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Sanming Tonghui · A Comprehensive Account of the Three Destinies
On the Ten Stems Transforming Energy
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Fuyangzi says: “The ten stems combining and transforming are yin and yang pairing, the way of husband and wife.” Meeting the six combinations and advancing three in the combination calculation gives transformation. Through the five Zi counts, the remainder reaches Si, with a variant graph, and obtains combination. Once combined, calculating Tiger governs Dragon. Dragon governs yang and, obtaining heavenly command, completes transformation. Zi is Kan's position, the image of Heaven's one generating Water and essence uniting, with conception in yang. Thus a man goes leftward from Zi, thirty to Si, yang, and marries at thirty. A woman goes rightward from Zi, twenty to Si, yin, and marries at twenty. Human affairs accord with five-phase creation: how could this period be exceeded?
In the east, Renzi reaches Dingsi in six counts; thus Ding combines with Ren and transforms into Wood, Jia virtue governing Dragon. In the south, Wuzi reaches Guisi in six counts; thus Wu combines with Gui and transforms into Fire, Bing virtue governing Dragon. In the west, Gengzi reaches Yisi in six counts; thus Yi combines with Geng and transforms into Metal, Geng virtue governing Dragon. In the center, Jiazi reaches Jisi in six counts; thus Jia combines with Ji and transforms into Earth, Wu virtue governing Dragon. In the north, Bingzi reaches Xinsi in six counts; thus Bing combines with Xin and transforms into Water, Ren virtue governing Dragon. In Jia–Ji years, Wu virtue governs Dragon through Earth and presides over Balanced Heaven's Earth energy. In Yi–Geng years, Geng virtue governs Dragon through Metal and Bright Heaven's Metal energy. In Bing–Xin years, Ren virtue governs Dragon through Water and Dark Heaven's Water energy. In Ding–Ren years, Jia virtue governs Dragon through Wood and Azure Heaven's Wood energy. In Wu–Gui years, Bing virtue governs Dragon through Fire and Blazing Heaven's Fire energy. Heavenly virtue governing Dragon rules above and below to complete transformation, bringing all kinds of things to success. Thus Bing meeting Xin, obtaining Shen, Zi, and Chen, rises vigorously; Yi meeting Geng, obtaining Si, You, and Chou, resounds forcefully; Ding meeting Ren, obtaining Hai, Mao, and Wei, gains upright distinction; Wu meeting Gui, obtaining Yin, Wu, and Xu, gains honor and prominence; Jia meeting Ji, obtaining Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei, becomes Flourishing and Supported. The five movements take five palaces as their proper Temples. Entering my mother's palace gives blessings and virtue; entering my child's, leakage; entering my hostile agent's, punishment and injury; entering my wife's, Wealth. The child can in turn restrain harmful Killings, whose energy must still be examined and restrained. Thus the five movements' creation is inexhaustible, solely through generation, conquest, restraint, and transformation. Three Carts derives from Jia and Ji years: Bingyin through Wuchen are three counts, and at three transformation occurs. Chen is Dragon and can transform. Thus Jia–Ji, Yi–Geng, Bing–Xin, Ding–Ren, and Wu–Gui receive their affiliated stem energies. Another explanation says Jia and Ji begin with Bing; Bing is Fire and Fire generates Earth, so they transform into Earth. Extend the other cases by analogy. This does not leave the preceding principle.
In general, transformed energy takes the day stem and discusses its combining spirit. Year, month, or hour may all be used, but day must receive Flourishing energy in the hour. Without the month's Flourishing energy, the hour's alone is also acceptable. The month's Flourishing without the hour riding it is not acceptable. Both month and day/hour obtaining Flourishing energy make it wholly auspicious.
Jia and Ji transform into Earth only in Chen, Xu, Chou, or Wei months; Wu month also transforms as the next case. Wu between them prevents transformation, named Jealous Combination. For Chen, Xu, Chou, or Wei births, the printed Yi-Hai in the pillars is Receiving Energy at Assuming Office and is unfavorable in later life, taking away office or wealth if present. This is the fourth position from Long Life, taking stem as ruler. Double infringement responds; other months do not. Another account says Jia–Ji Earth especially needs Wood as Office, obtaining Hai–Mao or Hai–Wei as Office. Wu–Gui energy is blessing; Ding–Ren in day or hour is feared. Yi and Geng transform into Metal only in Si, You, or Chou months, with a variant Si graph; the seventh month also transforms. Jia between them prevents transformation, named Jealous Combination. Si, You, and Chou births with Gengshen in the pillars have Receiving Energy at Assuming Office and unfavorable later years. Another account says Yi–Geng Metal especially needs Fire as Office, favoring Bing, Ding, the printed Ji–Wu, and Jia–Ji as blessings; Wu–Gui in day or hour is feared.
