月令篇。月令廣義卷之十九。十一月令 11th month of the year ~ Zi month
月令廣義。二十四卷。明馮應京纂輯
仲冬之月日在斗。斗宿在丑。星紀之次。
其日𡈼癸其帝顓頊其神玄冥其蟲介其音羽律中黃鐘
其數六其味鹹其臭朽其祀行祭先腎
月建子
（前漢書）陰陽合德氣鍾于子。化生萬物者也。
故孶萌于子。
（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。
曰十一月。夜半陽氣所起。人𠄘陽故以為稱。
（白虎通）子滋也孶。孶無巳也。于易為坎之險也。
（注：滋，供給養分。孳，滋生。)
Winter is the last season of the whole year, the 11th month is the Zi month 子月. At this time, the tail of the Big Dipper is pointing north. On the heavenly stems, they are Gui and Ren water 壬，癸水.
In terms of five elements, water element also stands for number 6, salty taste, rotten smell and in body parts is the kidney.
Month Zi
Zi is water element and people see this is a critical element to generate living creatures. After last month, Hai month, it was all six ‘Yin’ energy, when it gets to Zi month, the first ‘Yang’ line appears, the first trace of yang comes back again.
Apart from energy generating, water element also stands for danger, this comes from the concept of people do not see through the water in the sea, ponds and rivers etc. When they cannot see through it, it is black and they are scared, therefore, they see water element as message for danger and risk.
五行篇。五行相生相剋要法（II) Five elements, energy generation and destruction (II)
五行精紀。三十四卷。宋。廖中撰
大率五行。尚其變而不尚其常。
貴其隱而不貴其顯。
死絕有救則為還魂。生旺有剋者氣散。
若夫彼我之相生。順則益本。逆則奪氣。
彼此之相剋，順則勢強。逆則有傷。
(Con’t from last article)
When we take a closer look into the behavior of five elements, how do the changes take place and how the changes turn into an infinite cycle.
According to ancient books, experts explained something like this:
Changes is a critical behavior of elements, changes brings improvement or deterioration, even it is like this, they do not prefer stationary form, not going forward, nor backward, in another word, keeping its usual status for too long.
In order to discover the highlight of a specific bazi chart, we have to find the unseen energy cycle. Unseen means it is physically not to been seen, but the cycle is actually taking place and it is taking up an active role within a bazi chart.
According to the twelve stages of an earthly branch, even a particular element lies on the death or empty stages, if we can find a loophole among the chart, this can be treated as a save. If it lies on the strong stages, i.e. graduation or peak stage, when a destruction comes, it can a damage and weaken the energy.
五行篇。五行相生相剋要法 Five elements energy generating and destructing
五行精紀。三十四卷。宋。廖中撰
五行相尅最為不好。如是福聚之地。尅他處卻從好斷之。
如其他來剋福聚之地。即大不好。
五行相生最為佳。然以禍相生則為凶。以福相生則吉。
凡相生相尅。遇五行交錯方可論之。
如六合三合刑害衝破之類。
皆為五行之交錯也。
Process of five elements, is all about energy generation and destruction, so the cycle can continue infinitely. How can it relates to real life?
According to ancient experts, elements destruction is non-preferred, since this will bring a tough and hard time. If this destruction is not on auspicious aspects, then this is not a big deal.
Energy generating is always a good thing to see since this will make the specific energy stronger, if this is the auspicious aspects, then the luck will be stronger.
In order to examine the energy generating and destructing, we have to look into the manoeuvre in between elements. This is always referring to the combination and destruction combo of both stems and branches.
五行篇。論五行（II) About five elements (II)
五行精紀。三十四卷。宋。廖中撰
功成者謂五行稟旺氣者也。旺而能止息。是謂退藏。
將來者。五行在冠帶胎養之地。其氣虧而未盈。
故欲子母相生。以益其氣。則有榮進振發之道也。
如木非其時。則消箇（衰退）。衰則為梗介（矛盾）。死絕則枯槁。故為梗介。
金旺太過則動作凶。炎炎者貴乎熄。不熄則有自焚之災。
滔滔者貴乎止。不止則有自溺之患。
夫。火行南陸而化熱。盛則焚烈而害物。至酉亥則陰能翕（順從）之。然後熅燠。
水行北陸而化寒。盛則嚴冷而殺物。至卯巳則陽能闢之。然後能滋生萬物。
Cont’ from last article
This is the second part of five elements discussion. This part is based on the concept of 12 stages of an earthly branch (discussed in previous post)
When an element is at good status, the energy is strong and can improve but at the same time can stop at a point, instead of keep going forward which is non-preferable.
At stage four (giving birth), five (toddlers) stages, since this is not the peak status yet, therefore, this is counted as keep moving but not at full yet. There are still rooms for improvement.
For example, wood element not at spring time, it is either going downward or moving forward, not at peak yet.
Metal energy, when it is at peak, since it carries sharpness and can bring damages, and in order to reach this point, fire energy has to involved too. Fire energy needs to be under control, if not, it can bring harmful to surrounding.
Water energy, needs to be under control by means of earth element, if not, it is too strong and eventually can bring damages to the environment.
五行篇。論五行 Let’s talk about five elements again (I)
五行精紀。三十四卷。廖中撰
夫。論五行之性各致其用。 水者其性智。火者其性禮。木者其性仁。金者其性義。逮夫土則信而已。
重厚寛慱無所不容以之。
水附之而行以之木。則木託之而生。
金不得土則無自出。
火不得土則無自歸。必損實以為通。虛以為明也。
夫。論五行之用。多則太過。少則不及。其氣其類有餘不足。皆能致凶。
抑揚歸中。然後為福。功成者貴於退藏也。將來者貴於榮振也。
Five elements seems a simple theory to understand but when we want to know more about it, it is actually a broad topic to learn. Feature is a good way to start.
