Yi Wood Chapter · Di Tian Sui and Fate Analysis

1. Original text of Di Tian Sui

Yi Wood, though soft, can slaughter a sheep to dissect a cow. Embrace Ding and hold Bing, stride a phoenix, ride a monkey.
In damp and humid ground, riding a horse is also worrisome. Vines bind to Jia, spring or autumn both possible.

2. Annotations

Original notes: Yi Wood is born in spring like peaches and plums, in summer like crops, in autumn like paulownia and osmanthus, in winter like exotic blossoms.
Sitting in Chou Wei cannot restrain the soft earth; like slaughtering a sheep, dismembering a cow, yet as long as there is one Bing or Ding, even if born in the months of Shen or You, one need not fear it;
Born in Zi month, and with Ren and Gui coming forth, even if seated in Wu, it can still generate. Therefore it is clear that sitting in Chou Wei months is favorable.
Jia and Yin characters appear often; juniors follow elders in righteousness, like vines clinging to a tall tree, not fearing pruning.

3. Ren's Yi Book Commentary

Ren's Yi Book: Yi Wood is the essence of Jia, and bears Jia's life energy.
Spring like peaches and plums; gold overcomes then withers; Summer like crops; water nourishes growth; Autumn like paulownia and cassia; metal prospers, fire restrains; Winter like exotic blossoms; fire and damp earth nurture.

Born in spring, fire is favorable for its flourishing; born in summer, water is favorable for moistening the dryness of the earth;
Born in autumn, fire is favorable to restrain metal; born in winter, fire is favorable to thaw the cold of heaven.

Slaughtering a sheep to dissect a cow occurs for those born in Chou Wei months, or on Yi Wei days. Wei is the wood storehouse, allowing roots to coil; Chou is moist soil, capable of receiving qi.
Embrace Ding and hold Bing, stride a phoenix, ride a monkey; born in Shen or You months, or on Yi You day, with Ding and Bing revealed in the heavenly stems, with water not contending, the transformation is appropriate, not fearing strong metal.

In damp, humid lands, riding a horse is also worrisome: Yi Wood fears cold dampness without restraint.
If born in places with abundant Hai and Zi water, and without Ding and Bing or dry soil support, even if the year branch has Wu, it will be hard to manifest.

When Jia stems are exposed and Yin branches hidden, this is like vines binding to pines and cypresses; spring is aided, autumn also supported; thus it can be spring or autumn, meaning all four seasons are possible.

4. Modern Fate Analysis

Yi Wood, though soft, can slaughter a sheep to dissect a cow. Embrace Ding and hold Bing, stride a phoenix, ride a monkey.

Yi Wood is like vines and flowers; its nature is soft and compliant, yet possesses strong resilience and adaptability.
The so-called "slaughter a sheep to dissect a cow" does not mean Yi Wood is inherently strong; rather, with proper regulation and transformation, the soft can overcome the hard, countering strong metal.

Harbor Ding and embrace Bing: Yi Wood loves fire, especially the warmth of Ding fire and the glow of Bing fire.
With fire present, cold dampness can be resolved, metal can be restrained, Yi Wood can thus become a tool.

In damp lands, riding a horse is also worrisome: Yi Wood fears cold dampness without restraint.
If born in places with abundant Hai and Zi water, and without Ding and Bing and dry earth support, even if the year branch has Wu, it will be difficult to manifest.

Vines binding Jia; spring or autumn: Yi Wood attaches to Jia Wood to grow; with Jia and Yin, its roots have support and are not afraid of the seasons.
Therefore Yi Wood is not confined to a single season, and the key is to have assistance, restraint, and warmth.