Book of Astronomy

...of earthly affairs, however, these are not immutable principles. There are occasionally times when the predictions do not prove accurate. One must not discard this book simply because a specific prediction fails to come true.

For instance, the nature of the Sun original: 太陽 (tài yáng) is essentially hot and dry, while the nature of the Moon original: 太陰 (tài yīn) is moist and damp. Furthermore, the four seasons are unequal, and heat and cold vary; sometimes rain is plentiful, and sometimes it is scarce. The reason for these variations is that the various planets original: 各星 (gè xīng). In this context, "stars" refers to the planets used in horoscopic astrology. encounter the Sun, or the Sun encounters the planets within specific zodiacal houses zodiacal houses original: 宫分 (gōng fèn). The twelve divisions of the ecliptic, each exerting a different influence on the planets passing through them., or the planets encounter one another.

These are evident principles that have been handed down from antiquity to the present day. If a person can thoroughly grasp the dispositions and relative strengths original: 性情衰旺 (xìng qíng cuāi wàng). A technical term referring to the "dignity" or potency of a planet based on its position and relationship to other bodies. of each planet, as well as the mathematical degrees of their conjunctions original: 相遇度數 (xiāng yù dù shù), then they will understand the fluctuations of the four seasons, the arrival of droughts and floods, and the outbreaks of diseases and epidemics. Furthermore, they will know the fortunes and misfortunes original: 禍福吉凶 (huò fú jí xiōng) of human affairs. Since one can possess this foreknowledge, they can be prepared original: 豫備 (yù bèi) for all events.