On the Hurting Officer
Original Text
伤官者，我生彼之谓，乃甲见丁、乙见丙之类，甲用辛为官，丁火乘旺，盗我之气，克制辛金，使不辅甲为贵，故名伤官。伤官格务要伤尽，方作贵看，元有官星，伤之则重。
经云：「伤官见官，祸患百端」是也。伤官虽凶，乃我所生，自家之物，伤尽则能生财，财旺则能生官，造化展转有情。如月令在伤官，四柱作合结局，皆在伤位，无冲无破，不见一点官星，谓之伤尽。又有月支伤官，时上伤官，四柱无官星，亦谓伤尽。更身旺、财旺或印旺，名标金榜，一品贵人。此格主多材艺，傲物气高，心险无忌惮，多谋少遂，弄巧成拙，常以天下之人不如己，而人亦惮之恶之。伤官无财主贫穷，盖生财气者即食神伤官，盗财气者即七煞官星，所以伤官要见财，不要见官。假如甲生午月，木不南奔，身势太柔，岂可再逢金制？金能盗土之气，所以不要见官。既无官星，而柱却无一点财可恃，虽聪明机巧，不过虚名虚利。
经云：「伤官无财可倚，虽巧必贫」是也。伤官格用财，亦有用印者。
《天玄赋》云：伤官用印宜去财，用财宜去印，倘使财印两全，将何发福？身旺者用财，身弱者用印，用印者须去财方能发福，用财者不论印亦主亨通，伤官用印，不忌官煞，去财方发，元犯伤官，须要见财则发。伤官最喜行财运，印绶身旺次之，不喜行官乡，四柱伤官多而见官者，不宜复行伤运，一位无妨。
又曰：伤官格务要伤尽，若柱见伤官，而官星隐显，伤之不尽，岁运再见官星，官来乘旺，再见刑冲破害，刃煞克身，身弱财旺，必主徒流死亡，五行有救，亦残疾。若四柱无官而遇伤煞重者，运入官乡，岁君又遇，若不目疾，必主灾破。
经云：五行伤官，惟火人土伤官，土人金伤官忌见官星，若金人水，水人木，木人火，不忌。盖火以水为官，以土为伤，水畏土克，土得水无益；土以木为官，以金为伤，木畏金克，金得木无益，所以火土伤官格忌见官星。金以水为伤，以火为官，水虽克火，若金寒水冷，不得火温，难以济物，况水得火成既济之功；水以木为伤，以土为官，木虽克土，若水泛木浮，不得土止，难以存活，况木得土成栽培之力；木以火为伤，以金为官，火虽克金，若木繁火息，不得金削脱，难以通明，况金得火成器物之象，所以金水木伤官格不忌官星。
故经云：「伤官火土宜伤尽，金水伤官要见官，木火见官官要旺，土金官去反成官，惟有水木伤官格，财官两见始为欢」
是也。
又曰：伤官伤尽，亦有不作福者，伤官见官，亦有不作祸者。如一命丁未、丁未、丙午、丙午，丙日坐午，日主自旺，有二午、二丁、二未，财官俱伤，虽伤官伤尽，奈四柱火气太旺，窃气又重，运行东南火旺之乡，无一点财气，身空旺无倚，至贫之人，切不可见伤官伤尽身旺，便作好命看。又如甲日生人，柱有辛为官，又有丁伤官，若生秋月官旺，虽逢丁火或居亥、子之上，或见午伏壬、癸之下，则丁不能伤官，终为有官爵之命，岁运遇煞官印绶，俱吉，忌身衰败运，切不可见伤官格有官星，便不作好命看。
又曰：人命原有些小伤官，不能损贵气，或运入官乡，官自旺强健，或入印运制伏伤煞，或有财生助，或从化入于别格，不失为好命，怕再行伤地，病而不起者有之，否则文书口舌，官事破败，殃祸踵至。柱元有财，又行财运，亦可成就功名利禄，一行官煞地，或财衰败死绝地，即失财禄，非官讼则丧服重并。
又曰：四柱伤官，惟年乾伤官最重，谓之福基受伤，终身不可除去，若月支更有，甚于伤身七煞。如甲日人，以辛为官，见丁卯年，生寅午戌月，是伤官重犯，又有卯为劫刃，名背禄逐马，主为人退悔，反伤祖荫，运行官乡，流年再见，或煞旺身弱运，必祸。若月令真正伤官，又见官星，如甲日生午月，见辛未时，午中丁火伤辛；乙日生巳月，见庚或甲申时，巳中丙火伤庚；丙日午月，见戊子、癸巳时，午中己土伤癸之例。大要日主健旺，再临伤官运，可发名利，日主微弱，运历财官乡，祸不可言。
