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Sanming Tonghui · A Comprehensive Account of the Three Destinies
Emolument, Horse, and Special Configurations
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Ren Riding the Dragon's Back
The Preferences and Avoidances chapter says: “Yang Water repeatedly encountering Chen is Ren Riding the Dragon's Back.” This configuration takes Ren day seated on Chen. Ren uses Ding as Wealth and Ji as Office, while using Chen branches secretly to clash out Ding and Wu within Xu, obtaining the nobility of Wealth and Office. Many Chen are needed to clash them into action. One Yin further combining and retaining Wealth and Office is excellent. Wealth and Office should not appear openly. Favor Body-flourishing, Hurting Office, and Food Spirit fortunes; avoid southern Wealth and Office ground. Ding, Si, Wu, or Xu in the pillars means judge only as ordinary Wealth and Office. A Ren day seated on Yin with many Chen also uses this configuration: Ren feeds upon Jia, Jia combines Ji as Ren's Office and generates Ding as Ren's Wealth; Chen clashes with Xu and Yin combines it, giving nobility. On Renchen day, if year, month, and hour are all Yin and Wu Fire configuration, Wealth is born, flourishes, and obtains ground, but excessive Wealth is impure and gives only riches. Another account takes many Chen on Renchen day secretly clashing out Fire, Earth, and Metal within Xu as the Three Wonders of Wealth, Office, and Seal. Three Chen and one Yin clash and combine noble energy powerfully. Renchen day with Yin in year, month, and hour has less force, using Jia Wood within Yin as Food generating Wealth, hence riches. Chou and Wei in the pillars are appropriate for nobility. Ji Office, Wu Killing, Yi Hurting, and Ding combination are greatly feared and prevent the configuration; even many Chen then lose favorable measure. Northern Hai and Zi fortunes are avoided. Another account says Renchen is a Chief Strength day, favoring flourishing Body and fearing Wealth and Office. Whether favorable or otherwise must be examined with fortune. Shen and Zi complete in the pillars should be judged as Moistening Downward. Wu and Ji fortune, with Chen and Xu further clashing and annual and major fortunes arriving together, turns auspiciousness into calamity: this is Riding the Dragon and Running into Clash, not a completed configuration. One chart is Jichou, Wuchen, Renchen, Gengzi. It gained provincial examination success in Jiazi and died in Wuchen year, Yimao month, precisely because Ji Office and Killing were too flourishing and harmed Ren. A poem says: “Renchen birth is named Riding the Dragon; Office Star flies out at the opposing clash. Many Chen in four pillars display official rank; many Yin instead make a wealthy householder.” Another: “Yang Water with many Chen has extraordinary nobility Riding the Dragon's Back. Yin and Chen both in the pillars give wealth and nobility complete in the temple court.” Another: “Ren Riding the Dragon's Back is especially favorable; many Chen and Yin bring further brilliance. Office Star breaking the configuration is greatly avoided; calamity and punishment must injure lifespan.”
Translator's note: The opening Ji Office versus the secretly clashed-out Wu, contrasting fortune directions, three full verses, and complete dated chart example remain as supplied. No historical calendar dates are inferred from cyclical year labels. The source's damaged introductory word to an alternative account is rendered as another account.
Zi Remotely Inviting Si Emolument
The Preferences and Avoidances chapter says: “Jiazi day meeting Zi hour again fears Geng, Xin, Shen, You, Chou, and Wu.” This configuration takes Jiazi day and Jiazi hour. Jia takes Xin as Office. Gui Water within two Zi remotely combines with Wu Earth within Si. Wu comes to combine Gui but fears Jia Wood above Zi restraining it and dares not come. Wu shares Si palace with Bing; Bing and Wu are father and son, so when Wu moves, Bing moves too. Bing then combines Xin within You to conquer Jia Wood. The Jia day obtains Office Star, and only then can Wu combine Gui. This is Si–You–Chou's three harmonies gathering an Office Star configuration. Wu in year or month clashing Zi and Chou binding Zi are greatly feared, preventing remote invitation. Another account takes Gui in two Zi remotely combining Wu within Si as Jia's Wealth. Bing and Wu share Emolument at Si. Bing is Jia's rank star, Wu Bing's rank star; when Wu moves, Bing moves. Bing sees its child Wu craving combination with Gui as wife and as Seal and Ribbon, and then combines Xin Metal into action as Jia's Office. This resembles someone having a son to succeed him and transmit the household, fulfilling the father's dignity. Favor birth in Ren, Gui, Hai, or Zi month with flourishing Seal, or Mao or Yin month with flourishing Body. Fortune in flourishing Office territory must give examination success and Emolument, powerful nobility and what the source calls impure wealth. Avoid Geng, Xin, and Bing appearing openly and Shen, You, or Si breaking the configuration; restraint or transformation can prevent harm. Chou and Wu binding and clashing in the pillars reduce the favorable measure. Annual and major fortunes are the same. Birth in You or Chou month is judged only as Direct Office configuration. Taking an empty, exposed Geng also gives wealth and nobility, entirely depending on the monthly command; Killing may generate Seal and assist. If this configuration forms, avoidance is required, especially of southern fortune. Minister Fan Jizu's chart, Gengzi, Jimao, Jiazi, Jiazi, truly fits. A classic says: “Jiazi encountering Combined Emolument must have lifelong abundance.” A poem says: “Jiazi day meeting Jiazi hour remotely combines Office and Emolument, noble without doubt. Chou binding, Zi clashing, and Office or Killing appearing make blessing inauspicious and Emolument late.” Another: “Ponder carefully Zi remotely inviting Si; Jiazi seeks Jiazi again. Gui invites Wu Earth within Si; Bing comes to You to combine Xin Metal. Hiddenly rejoice in Shen and You's three and six combinations; openly fear Geng, Xin, and two Gui intruding. Without Chou and Wu, judge a high configuration, examination success and the Qionglin banquet.”
Translator's note: The two alternative explanations, complete father/son analogy, supplied impure-wealth wording, named chart despite Geng's appearance, and both poems remain. Shen/You and two Gui in the final verse are not silently changed to different branches or stems. The source's rank and family analogies are historical.
Chou Remotely Inviting Si Emolument
The Preferences and Avoidances chapter says: “Xin and Gui days with many Chou positions do not favor Office Star. Zi or Si in year or hour gives empty reputation and profit.” This configuration uses only Xinchou and Guichou days. Xin takes Bing as Office, Gui Wu as Office. Bing and Wu's Emolument lies at Si. Only Chou can disrupt Si; many Chou in the pillars bring out Bing and Wu's Emolument, so Xin and Gui remotely combine and obtain Office Star. Zi binding, Wei clashing, and Si filling the position are avoided, leaving only empty reputation and profit. Annual and major fortunes are the same. Xinchou day should be born in autumn, Guichou in winter; much Metal and Water in the pillars is needed. Shen and You appearing again provide a combination retaining Si so noble energy does not escape, which is excellent. Absence of Bing, Ding, Si, and Wu makes Xin's day pure; absence of Wu Earth, Ji, Si, and Wu branch makes Gui's day pure. With no further clash or binding, character is simple and substantial, with wealth and nobility complete; slight damage still gives abundance. Birth in Chen, Xu, Chou, or Wei month should use Mixed Qi. Mao, Chen, Shen, You, or Hai hour likewise prevents this configuration. A Xin day born in Bingyin, Bingwu, or Bingxu month is judged only by Office Star. In Jiayin month, Wood is used to obtain Fire and Wealth and Office can be used. A Gui day with much Earth is judged as Office and Killing; Guihai hour as Arching Emolument; a Metal-flourishing month as Seal and Ribbon; a Fire-flourishing month as Wealth Star. In Jiayin month, Hurting Office does no harm. Fortune should give Office Star proper ground and flourish Body, often giving nobility. This configuration is largely like Xinhai and Guihai Flying Heavenly Emolument and Horse. A classic says: “Xin and Gui days combining Emolument have lifelong surplus riches.” A poem says: “Xin and Gui days with many Chou remotely invite Si and combine Office Star. Do not say flourishing Office Star is disliked: who believes Office coming instead achieves success?” Another: “Xinchou and Guichou are the two days; Chou can disrupt Si where Office hides. Many Chou are required for excellence; Zi should not stand between them.” Another: “Xin and Gui without Office remotely invite through many Chou; Bing and Wu's Emolument in Si comes to court. Branch origins favor You and Shen combining; fitting the configuration should give abundant noble Emolument. Xin avoids Bing and Ding with Si and Wu; Gui dislikes Wu and Ji, Horse, Snake, and Owl. Zi coming to bind Chou makes the heart truly idle; if the configuration is light, blessing likewise vanishes.”
