On Temperament and Appearance
Original Text
夫贵贱观乎八字，性情应乎五行。善、恶、仁、义、礼、智、信，心之所主；喜、怒、哀、乐、爱、恶、欲，性之所生。
东方震位木，号青龙，名曰曲直，五常主仁。其色青，其味酸，其性直，其情和。旺相主有博爱恻隐之心，慈祥恺悌之意；济物利人，恤孤念寡，直朴清高，行藏慷慨；丰姿秀丽，骨格修长，手足纤腻，口尖发美，面色青白，语句轩昂，此则木盛多仁之义。休囚主瘦长发少，拗性偏心，嫉妒不仁，此则木衰情寡之义也。死绝则眉眼不正，悭吝鄙啬，肌肉乾燥，项长喉结，行坐不稳，身多欹侧。遇火色带赤，见土则色带黄，逢金则色带白，见水则色带黑。其馀四行例见。
火属南方，名曰炎上，五常主礼。其色赤，其味苦，其性急，其性恭。旺相主有辞让端谨之风，恭敬谦和之义；威仪凛烈，淳朴尊崇；面貌上尖下阔，形体头小脚长，印堂窄而眉浓，鼻准露而耳小；精神闪烁，语言急速，性燥无毒，聪明有为。太过则声焦面赤，摇膝好动。不及则黄瘦尖楞，诡诈妒毒，言语妄诞，有始无终。
土属中央，名曰稼穑，五常主信，其色黄，其味甘，其性重，其情厚。旺相主言行相顾，忠孝至诚，好敬神佛，不爽欺信；背圆腰阔，鼻大口方，眉清目秀，面肥色黄；度量宽厚，处事有方。太过则执一古朴，愚拙不明。不及则颜色忧滞，面偏鼻低，声音重浊，事理不通，狠毒乖戾，不得众情，颠倒失信，悭啬妄为。
金属西方，名曰从革，五常主义。其色白，其味辛，其性刚，其情烈。旺相则英勇豪杰，仗义疏财，知廉耻，识羞恶；骨肉相应，体健神清，面方白净，眉高眼深，鼻直耳红，声音清亮，刚毅果决。太过则好勇无谋，贪欲不仁。不及则悭吝贪酷，事多挫忘。有三思、少决断，克薄内毒，喜淫好杀，身材瘦小。
水属北方，名曰润下，五常主智，其色黑，其味咸，其性聪明，其情良善。旺相则机关深远，足智多谋，学识过人，诡诈无极；面黑光彩，语言清和。太过则是非好动，飘荡贪淫。不及则人物矮小，行事反复，情性不常，胆小无略。此虽五行之喻，实与人事相干。以上五行、情性参以命中所遇吉凶神煞断之，大抵生旺者主长大，死绝者主矮小。若有煞临，不在此限，又从煞上断。若有克，则从所克之五行断，又概取日时，上纳音，看有克无克，并神煞所临有气无气，断其形状、性情，无有不验。
又曰：推人性行，只在日时上，看本五行，不论纳音。命若入格而逢生旺，主天性明白，遇物不逆，动必应机，言语声高，突破口大度，临事能断，公平不疑，犯难不畏，平生不以财物为吝，好施与不私己，奢泰欢乐，多情尚义，防有不善终之患。若命入贵格而逢死绝者，主为性寡合，机深意密，多疑多忌，动拘礼节，谨顾行止，修饰仪貌，常自检约，不妄设施，防有阴谋之患。若小人之命已入贱局而逢生旺者，主性无常，不自检束，为事不顾危亡，好斗争，恃强压弱，亲近恶党，不事家业，必竟不得善终；死绝则为性淫邪，动必巧伪，畜缩执拗，举动修饰，专美言词，好自矜炫，临事无断，少是多非，一身无立。
《宰公要诀》云：志高量远，盖因水处深源；笃信守仁，只为土成山岳；仁慈敏厚，木成甲乙之方；性速辨明，火应丙丁之位；誉高义重，因金归合庚辛处。于中者，正性不移，或盛或衰，性情变易。水乘衰败，性昏无赖；土力太微，蔽执寡用；木归蹇地，太柔而治事无规；火数未兴，小辨而太伤无决；金当浅薄，虽义而有始无终。是五行得地失地，太过不及，皆能为凶也。
《壶中子》云：言词狡猾，诞时合值六虚，六虚住处谩语神，凡人得之，心好撰饰，虚词并重；遇者必狡猾，平生妨克尊亲，漂流他国，作事多虚声。
Interpretation
One's social status can be inferred from the eight characters in one's birth chart, and one's disposition corresponds to the five elements. Goodness, evil, benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faithfulness are what the heart governs; joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, love, hatred, and desire are what the nature gives rise to.
