Bazi, Eight Words Four Pillars 八字

八字命例 # 37 Bazi case study #37

八字譜一卷。傅斯年圖書館 （中央研究院歷史語言研究所。台北）

Bazi chart readings:

– In this bazi pillars chart, Yi wood borns in You month which is strong metal energy month, this is a destructive relationship.  According to theory, wood is the weakest link when metal is strong (autumn time).

– The month pillar is showing a Shen metal as the stem, this month is marking the strongest metal energy, which is the officer star of Yi wood.  

– On the branches level, we see three earth element, this is definitely too much for a single Yi wood to destruct, luckily the metal is strong too, this is demanding energy from the earth element.  

– In order for the Yi wood to stand strong and firm in this environment, we need some more wood energy to strengthen it.

– As a result, the best fate pillar are suppose to be the Mao and Yi wood pillars towards the end of the chart.  

– This chart cannot see anymore earth and water element since this will further blocking the survival conditions of Yi wood.

八字篇。十二辰（2） Bazi series ~ Twelve earthly branches (2)

月令廣義。二十四篇。明馮應京纂輯

辰為申

《晉樂志》申者身也。萬物身體皆成就也。

辰為酉

酉者緧（注：拴在牲畜股的皮帶）也。時物皆緧縮（注：收歛）也。

其辰戌

戌者滅也。時物皆衰滅也。

《說文》土盛于戌土。陰土之主也。萬物畢成。陽下人也。

月建亥

辰為亥。亥者劾（注：揭發罪狀）也。言陰氣劾。殺萬物也。

月建子

《前漢書》陰陽合德。氣鍾于子。化生萬物也。故孳萌于子。

《史記》 子者滋也。言萬物滋于下也。

《說文》子十一月陽氣動。萬物滋入。以為稱徐鉉日十一月。

夜半陽氣所起。人承陽故以為稱。

《白虎通》子滋也孶。孶無巳也。

于易為坎之險也。

辰為丑

丑紐也。其終始之際以紐結為名也。

《說文》十二月萬物動。用事象手之形。時加丑亦舉手時也。

This is the second part of the earthly branches interpretation according to ancient experts based on the Chinese characters they assigned for each one of them.

7th month ~ Shen 

– In Chinese language, Shen is the same pronunciation as body, which means by this time of the year, living things are all matured with fully grown body.  This is a physical appearance for people to see.

8th month ~ You

– This is the second month of autumn season.  In Chinese word 酉, this is the belt people installed on the back of livestocks e.g. horses, donkeys etc.  People observed by this time of the year, these belts shrink which they interpret as the growing energy of this period is not going forward anymore since it reached the peak, but instead it is working backwards.

9th month ~ Xu

– This is the end of autumn season and by referring to the monthly trigram, the last ‘yang’ line remains during this month, as a result, in further interpretation, it carries a deeper meaning as demolish.  People observed that the last bit of growing energy seems disappearing, therefore, they put it into a demolish mode.  

10th month ~ Hai

– People named these earthly branches, they did it according to their culture and traditions.  During autumn, the most important tradition was the emperor will judge those who committed crimes, and they will be put into jail and wait for the execution after autumn which stands for Hai month.   As a result, Hai carries a meaning of crimes exposure in Chinese characters as well.  

11th month ~ Zi 

– According to the ‘Yin’ and ‘Yang’ circulation, Zi month has the first ‘yang’ line appears again, which means the very first trace of yang energy revisit again.  Living creatures on and under the ground was waken by this first trace.  

12th month ~ Chou 

– Chou month, is the last month of the year, people by this time will evaluate their performance for this year, they will use a rope and make knot to record the good or bad they did during this year.  Chou in Chinese character is the same as knots, therefore, ancient people use Chou 丑 to name this last month of the year.

八字篇。十二辰（1）Bazi series ~ Twelve earthly branches (1)

月令廣義。二十四篇。明馮應京纂輯

月建寅

《晉樂志》寅者津也。生物之津塗也。

月建卯

卯茂也。陽生而萬物滋。茂也。

月建辰

辰震也。時物動長也。

月建巳

巳起也。物至此畢盡而起也。

辰為午

《晉樂志》辰為午。午者長也。大也。

言物皆長大也。

月建未

《說文》未味也。滋味也。五行本老于未也。

木重枝葉也。

Twelve different earthly branches representing by twelve Chinese characters, and each of them carry a primary meaning of that character itself.  From interpreting from its own meaning, it carries messages of how people want to express the ultimate features of that specific month or the earthly branch. 

1st month Yin 

– moisturizing, energy in Yin month was moisturized sufficiently and growing energy is definitely picking up from the winter season.

2nd month Mao

– rapid growing, during this month/period, all the growing energy is strong and very active.

3rd month Chen

– strong energy circulation, this is the third month of spring, all the growing energy has brought living things (including plants and animal in the wild) long and big.  

4th month Si

– all up and strong, this is the first month of summer season, heat is an obvious symbol for this period, and when living energy gets heat, its growing cycle has reached a maximum point already. 

5th month Wu

– this is the middle of summer, all the living energy has already brought itself to a long and big status, this is the peak stage for the cycle.  

6th month Wei

– in Chinese character, it also means taste, five elements also cover taste and from this point of view, when an energy gets old, it represents via the taste and smell too.  This is Wei month.  

八字命例 #36 Bazi case study #36

八字譜一卷。傅斯年圖書館 （中央硏究院歷史語言硏究所。台北）

此八字偏官之格。日祿歸時之助。注人豐姿清楚。性格能為有剛。斷明敏之才。理白分清之志。十年窓下淹留志。一日聲名達鳳池。黃堂聲價重。

鳳闕錦衣此則英貴之命。駌幃賢曉治家齊子息。梅蘭還愛。

日運初庚申。如月入雲清光未皎。

己未戊午運中。何事不辭。窓下苦他年。竹帛要名題。

丁巳丙辰運中榮沾。

𧶽墨恩光重。拜授除書喜氣新。

乙卯甲寅運中。猛虎渡河民樂業。飛蝗過境歲豐登。

癸丑運中。春夢無憑。歸去也。

Bazi pillars chart readings:

– The relationship between the day stem and month branch is Officer Star (destructive relationship).  Mao wood in day branch is the graduation stage (12 stages of an earthly branch) towards the day stem, which stands for strong energy status.  

– The chart owner was described as with attractive appearance and a smart and clear mind with logical thinking.  

– At the old days, he spent years and years studying in hoping one day can have excellent academic achievement and have a good career.

– He has a good family with loving wife and children.

Fate pillars:

– 1st fate pillar with strong metal energy, not much achievement yet, still working hard.

– 2nd and 3rd fate pillars with strong earth and fire energy, still studying hard and starting to have a small reputations in career.

– 4th and 5th fate pillars with fire and earth energy, keep on climbing up in career path and earning good names.

– By this time, he finally earned good titles in academic achievements and was given a title by the emperor.   

– It was the 6th and 7th fate pillars with strong wood energy.  Since this is making the date stem (representing the chart owner) strong by adding more wood energy to it.  By being strong himself, he can make good use of his officer stars and mao wood in the branch level at a smart way.  

– Finally it gets to the finally fate pillar which is water and earth energy pillar, this is too cold for the date stem to grow, as a result, is about time to retire and gets back to his family life.

八字命例 # 35 Bazi case study #35

八字譜一卷。傅斯年圖書館（中央研究院歷史語言研究所。台北）

This is a bazi pillars chart example in an ancient bazi book.  

Chart reading highlights:

– Jia wood borns in strong metal element season, You month with Shen metal appears on the stem level.  Back to the five elements concept, wood is the weakest link in strong metal season due to destruction relationship.  

– A critical save is the water element Zi and Hai on the date and time branch.  These water can generate wood energy to survive towards the metal element.

– In ten gods concept, this is a generation cycle with mother and officer stars,  i.e. metal generates water generates wood.  

– In the old days, this is an ideal combination since everyone wants to have a strong officer stars in their bazi chart for good protection.  This concept is valid unless there is a breakage in the formation such as other elements come in to disturb it.  

– This person is also an intelligent person with good academic achievements. 

– Referring back to the pillar chart, we see Jia and Yi wood, Shen metal with Gui water on the stems level, they are carrying some forms of water elements with them.  On the branch level, there are two waters and a You metal, these are cold and watery too.  The warmest element is the Wei earth but it is not showing, as a result, in order to make this chart active and into a better circumstances, we need fire element.

– This fire element can warm up the chart, gives both wood growing energy under warm weather and dry up the watery environment.  

– As a result, it stated that the best period of this person’s life was the two fire fate pillars with Bing and Ding fire showing on the stems level.  

– After the fire fate pillars, then entered the wood pillars, by this time, the wood energy was too heavy and with the absence of fire element, then it is gradually turning back to the original status.  

八字命例 #34 Bazi case study #34

Pillars chart owner information:

– male

– Date of birth: 20/4/1901

– Date of death: 9/1/1972 (71 years of age)

– Famous Chinese architecture 

– Son of a famous late Qing Dynasty politician 

八字命例 #33 Bazi case study #33

Pillar chart owner information:

– Date of birth: 10th June 1904 9-11pm

– Death: 1st April 1955

– Famous female architect and poet in China

– Went to study in London with father at teenager period

– Got married at her 20s

– Professor at Architect Faculty in Qing Hua University at 40s

乙木生於火旺午月，長生之地。辰月為冠帶，此乙炁上升。年柱甲木辰年，正中春土盤根。年月兩柱以火炁為主，合乙木特質，沒有冲尅。女命主要看官子兩星。 乙木以庚為官，午為沐浴，辰為冠帶。此官星在命盤亮麗。食神傷官子星，時干透出丙火傷官星。

命局全為木火炁為主，大運乙丑，命主身邊出現問題，丑遇上亥水為水地形成冲尅。根基動搖，甲子運首年，命主即病殃。

八字命例 #32 Bazi case study #32

Pillar Chart Owner Information:

– Male

– born in 30th May 1893

– Famous politician, geologist

– after graduated from university, studied in Germany

– became a politician in year 1926

– in year 1930s, was the director of the Department of Education, Transportation and President of the Zhejiang Province

– Principal of the Sun Yat Sen University

– Died in year 1963 at age 70

八字命例 #31 Bazi case study #31

Theme: Identifying the development of energy flow from year pillar until the time pillar

Information:

– chart owner: male, late government officer of the late Qing dynasty 

– responsible and good personalities

– brilliant in academic results but no achievements

– a smoother elderly age when compare to younger age

– before age 38, no big achievement

– since age 39, still only normal, no big improvement

– until age 62, even worked for the government but still has not been able to earn a big fortune.

– age 64 the fate pillar is the best period of the life

八字命例 #30 Bazi case study #30

Theme: Identify the time pillar is at a destructive manner

Information: 

– chart owner: female

– before age 30, need to deal with various troubles in life

– age 30-40, happy life with kids at home

– age 41, chances of getting lung and live problem

– age 47, likely to have accident

– around age 60 still healthy

Pillars chart readings:

– Bazi masters reading a female bazi chart, they tend to focus more on their spouse and kids status showing from the chart.

– Wu earth born in Xu month, which is the third month of autumn and they both belongs to earth element, so this can be ruled as strong.

– Year pillar showing a Hai water, which is the birth stage of wood, and having a Yi wood on the stem level, so this Hai water is generating the Yi wood and makes it stronger.

– Month and date pillars are dominating with fire and earth elements, so we can determine that the year pillar is generating energy for both month and date pillars.

– The time pillar referring to a later stage of life, normally it also suggests health and family status.  

– From year to time pillars, fire energy is strong and now we see a Ren water showing on the time stem, this is obviously a destructive relationship, which showing the elderly life of this lady may not be smooth and peaceful.  

– Looking into the fate pillars too, the pillars for age 55-65, it also shows Ren and Gui water on the stems level, this will make the Ren water strong at those years, so this may forecast a challenge period of life.  

戊土生於季秋，同為燥土。太歲亥水木長生生乙木，月時火土皆旺又得木炁生扶，命局溫度向陽，時干為晚年見壬水為前炁有所尅傷，晚年皆宜靜養。

八字命例 # 29 Bazi case study #29

Theme: When there are two different energies circulating within a pillars chart, how to identify?