Each element has its own unique features and it evolves into different usage.
Water stands for wisdom.
Fire stands for politeness.
Wood stands for kindness.
Metal stands for loyalty.
Earth stands for faith.
Water borrows wood element to let it move upward and at the same time, wood element depends on water element to supply growing energy.
Metal element needs earth element to generate growing energy.
Fire element needs earth element to act as a platform for it to stored inside after it’s becomes weak.
On the whole, element’s energy too much is over and not enough is weak, these can be treated as a signal of non-auspicious, balanced and creates a good flowing cycle is a signal for auspicious and smooth.
月令廣義。卷之十七。冬令 Winter (II)
月令廣義。二十四卷。明。馮應京輯
履霜堅氷至
坤之初六變而為復。履霜堅氷將至。𧫴微之始也。
陽氣潛藏
乾初九。潛龍勿用言十一二月。陽氣潛藏未得用事也。
水正陰勝
《淮南子》日冬至則水從之。十一月水正而陰勝。
冬物終藏
《前歷志》冬終也。物終藏乃可稱䆁。名曰萬物所以終成也。
萬物終
《蔡邕》冬終也。萬物於是終也。
伏方藏物
《大傳》北方者何伏也也。伏方何以謂之冬。
冬者終也。終也者物方藏干中也。故曰北方冬也。
陽盛則吁荼萬物而養之外也。陰盛則呼吸萬物而藏之內。
故曰呼吸者陰陽之交接萬物之始終。
陽伏冬時
《律歷志》北方陰也伏也。陽伏于下于時為冬。
陰畢物成
《管子》陰氣畢下萬物乃成。
北方為冬
《禮》北方為冬。冬之為言中也。中者藏也。
This is the second half of the Winter post.
Kun bagua 坤卦 is the monthly bagua of Hai 亥月 month, first month of winter season. When the first yin line (from bottom to the top) of Kun bagua change to yang, is the monthly bagua of Zi month 子月, which means the weather is starting with a tiny change as time passes by.
During winter, the yang energy is being stored underground, as the yin energy still dominates the whole season.
Winter season is the season for water element, this is strong and peak stage.
During this time of the year, all the growing energy, crops and harvests are being stored properly as water and cold dominates, to avoid being rotten.
月令廣義。卷之十七。冬令 Winter (I)
月令廣義。二十四卷。明。馮應京輯
政教
《管子》北方曰月。北方太陰故為月
其時曰冬
中也藏收。萬物干中
其氣曰寒。寒生水與血
寒釋水流。血亦水類
其事號令修禁。徙民令靜止
時方休息。故禁私徙（遷移。移居）
文言
陰象冬
冬主閉藏。陰之象也。
水氣育
聖人以教民育材。
帝戰乎乾
《易繫》乾西北之卦。言陰陽相薄也。乾戌亥十月建亥。
勞乎坎
坎水也。正北方之卦也。勞卦也。萬物之所歸也。故曰勞乎坎。坎主子十一月建子
成言乎艮
艮東北之卦。萬物之所成。終而所成始也。艮主丑寅十二月建丑。
After three autumn months, we finally get to the cold season. In terms of earthly branches, the three winter months are:
Hai 亥月, Zi 子月and Chou month 丑月
During this time of year, water element dominates the season and it also represents the moon too.
In winter, this is the season for storage and complete rest after a whole year of hardworking. After the harvest season autumn, winter is for storing crops. This was critical especially for ancient society as they do not have the many tools to use. To prevent their food and crops being rotted, storing it properly was very important.
This is also the time for resting, the emperor forbidden people to migrate to other parts of the country, he basically stopped most of the active movement of his people. For further interpretation, winter is still and quiet.
五行篇。五行真象。五行金 Metal combo elements
五行精紀。三十四卷。宋。廖中撰
金水。多清
金水象不可見土。謂水土渾雜。金氣不見水。水渾金暗。令人福淺。土歲亦滯。唯金水清白。集秀麗之容。水深金重逢水厄。遇水須教落深淵。
金火。剛虐刻核
金火象不可見水。金火主血多。性好殺。往往因血主福。金重火輕發遲益壽。金輕火重發早退速。早發虧壽。利主兵刑之權也。
金木。柔而有立。剛正時成
金木象活木畏金。見火成秀。死木得金。方成其造化。金重木輕。令人多骨痛。木重金輕。反化肺疾。金木相宜。造成顓平之象也。
悟玄子云。金輕木重損錢財。金重為殃彻骨災。
金土。重厚有執。福慧數全
金土象。土積成金。土多金少。其福厚著。金重土輕。福出艱辛。戊己土多有庚辛者。福厚。若庚辛多有戊己者福艱難也。
As in previous articles, features of metal element was explained and when we read bazi chart, we have to consider the status of a particular element with another element to bring out a new status. Let’s start with the metal.
Metal and water
In this combo, clearness is the primary goal, therefore, do not want to see earth element, since this will ruin the clearness of the water. When metal combine with water in good balance, then the person will be in good shape and smart. When water is more than metal element, then the shininess of the metal cannot exposed and it will sink in deep water.
Metal and fire
This is a hot circumstance, then cannot mix with water. This is the concept of smelting, when the metal is hot, then it can be turned into a useful tool but when the temperature drops, then this cannot be done.
