On Legitimate Income
Original Text
正财者，乃甲见己、乙见戊之例。受我克制，为我之妻，譬人娶妻，妻赍财嫁我，我必精神康强，而后可享用，若衰微不振，虽妻财丰厚，但能目视，终不得用。故财要得时乘旺，不偏正混乱，不重叠多见，自家日主有力，皆能发福。若财多身弱，柱无印助，财少身强，柱有比劫，太过不及，皆不为福。
《珞》云：若月令得财局，身衰逢印资助，当作富论，如先见印，却怕见财。
《独步》云：先财后印，反成其福，先印后财，反成其辱是也。用财不宜明露，柱见比劫，则宜透出，使人共见则不能夺。
赋云：财宜藏，藏则丰厚，露则浮荡是也。凡财格，喜见官星显露，别无伤损，或更食生印助日主健旺，富贵双全。如干支见煞，亦能享用，即逢财看煞之义。大怕枭，夺则不能生，刃劫则不能享，库逢空则不能聚。如甲生午月，见壬伤，丙卯破，乙夺；乙生巳月，见癸伤，丁亥破，甲夺；壬生戌月，甲子旬戌落空亡之类。馀以例推。
又曰：财为养命之源，凡人八字不可无财，但不要太多，多则不清，若柱原无财而行财运，乃有名无实，如财多身弱，又行官乡财旺之地，见财盗气，官克身，不惟不发禄，且祸患百出。
又曰：财为马，官为禄，二者不可缺一，实难两全，原有财星宜行官运，原有官星宜行财运，行财运生官，行官运发财，若柱中原无官星，只是财多，又行财运，亦能成就名利，间有登科者。盖财不畏多，多则暗生官也，须得身旺方能胜任，若无财，官多身受其制，反不为吉，柱中无官，只取有财为福。
又曰：财官与煞，用月支者，所谓以支为命，日乾者，所谓以乾为禄，若月支有财官，干头不露，自足为福，若地支无财官，干头明露，乃虚诈无实之命，纵行旺运，亦不济事。茍月支无而年时日支有，亦可取用，月地支坐财官，谓之得时，日地支坐财官谓之得位，时地支坐财官，谓之有成。得时为上，得位次之，有成又次之，兼得一二尤妙。年主祖父富贵，中年后无用。
又云：庚辛日生于正月，别位有火为煞，以克庚辛，虽年月见寅卯，亦无祖财，一生熬煎，遇发财处必成灾祸，以木旺生火，害日乾之金，天元羸弱，财党煞生，不能为福。
又云：正财之格，主人诚实，行事俭约，赋性聪明，惟有悭吝，若财旺身衰，主妻秉男权，持家干蛊，又主有好子替力，反得优游之乐，运行比劫，妻妾多危。
《独步》云：财旺生官，富而且贵，露官藏财，无不高位，藏则丰厚，露则虚费，冲者宜透，实则滋利。
《中书奥旨》云：我去克他为妻财，干强则富。又云：身弱财多，喜兄弟羊刃为助。又云：财旺者遇比无妨。又云：妻财明朗，乔木相求，财星入墓，必定刑妻，支下伏财，偏房宠妾。口诀云：财星太过愚。又云：大运、流年、三合财乡，必主红鸾吉兆。
《千里马》云：财源被劫，父命先倾。又云：男逢财多身弱，妻话偏听，财星得位，因妻致富成家，财遇长生，田园万顷，财旺生官，白身荣显。
《元理赋》云：大贵者用财而不用官。又云：财临旺地人多福。又云：孤寡者只为财神被劫。秘诀云：财生身旺两相停，不喜再见比肩。
《万祺》云：正财逢生旺而优游享福，遇劫财则晦滞呻吟，官星若见，平生惹是招非，七煞若逢，处事少成多败。财旺身衰，祸深福浅，财多身弱，要印扶身，身旺财衰，怕劫分夺，财食入库者福厚，例食求财者贫夭。
诗曰：
正财喜旺食丰盈，日主刚强力可胜，若是财多身自弱，平生破败事无成。
又：
正财还与月官同，最怕干支遇破冲，岁运若临财旺处，须教得富胜陶公。
又：
正财切忌劫财神，破害刑冲不可论，岁运那堪逢刃地，命延不死也遭。
财星得位正当权，日主高强名利全，印绶若逢相济助，金珠满柜福绵绵。
又：
身旺无官只取财，财神冲破却为灾，身衰财旺还知夭，官盛身强福禄媒。
又：
财多如何不发财，只因身弱少培栽，运到比肩身旺地，富贵荣华次第来。
又：
财多身弱刃刚强，身旺之乡大不祥，凤寡鸾孤寒夜怨，房中妻哭两三场。
又：
财神忌透只宜藏，身旺逢之大吉昌，切忌比劫相遇会，一生名利被分张。
又：
财多身旺足荣欢，身旺财多化作官，身衰财多财累己，是非不竞起争端。
合诸说，观正财喜忌见矣。
Interpretation
The direct wealth refers to cases like Jia encountering Ji and Yi encountering Wu. What is restrained by me serves as my wife. Just as when a man marries a wife, the wife brings wealth to him. He must be physically and mentally strong to enjoy it. If he is weak and listless, even though his wife has a large fortune, he can only look at it and will never be able to use it. Therefore, wealth should be in a prosperous state according to the time, without the confusion of direct and indirect wealth, and without being overly abundant or frequently appearing. If the Day Master of one's own horoscope is strong, all these can bring good fortune. If there is a lot of wealth but the Day Master is weak and there is no Seal in the Bazi to assist, or if there is little wealth but the Day Master is strong and there are Rob Wealth stars in the Bazi, whether it is excessive or insufficient, neither can bring good fortune.