又曰：伤官，如甲日见丁，喜壬合癸破；乙见丙，喜辛合壬破；丙见己，喜甲合乙破；丁见戊，喜癸合甲破；戊见辛，喜丙合丁破；己见庚，喜乙合丙破；庚见癸，喜戊合己破；癸见甲，喜己合庚破。
《万祺》云：伤官元辰无官星，又行伤官运，此为窃气太过，即一木叠逢火位，名为散气之文，非贫则夭，喜身旺及官乡，伤官见官，再剥再滞，运入官乡局中，反吉，即伤官伤尽却喜见官星。伤官若带财见印，祸不轻。伤官若带印，官煞不为刑，伤官多者宜行印，即食多用印。伤官少者又行印乡，即枭神夺食。伤官若带印，不宜逢财，伤官若带官，不宜行制伏，伤官用财，不宜行此劫，伤官用印，不忌见官煞，伤官若见官星重叠，莫作官星论。伤官用官，在年月必要剥官，运在日时，不宜被伤，一见被伤，祸不可言，不可临墓，住寿难延。
《千里马》云：伤官见官，妙入印财之地。又云：伤官逢财而有子。
《相心赋》云：伤官伤尽，多艺多能，使心机而傲物气高，多谲诈而侮人志大，颧高骨峻，眼大眉粗。
《景鉴》云：伤官无财而带刃，行奸弄巧。
《通明赋》云：重见伤官，身必辛勤劳苦。又云：伤官多而身旺无依，定为僧道艺术为士。
秘诀云：伤官太重，子必有亏。又云：年带伤官，父母不全，月带伤官，兄弟不完，时整伤官，子息凶顽，日带伤官，妻妾不贤。又云：伤官不尽，须防不测之灾，伤官逢财，乃享优游之福，七煞同来，疾损须忧，身旺无依，孤克难免，伤官遇劫，聚财如柳絮随风，伤官无印，求利似荷钱擎雨。
古歌云：
伤官原是产业神，伤尽真为大贵人，若是伤官伤不尽，官来乘旺祸非轻。
又：
月令逢官在伤乡，伤轻减力尚无妨，若见刑冲并破害，定知为官不久长。
又：
伤官伤尽复生财，财旺生官互换来，四柱若无官显露，便言富贵莫疑猜。
又：
伤官遇者本非宜，财有官无是福基，时日月伤官格局，运行财旺贵无疑。
又：
伤官伤尽始为奇，又恐伤多反不宜，此格局中千变万化，详推须要用心机。
又：
伤官无官最忌剥，运入官乡反见奇，岁运命中逢印绶，诚为富贵定无疑。
又：
伤官不忌比肩逢，七煞偏官理亦同，若是无官当忌比，如逢身旺却嫌重。
又：
伤官不尽又逢官，斩绞徒流祸百端，月犯父子无全美，日犯自己主伤残；时伤子息多狼狈，须知富贵不周全，若是伤官居太岁，必招横祸逢斯年。
合诸说观之，伤官喜忌尽矣。
Interpretation
The "Hurting Officer" refers to the situation where one generates the other. For example, when Jia (Yang Wood) meets Ding (Yin Fire), or Yi (Yin Wood) meets Bing (Yang Fire). Jia uses Xin (Yin Metal) as the "Officer". When Ding Fire is in a prosperous state, it drains the qi of Jia and restrains Xin Metal, preventing Xin from assisting Jia to achieve nobility. Therefore, it is named "Hurting Officer". In the pattern of "Hurting Officer", it is necessary to completely "hurt" (restrain) the "Officer" for it to be regarded as a noble pattern. If there is originally an "Officer" star in the original chart, hurting it will make the situation more serious.
