The Allocation of the Ten Heavenly Stems to Astronomy

Original Text

甲木为雷。雷者，阳气之嘘也，甲木属阳，故取象于雷焉。稽诸月令，仲春之月，雷乃发声，甲木旺，即其验也，况雷奋于地，木生于地，其理又无不同者。甲木至申而遂绝，以雷声至申而渐收也。凡命属甲日，主喜值春天，或类象，或趋干，或遥巳，或拱贵，俱大吉；运不喜西方。经云：木在春生，处世安然，必寿。

乙木为风。乙木长生在午，败在巳。在午而生者，盖乙为山林活木，至夏来而畅茂，诗所谓千章夏木青是也；其败巳云何？巳乃巽地，巽为风，木盛风生也，风生于木而反摧木，犹之火生于木而反焚木，其取败也固宜，所谓乙木为风者，木其所自生云尔。如人乙日建生者，在秋令大吉，秋令金旺，乙木能化能从而盘根错节，非利器无所裁成；逢亥必死，其落叶归根之时耶？

丙为日。《说卦传》日：离为火为日，日与火皆文明之象，是以丙火为日之名不易焉。太阳朝出而夕入，阳火寅生而酉死，而又何异乎？凡六丙生冬夏，不如春秋，春日有暄万物之功，秋阳有燥万物之用，冬则阴晦，夏则炎蒸，宜细堆之。

丁火为星。丙火死而丁火遂从生焉，在天之日薄而星回也。类如此星象唯入夜故灿烂，阴火唯近晦故辉煌，丁不谓之星而何？凡丁日生人喜遇夜，喜遇秋，如星光之得时也；又喜行身弱地，如石里所藏属丁火，石虽在水，即时取击，亦自有火；其丁巳一日，多克父兄妻子，盖财忌比劫，兄屈弟下，巳中有戊土，伤官也。

戊土为霞。土无专气，依火而生，霞无定体，借日以现，知丙火之为日，则知戊土之为霞矣。是霞者，日之馀也，日尽而霞将灭没，火熄则土无生意，故谓之霞也。如戊土日主爱四柱带水则为上格，霞水相辉而成文彩也；更喜年月乾见癸，癸则为雨，雨后霞现而睹文明也。

己土为云。己土生居酉，酉，兑方也，其象为泽。先正曰：「天降时雨，山川出云。」然则云者，山泽之气也，己虽属土，以此论之，则其谓之云也亦宜。故甲己合而化土，其气上升而云施；云雷交而作雨，其泽下究而土润。此造化之至妙者与！凡身主属己土，贵坐酉，贵春生，贵见印，坐亥者不可见乙木，云升天，遇风则狼籍而不禁也。

庚金为月。庚乃酉方阳金，何以知其配月乎？曰：五行之有庚，犹四时之有月也；庚不待秋而长生，然必秋而始盛；月不待秋而后月，然必秋而益明。以色言，月固白也，其色同矣；以气言，金生水也，潮应月也，其气同矣。经云：金沈在子。见其与月沈波也，三日月见庚方见，月初生与庚为位也，故曰庚金为月。如人庚日生者，四柱有乙巳字出，谓之月白风清，秋为上，冬次之，春夏无取。

辛金为霜。八月，辛金建禄之地，是月也天气肃杀，白露为霜，草木黄落而衰，故五行阴木绝在此地，若木经斧斤之斩伐，未有所生焉者也。斧斤以时入山林，严霜以时杀草木，揆之天道，参之人事，信乎辛金之为霜矣。如辛人坐卯，未透乙，大富，坐亥透丙则贵。爱冬生。

壬水为秋露。春亦有露，何独拟之以秋？盖春露、雨露既濡之露，秋露、霜露既降之露也，露一也，春主生，秋主杀，功用不同有如此，然吾以壬为秋露也，盖露属水，而壬水生于申，水本能生木者，水既然在此而生，木何由于此而绝？故知壬之为露，秋露也。如壬日生秋，见丁火最显，丁为星河，壬为秋露，一洗炎蒸，象纬昭然矣。