In the east, it corresponds to the Zhen trigram and the element of wood. It is symbolized by the Azure Dragon and is named "Bending and Straightening". Among the Five Constant Virtues, it represents benevolence. Its color is green, its taste is sour, its nature is straight, and its disposition is gentle. When in a prosperous and favorable state, it indicates a person who has a heart of universal love and compassion, kind - heartedness and amiability; one who helps others and benefits the people, shows concern for the orphans and the widows, is straightforward, simple and noble, and is generous in behavior. Such a person has a graceful appearance, a slender figure, delicate hands and feet, a pointed mouth, beautiful hair, a pale - green complexion, and speaks with dignity. This is the meaning of abundant benevolence when the element of wood is strong. When in a weak and declining state, it means a person is thin with little hair, stubborn and partial, jealous and unkind. This is the meaning of a lack of affection when the element of wood is weak. When in a state of death and extinction, it shows a person with slanting eyebrows and eyes, stingy and miserly, dry muscles, a long neck and a prominent Adam's apple, unstable walking and sitting postures, and a body often leaning to one side. When it meets the element of fire, the complexion has a reddish tint; when it meets the element of earth, the complexion has a yellowish tint; when it meets the element of metal, the complexion has a whitish tint; when it meets the element of water, the complexion has a blackish tint. The same rules apply to the other four elements.
Fire belongs to the South. It is named "flaming upward" and corresponds to the virtue of propriety among the Five Constant Virtues. Its color is red, its taste is bitter, its nature is impatient, and its character is respectful. When in a prosperous and favorable state, it indicates a person with the virtues of courtesy, modesty, and propriety, showing a solemn and respectful demeanor, being simple and reverent. Such a person has a face that is pointed at the top and broad at the bottom, a body with a small head and long legs, a narrow glabella and thick eyebrows, a prominent nose tip and small ears. They have a sparkling spirit, speak rapidly, have a fiery but non - malicious nature, and are intelligent and capable. If the influence of fire is excessive, the person will have a hoarse voice and a red face, and be prone to fidgeting by shaking their knees. If the influence of fire is insufficient, the person will be sallow, thin, and angular, be deceitful, jealous, and malicious, speak wildly, and be inconsistent.
Earth belongs to the center. It is called "sowing and reaping". Among the five constant virtues, it represents trustworthiness. Its color is yellow, its taste is sweet, its nature is heavy, and its sentiment is kind - hearted. When it is in the prosperous and favorable state, it means that one's words and deeds match, one is loyal and filial with utmost sincerity, and likes to worship gods and Buddhas, and never breaks trust or deceives others. One has a round back and broad waist, a big nose and square mouth, clear eyebrows and bright eyes, and a plump face with a yellowish complexion. One is broad - minded and good at handling affairs. If it is in an excessive state, one will be stubbornly simple and honest, and stupid and unclear. If it is in an insufficient state, one's complexion will be gloomy and sluggish, with an uneven face and a low - lying nose. One's voice will be thick and dull, and one will not understand things and principles. One will be vicious and perverse, not popular among people, act in a disorderly and untrustworthy way, and be stingy and act recklessly.
Metal corresponds to the west. It is called "submissive and transformable" and is associated with righteousness among the Five Constants. Its color is white, its taste is pungent, its nature is firm, and its sentiment is intense. When it is in a prosperous and dominant state, people are heroic and chivalrous, generous in helping others with money, knowing propriety and shame. They have good relations with their relatives, are physically strong and mentally clear. They have square and fair faces, high eyebrows and deep - set eyes, straight noses and red ears, clear voices, and are resolute and decisive. When it is in an excessive state, people are brave but lack strategy and are greedy and unkind. When it is in an insufficient state, people are stingy and cruel. They often encounter setbacks and forget things. They think a lot but make few decisions, are mean - spirited and venomous inside, fond of lust and killing, and have small and thin figures.
