Book of Fortune Telling for a Lingnan Family Year: 1883 Call Number: MAN-002 This late Qing Lingnan family fortune-telling manuscript from Mr. Chen Weiheng’s collection combines three divination systems: Ziping Bazi (Four Pillars of Destiny), Yanqin Astrology, and Jiugong Astrology. The diviner Chen Weixin employed the elegant imperial Guan Ge Style, frequently quoting classical allusions and summarizing prognoses in poetic form. Covering six family members (four males, two females) born between 1824 and 1875, the manuscript’s sophisticated commentary suggests the family’s scholar-official background. As a kind of knowledge and technology used to grasp real life and predict future fortune and misfortune, numerology aims to “establish order in daily life”. As a side view of ancient Chinese social and cultural phenomena, it is an important manifestation of the spiritual life and inner needs of the ancients. 253 48
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