Metal and wood
This is divide into wood and timber. When the wood has growing energy, then metal can help to trim it down and turn it into a better shape, as a useful wood energy. When the wood is timber, then metal can turn it into another piece of object for other uses, just like giving it a second chance of living. Obviously, this is not a good picture when metal element is much more than wood element.
Metal and earth
In five element theory, earth can generate energy for metal but this has to consider the different features of different earth and the balance between them. First consideration is earth cannot be much more than metal, since this will buried the metal deeply and cannot show its features.
五行篇。元亨利貞。四時不惑。Fundamental concept of four seasons and five elements
御定月令輯要。卷一。詳校官編修臣繆晉
元亨利貞
增易。元者善之長也。亨者嘉之會也。利者義之和也。貞者事之龫也。
元是物始於時配春。春為發生。故下云體仁。仁則春也。
亨是通𣈱。萬物於時配夏。故下云合禮。禮則夏也。
利為和義。於時配秋。秋既物成各合其宜。
貞為事幹。於時配冬。冬既收藏事皆幹了．
四時不惑
天地以順動故日月不過而四時不惑。
天地以順而動。則日月不有過差。依其晷度四時不有惑。變寒暑以時。
元亨利貞 (English interpretation : commencement, smoothness, benefit and execute)
This is the meaning of Qian trigram 乾卦. According to the concept of bagua, Qian is the commencement of the whole world and everything.
元 (yuan) ~ commencement, starting point, in the language of five elements, it is spring, wood element, things are about to start its growing cycle.
亨 (heng) ~ smoothness, things are taking place in a smooth manner, this will enhance the presence of any later stages.
利 (li) ~ things are happening, people are taking benefits from the process.
貞 (zhen) ~ after people enjoyed benefits, things are done in a solid mode.
On the whole, this is a cycle of things happening in the world, from commencement to conclusions.
Four seasons is an infinite cycle
As long as four seasons representing four elements (wood, fire, metal and water), they are also four streams of energy. Changing of energy means seasons change, this is yang and yin energy. Sun sets and moon rises shows the cycle is actively moving.
五行篇。論土 Five elements ~ Earth element
五行精紀。三十四卷。宋。廖中撰
五行之主散在四維。故金木水火依而成象。是四時皆有用。
惟忌火死（酉也）水旺（子也）
神白經云。火死土囚。水旺土虛。風角云土得金火成大器。
又云土高無貴。空惹灰麈。土聚則滯。五行聚處生有福之人何故？
土聚復滯。古人云土聚在辰亦即貴。謂陽土聚於辰。陰土聚於未。
辰未者土之正位也。
水丑戌亦土位何不言之蓋。
辰有伏水。未有匿木。水木能滋養萬物。故令人貴。
戌有藏火。丑有隱金。秋火冬金能肅萬物。故令人不貴。
土愛辰未而不愛丑戌也
Earth element, it is one of the five elements, but it is never the same as the other four elements. Metal, water, wood & fire, each of them has their designated season of the year, it has a starting point and escalating to the peak and finally being stored for the next season to start.
Earth element is presence all round the year, according to the twelve earthly branches, it is the last month of the season, which means, in another word, it is the media to store the element after the season and transforming it into the next element for circulation again. As a result, earth element acts like the media that elements can reply on in order to regain energy to get ready for the next season. For example, from spring to summer, is wood to fire, this is an energy generate relationship.
Excess or lack of?
Earth element is so important, then it should be excess or lack of for the bazi pillars chart energy circulation?
Too many will eventually station the circulation with chart, which makes the earth energy to heavy perform its job.
Lack of will lead to insufficient media for the previous element to generate further energy to get ready for the forthcoming circulation.
Excess fire element will make the earth too heavy to move.
Excess water element will break the structure of the earth element and make it weakened.
In ancient days, people recognized both Chen 辰土 and Wei 未土 earth elements are the two best earth and they did not prefer Xu 戌土 and Chou 丑土 earth elements.
Chen stored water element which is Gui 癸水 and Wei stored Yi 乙木 wood , and water can grow wood element which means can bring out energy generation is a sign of auspicious. On the other hand, Xu stored fire element which is Bing 丙火 and Chou stored Shen metal 辛金, these two are destructive relationship and cannot see as a sign of auspicious, so they did not prefer.
五行篇。論火 Five elements ~ Fire element
五行精紀。三十四卷。宋。廖中撰
論火
春忌見木。惡其焚也。
夏忌見土。火旺見土則暗也。
秋忌見金不能尅制。
冬忌見水。水旺則滅形。
春火欲明不欲炎。炎則不實。
秋火欲藏不欲明。明則燥也。
冬火欲生不欲殺。殺則殺也。
火無不明之理。明無不滅之象。
火多令人不實。火極明。明不久也。
不可無木。木能藏火。春火得明到卯寅生也。
火不利西。古法曰然是春火亦宜晚明。何也。
火無不明之理。亦無不滅之象。
火多發即死也。
Let’s talk about fire element.
In terms of four seasons:
Spring ~ seeing wood element, will eventually burn it out.
Summer ~ not prefer earth element, since fire can generate energy for earth element and at the same time, seeing earth element can fade out the heat and light features of fire element.
Autumn ~ no prefer metal element as it is the strongest in autumn, so fire cannot destruct it during autumn time.
Winter ~ no prefer water element as it is strongest in winter and can destruct fire element.
Fire in spring needs to be visible but not too strong.
Fire in autumn needs to be stored instead of visible, prefer to be overheated.