Translator's note: The source's Chou-disrupts-Si mechanism, alternatives by month and hour, all three verses, and the last verse's awkward Horse/Snake/Owl and idle-heart expressions are retained. Wu Earth and Wu branch are distinguished in English without changing the listed avoidances.
Clashing and Combining Emolument and Horse
For a Jia day with no You, Xin, or Chou in the pillars, many Mao clash out You, and Si and You combine Chou as Jia's Direct Office. Ren and Gui generation and assistance are favored; You and Xin filling the position are avoided. Even just one Mao with further punishment or combination activating it gives a good fate. For an Yi day with no Shen or Geng, Yin clashes out Shen; Zi and Chen combine and arch it, or Si punishes it out, as Yi's Direct Office. Favor Ren and Gui assistance and avoid Shen or Geng filling the position. For a Wu day without Mao or Yi, You clashes out Mao and Hai and Wei combine Mao, giving Wu Office Star. Favor Ren and Gui Wealth and Bing and Ding Seal; avoid Mao and Yi appearing. For a Ji day without Yin or Jia, Shen clashes out Yin and Wu and Xu combine Yin, secretly providing Office Star. Favor Wealth and Seal and avoid Yin or Jia appearing. Bing and Ding days belong to Reversed Clash Emolument and Horse; Geng, Xin, Ren, and Gui days to Flying Heavenly Emolument and Horse, inferred by analogy. The four stems' clash-and-combination methods all avoid openly revealed or injured Office Star. Obtaining Office's flourishing through the monthly command is excellent. If the clashing spirit encounters combination without binding, refined noble rank as general, minister, duke, or marquis must follow. Lacking one condition reduces the favorable measure; a broken configuration gives proximity to nobility and subsistence, severely broken one poverty. Annual and major fortunes share these preferences and avoidances. The Wu Bao Classic says Yi takes Geng and Shen as husband. Without them in the pillars, Zi and Chen can combine Geng within Shen into action as Yi's Office Star. With these, another Yin clash is unnecessary, though Yin is finer still; without Zi and Chen, use clashing out. The ten days Jiayin, Yimao, Bingwu, Dingwei, Wuwu, Jiwei, Gengshen, Xinyou, Renzi, and Guihai have healthy, flourishing selves and activate Emolument's origin most urgently. Renchen, Renxu, Wuchen, and Jichou do so more slowly; other stems are not used. For example, Ming Shenzong's chart is Guihai, Xinyou, Guihai, Xinyou. Its principal Guihai is healthy and flourishing, clashing out Bing and Wu's Emolument and Horse within Si for Gui's use. Two You combining and retaining them is excellent.
Translator's note: All four stem-specific methods, ten strong-day and four slower-day lists, and the complete imperial chart remain. The source's requirement of a flourishing monthly Office and simultaneous avoidance of an openly filled Office are retained, not harmonized into an invented rule.
Disrupting Out Office
If the four pillars originally lack Wealth, Office, and Seal and Ribbon but have a branch that disrupts out Office, Guimao day can disrupt out Ji Earth within Wu as Office; Guiyou disrupts out Wu Earth within Chen; Jiawu disrupts out Xin Metal within You. One character providing a three-harmony combination to retain noble energy is needed for excellence. The Rhapsody of Original Principle says: “Mao disrupts Wu, Wu disrupts You: Wealth and Office have twofold beauty.” Another says that no Office-disrupting branch in year or day, but one disrupting or combining Office in month or hour, indicates nobility. Jiayin day itself has no disruption, but Bingwu month and Jisi hour take Wu disrupting Xin Office within You, with Si combining it. Bing and Wu within Si also combine Xin, giving nobility. A poem says: “Mao disrupting Wu and Wei gives great Office; Wu and Wei disrupting You are judged alike. Chou disrupting Si and Wu is not the example; Zi disrupting Mao and Chen is readily used.”
Translator's note: All three day examples, complete Jia/Bingwu/Jisi explanation, and the final verse's differing disruption lists are retained without substituting a standardized table.
Flying Wealth
This means the day stem matches the month stem, the day branch matches the hour branch, and they clash out Wealth in the opposite palace. Obtaining this configuration should develop Wealth and Emolument; draining energy is avoided as harmful. For a Renshen day with Shen also in the hour branch, two Shen clash out Jia and Bing within Yin as Wealth for use. Zi in annual or major fortune transforms them into a Water configuration. A damaged clause then speaks of a Geng day stem subjected to the configuration, its energy drained as Hurting Office so it cannot generate Wealth. If the year's ruler or pillars further bring Seven Killings conquering Body, death is asserted. This is because Flying Wealth's branches must not change into another configuration. Wuyin, Jiwei, Wuyin, Jiayin has three Yin and one Jia as Seven Killings, no Wealth energy at all in the sixth month, and very flourishing Equals. Yet three Yin clash out Water at Long Life within Shen as Wealth. Northwestern fortune brings enormous assets.
Translator's note: The opening matching-stem condition, subsequent Geng clause, and example whose month/day stems differ are retained without rebuilding the rule. Jia and Bing are both included where the source names Wealth within Yin.
Disrupting Out Wealth
For this configuration, an Yimao day with no Wealth or Office in the Eight Characters uses Mao to disrupt out Ji Earth within Wu and Wei as Wealth. One Yin or Xu secretly combining Wealth energy is excellent. Robbing Wealth and filling the position are avoided. Once Wealth's position appears and is filled, or the position is clashed, the configuration is broken and cannot function. Gengshen and Xinyou days disrupt Wood of Yin, Mao, and Chen as Wealth; Bingwu and Dingwei disrupt Metal of You and Xu as Wealth; Renzi and Guichou disrupt Fire within Si and Wu as Wealth. These days have their own Blade or Emolument and inherently strong selves, hence can clash and disrupt to take Wealth for use. How could other, weak Day Rulers disrupt and seize unexpected Wealth? Those fitting this configuration often rise suddenly through unanticipated Wealth. A poem says: “Without Wealth in the chart, inspect Disrupting Wealth. Wealth and Emolument disrupted out pile like mountains. Office and Seal fortune brings many blessings, but punishment, clash, and filling the position threaten calamity.” Another: “Mao disrupting Wu and Wei is judged for Wealth; Wu and Wei disrupting You are the same. Chou disrupting Si and Wu brings broad Wealth; You disrupting Chen and Mao readily gives blessing.”
Translator's note: All day-pair mappings and both complete verses follow the source's disruption rules. Filling an absent position and actually obtaining the proposed configuration are not silently treated as the same thing.
Tiger and Horse Rushing to Si
This configuration is a Xin or Gui day seeing Chou and Yin. Yin's punishment and Chou's combination punish and combine out Bing and Wu within Si as Xin and Gui's Office Stars. One You further combining Nobility is excellent. Punishment without combination cannot retain Emolument. Shen or Si in the pillars prevents the configuration. Renxu, Xinhai, Xinchou, Gengyin, and Jiaxu, Xinwei, Guichou, Jiayin are two noble charts fitting it. A poem says: “Xin and Gui days, in year, month, and hour, meeting Yin and Chou become remarkable. Yin punishes and Chou combines Emolument within Si: this is the foundation of merit, reputation, blessing, and nobility.”
