M13 · LESSONS 107–112

Module 13 · Review, Assessment, and Further Study (Lessons 107–112)

Lesson 107 · Assessment: The Three Systems, Physiognomy, Medicine, and Modern Perspectives#

Learning goals#

• Recheck procedures, source attributions, and evidence boundaries across Modules 9–12.
• Explain the inputs and limits behind an answer.

Lesson#

Modules 9–12 include charting procedures, historical texts, ritual observation, and modern experiments. Assessment asks you to distinguish the evidence type: a charting question tests whether a rule can be reproduced; a source question asks you to identify an attribution or date dispute; a modern-study question asks what task was actually tested and where its conclusion stops. An answer should name the rule and supporting material so disagreements can be explained.

For example, explain Carlson's study in three parts: astrologers matched birth charts to personality-test profiles; performance was compared with a chance baseline; the conclusion applies to that double-blind task and procedure. “Double blind” means the people matching and scoring the materials were kept unaware of the identities or intended pairings as far as possible. The 1985 Nature paper does not prove that every form of astrology is invalid.

Closed-book assessment · 40 minutes · 100 points · pass: 80#

1. Describe the customary focus of the Three Systems and locate the excavated shi board. (10)
2. Which Six Instruments conceal the six Jia markers? What are the Three Wonders? (12)
3. Give the original palaces of the Nine Stars and Eight Gates. (16)
4. Name the month generals after the winter solstice and Minor Snow. (6)
5. Give the three face zones and five facial features in a traditional scheme. (10)
6. Derive the Five Movements and Six Qi for 2026. (8)
7. How does the Cantong qi use Yijing symbols? (8)
8. What does C. K. Yang's concept of “diffused religion” mean? (8)
9. Name six mechanisms that can make a reading feel accurate. (12)
10. What does Carlson's study test, and what does the Azande example illustrate? (10)

Selected answers: 2. Jia-Zi hides under Wu, Jia-Xu under Ji, Jia-Shen under Geng, Jia-Wu under Xin, Jia-Chen under Ren, Jia-Yin under Gui; the Three Wonders are Yi, Bing, Ding. 4. Chou (Daji) after the winter solstice; Yin (Gongcao) after Minor Snow. 6. Water movement in excess; Lesser Yin Minister Fire governs Heaven and Yangming Dryness Metal is At the Spring.

Lesson 108 · Comprehensive Review I: Foundations#

Learning goals#

• Review stems and branches, calendars, Five-Phase relations, and date-selection rules.
• Break a date calculation into steps that can be checked independently.

Lesson#

The foundation modules are a set of linked tools. Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches are two cycles combined into sixty pairs; yin-yang and the Five Phases describe relationships in the traditional system. Identify the inputs first, then select the calendar boundary appropriate to the method. A wrong result may come from treating a Gregorian year as a stem-branch year, missing a solar-term change, adding a day incorrectly, or mixing date-selection traditions. Copying a final answer does not repair the faulty step.

Use the exam's supplied premise that 9 November 2026 is Ding-Hai and calculate forward to 6 January 2027. The elapsed days are 21 from Nov 9 to Nov 30, plus 31 days in December and 6 days in January, totaling 58. Advancing 58 places in the 60-cycle is equivalent to moving back two from Ding-Hai, giving Yi-You. A “void pair” is the two branches omitted from a ten-day stem-branch sequence. This calculation follows the premise as written; if an independent calendar disagrees, record that as a difference in the problem input versus the calendar, rather than silently changing the premise.

Practice · 60 minutes#

1. Closed-book recall (30 min): reproduce the Five-Phase correspondences and seasonal table (M01); twenty-eight lodges and the twelve month-boundary terms (M02); stems, branches, hidden stems, Five Tigers, Five Rats, clashes/combinations/triads/punishments/harms (M03); Luoshu palaces, Na Yin, Twelve Officers, and directional taboos (M04). Then compare with the course notes.
2. Timed calculation (20 min): choose three date-times and calculate the Four Pillars, void branches, date officers, clashes, and directional taboos; check with an almanac.
3. Clear the error log (10 min): redo every missed question from M01–M04.

Review note: The Ding-Hai day in the worked example is a problem premise, not a newly verified calendar fact. Always state time zone and solar-term boundary rules.

Lesson 109 · Comprehensive Review II: The Yijing and Divination#

Learning goals#

• Reconstruct a hexagram from its lines.
• Distinguish the Classic and Commentaries from later divination rules.

Lesson#

Review Yijing material in layers. A line is a solid or broken yin-yang stroke; an eight-trigram figure consists of three lines, and two trigrams form a sixty-four hexagram. The hexagram sequence orders the sixty-four figures. A complementary/opposite hexagram reverses every line; a reversed hexagram turns the figure upside down; a nuclear hexagram uses lines 2–4 for the lower trigram and 3–5 for the upper. Najia assigns stems and branches to lines; liu qin assigns Parent, Sibling, Offspring, Wealth, and Official Ghost relations; host and guest mark two chart positions. These rules belong to later divination traditions and did not all appear as one system in the original Classic.

