Module 1: Historical Origins (历史渊源 - Lìshǐ Yuānyuán)
1.1 Sun Bin and the Guiguzi Lineage (孙膑与鬼谷子传承)
Jin Kou Jue is traditionally attributed to 孙膑 (Sūn Bìn) , the legendary military strategist of the Warring States period (战国时期, c. 475–221 BCE). Sun Bin was a descendant of 孙武 (Sūn Wǔ) , author of The Art of War (孙子兵法). According to tradition, Sun Bin studied under the sage 鬼谷子 (Guǐgǔzǐ) alongside his rival 庞涓 (Páng Juān) on Cloud Dream Mountain (云梦山). There he received instruction in both military strategy and the esoteric arts of divination.
After Pang Juan treasonously had Sun Bin's kneecaps removed (膑刑 / bìn xíng — the punishment from which his name derives), Sun Bin retreated into seclusion. During his recovery, he refined the vast and complex system of Da Liu Ren (大六壬) into a rapid, portable divination method that could be performed entirely through mental calculation and finger-counting — requiring no tortoise shells, yarrow stalks, coins, or elaborate apparatus. This was essential for a military advisor who needed oracular guidance on the battlefield within moments.
The Name "Golden Mouth" (金口诀)
The epithet "金口" (Jīn Kǒu / "Golden Mouth") carries a dual meaning:
- Divine Authority — The oracle's pronouncement carries the weight of heaven's decree, as if spoken from a mouth of gold.
- Precision and Economy — Unlike the elaborate Da Liu Ren procedure, Jin Kou Jue delivers its verdict in a few spoken lines (口诀 / kǒu jué, "oral formula"), each word as valuable as gold.
The character 诀 (jué) specifically denotes a mnemonic verse or secret formula passed orally from master to disciple, reinforcing the tradition's roots in oral transmission.
1.2 Military Applications
Historical and semi-legendary accounts credit Sun Bin with using Jin Kou Jue in several famous engagements:
- Battle of Guiling (桂陵之战, 354 BCE) — The strategy of "围魏救赵" (wéi Wèi jiù Zhào / "Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao") is legendarily connected to Sun Bin's divination of the enemy's weak point.
- Battle of Maling (马陵之战, 341 BCE) — The ambush that destroyed Pang Juan's army; tradition holds that Sun Bin selected the time and place through rapid divination.
The system's design reflects battlefield priorities: speed, discretion, and directional clarity . A general needed to know which direction to advance , when to engage , and whether the moment was auspicious — all questions Jin Kou Jue answers directly.
1.3 Relationship to Da Liu Ren (大六壬)
Jin Kou Jue is best understood as a simplified field extraction of the Da Liu Ren system. Where Da Liu Ren constructs a full 式盘 (shì pán / cosmic board) with twelve-position Heavenly and Earthly Plates, Four Lessons, and Three Transmissions, Jin Kou Jue collapses this into a single vertical column of four positions (四位 / sì wèi):
| Feature | 大六壬 (Full) | 金口诀 (Simplified) | 小六壬 (Ultra-Simple) |
|---|
| Positions | 12×2 plates + 4 lessons + 3 transmissions | 4 positions in one column | 6 categorical stations |
| Calculation Time | 15–30 minutes | 2–5 minutes | Under 1 minute |
| Information Depth | Extremely detailed narrative | Focused snapshot with Ke dynamics | Surface-level yes/no |
| Portability | Requires board or paper | Mental / finger calculation | Finger counting only |
| Military Use | Strategic long-term planning | Tactical decisions in the field | Quick binary assessment |
1.4 Transmission Through Daoist Lineages
After the Warring States period, Jin Kou Jue entered the broader stream of Daoist ritual and mantic arts (道教术数). It was transmitted through 茅山派 (Máoshān Pài) Maoshan Daoism, 民间法教 (Mínjiān Fǎjiào) folk religious specialists, and 军事谋士 (Jūnshì Móushì) military advisors through successive dynasties. The primary classical text, 《大六壬金口诀》 , exists in multiple recensions with annotations added during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Module 3: Calculation Method (起课方法 - Qǐ Kè Fāngfǎ)
The step-by-step procedure for constructing a Jin Kou Jue reading. All calculations are anchored in real time — the moment the question is posed determines every variable.
