On the School and the Hall of Words

Original Text

夫学堂者，如人读书之在学堂；词馆者，如今官翰林，谓之词馆，取其学业精专，文章出类。长生乃学堂之正位，如金命见辛巳，金长生在巳；辛巳，纳音又属金是也。临官乃词馆正位，如金命壬申，金临官在申；壬申，纳音又属金是也。馀以类推。

诸家说有学堂会禄，如金长生巳，临官申，甲乙人得之；水土长生申，临官亥，丙丁壬癸人得之；木长生亥，临官寅，戊己人得之；火长生寅，临官巳，庚辛人得之。又名官贵学堂，以官贵长生之位为学堂，官贵临官之位为词馆也。

有学堂会食，如甲食丙，得丙寅；乙食丁，得丁巳；丙食戊，得戊申之类。兼官印、驿马，其福厚；遇禄、贵、奇、德，其气清；值刑克冲破，其气浊。清则科名巍峨，厚则官尊荣显，浊则福禄微薄，官职卑贱。

有生处见克，如甲乙人辛亥，丁丙人壬寅，戊己人甲申，庚辛人丁巳，谓之官星学堂。主登科甲，入侍从。

有纳音见帝旺之位而逢天乙贵处其上，如己酉人得丙子、庚子日、时、壬午人得辛卯日时之类，谓之学堂会贵，主清贵。

凡学堂词馆，切不要犯空亡及冲破，支干纳音不要见克，方为得用。《祝胜经》云：「甲辰丙寅，学堂不真；或止富荫，官职卑贫；读书修学，空有虚名。」此言学堂怕落空也。《三车》云：「学堂无气，惟利师儒。」此言学堂要乘旺也。《理愚歌》云：「学堂如更朝驿马，位极勋高压天下。」此言学堂要有马也。又云：「生来禄马真学堂，若同词馆主文章；遇中不遇人谁会，不遇冲克福禄昌。」又云：「文星聚处人中瑞，声华独冠英雄辈；降生不遇真学堂，才学岂能为拔萃。」此言学堂怕冲破受克也。况人命入格，合造化，又不在学堂词馆而得。

Interpretation

A school is like a place where people study. A literary academy is similar to the Hanlin Academy for officials today. It is called a literary academy because those in it are highly specialized in their studies and their writings stand out from the rest. The "Longevity" position is the proper position of a school. For example, for those with a metal element fate, seeing the combination of Xin and Si (Xinsi). The metal element has its "Longevity" at Si, and the Xinsi combination in the Nayin system also belongs to the metal element. The "Advanced Official" position is the proper position of a literary academy. For example, for those with a metal element fate, the combination of Ren and Shen (Renshen). The metal element has its "Advanced Official" at Shen, and the Renshen combination in the Nayin system also belongs to the metal element. The rest can be deduced by analogy.

Various scholars say that there is a situation of "school and official's salary". For example, for metal, its birth is at the "si" position and it reaches the "lin guan" state at the "shen" position. This is obtained by those with the heavenly stems of "jia" and "yi". For water and earth, their birth is at the "shen" position and they reach the "lin guan" state at the "hai" position. This is obtained by those with the heavenly stems of "bing", "ding", "ren", and "gui". For wood, its birth is at the "hai" position and it reaches the "lin guan" state at the "yin" position. This is obtained by those with the heavenly stems of "wu" and "ji". For fire, its birth is at the "yin" position and it reaches the "lin guan" state at the "si" position. This is obtained by those with the heavenly stems of "geng" and "xin". It is also known as the "official noble school". The position of the birth of the official noble is regarded as the school, and the position of the "lin guan" of the official noble is regarded as the "ci guan".

In the school dining event, for example, if the first person (Jia) dines with the third person (Bing), it results in Bingyin; if the second person (Yi) dines with the fourth person (Ding), it results in Dingsi; if the third person (Bing) dines with the fifth person (Wu), it results in Wushen and so on. When combined with the official seal and the post-horse in fortune-telling, one's blessings are profound; when encountering the good luck of salary, noble status, rarity, and virtue, one's qi is pure; when facing punishment, restraint, breakage, and conflict, one's qi is turbid. With pure qi, one can achieve high academic honors; with profound blessings, one can hold high - ranking and honorable official positions; with turbid qi, one's fortune and salary are meager, and one's official position is humble.

When there is a clash in the place of birth, for example, for those born under the signs of Jia or Yi, the year of Xin - Hai; for those born under the signs of Ding or Bing, the year of Ren - Yin; for those born under the signs of Wu or Ji, the year of Jia - Shen; for those born under the signs of Geng or Xin, the year of Ding - Si. This is called the "official star school". It is believed to indicate that one will pass the imperial examinations and enter the service as an attendant.

When the sound -纳音 (a term in traditional Chinese metaphysics) is in the position of Emperor's Prosperity and meets the Heavenly Duke (Tianyi Noble), for example, for those born in the year of Ji - You, having Bing - Zi or Geng - Zi in the day or hour, and for those born in the year of Ren - Wu, having Xin - Mao in the day or hour. This is called "Scholar's Hall Meeting with Nobility", which indicates a noble and pure status.

In general, for the "School Hall" (Xue Tang) and the "Library Hall" (Ci Guan) in fortune - telling, it is crucial to avoid the situations of being in the void and being broken through. The stems and branches and their corresponding sounds in the six - ten combinations should not show mutual restraint. Only in this way can they be effectively utilized. The "Zhu Sheng Jing" states: "In the cases of Jia Chen and Bing Yin, the School Hall is not genuine. One may only enjoy rich family support but hold low - ranking and poorly - paid official positions. Even if one studies hard, they will only have an empty reputation." This indicates that the School Hall is afraid of being in the void. The "San Che" says: "If the School Hall lacks qi, it is only beneficial for teachers and scholars." This means that the School Hall should be in a prosperous state. The "Li Yu Ge" states: "If the School Hall is combined with the Horse Star, one can reach the highest position and have great merits to overawe the world." This shows that the School Hall needs to be associated with the Horse Star. It also says: "If one is born with the Lucky Star, the Horse Star, and a genuine School Hall, and if it is also combined with the Library Hall, it indicates a talent for literature. Whether one can achieve success or not is hard for others to understand. If there is no break - through or restraint, one will enjoy good fortune and prosperity." Another saying goes: "When the Literary Stars gather, one is a rare person among the crowd, with a reputation that outshines heroes. If one is not born with a genuine School Hall, how can their talent and learning stand out?" This implies that the School Hall is afraid of being broken through and being restrained. Moreover, if a person's fate conforms to the overall pattern and the natural creation, they may achieve success without relying on the School Hall and the Library Hall.