As the classic says, "When the Hurting Officer encounters the Official, a hundred kinds of troubles will arise." Although the Hurting Officer is inauspicious, it is what is born from oneself, something of one's own. If the Hurting Officer is completely exhausted, it can generate Wealth. When the Wealth is strong, it can generate the Official, and the natural order shows a kind of favorable transformation. For example, if the monthly command is the Hurting Officer, and the four - pillar combinations end up in the position of the Hurting Officer, with no clashes or breaks, and not a single trace of the Official Star, it is called "the Hurting Officer is exhausted". Also, if there is the Hurting Officer in the monthly branch and the Hurting Officer at the hour pillar, and there is no Official Star in the four pillars, it is also considered "the Hurting Officer is exhausted". Moreover, if the self - element is strong, the Wealth is strong, or the Seal is strong, one can be on the honor roll of the imperial examination and become a top - ranked noble. This pattern usually indicates that the person has many talents and skills, is proud and arrogant, has a dangerous mind and no scruples, has many plans but few achievements, often tries to be smart but ends up making a mess. They often think that no one in the world is as good as themselves, and people also fear and dislike them. If there is no Wealth with the Hurting Officer, it leads to poverty. In fact, the God of Cookery and the Hurting Officer generate the energy of Wealth, while the Seven Kills and the Official Star steal the energy of Wealth. So, the Hurting Officer should encounter Wealth and not the Official. For instance, if Jia (Wood) is born in the Wu (Fire) month, wood does not thrive in the south, and the self - element is too weak. How can it withstand the restraint of metal again? Metal can steal the energy of earth, so it is not advisable to encounter the Official. If there is no Official Star and there is not a bit of Wealth in the pillar to rely on, although the person is intelligent and ingenious, they can only get empty fame and profit.
As the classic says: "If one with the pattern of Hurting Officer has no Wealth to rely on, although he is skillful, he will surely be poor." This is exactly the case. For those with the pattern of Hurting Officer, Wealth can be used as a favorable element, and there are also cases where Seal is used.
According to "Tian Xuan Fu": When using the Seal for the Hurting Officer, the Wealth should be removed; when using the Wealth, the Seal should be removed. If both the Wealth and the Seal exist, how can one gain good fortune? When the Body is strong, the Wealth is used; when the Body is weak, the Seal is used. Those who use the Seal must remove the Wealth to gain good fortune. Those who use the Wealth will have a prosperous life regardless of the Seal. When using the Seal for the Hurting Officer, there is no need to avoid the Officer and the Seven Killings. One can only gain good fortune after removing the Wealth. If there is a Hurting Officer in the original Bazi, one will gain good fortune when the Wealth appears. The Hurting Officer most likes to encounter the Wealth Luck, followed by the Seal Luck when the Body is strong. It doesn't like to enter the Officer Zone. If there are many Hurting Officers in the Four Pillars and the Officer appears, it is not suitable to enter the Hurting Officer Luck again. It's okay if there is only one Hurting Officer.
It is also said that in the pattern of an officer being damaged, it is essential to completely damage the officer. If there is an officer - damaging element in the Bazi columns while the officer star is either hidden or obvious, and the officer is not completely damaged, and then the officer star appears again in the annual and major - luck cycles, when the officer comes in a prosperous state, along with punishments, clashes, breakings, and harms, and the blade and evil stars attacking the self, with a weak self and prosperous wealth, it will surely lead to exile or death. If there are remedies in the five - element system, there will still be disabilities. If there is no officer star in the four - pillar Bazi but there are heavy elements of damaging the officer and evil stars, when the luck enters the officer region and the annual star also encounters the officer, if there is no eye disease, there will surely be disasters and losses.