Step 1: Record the Date and Time (记录日时)
Determine the full Ganzhi (干支) date from the Chinese calendar (万年历). The 日干 (Rì Gān / Day Heavenly Stem) is the primary anchor for determining 人元 and 贵神. The 年柱 (Year Pillar), 月柱 (Month Pillar), 日柱 (Day Pillar), and 时柱 (Hour Pillar) must all be noted, though the Day Pillar is most critical.
Step 2: Determine the Yue Jiang (定月将)
Identify the current solar term (节气) and look up the corresponding 月将 (Monthly General). This is a carry-over from Da Liu Ren where the Yue Jiang sets the Heavenly Plate's alignment:
| Solar Term Period | 月将 (Yuè Jiàng) |
|---|
| 雨水 (Yǔshuǐ) → 春分 (Chūnfēn) | 亥 (Hài) |
| 春分 → 谷雨 (Gǔyǔ) | 戌 (Xū) |
| 谷雨 → 小满 (Xiǎomǎn) | 酉 (Yǒu) |
| 小满 → 夏至 (Xiàzhì) | 申 (Shēn) |
| 夏至 → 大暑 (Dàshǔ) | 未 (Wèi) |
| 大暑 → 处暑 (Chǔshǔ) | 午 (Wǔ) |
| 处暑 → 秋分 (Qiūfēn) | 巳 (Sì) |
| 秋分 → 霜降 (Shuāngjiàng) | 辰 (Chén) |
| 霜降 → 小雪 (Xiǎoxuě) | 卯 (Mǎo) |
| 小雪 → 冬至 (Dōngzhì) | 寅 (Yín) |
| 冬至 → 大寒 (Dàhán) | 丑 (Chǒu) |
| 大寒 → 雨水 (Yǔshuǐ) | 子 (Zǐ) |
Step 3: Establish the Di Fen (定地分)
The 地分 (Earth Division) is the starting point of the entire calculation, established by one of several methods:
- Direction method (方位法): The Earthly Branch corresponding to the direction the questioner faces — 子 = North, 午 = South, 卯 = East, 酉 = West.
- Time method (时辰法): Use the current 时辰 (double-hour) directly as the 地分.
- Random method (随机法): A number provided by the questioner, converted to an Earthly Branch (modulo 12).
- External stimulus (外应法): An environmental sign — a sound, a bird's direction — mapped to a Branch.
Step 4: Calculate the Jiang Shen (求将神)
The 将神 (General Spirit) is derived by combining the 月将 and the 地分 . Place the 月将 at the 地分 position on the Twelve Branch circle, then count clockwise to the current hour's Branch. The Branch you land on is the 将神.
Simplified Formula
将神 = 月将 + 时辰 − 地分 (mod 12)
All values expressed as their ordinal position in the Branch sequence (子 = 0 or 子 = 1 depending on convention).
Step 5: Determine the Gui Shen (求贵神)
The 贵神 is found from the 日干 (Day Stem) using the 天乙贵人 (Tiānyǐ Guìrén) formula. The classic mnemonic:
贵人起法歌 (Noble Person Derivation Song)
甲戊庚牛羊 (Jiǎ Wù Gēng Niú Yáng) — 甲, 戊, 庚 → 贵人 at 丑 (Ox) and 未 (Goat)
乙己鼠猴乡 (Yǐ Jǐ Shǔ Hóu Xiāng) — 乙, 己 → 子 (Rat) and 申 (Monkey)
丙丁猪鸡位 (Bǐng Dīng Zhū Jī Wèi) — 丙, 丁 → 亥 (Pig) and 酉 (Rooster)
壬癸兔蛇藏 (Rén Guǐ Tù Shé Cáng) — 壬, 癸 → 卯 (Rabbit) and 巳 (Snake)
六辛逢马虎 (Liù Xīn Féng Mǎ Hǔ) — 辛 → 午 (Horse) and 寅 (Tiger)
Selection between the two options depends on whether the divination is during 昼 (zhòu / daytime) or 夜 (yè / nighttime) hours.
Step 6: Identify the Ren Yuan (定人元)
The 人元 (Human Element) is simply the 日干 (Day Stem) itself. In some traditions it may be modified if the question concerns a specific person other than the questioner, but the standard practice uses the Day Stem directly.
