On the Net of Heaven and Earth

Original Text

罗网之说，其义甚明。然何以戌亥为天罗，辰巳为地网，盖天倾西北，戌亥者，六阴之终也；地陷东南，辰巳者，六阳之终也。阴阳终极，则暗昧不明，如人之在罗网，此春义也。《壶中子》云：「龙蛇混杂，偏不利于辰生；猪犬侵凌，但独嫌于亥字。」龙为辰，蛇为巳；辰人得巳，巳人得辰，皆曰龙蛇混杂。男命则不妨，惟女命破婚害子，薄命抱疾。辰人得巳，重；巳人得辰，轻。谓龙生蛇穴者，退；蛇生龙穴者，进。猪为亥，犬为戌；戌人得亥，亥人得戌，皆曰猪犬侵凌。

女命则不妨，惟男命则滞龃龉龆，妨祖克妻。戌人得亥，轻；亥人得戌，重。谓犬入猪群，则进；猪入犬群，则伤。《诸书》亦云：「龙蛇混杂，常防妇女忧危；猪犬侵凌，每虑丈夫厄难。」是男怕天罗，女怕地网。中间又分火命人有天罗，水、土命人有地网，馀金木二命无之。人命带此，多主蹇滞，更加恶煞相并，五行无气，必主恶死。行运至此，亦如之。

假如戌年戎月初一日生者，犯一年天罗；十五日生者，犯十五年天罗；若更生时是戌，增成三十年天罗。或戌年亥月，或亥时戌日，交互见之，谓之重犯。则灾不能歇。地网如上说。若天罗地网重并，为害尤重。《理愚歌》云：「生时地结与天盘，争使亲闱得久安。」如甲辰命见甲戌，申戌命见甲辰，只此二辰生人，是就罗网中言之也。

Interpretation

The theory of the celestial and earthly nets is quite clear in meaning. However, why are the hours of Xu and Hai regarded as the celestial net, and the hours of Chen and Si as the earthly net? It is because the sky inclines towards the northwest. Xu and Hai mark the end of the six yin phases. The earth sinks towards the southeast, and Chen and Si represent the end of the six yang phases. When yin and yang reach their ultimate states, there is obscurity and lack of clarity, just like a person being caught in a net. This is the meaning of this concept. The "Hu Zhong Zi" says, "When the dragon and the snake are mixed, it is particularly unfavorable for those born in the Chen hour. When the pig and the dog encroach on each other, it is especially disliked when the character 'Hai' is involved." The dragon corresponds to Chen, and the snake corresponds to Si. For those born in the Chen hour getting Si, or those born in the Si hour getting Chen, it is all called "the dragon and the snake being mixed." For male lives, it may not matter. But for female lives, it can lead to broken marriages and harm to children, and they may have a meager fate and suffer from illnesses. When those born in the Chen hour get Si, the situation is more serious; when those born in the Si hour get Chen, it is less serious. It is said that when a dragon is born in a snake's lair, there will be a decline; when a snake is born in a dragon's lair, there will be progress. The pig corresponds to Hai, and the dog corresponds to Xu. For those born in the Xu hour getting Hai, or those born in the Hai hour getting Xu, it is all called "the pig and the dog encroaching on each other."

For women, this situation is acceptable. However, for men, it will lead to difficulties and setbacks, and may bring harm to their ancestors and wives. If a person born in the Year of the Dog has the sign of the Pig in their destiny, the negative effect is relatively mild; if a person born in the Year of the Pig has the sign of the Dog, the negative effect is more serious. It is said that when a dog enters a group of pigs, it can make progress, but when a pig enters a group of dogs, it will be injured. "Various Books" also state that "When dragons and snakes are mixed, women should always be on guard against perils; when pigs and dogs encroach on each other, men should always worry about misfortunes." That is to say, men are afraid of the Heavenly Net and women are afraid of the Earthly Net. Moreover, among them, people with the Fire element in their destiny may have the Heavenly Net, and those with the Water or Earth element in their destiny may have the Earthly Net, while those with the Metal or Wood element in their destiny do not. If a person's destiny has these signs, it usually indicates a life full of obstacles. If there are also other evil stars combined and the five - elements are in a weak state, it will surely lead to a bad end. The same situation will occur when one's fortune reaches this stage.

Suppose a person is born on the first day of the tenth lunar month in a year of the Dog, they will be subject to the Heavenly Net for one year; if born on the fifteenth day, they will be under the influence of the Heavenly Net for fifteen years. If they are also born in the Dog - hour, it will be extended to thirty years under the Heavenly Net. Or if there is a combination of the Dog - year and the Pig - month, or the Pig - hour and the Dog - day, it is called a double violation. In this case, the disasters will never end. The Earthly Net follows the same rule. If the Heavenly Net and the Earthly Net overlap, the harm will be even more serious. As the "Song for the Unenlightened" says: "The earthly and heavenly configurations at the time of birth prevent one's parents from enjoying long - lasting peace." For example, if one is born in the year of the Dragon (Jia Chen) and encounters the year of the Dog (Jia Xu), or if one born in the year of the Monkey and Dog encounters the year of the Dragon (Jia Chen), only those born in these two combinations are considered to be trapped in the nets.