Agricultural Work

Original Text

赋云：戊己忻逢四季，乃为稼穑之名。是戊己生逢季月，喜见木为官，止得一木为妙，木多则土虚，主虚诈为破家不仁之人。辰未土聚之地，见巳午火即贵，亦不宜多，多则土燥，不能滋生万物。丑戌之土，内怀金气，不宜重见，恐存煞气，不生万物，又不宜见金泄气，不贵。秋土不成器为死土，因土内含金，冬土不成器为泥土，因土内含水，故土只四季也。

诗曰：

戊己日生宜四季，多防丑戌坏金气，生来见木或逢荧，个中消息真荣贵。

又：

戊己生逢四月中，戊辰丑未要全逢，喜行财地嫌官煞，运到东方定有凶。

Interpretation

The ode says: When the Earthly Branches Wu and Ji encounter the four seasons, they are named for the crops. That is, when Wu and Ji are born in the last month of each season, they are glad to see Wood as the official element. It's best to have only one Wood. If there is too much Wood, the Earth will be weak, and the person will be a false and fraudulent one who ruins the family and lacks benevolence. In the places where Earth gathers like Chen and Wei, seeing the Fire of Si and Wu means nobility, but it's also not advisable to have too much. If there is too much Fire, the Earth will be dry and unable to nourish all things. The Earth of Chou and Xu contains the Qi of Metal inside. It's not advisable to see Metal repeatedly, as it may contain malevolent Qi and fail to nourish all things. Also, it's not advisable to see Metal exhausting the Earth's Qi, as it won't bring nobility. The Earth in autumn is useless and is called dead Earth because it contains Metal inside. The Earth in winter is useless and is called muddy Earth because it contains Water inside. Therefore, Earth is only prosperous in the four seasons.

The poem goes:

Those born on Wuxu or Jihai days are suitable for the four seasons. They should be on guard against Chou and Xu disrupting the metal qi. If they encounter wood or fire element in their lives, there lies the real secret to honor and nobility.

Moreover:

When one is born in the fourth month under the signs of Wu and Ji, the presence of Wu Chen, Chou, and Wei is essential. They prefer to encounter the fortune aspect but dislike the official and evil aspects. If their fortune leads them to the east, misfortune is surely in store.