Step 7: Map Five Element Relationships (定五行生克)
Assign the Five Element to each position and read the Ke (克) and Sheng (生) relationships from top to bottom :
- 上克下 (Shàng Kè Xià): Upper controls lower → favorable for the questioner
- 下克上 (Xià Kè Shàng): Lower controls upper → unfavorable; outside forces dominate
- 上生下 (Shàng Shēng Xià): Upper generates lower → energy flows downward; subject gives but may not receive
- 下生上 (Xià Shēng Shàng): Lower generates upper → support rises to the questioner; favorable
Module 4: Interpretation Principles (断课原则 - Duàn Kè Yuánzé)
4.1 The Ke Hierarchy (克的层次)
| Pattern | Chinese | Meaning |
|---|
| 全上克下 | Quán Shàng Kè Xià | Every upper position controls its lower neighbor — extremely auspicious, complete dominance |
| 全下克上 | Quán Xià Kè Shàng | Every lower position controls its upper neighbor — obstruction, danger, external domination |
| 交互克 | Jiāohù Kè | Mixed control directions — nuanced interpretation needed, identify the pivot |
| 三克 | Sān Kè (Three Controls) | Three positions form a controlling chain; the break-point is the key factor |
| 四克 | Sì Kè (Four Controls) | All four positions in continuous control — rare, decisive, extreme outcome |
| 四位比和 | Sì Wèi Bǐ Hé | All same element — cosmic stillness, stalemate, or total alignment |
4.2 Kong Wang — Void Emptiness (空亡)
空亡 is determined from the 旬空 (Xún Kōng) of the Day Pillar's Stem-Branch combination. Each 甲 (Jiǎ) cycle of ten days leaves two Branches "empty":
| 旬 (Cycle) | 空亡 Branches |
|---|
| 甲子旬 | 戌, 亥 |
| 甲戌旬 | 申, 酉 |
| 甲申旬 | 午, 未 |
| 甲午旬 | 辰, 巳 |
| 甲辰旬 | 寅, 卯 |
| 甲寅旬 | 子, 丑 |
Kong Wang Implications
- 将神 or 地分 in Kong Wang: The matter is empty — promises unfulfilled, lost items unrecoverable, visitors will not arrive, plans dissolve.
- 贵神 in Kong Wang: No benefactor or spiritual aid available; authority figures are absent or ineffective.
- Kong Wang can override otherwise positive Ke patterns — one of the most critical factors in judgment.
4.3 Wu Dong — The Five Movements (五动)
The Five Movements describe the dynamic state of the reading — which position is most "active" (involved in the most Ke relationships or carrying the most prosperous Qi):
| Movement | Chinese | Interpretation |
|---|
| 人动 | Rén Dòng (Human Moves) | The questioner should take initiative |
| 神动 | Shén Dòng (Spirit Moves) | Spiritual or authoritative intervention is the driver |
| 将动 | Jiàng Dòng (General Moves) | The matter itself is changing or in transit |
| 方动 | Fāng Dòng (Direction Moves) | The environment or physical location is the key factor |
| 合动 | Hé Dòng (Combined Movement) | Multiple positions simultaneously active — complex situation |
4.4 Ding Ying — Determining Manifestation Timing (定应)
Jin Kou Jue provides timing through the Branch positions:
- Near timing: The Branch of the 将神 indicates the 时辰 (double-hour) or day of manifestation
- Medium timing: The Branch of the 地分 suggests the month
- Far timing: The Branch in the strongest 旺 position indicates the year
- Ke timing: The event manifests when the controlling element reaches its seasonal peak
断课总诀 (General Judgment Formula)
"旺则速，衰则迟，克则应，冲则动"
"Prosperous means fast, weak means slow, control means manifested, clash means movement."
"上克下兮从外入，下克上兮从内生。比和无克事平常，空亡一见万事空。"
"Upper controls lower: influence from outside. Lower controls upper: challenge from within. Harmonious comparison without control: matters are ordinary. Once Void appears: all things are empty."
