On the Robber's Omen and the God of Doom

Original Text

劫者，夺也，自外夺之之谓夺；亡者，失也，自内失之之谓亡。劫在五行绝处，亡在五行临官，俱属寅申巳亥。水绝在巳，申子辰以巳为劫煞，巳中戊土，劫水也。火绝在亥，寅午戌以亥为劫煞，亥中壬水，劫火也。金绝在寅，巳酉丑以寅为劫煞，寅中丙火，劫金也。木绝在申，亥卯未以申为劫煞，申中庚金，劫木也。古歌云：「劫煞为灾不可当，徒然奔走名利场；须防祖业消亡尽，妻子如何得久长。」又云：「四位逢生劫又来，当朝振业逞儒魁；若兼官贵在时上，鲠直名标御史台。」又云：「劫神包裹遇官星，主执兵权助圣明；不怒而威人仰慕，须令华夏悉安荣。」又云：「劫煞原来是煞魁，身宫命主不须来；若为魁局应当死，煞曜临之不必猜。若是无星居此位，更于三合细推排；天盘加得凶星到，命似风灯不久摧。」水生木，申子辰以亥为亡神，亥中甲木、泄水也。火生土，寅午戌以巳为亡神，巳中戊土，泄火也。金生水，巳酉丑以申为亡神，申中壬水，泄金也。木生火，亥卯未以寅为亡神，寅中丙火，泄木也。古歌云：「亡神七煞祸非轻，用尽机关一不成；克子刑妻无祖业，仕人犹恐有虚名。」又云：「命宫若也值亡神，须是长生遇贵人；时日更兼天地合，匪躬蹇蹇作王臣。」又云：「皆言七煞是亡神，莫道亡神祸非轻；身命若还居此地，贫穷蹇滞过平生。凶星恶曜如临到，大限浑如履薄冰；三合更须明审察，煞来夹拱必难行。」

Interpretation

"Jie" means to seize. Seizing from the outside is called "duo" (seize). "Wang" means to lose. Losing from within is called "wang" (lose). The "Jie Sha" (Jie Evil) is at the point where the Five Elements are in a state of extinction, and the "Wang Shen" (Losing Spirit) is at the point where the Five Elements are in a state of prosperity. Both are related to the four directions of Yin, Shen, Si, and Hai. Water is in a state of extinction at Si. For the combination of Shen, Zi, and Chen, Si is the Jie Sha. The Earth (Wu Earth) in Si seizes the Water. Fire is in a state of extinction at Hai. For the combination of Yin, Wu, and Xu, Hai is the Jie Sha. The Water (Ren Water) in Hai seizes the Fire. Metal is in a state of extinction at Yin. For the combination of Si, You, and Chou, Yin is the Jie Sha. The Fire (Bing Fire) in Yin seizes the Metal. Wood is in a state of extinction at Shen. For the combination of Hai, Mao, and Wei, Shen is the Jie Sha. The Metal (Geng Metal) in Shen seizes the Wood. An ancient poem says: "The Jie Sha brings disasters that cannot be withstood. One runs in vain in the field of fame and fortune. One must guard against the complete loss of ancestral property. How can one's wife and children stay with one for long?" Another poem says: "When the four positions meet with good fortune and the Jie Sha comes, one can achieve great things in the court and be a prominent Confucian scholar. If there are also noble official positions in the hour pillar, one will be upright and famous as an imperial censor." Another poem says: "When the Jie Sha is surrounded by the official star, one will hold military power and assist the wise ruler. One will be respected without showing anger and will bring peace and prosperity to the whole country." Another poem says: "The Jie Sha is originally a very fierce evil star. It should not appear in one's natal chart. If it forms a bad situation, one may die. When this evil star appears, there is no need to guess. If there are no other stars in this position, one should carefully analyze the three - combination aspects. If a fierce star appears in the celestial chart, one's life will be like a flickering lamp and will soon be extinguished." Water gives birth to Wood. For the combination of Shen, Zi, and Chen, Hai is the Wang Shen. The Wood (Jia Wood) in Hai drains the Water. Fire gives birth to Earth. For the combination of Yin, Wu, and Xu, Si is the Wang Shen. The Earth (Wu Earth) in Si drains the Fire. Metal gives birth to Water. For the combination of Si, You, and Chou, Shen is the Wang Shen. The Water (Ren Water) in Shen drains the Metal. Wood gives birth to Fire. For the combination of Hai, Mao, and Wei, Yin is the Wang Shen. The Fire (Bing Fire) in Yin drains the Wood. An ancient poem says: "The Wang Shen and the Seven Killings bring serious disasters. All one's plans will come to nothing. One will lose one's children, have a bad relationship with one's wife, and have no ancestral property. Even an official may only have a false reputation." Another poem says: "If the Wang Shen is in the natal chart, one must meet with a noble person at the time of birth. If the hour and day pillars are in harmony with the heaven and earth, one will be loyal and serve the king." Another poem says: "People all say that the Seven Killings are the Wang Shen. Don't think that the Wang Shen doesn't bring serious disasters. If one's life chart is in this position, one will be poor and unlucky all one's life. If fierce stars appear, one's major life stages will be as dangerous as walking on thin ice. One must carefully examine the three - combination aspects. If the evil stars come to surround and support, it will be very difficult to move forward."