Fire in winter needs to have continuous energy to stay presence, not to be eliminated by strong water energy.
五行篇。論水 Five elements ~ Water element
五行精紀。三十四卷。宋。廖中撰
四時皆忌火多。火多則受渴。忌見衝刑。衝刑則橫流。
忌見土重。土重則不流。
忌見金死。金死則水囚。
忌木旺。木旺則水死。
又雲天傾西北，水之源地。䧟東南水之府。
天傾西北。亥為水出之方。䧟東南。辰為納水之海。
逆流到申而作聲。故水不西行。水多則溢。
反散漫而多不足也。
土年亦然。卯巳同。
玉霄寶鑑云。水之性潤下。逆則有聲。順則有容年月日時。
逆行十二辰者。逆也。入格者。主清貴有聲譽。
順行十二辰者。順也。主有量度。有吉神扶助乃貴格。
Water element : any time of the year, avoiding strong fire element since they are destructive relationship.
Not like strong earth element, this will prevent the smooth running manner of water.
Not like weak metal element, metal too weak cannot generate energy for water.
Not like strong wood energy, this will over demand water energy to grow the wood.
Features of water element according to ancient book:
Water is downward flowing and keeps moisturizing growing energy on the ground. When it is running smoothly, then it is a credit but instead if it runs opposite way, it can bring damages.
Among bazi pillars chart, if the water energy is flowing under a control and smooth manner, plus the blessings from lucky stars, then this person is likely to enjoy a high level of auspiciousness.
五行篇。論木 Five elements ~ Wood element
五行精紀。三十四卷。宋。廖中撰
春忌見金。蓋死弱傷生。
夏忌見火。火出木盡。
秋忌見水。水盛則木漂。
冬忌見死絕。為春已。前三陽未盛。盤根在地。當是時金水火土不能害之。惟忌死絕耳。
生木欲火而秀。丙丁亦然。
死木得金而造。庚辛必利。
生木見金自傷。死木得火焚則盡。發則無憑也。
無風即止。
遇水返化其源。無風即止亂也。
遇水返化其源盡也。
木見水多。木氣浮輕。水氣漂流。營生每勞力尅䧟六親。浮散他鄉無安迹之地。
In terms of seasons:
Spring ~ try to avoid metal element, since wood is strong and wood cannot destruct it and will bring self-hurt.
Summer ~ fire is strong and wood should avoid it as can quickly burn it out.
Autumn ~ try to avoid water element, since metal element is strong in autumn and it can generate water, in case water is excess, wood cannot stay in soil strong and firm.
Winter ~ freezing weather is certainly not a benefit for wood to grow. At this time, the roots are deeply stay in the soil, as a result, all the other elements cannot hurt it.
In reading bazi stems and branches, wood is being divided into growing wood and timber and in terms of seasons.
During spring and summer, wood is in active manner, on the other hand, in autumn and winter, wood is not growing, so it is timber. Growing wood needs fire element (heat) for it to grow, and timber needs metal element to carve it into tools for various uses.
五行篇。論金 Five elements ~ Metal element
五行精紀。三十四卷。宋。廖中撰
春忌見木。不能尅伐。
夏忌見火。金嫌鬼盛。
秋忌見金。太剛則闕。旺則害物。
冬忌見水。水流則金化。
金成則火煉器。就是金成則欲得火。金未成則不欲火也。
又云秋金得火方為良。
金到巳酉丑亦可謂之成也。
又云金不煉不成器。聚金無火難成脫朴之名。
金重火輕執事繁難。金不利死衰之火。器象難完。
金極火盛為格最精。
金輕火重。煅煉消亡。
大火煉金。幸功成而退速。
純金溪水遇富以贏餘。
Look into metal element in terms of four seasons
Spring ~ wood element dominates, since wood is too strong to be destructed.
Summer ~ fire element dominates, fire is too strong and it has a chance to over heated it and eventually breaks it.
Autumn ~ metal element dominates, its energy is already maximizes and its likely to hurt all the energy surviving in the same space.
Winter ~ water element dominates, water and metal has a generating relationship, it has a good chance for weakening the metal energy at one point.
Features of metal element
Among bazi pillars chart reading, when we want to use metal element, it’s likely we need to get hold of fire element too.
This is the concept similar to smelting.
Back to bazi language, metal energy will be strengthened when we see the metal trio combination on the earthly branches level. Si fire 巳火, You metal 酉金 with Chou earth 丑土 elements.
五行篇。論五行 Lets talk about Five Elements
五行精紀。三十四卷。宋。廖中撰
五行者。往來乎天地之間而不窮者也。是故謂之行。
北方陰極而生寒。寒生水。
南方陽極而生熱。熱生火。
東方陽散而生風。風生木。
西方陰止以收而生燥。燥生金。
中央陰陽交而生溫。溫生土。
其相生也。所以相繼其相剋也。
所以相治此之謂有倫 （五行要論）
When we look into Chinese fortune telling, five elements phenomenon is the central thinking that being used in all aspects. As a result, how did people in ancient times defined five elements is very critical. We can have a better understanding in their fortune telling methods.
First of all, five elements is an infinite cycle which takes place from the beginning of the time until the end of the year. This is time wise.
Direction wise is about the four directions corresponding to four seasons.
Yin energy maximize in direction north, it develops into cold and water.
Yang energy maximize in direction south, it develops into heat and fire.
Wind appears in direction east, when wind blows, plants grow and we have wood energy.
Dryness appears in direction west, when all the growing energy wrapped up and being stored and we have metal energy.