4.5 Shen Sha Overlays (神煞 / Shén Shà)
Jin Kou Jue incorporates a subset of the 神煞 (Shén Shà / Spirit Satellites) system from Da Liu Ren. Once the four positions are established, the practitioner checks whether key 神煞 fall on any position to add qualitative color to the elemental analysis. Unlike the structural Ke pattern, Shen Sha provide the character and circumstance of the outcome:
| 神煞 (Shén Shà) | Chinese | Domain | When Present on 将神 or 贵神 |
|---|
| Heavenly Virtue | 天德 (Tiāndé) | Heavenly protection and blessing | Divine protection is active; even negative elemental patterns are mitigated; outcomes guided toward grace |
| Monthly Virtue | 月德 (Yuèdé) | Monthly cycle blessing | Current month's energy supports the matter; especially auspicious for new beginnings, contracts, and marriages |
| Heavenly Joy | 天喜 (Tiānxǐ) | Celebrations and good news | Happy events approaching — weddings, births, promotions, fortuitous encounters with benefactors |
| Post Horse | 驿马 (Yìmǎ) | Movement, travel, transfer, change | Rapid movement is indicated; for travel questions = journey imminent; for military = enemy advancing; for business = goods or people in transit |
| Ornamental Canopy | 华盖 (Huágài) | Spiritual matters, isolation, artistic achievement | Spiritual protection present but may indicate solitude; favorable for religious practice, artistic work, and solitary study; social matters may stagnate |
| Mourning Gate | 丧门 (Sāngmén) | Death, grief, funerals, loss | Bereavement, mourning, or significant loss may be involved in or triggered by the matter; caution in health and safety questions |
| Funeral Guest | 吊客 (Diàokè) | Mourning gatherings, grief visitors | Visits related to death or illness; one who comes with sorrow; grief arriving from outside. Often paired with 丧门 for compounded warning. |
| Robbery Sha | 劫煞 (Jiéshà) | Theft, violence, sudden loss, robbery | Danger of robbery, sudden calamity, or violent disruption; warns: do not carry valuables, avoid unfamiliar routes, postpone travel |
How Shen Sha Qualify the Reading
These Shen Sha do not override the primary elemental analysis — they qualify it. Examples:
- If 上克下 pattern indicates successful recovery of a lost item, but 劫煞 falls on the 将神, the item may be recovered only after a confrontation or payment to whoever took it.
- If 天德 is present alongside any negative Ke pattern, the negative outcome is softened or transformed into a learning experience.
- If 丧门 + 白虎 (White Tiger general) appear together on the 贵神, a health inquiry carries very grave implications — immediate medical attention is advised.
- If 驿马 falls on the 将神 in a relationship question, the other party is literally "on the move" — traveling, relocating, or emotionally unavailable.
Shen Sha function as the final narrative layer painted over the structural Five Element skeleton — revealing how an outcome materializes, not merely whether it does.
Module 5: Practical Applications (实际应用 - Shíjì Yìngyòng)
5.1 Lost Items (失物)
Jin Kou Jue's most celebrated application . The 地分 indicates the direction to search. The 将神's element suggests the material of the lost item. If 将神 is in Kong Wang, the item is unrecoverable. If 上克下 prevails, the owner will recover it; if 下克上 prevails, someone else has taken it.
5.2 Battlefield Decisions (军事决策)
The original purpose. The general asks: "Should we advance?" 上克下 = advance and conquer. 下克上 = retreat. 比和 = hold position. The 驿马 (Post Horse) on the 将神 means the enemy is moving.
5.3 Travel Safety (出行)
The 贵神 represents protectors on the road. If in Kong Wang, one travels without spiritual protection — danger. If the 将神 clashes with the 地分, there will be obstacles en route. 白虎 (White Tiger) on the 贵神 warns of injury or violence.
5.4 Weather Prediction (天气)
Water elements dominating the upper positions = rain coming down. Fire rising = clear, hot weather. The 将神 as 子 (Water) with 贵神 as 玄武 (Dark Warrior) = heavy rain. Metal generating Water = rain after a cool wind.
5.5 Business Timing (商业)
上克下 = the investor or buyer has the advantage. 下克上 = the market or counterparty dominates. 比和 = fair deal, neither side gains much. The 地分 represents market conditions; the 人元 represents the questioner's resources. 朱雀 (Vermilion Bird) as 贵神 is ideal for contracts and negotiations.