As stated in "Luo": If one gets a prosperous wealth situation according to the monthly calendar but has a weak personal fortune, and is supported by the influence of the "print" element, it can be regarded as a sign of future wealth. However, if the "print" element appears first, then the appearance of the "wealth" element should be feared.
"Du Bu" states: If wealth comes before seal (in the Bazi), it will bring good fortune; if seal comes before wealth, it will bring humiliation. It is not advisable to have wealth clearly revealed. If there are peer and robbery stars in the Bazi columns, then it is appropriate for the wealth to be revealed so that others can see it, and thus it cannot be taken away.
The essay on fortune says: Wealth should be hidden. When hidden, it will be abundant; when exposed, it will be unstable. For all wealth configurations, it is favorable to have the official star revealed without any damage. Or, if there are the output (eating god) generating the seal to assist the day master to be strong and prosperous, one will enjoy both wealth and honor. If the heavenly stems and earthly branches show the killing star, one can also enjoy the fortune, which is the meaning of "when there is wealth, look at the killing star". One should greatly fear the owl star. If it seizes, it cannot generate; if there are the blade and robbery stars, one cannot enjoy the fortune; if the treasury meets emptiness, one cannot accumulate wealth. For example, when the day master is Jia born in the Wu month, if there is Ren damaging it, Bing and Mao breaking it, and Yi seizing it; when the day master is Yi born in the Si month, if there is Gui damaging it, Ding and Hai breaking it, and Jia seizing it; when the day master is Ren born in the Xu month, and in the Jiazi cycle, Xu falls into the empty tomb, and so on. The rest can be inferred by analogy.
It is also said that wealth is the source of sustaining life. For anyone's eight - character horoscope, wealth should not be absent, but it should not be excessive. If there is too much wealth, it will lead to confusion. If there is no wealth originally in the horoscope but one experiences the wealth - luck period, it is just having a good name without real substance. If there is a large amount of wealth but the person's 'body' (a concept in traditional Chinese fortune - telling) is weak, and then one enters the period of official - luck and prosperous wealth, the wealth will drain one's vital energy and the official position will suppress the person. In this case, not only will one not gain wealth and status, but also various disasters will occur.