Middle stands for earth energy, this is the warm zone (under the soil), and then we have the earth energy.
The five elements cycle consists of infinite energy generating and destructing at the same time. This is the manner.
五行曰：論人性情篇 Five elements to personalities
新刻星平總會命海全編。十卷。明萬曆。薜承愛
☀️太陽：
守命主人為性聰明。寛大出眾多能。有大人之度。行止端莊終始。議論公確謀猷協情。
The Sun is the best lucky star in Chinese fortune telling. It blesses the person to be smart, clever, kind and decisive.
🌕太陰：
賦性聰敏念善心慈。清閑處靜。以承順為德。以代終為功。不自專受制於人者也。
The moon is the second best lucky star. It blesses the person to be kind, friendly and calm.
🔱金：
主義為性剛直方多員少滯。咸池則淫冶 （注：漢語詞語，猶淫蕩；輕狎）
帶陽刃則剛方。是豢 （注：養）氣之人。終始之士。所嫌者骨肉無情。恩中成怨。可喜者於事敗為肯任勞任苦也。
Metal element stands for being a justice and righteous person,.
🪵木：
主仁心懷惻隱。資稟聰明。紊多文藝志行光霽。清高為事不憚煩劇。從曲從直有柔有剛。道合則從不合則去。不肯以私滅公徇情說眾。
Wood element stands for being smart, clever, kind hearted and has potential in academic and education.
💧水：
主智為潤下。性最謙多圓。變喜怒無常。激則怒順則喜。智巧多能處眾惟和。能施恩惠於事。多料隨方逐圓。事多勤始而怠終。情遂東西而無情。
Water stands for flexible, clever, can easily adapt to different circumstances, emotion changes.
🔥火：
主禮為炎上。性最好高而矂暴。元藏蓄先有始而後無終。若受水制。溫和有禮辭遜不貪。於事應酬勇而無謀。又主易好易剛友目無情。
Fire stands for heat, can get angry easily, politeness and can be impulsive sometimes.
🗻土：
主信多機變。有方有直不奢不詐。溫厚持重。觸之則含恨於心。悅之則言無不信。但心難測隱事要密。為難言語默而暗計有餘。沉謀熟慮者也。又主人尊重難若。如性必然帶疾。
Earth element stands for integrity, respect others, warm hearted, and good in follow rules.
五行曰。土令主屬 Five elements : Earth element
月令廣義。二十四卷
帝致役乎坤。坤也者地也。萬物皆致義焉。故曰致役乎坤。
其方中央。其時四季。其卦艮坤。其干戊己。其支辰戌丑未。
其數五十。其星鎮星。其行土天氣主濕。天曰鈞天天之神。
曰勾陳。帝曰黃帝。宮曰黃龍。其岳嵩山。其鎭霍山。
其穀稯。其蟲倮（注：即無毛無羽無鱗無甲覆蓋的意思）。其畜牛。
於經為書。五常為信。五事（注：古人修身的五件事：貌、言、視、聽、思。）主思。其用作聖。情為純厚。狀為端誠。性愛稼穡。稼穡味甘。
人身之脈為肉。五官曰口臟曰脾腑曰胃。其志思。其形肥。其殼黃地之金。
為金體之主。為肉其色。黃其音宮（注：是中國音樂中常用的音階系統）。
其惡風於天。時為雲。於地形為崗坡。天元化運為甲己。
Earth is one of the five element and as usual, it has its unique features in terms of various properties.
In terms of bagua, it is the Kun trigram 坤卦 #2 (Field), while Qian 乾卦 is the sky, and Kun is the ground/field. As people in the old days, they observed all the plants and other resources come from the ground, so they believed the ground generates growing energy to them, so it is working very hard to make this happened.
Direction wise, it stays in the middle and season wise, it is the third month of each season.
In terms of stems and branches, they are Wu 戊 and Ji 己土 and Chen 辰, Xu 戌, Chou 丑 and Wei 未土. For heavenly stems combination, it is Jia wood and Ji earth 甲己作合.
In terms of weather, it stands for humid. For nature, it stands for cloud, mountains.
In terms of human behavior, it stands for thinking, trustability, pure and thickness.
For shape, it is roundish and flashy. Colour refers to yellow and colour of soil.
月令廣義。卷之十三。秋令 Autumn (11)
月令廣義。二十四卷。明。馮應京輯
五刑五聲
以五刑（五刑則指笞、杖、徒、流、死）聽萬民之獄。訟用情之以五聲聽獄訟求民情。 （古代中國將這5個音依次定名為宮、商、角gok3、徵zi2、羽，大致相當於西洋音樂簡譜上的唱名（do）、（re）、（mi）、（sol）、（la）。）
兵象秋
（山墳）秋主殺。物兵之象也。
金氣殺
（氣墳）聖人以順天殺物。
兌正秋
（易）萬物之所說也。
物成象
（太玄）物皆成象而聚。
萬物聚斂
聚揫同。少陰西方西者遷也。陰氣遷落萬物聚落。乃成熟也。
愁時察義
西方曰秋。秋者愁也。愁之以時察守義也。
萬物收
（淮南子）陰氣始下而萬物收。
揫斂成熟
（曆志）秋揫也物揫斂乃成熟
秋禾熟
秋禾穀熟也。從禾龜省聲
斗杓西指
斗杓西指天地皆秋
Continue with the last post about how did people see autumn in the ancient society.
Autumn, obviously is the season for harvest and storage, in another word, is the time for all growing energy to stop and pause. It is also the season to carry out all the death penalties, as a result, people always link autumn with killing. Emperors at those times, they will grant their permissions to carry out any death penalties that are waiting, and they also think this is the perfect time according to their belief of heaven.