5.6 Relationship Questions (感情)
The 人元 represents the questioner; the 地分 represents the partner. 人元 generating 地分 = the questioner gives more. 地分 generating 人元 = the partner is devoted. Mutual Ke = conflict. 六合 (Six Harmony) as 贵神 = favorable for union.
Module 6: Case Studies (案例分析 - Ànlì Fēnxī)
The following case studies demonstrate Jin Kou Jue's application across different domains, from classical military legend to modern everyday questions.
Case 1: Sun Bin's Legendary Battlefield Divination (孙膑阵前占)
Context: Before the Battle of Maling (马陵之战, 341 BCE), Sun Bin performs Jin Kou Jue at the 寅 (Yín) hour.
| Position | Value | Element |
|---|
| 人元 | 壬 (Rén) | 水 Water |
| 贵神 | 螣蛇 (Téngshé) | 火 Fire |
| 将神 | 申 (Shēn) | 金 Metal |
| 地分 | 卯 (Mǎo) | 木 Wood |
Analysis: 人元 Water controls 贵神 Fire (上克下 ✓). 贵神 Fire controls 将神 Metal (上克下 ✓). 将神 Metal controls 地分 Wood (上克下 ✓). 全上克下 — total dominance from above. The questioner's side (State of Qi 齐) will utterly defeat the enemy.
螣蛇 (Soaring Serpent) as 贵神 indicates ambush, deception, winding paths — consistent with the historical account of the Maling ambush in a narrow road.
Outcome: The state of Qi annihilated Pang Juan's army. Sun Bin's strategy succeeded completely. ✓
Case 2: Lost Jade Pendant (失玉佩)
Context: A woman loses a jade pendant. She asks at the 午 (Wǔ) hour, facing North. Date: 甲子 (Jiǎzǐ) day, 月将 = 亥 (Hài).
| Position | Value | Element |
|---|
| 人元 | 甲 (Jiǎ) | 木 Wood |
| 贵神 | 六合 (Liùhé) | 木 Wood |
| 将神 | 巳 (Sì) | 火 Fire |
| 地分 | 子 (Zǐ) | 水 Water |
Analysis: 人元 Wood generates 将神 Fire — energy flows toward the item. 地分 is 子 (Water, North), indicating the direction to search. 将神 巳 is not in 空亡 for 甲子旬 (空亡 = 戌亥), so the item exists and can be found .
Outcome: The pendant was found in a drawer on the north side of the bedroom, within the 巳 (Sì) hour of the following day. ✓
Case 3: Business Acquisition Success (商业交易成功)
Context: An entrepreneur asks about acquiring a competitor's inventory. 丙寅 (Bǐngyín) day, 未 (Wèi) hour.
| Position | Value | Element |
|---|
| 人元 | 丙 (Bǐng) | 火 Fire |
| 贵神 | 朱雀 (Zhūquè) | 火 Fire |
| 将神 | 戌 (Xū) | 土 Earth |
| 地分 | 申 (Shēn) | 金 Metal |
Analysis: The entire column flows downward in a generating chain : Fire → Fire → Earth → Metal. 人元 Fire and 贵神 Fire = 比和 (strong mutual support). Fire generates Earth (上生下). Earth generates Metal (上生下). The questioner is empowered by 朱雀 (Vermilion Bird), which governs documents, contracts, and negotiations — ideal for a business acquisition.
Judgment: The deal will succeed. Finalize the contract during a 戌 (Xū) day or hour for optimal timing.
Outcome: The acquisition was completed successfully at favorable terms. ✓
Case 4: Missing Person — Directional Analysis (寻人)
Context: A family asks about a missing teenager. 辛未 (Xīnwèi) day, 亥 (Hài) hour, the family faces East.
| Position | Value | Element |
|---|
| 人元 | 辛 (Xīn) | 金 Metal |
| 贵神 | 太阴 (Tàiyīn) | 金 Metal |
| 将神 | 丑 (Chǒu) | 土 Earth |
| 地分 | 卯 (Mǎo) | 木 Wood |
Analysis: 人元 Metal controls 地分 Wood (金克木). 太阴 (Great Yin) as 贵神 suggests the person is hidden, concealed, possibly in a secretive place . 丑 (Ox) corresponds to the northeast direction. Checking 空亡 for 甲午旬: 空亡 = 辰巳 — neither 将神 丑 nor 地分 卯 is void, meaning the person is alive and findable .
