The Ding Fire Vermilion Bird is extinguished by Gui Water, like a flying bird falling into a river. It indicates disputes arising from documents, and messages sinking without return. It is most inauspicious for matters concerning information, lawsuits, and communication.
Heavenly Stem Ding (丁) + Earthly Stem Gui (癸)
When Liu Gui adds to Ding, the Teng Snake is contorted; when Liu Ding adds to Gui, the Vermilion Bird drowns in the river. When Liu Yi adds to Xin, the Green Dragon escapes; when Liu Xin adds to Yi, the White Tiger rages. Observe these four as inauspicious deities; when encountered in any matter, one will be at a loss.
Vermilion Bird Drowning in the River is formed by the Heavenly Stem Ding (丁) over the Earthly Stem Gui (癸). Ding represents the Vermilion Bird, symbolizing documents, disputes, and messages; Gui represents the Heavenly Net, belonging to the ultimate Yin water. Gui water extinguishes Ding fire, causing the flame of the Vermilion Bird to fall into the river and be extinguished. Therefore, it indicates disputes arising from documents and messages sinking without a trace. The 《Song of the Old Fisherman of Misty Waves》 lists it alongside Teng Snake Contorted, Green Dragon Escaping, and White Tiger Raging as one of the four inauspicious deities, stating that when encountered in any matter, one will be at a loss. The principle of this formation lies in the extinction of fire by water: Ding is Yin fire, and Gui is Yin water. Yin overcoming Yin happens silently, and things go wrong in the dark—letters sent receive no reply, words spoken are distorted, and documents submitted disappear without a trace. This formation is inauspicious, signifying sinking and distortion: first, messages sink, with no hope of reply; second, written words cause trouble, and disputes arise from documents. For inquiries about missing persons or lost items, this formation indicates difficulty in communication; for contracts or lawsuits, beware of clauses being manipulated. In terms of severity, if combined with an inauspicious door, the document-related trouble may escalate to legal disputes; if combined with an auspicious door, disputes may arise but can still be clarified. If the palace falls into Emptiness (空亡), the disputes are mostly groundless; if Gui water's palace is out of season, messages may be delayed but not completely cut off. There are three ways to avoid it: speak important matters face-to-face to avoid leaving written evidence; keep multiple copies of important documents and use traceable channels; if messages are not returned, first check the intermediate links before jumping to conclusions.
Beware of written materials causing trouble: email wording, report data, chat records may all be taken out of context. Important reports should be delivered in person, with only copies kept in writing. For transfers or applications, it often means no follow-up after submission; it is advisable to seek alternative routes or resubmit at a later date.
In finance, beware of errors in bills, lost transfers, and hidden traps in contract clauses. Online transactions and remittances require triple-checking. For debt collection, the debtor often claims not to have received or known; keep good records and use traceable channels to ensure the principal.
Messages sink, contact gradually breaks: no replies to messages, explanations unheard, misunderstandings arise from written words. This formation is most inauspicious for long-distance relationships; the more communication relies on text, the colder it becomes. For important matters, speak in person; if inquiring about the other's feelings, they are likely already cold, do not try to test the waters.
Illness stems from disharmony between heart and kidney, water and fire conflict; beware of palpitations, urinary problems, and emotional depression. Medical reports may be delayed or contain errors; if in doubt, get a second opinion. The body's signals are submerged; one must actively investigate, not wait for symptoms to become painful.
Beware of water-related dangers during travel; be especially cautious when traveling by boat or driving in the rain. Communication may be interrupted during the journey; arrange a fixed way to report safety before departure. For those traveling far, messages may be difficult to get through for a while, often indicating a loss of contact, but the person is usually safe.
Documentary disputes are the very essence of this formation: lawsuits arise from documents, evidence is easily lost, and testimonies are easily changed. Protect your own documents from loss or alteration; keep all copies. For results, it often indicates prolonged delays with no outcome; do not initiate lawsuits, settlement to cut losses is best.
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