On Advancing, Submitting, Retreating, and Yielding

Original Text

阎东叟云：以十干为四候，十五日为一候，十二日为进神候，外三日为交退伏神候。故甲子为第一进神，则丙子、丁丑、戊寅为交退伏神；己卯为第二进神，则辛卯、壬辰、癸巳为交退退伏神；甲午为第三进神，则丙午、丁未、戊申为交退伏神；己酉为第四进神，则辛酉、壬戌、癸亥为交退伏神。值进神则发迹亨快，值交神则庶事不谐，值退神则官资降黜，值伏神则所作滞留。

Interpretation

Yan Dongsou said: Divide the ten Heavenly Stems into four periods. One period consists of fifteen days. A period of twelve days is the period of the advancing divine, and the remaining three days are the period of the intersecting, retreating, and hidden divine. Therefore, the Jiazi day is the first advancing divine, then the Bingzi, Dingchou, and Wuyin days are the intersecting, retreating, and hidden divine; the Jimao day is the second advancing divine, then the Xinmao, Renshen, and Guisi days are the intersecting, retreating, and hidden divine; the Jiawu day is the third advancing divine, then the Bingwu, Dingwei, and Wushen days are the intersecting, retreating, and hidden divine; the Jiyou day is the fourth advancing divine, then the Xinyou, Rengxu, and Guihai days are the intersecting, retreating, and hidden divine. When one encounters the advancing divine, one will achieve success and have a smooth career; when one encounters the intersecting divine, all matters will not go smoothly; when one encounters the retreating divine, one's official rank will be demoted; when one encounters the hidden divine, all undertakings will be delayed.