Judgment: Search to the northeast . The person is in a concealed location but alive.
Outcome: The teenager was found at a friend's house in the northeast district of the city. ✓
Case 5: Comparative Analysis — Jin Kou Jue vs. Da Liu Ren (对比案例)
Question: Will a business partnership succeed? Asked on a 丙戌 (Bǐngxū) day, 酉 (Yǒu) hour.
| Position | Value | Element |
|---|
| 人元 | 丙 (Bǐng) | 火 Fire |
| 贵神 | 螣蛇 (Téngshé) | 火 Fire |
| 将神 | 未 (Wèi) | 土 Earth |
| 地分 | 酉 (Yǒu) | 金 Metal |
Jin Kou Jue Verdict: Fire → Fire → Earth → Metal = smooth downward generating chain. 螣蛇 adds a note of deception or hidden complexity , but the structural flow is positive. Partnership will succeed, but watch for hidden agendas.
Da Liu Ren Verdict (abbreviated): The full Da Liu Ren reading reveals a 返吟 (Fǎn Yín / Counter-chant) pattern — the partnership begins and appears to succeed, but faces a major disruption mid-course and ultimately returns to square one (the partnership dissolves or resets).
Key Insight: Jin Kou Jue provides a quick, positive snapshot with a cautionary note. Da Liu Ren reveals the temporal arc — showing the process rather than just the initial momentum. This illustrates the core tradeoff: Jin Kou Jue sacrifices temporal depth for speed; Da Liu Ren sacrifices speed for narrative completeness. The two methods complement rather than contradict.
Case 6: Travel Delay Advised (出行宜缓 Chūxíng Yí Huǎn)
Context: A merchant asks whether to depart on a trading journey. 己巳 (Jǐsì) day, 辰 (Chén) hour.
| Position | Value | Element |
|---|
| 人元 | 己 (Jǐ) | 土 Earth |
| 贵神 | 天空 (Tiānkōng — Heavenly Void) | 土 Earth |
| 将神 | 酉 (Yǒu) | 金 Metal |
| 地分 | 寅 (Yín) | 木 Wood |
Analysis: 人元 Earth and 贵神 Earth = 比和 (stasis at the top). 贵神 generates 将神 Metal; 将神 Metal controls 地分 Wood. However, 天空 (Heavenly Void) as 贵神 carries inherent void symbolism — promises are unreliable, the path is empty.
Judgment: Delay the journey. The Void spirit suggests business partners' promises are unreliable. Wait for a day when 贵神 carries a more substantial general.
Outcome: The merchant delayed and later learned that bandits had been active on the planned route that week. ✓
Case 7: Weather Prediction for Agriculture (农业气象占 Nóngyè Qìxiàng Zhān)
Context: A farmer asks whether rain will come before planting season ends. 壬辰 (Rénchén) day, 卯 (Mǎo) hour.
| Position | Value | Element |
|---|
| 人元 | 壬 (Rén) | 水 Water |
| 贵神 | 玄武 (Xuánwǔ) | 水 Water |
| 将神 | 子 (Zǐ) | 水 Water |
| 地分 | 亥 (Hài) | 水 Water |
Analysis: 四位比和 (Sì Wèi Bǐ Hé) — All four positions are Water. This is the most extreme Water reading possible. 玄武 (Dark Warrior) governs rain, floods, and hidden currents.
Judgment: Rain is certain and will be heavy — possibly excessive. Prepare for potential flooding rather than drought. Drainage channels should be cleared.
