Chapter Three: A Deep Analysis of the Temporal Dimension

"Time" is the soul of Qimen Dunjia. The treatment of time in the Life Chart and the Hourly Chart embodies the dialectical relationship between "the Innate" (xiantian) and "the Acquired" (houtian), between "destiny" (dingshu) and "contingency" (bianshu), in traditional Chinese philosophy.

3.1 The Life Chart: The "Folding" and "Unfolding" of Time

Although the Life Chart is a slice taken at the moment of birth, it contains an entire lifetime folded within it. When analyzing the Lifelong Chart, the Annual Progression Method (liunian fa) is typically used to unfold time.

• Grand Cycles and Annual Progressions: Similar to the system of Bazi (Four Pillars of Destiny), the Qimen Life Chart can also have Grand Cycles (Da Yun) mapped out. Typically, one palace governs ten years (or as determined by the Ju number), progressing in forward or reverse order.
• Annual and Monthly Progressions: The Stem-Branch of each year enters the Life Chart and produces effects.
  • For instance, suppose this year is a Bing-Wu year. We examine where "Bing" falls in the Life Chart and where "Wu" falls.
  • If "Bing" in the Life Chart falls in a palace attended by the Gate of Death and the White Tiger, and is further stirred by the Grand Duke (Tai Sui) of the current year, then the chart subject is likely to encounter calamity that year.
• Principle: The Life Chart is like a precision circuit board covered with switches (symbols). The annual progression is like an electric current: wherever it flows, it illuminates the lamp at that point (triggering an event).

3.2 The Hourly Chart: The "Focus" of Time and the "Response Period"

The Hourly Chart is concerned with the present moment. Its temporal axis is exceedingly short. When analyzing the Hourly Chart, we focus on the Response Period (yingqi) -- when will the event occur$4

• Determining the Response Period: Through the information on the chart face, one infers the specific point in time (year, month, day, or hour) at which the event will manifest.
• The Method of Clashing and Combining: The day on which the Duty Gate's palace is clashed, or the day on which a combination is formed, is often the Response Period.
• The Method of the Travelling Horse Star (Ma Xing): When the Horse Star is activated, the matter is set in motion.
• Principle: The Hourly Chart is like a blip on a radar screen. By calculating the speed and direction of the blip's movement, we predict when it will strike its target.