Autumn, the season of metal energy, stands for direction west, and it is also the bagua of ‘Dui’ 兌卦. From this time of the year onward, is the time for the ‘yin’ energy to grow and the ’yang’ energy to escape as it is weaker now.
The tail of the Big Dipper is facing west, and it is the autumn season.
月令廣義。卷之十三。秋令 Autumn (1)
其時曰秋。
秋揫（ 意：收攏、聚集）也。物成熟。揫斂。
其氣曰陰。陰生金與申
陰凝。堅實生金為瓜甲（角質硬殼）。
其德憂哀靜正嚴順
秋氣悽惻。順其時德。
百物乃收。使民毋怠所惡。其察所欲必得
察所惡方而伐之。必得所欲。
我信則克。此謂辰德
辰以收斂殺奸邪為德。
辰掌收之為陰。秋行春政則榮。行夏政則永。
冬政則耗。是故秋三月以庚辛之日發五政。
（淮南子）西方曰皓天。其星胃昂畢（胃：為西方七宿之三。昴：為西方七宿之四。畢：為西方七宿之五）。
西南方曰朱天其星觜巂參（觜：為西方七宿之六。參：為西方七宿之七。）東並西方金也 。其神為太白。其獸白虎。其音商。其日庚辛。西方之極。
Shen month 申月 is the first solar term of autumn which means autumn commences. As being explained in various posts before, having a good knowledge of how people in the ancient society saw their nature and the picture they had during each period of the year, we can have a broader picture in reading a bazi chart or other aspects in fortune telling.
From this ancient book, it stated something like this:
– what makes autumn so unique, it is the season for storing, all crops are matured at this time, it is time for harvest and storage. This also carries a meaning for all growing energy’s cycle has almost comes to an end, it is being stored away to wait for the new cycle to kick in.
– autumn correspondence to metal element, and it is the second half of the year, as a result, in year wise, this belong to ‘yin’ energy.
– metal element is strong at this time, it passed the spring and summer season, it becomes hard and strong now.
– back in the old days, all the punishment and court sentences were finalized in autumn, which includes put in jail to death penalties, due to this tradition, autumn gave people a feeling of inactive, depressed and blue.
(To be continued )
土月令 Earth element month, what do we read from the month which belongs to the earth element?
月令廣義。二十四卷。明。馮應京
（淮南子）中央曰鈞天。其星角亢氐。中央土也。其帝黃帝。其佐右土執繩而制四方。其神為鎮星。其獸黃龍。
鎭星主德
（玉曆璇璣）鎭星主德，占為夏季亦陳於外而兆發於中。
（注）居四方之中。在戊己之位。萬物因之發生四時據之而列。故星名曰鎭。
主德厚安危存亡之機，以其屬土之行，而動靜吉凶占於季夏。
鎭，說文解字，引申之為重也。安也。壓也。
鎭星，土星也，古稱鎭星及填星，為太陽系行星。
Five elements, earth element is one the five, it carries certain messages, but how was it interpreted in the old days?
People in the old society think, when there is an image in the nature that we live in, there is a star connected to it. Saturn in the sky is the earth element on earth.
Earth element stands for stable, moral, safety and is Wu 戊 and Ji 己 in heavenly stems, it generates growing energy for all elements, that’s why they are the four months at the energy of each seasons throughout the whole year.
耕寸集。明。題明不著撰人
論十干十二支（2）Heavenly stems and Earthly branches (2)
即以木論甲乙者。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。而承茲生氣者。
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。方其為甲而乙之氣已備。
及其為乙。
甲之質乃堅。有是甲乙而木之陰陽具矣。
(Continue with the last article)
In a lot of my previous posts, I mentioned about Jia wood 甲木 and Yi wood 乙木. They can be interpreted as the yang 陽 and yin 陰 energy of wood, while Jia wood is yang and Yi wood is yin. They belongs to the same wood energy of the heavenly stems but they are not the same.
In this ancient bazi book from the Ming dynasty, the author suggested something like this:
– Jia wood is the physical timber and it has the growing energy.
– Yi wood is the spreading growing energy of the wood.
– Yi wood can also be interpreted as the leaves growing on the tree trunk.
– Jia wood is strong and hard.
– Yi wood is flexible so it can combine with the sharpest metal.
耕寸集。明。題明不著撰人
論十干十二支（1）Heavenly stems and Earthly branches
天地之間。一氣而已．唯有動靜遂分陰陽。逐分四象。
老者極動極靜之時。是為太陽太陰。
少者初動之際是為少陰少陽。有是四象而五行。具於其中矣。
水者太陰也。火者太陽也。
木者少陽也。金者少陰也。
土者陰陽老少。木火金水冲氣所結也。
有是五行。何為又有十干。又有十二支乎。
蓋有陰陽。因生五行。而五行之中各有陰陽。
Heavenly stems and earthly branches are the foundation of Chinese fortune telling. It appears from bazi pillars chart to Feng Shui and various sorts of fortune telling methods. They appear in terms of Chinese words but actually they are being used as calculations.
The concept
The world that we are living in, the space 空間, all living things behavior in terms of an energy. This energy is classified as ‘yin’ & ‘yang’. (At this point we can understand it as active and in-active). This yin & yang can develop into four seasons.
Absolute yang is the most active and on the other hand is the most in-active is yin. This can be understand as the sun and the moon. When we have sun stands for fire, the moon stands for water energy, then we have four seasons and the five elements.