Outcome: Heavy rains arrived within two days, continuing for a week. Fields with poor drainage were waterlogged. ✓
Case 8: Illness Inquiry (疾病占 Jíbìng Zhān)
Context: A man asks about his persistent stomach ailment. 戊申 (Wùshēn) day, 巳 (Sì) hour.
| Position | Value | Element |
|---|
| 人元 | 戊 (Wù) | 土 Earth |
| 贵神 | 白虎 (Báihǔ — White Tiger) | 金 Metal |
| 将神 | 午 (Wǔ) | 火 Fire |
| 地分 | 辰 (Chén) | 土 Earth |
Analysis: 人元 Earth (the patient) is drained by 贵神 Metal (Earth generates Metal = 泄). 白虎 (White Tiger) is the primary star of illness, injury, surgery, and pain . 将神 Fire generates 人元 Earth (下生上) — the illness root is excess Fire stimulating Earth (the digestive system; 脾胃 / Spleen-Stomach in TCM). The problem: Fire-Earth excess = inflammation (火旺) .
Judgment: The illness stems from excess Fire affecting the Spleen-Stomach. Treatment should cool the Fire and support Metal (Lung, descending function). Recovery expected when a Metal-dominant period arrives.
Case 9: Will the Visitor Arrive? (来人占 Lái Rén Zhān)
Context: A woman waits for a friend who promised to visit. 癸卯 (Guǐmǎo) day, 申 (Shēn) hour.
| Position | Value | Element |
|---|
| 人元 | 癸 (Guǐ) | 水 Water |
| 贵神 | 天后 (Tiānhòu — Heavenly Empress) | 水 Water |
| 将神 | 巳 (Sì) | 火 Fire |
| 地分 | 午 (Wǔ) | 火 Fire |
Analysis: 将神 and 地分 are both Fire = 比和 at the lower level, suggesting the visitor is settled where they are (no movement energy). 人元 Water controls 将神/地分 Fire (上克下) — the questioner desires the visit more than the visitor desires to come. 天后 (Heavenly Empress) as 贵神 = a female connection. Neither lower position is in 空亡 — the visitor exists and intends to come, but Fire positions in 比和 = delay .
Judgment: The friend will come, but late. Expect arrival during the 戌 (Xū) hour when Fire's energy settles and movement resumes.
Outcome: The friend arrived approximately two hours late, during the early 戌 hour. ✓
Case 10: Modern Application — Job Interview (面试占 Miànshì Zhān)
Context: A university graduate asks about an upcoming job interview. 甲午 (Jiǎwǔ) day, 卯 (Mǎo) hour.
| Position | Value | Element |
|---|
| 人元 | 甲 (Jiǎ) | 木 Wood |
| 贵神 | 青龙 (Qīnglóng — Azure Dragon) | 木 Wood |
| 将神 | 寅 (Yín) | 木 Wood |
| 地分 | 卯 (Mǎo) | 木 Wood |
Analysis: Four positions, all Wood — 四位比和 . 青龙 (Azure Dragon) is the star of growth, promotion, prosperity, and new beginnings. The questioner is surrounded by their own element, fully empowered. However, 比和 also means competition — many candidates of equal caliber, with no Ke relationship to "conquer" the position.
Judgment: The interview will go well (Azure Dragon = charisma, confidence). The outcome depends on competition with others of similar caliber. If the questioner has a slight edge, they will prevail; if purely merit-based among equals, the result is uncertain.
Outcome: The graduate was shortlisted (top 3) but received the offer after a second-round interview — consistent with "competitive stalemate resolved by a tiebreaker." ✓
🛠️ Connection to Liuren Fajiao
Jin Kou Jue (金口诀) is not merely related to Da Liu Ren — it is a direct sub-system of the Liu Ren tradition. For the Liuren practitioner, it functions as a rapid-access divination method that can be deployed when the full Da Liu Ren procedure is impractical, while retaining the same cosmological vocabulary: the Twelve Heavenly Generals (十二天将), the Yue Jiang (月将) system, Five Element Ke dynamics, and Kong Wang (空亡) voidness theory.
Practical Integration Points
- Quick-Access Oracle (速占): When a Liuren practitioner encounters an urgent situation — a client's question during a ritual, a sudden need for directional guidance, or a time-sensitive decision — Jin Kou Jue provides a Da Liu Ren-quality answer in minutes rather than the 15–30 minutes required for the full cosmic board.
- Training Ground for Da Liu Ren: For students building toward full Da Liu Ren mastery, Jin Kou Jue teaches the essential mechanics of 月将 calculation, 贵人 derivation, and Five Element Ke dynamics in a simplified four-position context before tackling the twelve-position plates.
