On Moral Excellence

Original Text

夫德者，本月生旺之德；秀者，合天地中和之气、五行变化而成者也。又曰；德者，阴阳解凶之神；秀者，天地清秀之气，四时当旺之神。故寅午戌月，丙丁为德，戊癸为秀。申子辰月，壬癸戊己为德，丙辛甲己为秀。巳酉丑月，庚辛为德，乙庚为秀。亥卯未月，甲乙为德，丁壬为秀。凡人命中得此德秀，无破冲克压者，赋性聪明，温厚和气。若遇学堂，更带财官，主贵。冲克减力。

Interpretation

Virtue refers to the virtue that is prosperous in the birth month. Grace is formed by the harmonious qi of heaven and earth and the changes of the five elements. It is also said that virtue is the divine power in yin - yang that relieves misfortunes, and grace is the pure and delicate qi of heaven and earth and the divine power that is prosperous in the four seasons. Therefore, in the months of Yin, Wu, and Xu, Bing and Ding represent virtue, and Wu and Gui represent grace. In the months of Shen, Zi, and Chen, Ren, Gui, Wu, and Ji represent virtue, and Bing, Xin, Jia, and Ji represent grace. In the months of Si, You, and Chou, Geng and Xin represent virtue, and Yi and Geng represent grace. In the months of Hai, Mao, and Wei, Jia and Yi represent virtue, and Ding and Ren represent grace. For those who have this virtue and grace in their birth charts without being broken, clashed, overcome, or suppressed, they are naturally intelligent, gentle, and amiable. If they also encounter the "School Hall" and have wealth and official positions in their charts, they are destined for nobility. However, clashes and overcome will reduce their positive influence.