The scriptures state: Among the five - element configurations of the "injury officer" pattern, for those with the element of fire and the injury officer being earth, and those with the element of earth and the injury officer being metal, it is taboo to encounter the "official star". However, for those with the element of metal and the injury officer being water, those with the element of water and the injury officer being wood, and those with the element of wood and the injury officer being fire, it is not taboo. For fire, water is the official star and earth is the injury officer. Water is afraid of being overcome by earth, and earth gains no benefit from water. For earth, wood is the official star and metal is the injury officer. Wood is afraid of being overcome by metal, and metal gains no benefit from wood. Therefore, the injury - officer pattern of fire and earth is taboo to encounter the official star. For metal, water is the injury officer and fire is the official star. Although water can overcome fire, when metal is cold and water is frigid, without the warmth of fire, it is difficult to achieve practical effects. Moreover, water can achieve the merit of the "already - completed" state with the help of fire. For water, wood is the injury officer and earth is the official star. Although wood can overcome earth, when water floods and wood floats, without the restraint of earth, it is difficult for wood to survive. Moreover, wood can gain the power of cultivation from earth. For wood, fire is the injury officer and metal is the official star. Although fire can overcome metal, when there is an over - abundance of wood and the fire is weak, without the pruning of metal, it is difficult to achieve clarity. Moreover, metal can take on the form of useful utensils with the action of fire. Therefore, the injury - officer patterns of metal, water, and wood are not taboo to encounter the official star.
Therefore, the classic says: "For those with the 'Hurting Officer' configuration in the Five - Elements of Fire and Earth, the Hurting Officer should be completely exhausted; for those with the Hurting Officer in Metal and Water, the Officer should appear; for those with Wood and Fire, the Officer should be prosperous when it appears; for those with Earth and Metal, getting rid of the Officer can actually result in having an Officer; only for those with the Hurting Officer configuration in Water and Wood, it is a delight to have both the Wealth and the Officer appear."
Yes, it is.
It is also said that there are cases where having all the Hurting Officers exhausted does not bring good fortune, and there are cases where encountering the Hurting Officer and the Officer does not bring misfortune. For example, in a birth chart with the year, month, day, and hour columns being Ding - Wei, Ding - Wei, Bing - Wu, and Bing - Wu respectively. For a person born on a Bing - day sitting on Wu, the Day Master is self - prosperous. With two Wu, two Ding, and two Wei, both the Wealth and the Officer are hurt. Although all the Hurting Officers are exhausted, unfortunately, the Fire energy in the four columns is too strong, and the energy - stealing is also significant. When the luck cycle runs through the southeastern regions where Fire is prosperous, there is not a single bit of Wealth energy. The body is vainly prosperous without support, and such a person will be extremely poor. One must not assume that a birth chart with all Hurting Officers exhausted and a prosperous body is a good one. Another example is a person born on an Jia - day. If there is Xin as the Officer in the chart and also Ding as the Hurting Officer. If the person is born in the autumn months when the Officer is prosperous, even if Ding Fire appears, or it is located on Hai or Zi, or there is Wu hiding Ren or Gui beneath it, then Ding cannot hurt the Officer, and such a person will ultimately have an official title. During the annual and luck cycles, encountering the Seven Kills, the Officer, and the Seal are all auspicious. The unlucky luck cycle is when the body is in decline. One must not assume that a birth chart with the Hurting Officer pattern and an Officer star is not a good one.
It is also said: In a person's life, there may be some minor negative influences related to the "injury official" element, but this does not necessarily damage the noble fortune. If one's fortune enters the realm of "official", the "official" element will naturally become strong and prosperous. Or if it enters the "print" fortune, it can suppress the "injury and evil" elements. Or if there is the "wealth" element to provide support, or if it transforms into another favorable pattern, it can still be considered a good fate. However, it is feared that if the fortune then enters the "injury" area, there may be cases where one falls ill and never recovers. Otherwise, there will be disputes over written documents, official troubles, and the decline of one's affairs, and disasters will follow one after another. If there is already the "wealth" element in the birth chart and the fortune also enters the "wealth" area, one can also achieve fame and fortune. But once the fortune enters the area of "official and evil" or the area where the "wealth" element is in decline, death, or a desolate state, one will lose wealth and status. There will either be official lawsuits or heavy mourning.