Information:

– chart owner: male

– before age 23, life was peaceful and smooth

– age 24, year Yi Mao (wood) 乙卯年 was tough

– age 25, year Bing Chen (fire earth) 丙辰年 was a good year

– age 26, had the most successful ten years ahead

– age 36, beware of financial disputes

– age 46-60, smooth and relaxed elderly age ahead

八字篇。五行。十二長生 Twelve stages of an earthly branch

五行精紀。三十四卷。宋。廖中撰

五行

三命提要云

一曰受氣又曰絕。曰胞以萬物在地中未有其象。如毋腹空未有物也。

二曰受胎。天地氣交氤氳而造物在地中成形。始有氣如人受父母之氣也。

三曰成形。萬物在中成形。如人在母腹中成形也。

四曰長生。萬物發生而向榮。如人始生而向長也。

五曰沐浴又曰敗。以萬物始生而形體柔脆。易為所損。如人生後三日。以湯浴之幾至困絕也。

六曰冠帶。萬物漸榮。秀如人具衣完也。

七曰臨官。萬物既秀實。如人之臨官也。

八曰旺。萬物成熟。如人之興旺也。

九曰衰。萬物衰。如人之氣衰也。

十曰病。萬物病。如人之病也。

十一曰死。萬物死。如人之死也。

十二曰墓。又曰庫以萬物成功而藏之庫。如人之終而歸墓也。

When we measure the strength of an heavenly stem, we would like to know how strong or weak it is, we need to use the twelve stages of an earthly branch to identify the status of a stem.

I explained this concept in an earlier post before, this is another interpretation from another ancient book.  This is just like a cycle of a human from the days before fertilization until going into tomb after death.

Stage One: Empty

In the eyes of bazi experts in ancient days, they thought the energy of a life begins from emptiness. The concept is, the womb of a woman symbolizes the possibility of existence of a new life.  As a result, the beginning of a new life starts from empty.

Stage Two: Embryo

The energy gathered here and fertilized, from nothing to something.  Some energy is working inside the womb of a woman.

Stage Three: Expecting a life

After two trend (father and mother or yang & yin ) of energy is working together to form a new human.  

Stage Four: Giving birth

After the two energy working for sometimes, a new life is finally become solid, this is a new and fresh source of growing energy.

Stage Five: Toddler 

After newly born, the solid energy is growing and on the path of improving.  At this stage, yang energy is escalating and not yet mature and strong.

Stage Six: Graduation

This is just like a young life has just finished learning everything, just one step into mature stage.  The new life is already got all the skills and techniques in order to enter the society.  

Stage Seven: Peak

This is the peak stage of life, ready for any achievements that can be acquired.

Stage Eight: Less energetic

After the peak stage, life is gradually downward slopping, become less energetic on various aspects.

Stage Nine: Illness

At this stage, the life energy is not running properly sometimes since it has been running for a long time already, its energy seems fading away. 

Stage Ten: Death

No more make up energy is being supplied, the life is gradually entered its final stage, everything is slowing down and eventually stop.

Stage Eleven: Tomb

Energy is finally not working, this is the stage of tomb.  In the point of view of iching, it seems the final stage but at the same time, it symbolizes the start of another cycle since the five element cannot died even it is at its weakest stage.

These are the twelve life stages of an earthly branches in terms of heavenly stems.  This is also representing the relationship between a stem and a branch. 

八字命例 # 28 Bazi case study #28

Theme: How to identify the energy flow of a bazi pillar chart is going? Is it going to yang and yin?

Pillars chart owner: 

This is a female born in 29th January 1900, the wife of a famous writer in China of early 20th century.  She was then divorced with a son, and later she became a famous banker and died in year 1989 in New York.  

𡈼水生季冬丑月，冰結池塘，歲支亥水壬水祿地，水炁旺盛，己土卑濕，宜以火調候為要。月支丁火透出在水地不力。可幸日時見寅辰木地透出甲木為春旺相火。日元壬水合丁有情。全局地支亥月坤地走來辰月火氣漸壯，大運南奔火地為美。

八字命例 # 27 Bazi case study #27

Theme:  Geng metal in this case is born in peak status, with the encouragement from fate pillars, it reaches to a higher point. 

Bazi chart owner: famous poet in the late Qing dynasty

Date of birth: 9/9/1857

Bazi chart reading highlights:

Properties of Geng metal:

Metal element with yang energy.  Needs fire energy for smelting process to turn into a piece of sharp tool.  Do not like cold temperature and generating water element means losing energy which is not preferred.  Destruction relationship with wood, also means losing energy.

From this chart, the first two pillars has Ding fire and You metal.  Referring to the twelve stages of earthly branches, one is the birth stage with Si fire generating growing energy, and a peak stage as it reaches You metal.  

When we transform this into our daily life, this Geng metal is receiving infinite growing energy at early stage of life and reaches its peak level around middle age.  

With the encouragement from the fate pillars, it benefits from fire energy around age 11, 21, 31 which brings it to a higher point. 

八字篇。命例 #26 Bazi case study #26

Theme: How can the fire energy presence in a bazi pillar chart dominates by metal and water energy without destruction?

Bazi Chart owner:  High officer in the late Qing Dynasty ( year of birth 1672)

火炁存在金水旺之局貴乎本質。如上例除了地支藏一巳，其餘辰土，戌土，庚金透出皆身本帶溫，子歲謂一陽生之地，可暖局溫金。辛金日元以防貼身壬水洩氣太過，加上壬子歲水炁司權，庚戌月令可溫土暖金，庚以本質扶旺日元，得長生巳火生旺。命局干支配合得宜，相互扶持為貴徵。

八字篇。未刑丑。丑刑戌。戌刑未。為持勢之刑 子刑卯。卯刑子。為無禮之刑         Destruction form (II)

五要奇書。五種明江之棟輯。審刑害篇第八（II）

何名恃勢刑。原未陰遁始。與丑陽遁漸盛。各持其勢力而相刑也。

頌曰。持勢之刑意何為。婚姻財產大相虧。是非未可一途取。醉飽姦謀勿怨咨。

子為一陽生。卯為日出地。子尊如父。卯卑如子。雖一陽生而陰遁極矣。不如卯為日出顯照。則卯剛如狼。子柔如羊。尊卑相伏。剛柔相凌。是無禮之刑也。若犯無禮刑者。主臣叛君。僕欺主之禍。

頌曰。無禮之刑。小輩謀。禍災反逆足愆尤。臣反君兮奴欺主。官事重重病未休。

Continue with the last destruction form post, I will discuss the two other destruction forms in bazi chart reading.  

This is a trio form with three earth elements.  

Wei 未土, Chou 丑土 and Xu 戌土 earth elements.  Three elements must be seen to form this trio.  People in the old days believed that, when they see this form, a destructive energy flow is created.  Wei, third month of summer, is about to end the second half of the year, in another word, is entering the yin energy of the year.  

On the other hand, Chou, third month of winter, the whole year is about to end and ready to end a new year start with the wood energy.  At this time, the elements cycle is about to enter yang.

As a result, two strong flows of energy clashes together to introduce an unstable course of manner.  

People believed this behavior can cause a losses of wealth, unhappy marriage life etc.  

The last form of destruction is Zi water 子水 and Mao wood 卯木.

People in the old days interpreted this form like this;

In terms of monthly trigram, at Zi month, the first yang line appears.  In terms of hours, Mao is dawn when the sun comes out.  They believed this nature phenomenon is yang generates the sun.  Zi is the father and Mao is the sun (water generates wood in five elements).  

Mao is strong as the sun becomes stronger and Zi becomes weaker as mao grows strong.  In this belief, when zi water comes with mao wood, forms a destruction manner due to disrespect.  

When this form appears in bazi chart, this can possibly cause juniors disrespecting superior in cases like companies and governments and even in families parents and grandparents relationships. 

八字篇。命例 #25 Bazi case study #25

命局同時冲尅同時生旺 Both destructive and Generating behavior are presences in one pillars chart

As referring to the case study #24, I discussed about the destruction energy among pillars and words.  In this case example, it illustrates both destructive and generating energy flow are taking place within the same pillars chart.  These behaviors are being defined from the five elements phenomena.

As shown in the pillars chart example above;

五行生扶 Generating energy pillars:

– Year pillar Ji earth generating You metal 己土生酉金

– Month pillar Bing fire is same as strong as Wu fire 丙午火同旺

– Date pillar Yi wood is same as strong as Mao wood 乙卯木同旺

– Time pillar Geng metal is generating from Chen earth 辰土生庚金

五行尅伐 Destruction energy:

– Geng metal and Yi wood 庚金尅乙木

– Chen earth and Mao wood 卯木尅辰土

– Wu fire and You metal 午火尅酉金

When reading the general picture of the chart, we can almost conclude that when both generate and destructive action are presences, referring back to the person, his/her life is probably not a smooth one.   

生尅同局，可有不隱之象。

八字篇。寅刑巳。巳刑申。申刑寅。為無恩之刑

Earthly branches trio destruction ~ in cruel manner

審刑害篇第八。五要奇書。五種明江之棟輯

寅刑巳者。以寅能生火。巳能生金。火又剋金。巳刑申者。巳屬火。申屬金。巳又能剋金。是所生之處。

反相刑而無恩。故曰無恩刑。

申屬金。寅屬木。木能生火。金能生水。水能滅火。亦恃生而為無恩刑也。

頌曰刑謂無恩意若何。持生相滅徧頗。禍來父母並師長。犯者災尤亦更多。

When reading bazi pillars chart, we have various different methods to read combinations of energy and destruction form of energy.  In this post, I am going to write about trio destruction energy.  This trio form is a combination of Yin wood, Shen metal and Si fire.  

According to the five element phenomenon, Yin wood generates Si fire and Si fire destruct Shen metal.  The tricky point is, during the process of destruction between Si fire and Shen metal, actually this is a smelting process.  Therefore we can call it a generate method but in a tough way.  

How come this trio combination is recognized as cruel manner?

Since Yin wood generates Si fire and Si fire then can destruct Shen metal, this is a cruel way with not considering.  This is how people from the ancient times looked at it.  

When we read pillars chart, if we notice this trio’s presence, this is a message for possible future argument especially with elder family members or with teachers or superiors.   

八字篇：命例# 24 Bazi case study #24

命局冲剋力量 destructive energy among pillars chart

Pillars chart reading highlights 

Jia wood was born in Wei month.  Wei is the third month of summer season and all the summer is finally stored inside the earth element.  As a result, Wei must be the heated earth element, also Ji wood is stored inside Wei earth as well.  In terms of ten god concept, Jia wood and Wei earth is within a destructive energy relationship.

In order to identify the destructive relationship among words, we not only look in terms of each pillars, we can do it in horizontal or vertical ways.  

Just like the chart above, I have filled cells with colors to identify each destructive relationships.  

Between the year and month pillars, Shen metal destructs Yi wood, Wei earth destructs Hai water.  

Date and time pillars, Jia wood destructs Wu earth and double Chen earth is ruled as over strong, so its a type of destruction too. 

甲木生未月藏乙木，存點根炁。甲木和未土本為冲尅關係。命局中其他字亦存在冲尅關係。甲木和戊土，乙木和辛金，辰辰自刑（過剛）和未土和亥水。

(Con’t) Four earth elements with monthly trigrams

As continue with the last post.  I have explained and quoted the detail illustration of the four unique earth elements from ancient books.  I have also mentioned each earth element representing a calendar month and with their corresponding yang or yin lines.  

Chen 辰土 – 3rd month of spring season with five yang lines.

Trigram #43 Displacement

Wei 未土 – 3rd month of summer season with two yin lines.

Trigram #33 Retiring

Xu 戌土 – 3rd month of autumn season with five yin lines

Trigram #23 Stripping

Chou 丑土 – 3rd month of winter with 2 yang lines

Trigram #19 Nearing

論土。辰戌丑未 Detail look into the four Earth elements

三命通會。明萬曆。萬民英

辰 Chen

辰建季春，為水泥之濕，而萬物之根皆賴此培養。甲至此雖衰，而有乙之餘氣；壬至此雖墓，而有癸之還魂；見戌謂鑰，能開庫中之物，若三戌重衝破門，非吉。日時多見水木，其運更向西北，則辰土不能存矣。

Chen

Season: third month of spring, with five yang lines

Features: moist, soft and warm, ideal to house plants root for active growing. 