Translator's note: The supplied title names Horse, while the body uses Yin and Chou; neither is silently changed. Both complete four-pillar charts and the need for combination in addition to punishment remain.
Sheep Striking Pig and Snake
This configuration uses only Xinwei and Guiwei days. Two or three Wei combine Hai into action, clashing out Bing and Wu within Si as Xin and Gui's Office. One You or Chou in the pillars combining and retaining noble energy is excellent. Filling the position, clash, and punishment are feared. Jiaxu, Xinwei, Guiwei, Guichou, and Gengshen, Guiwei, Xinwei, Yiwei are two charts fitting it, both noble. A poem says: “Sheep Striking Pig and Snake is the strongest configuration; the day must be Xin or Gui with Wei. Further You and Shen in the pillars combine Emolument without injury and enter the temple court.” All configurations discussed above should be used only when the pillars have no Wealth or Office; if these exist, do not select them.
Translator's note: The prose's You/Chou and verse's You/Shen differ and are both retained. Both complete charts and the final restriction applying to the preceding configurations remain.
Six Yin Turning toward Yang
The Preferences and Avoidances chapter says: “The six Xin days meeting Wuzi hour dislike Wu's position; fortune favors the west.” This configuration centers on the six Xin days. Xin takes Bing as Office Star and Gui as Longevity Star. Wuzi hour is favored because Wu combines Gui. Zi is Xin's Birth ground; Wu's Emolument lies at Si, and Wu comes as Seal to Xin. Wu is Bing's child. Bing sees Wu sealing Xin, then generates Wu and combines Xin, giving nobility: the Xin day obtains Office Star. Only one Zi should appear in the pillars; many do not fit. Wu clashing and Chou binding are feared, preventing yin from turning toward yang; Bing and Si filling the position are also feared. Fortune through western flourishing Metal is therefore favored. Northeastern Wealth and Hurting is next best; southern Death and Extinction is avoided. The configuration suits only Shen, Chen, Hai, Mao, Wei, or You month. Birth in the four season-ending months is judged as Seal and Ribbon; Bingwu, Bingyin, or Bingxu month as Wealth and Office; Jiayin or Yimao month only as Wealth. The monthly command is primary. For these judgments, fortune is not confined to north or south: flourishing Body is excellent. If this configuration forms, reputation mostly exceeds Wealth. The person is described as proud and lofty, harming wife and children. Violating the above avoidances gives poverty and scant means. Secret Instructions says: “Xin day and Zi hour avoid Fire ground; northwest is auspicious, southeast brings fear of harm.” An old song says: “Xin meeting Wuzi is called Turning toward Yang; fortune favors west, where Emolument and rank prosper. Without Chou, Wu, Bing, or Ding appearing, one wears gold and purple in the court.” Another: “Xin day meeting Wuzi hour: Wu moves Bing to become Xin's Office. Six yin Metal combining forms Turning toward Yang; a foundation of wealth and nobility is not difficult. Zi palace should have only one position; adjacent Chou makes blessing scant. With no trace of Bing, Ding, Si, or Wu, western fortune gives extraordinary profit.” Another: “Turning toward Yang fortune favors the west; arriving east is also auspicious. North is most feared and often inauspicious; southern Li clashes and breaks, governing calamity.”
Translator's note: The monthly inclusions and later alternative classifications, all three songs, and conflicting northwest/north fortune statements are retained as supplied. No direction is silently harmonized. The printed northeastern Wealth-and-Hurting wording remains.
Rat Nobility of the Six Yi
The Preferences and Avoidances chapter says: “Yin Wood meeting Zi hour alone is Rat Nobility of the Six Yi.” Yi takes Zi and Shen as Noble Spirits. Using Zi alone means using Rat, not Monkey. Yi uses Geng Metal as Office Star. With Bingzi hour, Bing Fire above Zi remotely returns to its own Emolument within Si. Si combines Shen, Shen activates Zi: Shen–Zi–Chen's three harmonies gather Nobility, bringing Geng from within Shen so the Yi day obtains Office Star. Shen hour exposes Office Star and is therefore not selected. Many Zi are called Gathering Nobility and are especially fine. Wu clashing or Chou binding in year or month prevents Zi from remotely inviting Emolument. Shen and Geng expose Office; You and Xin expose Killing and are injured by Bing, so Zi no longer fits. Annual and major fortunes are the same. This configuration needs the month connected with a Wood configuration and branches beneath the day on Wood-flourishing ground; Water Seal is also acceptable. Avoid Metal and Fire. Annual or major fortune meeting Shen or You brings harm and regret; eastern fortune gradually declines; Wu fortune gives death. Renyin, Xinhai, Yiwei, Bingzi fits. Yichou day binding Zi, or Yiyou day with Killing injury, reduces the favorable measure. A single Zi fears Mao punishment and Chou binding; many do not. If emerging Xin is not flourishing and Bing or Ding further combines or conquers it, Bing combining Xin transforms Water, and forward fortune does not injure Nobility. Jichou, Bingzi, Yimao, Bingzi has two Zi flanking one Mao; Dingsi, Renzi, Yichou, Bingzi has two Zi flanking one Chou. Though violating the avoidances above, they are born within interlocking, flanking Nobility and thus both greatly noble. Summer birth is judged only as Hurting Office. Birth in the seventh or eighth month gives poverty and low status. Gengshen month with northern fortune is instead judged as Office. Birth in the four season-ending months has Wealth's Storehouse and favors a Water configuration, Hurting Office, Food Spirit, and southern fortune, also auspicious. Whenever the monthly command shows flourishing Wealth, Office, or Seal, use Wealth and Office rather than judging Wu clashing Zi as calamity. If Rat Nobility fits but Wei in the pillars combines Wu, slight damage gives wealth and empty reputation. The Rhapsody of Reading the Heart says: “Rat Nobility of the Six Yi meeting Wu's clash is stripped to utter poverty.” A poem says: “Yi Wood born in Bingzi hour must lack Wu's disruption and Mao's punishment. With no Shen, You, or Chou in the four pillars, one bows at the vermilion steps while young.” Another: “An Yi day obtaining Zi hour is Rat Nobility, most remarkable. Wu coming to clash and disrupt is especially disliked; Xinyou and Gengshen are both unsuitable.” Another: “The six Yi born with Zi hour already carry Office Star yet use this too. Gengshen, Xinyou, Horse, and Ox oppress: one encountered makes a beggar.”
Translator's note: The repeated-Zi exceptions, all three four-pillar examples, seasonal alternative configurations, and all three poems are retained. The source's distinct instructions for a genuine Rat Nobility configuration and for an already usable monthly Wealth/Office/Seal are kept separate, including their different treatment of Wu's clash.