- Shared Twelve Generals (十二天将): The same Heavenly Generals — Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, Dark Warrior, and the others — appear in both Jin Kou Jue and Da Liu Ren, as well as in Liuren altar work. Proficiency in reading them within Jin Kou Jue directly enhances a practitioner's ritual understanding.
- Cross-Validation Method: Jin Kou Jue can be used alongside BaZi (八字), Feng Shui (风水), or Qi Men Dun Jia (奇门遁甲) to cross-validate readings. When multiple systems converge on the same conclusion, confidence in the judgment is greatly enhanced.
- Field Portability: Whether performing outdoor rituals (安土地, earth deity ceremonies), conducting on-site Feng Shui assessments, or traveling to a client's location, Jin Kou Jue requires no tools — only the practitioner's mind and fingers. This makes it the ideal companion method for itinerant Liuren masters.
Within the Liuren lineage, Jin Kou Jue embodies Sun Bin's original vision: the strategist's oracle, designed for clarity under pressure, delivering heaven's judgment through a golden mouth . It is the bridge between the ultra-simple Xiao Liu Ren (小六壬) and the full cosmic narrative of Da Liu Ren (大六壬) — preserving cosmological sophistication in a form that fits on the tip of a finger.
Key Texts & Classical Sources (重要文献 - Zhòngyào Wénxiàn)
Classical Texts (经典著作)
| Text (著作) | Chinese | Period | Significance |
|---|
| Da Liu Ren Jin Kou Jue | 《大六壬金口诀》 | Attributed to Warring States; extant versions from Song–Ming | The foundational text; multiple recensions (版本) exist across dynasties. Definitive source for the four-position method and all classical formulas. |
| Jin Kou Jue Shu | 《金口诀疏》 | Ming Dynasty | Commentary and expansion of the original formulas; annotates the classical verses with worked examples from Ming-era practice. |
| Liu Ren Da Quan | 《六壬大全》 | Ming Dynasty (attributed to 郭御青 Guō Yùqīng) | Comprehensive Da Liu Ren encyclopedia that includes dedicated Jin Kou Jue sections alongside the full cosmic board system. Essential for understanding the relationship between the two methods. |
| Da Liu Ren Zhi Nan | 《大六壬指南》 | Qing Dynasty | Practical guide with worked examples; particularly valued for clear exposition of the Yue Jiang calculation and Kong Wang analysis with historical cases. |
Modern References (现代参考书)
- 陈剑 (Chén Jiàn) — 《金口预言》(Jīn Kǒu Yùyán) — Modern systematic treatment with extensive case studies; considered the most accessible contemporary introduction to Jin Kou Jue.
- 姜智元 (Jiāng Zhìyuán) — 《金口诀预测学》(Jīn Kǒu Jué Yùcè Xué) — Textbook-style presentation for students, emphasizing step-by-step calculation methodology and modern applications.
- 朱颐 (Zhū Yí) — 《金口诀实战详解》(Jīn Kǒu Jué Shízhàn Xiángjiě) — Practical application with contemporary case studies covering career, investment, health, and relationship questions.
- 元亨利贞网 (Yuán Hēng Lì Zhēn Wǎng) — The most active Chinese metaphysics online forum, with dedicated Jin Kou Jue discussion sections where modern practitioners share and verify cases.
月将歌 (Yuè Jiàng Gē) — Monthly General Mnemonic Song
The traditional verse for memorizing Monthly General (月将) assignments by solar term month — a foundational mnemonic for all 月将-based systems including Jin Kou Jue and Da Liu Ren:
正月将亥二月戌，三月酉兮四月申，
五月未兮六月午，七月巳兮八月辰，
九月卯兮十月寅，冬月丑兮腊月子。
"The 1st month's general is Hài, 2nd is Xū, 3rd is Yǒu, 4th is Shēn; 5th is Wèi, 6th is Wǔ, 7th is Sì, 8th is Chén; 9th is Mǎo, 10th is Yín, 11th (winter) is Chǒu, 12th (lunar year-end) is Zǐ."
Note: "Month" here refers to the solar term month (节气月 jiéqì yuè), not the lunar calendar month. The first month begins at 雨水 (Yǔshuǐ / Rain Water) , not at Chinese New Year. Cross-reference with the Yue Jiang table in Module 3.