Miscellaneous Discussions on Keeping or Removing the Official and Seven Kills

Original Text

《喜忌篇》云：煞官混杂类，有去官留煞，亦有去煞留官。盖言柱中官星七煞交差，月上见官时上见煞，或月上见煞时上见官，或四柱叠见，有物去官留煞者，即以偏官论，有物去煞留官者，即以正官论。凡看去留，要详柱中官煞孰重孰轻，天乾透者易去，月支所藏者难去，须伤官食神去官煞之物众而有力，方才去得。五阳日食神，能去煞，又能留官；五阳日伤官，但能去官，不能留煞，必须得羊刃合，方成去官留煞。假如甲日生人，甲以辛为官，庚为煞，若官重煞轻，得丙食一位，克去庚金，与辛相合，此谓去煞留官，有情而贵；若煞重官轻，得丁火伤官，克去辛金，再得乙木羊刃，与庚相合，此谓去官留煞，有情而贵。五阴日食神，能去煞却不能留官，日主自能留之，五阴日伤官，能去官又能留煞。假如乙日生人，以庚为官，辛为煞，若官重煞轻，得丁食一位，克去辛煞，则乙与庚合，此谓去煞留官，有情而贵；若煞重官轻，得丙火伤官，克去庚金，来合辛金，此谓去官留煞，有情而贵。

《元理赋》云：去煞留官当论贵，去官留煞主威权。又曰：官星七煞交差，却有合煞为贵，此之谓也。合煞有二义，有合去合来，合来是去官留煞，合去是去煞留官。假令六甲生人，透辛正官，又透庚七煞，是官煞交差，柱中却有乙木合庚七煞，有丁火克辛官星，此是去官留煞。假令六己生人，透出甲正官，又透乙七煞，是官煞交差，柱中却有庚克甲正官，来合乙七煞，是去官留煞。上是羊刃合煞，此是伤官合煞。又如甲以辛酉为官，庚申为煞，若甲申日以申为煞，又有酉为官，缘申乃水长生之地，煞化印生助甲木，柱中虽有酉金，却有午丁字伤克，去官留煞，值此主生平心志巧妙，不受福德，不信任他人，常劳役自己。又如六庚生人，柱透丙煞，又透丁官，是官煞交差，若柱有壬克丙，又来合丁，是去煞留官。赋云：合官星不为贵，合七煞不为凶。盖言合官是柱中闲神合去官星，所以不为贵，合煞是柱中闲神与七煞合，所以合官忘贵，合煞忘贱。若日主干支与官煞合，则为合官为贵，合煞为贱。

经曰：官煞两停，喜者存之，憎者去之。盖言柱中正官七煞，两均相停，有物生扶会和者，其力专，宜存而留之，有物破损伤害者，其力散，宜弃而去之，官星有生扶，煞星有破害，则去煞留官，反是则去官留煞。若两停俱无扶合，而有破害，当斟酌柱中有力一字为用神，若是吉神，则以吉论。若两停俱有扶合，而无破害，即是官煞混杂，反为贫贱。又曰：年月日时，或有四位官四位煞，当以明者用之，藏者舍之，明见官则存其官，明见煞则存其煞，宜仔细分别，若两停无轻重，察其生助向时者用之，背时无助者弃之，去留不清，乃为混杂。如甲生七月上旬，为煞得令，纵有丙火，亦不能去。又曰：去留二格，最宜身旺，若身果旺，虽无物去煞，亦能化煞为官。如甲见庚为煞，甲坐寅禄，旺，甲木自抱火气制煞，不须再见丙丁，如甲生秋令，却要丙丁制之，柱原无制，运到制地方发。又曰：地支天干合多，亦云贪合忘官。盖言日主天元，地支人元，与当生岁月时中干支，明暗重重相合，有情贪恋，合神虽有官星，则财来盗气，官来克身，反为不利，官将不成，财将不遂，故曰贪合忘官。大抵凶神有物合去，则反凶为吉，吉神有物合去，则反吉为凶，吉凶神煞，看局中喜忌何神，不可执一论。

《奥旨赋》云：阳日食神暗合官星，阴日食神窃侵印绶。观此则知四柱无官印则喜食神，有官印则忌食神。又曰：贪合忘煞忘官。如六癸生人，干头透出己字为煞，再透甲字是己家合神，合去己字，不为煞矣，此谓贪合忘煞。如庚申、甲申、甲子、乙亥，年上庚字伤甲，得亥上乙字合庚去煞，奈月令又有申，不清二申，煞重不能尽合，所以只为吏命。又如六壬生人，干头透己字为官，再见申透，是己家合神合去己字，不为官星，此谓贪合忘官。如辛丑、丙申、甲戌、己巳，甲日透出辛字，正是官星，奈因丙火合去，所以发贵不清。诀云：壬水相逢阳土时，心怀忿怒起争非，忽然癸水来相助，合住凶顽不见威。此贪合忘煞例。又云：壬逢己土欲为官，蓦被青阳起讼端，引诱合将真贵去，致令受挫万千般。此贪合忘官例。

