations are held in the Northwest.

113 The way of Thunder
痾染沉沉
終日昏昏
雷門一震
體健身輕

Catching the illness of gloominess
Drunk all day long
The way of thunder is one shock
Then the system is healthy
and the body relaxed

前標This poem is partly identical to 049.

114 Great waves

易非易
難非難
忽地起波瀾
歡笑兩三番

Easy not easy
Difficult not difficult
Suddenly great waves rise up
A few times laughing heartily

  非 not: the meaning is close to "not conform to" or non-.

115 Dark moon

路不通
門閉塞
謹慎隄防
雲藏月黑

The road is obstructed
The doors are closed
Be cautious and on guard
The clouds conceal a dark moon

116 The tentacles of a snail

蝸角蠅頭利
而今已變通
草頭人笑汝
宜始不宜終

Profits like the tentacles of a snail
or the head of a fly
Become flexible now
The Caotou people ridicule you
A suitable beginning, not a suitable end

 草頭 Cantou, tiny place in China; strawhead; cantouren: bandit chief.

117 Abundance

珠玉走盤中
田園定阜豐
休言謀未遂
此去便亨通

Trays overflowing with pearls and jades
Fields and gardens calm and abundant
Cease talking and abort scheming
This proceeds quite right and smooth

118 All in accord

月已明
花最發
事悠悠
無不合

The moon already bright
Flowers open up abundantly
Affairs move along leisurely
All is in accord

119 No need for pretty words

朦朧秋月映朱門
林外鳥聲遠寺僧
自有貴人來接引
何須巧語似流鶯

A hazy autumn moon shines on red-lacquered doors
Birdcalls in an unknown forest and distant temple monks
For you there is a noble man coming to lead the way
No need for pretty words like the chatter of warblers

 朱門Red doors, gates of wealthy homes.
 貴人 Respectable person, high court lady, high official, high-ranking imperial concubine.
 流鶯Chatter of warblers, streetwalker.

120 Decide

事末寬
心不安
疑慮久
始安然

Minor details of affairs extend
The heart is unsettled
You have doubts for a long time
Start to find peace