It is also said that: When there are "Shangguan" (Hurting Officials) in the four pillars of one's birth chart, the "Shangguan" in the Heavenly Stem of the Year Pillar is the most serious. It is called "the foundation of fortune being injured" and cannot be removed throughout one's life. If there is also "Shangguan" in the Earthly Branch of the Month Pillar, it is even more serious than the "Qi Sha" (Seven Kills) that harms the self. For example, for a person born on a Jia day, Xin is regarded as the official. If born in the year of Ding Mao and in the months of Yin, Wu, or Xu, it means repeated "Shangguan" occurrences. Moreover, having Mao as the "Jie Ren" (Robbery Blade) is called "turning away from the official salary and chasing the wealth horse". It indicates that the person will be regretful, and it will even harm the ancestral blessings. When the fortune enters the official luck period and the same situation appears again in the annual luck, or when the "Seven Kills" are strong while the self is weak in the fortune, there will surely be disasters. If there is a real "Shangguan" in the Month Pillar and also the official star appears, for example, for a person born on a Jia day in the Wu month and at the Xin Wei hour, the Ding fire in Wu harms Xin; for a person born on a Yi day in the Si month and at the Geng or Jia Shen hour, the Bing fire in Si harms Geng; for a person born on a Bing day in the Wu month and at the Wu Zi or Gui Si hour, the Ji earth in Wu harms Gui. Generally speaking, if the Day Master is strong and then enters the "Shangguan" fortune, fame and wealth can be achieved. If the Day Master is weak and the fortune passes through the wealth and official luck periods, the disasters are indescribable.
It is also said that for the "Hurting Officer" situation: If it is a day with the Heavenly Stem of Jia and one sees Ding, it is favorable for Ren to combine with it and Gui to break the combination; if it is a day with the Heavenly Stem of Yi and one sees Bing, it is favorable for Xin to combine with it and Ren to break the combination; if it is a day with the Heavenly Stem of Bing and one sees Ji, it is favorable for Jia to combine with it and Yi to break the combination; if it is a day with the Heavenly Stem of Ding and one sees Wu, it is favorable for Gui to combine with it and Jia to break the combination; if it is a day with the Heavenly Stem of Wu and one sees Xin, it is favorable for Bing to combine with it and Ding to break the combination; if it is a day with the Heavenly Stem of Ji and one sees Geng, it is favorable for Yi to combine with it and Bing to break the combination; if it is a day with the Heavenly Stem of Geng and one sees Gui, it is favorable for Wu to combine with it and Ji to break the combination; if it is a day with the Heavenly Stem of Gui and one sees Jia, it is favorable for Ji to combine with it and Geng to break the combination.
According to "Wan Qi": When there is no official star in the case of an overpowering officer and the Yuan Chen, and one encounters the overpowering officer fortune, it means an excessive loss of qi. Just like a single piece of wood repeatedly facing the fire element, it is called the pattern of dispersing qi. In such a situation, one will either be poor or die young. It is favorable to have a strong body and enter the fortune of the official star. When the overpowering officer meets the official star, there will be repeated setbacks. However, when the fortune enters the official star situation in the overall situation, it turns out to be auspicious. That is to say, when the overpowering officer has completely overcome the official star, it is actually favorable to see the official star. If the overpowering officer is accompanied by wealth and meets the seal, the misfortune will be serious. If the overpowering officer is accompanied by the seal, the official and the killing will not bring punishment. For those with a lot of overpowering officers, it is advisable to enter the fortune of the seal, which is similar to using the seal when there is an excess of the eater. If there are few overpowering officers and one enters the fortune of the seal, it is like the owl god seizing the food. If the overpowering officer is accompanied by the seal, it is not advisable to encounter wealth. If the overpowering officer is accompanied by the official star, it is not advisable to enter the fortune that restrains it. When using wealth with the overpowering officer, it is not advisable to enter the fortune of the robbery. When using the seal with the overpowering officer, there is no need to fear the official and the killing. If the overpowering officer meets the repeated appearance of the official star, it should not be regarded as a pure official star situation. When using the official star with the overpowering officer, if it appears in the year and month columns, the official star will surely be damaged. If it is in the fortune of the day and hour columns, it should not be damaged. Once it is damaged, the misfortune is indescribable. Also, one should not enter the tomb situation, otherwise, life expectancy will be difficult to extend.