Water is the most yin energy.
Wood is one step to the yang.
Fire is the most yang energy.
Metal is one step to the yin. This is an infinite cycle.
While earth element consists all four elements.
When we have the five elements, then we have to divide each element into yin and yang. As a result, we have the stems and branches concept.
To be continue.
月令釆奇 ~ 三月令。辰月 Chen month
承上篇。清明
月令采奇。三月令。
後十五日。斗指辰為榖雨。言甫至此時。生百榖也。太陽過酉。纏大梁(歲星每十二年運行一周之黃道，分為十二區域其中一區)之次。表影長五尺五寸六分。
榖雨乃三月中炁，斗指辰。故月建辰。從三月中炁而定建也。
辰者何。樂志曰。辰震也……萬物之振也。三月陽氣動。雷電振。民農時也。又言時物震動而生長也。
Continue of the last post
3rd month of the year ~ Chen 辰
Fifteen days after Ching ming, that’s the sixth and the last solar term of the spring season, which means after ‘corn rain’, we will officially enter summer season. Corn rain is the relationship between the weather and farming activities. Corn rain marks the mid month of Chen month and the energy of Chen is at max at this time, as a result, Chen is marked as the name of the third month also.
What is Chen month? Chen is at Zhen trigram 震卦, this stands for a stream of very active energy which brings the plants and crop to grow rapidly.
The Earth Element in Mao 卯 五行土氣在卯月
Mao 卯 is the peak of wood energy and it is the middle of spring season. According to the five element procedures, when wood is most active, earth element is definitely deteriorating constantly.
卯月正值仲春，木盛之時，跟據五行概念，木盛土虛，所以土在春季謂弱。
When we refer to our body parts, earth element represents our digestive system. When earth element is not in a good status, related sickness scenario may occur. At this stage, how to improve the situation?
在我們身體而言，土對應消化系統，當土弱時，我們應注意消化系统毛病出現。 我們怎麼可以避免？
Fire element is the solution, as soil need to be warm until it is situation for growing. On the other hand, water is causing any potential problem. This is base on water is leading the wood to grow much stronger, and is going to make the earth element even weaker, as a result, if this is the picture of the pillars, then the person is most likely experiencing a bumpy road.
五行火可生扶土，就如凍土不能生萬物，必須要用火溫土。 同時，為防土過於燥烈，得用水潤土。
Metal Element in different times of the year 金在四時
In order for us to take a detail look into the metal element in different time of the year, we have to have a clear picture on the basic status of the metal element. From classic Bazi books, it told us something like this:
我們要仔細看金氣在四時變化，我們必須從根本看，古書告訴我們這些:
Firstly, we have to distinguish from the angle of ‘Yin’ & ‘Yang’, as this is the back bone of the five elements theory. Metal element is ‘yin’ as the outer shell but with ‘yang’ element inside, therefore it has an absolute sharpness and hardness to be the strongest tool in the world. This is the ultimate texture of the metal element apart from the rest. This is making sense, since if it only belongs to ‘yin’ but without ‘yang’ element inside, then it will be as soft as ice, it can easily disappear.
看五行，從陰陽看起。 金性為外柔內剛，所以便成外表鋒內裡堅硬的工具。 這是金性特有。
Throughout the whole year, when it comes to autumn, it’s the season of the metal element. It has gained the most of its energy, therefore, when it was turned into tools, it can almost destroy anything. This is due to ‘yang’ element inside a ‘yin’ body. This is most visual on Geng 庚金.
秋季是金旺日子，這時金最剛硬和鋒利，所以最宜為工具，最能毀壞任何東西。這個最易見於庚金。
Moreover, in order for a piece of metal from the soil to turn into a sharp piece of tool, without fire, this is not possible. As a result, in order for the metal element to make the most out of its potential, fire element must be present in a precise status, to obtain a sustainable balance.
金本體是從土出，使之為器，必須要火冶才能使它鋒利，沒有火，金只有外表沒有作用。
When Geng metal is a ‘Yang’ version, the Shen 辛 metal is the ‘Yin’ version of the autumn metal element. Shen is the opposite picture of the Geng, it does not need the fire element to vent its potential. It is a soft version, it cannot stand the heat of the fire, it will be totally destroyed. Base on this property, on bazi manoeuvre, Shen and Bing fire pair up together to form an extra layer of water element.
庚是陽金，辛是陰金。庚要受火，辛遇火便毀。 八字裡辛金合丙火，環境合適會化出多一層水氣。
Let’s talk about the formation of Five elements 五行
Since the first article of Bazi, we had mentioned the concept of the five elements in endless time, but why is that?
當閱讀八字書，首頁說明何謂五行，為什麼要以五行為開篇？
As you have to know, all fortune telling methods originated from the ancient society of China, and they are all from the formation concept, yin & yang (that is the two contrast energy that filled the space).
正如認知，大部分占卜術是本自中國古代文化，由陰陽概念形成。
According to ancient books, they even have a concept of ‘Six energy’ which comes with the five elements. With the interactions taking place non-stop between the six energy and five elements, then it brings to the formation of the four seasons that we can feel everyday, and gradually give us our everyday dawn and dusk.
從古書記載，五行概念發展成六氣。當五行在時間中不停互動形成四季。這就是我們在四時日出日入中，各有不同感受。
Five elements relates to four seasons and time, it also relates to numbers.
1 = water; 2=fire; 3=wood; 4=metal and 5=earth element.
五行在日常有不同代表，如下：
For details, please refer to the table below.