癸水为春霖。癸水生卯月，号曰春霖。盖阴木得雨而发生也，然至申则死，七、八月多乾旱也。且卯前一位是辰，辰，龙宫也，卯近龙宫而水生，龙一奋遂化为雨焉；卯为雷门，雷一震而龙必兴焉，观此则癸水其春霖矣。如癸卯日透出己字者，有云行雨施之象，其人必有经济才也。春夏吉，秋冬不吉。

Interpretation

Jia Wood represents thunder. Thunder is the exhalation of yang qi. Since Jia Wood belongs to the yang category, it is symbolized by thunder. According to the monthly regulations, in the second month of spring, thunder starts to sound. When Jia Wood is in its prosperous state, this is the evidence. Moreover, thunder rumbles on the ground, and wood grows on the ground, and the principle is the same. Jia Wood comes to an end at Shen, just as thunder gradually fades away at Shen. For those whose birth date is a Jia day, it is auspicious for them to be born in spring. Whether it is through similar imagery, approaching the stem, being remotely related to Si, or having an auspicious combination, all are extremely lucky. They don't prefer the Western direction in their fortune. As the classic says: If wood is born in spring, one can live a peaceful life and will surely have a long - life.

The Yi Wood represents the wind. The Yi Wood has its birth at the Wu position and meets its decline at the Si position. When it is born at the Wu position, it's because the Yi Wood symbolizes the living trees in the mountains and forests. In summer, these trees grow lush and thrive, just as described in the poem "The green summer woods stretch for miles." But why does it decline at the Si position? The Si position belongs to the Xun trigram, and the Xun represents the wind. When the wood is in abundance, the wind is generated. The wind, which is born from the wood, turns against and destroys the wood, just as fire, which is born from the wood, can burn the wood. So, it is natural for it to decline. The so - called "Yi Wood represents the wind" is because the wind is born from the wood itself. For example, if a person is born on a day with the Yi stem, it is extremely auspicious in autumn. In autumn, the metal is strong. The Yi Wood can transform and follow the situation, growing in a complex and intertwined way. Without a sharp tool, it cannot be shaped properly. If a person born on a Yi day meets the Hai position, it means certain death. Is it the time when the leaves fall and return to the roots?

Bing corresponds to the sun. In "Commentary on the Trigrams", it is said that Li represents fire and the sun. Both the sun and fire are symbols of brightness and civilization. Therefore, the name of Bing fire corresponding to the sun remains unchanged. The sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening. Yang fire is born in Yin (the third earthly branch) and dies in You (the tenth earthly branch). What's the difference? Generally, for those born in winter or summer under the six Bing combinations, it is not as good as those born in spring or autumn. The spring sun has the function of warming all things, and the autumn sun has the effect of drying all things. In winter, it is gloomy and in summer, it is swelteringly hot. These should be carefully considered.

The Ding Fire represents stars. When the Bing Fire extinguishes, the Ding Fire then begins to thrive. It's like when the sun in the sky sets and the stars appear. Stars of this kind are only brilliant at night, just as the Yin Fire only shines brightly when approaching the gloom. If Ding isn't regarded as stars, then what else could it be? Those born on a Ding - day like to encounter the night and the autumn, just as stars shine at the right time. They also prefer to be in a situation where their physical strength is weak. For example, the Ding Fire is like the fire hidden in stones. Even if the stones are in water, when struck immediately, there will still be fire. For those born on the Ding - Si day, they often bring misfortune to their fathers, brothers, wives, and children. This is because wealth hates the presence of those of the same element competing for it. In the family, the elder brother may be inferior to the younger brother. In the Si (a branch in the Chinese zodiac cycle), there is the Wu Earth, which represents the "Hurting Officer" in the Five - Element theory.

Earth of the Wu stem is like rosy clouds. Earth has no exclusive qi and relies on fire for its existence. Rosy clouds have no fixed form and appear with the help of the sun. If we know that fire of the Bing stem represents the sun, then we can understand that earth of the Wu stem represents rosy clouds. Rosy clouds are the remnants of the sun. When the sun sets, the rosy clouds will fade away. When the fire goes out, the earth loses its vitality. That's why it is called rosy clouds. For example, if the day master is of the Wu earth, it is considered an excellent configuration if there is water in the four pillars, as it is like the rosy clouds and water shining together to form a beautiful sight. It is even more preferable if the Gui water appears in the heavenly stems of the year and month columns. Gui represents rain. After the rain, the appearance of rosy clouds shows a sight of cultural splendor.