For Wind over Thunder, Yi (Increase), the upper trigram is Xun and lower trigram Zhen. From bottom upward, Zhen is yang–yin–yin and Xun is yin–yang–yang: the six-line pattern is yang, yin, yin | yin, yang, yang. Verify the strokes before naming the figure, then calculate any related figure. This shows whether the structure is understood rather than merely recognized by name.

Practice · 60 minutes#

1. Closed-book recall (25 min): draw the Eight Trigrams, Earlier and Later Heaven arrangements, Shuogua images, hexagram sequence, Twelve Growth hexagrams, Eight Palaces, and najia table.
2. Random review (15 min): for ten randomly chosen hexagrams, identify upper/lower trigrams, complementary, reversed, nuclear figure, palace, and host/guest positions.
3. Log review (20 min): update your score using the fixed categories and write a list of recurring interpretation biases.

Review note: Reconstruct line structure first. Mark najia and the Eight Palaces as later divinatory frameworks rather than original line statements in the Yijing Classic.

Lesson 110 · Final Examination#

Learning goals#

• Show inputs, rules, and work in integrated problems.
• Separate reproducing a traditional rule from predicting a real outcome.

Lesson#

The final covers calendars, classical studies, divination, destiny calculation, and spatial methods; no single rule solves all sections. Copy the given inputs, name the convention used, and show intermediate steps. For an interpretive question, distinguish a term's definition, reasoning internal to the tradition, and any claim that could be checked against reality. A BaZi “structure” is a traditional category describing relations among the day master and month command, not a modern statistical personality type. If a familiar app differs from the question, verify the problem's assumptions rather than silently replacing them.

For Question 4, the exam gives 9 November 2026 as Ding-Hai and specifies the Minor Cold date. First advance the day cycle from the supplied premise; then follow each requested rule. Solve the question as given. Afterward, check the premise against a calendar and report any discrepancy separately. Personal chart exercises require consent and de-identification; they are course exercises, not health, financial, or life-outcome advice.

Examination · Closed book · 150 minutes · 100 points · pass: 80#

I. Foundations (25 points)

1. Five-Phase generating/control relations and the five relative positions. (4)
2. Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, including principal hidden stems. (6)
3. Year stem-branch and Na Yin for 2031; the Yin-month pillar. (5)
4. Given 9 Nov 2026 = Ding-Hai, calculate the 6 Jan 2027 day pillar, Mao-hour pillar, void branches, clash/taboo direction, and Twelve Officer. Minor Cold is Jan 5. (10)

II. Yijing (20 points)

5. Draw the Earlier and Later Heaven trigram arrangements. (6)
6. For Wind over Thunder, Yi: name lines, proper positions, correspondence, central lines, and complementary/reversed/nuclear figures. (8)
7. Name the Twelve Growth hexagrams and explain “one yang returns” and “three yang lines bring prosperity.” (6)

III. Divination (20 points)

8. Chart Fire over Wind, Ding, completely: najia, six relations, host/guest. (8)
9. Use Meihua Yishu or Liuyao to work through one real, low-stakes question and give one testable judgment. (12)

IV. Destiny calculation and feng shui (20 points)

10. For a birth in Beijing, 1 Jan 2027 at 12:30: construct the Four Pillars, Ten Gods, day-master strength, and structure under the course's conventions. (10)
11. For a north-sitting, south-facing home, give the house trigram and four traditionally auspicious directions; draw the Nine Periods 9 base chart. (10)

V. Systems and perspectives (15 points)

12. Draw the “four layers and twelve gates” system map. (5)
13. Choose one system and explain its inputs, questions, history, and testability. (5)
14. Calculate your log's hit rate and explain its limits. (5)

Selected answers: 3. Xin-Hai; Hairpin Gold; Geng-Yin. 4. Yi-You; Ji-Mao; Wu/Wei void; clash Rabbit, directional taboo East; Cheng (Completion). 6. Line names: nine at 1, six at 2, six at 3, six at 4, nine at 5, nine at 6; proper lines 1, 2, 4, 5; all three pairs correspond; central lines 2 and 5; complementary Heng, reversed Sun, nuclear Bo. 7. The cycle moves from Kun in Hai to Fu in Zi; Fu is at winter solstice, Tai in the first lunar month. 8. Li palace, second generation: line 1 Xin-Chou Offspring; line 2 Xin-Hai Official Ghosts (host); line 3 Xin-You Wealth; line 4 Ji-You Wealth; line 5 Ji-Wei Offspring (guest); line 6 Ji-Si Siblings. 10. Bing-Wu, Geng-Zi, Geng-Chen, Ren-Wu; year stem Seven Killings, month stem Peer, hour stem Eating God; somewhat weak; Hurting Officer structure. 11. Kan house; Life Southeast, Prolonging Years South, Heavenly Doctor East, Hidden Position North; center 9, northwest 1, west 2, northeast 3, south 4, north 5, southwest 6, east 7, southeast 8.

Lesson 111 · Integrated Practice#

Learning goals#

• Compare methods using one consistent record format.
• Protect participants' privacy and review the reasoning afterward.