In conclusion, the five elements has to corresponds to yin & yang to be meaningful, if not, there is a major part of the picture that is missing and not being realistic at the end.
總結，五行和陰陽互動中產生無限不同，缺一不可。
1st heavenly stem ~ 甲木 Jia wood
甲屬陽。主宰四時。生育萬物。在天為雷為龍。在地為樑為棟。
所謂陽木卽剛硬。埋於死水千年不朽。出水生火。遇雨露則爛。得斧鋸以成材。得火以見文明。然金多則毀。火多成灰。
在于春。雷始發聲。是為木旺之時。
在于秋。木氣凋萎。是為失時之所。
然夏木繁榮。猶能引風生涼。
涼冬木枯。亦畏蔽日。
Ten Heavenly Stems ~ 1st Jia (甲) Wood
Properties:
Yang wood element, it is the origin of the four seasons and provides energy for living things to become active.
In the sky, eight trigrams, in the east, it stands for thunder and in an image of a dragon, on earth, it is a big block of tall timber, it can be reform into a strong supporting element.
‘Jia’ is strong and hard timber, when it is placed in water , it is not easy to decay. Water gives it life and it can be burnt into fire. If it is being left under rain for a long term, it‘s texture can be destroyed. It can be chopped into small chunks when it goes under an axe (hard metal).
When it is burned into fire, this symbolises civilisations. We have to maintain a balance between elements, i.e. when too much hard metal, ‘jia’ can be totally destroyed. When there is too much fire, ‘jia’ can turn into ash.
‘Jia’ in four seasons:
Spring ~ as temperature starts to pick up in spring, gives wood energy to grow from soil. Spring is a wet season, this makes the wood even stronger.
Autumn ~ autumn is the season for metal, as we always said ‘golden autumn’ , this is the season wood is at its energy’s lowest point.
Summer ~ wood needs water and warmth to grow, during summer, it can gain a lot of temperature to grow and be strong.
Winter ~ winter is the season for water, bases on ‘jia’ nature, it can be destroyed eventually is it is being soaked in the water for too long, therefore, all its growing energy will be saved until the next spring.
五行中疾病論 The relationship between illness and five elements
各種之病症。須看五行屬性。病在何處。
金傷～咳嗽氣喘。虛怯瘦瘠。血瘡筋骨疼痛。
木傷～四肢不舒。風邪肝膽。左癱或口眼歪。
火傷～頭痛腦熱。三焦口渴。誕語傷寒心腹疼痛。惡瘡眼疾。
水傷～發冷遺精。白濁腰腎淋瀝。吐瀉嘔逆。
土傷～脾胃虛弱。黃腫下瀉。瘟疫時氣等疾。
古云。金木凶死癲狂病。水土相犯不親和。木土定是傷脾胃。水金癆蠱禍來侵。
Five elements with our health
In five elements theory, it is not only about feng shui and bazi, it also forms a critical part of the Chinese medical foundation. To a certain extend, during certain period, when fall ill, we can have a look at the five element relative field try to find a hint.
Metal element refers to our respiratory system, and bones pain. Cough can be a popular symptom.
Wood element refers to our limbs, lungs and guts. Sores can be commonly found.
Fire element refers to our blood, head and eyes. When we have headaches, feeling hot inside our inner body, constant thirsty or eyes sickness.
Water element refers to our kidney, ears. When we feel constant coldness or vomit, this maybe a cause.
Earth element refers to our digestive system. When we vomit or diarrhea, our earth element may have problem.
再看看生與尅 The relationship between generating and destruction
耕寸集云：
有生必有尅，生而不尅則四時不成矣。
尅者所以節而止，使之收歛，以為發洩之基。
故曰：天地節而四時成。
例：木盛於夏，殺於秋，而殺於秋以使外之發洩者。 收藏於內是殺者。
People would rather prefer generating rather then destructing, this is the general language for most people, but let’s consider, if non-stop generating a specific energy is it a good thing to happen? Is destructing necessary?
According to book, generating and destructing is both existing at the same time. Due to this dual existence, then we have the four seasons.
Destructing is stopping a single element becoming overly strong, to keep it stay in manner and low profile, to prevent it from damaging it’s surrounding.
As a result, four seasons originate from the generating and destructing of the five elements.
For example, wood element dominates and is strong in spring, is weakest in autumn. Autumn is the season for metal element, it is strongest at this time and it destruct the wood element to make it stay in its manner and low profile, in order to resume energy and prepare for the coming of spring.
換個角度看寅卯木 Looks have another look in Yin 寅木 and Mao 卯木 wood
耕寸集云：
何以復有寅卯？
寅卯者，此又與甲乙分陰陽，天地而言者也。
甲陽乙陰木，之行於天為陰陽者也。
以寅卯而分陰陽，則寅為陽，卯為陰木，之存乎地而為陰陽者也。
甲乙寅卯而統分陰陽，則甲乙為陽，寅卯為陰。
木之在天成象，而在地成形者也。
甲乙行乎天而寅卯受之。
寅卯存乎地而甲乙施焉。
In the last article, we looked into Jia and Yi wood, today we will have another look from another angle of the wood earthly branches, Yin and Mao wood.
When we have Jia and Ji wood, why do we still need Yin and Mao wood?
While Jia and Ji are heavenly stems, they are ‘yang’energy and Yin and Mao wood are earthly branches, so they are ‘yin’ energy.
Just classify in terms of yin and mao, yin wood is yang and mao wood is yin energy.
Jia and Yi wood are wood energy in the air and correspondence to the wood substance. This makes a complete circulation of wood energy among the five elements theory.