Stems and branches: Jia 甲 wood growing cycle is almost finished.  Contain root for Yi 乙 wood and Gui 癸 water.  Storage for Ren 壬 water.  Destructive with Xu 戌 earth and release stored energy.  Suitable for wood and fire energy flow. 

Yang energy

戌 Xu

戌乃洪爐之庫，純鐵頑金，賴以煉成。見辰龍則衝出壬水，而雨露生焉；見寅虎則會起丙火，而文章出焉。然火命逢之，則為入墓，寧能免於不傷哉。

Xu

Season: third month of autumn, with four yin lines

Features: contains metal energy, hard and heated.  Not suitable for plants growing, but good for housing metal to retrieve energy.  

Stems and branches: Destructive with Chen 辰 and releasing the stored Ren 壬 water while clashing.  Trio combination with Yin 寅 wood and generate Bing 丙fire.   Storage of fire energy.  

Yang energy

丑 Chou

丑雖隆冬，有冰霜之可怯，但天時已轉二陽，是以丑中己土之煖能生萬物，辛金養地，豈只深藏？見戌則刑，見未則衝，庫地最宜，刑衝不為無用。見巳酉三合，會起金局。若人命生於丑月，而日時多見水木，必測行巽離之地，而土方不衰耳。

Chou

Season: third month of winter, with two yang lines

Features: basically frozen watery soil in deep winter.  Contains metal and water element.  All the growing resources are being stored underground, just wait for some solid heat kicks in, the Ji 己 earth stored is just perfect to generate growing energy.  Trio destructive combination with Xu 戌 and Wei 未 earth.  Trio combination of metal energy with Si 巳 fire and You 酉 metal.  

Yin energy

未 Wei

未當季夏，則陰深而火漸衰。未中有乙木，有丁火，是藏官藏印，不藏財也。無亥卯以會之，則刑難變，只作火土論；無丑戌以刑以衝之，則庫不開，難得官印力。柱中無火，怕行金水之運，日時多寒，偏愛丙丁之鄉。蓋用神之喜忌最當分曉，不可毫髮誤也。

Wei

Season: third month of summer, with two yin lines

Features: the strongest fire stored inside to make the most heated soil.  It contains Ji 乙 wood and Ding 丁 fire.  Trio wood combination with Hai 亥 water and Mao 卯 wood.  If we do not see these elements, then it is treated as a heated soil.  Like to see fire element to keep its status, do not prefer cold weather among pillars chart.  

Yin energy

八字篇：命例 #23 Bazi case study #23

Subject: How to tell a specific stem is gaining energy on both stem and branches level.

論男命喜忌。論女命喜忌 Different methods of reading the bazi pillars chart of men and women in ancient times

新刻星平總會命海會編。卷。明。薜承愛纂輯

論男命喜忌

次究夫妻與子星。水為妻主火為孩。（夫為土星）

逢生坐實無冲䧟。妻容子秀又賢能。

如見犯空并帶殺。若不傷刑也有乖。

忽然有犯喪門虎。定然邁目更悲哀

Reading the bazi chart of men:

The reading order of a male chart is the career (also means the child) star, then money star (wife).

For example, the chart day stem which represents the owner is earth element, then money (wife) star is water element and child star is wood star.  If we do not see destruction cycle in the chart, then it stands for the wife is decent and beautiful.  On the other hand, if we see non-stable energy cycle and destruction, then this can be a trace of non-auspicious. 

論女命喜忌

女命宮宿莫亂多。只宜清淡不堪強。

夫宮不雜為真福。招夫養子更偕和。

若犯殺星多雜剝。朝日喃喃口嘴多。

如帶孤辰並寡宿。終朝困苦受奔波。

Reading the bazi chart of women:

The very first criteria of a women’s chart is with a clear and clean energy flow, cannot be messy.   In those days, due to their culture, they do not prefer a woman to be really smart and clever.  With only one career star (husband star).  Also, do not want to see any lonely star to be presence.  

On the whole, this is the way of seeing things in those days, this is affected by their culture and structure of society, which can be totally different from today.  

天干不斷若血脈之調榮。地支相類珠璣之貫穿
Consecutive stems and branches in pillars chart

五行精紀。三十四卷。宋。廖中撰

天干不斷在格曰連珠。地支相連在格曰連茹。得連珠則貴。得連茹則富。有所畏者隔斷也。

蓋十干不要斷。若甲字斷之。如血脈之不通榮衛也。

十二支不要斷。若子字斷之。則如珠璣之不相貫穿也。

甲字而斷。他九字化為虛一待用格。

十二支若不斷。子而斷。餘十一字名為歇滅殺。

The foundation concept in reading bazi pillars chart must be the energy flow among pillars.  When we see consecutive stems or branches in corresponding levels, this is consider as strong and active energy circulation.   

This is particularly important for readers since ancient times.  

In case we see three or even four consecutive words either on stems or branches level, which means the flowing energy is continuing and not stopping.  In the bazi language speaking, this is consider as a credit for energy generating.  

八字命例 #22 Bazi case study #22

Title: how to judge a particular heavenly stem has strong energy generated from the earthly branches level.

Pillars chart reading highlight:

歲干乙木為陰木。

地支寅卯辰為春月木旺季節，加上亥水為木長生之所。

天干乙木透出木氣，承上地支木炁為強。

乙木身強可用官星。命例以庚，辛金為官星。

Year stem Yi wood belongs to ‘yin’ energy.

On the branches level, we see Yin wood, Mao wood and Chen earth are the three months of the spring season.  Spring season is dominated by the wood energy, with the Hai water is the wood reborn strength stage.  

As a result, the Yi wood appearing on the stems level with the support of the strong wood energy makes the Yi wood very strong and dominate energy among the whole chart.

With a strong energy, then can use the officer star and money star based on the ten god concept of bazi reading.  

Bazi case study 21 八字命例 # 21

Title: by concluding different words among pillars, we can work out the main energy flows. 

Chart owner details:

Male was born in 1882. 

Died at the age of 45 in year 1925.

Occupation: General in army

戊土生丑月，寒天凍土，性質有別。巳丑合天干辛為全金局，日支申為金祿。戊同戌為含金秋土。

年月日三柱雖由各行所組成，實為金炁主要。

時支甲寅主晚年，健康和子孫。此甲有氣因坐祿地，月堤亥為長生。但金和木為尅伐關係。可預見晚年不穩。

This pillar chart belongs to an army general who was born in the year of 1882 and those were the unstable years of China.  

As we can see different various elements existing in the year, month and date pillars, but after considering the details, we can conclude there are only one metal element that is dominating.  

As shown, the time pillar is Jia and Yin wood, both of them are ‘yang’ wood.  This Jia wood is sitting on top of its career stage (12 stages of earthly branches, mature stage) which indicates as strong.  Metal and wood energy are engaged in a destructive relationship.  As a result, the time pillar represents elderly age, offsprings, health stages.  

The pillars chart owner died at the age of 45 years old, in another word, he never has a chance to experience old and have grandchild.  

論十干得旺時不旺。失時不弱（2）Strong and weak of five elements baes on time wise (2)

八字篇：耕寸集

有如春木雖強。金太重而木亦危。

干庚辛而支酉丑。無火制而不富。

逢土生而必夭。是得時而不旺也。

秋木雖弱木根深而木亦強。干甲乙而支寅卯。遇官（金神）透而能受。

逢水生而太遏。是失時而不弱也。

是故十干不論月令休囚。只要四柱有根。便能受財官食神。

Continue with the last post.  

Judge the strength of a particular energy based on the related season period and its status in the actual pillars chart.

Here is another two examples illustrating the above situation.

Wood in spring season:

Obviously wood energy dominates these three months but on the other hand, when metal energy is heavy within the pillars chart (by nature, metal and wood energy is in destruction mode), as a result, wood energy is hook up at risk in situation like this.  

Wood in autumn season:

During autumn time, metal energy dominates this time, but if the wood energy comes with a strong root on the same pillar or within the pillars chart, then when the career star (metal is the career star of wood, destruction) kicks in, the wood energy is still bearable. 

This is the precise example illustrating while an energy is not at its most benefit period and it can still be strong.  

Note: 

When we talk about the root of a heavenly stem, which means the same energy is present on the earthly branches level.  

For example,

Jia wood 甲木 with Yin wood 寅木

Yi wood 乙木 with Mao wood 卯木

Ren water 壬水 with Zi water 子水 

論十干得旺不旺。失時不弱 （1）Strong and weak of five elements based on time wise

八字篇：耕寸集

書云：得時俱為旺論。失令便作衰看。雖是至理。亦死法也。

夫五行之氣。流行四時。雖十干各有專令。而其實專令之中亦有並存者。

在假若春木司令。甲乙雖旺。而此時休囚之戊己。亦未嘗絕於天地也。

冬水司令壬癸雖旺。而此時休囚之丙丁。亦未嘗絕於天地也。

特時當退避。不能爭先。而其實春土何嘗不生萬物。

冬日何嘗不照萬國乎。

况八字雖以月令為重。而旺相休囚時。亦有損益之權。

故生月即不值令。亦能值年。值日。值時。豈可執一而論。

When we talk about five elements, referring to the time is critical, especially when we have to look into the strength and weakness of the element during that specific period.  

According to books, the basic knowledge is straightforward.  Wood is strong in spring, fire is summer, metal is spring and water is winter.  Apart from this fundamental concept, to be precise, we have to look more into it and we can come up with a fuller picture.  

For example, Jia and Yi wood (甲，乙木) are strong during spring time but Wu and Ji (戊，己土), even it is at the weakest (wood is the official star to earth element 木為土官星) during this period, and it can still provide a base to grow plants, there are still trace of survival for it. 

For example, Bing and Ding fire (丙，丁火), in winter period, their energy are being deteriorated to the lowest level.  But fire is an important key for pillars chart that is too cold to survive.  

On the whole, when we examine the strength and weakness of elements, we do not only taken into account the month but also need to consider the reality.  

Bazi case study 20

Title:  smooth energy flow in the bazi pillars chart with a matching energy cycle of the fate pillars, how can this help to reflect in a person’s life?

Pillars chart highlight:

1) Ren water was born in Chou month.  Chou month is the last month of winter season and is the season for water element, even chou is earth element and it is supposed to be destruction energy but ren water cannot be judged as weak.  

壬水生十二丑月，丑為臨卦，二陽之地，丑為季冬水地，壬不弱。

2) As we can see three Chou earth element on year, month and time pillars with three Shen metal appearing on the stems level.  This is the same energy flow for these three pillars.

地支三丑生天干辛金，全局需一點火暖身，剛好自坐寅為丙火長生，大運配合得宜，這此壬水可發光發熱。

3) To keep the pillars warm, we need some sort of fire energy, and the Yin wood is the reborn strength stage 長生 of Bing fire (丙火).  With the matching energy kicked in from the fate pillars, then this Ren water can generate wood and into fire eventually. 

壬水走過木地生木，火地木生火，終令全局火炎起來。 

4) The elements cycle from water into wood and into fire are all ‘yang’ energy, then this can reflect the chart owner is positive, active and hard working for her life. 

5) This pillar chart’s another focus is lucky stars.  As we can see there are three Chou earth element on the branches level and this Chou 丑土 is the lucky star for Jia wood 甲木，Wu earth 戊土，Geng metal 庚金, and they all have the ten god relationships with Ren water 壬水, so they are all included as child star’s lucky star (食神貴人), career star’s lucky star (官星貴人) and mother star’s lucky star (印星貴人).  

五行精紀。三十四卷。宋。

原局。大運。太歲

The relationship between pillars chart, fate pillars and tai sui (grand general)

大運至本命宮。五行生旺支干。和祿馬貴人。

食神相生。有益處為吉泰之運。亦不能常為福。

須候太歲行年。又看五行生旺支干。和合福神之地方。

可發福大運至吉鄉。

卻遇逐年太歲小運。到刑害之鄉。亦主細累浮災。

但不為重害也。

凡大運到本命宮。五行死絕。支干刑衝六害。一切凶殺者。

為屯蹇 （艱難，苦難不順利）凶禍之運。

遇逐年太歲。又見刑衝。小運不和。死絕帶殺者。

方可發禍。

其小運與太歲。到生旺祿馬。貴人一切吉神者。

其年卻主有小喜。逐快事。

但歲神過宮。福如故也。 

This article, will suggest, the interaction between pillars chart, fate pillars and tai sui.  Since they are all made from stems and branches, they are all about five elements maneuver.