Day Emolument Returning to the Hour
The Preferences and Avoidances chapter says: “Day Emolument returning to the hour, without Office Star, is called Finding the Road to Blue Clouds.” This configuration lists seven day/Emolument-hour labels: Jia–Yin, Ding–Wu, Wu–Si, Ji–Wu, Geng–Shen, Ren–Hai, and Gui–Zi. The Day Ruler's Emolument returns to the hour position. Favor the day stem seated on flourishing, Seal and Ribbon's generation, Wealth's origin emerging in the month, Hurting and Food, and Heavenly and Monthly Virtue, indicating great wealth and nobility. Avoid punishment, clash, disruption, harm, Void, Death, Extinction, Robbing Wealth dividing Emolument, Reversed Food forming combination, and Office or Killing conquering and restraining. Even if still usable, it is impure. Annual and major fortunes are the same. An Yi day with Jimao hour is hour Indirect Wealth; a Bing day with Guisi hour exposes Office Star; a Xin day with Dingyou hour has hour Indirect Office. These are not judged as Returning Emolument. How should the four pillars be considered? Office Star in the month or Wealth and Office emerging in the stems means judge only as Wealth and Office. Emolument returning in the hour branch, with Emolument also in year, month, and hour branches, is Gathering Blessing and Returning Emolument, also called Five Phases Returning Emolument. Day Emolument returning to hour and hour Emolument returning to day is Exchanged Emolument. Year Emolument returning to hour and hour Emolument returning to year, as Jiashen seeing Gengyin, Yiyou seeing Xinmao, Renwu seeing Dinghai, or Guihai seeing Renzi, also governs great nobility and enjoyment of blessing. Repeated Emolument positions, such as Jia day and Yin hour with birth in the first month, with both Wealth and Office weak, are judged only as Established Emolument. Month and day Heavenly Origins identical with only hour Emolument is Divided Emolument and becomes useless; each returning to its own Emolument does no harm, however. This configuration has seven methods. First, Finding the Road to Blue Clouds: Wuzi, Jiayin, Yihai, Jimao has no trace of Office Star, flourishing Body obtaining a configuration, and Seal generating and assisting. Though Zi punishes Mao Emolument, it cannot break the configuration, hence nobility. Renwu, Gengxu, Renzi, Xinhai likewise has flourishing Body with Seal's assistance, gained the jinshi degree in Wuchen, and served as a bureau director in the Ministry of Punishments. Mixed Qi is an even more appropriate judgment: Dingchou fortune and Wuchen examination success follow Chou's punishment and Chen's clash. Second, Office Star Seated on Emolument: Bingshen, Bingshen, Bingshen, Guisi takes Gui as Bing's Direct Office. Birth in seventh-month Metal territory gives support, and fortune proceeds northwest where Office is born and flourishes. Bing at Shen lacks energy, but three Bing rely on one another and clash out Yin Long Life. Gui Office arrives at Si, Useful Spirit sits on Nobility, and Wealth and Office have twofold beauty. Thus early examination success and a ministerial appointment in middle age follow. Third, Returning Emolument Meeting Two Virtues: Xinhai, Xinmao, Jiayin, Bingyin has Jia's Exclusive Emolument and Bingyin as Food gathering Emolument. Jia is Monthly Virtue; monthly Xinmao is Jia's Direct Office, yet Xin in the second month lacks energy. Bing within two Yin combines away two Xin, leaving only two Yin as Jia's Emolument. Monthly Virtue meeting Returning Emolument gives a heroic chief minister assisting the state. Fourth, Returning Emolument Meeting Seal and Ribbon: Bingxu, Guisi, Wuwu, Dingsi has no trace of Office Star. Bing and Ding seal Wu; day and hour exchange Emolument. The source's sequence Wu branch, Wu stem, and a printed Yi graph is called Fire-ground Seal and Ribbon, generating Body too strongly. Western Food Spirit and Hurting Office fortune generates Wealth. Gui combining Wu transforms a Fire image, so examination success occurs young and office reaches third rank. Fifth, Returning Emolument Meeting Hurting Office greatly avoids Office. Renchen, Yisi, Jihai, Gengwu has Ji seated on Hai containing Jia Office, removed by Si's clash. Yi Killing is combined by Geng into true Metal Hurting Office. Ren is used as Wealth, seated on Storehouse, with Emolument returning beneath the day. Southern fortune flourishes Body and western fortune Metal; Hurting Office removes Killing and produces usable Wealth energy, giving spirited, refined, substantial nobility. Sixth, Returning Emolument Meeting Killing: Jiashen, Bingyin, Wushen, Dingsi has Wu seated on Shen at its own Birth. Jia emerging in the year is Killing, returning to Emolument at Yin, restrained by two Shen. Wu returns to Emolument at the hour ground, without Office mixing, hence military command and authority over the frontiers. Seventh, Returning Emolument Meeting Wealth: Jihai, Bingyin, Dingchou, Bingwu sits on its own Wealth Storehouse. Bing seizes Wealth, restrained by Ren within Hai; Yin combines Hai. Fortune meets Office and Killing, but strong and flourishing Equals can carry them. Ji Earth Food Spirit returns to Emolument in the hour and restrains Office and Killing. Xu, You, and Shen fortunes are all flourishing-Wealth ground, hence nobility. The Rhapsody of Original Principle says: “Returning Emolument obtains Wealth and gains blessing; Returning Emolument without Wealth must still be poor.” Another says: “Day Emolument returning to the hour dislikes Office Star in all four pillars and annual and major fortunes; punishment and harm halve its blessing.” A poem says: “Day Ruler born with Returning Emolument in the hour, without clash or punishment or falling into Void: Office and Killing absent, Wealth and Seal flourishing, Hurting and Food with healthy Body give a thousand measures of Emolument.” Another: “The six Jia have Emolument at Yin; Office luminary makes nobility hard to extend. Body without health and flourishing gladly meets generative Seal; excess Emolument loves Food Spirit. Mutual clash must bring calamity; conquest and disruption leave blessing without cause. Flowing year and major fortune are judged alike: wealth, nobility, and honor rise above others.”
Translator's note: All initial pair labels, three exclusions, exchanged/gathered/divided forms, seven methods and eight complete example charts are retained. The initial labels include stem/branch pairs that are not sexagenary days and are therefore not silently rendered as canonical day names. The damaged Wu/Wu/Yi sequence, Yihai/Jimao example despite the opening Yi exclusion, and contrasting judgments about Office are preserved with their stated contexts. No missing graph, phase, or rule is supplied.
Arching Emolument and Arching Nobility
The Preferences and Avoidances chapter says: “Arching Emolument and Arching Nobility become harmful when the position is filled.” Arching means facing or flanking. Emolument is the Emolument of Assuming Office; Nobility is Office Star's Nobility, or the Heavenly-Yi Noble Person. Arching Emolument has five day/hour pairs: Guihai with Guichou, and Guichou with Guihai, arch Zi Emolument; Dingsi with Dingwei, and Jiwei with Jisi, arch Wu Emolument; Wuchen with Wuwu arches Si Emolument. Arching Nobility also has five pairs: Jiashen with Jiaxu arches You, Yiwei with Yiyou arches Shen, both Office Nobility; Jiayin with Jiazi arches Chou, Wushen with Wuwu arches Wei, and Xinchou with Xinmao arches Yin, giving Office Nobility together with Heavenly-Yi Nobility. Arching configurations require identical day and hour stems, Noble Emolument connected in energy with the monthly command, and fortune through flourishing Body or flourishing Noble Emolument ground to be excellent. Seal and Ribbon, Hurting Office, Food Spirit, and Wealth fortunes are also auspicious. Avoid punishment, clash, disruption, harm, Sheep Blade, and Seven Killings injuring day and hour so they cannot hold noble energy. Filling the position and Void are greatly avoided. An empty vessel can receive things; filled, it is useless, so only empty arching is suitable. An intact vessel can hold things; broken, it is useless, hence fear of Void. Annual and major fortunes are the same. A rhapsody says: “Heavy Emolument and distinguished rank surely reveal a Flanking Emolument territory.” Guichou seeing Guihai arches Zi; Gui Emolument born in autumn or winter is heavy and energized. Wuzi seeing Jiayin also arches Chou Nobility, but Wu receives Jia's conquest: how can it arch? Infer others similarly. Sanming says: “Flanking Emolument and Flanking Nobility must occupy the honor of the Eight Seats.” Jingjian says: “Pure Arching Emolument and Arching Nobility belong among princes and marquises; filling the position gives empty reputation and profit. Without Wealth or Seal, injury and harm are disliked; avoid Office and Killing and fear Void.” A poem says: “Day and hour doubly arch Emolument in the central court; a golden coffer storing pearls is the purest configuration. A gentleman's fate of highest nobility rises carefree to dukes and ministers.” Another: “Empty arching of Noble Spirit and Emolument must avoid filling and Void. Clash, punishment, Sheep Blade, Seven Killings, and ruined Office Star cannot be borne.” Another: “Arching Emolument and Arching Nobility are rare configurations, yet inspect the monthly command's branch framework. If the framework is useful, it carries weight; without a usable monthly spirit, employ this distinction.”
