Qi Men Dun Jia (奇門遁甲) / 奇門遁甲的歷史演變

Tracing the Origins and Development of the Mysterious Gate, Hidden Jia

Introduction / 引言

Qi Men Dun Jia (奇門遁甲), often translated as "Mysterious Gates, Hidden Jia," is one of the most revered and complex metaphysical systems in ancient China. It is counted among the "Three Styles" (三式 - San Shi), alongside Da Liu Ren (大六壬) and Tai Yi Shen Shu (太乙神數), signifying its profound depth and predictive power. This ancient art blends astronomy, calendar science, military strategy, and Daoist philosophy to calculate the most auspicious timing and direction for any endeavor, from warfare to personal development. Its long history is interwoven with legend, imperial intrigue, and the wisdom of some of China's most celebrated strategists.

奇門遁甲，常譯為「奇門遁甲」，是中國古代最受尊崇和複雜的玄學系統之一。它與大六壬、太乙神數並稱為「三式」，象徵其深奧的內涵和預測能力。這門古老藝術融合了天文學、曆法學、軍事戰略和道家哲學，旨在計算任何行動（從戰爭到個人發展）最吉利的時間和方向。其悠久的歷史與傳說、帝國陰謀以及中國一些最著名的戰略家的智慧交織在一起。

Legendary Origins: The Yellow Emperor and Jiutian Xuan Nü / 傳奇起源：黃帝與九天玄女

The mythical genesis of Qi Men Dun Jia dates back to the era of the Yellow Emperor (黃帝 - Huang Di), around 2600 BCE. According to legend, during his prolonged and difficult war against the rebel chieftain Chiyou (蚩尤), the Yellow Emperor found himself at a disadvantage. It was then that Jiutian Xuan Nü (九天玄女 - The Mystical Lady of the Ninth Heaven) descended from the heavens to transmit to him the sacred texts of Tai Yi, Liu Ren, and Dun Jia, along with the He Tu (河圖) and Luo Shu (洛書).

Armed with this divine knowledge, Huang Di was able to predict Chiyou's movements, strategize effectively, and even invent the South-pointing Chariot to navigate the misty battlefield, ultimately leading to his victory. Following the triumph, Huang Di commanded his minister Feng Hou (風后) to systematize these celestial insights into the "Three Styles" methods, which initially comprised an astounding 1080 "Jus" (局 - arrangements or charts) of Dun Jia.

奇門遁甲的神話起源可追溯至約公元前2600年的黃帝時代。傳說在黃帝與叛亂首領蚩尤的漫長而艱苦的戰爭中，黃帝處於劣勢。此時，九天玄女降臨凡間，向他傳授了太乙、六壬和遁甲之書，以及河圖洛書。

黃帝憑藉這些神聖知識，得以預測蚩尤的動向，有效地制定戰略，甚至發明了指南車以穿越迷霧瀰漫的戰場，最終取得了勝利。戰勝後，黃帝命令其臣子風后將這些天機系統化為「三式」之法，最初遁甲術共有1080局。

Historical Evolution: Name Changes and Simplifications / 歷史演變：名稱更迭與精煉

The long history of Qi Men Dun Jia saw its name and complexity evolve through various dynasties:

  • Zhou-Qin Periods (c. 11th Century BCE – 206 BCE): The art was referred to as "Yin Fu" (陰符 - Hidden Talismans).
  • Han-Wei Periods (206 BCE – 265 CE): It was known as "Liu Jia" (六甲 - Six Jia).
  • Wei-Jin, Tang-Song Periods (220 CE – 1279 CE): The term "Dun Jia" (遁甲 - Hidden Jia) became prevalent.
  • Ming-Qing Periods (1368 CE – 1912 CE): The system finally received its full and formal name, "Qi Men Dun Jia."

The complexity of the original 1080 Jus (arrangements) proved impractical for consistent application. Legends credit two pivotal figures with its simplification:

  • Jiang Ziya (姜子牙): During the Zhou Dynasty, the legendary strategist Jiang Ziya (c. 11th Century BCE) is said to have simplified the system from 1080 Jus to 72 Jus, marking a significant reform. He utilized QMDJ to assist King Wu in establishing the Zhou Dynasty.
  • Zhang Liang (張良): In the early Han Dynasty (c. 3rd Century BCE), the brilliant strategist Zhang Liang, who aided Liu Bang in founding the Han Dynasty, further refined QMDJ to 18 Jus (陰陽十八局 - Yin-Yang 18 Jus), making it more adaptable for strategic deployment. He was renowned for employing techniques such as "Tian Dun" (天遁 - Heaven's Escape) and "Di Dun" (地遁 - Earth's Escape).

The systematic evolution of Qi Men Dun Jia is famously recounted in the classic text, Yan Bo Diao Sou Ge (烟波釣叟歌 - Song of the Fisherman in the Misty Waves).

