Early Nyingma Writings

Thirty Chinese and Tibetan Computational Charts (rgya bod skor 'go sum cu)

• The thirty Chinese and Tibetan Computational Charts, which form the subject matter of Part X, pp. 000-000, are considered to be among the most ancient aspects of elemental divination. Each of the charts has eight sectors, where distinctive readings may be obtained. The count is made in reverse (i.e. anticlockwise) for subjects with a female year-sign, starting from the female year of a given pair, and consecutively or clockwise for those with a male year-sign, starting from the male year of a given pair. On reaching the subject's log men year-sign in any of these charts, it is compared with the vitality element four places backwards (yar bzhi'i srog), with the body element four places forwards (mar bzhi'i lus), with the destiny element eleven places backwards (yar bcu gcig dbang thang), and with the luck element eleven places forwards (mar gyi bcu gcig klung rta). In addition, the vitality element seven places backwards (yar bdun srog) and the body element seven places forwards (mar bdun lus) are compared respectively with the subject's vitality and body elements, while the subject's log men year-sign is compared with the corresponding destiny and luck elements.
• A mother-relationship is represented by three white pebbles, a friend-relationship by two white pebbles, an identity relationship of water or earth by one white pebble, a son-relationship by one white and one black pebble, an identity relationship of fire, iron, or wood by one black pebble, and an enemy relationship by two black pebbles.
• The thiry charts comprise: White Garuḍa (bya khyung/ garuḍa dkar po), White Snowlion (gangs seng dkar mo), Poisonous Snake of Existence (srid pa'i dug sbrul), Turquoise Dragon (g.yu 'brug), Steadfast Elephant (glang chen rab brtan/ sa yi glang chen), Striped Tiger (rgya stag khra bo/ lcags kyi stag khra bo), Copper-Red Ogress (zangs kyi srin po dmar), Golden Vajra (gser gyi rdo rje), Talking Parrot (smra mkhan ne tso), Nine-sectored Palace (pho brang gling dgu), Supreme Horse (rta mchog rin chen), [Blue-horned/ Adult] Wild Yak of the North (byang kha'i 'brong chung/ 'brong chen dar ma), Golden [Treasure] Vase (gser gyi bum pa), Peacocks with Crossed Necks (rgya yi rma bya), Chinese Temple Roof [Garuḍa Gargoyle] (lha khang rgya phib), Eight-sectored Golden Estate (gling brgyad gser gyi sa gzhi), Fiery [Wish-fulfilling] Gemstone (rin chen/ nor bu 'od 'bar), Leafy Tree [and Spring] (ljon shing 'dab rgyas), Snowcock of Ill-omen (lta bya gong mo), Black Kite (dur bya nag po), Saiga Antelope (sha ba rgya bo), Invalid Confined to Sickbed (nad pa yo nyal), Red Human Corpse (mi ro dmar po), Pale Coffin (shing sgrom skya mo), Nine-stacked Skulls (thod pa dgu brtsegs), Three-headed Spirit lord of the Soil (sa bdag sgo gsum), Golden [Crossed] Vajra (gser gyi rdo rje), Eight-spoked Wheel ('khor lo rtsibs brgyad), Spiralling Svāstika (gYung drung 'khyil ba), and Eight-petalled Lotus (padma 'dab brgyad). GD (from the Glossary to Tibetan Elemental Divination Paintings)