The Four Classes (四课, Sì Kè) in Da Liu Ren Divination

Overview

Da Liu Ren (大六壬, literally "Great Six Ren") stands as one of China’s three classical divination systems alongside Qi Men Dun Jia (奇门遁甲) and Tai Yi Shen Shu (太乙神数). At the heart of every Da Liu Ren chart lies the Four Classes (四课, Sì Kè)—a sophisticated four-layered structure that captures the immediate energetic relationship between the querent, the matter in question, and the cosmic environment. Unlike simpler oracle systems, Da Liu Ren constructs a multidimensional map using the Heaven Plate (天盘, Tiān Pán) and Earth Plate (地盘, Dì Pán) to derive these classes, which then serve as the foundation for extracting the Three Transmissions (三传, Sān Chuán)—the temporal progression of events. The Four Classes represent the static structural essence (体, Tǐ) of a situation, revealing both manifest circumstances and latent potentials before dynamic movement is analyzed.

Key Concepts

Before one can construct or interpret the Four Classes, several foundational metaphysical components must be understood:

• Heaven Plate (天盘, Tiān Pán) and Earth Plate (地盘, Dì Pán): The Earth Plate is a fixed circular arrangement of the twelve Earthly Branches (十二地支, Shí Èr Dì Zhī) representing spatial orientation and temporal foundation. The Heaven Plate is a rotating layer placed atop the Earth Plate, offset according to the Month General (月将, Yuè Jiàng)—the solar term position of the sun. This dual-plate system creates a matrix of energetic interactions where each Earth Plate position is "covered" or "governed" by a Heaven Plate deity.
• Stem Lodging (寄宫, Jì Gōng): Since the Heaven Plate moves while the Ten Heavenly Stems (十天干, Shí Tiān Gān) require fixed positions, five of the stems must "lodge" (寄, Jì) within the Earth Plate branches. This follows the principle that Wu (戊) and Ji (己) Earth stems lodge with Fire (Si 巳 and Wu 午 respectively), while the others lodge with their native elements: Jia (甲) and Yi (乙) with Wood (Yin 寅 and Mao 卯), Bing (丙) and Ding (丁) with Fire (Si 巳 and Wu 午), Geng (庚) and Xin (辛) with Metal (Shen 申 and You 酉), and Ren (壬) and Gui (癸) with Water (Hai 亥 and Zi 子).
• Upper Spirits (上神, Shàng Shén): In Da Liu Ren terminology, the branch appearing on the Heaven Plate directly above any Earth Plate position is called the "Upper Spirit" or "Deity Above." These spirits represent active, heavenly influences acting upon earthly foundations.
• Chen (辰) as Day Branch: Uniquely in this system, the Day Branch (日支, Rì Zhī)—the earthly branch of the day pillar in the Chinese calendar—is referred to as "Chen" (辰), representing the body (身, Shēn), object, or environmental foundation of the inquiry, distinct from the Day Stem (日干, Rì Gān) which represents the self or querent.

How to Construct the Four Classes

The Four Classes are derived through a recursive mapping process that examines how the Day Stem and Day Branch relate to the Heaven-Earth plate matrix. Think of this as creating a "stack" of energetic influences: the first two classes reveal immediate surface conditions, while the second two reveal deeper, hidden substrates.