Translator's note: All ten day/hour pairs, the vessel analogy, conflicting-stem counterexample, three poems, and the final priority of a usable monthly command are retained. Empty arching is distinguished from Void as the source itself distinguishes them.
Clashing Out Emolument
In this configuration, Geng's Emolument is Shen, but no Shen appears in the pillars. Gengyin day, with further Yin in year, month, or hour, jointly clashes out Shen as Geng's Emolument. Jia's Emolument lies at Yin; without Yin in the pillars, Jiashen day and further Shen in year, month, or hour jointly clash out Yin as Jia's Emolument. Bing injuring Geng and Geng injuring Jia are greatly avoided. Filling Emolument's position prevents nobility. Infer other cases similarly. Jisi, Dingchou, Gengyin, Wuyin; Xinsi, Yiwei, Jiashen, Renshen; and Yimao, Jiashen, Xinmao, Xinmao are three noble charts fitting the configuration.
Translator's note: Both explicit clash mechanisms, their stem-injury avoidances, and all three complete four-pillar examples are retained without adding a separate derivation for the third example.
Six Ren Approaching Gen
This configuration is a six-Ren day seeing Jiayin hour, combining out Ren Emolument within Hai: it is Hidden Emolument. A classic says, “Exposed Emolument is inferior to Hidden Emolument.” Hai filling the position is avoided; clash, punishment, conquest, and disruption are feared. Renyin and Renchen are the proper two days. Many Yin give great wealth because Jia Wood Food Spirit within Yin generates Bing Fire Wealth at Long Life; flourishing Wealth generates Office, hence excellence. Avoid Office and Killing injuring Body, and Shen and Geng injuring Jia so it cannot generate Wealth, which is harmful. Another account takes many Yin on a Ren day: Jia Wood within Yin secretly invites Ji Earth as Ren's Office Star; Bing Fire within Yin secretly invites Xin Metal as Ren's Seal and Ribbon. Wu combining and Shen clashing are feared. Wealth and Office filling the position are avoided; Body-flourishing ground is favored. Annual and major fortunes are the same. An oral formula says: “Six Ren Approaching Gen in Hai month must be poor.” The Rhapsody of Reading the Heart says: “Six Ren Approaching Gen has sufficient wisdom and much benevolence.” The Rhapsody of True Treasures says: “Six Ren Approaching Gen finds emerging Wealth and Seal remarkable; Office and Killing intruding instead give poverty and low status.”
Translator's note: Gen is the trigram associated with the northeast and Yin region. Both explanations of hidden invitation, the two specified days, Hai-month exception, and all three concluding citations remain. Emerging Wealth/Seal and forbidden filled Wealth/Office are not silently merged into one rule.
Six Jia Approaching Qian
This configuration is a six-Jia day seeing Hai. Hai is Heaven's Gate, the enclosure of the northern pole, upon which Jia Wood relies for Long Life. Hai can also combine out its own Emolument within Yin, like Approaching Gen. Yin filling the position and Si's punishment or clash are avoided. Another account says Jia seeing Hai hour has Ren Emolument within Hai as Seal and favors Xin Metal generating Seal, not Wealth. Mao in the pillars combining Hai prevents it from combining out Emolument within Yin. Weak Body meeting a Si–You–Chou configuration has too much Metal Spirit; annual and major fortunes repeating it cause calamity. The Rhapsody of Reading the Heart says: “Six Jia Approaching Qian is benevolent, upright, firm, and even-hearted.” The Rhapsody of True Treasures says: “Six Jia Approaching Qian favors emerging Seal and Ribbon; repeated Wealth Stars give rank among famous ministers.” Thousand-Li Horse says: “Ren Approaching Gen and Jia Approaching Qian are celebrated scholars of a pure court.” A poem says: “Six Jia Approaching Qian is most remarkable: Jia-day people obtain Hai hour. Annual or major fortune reaching flourishing Wealth brings official calamity and hardship.” Comparing poem and rhapsody shows opposite avoidance and favoring of Wealth. The author's view is that emerging Seal avoids Wealth, while flourishing Body favors Wealth.
Translator's note: Qian names the trigram here associated with Hai and Heaven's Gate. The original author's explicit comparison and attempted resolution of the conflicting Wealth rules are retained; no quotation is discarded to make them agree.
The Twofold Beauty of Wealth and Office
The Continuing Goodness chapter says: “The six Ren born at Wu are named Emolument and Horse in the Same Homeland; a Gui day seated toward Si palace has the Twofold Beauty of Wealth and Office.” Emolument is Office and Wealth is Horse, so the two sentences mean the same thing. Ren takes Ding Fire as Wealth-Horse and Ji Earth as Office-Emolument, both having Emolument at Wu. Gui takes Bing Fire as Direct Wealth and Wu Earth as Direct Office, both with Emolument at Si. Emolument, Horse, Wealth, and Office are difficult to obtain complete in a chart, especially seated beneath oneself, hence nobility. Autumn birth is favored: Metal flourishes, a damaged phrase says the printed Yong is generated, and Wood dies so it cannot conquer Earth, keeping harm distant. Flourishing Yin and Mao give refinement without substance. Winter birth has Black Warrior Holding Authority, with noble rank as prince or marquis. Wealth and Office already in the pillars make birth on these two days especially fine. Jichou, Dingmao, Renwu, Guimao has Ding and Ji emerging in year and month and returning to Emolument beneath the day, fitting this for great nobility. Luoluzi says: “Emolument and Horse in the Same Homeland: if not the Three Terraces, then the Eight Seats.” Another says that noble people receiving Emolument invariably have Emolument and Horse in the Same Homeland. Jiaxu, Yichou, Yisi, Bingshen, Dingchou, Wuchen, Jihai, Gengyin, Xinwei, Renxu, and Guiwei all hide Wealth and Office within their day branches and are also this. The classic selects Renwu and Guisi alone because their seats contain Direct Wealth and Direct Office; the rest have Indirect or Direct influences and lack uniform purity. By analogy, Jiaxu and Yichou favor Metal and Earth months for wealth and nobility, but Metal must not be excessive lest it injure Body and steal energy. Without Office Nobility, Wealth must develop. Bingshen and Dingchou give nobility in Metal and Wood months, avoiding only heavy Earth; Earth gathering to conquer Office gives riches. Jihai should be born in the four season-ending months, or have support and mutual generation for auspiciousness. Gengyin favors Fire and birth after the winter solstice, when one yang is born and Fire flourishes, indicating nobility. If hard Metal and strong Fire forge a sharp-edged object, autumn birth encountering Fire is especially fine. Grand Minister Tang's chart is Bingwu, Gengzi, Renwu, Bingwu. Ren day born in Zi month has flourishing Body, clashing up the year's Bing. Two Bing share a nest and clash away Geng, called day Geng in this wording, as Owl Food. Geng receiving clash and conquest avoids Bing and moves to Wu beneath the original day; the hour's Bing moves to monthly Zi; Ren, Geng's child, moves to the hour's Wu. The result is Bingwu, Bingzi, Gengwu, Renwu, all Emolument and Horse in the Same Homeland, also Water and Fire Achieving Mutual Completion, and named Six Ren Shifting and Exchanging. Hence great nobility. Greatly noble charts generally combine two or three configurations, finding sources on both sides. Many configurations must not be called mixture, as the Yuanyuan account does. An old song says: “Emolument and Horse in the Same Homeland without conquest or seizure make Wealth and Office together most glorious. Three Terraces and Eight Seats are truly remarkable nobility; strong conquest and seizure leave reputation and profit deficient.”
Translator's note: All thirteen listed day examples, the initial and transformed four-pillar charts, and every step of the source's relocation argument are retained. Yong in the autumn generation phrase and inconsistent day/hour stem labels are not silently repaired. Grand Minister Tang is not assigned an invented dynasty or biography. The original author's defense of combining several configurations remains.