"Thousand - Li Horse" states: When the Hurting Officer encounters the Officer, it is excellent to enter the domains of the Seal and Wealth. It also says: When the Hurting Officer meets the Wealth, there will be offspring.
According to "The Ode on Assessing One's Heart": When the "Hurting Officer" is completely exhausted, one is versatile and capable. One uses scheming and is arrogant, with a lofty air. One is full of cunning and mocks others, with great ambitions. One has high cheekbones and prominent bones, large eyes and thick eyebrows.
According to "Jing Jian", if one has the "Hurting Officer" (a term in traditional Chinese fortune - telling) without wealth and with the "Sword" (another relevant term), they will act in a sneaky and crafty way.
The "Tongming Fu" says: If the "Shangguan" appears again, one's body will surely endure hard work. It also says: If there are many "Shangguan" and the "Body" is strong but without support, one will surely become a monk, a Taoist, or a person engaged in art or a scholar.
The secret formula says: If the influence of the "Hurting Officer" is too strong, there will surely be a loss regarding one's children. It also says: If the "Hurting Officer" appears in the year column, one's parents may not be whole (i.e., one may lose a parent). If it appears in the month column, one's siblings may not be complete. If it appears in the hour column, one's children will be fierce and unruly. If it appears in the day column, one's wife will not be virtuous. It further says: If the "Hurting Officer" is not fully resolved, one must guard against unexpected disasters. If the "Hurting Officer" meets with wealth, one will enjoy a leisurely and care - free life. If the "Seven Killings" come together with it, one should worry about illnesses and damages. If one's body (i.e., the self - element in the Bazi) is strong but has no support, loneliness and loss are inevitable. When the "Hurting Officer" meets with the "Robbery", gathering wealth is like catkins floating with the wind. When the "Hurting Officer" has no "Seal", seeking profit is like holding a lotus leaf to catch the rain.
An old song says:
The Hurting Officer is originally the god of industry. When it completely restrains the Officer, one will truly become a great noble. If the Hurting Officer fails to fully restrain the Officer, and the Officer rises in strength, the misfortune will not be light.
Moreover:
When the monthly order meets an official position in the area of the damaging element, if the damage is slight and the power is only slightly reduced, it's still okay. But if there are punishments, clashes, breaks and harms, it's certain that the tenure in the official position won't be long.
Moreover:
When the Hurting Officer is fully exhausted and then wealth emerges, and the prosperous wealth gives rise to the Officer in turn. If the Officer is not revealed in the Four Pillars, then it can be said without doubt that there will be wealth and honor.
Moreover:
It's generally not advisable to encounter the "Hurting Officer" element. Having wealth but no "Officer" element serves as the foundation of good fortune. If one has a pattern of "Hurting Officer" in the hour, day, or month pillars, there's no doubt that they will achieve nobility when the fortune is in the prosperous phase of wealth.
Moreover:
It's truly remarkable when the "Hurting Officer" is fully exhausted, yet one should also fear that an excessive amount of it might be inappropriate. In this pattern, there are countless changes. Detailed deductions require careful thought.
Moreover:
When there is no official qi in the case of the damaging officer, it is most feared to have the wealth qi that strips the seal. When the luck cycle enters the official qi territory, something extraordinary may appear. If the seal qi is encountered in the annual luck and the natal chart, there is no doubt that it will surely bring wealth and honor.
Moreover:
When the Hurting Officer meets the Peer, it's not a concern. The same principle applies to the Seven Killings and the Partial Officer. If there is no Officer, the Peer should be avoided. When the Body is strong, too many Peers are a problem.
Moreover:
If the damage to the official star is not fully resolved and the official star appears again, there will be all kinds of disasters like execution, imprisonment, exile. If it occurs in the month pillar, the relationship between father and son won't be perfect; if in the day pillar, one will suffer physical injuries. If it's in the hour pillar, one's children will be in a sorry state. It should be known that wealth and honor won't be complete. If the damage to the official star is in the year pillar, one will surely encounter unexpected disasters in that year.
Considering all the theories, the preferences and taboos of the "Hurting Officer" are fully covered.