I. Twelve Stages of Life

1.2.3.1: Methods of Applying Birth, Peak, Tomb, and Extinction

We already know some of the symbolic meanings of Birth, Peak, Tomb, and Extinction. When using I Ching Divination, how should we apply them in actual practice?

First, we need to understand the following concepts:

• a line can encounter Birth, Peak, Tomb, or Extinction through the daily branch
• a line can encounter Birth, Peak, Tomb, or Extinction through an active line
• a line can encounter Birth, Peak, Tomb, or Extinction through a transforming line

Note:

It is enough just to know that this concept exists.

Generation amidst extinction:

When a hexagram line encounters a place of death, if there is another nearby line that comes to generate it, then this is regarded as false death, and is called “generation amidst extinction.”

The image of death:

It carries the meanings of death, getting stuck in a dead end, inflexibility, inability to adapt, stagnation, termination, being finished, rigidly clinging to one view, going down one road all the way to the end, having no room left, downturn, lack of vitality, lifelessness, dullness, clumsiness, being unable to let go, narrow-mindedness, having no way out, silence, stillness, and fearfulness.

Transforming into a place of death:

Metal (J and K) transform into A water.
Fire (F and G) transform into K metal.
Wood (C and D) transform into G fire.
Earth (E, H, L, B) and Water (M and A) transform into D wood.