Day Nobility means being seated on Heavenly-Yi. Only four days belong to it: Dingyou, Dinghai, Guisi, and Guimao. The person is described as pure, benevolent, attractive, not contemptuous of others, and elevated in bearing. Noble energy gathers in the day; Wealth, Food, and Seal further assisting turn it into blessing. Three harmonies, six combinations, and Residence–Tomb combination are favored. Fortune through Noble Person and flourishing Wealth brings blessing. Punishment, clash, disruption, harm, and Void are greatly avoided. Fortune meeting them again, the Grand Duke joining, and Chief Strength further appearing are said to assure poverty and early death. If another configuration forms, this does not apply. Day Nobility must distinguish day and night: day birth needs Guimao or Dinghai, night birth Guisi or Dingyou; day and night cannot simply be treated alike. A classic says the Noble Person names kindness and cheerful gentleness, and honored virtue. Wealth, Office, Seal, and Food are auspicious; Killing, Blade, clash, and punishment harmful. Chief Strength in fortune causes considerable harm. An old song says: “The birthday's Heavenly Stem sits on a Noble Branch. Chief Strength makes blessing uneven. Annual encounter with monthly Emolument is not favored; repeated Day Nobility is remarkable beyond remarkable.” Another: “Day Virtue and Day Nobility govern kindness. Wealth, Office, and Seal bring blessing and glory. Punishment, clash, Killing, or Blade turn auspiciousness into unbearable harm.” Another: “Gui at Snake and Rabbit is outstanding; Ding at Pig and Rooster is judged alike. Carefully avoid Chief Strength and distinguish day and night, further guarding punishment and harm that lose rank's order. Favorable gatherings in fortune must weight reputation; Void in the chart must bring calamity. Heavy Nobility and dignity sustain deep virtue, but encountering the earlier prohibitions is harmful without doubt.”
Translator's note: The four-day list, day/night division, alternative-configuration exception, Residence–Tomb expression, and all three songs are retained. The source's statements about character, appearance, status, and lifespan are historical judgments, not verified personal traits.
Day Virtue
Only five days form this configuration: Jiayin, Bingchen, Wuchen, Gengchen, and Renxu. It takes the five yang stems Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, and Ren. Jia seated on Yin obtains Emolument; Bing on Chen has Office's Storehouse; Geng on Chen has Wealth and Seal both complete; Ren on Xu has all Three Wonders. Yin heads the three yangs, while Chen and Xu are Chief Strength ground. Their stems and branches differ from other positions, hence Day Virtue. Those fitting it are described as kind in character, imposing in physique, compassionate toward the poor and respectful of elders, without poisonous injury, conquest, or exploitation. They find rescue in harm and resolution in difficulty, avoid unjust disaster, and must have ample blessing. A rhapsody says: “Day Virtue has a good heart and much steadiness and substance; undertakings are kind.” Body-flourishing fortune is extraordinarily fine. Once flourishing energy declines, encountering Chief Strength fortune is said to bring death. Even before blessing develops, a good configuration reaching Chief Strength must encounter calamity; escaping it allows renewed advancement, but ultimately with slight force. A single occurrence favors Wealth and Office; repeated Day Virtue should not see Wealth or Office. Punishment, clash, disruption, harm, Void, and Chief Strength gathering or arriving are all greatly avoided. A poem says: “Renxu and Gengchen are Day Virtue's officers; Jia at Yin, Wu and Bing must ride the Dragon. Body-flourishing fortune gives a kind heart; much Day Virtue naturally gives ample blessing.” Another: “Day Virtue dislikes Chief Strength, transformed into a Killing luminary hardest to bear. Repetition in the configuration should still be auspicious, but Chief Strength fortune leaves blessing unprosperous.” Another, with a stray Wu word after day, says: “Repeated Day Virtue avoids calamity. Office Star and Wealth territory are avoided; without clash, disruption, or Void, one can be a pillar of the court.” Another: “Day Virtue with Killing favors strong Body, not Wealth Star or flourishing Office territory. Gentle and further kind in nature, lifelong blessing and longevity are especially favored.” Zhang Zhu, identified by the deputy-transport title Yuntong, had Jiashen, Wuchen, Wuchen, Renxu. From an education official he came to wear gold and purple and received a fifth-rank commission: this is the configuration. Another chart is Gengchen, Jimao, Wuchen, Jiayin, with three Day Virtues and judged accordingly. Yet Jiayin avoids Gengchen. In Renwu Wealth-territory fortune, Yang Blade within Wu exercises authority, all violating Day Virtue's avoidances. In Dingsi year Yin and Si punished one another; he died in the fourth month at thirty-eight. His lifelong character was weighty rather than kind, and severe illness long afflicted him.
Translator's note: All five days, four poems, both complete charts, and the thirty-eight-year lifespan example are retained. The third poem's stray Wu graph and the absence of a separate Wuchen explanation in the opening are not silently repaired. The source's contradictory character example and its different rules for one versus repeated Day Virtues remain.
Chief Strength
This configuration has four days: Gengchen, Renchen, Wuxu, and Gengxu. Chen is Heavenly Gang and Xu River Kui, ground where yin and yang become Extinct, hence the name. Jia alone is excluded because it heads the stems: at Chen it is Azure Dragon, at the printed Wu it is Emolument Hall, auspicious without harm. This configuration needs repeated transformations and encounters of the day positions, with many arriving; their submission gives nobility. A classic says: “Chief Strength gathering in numbers develops extraordinary blessing.” The person is described as intelligent, distinguished in writing, decisive in affairs, holding authority and fond of killing. A rhapsody says: “Chief Strength is stern, principled, intelligent, and quick.” Body-flourishing fortune develops a hundred blessings. A single Wealth or Office brings immediate calamity, especially with punishment or Killing. If the day position stands alone and punishment, clash, conquest, and restraint arrive repeatedly, it must give a lesser person with incessant punishment and poverty to the bone. Flourishing Wealth and Office fortune requires guarding against extraordinary calamity. If the monthly command has Wealth, Office, or Seal and Ribbon and the Day Ruler has only one occurrence, select Wealth, Office, Seal, or Food. Even slight damage does no great harm if those obtain proper positions. Weigh the monthly framework and take what should be used, without confinement to minor details. Another account says Gengxu and Gengchen should have no Office Star. Repeated Chief Strength favorably related makes Wealth exceed fame; Wealth appearing nevertheless prevents the configuration, and flourishing-Wealth annual or major fortune brings incalculable calamity. A Gengchen day born in the ninth month, though Chen and Xu clash, can be called noble with southern fortune and Fire in the pillars. Gengxu day born in the third month does not use even present Office Star or Seal and Ribbon: Geng takes Fire within Xu as Office's Storehouse and Wu Earth as Seal, while Gui Water within Chen injures Office and drains Geng, preventing the configuration. Wuxu day without Wealth is not noble, but should not encounter Office. Repeated Chief Strength favorably related gives both wealth and nobility. Renchen day fears Wealth and Office and greatly favors Seal and Ribbon, followed by an awkward Wealth-and-Killing clause. Annual and major fortunes are the same. Another account says Chen is Water's Storehouse and belongs to Heavenly Gang; Xu is Fire's Storehouse and belongs to Earthly Kui. Chen and Xu meeting is Heaven Clashing and Earth Striking. Ziping's General Discussion says: “Body encountering Heavenly Gang and Earthly Kui, when declining, has poverty and cold to the bone; when strong, incomparable noble distinction.” A poem says: “Renchen, Gengxu, and Gengchen, with Wuxu, are Chief Strength's four seated spirits. Without Wealth, Office, punishment, or Killing together, Body proceeding through flourishing ground has incomparable nobility.” Another: “The four Chief Strength days stand foremost; repeated encounters wield great authority. Gengxu and Gengchen fear exposed Office; Wuxu and Renchen fear linked Wealth.” Another: “Many matching Chief Strength days in the four pillars bring noble energy to court. The Day Ruler alone with heavy clash and conquest, Wealth and Office exposed, suffers endless calamity.” In examining this configuration, all use Chen and Xu with only slight stem differences. The source refers awkwardly to Gengchen and “two days” being called both Day Virtue and Chief Strength, yet their configuration judgments differ greatly; one need not cling rigidly to a label. Assistant Commissioner Zhang Shi had Gengwu, Dinghai, Wuxu, Bingchen; Vice Minister Liu Dashou had Dinghai, Guichou, Gengxu, Wuyin. Both have Chief Strength days, but only Wealth, Office, and Seal are selected.
