At a glance
- Usual roster
- Taiyi, Liuren, Dunjia
- Structural contrast
- Multiple cycles, twelve-branch plates, nine-palace layers
Definition and terminology
Three Systems is a historical divinatory classification rather than a modern scientific certification. Taiyi emphasizes accumulated counts and cycles; Liuren plate alignment, lessons and transmissions; Dunjia palaces, stems, stars, doors and spirits. Each also contains temporal variants, so familiar applications should not become rigid claims that only one can address a given subject.
Structure and rules
Compare inputs first: Taiyi epoch/count, Liuren day signs with general/hour, hourly Dunjia solar term and arrangement procedure. Then compare structures: cyclical palace schemes, twelve-branch plates and layered nine-palace charts. Finally examine selection and meaning. Shared words such as Noble, polarity or palaces do not permit exchanging positions or functions.
Worked reading
A class may receive one fictional research moment and list missing inputs separately: Taiyi epoch, Liuren general boundary, Dunjia arrangement method. Small exercises then show remainders, plate offsets and stem placement. Different signs at the same moment reflect different constructions, not necessarily contradiction or evidence for choosing whichever interpretation feels preferable.
Context and limits
The three Siku accounts discuss texts, legends and disagreements, showing historical editorial criticism. Their development interacted, but precise origins require document-based research. An encyclopedia can compare structures and uses without an untested accuracy ranking. Internal computational consistency remains distinct from externally demonstrated effectiveness concerning real events.
References & further reading
Historical sources document ideas and rules of their time, not empirical proof of predictive accuracy. Source notes identify the nature and scope of each reference.
- 《六壬大全》（四库全书本）Primary / tradition source
Public-domain Liuren compilation; editorial account covers plates, lessons, transmissions and textual history.
- 《遁甲演义》（四库全书本）Primary / tradition source
Public-domain Qimen source; editorial account distinguishes legends from documentation and describes palaces, stems, doors and stars.
- 《太乙金镜式经》（四库全书本）Primary / tradition source
Public-domain Taiyi text; editorial account notes later additions and historical criticism.