When fate pillar is generating wanted energy to the pillars chart, then this is positive impact, it will bring to a higher level if we see the lucky stars.  

When fate pillars is generating unwanted energy to the pillars chart, with extra energy from the unlucky stars, then we can predict unfortunate for the stated period (one fate pillar is for ten years).  

Moreover, if this same impact applies from the tai sui, then we can forecast ups and downs for the present years. 

五行精紀。三十四卷。宋。大運 Fate pillars

大運

運行則一辰十歲。除乃三日為年。精休旺以為妙。

窮通變以為玄。

夫。運者。人生之傳舍推命之說。先以三元四柱五行生死格局。

以定根平生之吉凶也。

論行運至五行生旺之地。如木之得春。其敷榮華實可知矣。

或行運到五行休敗之地。如木之逢秋衰朽枯槁亦可見矣。

人之四柱五行休旺生死之理。在乎悟理窮幽達微。

通變以盡其妙。

This paragraph is from a book from the Sung dynasty, which talks about the fate pillars.  

Fate pillars are listed all the pillars in form of stems branches from our young age until the last stage of life.  By interpretation the interactions between the five elements, then we can have a forecast pictures of the future days.

For example, if wood energy is strong in the pillars chart, with wood energy in the fate pillar, this is strong.

On the other hand, if wood energy is strong, with metal energy fate pillar, then this is weakened off. 

Bazi Case study 19

Title: Two similar weight energy within a pillar chart, how to handle/read them?

Bazi Case No.18

How can just one word in the pillars chart upsetting the normal status of other words 天干透一字令全局本性改變

Geng metal was born in Chen month.  Chen belongs to earth element and it is the last month of the spring season.  Based on the five elements theory, earth element can generate energy for metal, so from this point of view, this Geng metal can be classified as strong.  

In the beginning of this article, I have stated that how can the presence of one word in the chart upsetting the normal status of other words.  My explanation is as follows:

On the stems level, there are two gang metal and a jia.  Both of them need heat energy to stay in shape.  

On the branches level, there are three Chen earth and a Shen metal.  Shen with Chen elements with the Ren water on the year pillar makes a water trio combination.  With this solid water form brings the water content in this chart to a high level.  

While Geng and Jia need heat and now the water is boosting, as a result, this is against the need of Geng and Jia, so with the presence one single Ren water upsetting the whole chart.  

天干一甲兩庚均需火氣以保其陽性。年干壬水，可合地支申金辰土水局，使全局之水氣旺盛，火氣全失。

Bazi Chart Case Study 17

Topic:  When the energy flow of a bazi chart is not as smooth as expected, how can we find the solution? 

命局中，氣運行不順，可化解？

Bazi Chart Reading Highlight:

1) Wu earth element is born in Wu fire month.  Wu month is the fifth month of the year and is the middle of summer, so it is solid heat.  When we refer to the 12 stages of the earthly branches, Wu fire is the energy peak stage of Wu earth element, in another words, this Wu earth is strong in term of day and month relationship.

戊土生仲夏午月，十二長生為刃地，上透丙火，火氣絕對旺盛。

2) On the stems level, we see two earth elements and two fire elements.  In terms of 12 stages of earthly branches, earth element falls on the same category as the fire element, on the whole, the energy on the stems level is obvious and strong.

天干為透兩土兩火，火土同源，命局以火氣為主。

3) On the branches level, we see three earth elements and one ‘yang’ fire element.  

地支三土一火。

4) When we swap the focus on the chart in the whole, we can feel that earth element is forming the majority of the energy flow.  Then, we need to identify the different features among the four different earth element.  We can see there is one earth on both stems and branches level with some water element inside, they are the Ji and Chen earth element.

局中以己和辰土帶水氣。然土氣略嫌擁塞，可相金以洩土氣。己和辰可生金。

5) Referring back to the basic of the five elements rule, when one element is overly strong, it has to generate energy for the next element in the cycle.  In this case, when earth is strong, it generates energy for metal energy.

6) In this particular case, it is making sense to use metal energy to release the excessive stored energy within the earth element.  Moreover, the fire element is the month pillar and it is the peak stage as well.  Metal energy needs fire for swelling process to turn itself into a piece of tool. By doing so, the fire energy is being release as well.  After multi-testing, metal element is the core solution for this bazi chart.    

剛好用金離不開火練，局中不缺。

Bazi Chart Case Study 15 命例15

When two strong energy flow in a chart has a conflicting signal, what could possibly be the solution.

在命盤中，有兩種力量相約而相尅

In some cases of bazi charts, we may acknowledge that two main stream of energy flow are destructing at each other (e.g. wood & metal, water & fire), this is likely to reflect on the real life of a person that, he/she is currently experiencing a bumpy road of life, whatever things the person wants to achieve, it is not as smooth as it could expected.  Then obviously, everyone want to avoid, therefore, people starts looking for solution.

當金和木，或水和水在命局中形成兩停局面，就是一個長期處於尅伐狀態，反影在命主中的不穩定。

Bazi case study 14

Revealing the true picture behind bazi four pillars 

八字命盤，如何才看到本象？

Pillars chart reading highlight:

1) Yi wood borns in Si month, which is the 4th month of the year.  At this time, spring has gone and fire energy kicked in, temperature starting to escalate.  With Ding fire as the month stem, this pillars chart is warm enough for the yi wood to grow.

乙木生巳月，夏月屬火，以月令為重，整個命盤溫暖，上透丁火。乙木要生，先要火後要水。巳月初夏剛好。  

2） The owner of this chart is a female, and she is asking about the picture of her spouse from her chart, whether she could get hold of any hints.

命主為女性，她主要想看她的夫星如何。

3) According to the stems combination form, Yi wood combines with Geng metal.  From the point of view of Bazi ten gods, Geng metal is the officer star of Yi wood and vice versa Yi wood is the money star of Geng metal, as a result, Geng metal is the spouse star of Yi wood.

從命局看六親，我們可以看十神星和四柱宮位。女命以官星為夫和日支為夫宮。乙木以庚金為夫星，在時干透出，可看出命主夫星顯現和近身。庚金以巳火為長生，酉金為帝旺，得氣為吉。

4) On position wise, Geng metal is at the closest distance with the Yi wood, then it can tell the chart owner is very close with her spouse in real life and this spouse star may only appear on the later stage of life since it exists on the time pillar.

5) On the branches level, there is a You metal and Si fire on the year and month pillars respectively, it almost form a metal triangular form, this is generating metal energy for any existing metal element within the chart.  Even there is some distance with the stem Geng metal, nevertheless, they are within the same boundary.  

未土在夫宮，未土內藏乙木人元，乙未有根，可看出夫婦兩人情切。

6) On the whole, this lady’s pillars chart is getting well with her spouse star and this star is able to generate energy.

總括，夫星在這個命盤健旺而沒有冲尅。 

A story about symbolic star ~ Imprisonment Star 一個關於神煞天羅地網的故事

This is a story happened around the 1930s-1950s.  This was an unstable period in the Chinese history, so people did not feel safe and most of them will turn to fortune telling and believed in fate.  

When fortune teller read their bazi pillars or face reading, they common used the concept of symbolic stars.  In this article, the imprisonment star refers to two earthly stems, Chen 辰 and Xu 戌.

Mr Lin, a member of the revolutionary party, he planned to go to Shanghai for a meeting.  He wanted to go with his friend, Mr. He.  Mr. He believed in fate very much and once a fortune teller told him have to be careful since there is a good chance of imprisonment during winter time that year.  As a result, Mr He did not want to go with Mr. Lin, he only wanted to go during spring time.  

Mr. Lin does not believe in fate, so he did not agree with Mr. He and tried to push him to go.  After a few discussions, Mr. Lin changed destination from Shanghai to Xiamen.  Mr. He thought Xiamen is nearer and he is familiar with this place, so he agreed to go with him at last.  

They planned their trip before winter solar term, minor cold 小寒, due to  change of cruise ticket, the date they left was already two days after minor cold.  According to plan, two days of journey, then they will get to Xiamen, at this time, there was always accident.

During their cruise trip, pirates robbed the ship and they were held imprisonment on the ship for more than two weeks, which means, this got through solar term, major cold 大寒 and then to start of spring 立春.  

After this incident, Mr. Lin who didn’t believe in fate, and he fell for fortune telling and he was surprised things were always just happened as it forecast.  How surprising.  

Bazi Chart Case Study (13)

Bazi Chart Case Study (12)

Chart reading highlights:

1) Ren water was born in Si month.  Si month is the first month of the summer season, heat is escalating and according to the five elements theory, water element is determined as a weak link in the season.  Therefore, we can classify this Ren water is not a strong status in this bazi chart.

壬水生於孟夏，夏為火地，五行走向以水尅火洩氣，這個壬水不當以強論。

2) On the stems level, we see both year and date stems are Ren water and both month and time stems are Yi wood.  So, we can see that water is generating growing energy for the Yi wood to stay active.

地支火地兩巳為火祿，寅為長生火，戌為燥土，全無水氣，壬水只有透出歲干為助，但這壬坐下為寅，其力彼微。

3) On the branches level, the energy flow is dominated by fire and wood as we see two Si fire, a Yin wood and a Wu earth element.  As on the month point of view, the energy commences from Yin wood then to Si fire (which passed through Mao wood, Chen earth), and the Xu earth is a fire safe box, on the whole, heat energy is dominating the branches level.

地支木火地，天干兩透乙木為源。

4) Si fire in eight trigrams concept, it belongs to Xun trigram 巽卦 which representing the wind.  Heated wind is blowing on the branch level, in ten gods concept, this is the money star.

十神論，壬水看巳火為財星。用財身要強，反之為兇。

Bazi Chart Case Study (11)八字命例(11)

Chart reading highlights:

1) Ren water borns in Chou month.  Chou month is the very last month of the year and the last month in the winter season.  Weather is absolutely frozen and all the living energy are being paused.  Winter is the season dominates by the water energy.  Therefore, the Ren water is classified as strong in this case.

壬水生於十二月，丑月屬土，內藏癸水和在冬天，不以土尅水弱論。

2) On the stems level, we see one Yi wood with two water and a Geng metal.  On the branches level, we see three earth elements and a Zi water.  

天干透出乙木，一癸和一庚金。地支丑，戌，未土和子水。

3) The three earth elements are Xu, Chou & Wei earth element, the forms a perfect triangular conflicting form (三刑).  This triangular form full can be used on top with an official star.  

地支三土為三刑格局，如果，當用官者身強可用三刑，一般言，地支三刑並見，論八字不以吉論。

4) If we use the Yi wood on the month stem as the base, then the Geng metal is the official star of the Yi wood, plus, Yi wood with Geng metal forms a golden couple.  In this case, then the Yi wood can employ the Geng metal with the triangular conflicting form on the branches level.  

用月堤天干乙木為主，官星為庚，官星貴人為丑，未土，官印為土星。

5) Base to the basic concept, if we want to use official star, the person has to be strong.  In this case, the Yi wood has three water elements to generate energy for it, therefore, this is workable. 

用官者，身當比官重，日元壬水生丑月，時為刃地子水，生於癸未年。

Bazi Chart Case Study (10) 八字命例 10

Chart reading highlight:

1) Geng metal was born in Wu month.  Wu is the hottest month of the whole year and with Bing fire at the stem level.  This month pillar is the giving out the most of the yang energy, therefore, we can conclude that this chart owner is an outgoing and a very expressive person. 

庚金生於火炎午月，午月正值火旺，月堤上透丙火謂最陽一柱。命主傾向比較外向，好動和表現自己。

2) In the ten gods concept, fire and metal are at a destruction concept, therefore, when Geng metal borns in Wu month, this cannot be ruled as strong.

從十神看，火金處於尅洩狀態，庚金不能從強論。

3) On the branches level, we do not see any metal element to support the Geng metal on the stem level, but we see it is next to the Ji earth element.  In the ten gods concept, it is the mother star of Geng metal, therefore, it is not as weak as it seems.