Lesson#

The four practice tasks involve prediction logs, traditional chart interpretation, spatial observation, and almanac reading. They are not the same kind of evidence. If Xiao Liuren, Meihua Yishu, and Liuyao yield different readings for one question, do not use majority vote. Compare how each defines the question, selects inputs, applies rules, and produces a result that can be independently checked. A “chart” is a figure constructed from birth information or question inputs under a particular method. Use anonymized, clearly authorized information for practice; do not make claims about a friend's health, wealth, or life outcome.

For a home, first record direct observations—light, noise, ventilation, circulation—and put traditional descriptions in a separate column. A “Barnum statement” is broad enough for many people to recognize themselves in it; during review, ask whether a claim was specific enough to score. When participating with friends, respect consent and do not publish birth information, photographs, or addresses. Polite agreement is not independent validation.

Practice · About two hours#

1. Same question, three methods: cast for one real, low-stakes matter using Xiao Liuren, Meihua Yishu, and Liuyao. Compare the conclusions and preserve each full record.
2. One chart: with a consenting friend, construct a BaZi chart and explain the seven steps. Ask what does not fit; record it without arguing the person into agreement.
3. One space: study your home using form-based feng shui, Eight Mansions, and Flying Stars, then make a practical recommendation using the “prospect and refuge” idea. Keep measurable observations separate from traditional labels.
4. One almanac page: read a current day's almanac and identify its calendar and symbolic layers.

Review#

• Did the three methods agree? If they did not, what inputs and rules differed?
• What did your friend identify as inaccurate or unsupported?
• Which statements were too broad to test?

Lesson 112 · Further Study and Choosing a Direction#

Learning goals#

• Choose an area of further study that fits your questions, time, and access to sources.
• Design a small project that can be reviewed and reproduced.

Lesson#

The study paths below are entry points organized by subject, not five sequential levels. BaZi and Liuyao require different charting procedures; Yijing study focuses on textual layers and commentary; feng shui can be approached through architecture and spatial history; the Three Systems require reliable calendar and chart procedures. Cultural research and public writing also require edition, citation, and contemporary fieldwork checks. Choose by considering what questions will hold your interest, the time available each week, and whether you can access sources to compare.

For example, turn “study Liuyao” into a twelve-week project. In weeks 1–4, practice question definition and chart construction. In weeks 5–8, annotate case examples from one named text. In weeks 9–12, run a blind-scoring exercise under a preregistered rubric. Each stage should leave a visible artifact: ten reproducible charts, a glossary with references, and a methods review. “Blind scoring” means evaluators do not know the subject's identity or expected answer. At the end, decide whether the work merits more time based on interest and evidence, not on whether a prediction supports a life choice.

Suggested paths#

Path	For readers interested in	Next step	Core reading
BaZi	Whole-chart structures	24 weeks: charting/Ten Gods (4); strength and structures (6); branch relations and cycles (6); close reading (6); independent charting and review (2); hand-chart at least 80	Ziping Zhenquan with commentary; Di Tian Sui Zhengyi; Qiongtong Baojian
Liuyao	Structured question-based charts	Hand-chart 100 figures; close-read one manual	Zengshan Bu Yi; Bu Shi Zhengzong
Yijing	Textual and philosophical study	Read every line of all 64 hexagrams using a staged plan	Zhouyi Benyi; Yichuan Yizhuan; Zhouyi Shangshi Xue
Feng shui	Space and architecture	Observe 20 sites; construct 20 Flying Star charts under one stated school	Bazi Mingjing; Shen Shi Xuan Kong Xue
Three Systems	Complex chart systems	Choose either Qimen or Liuren for focused study	Yanbo Diaosou Ge; Da Liu Ren Zhinan
Cultural study and writing	Research, teaching, and public writing	Write a sourced piece such as “How is a Chinese almanac calculated?”	Li Ling, Zhongguo Fangshu Zhengkao; Jiang Xiaoyuan, Tianxue Zhenyuan; Richard J. Smith, Fathoming the Cosmos and Ordering the World

Ongoing study rhythm#

Frequency	Practice
Daily	Note the day's stem-branch; reread one line; use Xiao Liuren only for a low-stakes question if desired
Weekly	Review one almanac page, preregister a question, and score last week's log
Monthly	Calculate the score with the same method and update a bias list
Quarterly	Finish one small artifact: an article, ten charts, or one blind test

Final reflection#

If you have reached the final daily reading, reread Hexagram 64, Wei Ji (Before Completion): “Fire over water. Before Completion. The noble person carefully distinguishes things and puts them in their proper places.” The Yijing ends with “not yet complete,” not “finished.” This course does too. Using Wei Ji as a closing metaphor is a teaching choice, not a prediction about the learner.

Course review#

1. Count study days, longest streak, number of log entries, and hit rate.
2. Review your completion criteria and identify what needs another source check.
3. Write a 500-word reflection: your largest learning, biggest correction, and considered place for metaphysics in your life.

Project review criteria#

At the end of an advanced project, ask three questions: Can you explain the rule and its source? Can another person reproduce your procedure? Can you identify missing evidence and unresolved disagreement? Books read and practice counts are useful activity records, but do not substitute for those outcomes.