Yi Jing, Oracle of the Moon

神數

“Shen Shu”, Spirit Numbers 241-264

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

241

One thought and you rise high up in heaven,
One stroke of fate and you sink below earth into hell,
Hell and paradise,
There is just a fraction between glory and dishonor,
Stand on your feet and own your intentions,
You should not follow mediocre people.

242

Sheep escape the flock, correct people daily,
Coming close to the ox' mouth, then it bites man;
One ruler, one subject, ruler and subject have troubles,
One has to battle the true spirit to save the common people.

  Even one ruler and one subject will have violence (lit. horse + respect). One cannot let subjects have a mind of their own if one wants calmth and/or results.

243

If one is a spiritual person,
One finger suffices to turn around;
One who persists in error,
is repeatedly seduced and does not walk from it.

244

The moon child rises in the east,
Clear and bright in contrast to the humidity before;
No clouds,
Sea and sky one blue expanse.

245

The masculine nature seems to create feudal lords who conform,
Without going completely against the human world;
To retire after achieving his goal,
In twilight clouds and mist to be leisurely carefree,
And to take off the purple gauze robe.
The true direction of the masculine dao.

246

A sentimental moon and a bewitching woman (fox and raccoon),
Confuse and mislead people;
People don't detect it,
Inviting it to exhaust their moral character and conduct (body) for a long time.

247

Suddenly a gale-force wind rises,
Big trees are completely lifted up;
Branches and leaves are not yet withered,
Cultivation ends in good health.

248

The (as yet) empty day looks prosperous,
The method should be examined,
On all sides encircling,
The opponent charges the camp.

A warning not to rely on the way things look.

249

In ups and downs decide in the morning there are no moans and distress,
A labourious nation,
A calm and comfortable hometown,
On account of others one earns a living and clothing,
It is today the ruler's taste,
In another year things change and one adjust to other people's taste.

250

Daughter big, happiness arrives,
Marrying a fine man, adding children and grandchildren,
All receive honor, feeling magnificent kindness.

251

The tree feeds the fire,
The mouth does not keep silent,
Insanity causes disease,
Chills and fever assist each other.

252

Stop, stop, stop,
Exceeding 3 years and 6 weeks,
If you don't suddenly wake up,
There is misfortune at the end.

253

The stable wall is on fire,
The raging livestock meets with disaster.
Guarding against it in advance and ensuring help,
Putting the fire out is easily accomplished.

254

Already the mind (heart) fulfilled its desire,
Starting to realize the extent of the aspirations;
One must grasp three mountains firmly,
Again and again fixing peace and tranquility.

255

A lucky star shines,
I smell fragrant Cassia buds,
The sky is full of stars,
Brilliant forces.

256

Earth of the Southeast,
The future naturally causes ruins,
Earth of swallows and thistles,
There is no help for the common people.
You need big vigorous aspirations,
Don't you know where the source of water is?

257

Death has its day,
birth has its hour,
why be slow and hesitate;
float in the air and just go,
your heart free of doubts.

  I asked Yijing, if there was a line with which this verse correlates. Answer: 2.6-23, about the dragons fighting. It is about the time in the second half of February, when severe frost ends and temperatures rise again. The winter dragon doesn't leave without a fight... (See Pankenier "Astrology and Cosmology in Early China" pages 52-53)

258

(After) traveling around you go live in a secluded place,
Very suddenly greatly surprised,
Cruel and evil people seem to hold the reigns of govenment,
Chopping and extinguishing all around satisfies them.

259

Eight gates divide the eight places,
Nine stars the nine regions,
Green, red, yellow, white and black,
Five colors of brocade costumes,
Crossing swords ready for battle,
Both side's strength is similar.

  According to YuJing He the gates, stars and colors refer to military strategy.
  Another possibility: everything is divided and will always fight each other, but winning is pointless, all can only exist together.

260

All one's life one not practicing the higher,
(Then) living the divinatory signs is fruitless;
The wheel cannot return,
It always falls in an abyss or chasm.

261

Two sets of boys and girls,
All arrive walking together,
Yin and yang in harmony,
Plans will create happiness and joy.

262

In the center are the mysteries of fate,
The cock crows as the region becomes visible,
Suddenly coming to understand the principles of Zen meditation,
Breaking the connections with the sovereign.

263

Several tail golden fish swallow the bait,
You bring your fishing line and pole back home,
Eating at home getting over the dislike of the great cost,
Everywhere in the world roaming and traveling.

264

On Mao day a child comes out of the forest,
At Wu hour blessings arrive,
Mao issues forth from Yin,
Everywhere one sees the will of Heaven.