Water belongs to the north. It is called "moistening and flowing downward". Among the Five Constant Virtues, it represents wisdom. Its color is black, its taste is salty, its nature is intelligent, and its sentiment is kind. When it is prosperous, one has profound insights, is resourceful, has outstanding knowledge, and is extremely cunning; with a shiny black face and gentle speech. When it is excessive, one is prone to causing troubles and is promiscuous and vagrant. When it is insufficient, one is short in stature, acts in a vacillating way, has an inconsistent temperament, and is timid and lacking in strategies. Although this is an analogy of the Five Elements, it is actually related to human affairs. The above characteristics of the Five Elements and temperaments should be judged in combination with the auspicious and inauspicious gods and evil stars encountered in one's horoscope. Generally speaking, those with prosperous elements in the horoscope are usually tall, while those with dead and extinct elements are usually short. However, if there are evil stars present, this rule does not apply, and the judgment should be made based on the evil stars. If there is restraint, the judgment should be made based on the Five - Element that is being restrained. Moreover, generally, the纳音 (the symbolic sounds of the sixty - year cycle) of the day and hour should be taken into account to see if there is restraint or not, and whether the gods and evil stars present have qi (vital energy) or not, so as to judge one's appearance and temperament. There is no case where such a judgment is inaccurate.
It is also said: To infer a person's nature and conduct, one should focus on the day and hour in the birth chart, and examine the basic five - elements, regardless of the na yin. If one's fate falls into a favorable pattern and meets with prosperous conditions, it indicates that the person is naturally intelligent, can accept things without resistance, can respond promptly to situations, has a loud voice, is magnanimous, can make decisions in times of trouble, is fair - minded without hesitation, is not afraid of difficulties, is not stingy with money throughout life, is generous in giving and not self - centered, is fond of luxury and pleasure, is affectionate and values righteousness, but should beware of the risk of an unhappy end. If one's fate enters an honorable pattern but meets with decline and extinction, it means that the person is unsociable, has a profound and secretive mind, is full of suspicion and jealousy, is restricted by etiquette in actions, is cautious about behavior, pays attention to appearance, often self - restrains, does not act recklessly, and should beware of the risk of plotting intrigues. If a common person's fate falls into a lowly pattern but meets with prosperous conditions, it shows that the person has an unstable nature, does not self - discipline, takes no account of danger and ruin in doing things, likes to fight, bullies the weak with strength, associates with evil people, and does not attend to family business, and will surely end up badly. If in a state of decline and extinction, the person is lewd and evil in nature, always acts deceptively, is stubborn and indecisive, pays attention to appearance in actions, is good at sweet - talking, is fond of self - showing off, cannot make decisions in times of trouble, is full of contradictions, and has no achievements in life.
According to "Zai Gong's Essential Teachings": Those with lofty aspirations and broad - mindedness are like water originating from deep sources; those who are honest and uphold benevolence are like earth forming mountains; those who are kind, sensitive and sincere are like wood in the positions of Jia and Yi; those with quick - wittedness and clear discernment are like fire in the positions of Bing and Ding; those with high reputation and great righteousness are like metal in the positions of Geng and Xin. Among them, those with a proper nature remain steadfast, but whether prosperous or in decline, their temperaments may change. When water is in a state of decline, one's nature becomes muddled and rascally; when the power of earth is too weak, one is stubborn and of little use; when wood is in an unfavorable position, one is too gentle and lacks rules in handling affairs; when the influence of fire is not yet strong, one has petty discernment and is overly hesitant; when metal is in a weak state, although one has a sense of righteousness, one often starts but fails to finish. Whether the five elements are in favorable or unfavorable positions, and whether they are excessive or insufficient, can all lead to misfortune.
According to "Hu Zhong Zi", it is said that those with cunning words are born when the six voids are in alignment. The six voids are the abode of the god of false speech. If an ordinary person encounters this situation, they tend to be fond of embellishment, and their words are full of falsehoods. Those who have this fate are bound to be cunning. Throughout their lives, they will harm their parents and elders, drift to other countries, and their deeds are mostly full of empty boasts.