Interpretation

According to "The Chapter on Likes and Dislikes", "In cases of the mixing of official and killing elements, there are situations of removing the official and retaining the killing, and also situations of removing the killing and retaining the official." It means that when the official star and the seven - killing element intersect in the Bazi (the eight characters of one's birth date). If the official is seen in the month pillar and the killing in the hour pillar, or vice versa, or if they appear repeatedly in the four pillars. When there is something in the Bazi to remove the official and retain the killing, then it is regarded as a situation of the partial official; when there is something to remove the killing and retain the official, then it is regarded as a situation of the proper official. In general, when determining the removal and retention, one needs to carefully analyze which is heavier and which is lighter between the official and the killing in the Bazi. The ones revealed in the Heavenly Stems are easier to remove, while those hidden in the earthly branches of the month are more difficult to remove. Only when there are many and powerful elements such as the eating god and the hurting official that can remove the official and the killing can they be removed. For the five Yang - day masters, the eating god can remove the killing and also retain the official; the hurting official of the five Yang - day masters can only remove the official but cannot retain the killing. It must be combined with the yang blade to achieve the situation of removing the official and retaining the killing. For example, for those born on an A - day, A takes G as the killing and Xin as the official. If the official is stronger and the killing is weaker, with one Bing (eating god), it can overcome Geng and combine with Xin. This is called removing the killing and retaining the official, which is auspicious and leads to nobility. If the killing is stronger and the official is weaker, with Ding (hurting official) to overcome Xin, and then with Yi (yang blade) to combine with Geng, this is called removing the official and retaining the killing, which is also auspicious and leads to nobility. For the five Yin - day masters, the eating god can remove the killing but cannot retain the official, while the day master itself can retain the official. The hurting official of the five Yin - day masters can remove the official and also retain the killing. For example, for those born on a B - day, B takes G as the official and Xin as the killing. If the official is stronger and the killing is weaker, with one Ding (eating god) to overcome Xin, then B combines with G. This is called removing the killing and retaining the official, which is auspicious and leads to nobility. If the killing is stronger and the official is weaker, with Bing (hurting official) to overcome G and then combine with Xin, this is called removing the official and retaining the killing, which is also auspicious and leads to nobility.

According to "Yuan Li Fu": "When getting rid of the Seven Killings and retaining the Official, one should be regarded as noble; when getting rid of the Official and retaining the Seven Killings, one will hold power and authority." It also says: "When the Official Star and the Seven Killings are in a mixed situation, having the Seven Killings combined can lead to nobility. This is what it means." There are two meanings of combining the Seven Killings: combining to remove and combining to attract. Combining to attract means getting rid of the Official and retaining the Seven Killings; combining to remove means getting rid of the Seven Killings and retaining the Official. For example, for those born in the year of Jia (the first of the Heavenly Stems), if the Stem reveals Xin as the proper Official and also reveals Geng as the Seven Killings, it is a situation of the Official and the Seven Killings being in a mixed state. If there is Yi Wood in the Pillar to combine with Geng, the Seven Killings, and Ding Fire to overcome Xin, the Official Star, this is getting rid of the Official and retaining the Seven Killings. Another example, for those born in the year of Ji (the sixth of the Heavenly Stems), if the Stem reveals Jia as the proper Official and also reveals Yi as the Seven Killings, it is a situation of the Official and the Seven Killings being in a mixed state. If there is Geng to overcome Jia, the proper Official, and to combine with Yi, the Seven Killings, this is getting rid of the Official and retaining the Seven Killings. The former is the Yang Blade combining with the Seven Killings, and this is the Hurting Officer combining with the Seven Killings. Also, for Jia, Xin You is regarded as the Official and Geng Shen as the Seven Killings. If it is the day of Jia Shen, taking Shen as the Seven Killings and You as the Official, since Shen is the place of the birth of Water, the Seven Killings transform into the Seal to support Jia Wood. Although there is You Metal in the Pillar, there are Wu and Ding characters to hurt and overcome it, getting rid of the Official and retaining the Seven Killings. In this case, the person is usually ingenious - minded in life, not content with blessings and fortune, distrustful of others, and always over - working oneself. For those born in the year of Geng (the seventh of the Heavenly Stems), if the Pillar reveals Bing as the Seven Killings and also reveals Ding as the Official, it is a situation of the Official and the Seven Killings being in a mixed state. If there is Ren in the Pillar to overcome Bing and to combine with Ding, this is getting rid of the Seven Killings and retaining the Official. The "Fu" says: "Combining the Official Star does not necessarily lead to nobility, and combining the Seven Killings does not necessarily lead to misfortune." It means that when an idle god in the Pillar combines with the Official Star, it does not lead to nobility; when an idle god in the Pillar combines with the Seven Killings, it makes one forget about being of low status. However, if the Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch of the Day Master combine with the Official or the Seven Killings, then combining with the Official leads to nobility, and combining with the Seven Killings leads to a low - status situation.