地支金氣無根，從氣順而行看，卯和午隔了辰和巳，因丁為歲干，同巳，所以暗拱一巳。十二長生，庚金生於巳，所以庚還是帶了點根氣。

4) On the branches level, we see two Mao woods and two Wu fire, and a Bing fire with a Ding fire on the stems level.  This is just correspondent to the Zhen 震 (Xun 巽) Li 離 hexagrams in order.  This is an obvious and strong sign of a smooth energy circulations within a bazi chart. 

地干卯為震卦，辰巳暗拱為巽，午為離，氣順而行為吉。

5) With the energy on the fate pillars going through the similar energy patten, on the whole, this bazi chart’s energy flow is at a smooth and no conflicting manner.

八字以順為主，不喜刑尅。

Bazi Chart Case Study (9)

Bazi chart reading highlight:

1) Mao month, is the second spring month, which tells us its the peak stage of the wood energy.  When wood energy escalated to the peak which means it can be evolved into fire energy in just one click.  As a result, Bing fire born in Mao month, this can be considered as relatively strong.

丙火生於仲春，木氣秉令火相，不能以弱論。

2) Earthly stem Mao belongs to direction east and hexagram Zhen (震).  This stands for a very active growing energy going on in the nature.  

卯月為震卦，十二消息卦謂雷天大壯，萬物處於生長活躍期。

3) This bazi chart has three ‘yang’ pillars with one ‘yin’ pillar.  In normal manner, yang stands for outgoing and yin stands for low profile.  In this case, the yin pillar is the month pillar and its in Mao month, this is an active picture.  Therefore, we can foresee that the chart owner is an active and outgoing person.  

命局三陽一陰柱，卯屬木，生意為陽，所以反映命主個性比較外向，活躍，喜歡表現於人前。

4) On the stems level, we see one Bing fire and one Geng metal, which these two are the outstanding elements.  

天干主要原素為丙火和庚金。

5) On the branches level, we see Chen earth and Mao wood on the year and month pillars.  This is the flow of the spring months.  We also see Shen metal and Xu earth on the date and time pillars.  Again, this is the flow of the autumn months.  

前兩柱為春，後兩柱為秋，地支從木地走到金地。

6) The spring months combination is just perfect for generating energy for the Bing fire while the autumn months combination is as good as generating energy for the Geng metal on the year pillar.  

春氣正合丙火生意，秋意屬意庚金之性。

7) Base on the Bing fire swelling the Geng metal on the five elements theory, the ultimate beneficial in this chart is the Geng metal.  

丙庚關係在於相尅亦在冶練。凡用金者，命途必定充滿挑戰。

8) In the ten gods point of view, Geng metal is the money star for the Bing fire. 

十神而言，庚為丙偏財星。

Bazi Chart Case Study (8)

Bazi Chart reading highlight:

1) Jia wood was born in the Mao month, that is the second month of the spring season.  During this time of the year, it is the solar terms, ‘Awakening of Insects’ 驚蟄 and ‘Spring Equinox” 春分.  Rain is getting more frequent and temperature is obviously getting warmer.  This is the perfect season for kicking off the new cycle of farming activities for the new year.  

甲木生木旺卯月，當以旺論。卯月一節為驚蟄，一氣為春分雨量漸多，當是春耕時機。

2) From the bague energy point of view, mao belongs to direction east where is the Zhen 震卦 hexagram.  This stands for escalating active energy is resumed after the frozen winter weather, energy stored underground are boosting out.  On the whole, when jia wood born in mao month, it is very energetic and wood energy is strong.

卯為震卦，雷天大壯，正是春雷季節，萬物適時震動活躍起來。大壯卦四陽在下，正在上升，只剩兩陰在上。

3) On the stems level, we see Jia and Yi wood and the Ji earth is for planting the root of the two woods.  

天干兩乙一甲，己土正好盤根，正合木生意。

4) On the branches level, we see Hai water and Mao wood on the year and month pillars.  This almost complete the wood element triangle form.  This stands for the wood energy is relatively strong.  

地支亥水為木之長生，卯為木刃又為月堤，可見木氣是秉令。

5) On the date and time pillars, we see Shen metal and Hai water.  Shen metal in this position is acting as the reborn strength of the water triangle form, therefore, this is another element generating the wood energy on the stem level.  

日支申為長生水可生木，為木之喜。

6) On conclusion, the highlight energy in this chart is wood and preferred energy is fire (warmth is needed for wood to grow).

總結命局以木為喜，順勢而生定當以火為用。

How do we determine a good bonding among bazi pillars? 精神

This is a more advanced level of reading a set of bazi pillars chart whether it is a 1st class or 2nd class Bazi set .  Since spirit is not showing physically but we can always trace a hint. 

要看原局精神，這是基本功之上的技巧。已不只看五行生剋，而是把著眼點於在八個干支最亮的一點。

Once we get hold of the hint and go down the line, we can then get a new picture of the pillars chart and can derive a broader conclusion. 

當看到精神點後，往往發覺整個命盤有新看法。

What are the fundamental criteria that is likely to lead to a spirit to a pillars chart? 看精神點基本條件

1. All the stems and branches are not fighting each other, they are working in smooth order, therefore, a sustainable balance and flow of energy can be obtained. 

最重要，干支間不帶尅伐，他們在穩定地帶出一道力量。

1. In most of the pillars charts, there is a short coming of a certain energy, and we have to make this short coming up.  Furthermore, when we add this extra element to the chart, this top up has to work smoothly and effectively, this counts as another element of spirit. 

當力量不足時補，溢時洩謂之基礎。

1. A all rounded balance of the pillars temperature has to be maintained, this is another count as well.   For example, all pillars are showing a dry and warm temperature, then it is disadvantage to add water or metal element to the chart, as this will disturb the original balanced energy. 

命盤要保持適當溫度。

After all these explanations on the spirit of the pillars, ancient experts also divide spirit into different levels.  On the whole, in order to fully understand the spirit in pillars chart, this could be achieved through lots of practices.

What will happen when the element’s energy at its peak and got clashed? 四敗地逢冲

The four earthly branches at peak stage are Zi water 子水, Wu fire 午火, Mao wood 卯木 & You metal 酉金.  They represent the four element’s peak stage, and they are the strongest stage within the cycle.

子午卯酉乃水火木金旺盛之地，亦謂十二長生帝旺之所。

Since their reflecting energy are absolutely obvious, therefore, they could be a credit or a debit among the pillar chart.  If they are preferable, then this is classified as auspicious, while it is non-preferable, then this is the other way round, a debit asset in the chart.  

當氣盛可看待為吉或兇。

When we refer to ancient Bazi book, experts will tell us another concept, when they see it from the view of Bagua 八卦 (the eight hexagrams).  

八字古籍告訴我們，看四柱五行干支同時，亦可看卦氣。

For example, when Bing Wu 丙午 (Li hexagram 離卦) fire pillar meets Ren Zi 𡈼子 (Kan hexagram 坎卦) water pillar?  When Ding Si 丁巳 fire pillar meets Gui Hai 癸亥 water pillar?  In normal Bazi concept, water and fire is a clashing relationship, they are damaging each other but in the concept of bagua, they are a co-operate relationship 既濟卦, they are working as a team to provide warmth and moist to grow things, as a result, this is a peaceful and balanced status. 
例如：丙丁火入離卦，遇上壬子水坎卦。五行生剋看為水尅火，但在卦氣狀態，特定情形下，可成既既濟卦。兇可成吉論。

Example 2, Geng Shen 庚申 & Shen You 辛酉 metal pillar (Dui hexagram 兌卦) meets Jia Yin 甲寅 & Yi Mao 乙卯 wood pillars (Zhen hexagram 震卦).  This can be interpreted as, in the language of Bagua, Dui 兌 hexagram represents the youngest daughter while Zhen 震 hexagram represents the eldest son.  This is the picture of a couple, therefore, it is not clashing again.  

例如：庚申和辛酉金，為悅卦；遇上甲乙木，為震卦。震為長男，悅為少女亦算正配。

On the whole, in reading and analyzing Bazi pillars, we do not only use the concept of five elements, we also has to make use of yin & yang, bagua concepts etc in order to derive an all-rounded picture.  

八字閑神 An isolated player in pillars chart

八字局中閑神。則奄留之干支。常閑停於用神之左右。多不取用。此等奄留之气常為停囚。不長智養。身喪病困。或是傷官之處不為所事。更是鏡花之象。合憎成恨。忽得歲運助推。奄留之气轉生成凶。耗我傷我。如我用者豈是真假難辨。局中情難斷。如斯閑神禍根暗種。不可忽也。

The isolated player in a bazi chart

In bazi, we have four pillars with four meanings and we have eight separate words to build the full picture.  Have we ever thought that are all eight words are being fully utilised?  

Answer is not necessarily, one can be isolated at most of the time.

It can be a stem or a branch.  It is not helping the situation nor hurting it and most importantly, it cannot be vanished.  

In another word, it can bring potential risk to the bazi since it could gain energy when it bump into the right year or month or even fate pillar (十年大運)‘s stems and branches to bring harm to the bazi chart and eventually this is classified as non-auspicious. 

How can we classify which one is the isolated word?  

It is not always obvious and it can fake us when we do not look carefully with clear mind.  It can pretend to be a good player too.

古籍：三車一覧 ~ 論五行生旺 Strong or weak link of an element

大凡五行乘時而生，是本身自得其旺，若於命中又見生旺，是謂物極。

若失時而生，是本身自無氣,又於命中見衰絕，是謂乖(意：不順，不可諧)體。

物極謂之太過，乖體謂之不及。

太過則反，不及則懦 (意：弱)

According to this ancient bazi book, it defines between a strong and weak link of a specific element.

Time is a critical reason causing a strong or weak energy flow behind and of course there is something to do with the seasons change.  

When we go back to the pillar chart, the day stem stands for the chart owner, this will indicate the strength of this particle stem in the chart itself.  If it is a strong bond, and seasonal changes is generating more energy, then this is an extreme (non preferable).

On the other hand, it is a weak flow itself, and it cannot gaining extra support via fate pillars or seasonal change, then this is a form of weakness and unfortunate.  

古籍：增補星平會海全書～征太歲卷十 Destructing the Tai Sui Book 10

征者，戰也，如臣觸其君，乃下犯上之意。

日干支冲尅太歲，曰征運，支干傷冲太歲，亦曰征太歲。

干支冲日，干支者，亦曰征，但看八字有無助，仔細推詳。

例如丙寅年，日干是壬，尅太歲之丙。日支庚申，尅太歲之寅。 

Destructing the tai sui which means the stems or branches are in a destructing energy relationship with the tai sui of the current year.  From the last post, I talked about when tai sui can be auspicious and when it is the other way round.

Since in the concept in the old days, tai sui is as powerful as the king of the current year, therefore, if you invade or destruct it, then it will certainly bringing chaos to life.

For example, Bing Yin year (丙寅年), day stem is Ren water (壬水) and day branch is Shen metal (申金), then back to the relationship of stems and branches, bing fire and ren water is destruction, Shen metal and yin wood is destruction too.  

古籍：增補星平會海全書 論太歲吉凶 (2)

有救則吉，乃八字庚辛酉巳金局是也。

經云：戌巳愁逢甲乙干頭，湏要庚辛或丙丁火局焚木有災，勿咎效與推之，或得己合甲亦解之，大抵太歲不可傷之。

相生者吉，乃五行有救。 

(Cont)

From the last article, according to ancient book, from the point of view at the time, is tai sui a good or bad thing to the fate of people?

We looked into the Jia wood day and Xu earth year relationship, this is destruction.  In this same case, if we see metal element in the pillar chart, this can be treated as a cure.  

On the whole, if a element is generate energy to the other party, this is auspicious.

古籍：增補星平會海會書卷五 Book 5 論太歲吉（一） If Tai Sui is good or bad for us

太歲乃年中天子，不可犯，犯則凶。

命書雲：日犯歲君，災殃必重。如甲日見戊，土太歲之也，尅重者死。

甲乙生寅卯亥未日時者，犯尅太歲者，決死無疑。

The concept of tai sui, in the eyes of people in old times, they treated it as powerful as the emperor of that current year.  It is never a good idea to invade it.  

In books said, if the elements of the heavenly stems or earthly branches invade the tai sui, it must bring chaos to you.