Bing and Xin transform into Water only in Shen, Zi, or Chen months; the tenth month also transforms. Ding in the pillars prevents transformation, named Jealous Combination. Shen, Zi, and Chen births seeing Guihai have Receiving Energy at Assuming Office and unfavorable later years. Another account says Bing–Xin Water especially needs Earth as Office, obtaining Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei as Office. Yi–Geng is blessing; Jia–Ji in day or hour is feared.
Ding and Ren transform into Wood only in Hai, Mao, or Wei months; the first month also transforms. Bing in the pillars prevents transformation, named Jealous Combination. Hai, Mao, and Wei births seeing Jiayin have Receiving Energy at Assuming Office and unfavorable later years. Another account says Ding–Ren Wood especially needs Geng, Xin, Shen, and You as Office; Bing–Xin is blessing and Yi–Geng in day or hour feared. Wu and Gui transform into Fire only in the printed Bing, Wu, and Xu months; the fourth month also transforms. Ji in the pillars prevents transformation, named Jealous Combination. Yin, Wu, and Xu births seeing Dingsi, with variant spelling, have Receiving Energy at Assuming Office and unfavorable later years. Another account says Wu–Gui Fire especially needs Ren, Gui, Hai, and Zi as Office; Ding–Ren is blessing and Bing–Xin in day or hour feared.
Jia and Ji transforming into Earth favor a Wuchen hour. In the four seasonal months, Earth attains its image. Birth and Flourishing in the pillars and energy present are best. Fire must not be seen: Fire makes it empty, while Wood energy conquers and damages it. Thus Jia and Ji days fear Bing and Ding hours; other months favor Bing.
Yi and Geng transforming into Metal favor a Gengchen hour. In Shen and You months Metal attains its image. Wu Earth's generation is favored, and Jia–Ji gives blessings. Death and Defeat are disliked, so Yi and Geng days in these months fear Zi and Yin hours.
Bing and Xin transforming into Water favor a Renchen hour. In Hai and Zi months Water attains its image. Geng's generating energy is favored, and Yi–Geng gives blessings. Thus Bing and Xin days in these months fear Mao and Si hours, with a variant Si spelling.
Ding and Ren transforming into Wood favor a Jiachen hour. In Yin and Mao months Wood attains its image. Bing–Xin is favored as blessing. Thus Ding and Ren days in these months fear Wu and Shen hours.
Wu and Gui transforming into Fire favor a Bingchen hour. In Si and Wu months Fire attains its image, with a variant Si spelling. Jia's generating energy is loved and Ding–Ren gives blessings. Mao and You days or hours are feared. Infringing Wu and the printed Yi gives Fire meeting Earth, hidden and unclear.
Bingyin with Xinmao; Bingchen with Xinmao; Gengshen with Yiyou; Gengxu with Yiyou; Jihai with Jiazi; Jichou with Jiazi; Guisi with Wuwu; Guiwei with Wuwu; Wuzi with Guichou; Wuyin with Guichou; Jiyou with Jiaxu; Jihai with the printed Tianxu; Yisi with Gengchen; Yimao with Gengchen; Renwu with Dingwei; and Renshen with Dingwei: these have connected branches and therefore the same energy, called Proper Transformation.
There is Corner-Turning Advancing Transformation: stem combinations see Chen among branches, the four corners linking in forward order, like Jiachen seeing the printed Ji-Yi. Day and hour meeting this make achievement and reputation easy to establish.
There is Corner-Turning Retreating Transformation: stem combinations see Wu among branches, the corners linking in reverse, like Jiawu seeing the printed Ji-Yi. Day and hour meeting this give achievement and reputation somewhat late, with much retreat and reduction at favorable points; annual years and fortune meeting it also cease and fade.
There is Seated Self-Transformation: Renwu, Dinghai, Wuzi, Jiawu, Xinsi, and Guisi, with variant Si spellings. Ding's Emolument is at Wu and Ren combines with Ding; Ren's Emolument is at Hai and Ding combines with Ren. Renwu and Dinghai give the deepest blessings. Wuzi gives intelligence; Xinsi strategy; Jiawu modest success. Guisi gives rank with afflictions of wine and sexual indulgence.
Translator's note: The repeated transformation material also present in the preceding source section is retained, not deduplicated. All five directions and celestial energies, transformation months, blocking stems, hour restrictions, sixteen connected-branch pairings, and three special transformation forms are included. Yi-Hai, Ji–Wu, Tianxu, Ji-Yi, and Bing in the month list remain irregular as supplied. The early marriage ages are the historical author's social explanation, not present-day guidance.
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