The Four Layers Explained

1. First Class: Day Upper Spirit (日上神, Rì Shàng Shén)
   This represents the immediate energetic environment surrounding the querent (the Day Stem). To find it, locate where the Day Stem lodges (寄宫) on the Earth Plate, then identify which branch sits above it on the Heaven Plate. This class reveals the querent's current state, resources, and immediate challenges.
2. Second Class: Branch Upper Spirit (辰上神, Chén Shàng Shén) or (支上神, Zhī Shàng Shén)
   This represents the condition of the matter asked about, the environment, or the "other party." Since the Day Branch (Chen) always occupies its own name-position on the Earth Plate (Zi on Zi, Chou on Chou, etc.), one simply looks at which Heaven Plate branch sits directly above the Day Branch’s Earth position. This shows the external circumstances acting upon the situation.
3. Third Class: Day Yang (日阳, Rì Yáng)
   This reveals the deeper, underlying motivation or hidden potential within the querent. To derive this, take the branch found in the First Class (日上神), find its position on the Earth Plate, and identify what Heaven Plate branch sits above that position. Yang represents the active, outward-moving, or masculine aspect of the situation—often what the querent consciously desires or projects.
4. Fourth Class: Day Yin (日阴, Rì Yīn)
   This exposes the hidden substrate of the environment or the unconscious aspects of the matter. Take the branch found in the Second Class (辰上神), locate it on the Earth Plate, and identify the Heaven Plate branch above it. Yin represents the passive, receptive, or feminine aspect—hidden influences, underlying conditions, or what the environment secretly holds.

Step-by-Step Calculation Procedure

1. Establish the Earth Plate: Draw the twelve branches in their fixed positions: Zi (子, North), Chou (丑), Yin (寅), Mao (卯), Chen (辰), Si (巳), Wu (午, South), Wei (未), Shen (申), You (酉), Xu (戌), Hai (亥).
2. Set the Heaven Plate: Determine the Month General (月将) based on the solar term. Place that branch on the Earth Plate position corresponding to the hour of divination (时支, Shí Zhī). Arrange the remaining eleven branches clockwise around the Heaven Plate.
3. Lodge the Day Stem (日干寄宫): Using the Stem Lodging table below, find where the Day Stem resides on the Earth Plate.

4. Derive Class 1 (日上神): Look at the Heaven Plate branch sitting on top of the Stem’s lodging palace.
5. Derive Class 2 (辰上神): Look at the Heaven Plate branch sitting on top of the Day Branch’s Earth position.
6. Derive Class 3 (日阳): Take the branch from Class 1, find its Earth Plate position, and look at what Heaven Plate branch sits above it.
7. Derive Class 4 (日阴): Take the branch from Class 2, find its Earth Plate position, and look at what Heaven Plate branch sits above it.

Interpretation Framework

Once constructed, the Four Classes provide a diagnostic snapshot analyzed through Five Phases (五行, Wǔ Xíng) relationships and the Twelve Deities (十二天将, Shí Èr Tiān Jiàng). The interaction between the Earth Plate position (the "host," 主) and the Heaven Plate deity (the "guest," 客) determines the quality of each class.

Five Relationships (生克比涉)

• Restraint from Above (上克下, Shàng Kè Xià): When the Heaven Plate (Upper Spirit) restrains (克, Kè) the Earth Plate branch beneath it, this represents pressure, obstacles, or illness descending upon the subject. Generally considered inauspicious, indicating that external forces are suppressing the matter.
• Involvement/Restraint from Below (下克上, Xià Kè Shàng) or (涉, Shè): When the Earth Plate branch restrains the Heaven Plate above it, this is called "involvement" (涉, Shè) or "inferior overcoming superior." It suggests rebellion, difficulty, or the need for excessive effort to achieve goals—like trying to lift a heavy stone uphill.
• Generation from Above (上生下, Shàng Shēng Xià): The Heaven Plate generates (生, Shēng) the Earth Plate. Highly auspicious, indicating support from superiors, beneficial circumstances, or natural flow of resources toward the querent.
• Generation from Below (下生上, Xià Shēng Shàng): The Earth Plate generates the Heaven Plate. This suggests the querent must give effort, resources, or energy to the situation—draining but potentially productive if the upper element is favorable.
• Harmony/Same (比和, Bǐ Hé): The Heaven and Earth branches share the same Five Phase element (e.g., both Wood). This indicates harmony, stability, or stasis—neutral to positive, suggesting the situation maintains its current nature without dramatic change.