奇門遁甲的漫長歷史見證了其名稱和複雜性在不同朝代中的演變：

  • 周秦時期（約公元前11世紀 – 公元前206年）：此術稱為「陰符」。
  • 漢魏時期（公元前206年 – 公元265年）：被稱為「六甲」。
  • 魏晉、唐宋時期（公元220年 – 公元1279年）：「遁甲」一詞盛行。
  • 明清時期（公元1368年 – 公元1912年）：該系統最終獲得了其完整和正式的名稱「奇門遁甲」。

最初的1080局（盤式）過於複雜，難以實際應用。傳說兩位關鍵人物對其進行了精煉：

  • 姜子牙：周朝（約公元前11世紀）傳奇戰略家姜子牙，據說將系統從1080局精簡為72局，標誌著一次重大改革。他運用奇門遁甲輔佐周武王建立了周朝。
  • 張良：漢初（約公元前3世紀），傑出戰略家張良，輔佐劉邦建立了漢朝，他將奇門遁甲進一步精簡為陰陽十八局，使其更適用於戰略部署。他以運用「天遁」、「地遁」等術法而聞名。

奇門遁甲的系統性演變在經典著作《煙波釣叟歌》中被詳細記載。

Renowned Practitioners and Their Legacy / 著名實踐者及其傳承

Throughout Chinese history, numerous strategists, military advisors, and Daoist masters were renowned for their mastery of Qi Men Dun Jia, employing its principles to influence pivotal historical events:

  • Gui Guzi (鬼谷子 - Master of Ghost Valley): A legendary figure from the Warring States period, teacher of famous strategists like Pang Juan, Sun Bin, Su Qin, and Zhang Yi. He is considered a master of Daoist esoteric arts and military strategy, with QMDJ often associated with his teachings.
  • Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮): The preeminent strategist of the Three Kingdoms period. His legendary exploits, such as "borrowing the east wind" to launch a fire attack at the Battle of Red Cliffs and his attempt to "borrow lifespan" using a seven-star lamp ritual, are often attributed to his profound knowledge of Qi Men Dun Jia.
  • Yuan Tiangang (袁天罡): A celebrated Daoist and astrologer of the Tang Dynasty, known for his accurate prophecies, including the rise of Empress Wu Zetian. His mastery extended to various esoteric arts, including QMDJ.
  • Liu Bowen (劉伯溫): A key advisor to the Ming Dynasty founder Zhu Yuanzhang. Liu Bowen is famed for his military acumen and extensive use of Qi Men Dun Jia and other divinatory arts to secure victory and establish the Ming empire.

在中國歷史上，眾多戰略家、軍事顧問和道家大師都因精通奇門遁甲而聞名，他們運用其原理影響了關鍵的歷史事件：

  • 鬼谷子：戰國時期的傳奇人物，是龐涓、孫臏、蘇秦、張儀等著名戰略家的老師。他被視為道家玄學和兵法戰略的大師，奇門遁甲常與其教義聯繫在一起。
  • 諸葛亮：三國時期最傑出的戰略家。他傳奇般的功績，例如赤壁之戰中「借東風」實施火攻，以及他試圖用七星燈續命的嘗試，常被歸因於他對奇門遁甲的深刻理解。
  • 袁天罡：唐代著名的道士和占卜家，以其準確的預言而聞名，包括武則天的崛起。他精通各種玄學，包括奇門遁甲。
  • 劉伯溫：明朝開國皇帝朱元璋的重要謀士。劉伯溫以其軍事才能和廣泛運用奇門遁甲及其他占卜術來確保勝利並建立明朝而聞名。

Key Classical Texts and Early References / 關鍵經典著作與早期參考

The lineage of Qi Men Dun Jia is preserved and transmitted through a series of influential classical texts:

  • Yan Bo Diao Sou Ge (烟波釣叟歌 - Song of the Fisherman in the Misty Waves): This poetic text is considered the fundamental outline and general compendium of Qi Men Dun Jia, detailing its principles, structure, and historical evolution from its mythical origins.
  • Qi Men Dun Jia Quan Shu (奇門遁甲全書) & Qi Men Dun Jia Tong Zong Da Quan (奇門遁甲統宗大全): These comprehensive Ming/Qing Dynasty compilations collect a vast array of theories, methods, and practical applications of Qi Men Dun Jia, serving as indispensable reference works for practitioners.
  • Jin Han Yu Jing Qi Men Dun Jia (金函玉鏡奇門遁甲): Another significant classical text that contributes to the theoretical depth and practical methodologies of the system.

Early textual references also shed light on the antiquity and widespread nature of Dun Jia arts:

  • Baopuzi (抱朴子) by Ge Hong (葛洪): This influential Daoist text from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (c. 4th Century CE) mentions "Dun Jia Shu" (遁甲書) in over sixty volumes, indicating that the art of Dun Jia was already well-developed and widely circulated by his time.
  • Yin Fu Jing (陰符經 - Classic of the Hidden Talisman): Some scholars consider this enigmatic text as a foundational "divine classic" (遁甲神經) for Dun Jia, hinting at its philosophical and spiritual underpinnings.

奇門遁甲的傳承透過一系列有影響力的經典著作得以保存和流傳：

  • 《煙波釣叟歌》：這部詩歌體文本被視為奇門遁甲的基本綱領和總綱，詳細闡述了其原理、結構和從神話起源到歷史演變的過程。
  • 《奇門遁甲全書》與《奇門遁甲統宗大全》：這些明清時期的綜合性匯編收集了奇門遁甲的大量理論、方法和實際應用，是實踐者不可或缺的參考著作。
  • 《金函玉鏡奇門遁甲》：另一部重要的經典著作，為該系統的理論深度和實踐方法做出了貢獻。

早期文獻參考也揭示了遁甲術的古老性和廣泛性：

  • 葛洪《抱朴子》：這部東晉（約公元4世紀）有影響力的道家著作提及了六十餘卷的「遁甲書」，表明遁甲術在當時已經發展成熟並廣為流傳。
  • 《陰符經》：一些學者將這部神秘的文本視為遁甲術的基礎「遁甲神經」，暗示了其哲學和精神基礎。