Translator's note: All four days, individual Gengchen/Gengxu/Wuxu/Renchen distinctions, three poems, and both complete official charts remain. Wu in the opening Emolument Hall clause, the awkward Renchen Wealth/Killing phrase, and the “Gengchen two days” wording are not silently corrected. The prohibition of Wealth, exception requiring Wealth for Wuxu, and priority of usable monthly categories are all preserved.
Blessing, Virtue, and Refined Energy
This configuration is judged specifically by the Si–You–Chou Metal configuration and the Heavenly Stem it obtains. Yisi, Yiyou, and Yichou are three days in which Yi uses Metal as Killing. Seal and Ribbon and restraint are favored. Birth in the sixth month meeting Wei is unsuitable: flourishing carried on Tomb lets Metal conquer Wood. Birth in the eighth month further revealing Killing is also unsuitable. Fortune in Seal and Ribbon or flourishing Office territory can bring blessing. Dingsi, Dingyou, and Dingchou are three days in which Ding uses Ren as Office and favors flourishing Metal generating Water. Eighth-month birth is also disliked: Fire is Dead then, obstructing merit and fame. Eleventh-month birth is disliked too because Gui Water is Killing and lifespan does not endure. Wealth and Office in the pillars are favored, their flourishing positions noble; flourishing Office fortune develops blessing. Jisi, Jiyou, and Jichou are three days in which Ji uses Jia Wood as Office. Si–You–Chou Metal all injures its Office, also called Stealing Energy. Why is it auspicious? Metal generates Water Wealth, and favorable Wealth fortune brings advancement. The pillars should not show Bing, Ding, Yin, Wu, or Xu injuring the Metal configuration, or punishment, clash, disruption, and harm. Fourth-month birth with flourishing Fire is also disliked: refined energy is shallow, establishment comes late, and success, failure, solitude, and harm to kin are frequent. Guisi, Guiyou, and Guichou use Metal Spirit as Seal; Si–You–Chou Metal can generate Gui Water. Autumn and winter are favored, and the fourth month disliked because Water is Extinct at Si. Yet Metal is Born at Si and can generate Water, so Water cannot entirely become Extinct. Office and Seal fortune can bring blessing; only Fire Wealth injuring Metal is disliked. Xinsi, Xinyou, and Xinchou are finest with a complete Metal configuration in the pillars. Wu and Xu with flourishing Fire break it and cause calamity instead. Connection with flourishing Bing Fire as proper-energy Office Star, or Yin as the Heavenly-Yi Noble Person, is nevertheless auspicious. Annual and major fortunes are the same. An old song says: “Yin Wood arriving at Rooster, Ox, and Snake, born in the sixth month, secretly sighs. Official Emolument is difficult to maintain long; even literary accomplishment is insufficient to praise.” Another: “Yisi, Yiyou, and Yichou, born in the eighth month, have short lives. Fire Hurting Office in the four pillars must bring demotion and loss of post.” Another: “Yin Fire arriving at Si, You, and Chou, born in Chou month, cannot live long. Reputation and profit have many successes and failures, with ruin and sexual excess unbearable.” Another: “Dingsi, Dingyou, and Dingchou, born in the eighth month, do not last long. Future reputation and profit are both slight; drinking and making friends are further avoided.” Another: “Yin Earth meeting Snake, Rooster, and Ox is called Blessing and Virtue, named Pixiu. Fire intruding upon, conquering, and disrupting refined energy makes reputation and profit stop together.” Another: “Jisi, Jiyou, and Jichou contain the transformation of Blessing, Virtue, and Refined Energy. Greatly fear Fire invading the four pillars; even merit and fame cannot last long.” Another: “Yin Metal combining a configuration governs prospects; transformation is pure, remarkable, and favorably related. Fire intruding, conquering, and disrupting the pillars leaves reputation and profit both unachieved.” Another: “Western Metal energy sits in yin softness, fearing neither Rest nor Imprisonment. When Ghost and Killing are born, blessing develops, and merit and fame advance step by step to Yingzhou.” Another: “Guisi and Guiyou, the month facing wind: a hundred affairs delay and undertakings are empty. Reputation and profit are hard to hope for, showing people stand within the five phases.” Another: “Guisi, Guiyou, and Guichou, born in the fourth month, do not last long. Success and failure in fame occur in later years; craving sexual beauty and drinking are most avoided.”
Translator's note: All fifteen day examples, all five stem-group discussions, and all ten songs are retained. The prose's eleventh-month warning and a poem's Chou-month warning remain different. Pixiu, Yingzhou, and the damaged month-facing-wind expression are not replaced by invented technical conditions. Historical claims about sexuality, illness, status, and short life are translated as source claims.
Exchanging Emolument Origins
This configuration has only four days: Wushen, Dingyou, Bingzi, and Gengzi. Wushen day with Yimao hour uses Yi Wood within Mao as Wu's Office; Yi uses Geng Metal within Shen as Office. They exchange and complete Noble Emolument. Ren and Gui as Wealth in the pillars are favored, generating and assisting Yi Wood Office Star. Fortune in flourishing Office territory gives a noble fate. Avoid Jia Killing, Xin Hurting, and Yin and You clashes. Dingyou with Renyin, Bingzi with Guisi, and Gengzi with Dinghai follow the same preferences and avoidances. Guihai, Renxu, Bingzi, Guisi has flourishing Exchanged Emolument, each arriving at Office Nobility, without punishment, clash, disruption, or harm, hence nobility. Jiwei, Xinwei, Bingzi, Guisi also fits and is greatly noble. The ancient method of Exchanging Emolument Origins, such as Wuwu seeing Dingsi, takes the Emolument of Assuming Office.
Translator's note: All four day/hour pairs, both complete charts, and the final distinction between Office exchange and the ancient Assuming-Office Emolument method remain.
Zi and Wu Doubly Enclosing
Zi is the imperial seat and Wu the main gate, positions where the sovereign dwells. A chart may have two Zi and two Wu, two Wu enclosing one Zi, or two Zi enclosing one Wu, embodying Water and Fire achieving mutual completion and the mechanism of yang and yin being born. Those meeting it are said to be noble. Renwu, Renzi, Wuwu, Renzi has two Wu and two Zi. Renzi, Guichou, Wuwu, Renzi; Jiazi, Gengwu, Bingshen, Wuzi; and the three-pillar sequence Wuwu, Dingwei, Gengzi are described as two enclosing Wu. Wuwu, Jiazi, Jiashen, Gengwu; and Jiawu, Renshen, Jiazi, Geng followed by the printed Five graph are described as two Wu enclosing Zi. All are noble charts.
Translator's note: Every supplied chart is retained, including the example with only three pillars and the final Geng-Five spelling. No fourth pillar or replacement branch is invented. The source's abbreviated two-enclosing-Wu wording is identified rather than silently expanded.
Azure Dragon Concealing Its Form
Jia and Yi Wood belong to the east. Azure Dragon Concealing Its Form means concealing itself in Metal. The five days Jiashen, Jiaxu, Yisi, Yiyou, and Yichou sit on Wealth and Office. All require support from the monthly command, Office Star obtaining ground, and absence of Hurting Office. Balanced Metal and Wood complete the image. Some call Yisi day and hour Azure Dragon Hidden Away, indicating mistakes from drinking and hidden loss of blessing and longevity; abstaining from drink avoids this. A poem says: “Jia and Yi residing in Shen and You territory favor Wood flourishing in spring. Storehouses assisting in the four pillars give extraordinary Twofold Beauty of Wealth and Office.”
