Tojeong Bigyeol Hexagram 442

The original verse and its meaning

1. 茫茫大海 遇風孤棹
   On the boundless sea, a single lonely oar meets a fierce wind.
2. 之南之北 衆目無親
   Go south or go north, among so many eyes there is not one familiar face.
3. 乘槎渡江 黃龍負舟
   Yet you cross the river on a raft, and a yellow dragon bears the boat up on its back.
4. 虎入殘山 狐狸來侵
   A tiger enters a barren mountain, and foxes and wildcats scorn it and pounce.

The verses follow the public-domain Tojeong Bigyeol held by the National Library of Korea; the meanings are Luna Alley's own retelling.

The year ahead

This is a year when you must hold out alone with nothing to lean on. You may travel south and north and see no familiar faces. Still, when you cross the river on a raft, help comes, as if a yellow dragon were carrying the boat on its back, so just watch out for people looking for your weak spots.

This is a year when, like a lonely oar on a wide sea, you must hold out on your own and find your way. The oar meeting the wind in the first verse means there's a lot you'll have to handle alone with nothing to lean on, so rather than trying to launch a big ship from the start, you need the heart to firmly grip a small oar. As in the second verse, you may feel lonely with no familiar faces wherever you go, but that time is also for reflecting on yourself and building strength. The yellow dragon bearing the boat in the third verse is a hope that unexpected help carries you across the river just when you're most at a loss. The tiger in the barren mountain in the last verse warns that when your strength is drained, people looking for gaps may approach. So this year, rather than starting new things or meddling in others' affairs, it's best to shut your door and hold your place. There are things to be careful of month after month, but if you guard your mouth like a bottle stopper and keep within your means, the principle that sweetness comes after hardship holds true this year too. At year's end a time comes when you can breathe, like a caged bird released to the sky, so don't let your guard down to the end.

A word from Master Tojeong

“Even a lonely oar on a wide sea will cross the river if you do not let go of it. Shut your door and guard your mouth; the day shall come when the dragon bears up your boat.”

Month by month (summary)

Only a short note and the original verse for each month. Dates are the 2027 lunar months.

1. Lunar month 1Feb 7 – Mar 7Care

   From the first month of the year, body and mind may feel heavy. Postpone long trips or moving house and live calmly close to home.

   身數困苦 出他不利 親人作怨 百事沮戲 · Your bodily fortune is in hardship, so going out is unfavorable; those close to you hold resentment, so all affairs are obstructed.

2. Lunar month 2Mar 8 – Apr 6Care

   Everything around you is bright as flowers, yet you may feel you alone are falling behind this month. Don't compare yourself with others — keep your own pace.

   暮春三月 桃花灼灼 每事不成 身勢自嘆 · In the third month of late spring the peach blossoms are in full bloom, but no matter is accomplished, so you lament your own lot.

3. Lunar month 3Apr 7 – May 5Care

   With so many thoughts, it's easy to lose sleep this month. Rather than holding on to worries all night, write them down and leave them for tomorrow.

   憂心不絶 夜不成眠 百爾思之 不如守分 · Worries never cease so you cannot sleep at night; think it over a hundred times, and nothing beats keeping within your means.

4. Lunar month 4May 6 – Jun 4Care

   This is a month to keep up what you've been doing rather than taking on something new.

   勿營他業 獨處不害 勿謀水財 利財有陸 · Do not run another trade, and if you live alone there is no harm; do not seek wealth in water, for profit lies on land.

5. Lunar month 5Jun 5 – Jul 3Care

   There are worries this month that can't be escaped by fleeing. Rather than going out, stay home and look after your family.

   避凶東去 更有家憂 杜門謝客 必無損失 · Though you flee ill fortune to the east, there is worry at home again; shut your door and decline guests, and there will be no loss.

6. Lunar month 6Jul 4 – Aug 1Care

   You may tire as results don't come even though you strive alone this month. But if you trust just anyone's words and hand over money, you'll be hurt.

   孤掌難鳴 獨力無功 莫信他言 以財傷心 · One hand can hardly clap, so alone there is no merit; do not trust others' words, or wealth will hurt your heart.

7. Lunar month 7Aug 2 – Aug 31Care

   Disputes arise easily even if you're careful this month, so spare your words as much as possible. Even if something feels unfair, rather than arguing right away, take time to work it out.

   守口如瓶 口舌難免 苦盡甘來 理之自然 · Though you guard your mouth like a bottle stopper, quarrels are hard to avoid; but that sweetness comes once hardship ends is nature's way.

8. Lunar month 8Sep 1 – Sep 29Care

   You feel at a loss with no guide this month. Don't hurry — sort out the situation one piece at a time, as if unfolding a map.

   深山窮谷 指路者誰 害在木姓 近則有害 · In a dead-end valley deep in the mountains, who will point the way? Harm lies with those with Wood-energy surnames, so drawing close is harmful.

9. Lunar month 9Sep 30 – Oct 28Care

   The more you move, the bigger the losses this month. Postpone long trips or moving house, and be especially careful with matters to the south.

   南北不利 出行無益 於公於私 愼勿干涉 · South and north are both unfavorable, so going out brings no profit; whether public or private, be careful not to interfere.

10. Lunar month 10Oct 29 – Nov 27Care

    This is a month to avoid high places and dangerous things. Set aside excessive greed or adventures.

    登高緣木 君之所忌 若無損財 妻憂何免 · Climbing high and clambering up trees are things you should shun; if there is no financial loss, how will you escape worry for your wife?

11. Lunar month 11Nov 28 – Dec 27Care

    This is a month to take special care of everyday safety. Be careful with anything involving fire and activities near water.

    凶鬼發動 水火愼之 雖有虛名 實無所得 · An ill energy stirs, so beware of water and fire; there is an empty name, but nothing is actually gained.

12. Lunar month 12Dec 28 – Jan 26, 2028Care

    Your heart, confined all year, can breathe this month. But don't let the sense of release push you into long trips or big moves — postpone them.

    鳥困籠中 放出飛天 勿爲出行 横厄可畏 · The bird shut in its cage is released and flies to the sky, but do not set out on long journeys, for unexpected misfortune is to be feared.

The nine readings by area (money, love, work, health and more) and the long monthly readings open in the Tojeong Bigyeol app once you find your own hexagram.

Who gets this hexagram?

The hexagram depends on your lunar birth date and the year being read. The upper number comes from your Korean age that year plus the year's taese number, the middle from the length and month number of your birth month that year, and the lower from your birth day plus the day number. So the same person gets a different hexagram each year.

By the formula, nobody receives this hexagram in 2027. Lunar month lengths and cycles change each year, so it does turn up in other years. For example, someone born on lunar 6/4/1986 receives this hexagram in 2028.

Hexagrams with upper 4

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