The classic says: When the regular official and the seven - killing are in balance, keep what is favorable and remove what is unfavorable. It means that when the regular official and the seven - killing in the eight - character chart are evenly matched, if there are elements that generate, support, or harmonize them, their power is concentrated, and they should be retained. If there are elements that damage or harm them, their power is dispersed, and they should be discarded. If the regular official has support and the seven - killing has damage, then remove the seven - killing and keep the regular official; conversely, remove the regular official and keep the seven - killing. If neither the regular official nor the seven - killing has support or harmony but has damage, one should carefully select a powerful character in the chart as the favorable element. If it is a auspicious god, then it should be regarded as auspicious. If both the regular official and the seven - killing have support and harmony without damage, it is a case of the mixture of the regular official and the seven - killing, which will lead to poverty and low status. It also says: In the year, month, day, and hour columns, if there are four regular officials or four seven - killings, use the obvious ones and discard the hidden ones. If the regular official is clearly visible, keep the regular official; if the seven - killing is clearly visible, keep the seven - killing. One should distinguish carefully. If they are in balance without a clear difference in strength, use the one that is supported by the current time and discard the one that is not supported. Failure to make a clear decision on removal and retention leads to confusion. For example, if a person with the heavenly stem of Jia is born in the first ten days of the seventh month, the seven - killing is in its prosperous season. Even if there is Bing fire, it cannot remove the seven - killing. It further says: The two patterns of removal and retention are most suitable when the body (the day master) is strong. If the body is indeed strong, even without elements to remove the seven - killing, it can transform the seven - killing into a regular official. For example, when Jia encounters Geng as the seven - killing, if Jia sits on the prosperous position of Yin, Jia wood itself contains the fire energy to control the seven - killing, and there is no need to see Bing or Ding. If Jia is born in autumn, then Bing and Ding are needed to control the seven - killing. If there is no controlling element in the original chart, one will achieve success when the luck brings the controlling element. It also says: If there are many combinations between the heavenly stems and the earthly branches, it is also said that one is so obsessed with combinations that one forgets about the regular official. It means that when the heavenly stem of the day master, the earthly branches and their hidden elements, and the heavenly stems and earthly branches in the year, month, and hour of birth are combined both explicitly and implicitly, and there is an affectionate attachment. Even if there is a regular official among the combined elements, the wealth will steal the qi, and the official will attack the body, which is actually unfavorable. The official career will not succeed, and the wealth will not be obtained. Therefore, it is called "being obsessed with combinations and forgetting about the regular official." Generally speaking, if an inauspicious god is removed by combination, it will turn from inauspicious to auspicious; if an auspicious god is removed by combination, it will turn from auspicious to inauspicious. Regarding the auspicious and inauspicious gods and evil stars, one should look at what kind of god is favorable or unfavorable in the overall situation and cannot make a one - sided judgment.

The "Aozhi Fu" states: For yang signs, the Hurting Officer secretly combines with the Official Star; for yin signs, the Hurting Officer secretly encroaches on the Seal. From this, we know that in the Four Pillars, if there are no Official Stars and Seal, the Hurting Officer is preferred; if there are Official Stars and Seal, the Hurting Officer is disliked. It also says: One becomes so obsessed with combination that one forgets about the Killing and the Official. For example, for those born in the year of the six Gui (癸), if the Ji (己) character appears on the Heavenly Stem as the Killing, and then the Jia (甲) character appears, which is the combining element for Ji. By combining with Ji, Ji no longer functions as the Killing. This is called "becoming obsessed with combination and forgetting about the Killing". Take the Bazi of Gengshen (庚申), Jiashen (甲申), Jiazi (甲子), Yihai (乙亥) as an example. The Geng (庚) in the year pillar harms the Jia (甲). Fortunately, the Yi (乙) in the Hai (亥) combines with Geng to remove the Killing. However, there is also a Shen (申) in the month pillar. With two Shen, the Killing is too strong to be completely combined. So, this person can only hold a minor official position. Another example is for those born in the year of the six Ren (壬). If the Ji (己) character appears on the Heavenly Stem as the Official, and then the Shen (申) appears, which is the combining element for Ji. By combining with Ji, Ji no longer functions as the Official. This is called "becoming obsessed with combination and forgetting about the Official". Take the Bazi of Xinchou (辛丑), Bingchen (丙申), Jiaxu (甲戌), Jisi (己巳) as an example. For the Jia day, the Xin (辛) that appears is exactly the Official Star. Unfortunately, it is combined away by the Bing (丙) fire. So, the person's path to nobility is not clear - cut. The formula says: When Ren water meets yang earth, one's heart is filled with anger and disputes arise. Suddenly, if Gui water comes to help, it combines with the fierce element and its power is no longer visible. This is an example of "becoming obsessed with combination and forgetting about the Killing". It also says: When Ren meets Ji earth and intends to become an official, suddenly the green yang causes lawsuits. It lures and combines away the true nobility, causing countless set - backs. This is an example of "becoming obsessed with combination and forgetting about the Official".