Why does Master Shengyuan compare Chinese chess divination to a strategy for life?

Chinese chess already concerns how armies advance, retreat, and cooperate. In life, it can help consider present conditions, your position, and whether to move actively forward or remain cautious. Comparing divination to life's strategy uses this perspective to understand events.

Pieces have distinct roles. The general or marshal may correspond to an owner, chairperson, or supervisor, while soldiers and pawns may represent ordinary employees. Placed within the actual question, these roles help examine relationships. Such correspondences must be understood with the concrete matter.

Playing chess as a child taught me the different functions of generals, advisors, elephants, chariots, horses, and cannons, making later divination principles easier to understand. Dao Xuan had not previously encountered chess but still began learning divination. People can start differently.

Familiarity with pieces does not mean understanding an entire reading. Early on, I understood some meanings but could not tell where a whole layout was favorable or unfavorable. Learning gradually from what remains unclear prevents assuming recognition of pieces means complete mastery.