It is also said that wealth is like a horse, and official rank is like emolument. These two are indispensable, yet it's truly difficult to have both. If there is originally a wealth star, one should experience the fortune of official rank; if there is originally an official - rank star, one should experience the fortune of wealth. When one experiences the fortune of wealth, it can generate official rank; when one experiences the fortune of official rank, it can bring about wealth. If there is no official - rank star in the birth chart originally but only an abundance of wealth, and then one experiences the fortune of wealth, one can still achieve fame and fortune, and there are even those who pass the imperial examinations. Generally speaking, wealth is not afraid of being abundant, for an abundance of wealth can secretly generate official rank. However, one must have a strong body (in the context of fortune - telling) to be able to handle it. If there is no wealth and there are many official - rank stars, one will be restricted by them, which is actually not auspicious. If there is no official - rank star in the birth chart, having wealth alone can be regarded as a blessing.
It is also said: Regarding wealth, official positions, and the seven - killing element, when using the earthly branch of the month, it is what is called "taking the branch as the life"; when referring to the heavenly stem of the day, it is what is called "taking the stem as the salary". If there are wealth or official positions in the earthly branch of the month but they are not revealed in the heavenly stems, one can naturally enjoy good fortune. If there are no wealth or official positions in the earthly branches but they are clearly revealed in the heavenly stems, it is a false and unreliable fate. Even if one encounters prosperous luck, it won't help much. If there are no wealth or official positions in the earthly branch of the month but they exist in the earthly branches of the year, day, or hour, they can also be taken into consideration. If the earthly branch of the month sits on wealth or official positions, it is called "obtaining the right time"; if the earthly branch of the day sits on wealth or official positions, it is called "occupying the right position"; if the earthly branch of the hour sits on wealth or official positions, it is called "achieving success". Obtaining the right time is the best, occupying the right position is the second - best, and achieving success is the third - best. It is even better if one can have two of these conditions. The year pillar represents the wealth and honor of one's grandparents, but it has little use after middle - age.
It is also said that if one is born in the first lunar month on a Geng or Xin day, and there is Fire as an inauspicious element in other positions to overcome Geng and Xin. Even if there are Yin and Mao in the year and month columns, there will be no ancestral wealth. One will endure hardships throughout life. When there is an opportunity to make a fortune, it will surely turn into a disaster. This is because the strong Wood generates Fire, which harms the Metal of the Day Stem. The Heavenly Stem is weak, and the Wealth element supports the inauspicious element's growth, so it cannot bring blessings.
It is also said that: For those with the pattern of the proper wealth, they are honest, thrifty in their actions, and naturally intelligent, but they are also stingy. If the wealth is strong while the self-element is weak, it means that the wife will hold the power in the family like a man, manage the household affairs capably, and there will be good sons to help, so one can enjoy a leisurely life. When the luck cycle enters the stage of the peer and the robbery, there will be many perils for the wife and concubines.
"Walking Alone" states: When wealth is prosperous and generates official status, one will be both rich and noble. If the official status is revealed while wealth is hidden, one will surely reach a high position. When wealth is hidden, it will be abundant; when it is revealed, it will be wasted. In cases of clashes, it is advisable for the relevant elements to be revealed, and when they are substantial, it will bring benefits.
According to "Zhongshu Aozhi": "When I (the day stem) overcome others, they represent wife and wealth. If the day stem is strong, one will be wealthy." It also says: "If one's body (day stem) is weak but there is much wealth, it is favorable to have brothers (peer elements) and yang blades to assist." It further states: "For those with prosperous wealth, the presence of peers doesn't matter." Additionally, it mentions: "If the wife - wealth is clear and bright, one will be sought after like a noble tree. If the wealth star enters the tomb, there will surely be punishment to the wife. If there is hidden wealth under the earthly branches, one will have concubines favored." The oral formula says: "Excessive wealth stars make one stupid." It also claims: "When the great fortune, the annual luck, and the combined wealth sector occur, it will surely bring auspicious omens of the red luan star."