For example, if Jia wood day ( 甲木日) stem borns in Xu earth (戍土年) year, this is a form of invading and they do not want to see. 

How to read the four pillars? 回到基本：如果讀懂四柱?

Lets get back to the origin.  Reading the year, month, date and time four pillars, as we called the Bazi, is one crucial way of future forecasting skill since ancient chinese society.  It is still widely used by experts nowadays. 

從前有四柱八字的出現，人們都想從很多未知得到資訊。

How do we start from the eight fundamental words?

We have to know the structure how we come up with the words and how are they each related to each other.

首先要了解四柱八字如何組成和每個字之間的關係。

We have the year pillar and we derive the month from the year.  We look up the date pillar from the almanac and derive the time pillar, then we have the four pillars and can calculate the fate pillars from the month pillar.

年柱，我們從年柱查出命主出生月柱。日柱為出生日，從曆書出可查出出生時柱。 從這，得出年，月，日及時柱。

Back in the old days, experts focused on the year pillar.  Since a few hundred years ago, people swapped the focus to the date pillar.  For example, date stem is wood and you have branch as Mao wood 卯木, and date stem as metal and you have brach as You metal 酉金, this is classified as strong energy.

從前，八字先生多專注年柱為主，近代才專在日柱。

以下是一些看懂干支四柱關係例子。

Apart from timing, the four pillars can also represents our family relationships.

Year pillar ~ grandparents

Month pillar ~ parents

Date pillar ~ yourself, your spouse

Time pillar ~ siblings

看時間之外，也看家庭朋友關係。

年柱 ~ 祖上

月柱 ~ 父母

日柱 ~ 自己及家庭

時柱 ~ 子女

If date pillar gets energy from the year or month pillar, then its likely that you will get help from your family. 

If date pillar is stronger than the two, then you are likely to be successful due to your own ability.

Bazi Chart Case Study (7) 八字命例（七）

How to identity the conflicting manner among a bazi chart

怎看出局刑冲？

Bazi Chart reading highlights 略解:

1) Bing fire born in Chen month which is the third month of the year.  This is also the last month of spring, wood energy has already passed the peak and its ready to go back to earth element to get recharged.

丙火生於辰月，春季月，木氣已盡，歸土待轉。

2). Back to the five elements cycle, the wood energy has been transformed into fire energy, as summer is just round the corner.  

五行運作，木生火，所以辰月火相。

3) Chen month is solar terms ‘Ching Ming’ & ‘corn on ear’, which stand for heat is obvious and we can also feel the wind in this season.  In middle of the month, is ‘corn on ear’, this is the last solar term in spring.   It is warmer and more rain which is just the perfect timing for a new season of agriculture activities.  

辰月節氣為清明，谷雨，這時天氣漸熱，新一論耕種季節來臨了。

4) On the stems level, we have one water, two fire and one earth elements presence.  Earth element is destructing water and water is destructing the fire element.  While on the branch level, the earth element is destructing the water and the water is destructing the fire element.  

天干我們看到戊土合癸水，癸水又尅丙火。 地支又看到子水尅丙火，未辰土又尅子水。

5) Therefore, we can draw a conclusion that both stems and branches level are conflicting with each other in their own unique manner.  

結論，天干和地支各自有自己尅伐形態。

Symbolic Stars 神煞星 ~ Learning Star 學堂星 and Academic Star 詞館星

When we read bazi pillars chart analysis, it is common that the term symbolic stars appear in these analysis writings.  In this article, I am going to focus on two symbolic stars that is about his/her ability to have good achievements in learning and be successful in life.

看八字，對家長來說，小朋友能否讀書聰明伶俐，尤關重要，神煞星裡便看學堂星和詞館星。

The Learning star 學堂星  and the Academic star 詞館星

Experts often see these two stars as an indicator showing the chart owner has the natural born potential to have high achievements in studying and being clever while the academic star showing the person will have a high position in academic field in later stage of life .  These are especially important for parents.  These two stars may seems similar in meaning and functions but according to ancient books, actually they were being explained separately and independently.

師傅們看待這兩顆星為命主自生來在學習中和能力都比較高和聰明。  雖他們看來也很類似，其實細仔看是有分野。

The Learning Star  學堂星

~ This is referring to the reborn strength stage of the 12 stages of an Earthly branches (十二長生).  在十二長生中，長生位置。

~ For example, if a date stem is metal energy, then if we see a pillar with Shen Si 辛巳 (Si fire is the reborn strength stage of metal element), this is the learning star of the chart owner.  

例：日主為辛巳，巳火為金之長生宮。

~ The reason behind is very straight forward.  At the reborn strength stage, a lot of energy is ready to burst out and the energy flow is definitely going upward and escalating.  

背後原理直接，長生意思是源源不斷供給生長動力。

The Academic Star 詞館星

~ This is referring to the fifth stage of the 12 stages of an Earthly branches.  The fifth stage is the career strength stage 臨官.

在十二長生中，第五宮位，臨官宮位。

~ For example, if a date stem is metal energy again, then if we see a pillar with Ren Shen 壬申 (Shen metal is the career strength stage of a metal energy), this is the academic star of the chart owner.

例：日柱為壬申，申是庚金臨官位，如命主生庚年，申便是詞館星。

~ The reason behind is simple too, at the career strength stage, a person is matured and working on a career in the commercial world, his ability and potential is well used and trained, and the energy flow is at a high rich stage.  

意義是，臨官位由如一個人初出社會謀事，已經成熟和擁有豐富技能，可以得到更高成就。

正印與梟神 Bazi Ten Gods ~ Parenting Star

「印與梟」同生我之物。只有好悪之不同。其理在於「正印」為生我之母。「梟神」是作繼母辨之。

「正印」如慈母心如其祥。「梟神」作繼母之名但無親之義。

如人得「印」加䕶。其情可嘉。優秀之仕乃至社會棟樑。

「梟神」作主。乘勢不饒。只為嫌惡之徒。

How do we see parenting star in bazi charts reading?

We take the day stem representing the chart owner, any stars that generates energy for us is considered as parenting star, especially the mother position.  As usual, it is differentiates among yang and yin mother stars.  

Yang mother star correspondence to mother and siblings relationship and yin mother star means aunties, godmothers etc who are showing care and love to the chart owner.  The yin mother star are often not blood related.  

Among a bazi chart, in any case, that the day stem is generating growing energy from the mother star, this maybe a positive signal brings positive impact to the person.  At the same time, if the growing energy is from a yin mother star, there maybe other possibility.

食神與傷官 Bazi ten gods ~ sibling stars in yang & yin

食神」與「傷官」俱是我生之氣物。然也有吉凶相差分別。

「陽」生「陽」。「陰」生「陰」。謂「食神」。

「陽」生「陰」。「陰」生「陽」。謂「傷官」。

其義無非資我食祿謂「食神」。傷我官星為「傷官」。人之一生以祿為先。一資一傷吉凶自分。

「食神」之意乃財源之始。趁利進財。克承家業。能與官為友。盜賊為仇。其人品性良善精氣神足。

「傷官」乃為行悖氣戾。仇於官星。以匪為朋。盜竊我物。由如賊劫。錯用「傷官」人則邪妄。好鬭訟傷。敗壞門庭。（在於男女宮更驗）

In bazi reading, for easy understanding and explanations, we use the ten gods concept, which we take the day stem as the centre of the whole principal and build five different relationships around us, of course, it also differentiate into yin and yang and makes a total of ten gods.

In this article, I am going to focus in the sibling stars, which is the energy that I generate, just like the kids what we give birth to.  We generate the energy that they need, we provide everything, in return, they get what they need from us.  This is the basic and when this process is being inherit into bazi chart reading, it can bring positive or negative impact. 

Since this is a set of thinking from ancient Chinese society, when we try to interpret into simple English, it cannot be 100% the same.  In ancient concept, yang day stem generates yang sibling star is 食神, yin day stem generates yin sibling star is 傷官.

食神 is the origin of wealth star, it has a meaning of fortune coming in, it is a peaceful relationship with the officer star 官星, and is a kind and smart person.

傷官 seems like the other side of 食神, it can be more fierced with the officer star with a non-peaceful personal character.  If it is the focus of a bazi pillar chart, then the reader has to pay more attention at the negative impact on the chart as it will reflect on the daily life of the chart owner.

Bazi Chart Case Study (6) 八字命例(6)

While the date stem representing the chart owner, sometimes, it may not look as weak as it states on the chart.

日元看似身弱，細仔看後，當有轉機

Chart Reading Highlight 命盤略解:

1) In order to identify the circulation pattern of the chart’s energy, we start with the relationship between the day stem with the month branch.  Yi wood born in You month.  You month is the second month of autumn.  

要分辦命局五行氣流向，從日元月令關系入手。 乙木生於金旺七月，不能說身旺。

2) We have to know the weather status of You month, in order for us to clarify whether is a credit or debit to the date stem (representing the chart owner).  You month is the solar term; autumn equinox; during this time, all the autumn features are being seen in the nature, which is telling us, its deep autumn and the metal energy has escalated to the peak.  

七月初秋，秋分之時，金氣正進，主蕭殺。

3) Speaking in Bazi language, this chart is dominated by the metal energy and it is strong.  From Yi wood’s position, this is definitely not a pro for its survival.  Speaking in the ten god’s language, You metal is the officer star of Yi wood. 

八字言，這命盤以金氣為旺，以乙木而言，不能視為裨益，十神金為乙木官星。

4) On the branch level, we see the presence of Si fire, Chou earth and You metal, they form a complete metal combination, as well with two Shen metal on the stem level, metal obviously taking over the whole chart.  Could there be other possibilities?

地支巳火酉金和丑土結成金三合局。

5) The Shen metal on the month stem is closely relates to the Gui water on the year stem, how does this work?  It is about the position in the chart.  For Gui water, the Shen metal on month pillar is the mother star, from this point of view, it is not directly conflicting with the Yi wood but instead, it generates energy to the Gui water and this gui is generating growing energy to Yi wood to make it stronger. 

申酉金為癸水印星，年干透出癸可生乙木。

6) Furthermore, with the fate pillars going through the fire element in the first forty years of age, this would be another credit.  

大運四十年走先走申地再走火地，可使時支巳火得用。

立十神名義 ‘Ten Gods’ in bazi reading

古立名「才。官。印。食」為綱。取流行天地間之陰陽做化。五行交相為用。生尅制化之理而已。

如以日干「甲乙」論則為「日主」屬我。

生我「壬癸」水。

我生「丙丁」火。

尅我「庚辛」金。

我尅「戊己」土。

十干之義盡矣。

生我者父母之義名「印綬」。得父母之恩德蔭庇。子孫受其福。

我生者育子孫之義名「食神」。如人得食則益。物被食則損。故子成致養父母之道也。

尅我者受制別人為「官」也。受管制之法。如人受蔭得律法所保護。不能僭越他人毀傷事物。

我尅者為控之人事也名「才」。養我身而益我為才。取義田產之應。

四者立命之說。乃自然近身之物。造化之神喜生惡煞。至理存焉。

五行之義有恩必有仇。故陰陽相互為恩。見順陽順陰者為仇。

轉恩為仇者。

生我「梟」也。

我生「傷」也。

尅我「殺」也。

我尅「偏才」也。

Ten gods concept is based on money, officer, mother and sibling stars and they have their own ‘yin’ & ‘yang’ concept.  They are originate from the five elements theory, generating and destructing process.

For example, the day stem (representing the pillar chart owner) is Jia and Yi 甲，乙木 wood element.

My mother stars 印星 are water stems 壬、癸水

My sibling stars  食神星 are 丙、丁火

My officer stars  官星 are 庚、辛金

My money stars 財星 are 戊、己土

Mother stars generate growing energy to me, just like my parents provide all the things we need to grow up.  This is a good star which brings positive impact to us.

Sibling stars work the other way round, we generate growing energy to them, so they can have the best environment to turn into the peak status.  

Officer stars are just like our father or boss who are keeping an eye on our behavior, in making sure that we do not act out track.  

Money stars are the opposite way, I have to keep the money under control.  As a result, I have to be strong enough. 

These four main stars are just from our daily life, this is nothing that are superstitious or mysterious.  