Translator's note: All five days, the Yisi qualification, and the poem's Storehouse condition follow the supplied text.
White Tiger Holding Power
Geng and Xin Metal belong to the west. White Tiger Holding Power means obtaining its commanding position. The six days Gengwu, Gengyin, Gengxu, Xinsi, Xinmao, and Xinwei sit on Wealth, Office, Seal, and Nobility. The Day Ruler needs support and generative energy, or flourishing Office with season and assistance. A following clause says Wealth and Office are not seen, yet using Office must give nobility and using Wealth riches. Annual and major fortunes are the same. Some take Xinmao day and hour as infringing White Tiger, unfavorable for courageous combat and often giving eye illnesses, especially with repeated infringement. A poem says: “White Tiger Holding the World is strong in Yin and Mao, arriving also in Si, Wu, Wei, or Xu territory. Meeting these in the four quarters often gives wealth and nobility; one must become a pillar in the imperial capital.”
Translator's note: All six days and the awkward absence/use-of-Wealth-and-Office clause are retained without adding a missing condition. The prose's Holding Power and poem's Holding the World wording remain distinct. The eye-illness statement is historical.
Vermilion Bird Riding the Wind
Bing and Ding Fire belong to the south. Vermilion Bird Riding the Wind also means holding power. Bing and Ding favor Metal and Water territory; flourishing Body with support gives wealth and nobility. Bingzi and Dinghai have Water and Fire achieving mutual completion and also the nobility of receiving energy in the Conception Origin. Flourishing Office and Wealth are best. Bing and Ding with a Shen–Zi–Chen Water configuration also achieve mutual completion. A rhapsody says: “Flourishing Fire obtaining Water achieves mutual completion.” Water and Fire must be balanced, without one-sided depletion. Bingshen, Bingchen, Dingyou, and Dingchou, with supported Body, generative energies assisting one another, and flourishing, vigorous Wealth and Office, are all auspicious. Some call Dingwei day and hour Vermilion Bird Breaking a Foot, greatly unfavorable for the six kinds of livestock through loss, dispersal, death, and injury, or indicating sores. Jia and Yi present give descendants. A poem says: “Vermilion Bird Riding the Wind is Bing and Ding; Metal and Water bring eminence. Shen, Zi, and Chen territory gives much noble distinction; obtaining the time, one walks jade palace steps.”
Translator's note: All six named day examples, balance requirement, Dingwei counterconfiguration, livestock/sores clause, and Jia/Yi descendant statement are retained as historical source assertions.
Black Warrior Holding Authority
Ren and Gui Water belong to the north. Black Warrior Holding Authority also means holding power. Renyin, Renwu, Renxu, Renchen, Guisi, Guichou, and Guiwei all sit on Wealth, Office, and Seal. If Body flourishes with support and Office Star connects with the monthly command's generative energy, there is nobility. A Water configuration with Hurting Office is greatly avoided; repeated harmful influences give wickedness and an unjust death in the text. With an Earth configuration and heavy Fire, Metal should drain their energy and generate and assist oneself, which is auspicious. Clash and disruption with weak Body are harmful. Annual and major fortunes are the same. Some call Renchen day and hour Black Warrior Receiving a Stab, indicating officials slandered, reverses involving lesser people, and unceasing disputes. A poem says: “Black Warrior born in autumn flourishes in the north. Arriving in Si, Wu, and Earth Spirit territory, or Gen's Yin, gives abundant Wealth and blessing, with reputation and profit both auspicious.” Another: “Black Warrior Holding Authority must be genuine: Ren and Gui day stems sit on Wealth Star. If Office Star also occupies the portal, without disruption one should be a person of great public use.”
Translator's note: All seven days, the Metal relief condition, Renchen counterconfiguration, and both poems are retained. The source's unjust-death and slander claims remain historical assertions, not personal predictions.
Hooked Array Obtaining Position
Wu and Ji Earth belong to the center. Hooked Array Holding Position means holding authority. Wuyin, Wuchen, Wuzi, Wushen, the printed Yimao, Jihai, and Jiwei all sit on Wealth, Office, and Seal. With flourishing Body, timely Office gives nobility and timely Wealth riches. Absence of Hurting Office and Robbing Wealth is excellent. Clash and punishment are avoided; flourishing Killing causes calamity. Annual and major fortunes are the same. A poem says: “Wu and Ji's Hooked Array in flourishing territory is strongest in Yin and Mao palaces. Further Chen, Mao, and Wei, with Hai and Zi encountered, give great auspicious prosperity.” Another: “Wu and Ji day stems seated on Wealth and Office are called Hooked Array Obtaining Position. Great Wealth distributes auspicious energy; a chart meeting this ranks among the court.”
Translator's note: Yimao is printed in the Earth-day list and is not silently changed to Jimao. All seven entries, both verses, and the distinction between timely Office and timely Wealth remain.
Returning the Spirit and Borrowing Energy
The five phases, at their own Death or Extinction, receive rescue and return in succession. Wood is Extinct at Shen yet meets Jiashen; Metal is Extinct at Yin yet meets Wuyin, and so forth. This is most auspicious; having a blessing spirit is next, lacking one lower.
Translator's note: Both examples and the source's abbreviated ordering of auspiciousness are retained without supplying a missing condition.
Eight Exclusives with Flourishing Emolument
The Eight Exclusive days appeared earlier. Some also add Bingwu, Dingsi, Wuchen, Wuwu, Jisi, Yichou, and Renzi, and omit Dingwei. Among the sixty Jiazi, these uniquely have stems and branches of the same kind. Of them, Jiayin, Yimao, Gengshen, and Xinyou are the four proper days of Exclusive Flourishing Emolument. Jia and Yi should have Hai, Mao, Wei, or Yin month forming a Wood configuration; Gengshen should have Si, You, Chou, or Shen month forming a Metal configuration. Refined energy is pure and unmixed, indicating intelligence, longevity, little lifelong illness, and much fondness for wine and sex. Even strong Body does not fear Office or Killing in the pillars, but mixture prevents exclusive Emolument and ultimately brings calamity. Wealth, Seal, and Food in the Eight Characters bring blessing. Fortune through Exclusive Flourishing Emolument or flourishing Wealth, Seal, and Food develops wealth and nobility. Equal and Robbing Wealth are feared. Without Wealth, Food, Office, or Seal, solitude is common, or one becomes a monk or Daoist. A classic says: “Stem and branch alike diminish Wealth and injure the wife.” Another says: “Flourishing Body without support must become monk or Daoist.” With only one Emolument, fortune through flourishing Body, Wealth, Food, and Seal also gives noble advancement. Three or four repeated Emoluments without Wealth or Office can instead use Wealth and blessing clashed out from the opposite palace. Or energized Office in month or hour gives flourishing Body encountering Office, an especially noble configuration. Clash and punishment dispersing one's flourishing energy are avoided; even with nobility, illness is frequent. Master Zhu Wengong had Gengxu, Bingxu, Jiayin, Gengwu: Exclusive Emolument obtains a Fire configuration as Food. Two Geng are Killing, residing in Fire's flourishing Storehouse. Refined Wood obtains ground and transforms Killing into authority, fitting a great Confucian scholar. Chief Minister Dong had Jisi, Xinwei, Yimao, Dinghai: Exclusive Emolument obtains a Wood configuration, gathering all the day stem's born, flourishing, refined energy. Eastern fortune gives Body's flourishing configuration and clashes up opposing Emolument as authority, hence great nobility.
Translator's note: All seven added days, Dingwei's omission, four primary days, the specific Gengshen month rule, both complete named charts, and alternatives for one versus repeated Emoluments are retained. No missing monthly rule for Xinyou is inserted. Historical character, family, illness, and religious-status statements are source assertions.
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