The Earthly Branch "Ji" represents clouds. Ji Earth is born in the You position. You corresponds to the Dui trigram, and its image is a marsh. The former sages said, "When the sky sends timely rain, clouds rise from the mountains and rivers." Then, clouds are the qi of mountains and marshes. Although Ji belongs to Earth, based on this theory, it is appropriate to say that it represents clouds. Therefore, when Jia and Ji combine and transform into Earth, their qi rises and clouds spread; when clouds and thunder interact and bring rain, their moisture reaches down and the Earth becomes moist. This is the most wonderful aspect of creation! For those whose main element of the body belongs to Ji Earth, it is auspicious to sit in the You position, to be born in spring, and to have the Seal element. Those sitting in the Hai position should not encounter the Yi Wood, because when clouds rise to the sky, if they meet the wind, they will be in a mess and out of control.

Geng Metal represents the moon. Geng is the yang metal in the west (associated with the direction of You in the Chinese zodiac). How do we know that it is paired with the moon? It is said that just as the five - elements have Geng, the four seasons have the moon. Geng starts to grow without waiting for autumn, but it only reaches its peak in autumn. The moon exists throughout the year without waiting for autumn, but it becomes even brighter in autumn. In terms of color, the moon is white, which is the same as the color of Geng Metal. In terms of qi (vital energy), metal generates water, and tides are in response to the moon, so their qi is the same. The classic says: "Metal sinks in Zi." It shows that it is similar to the moon sinking in the waves. On the third day of the lunar month, the moon appears in the Geng direction, indicating that the new moon and Geng are in a corresponding position. Therefore, it is said that Geng Metal represents the moon. For example, if a person is born on a Geng day and the four pillars of their birth chart have the characters Yi and Si, it is called "the moon is white and the wind is clear." Autumn is the best season for this, winter is the second - best, and there is no advantage in spring and summer.

Xin Metal represents frost. In the eighth lunar month, it is the place where Xin Metal attains its prosperous state (Jianlu). During this month, the weather turns harsh and desolate, and the white dews turn into frost. The grass and trees turn yellow and wither. Therefore, among the five - elements, the Yin Wood meets its end here. It is like the wood being cut down by axes, with no chance of new growth. Axes are used to enter the mountains and forests at the right time, and severe frost kills the grass and trees at the right time. When we consider the heavenly principles and human affairs, it is indeed true that Xin Metal represents frost. For example, if a person with Xin in their Bazi sits on Mao but the Yi element is not revealed, they will be extremely wealthy. If they sit on Hai and the Bing element is revealed, they will be noble. People with Xin Metal in their Bazi prefer to be born in winter.

Ren water represents the autumn dew. There is also dew in spring. Why is it specifically compared to autumn dew? The spring dew is the kind of dew when the rain and dew moisten everything, while the autumn dew is the kind after the frost and dew have descended. Although they are both dew, spring is associated with life - giving, and autumn is associated with withering. Their functions are so different. I regard Ren as the autumn dew because dew belongs to the category of water, and Ren water is born in the Shen (a term in traditional Chinese cosmology). Water can normally nourish wood. If water is born here, why does wood decline here? Therefore, we know that the Ren - type dew is the autumn dew. For example, if a person is born on a Ren - day in autumn, the appearance of Ding fire is most prominent. Ding represents the stars in the galaxy, and Ren represents the autumn dew. Once the autumn dew washes away the summer heat, the celestial phenomena become clearly visible.

Gui Water represents the spring rain. When Gui Water is in the Mao month, it is called the spring rain. This is because the Yin Wood can thrive with the rain. However, it will decline when it reaches the Shen period, which is why there is often drought in July and August. Moreover, the position before Mao is Chen. Chen is the Dragon Palace. Since Mao is close to the Dragon Palace, water is generated. Once the dragon stirs, it will turn into rain. Mao is the Gate of Thunder. Once the thunder roars, the dragon will surely rise. From this, we can see that Gui Water is like the spring rain. If the Ji character appears on the day of Gui Mao, it symbolizes that clouds are moving and rain is falling. Such a person must have the talent for governance. It is auspicious in spring and summer but inauspicious in autumn and winter.