In "A Thousand - Li Horse", it says: "The source of wealth is plundered, and the father's life ends prematurely." It also says: "When a man meets a situation where there is an abundance of wealth stars but his earthly branch is weak, he tends to blindly follow his wife's words. If the wealth star is in a favorable position, he can become wealthy and establish a family through his wife. When the wealth star meets the 'long - life' position, he will own vast tracts of land. If the wealth is prosperous and gives rise to the official star, an ordinary person can achieve honor and distinction."
The "Yuanli Fu" states: Those of great nobility rely on wealth rather than official positions. It also says: When wealth is in a prosperous state, people enjoy much fortune. Moreover, it mentions: Those who are lonely and widowed are so because their wealth gods are being robbed. The secret formula states: When wealth generates and the body is prosperous and the two are in balance, it's not desirable to see the same - element again.
According to "Wan Qi": When the proper wealth is prosperous and well - nourished, one can enjoy a care - free and blessed life. When it encounters the resource - robbing element, one will face setbacks and groan in distress. If the official star appears, one will always get involved in troubles and disputes throughout life. If the seven - killing element is met, one will achieve little and fail often in dealing with affairs. When the wealth is strong but the self - element is weak, the misfortune is deep and the fortune is shallow. When there is a large amount of wealth but the self - element is weak, the seal element is needed to support the self - element. When the self - element is strong but the wealth is weak, one should be afraid of the resource - robbing element seizing the wealth. Those whose wealth and food elements enter the storage are blessed with good fortune, while those who rely on the food element to seek wealth will be poor and die young.
The poem goes:
When the proper wealth is prosperous and the food luck is abundant, and the day master is strong enough to control it, one can enjoy a good life. However, if there is an excessive amount of wealth while the self - element is weak, one will experience failures and achieve nothing in life.
Moreover:
When the regular wealth aligns with the monthly official, one should most fear the clash and break of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. If the annual and periodic luck reaches the place where wealth thrives, one will surely become wealthier than Tao Zhu Gong.
Moreover:
In terms of the main wealth, it's strictly taboo to have the "Rob Wealth God". One shouldn't even mention the situations of damage, harm, punishment and conflict. How can one bear to encounter the "Edge Land" in the annual and大运 (major luck) cycles? Even if one's life is not ended, there will still be disasters. Note: "Rob Wealth God", "Edge Land" and "大运" are terms in traditional Chinese fortune - telling culture, and there may not be exact equivalents in English, so the translation here is just an attempt to convey the general meaning.
When the wealth star is in a proper position and holds power, and the day master is strong, fame and fortune will be complete. If the seal - ribbon provides assistance, there will be full cabinets of gold and pearls and continuous blessings.
Moreover:
When one's physical energy is strong but there is no official position, only wealth is to be taken. However, if the wealth deity is broken through, it will bring disasters. When one's physical energy is weak but the wealth is prosperous, it foretells an early end. When the official power is strong and one's physical energy is also strong, it is the medium for fortune and blessings.
Moreover:
If you have a lot of wealth, why can't you make a fortune? It's just because your body is weak and lacks cultivation. When the lucky time of the same - element companion arrives and your body becomes strong, wealth and honor will come one after another.
Moreover:
With abundant wealth but a weak self and a strong "blade" (a term in fortune - telling), it's extremely inauspicious when one's fortune is in the prosperous state of self. One will be like a widowed phoenix or a solitary roc, complaining in the cold night. There will be several times when the wife cries in the room.
Moreover:
The God of Wealth avoids being exposed and is better hidden. When one's body (a concept in traditional Chinese fortune - telling) is strong and encounters it, great good fortune will come. One must avoid the meeting with the "rival elements" (a concept in traditional Chinese fortune - telling), otherwise, fame and fortune in life will be divided up.
Moreover:
When one has ample wealth and strong physical and mental well - being, there will be enough glory and joy. When one is in good health and has abundant wealth, the wealth can transform into official rank. When one is in poor health and has excessive wealth, the wealth will burden oneself. Even without competing for it, disputes will arise.
Combining all the theories, the favorable and unfavorable aspects of the "proper wealth" can be seen.