Symbolic Reading of Each Class

• First Class (日上神): The querent’s physical health, emotional state, available resources, and immediate identity. If this class is attacked (克) by other classes, the person suffers directly.
• Second Class (辰上神): The objective situation, the "other party" in relationships, the market conditions in business, or the physical environment. This represents the stage upon which the drama unfolds.
• Third Class (日阳): The querent’s true intention, hidden agenda, or the deeper psychological drive behind the question. It can also represent future potential derived from the self.
• Fourth Class (日阴): The hidden factors in the environment, secrets held by others, underlying structural issues, or the ultimate outcome potential latent in the situation.

Worked Example: Jia Day, Zi Hour

Let us examine a practical scenario: A querent asks about a job opportunity on a Jia (甲) day during the Zi (子) hour, with the Month General placed such that the Heaven Plate’s Hai (亥) sits on Earth Plate Zi (子) (a common configuration for demonstration).

Analysis: The First Class (Wu Fire) generates the querent’s lodging (Yin Wood), indicating the job offers active support and energy. The Second Class shows harmony (Hai Water on Zi Water), suggesting the company is stable but potentially stagnant. The Third Class (Chen Earth) draining into the First Class Fire suggests the querent will need to invest significant effort (Earth produces Fire). The Fourth Class (Yin Wood) generating the Second Class (Hai Water) indicates hidden growth opportunities that will nourish the position over time. Overall, a favorable but effort-requiring opportunity.

Common Pitfalls

• Confusing Stem Lodging: Beginners often place stems on their "corresponding" branches (e.g., putting Wu Earth on Chen or Xu Earth positions) rather than the correct Ji Gong palaces. Remember: Wu and Ji always lodge with Fire (Si and Wu), never with their own Earth branches.
• Mixing Up Yang and Yin: The Third Class derives from the First Class’s branch position, not from the original Stem lodging. Similarly, the Fourth derives from the Second. Taking the wrong "step" leads to entirely incorrect hidden analyses.
• Treating Chen as Dragon: In Da Liu Ren, when you see "Chen" (辰) in Four Class theory, it refers to the Day Branch (日支), not necessarily the Dragon branch. While the character is the same, the context determines whether it means "the fifth Earthly Branch" or "the Day Pillar’s branch."
• Ignoring the Earth Plate Foundation: Some novices try to read the Four Classes purely as Heaven Plate branches without referencing what Earth positions they occupy. The relationship between the Heaven deity and the Earth host is essential—Wu Fire on Yin Wood (generating) has a completely different meaning than Wu Fire on Shen Metal (restraining).
• Static Reading: Remember that the Four Classes represent the structure (体). Without analyzing the Three Transmissions (三传), which show how energy moves through time, one cannot predict outcomes—only potentials.

Related Terms

• Three Transmissions (三传, Sān Chuán): The temporal progression derived from the Four Classes—Beginning (初传, Chū Chuán), Middle (中传, Zhōng Chuán), and End (末传, Mò Chuán). While Four Classes show the setup, Three Transmissions show the plot.
• Void/Emptiness (空亡, Kōng Wáng): When a Class falls into an "empty" branch (determined by the Day Stem’s position in the 旬空 cycle), its influence is weakened, delayed, or illusory.
• Demon/God (天将, Tiān Jiàng): Twelve celestial ministers (like Nobleman, Snake, Tiger, etc.) assigned to each Class to determine the qualitative nature (auspicious or dangerous) of the energy.
• Clash and Combination (冲合, Chōng Hé): The twelve-branch interactions (Six Combinations 六合 and Six Clashes 六冲) that modify how the Four Classes interact with each other and with annual/monthly influences.
• Returning Spirit (返吟, Fǎn Yín) and Hidden Spirit (伏吟, Fú Yín): Special chart configurations where the Four Classes show extreme movement (clashing opposites) or extreme stasis (sitting on themselves), indicating radical change or stagnation respectively.