1. Legendary Foundations: Li Chunfeng (李淳風)
The term "Liuren" (六壬) itself predates Li Chunfeng, with its earliest mentions found in ancient Chinese texts such as the Huangdi Longshou Jing (黄帝龙首经) and Wu Yue Chun Qiu (吴越春秋). Legend recounts that Jiutian Xuan Nü (九天玄女) imparted the art of Liuren divination to the Yellow Emperor. Over time, core concepts like the "Twelve Monthly Generals" (十二月將) from these early systems were integrated and further developed within Daoist talismanic schools, particularly during the Song and Yuan dynasties, evolving into various magical and ritual practices.
transmitted them to three of his sons, who then founded the three primary branches. The third son, by tradition, assisted Liuren Xianshi in celestial affairs. The branches are commonly attributed as:- Fenghuo Academy (風火院) - Attributed to the eldest son.
- Qunying Hall (群英館) - Attributed to the second son.
- Fuying Hall (伏英舘) - Attributed to the fourth son.
相傳六壬教法由唐代著名天文學家、道教大師 李淳風 所創。傳說祂在晚年隱居山林後，將「三式」宇宙法則傳予三子，分別創立了三大分支：
- 風火院 - 長子創立。
- 群英館 - 次子創立。
- 伏英館 - 三子創立。
While tradition strongly links Li Chunfeng to the founding of Liuren, historical verification presents complexities. Scholarly discourse notes a significant temporal gap between the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and the emergence of the "Southern Transmitted Liuren Fa" (南传六壬法) post-Qing Dynasty. This has led some researchers to suggest that Li Chunfeng's mastery of "Liuren" primarily referred to an advanced system of divination and calendrical arts, distinct from the developed ritual magic system that later bore the same name. The tradition largely relies on oral transmission and hagiography, making definitive historical traceability challenging.
