This is the course’s central worked example. Later modules refer back to it when they need a concrete chart for target-line selection, hidden activity, combination locks, timing release, and confidence.

Use this page as the stable reference. It explains the case in ordinary English first, with source notation kept only where precision matters.

Term labels follow the Wen Wang Gua terminology reference: English first, pinyin and Chinese notation only where they help with source precision.

The Question

Question: “What about my father’s recent illness?”

Plain-language outcome: The reading predicted recovery on the Chou day. The case record says the father got out of bed on that day.

Source basis: Yehe Laoren, _Zengshan Buyi_, Case 1: source header "Chen month, Wu-Shen day; divining about father's recent illness; received Heaven changing to Small Taming." Public edition: Zengshan Buyi cases 1-100.

Outcome note: the original record says he got out of bed on [[earthlyBranch:chou::Chou day]].

The Cast At A Glance

Source case Case 1: Father's Recent Illness Zengshan Buyi
Question What about my father's recent illness?
Outcome Recovery on Chou day.
Void branchesYin and Mao
StructureSix-Clash
Line Primary chart Movement Changed chart Markers
6 Parent / Xu Xu EarthWorld Static Wealth / Mao Mao Wood World
5 Sibling / Shen Shen Metal Static Officer / Si Si Fire
4 Officer / Wu Wu Fire Moving Parent / Wei Wei EarthResponse Response
3 Parent / Chen Chen EarthResponse Static Parent / Chen Chen Earth Response
2 Wealth / Yin Yin Wood Static, void Wealth / Yin Yin Wood
1 Child / Zi Zi Water Static Child / Zi Zi WaterWorld World

Line numbers run from bottom to top in hexagram work. Line 1 is the bottom row; line 6 is the top row.

Why This Case Matters

The surface reading looks favorable: the father’s target line is a Parent line sitting on the month branch, and the primary hexagram is a Six-Clash hexagram, which often points to fast movement.

The full reading is subtler. Three mechanisms matter:

  1. The target line is Parent / Chen Earth at line 3. The question is about the father, so the reading looks for the Parent line. Several Parent labels appear, but the Chen Earth Parent line wins because it sits on the month branch.
  2. A hidden attack is active. The void Tiger branch is awakened by the day branch and attacks the target line. This explains why the illness is serious despite the target line’s strong month support.
  3. The rescue path is locked until Chou day. The moving Officer / Wu Fire line tries to generate Parent / Wei Earth, which would support the father. But Wu and Wei are locked in a combination. Chou day clashes Wei, opens the lock, and lets the support reach the target line.

That is why the prediction is not just “recovery soon.” It is specifically “recovery when the lock opens on Chou day.”

Minimal Vocabulary

Course termPlain EnglishSource notation
Target lineThe line that represents the question用神
Parent lineThe line category used for father, mother, documents, shelter, and support父母
Officer lineThe line category often used for illness, pressure, officials, jobs, and danger depending on the question官鬼
World lineThe querent’s position in the chart世
Response lineThe counterpart or answering position应
VoidTemporarily unavailable during the current ten-day cycle旬空
Combination lockTwo branches bind each other and stop a support chain from moving合住
Clash releaseA clash breaks the combination lock冲开

Source notation appears only as a precision layer. The reading itself should be understood in English.

Where This Case Returns

Course locationWhy it returns
1.1 What is Wen Wang Gua?Establishes that Wen Wang Gua is a concrete, date-bearing reading method.
1.5 How to Read a Cast TableTeaches the chart layout without interpreting it.
Act IV, Target Line SystemShows why the father question selects a Parent line as the target.
Act V, Strength & InteractionShows hidden activity, combination locks, and clash release.
Act VIII, TimingShows why the prediction resolves on Chou day.