On Minor Fortunes
Original Text
夫大运司十年之休咎，小运掌一岁之灾祥，是小运者补大运之不足而立名也。古人以男起丙寅顺行，女起壬申逆行，一定而不可易也。解者谓男之阳火，元气起戊子，三十丁已，十月至丙寅，此木生火；女之阴水，元气起庚子，二十辛已，十月至壬申，为金生水，此其数也。
醉醒子以为男女小运皆由时生而行之，逆顺亦以年定。如阳命阳年甲子时生堕地，即行乙丑，二岁丙寅，一位一年，周而复始，阴命阳年逆行亦然。尝试用之，屡验，亦要与大运及柱中用神日主较量吉凶。童限未交大运，专用此法；行死绝煞旺之宫，必有危难。先详八字衰旺喜忌，然后以此参之，无不中矣。今之谈命者只以大运为用，殊不知小运亦有紧关。大运虽吉，其小运不通，未可便言吉利；大运虽凶，其小运却吉，未可便作凶推。此小运又名行年，不可不究。
Interpretation
The grand fortune determines the good and bad luck over a ten - year period, while the minor fortune governs the misfortunes and blessings of a single year. Thus, the minor fortune is named to make up for the deficiencies of the grand fortune. In ancient times, for men, the minor fortune starts from Bingyin and progresses in a forward sequence, while for women, it starts from Renshen and progresses in a reverse sequence, and this rule is unchangeable. Those who interpret it say that for men, with the yang fire, the vital energy starts from Wuzhi. When reaching 30 years old (Dingsi), and after 10 months it reaches Bingyin, where wood generates fire. For women, with the yin water, the vital energy starts from Gengzi. When reaching 20 years old (Xinsi), and after 10 months it reaches Renshen, where metal generates water. These are the numerical principles.
Zui Xingzi believes that the minor fortunes of both men and women are determined by the time of birth and the direction of their progression (forward or backward) is also determined by the year. For example, if a male with a yang - dominated destiny is born in the Jiazi hour of a yang - dominated year, his minor fortune starts with Yichou right after birth, then Bingyin at the age of two, progressing one position per year in a cyclical manner. The same principle applies to a female with a yin - dominated destiny born in a yang - dominated year, but in a reverse order. After repeated trials, this method has proven to be effective. However, it is also necessary to compare the good and bad omens with the major fortune, the favorable elements in the birth chart, and the day master. When a child has not yet entered the major fortune period, this method can be used exclusively. If the minor fortune enters a palace of death, extinction, evil influence, or excessive prosperity, there will surely be difficulties and dangers. First, carefully analyze the prosperity, decline, likes, and dislikes of the eight - character birth chart, and then use this method for reference, and it will never fail. Nowadays, those who discuss fortunes only focus on the major fortune and do not realize that the minor fortune is also crucial. Even if the major fortune is auspicious, if the minor fortune is unfavorable, we cannot simply claim that everything is going well. Conversely, even if the major fortune is inauspicious, if the minor fortune is good, we cannot simply assume that everything will be bad. This minor fortune is also known as the annual fortune and must be studied.