食神與傷官 Sibling stars in bazi reading

「食神」與「傷官」俱是我生之氣物。然也有吉凶相差分別。

「陽」生「陽」。「陰」生「陰」。謂「食神」。

「陽」生「陰」。「陰」生「陽」。謂「傷官」。

其義無非資我食祿謂「食神」。傷我官星為「傷官」。人之一生以祿為先。一資一傷吉凶自分。

「食神」之意乃財源之始。趁利進財。克承家業。能與官為友。盜賊為仇。其人品性良善精氣神足。

「傷官」乃為行悖氣戾。仇於官星。以匪為朋。盜竊我物。由如賊劫。錯用「傷官」人則邪妄。好鬭訟傷。敗壞門庭。（在於男女宮更驗）

In bazi reading, as we know there is a way of reading called the ‘ten gods’.  Sibling stars is which generate the growing energy from the day stem (represents the chart owner).  It divides into ‘yin’ & ‘yang’.

It works as:

Yin day stem generate yin sibling star

Yang day stem generate yang sibling star calls 食神星。

In another way, yin day stem generate yang sibling star or the other way, it called 傷官星。

Even they both are sibling stars, but they have two separate meanings in ancient bazi books.  The meaning behind is another level and I will not go into depth in this article.

食神星 has the meaning of source of wealth, incoming of money and fortune inheriting.  The person is kind and smart.

傷官星 has the meaning of bad tempered person, it has the nature feature of being against the official star 官星.  Due to this nature, it is not on the ethic track of the society, as a result, they like to hang out with thieves, stealing stuffs and harming people.  

Bazi Case Study (18)八字命例（18）

How do we identify earthly branches combinations whether it is a benefit or harmful act for the day stem? 如何判別地支作合對日主是吉是凶？

Pillar chart explanation highlights:

命盤解讀

Wu earth borns in Si month.  Si month is the first month of summer, fire is here already but not yet strong.  According to the five elements theory, fire generates energy for the earth element, as a result, this could be judge as strong.  

戊土生巳月，火強未旺，五行火生土，戊土不弱。 地支巳酉丑金局，從印變食傷，從強轉弱。

On the stem level, we can see Si fire, Chou earth and You metal, it forms a metal trio combination.  With two Shen metals appearing on the stems level, we know that the metal energy is dominating the whole chart.

地支全金局，年，時干透出辛金。全局金氣主導，戊土盡洩。

While metal dominating, wu earth generates energy for it and metal generates energy for the water.  

From the day stem (representing the chart owner), it is very week since the metal trio is demanding energy from it non-stop.

On conclusion, if only relating the day stem with the month branch, it is strong but after the trio combination exist, then it changes the whole situation from strong to weak. 

貴人 Lucky stars in bazi reading

貴人訣 How to derive the lucky stars in bazi reading:

甲戊兼牛羊乙己鼠猴鄉

丙丁猪雞位壬癸兔蛇藏

庚辛逢馬虎此是貴人方

自亥至卯乃乾坎艮震四陽卦。自已至酉乃巽離坤兌四陰卦。

辰戌為天地之界限。辰為地網戌為天羅。貴人不履之地。

天盤貴人若加地盤辰戌二宮。謂之入獄不治。

曰交夏至以後屬陰。己午未申酉陰貴為主得令當權。交冬至以後屬陽。亥子丑寅卯陽貴為主得令當權。

得位又直進氣或得天月二德相配或天道德合之宮。謂之有力貴人。

造褔催官催生極速。陽貴若在夏至後冬至前而臨巽離坤兌。陰貴在夏至前冬至後而臨乾坎震艮。

此為陽貴在陰宮。陰貴在陽宮。各不得令亦不得位。但能制凶伏煞。造福卻輕矣。

人生。八字 Bazi and our life

人生下來，命運自有高有平之時。

通過後天讀書，便能知識改變命運。同樣通過面相和八字等，我們能推斷出人生的際遇中和各方面的資訊，也能推斷出事情的起因丶經過和結果。

所謂帶眼識人，相由心生。一個人擁有什麼樣的性格和運勢，均會呈現在面相上，如能配合八字分析，那準確性便更高。 所以面相和八字有着千絲萬縷的聯繫，真是受益非淺。 學習面相和八字互相引證，知人善任，大家有興趣不妨齊齊切磋切磋。

When we think of bazi or the four pillars from our birth moment, how can we actually relate both in order to generate the picture of our life?  

All experts have their own unique point of view or opinion.  On the whole, there are ups and downs.  Of course, we all like ups and want to avoid downs, but is this actually the case or what we can do with fortune telling?

From reading the four pillars and those fate pillars, we can more or less derive a picture of when we can have smooth times or bumpy road, but no matter what times we are referring to, we all have to work hard, via devoting our effort to get hold of a fortunate future.  

While working and living hard, from reading bazi chart and face reading, we can then tell when is the best time to stay high profile, and can get more achievements.   In another word, we have to get ourselves well prepared at anytime, therefore, when a good chance comes, we can make it fully utilized.  

八字命例 4 Bazi Case Study Case (4)

Metal element needs fire to release its potential

Chart reading highlight:

1) Yi wood born in Chou month.  Chou month is the last month of the whole year, the picture is freezing cold, all the growing energy are being stored underground until bursting out in next spring.

乙木生丑月，凍土凝結，仍以水冷為主。生意藏於土，靜待春季而出。

2) As explained earlier, wood needs warmth and water to grow, during Chou month, water is at a high level and fire is at the lowest level, therefore, this is not an ideal growing environment for Yi wood to gain energy. 

木以火溫和水潤而生，丑月過寒，不利乙木生意。

3) In this bazi chart, on the stems level, it has two wood and two water  elements, at the branches level, it has four elements that are metal related.  On concluding the overall picture, it is cold since it is at the 12th month of the year, water is freezing and the metal elements at this temperature is cold too.  Wood cannot gain any heat for growing.  

命局中，天干二木二水，地支金氣得地。

4) Apart from wood, metal element is another focus in this chart.  It dominates the branch level and You and Shen metals are both strong stages of metal when refer back to the 12 stages of earthly branches.  With two Shen and one You, metal elements cannot be ignore at this stage.

日元乙木之外，金氣在局中亦為重。

5) The main shortcoming in this chart is, fire element is absent, wood cannot grow and the metal cannot be processed into a useful piece of tools.  This is what we call the smelting process.  Without it, metal element cannot release its potential, this is just the same for a person with this bazi feature.  

命盤缺火溫土暖金，存乙木生意。 金缺火不能成器，名為冶練，這也反映在命主人生中。

八字命例3 Bazi Chart Case Study (3)

看出命局比較弱的氣 Identifying the weakest energy link 

命盤略解 Chart reading highlights:

1) Ren water born in Yin month, from the process of water generating the wood, and during Yin month, it is spring time and wood dominates the energy flow.  From the point of view, Ren water cannot be ruled as strong.  

壬水生正月，季春木旺之時。 五行生尅，壬水生寅木食神。 壬水不能以強論。

2). On the stem level, we can see Bing fire, Jia wood and Wu earth elements presence, while on the branch level, there are Wu fire, Xu earth, Yin wood and Chen earth elements, these are all elements with fire and heat related factors.  As a result, the Ren water is isolated and making it the weakest link within the chart.

天干丙火，甲木戊土皆為火炎土燥；地支戌土午火皆為同類，只有辰土內藏一點癸水。

3). Furthermore, from the view of the stored elements, we can see the jia wood and wu earth are present on both levels, which take them to a stronger level.  

甲木戊土之氣均存在干支視為透干。

4). In the language of Bazi,  in order for the weakest link to be able to survive, it has to add some more or generate more energy of the weakest link, which is the water element, or the mother star which is metal element in this case.  

八字語言，氣弱均需扶益為上, 這裡宜用比肩劫財星 （水）或印星 （金星） 生旺日主。

八字命例 2 Bazi Chart Case Study (2) ~

五行沖尅 Elements are conflicting each other

命盤解釋 Bazi chart reading highlight:

1). This chart belongs to a high official in the Qing dynasty, which is over a century from today.  命主為清朝要官。

2). Geng metal born in the You month which is the eighth month of the chinese calendar.  You month is mid-autumn, metal energy dominates, therefore, Geng metal born in You month can be ruled as strong.

庚金生金旺酉月，中秋時節，庚金透干為旺。

3). Two Geng metals are present on the stem level with only one Yi wood.  Normally Geng metal and Yi wood is a couple and now with double Geng metal on the stem level, this is not a sign of peaceful situation. 

年，日天干同為庚金，年庚作合月提乙木為有情。  兩庚合－乙有爭合之象。

4). On the branch level, Zi water and Wu earth is a conflicting combination and Wu earth with You metal is also a destruction relationship.  

地支午火酉金相尅，子水午火地支六衝，地支各柱皆不穩。

5). While experts stated that, the energy circulating need to be smooth and in generating order, trying to avoid destructing and conflicting.  

書云局中五行運轉中和為貴，不喜刑衝破尅。

6). On the whole, this pillar chart is circulating a destructing and not peaceful energy.

地支多衝不為美。

2022立春四柱 Four pillars for the first Solar term of the year 2022 壬寅

交立春 2022/02/04/  

04:51am

四柱：

甲     戊     壬     壬

寅     子     寅     寅

年命「壬寅」見月柱「伏吟」。天干「壬」水得日支「陽刃」「子」來扶正。雖「立春」月令為「寅」木。又地支三「寅」上透「甲」木。

木有向陽之性。得「長生」火煖。春初雖有餘寒。猶有火煖。日干「戊」土喜扶「甲」木。為相濟之美。

是此年命「八字」卦气成「艮」。「气」行東北。「運」走南方。「立夏」後交轉「吉方」。

Spring Commences four pillars explanation

Spring commences is the very first solar term among the 24 solar terms throughout the whole year.  This also means an official starts of a brand new year.  Therefore, a lot of bazi experts like to analysis the meaning behind the four pillars of the ‘spring commences’ trying to forecast the auspiciousness for the forthcoming year.

Let’s look into the four pillars by means of the five elements theory.  

There are a few highlights of the spring commences four pillars:

1. The year and month pillars repeat themselves.

2. The month stem and the day branch represents a strong energy of the water element.

3. There are triple energy of the Yin (寅)wood in the branches and one Jia (甲) wood in the stem, this indicates the wood energy is solid and strong throughout the whole stems and branches balance among the four pillars.

In order for us to know what picture is actually presenting among the four pillars, we have to take a detail look at the properties of the wood element.

Wood elements :

~ wood is an upward growing energy (up rising is Yang)

~ need water element to grow

~ need warmth to stay active

According to the month branch, it is Yin (寅), it is still cold, not warm enough yet.  On the whole,  wood would not be able to have enough warm for it to grow actively.  Furthermore, by referring to the 12 stages of life in Bazi, Yin (寅) is the 1st stage of life for the fire element, so it is able to provide sufficient warmth for the wood to keep an active form even-in Yin month. 

There is a yang earth element at the day stem which is Wu (戊), it is an critical element for the wood element to grow and gain support.  

Overall, the general picture of the four pillars is the Gen (艮) in bagua stands for direction northeast.  To maintain a more balance picture, after the summer commences solar term, fire energy will start to kick in. 

八字命局例子 （1）Bazi Chart Case Study (1)

命盤解讀 Chart reading highlight:

1. This bazi chart belongs to a chair person of a Chinese province in the old days. 古時一縣令命造

2. Geng metal born in Yin month.  In spring time, wood energy dominates and Yin wood is the first month of spring season.  Refer to the relationship of the five elements, wood dominates and the metal energy will become the weakest link.

庚金生寅月，春令木旺，木旺金囚。

3. From this point of view, the Geng metal is not enjoying any benefit from the Yin month. 

金生春季不得力。

4. At the same time, we can see another Geng and Shen metal are presence on the year and month stems pillars, this cannot be ruled as a credit to the date Geng metal since there is not metal energy at the branch level as a support.  The three metal element on the stem level can only be classified as a lot but not strong.  

天干兩庚一辛聚眾，地支沒有金氣為不得地。

5. Fortunately, the Ji earth element at the time pillar and the Wu earth element stored inside the Yin at the month pillar can be seen as the mother star for the metal element.  

幸得時干己土，月堤寅木內戊土為印星。

6. On the whole, the metal element on the three pillars are not as weak as seen as it relates to the month pillar.  For the general benefit for the chart owner, he has to go through metal element fate pillars in order to kick start a smooth running of the chart energy circulation.  

觀全局，金氣並非只看月令般弱，但仍需靠大運金地生扶方為上。

魁罡1.0 Symbolic Stars Series ~ Lonely Star 

魁罡何解也。

辰則天罡.戌唯河魁.此二位乃陰陽滅絕之地故名「獨」.

此格須叠位重見.日位加臨.眾伏為貴。

魁罡聚眾發福非常 .性聰文章振發.

臨事果斷秉權好殺。

賦☁️：運行生旺發福百端.一件才官禍患立至.帶刑殺尤甚。

日見獨處刑衝.尅制重臨.小人刑責.窮徹🦴。

～待續～

Among the symbolic stars category, there are a couple of lonely stars, they are similar in some circumstances but in precise, they are different.  

Lonely Star 魁罡 is about two earthly stems, Chen 辰土 and Xu 戌土.  Among the twelve earthly stems, only these two earth elements do not have the correspond lucky stars connected, therefore, its classified as loner.  

In a pillars chart, if the same pattern pillar with either Chen or Xu is double, then is a special combination, please see the following example:

As shown in the above pillars chart, we can see that there is two identical pillars with lonely stars, then this is a qualified combinations.  If a chart has this pattern, then can be a strong auspicious energy and can scare away negative energy, as well, this can be a blessings for academic studies and being smart and clever.  

The person can be rather decisive and powerful.  

~ to be continue ~

從別個角度看甲乙木

Shall we see Jia 甲 and Yi 乙 wood from another point of view?

耕寸集云： 

甲乙者，木之陰陽也。 甲者乙之氣，乙者甲之質。  

在天為生氣，而流行於萬木者，甲也。

在地為萬木，而承滋生氣者，乙也。

又細分之生氣之散布者，甲之甲。

而生氣之凝成者，甲之乙。

萬木之所以有是枝葉者，乙之甲。

而萬木之枝枝葉葉者，乙之乙也。

When we read bazi charts or other experts read and explain bazi charts, there is a general way of expressing heavenly stems and earthly branches but is there another angle of reading them?  

From one bazi book (Ming dynasty)

Jia wood is yang while Yi wood is yin energy.  Jia is the energy of Yi and Yi is the substance of Jia wood.

In the air, Jia wood is the growing energy and spread out in all wood.

On the ground, Yi wood is bearing such energy and grow physically.

 From the Jia wood point of view, Jia wood is for spreading out such growth and the Yin energy is condensing these energy.

From the Yi wood point of view, Jia wood energy is the physical wood substance and Yi wood energy is the leaves and branches. 

太歲有 2️⃣ Duke of the Year ~ Tai Sui

1️⃣「當生太歲」。即「本命太歲」～八字中的年柱。如「𡈼子」年生人。以「壬子」為當生太歲也。

2️⃣「游行太歲」。卽所到之年屬於（子）。已本命生年屬於（子）。每1️⃣2️⃣年流轉一次生肖。今人稱作「流年」。今所說犯太歲。實為「游行太歲」。非「本命太歲」。須經6️⃣0️⃣年才會相遇。流年要與太歲合參以論休咎也。 

繼善篇云。太歲乃眾煞之主。入命未可言凶。如逢戰鬥之鄕。必主刑本命。(太歲 一年之主宰,一切神煞偕從太歲所起。故為神煞之主 ）。入命者與四柱相同。稱「轉趾煞」。纏合稱「晦氣煞」。還須看是否相和相助。故未可言凶也。

戰鬥～衝剋也。天千為尅地支為衝。我衝我尅。彼衝彼尅。皆主有晦。如帶刑者必傷本命。 歲來犯命為禍輕。命犯歲君災殃重。

太歲主一年之吉凶善惡。歲如君命如臣。是以臣犯君殃必重。

 When we talk about Tai Sui, it includes two concepts. 

1. The correspondence Tai Sui for our birth year, which is equivalent to our year pillar (includes both stem and branch), and that tai sui is only repeat only every sixty years.  

For example, year 2023 Gui Mao 癸卯, this is the Tai Sui for this particular year.

2) The circulate Tai Sui, that mainly focus on the earthly branch.  For 

example year 2023 Gui Mao 癸卯, Mao is the circulate tai sui of this 

year, and this will repeat every twelve years.

When we read bazi pillars chart, we have to take into account both circulate and your own tai sui to force auspicious or non auspicious.  

According to books, tai sui is the superior star for the year, the best is to get on well with it, the worst is fighting with it in terms of five elements and stems and branches combinations.  

In case the current year tai sui repeats with another pillar within pillars chart, then this is unclear picture, cannot classify as auspicious or not.

太歲 Duke of the Year ~ Tai Sui

太歳年之君。神煞之主。

古以君皇為萬民之主。百般朝拱。諸侯爵祿官吏之首。所謂文盛武德威夷四海。

太歲有人君之象。能伏壓諸神煞。則年中第一貴神。

在十二生肖輪行中。每年必有一太歲當值。民間都有六十太歲輪替。值管人間之吉凶。

有道～太歲當頭座。無福必有禍。是年太歲掌於威權。萬般吉凶神煞由此當起。小限之吉凶神煞能與太歲相邀合德。則貴從天來福澤恩。

如衝太歲者。更不合命中吉神。便是生病遇禍。輕者疾走他鄉財源秏損。禍重則傷仃失儀。

更若刑破太歲者。是年有災禍。指背官訟難料。

所言歲星入命。

福兮禍所依 禍兮福所聚。

People call ‘Tai Sui’ as the duke of the year since it has the power to rule over everything within that year.  There are total of sixty tai sui correspondence to sixty different years in terms of stems and branches.  

Each ‘Tai Sui’ has its own name and its belong element.  For example, this year 2023, Tai Sui is 皮時 Pi Shi, with a water element stem and wood element branch and metal element 納音, these information are all being listed in Chinese almanac.  Since it is the superior of the year, therefore, all the non-auspicious and destructive energy will be weakened and scared off. 

When we find out the correspondence Tai Sui of the year, and which direction it’s located at, then we will know the year breaker.  For example, this year 2023, tai sui is in East, then the year breaker is the opposite direction West.  While the Tai Sui direction is auspicious, then the year breaker must be non-auspicious, then we will try to avoid being active in that direction, just to prevent kicking off the non-preferrable energy.

As we all know, there are ten heavenly stems with twelve earthly branches.  The best picture is those who go well with the ‘Tai Sui’.  What do we mean by that?  Those stems and branches are forming combinations with the Tai Sui are see as closed energy without being destructive.  

On the other hand, those are being destructive with the Tai Sui, then for the particular year will be unfortunate.  For example, year 2023 癸卯, then if a pillar with Ji You 己酉, this is the particular year breaker pillar.  

征太歲 Fighting the Duke of the Year ~ Tai Sui 太歲

日主干支與流年干支互相尅伐曰「征」。 運傷太歲亦曰「征」。是年災禍不免。(犯歲君與歲君犯日。是指天干言。而征太歲則干支並論。天尅地衝也。不僅日主大運。凡年月日時衝尅太歲 ,。以征論。流年與日主干支相同稱「伏吟」。流年與日主干支對衝稱「反吟」。

書云。反伏吟吟。眼淚流流 。主家人或本身有（病耗）（刑訟）之事。還須視用神配合斷之。

Tai Sui is a big concept in bazi and Feng Shui studies.  It is being treated as the Duke of the year which means it has the power over all the other stems, branches and elements within that year.  

Since it is the superior, then obviously the worst situation is you have some stems, branches or energy that is destructing with it.  In this case, this will eventually not only bringing non-auspiciousness, but it will also lead to unfortunate.   This is not only referring to the year pillar but also including all the other three pillars and the fate pillar.

Moreover, in judging the destructing energy between tai sui, we also have to consider the lucky stars that appear as well.

神煞 ~ 咸池 Symbolic Star ~ Peach Blossom Star

咸池四煞五行中。遍野桃花鬭艷紅。男男女女相連遇。色酒嬌嫩弄春風。

子（鼠）午（馬）卯（兔）酉（雞）四正位是咸池。又為「廉貞星」。凡命遇之最不宜見水。主奸淫。如在沐浴之鄕又是當旺處。必有傾倒眾生之貌美。又「羊刃咸池」同生於日時者。生性風流但染疾。皆因「咸池」本邪淫。水旺逢金生。貪花戀酒病傷身。

咸池生旺主人性急性巧愛風流。才貌出眾傾城貌。若生敗地則人多奸詐耽酒色。在空亡帶鬼無气死絕必是村巫或粗工。  （現今術士常作人緣或吸引異性看待）

Peach blossom star is one of the most popular symbolic star which is being used by experts today.  This star has a long history since the old days and the meaning has been already. 

When refer back to old books, peach blossom star is at these four earthly branches:

Zi 子 Wu 午 Mao 卯 You 酉

Old books told us if we have these four branches in our bazi chart, it will be better not to see water element.  In the old days, this star mainly is about affair and flirting between opposite sexes. 

If we see it from the 12 stages of stems and branches concept (十二長生), and this star is at the 2nd bathing strength stage and it’s strong.  The chart owner has beautiful face.  If it is at the 5th peak stage, this person likes to going to bars to drink and hang around with friends (at this peak stage will eventually push the energy of the peach blossom star to a higher stage). 

病符 Symbolic Stars Series ~ Illness Star

人多畏懼病符星。此星遇上生病災。小則急病痛症。重則損害疾扼。

故術人多用五行屬金性之物化退之。或取壺蘆配身及年方所在之處收病退疾。

如去病之選擇吉日。可用（除日）（開日）。忌用（平日）（收日）。只添病重。

問卜求醫者。忌用（子）日。

歲後一辰是（病符）。今歲在（寅）肖豬。東北方。

Illness Star

Among fortune telling aspects, asking for health status is a big topic of all time.  How can we find some clues if they will be any health issues that is going to happen, refer to the symbolic star is one of the solution.

If the current years earthly stem is the same as your birth year’s stem, then that year the illness star will fall on you.  According to ancient books, the illness star has a meaning of illness from minority to a serious one, there is no exact definition on the status of illness that is likely to take place.  As a result, experts find ways to weaken its energy by using the metal element to deteriorate its strengthen, or using gourd shape decorations (has a curing meaning) to solve the problem.  

The illness star is the year after the year of ‘Tai Sui’.  For example year 2023 is the water rabbit year 癸卯, the year before is Yin 寅 year, which locates in direction northeast.  

According to find a good day to cure illness, refer to the Chinese almanac, these day :

Remove Day 除日, Open Day 開日 are good.

Try to avoid:

Balance Day 平日, Receive Day 收日, these days are likely to add energy to the illness star.

神煞篇  Symbolic Stars 

古有「神煞」一詞。常有「建除」「堪輿」叢辰。各家之言不盡一意。凡例尤多襲誤。現整理一道。加而解釋糾正吉凶意思。使因例可尋。不惑於世俗術語。

「神煞」古有百二十名。多為穿鑿附會其支離破碎。不外如「陽刃。劫殺。災殺。歲殺。空亡。元辰。勾絞。咸池。羅網。天空」諸殺。

現將常用「神煞」起例放於後論。

如「德秀」。本月生旺者。合「天地」五行變化而成。

德～陰陽解凶之神。秀～四時當旺之气。

寅午戌月～丙丁為德。戊癸為秀。

申子辰月～壬癸戊己為德。丙辛甲己為秀。

巳酉丑月～庚辛為德。乙庚為秀。

亥卯未月～甲乙為德。丁壬為秀。

凡人命中有此「德秀」。無破衝尅壓者。必性聰。温厚和善。

再遇「學堂」帶「財。官」主貴。

Symbolic star is an important field of knowledge that has been widely used for bazi reading since ancient times.  It is just like mythology, there are numerous symbolic stars exist long long time ago, of course some of them are the popular one and a lot of them had been already discontinued.  Readers nowadays, they even do not know that had once existed.  

Since these are long time knowledge, that has been passed along time until nowadays, parts of the interpretation is already distorted and misunderstood already which is very normal.

Here are some popular examples that are being used today:

Nobleman Star 天，乙德貴人

Academic Star 文昌星

Sword Star 七煞星

Prosperity Star 貴人星

General Star 將星