On the Ten Celestial Stems and Twelve Earthly Branches - 5
Original Text
是故八字非用神不立，用神非变化不灵，善观命者，必于此细详之。
用神既有变化，则变化之中，遂分纯、杂。纯者吉，杂者凶。
何谓纯？互用而两相得者是也。如辛生寅月，甲丙并透，财与官相生，两相得也。戊生申月，庚壬并透，财与食相生，两相得也。癸生未月，乙己并透，煞与食相克，相克而得其当，亦两相得也。如此之类，皆用神之纯者。
何谓杂？互用而两不相谋者是也。如壬生未月，乙己并透，官与伤相克，两不相谋也。甲生辰月，戊壬并透，印与财相克，亦两不相谋也。如此之类，皆用之杂者也。
纯杂之理，不出变化，分而疏之，其理愈明，学命者不可不知也。
八字既有用神，必有格局，有格局必有高低，财官印食煞伤劫刃，何格无贵？何格无贱？由极贵而至极贱，万有不齐，其变千状，岂可言传？然其理之大纲，亦在有情无情、有力无力之间而已。
如正官佩印，不如透财，而四柱带伤，反推佩印。故甲透酉官，透丁合壬，是谓合伤存官，遂成贵格，以其有情也。财忌比劫，而与煞作合，劫反为用。故甲生辰月，透戊成格，遇乙为劫，逢庚为煞，二者相合，皆得其用，遂成贵格，亦以其有情也。
身强煞露而食神又旺，如乙生酉月，辛金透，丁火刚，秋木盛，三者皆备，极等之贵，以其有力也。官强财透，身逢禄刃，如丙生子月，癸水透，庚金露，而坐寅午，三者皆均，遂成大贵，亦以其有力也。
又有有情而兼有力，有力而兼有情者。如甲用酉官，壬合丁以清官，而壬水根深，是有情而兼有力者也。乙用酉煞，辛逢丁制，而辛之禄即丁之长生，同根月令，是有力而兼有情者也。是皆格之最高者也。
如甲用酉官，透丁逢癸，癸克不如壬合，是有情而非情之至。乙逢酉逢煞，透丁以制，而或煞强而丁稍弱，丁旺而煞不昂，又或辛丁并旺而乙根不甚深，是有力而非力之全，格之高而次者也。
至如印用七煞，本为贵格，而身强印旺，透煞孤贫，盖身旺不劳印生，印旺何劳煞助？偏之又偏，以其无情也。伤官佩印，本秀而贵，而身主甚旺，伤官甚浅，印又太重，不贵不秀，盖欲助身则身强，制伤则伤浅，要此重印何用？是亦无情也。又如煞强食旺而身无根，身强比重而财无气，或夭或贫，以其无力也。是皆格之低而无用者也。
然其中高低之故，变化甚微，或一字而有千钧之力，或半字而败全局之美，随时观理，难以拟议，此特大略而已。
八字之中，变化不一，遂分成败；而成败之中，又变化不测，遂有因成得败，因败得成之奇。
是故化伤为财，格之成也，然辛生亥月，透丁为用，卯未会财，乃以党煞，因成得败矣。印用七煞，格之成也，然癸生申月，秋金重重，略带财以损太过，逢煞则煞印忌财，因成得败也。如此之类，不可胜数，皆因成得败之例也。
官印逢伤，格之败也，然辛生戊月，年丙时壬，壬不能越戊克丙，而反能泄身为秀，是因败得成矣。煞刃逢食，格之败也，然庚生酉月，年丙月丁，时上逢壬，则食神合官留煞，而官煞不杂，煞刃局清，是因败得成矣。如此之类，亦不可胜数，皆因败得成之例也。
其间奇奇怪怪，变幼无穷，惟以理权衡之，随在观理，因时运化，由他奇奇怪怪，自有一种至当不易不论。观命者毋眩而无主、执而不化也。
论命惟以月令用神为主，然亦须配气候而互参之。譬如英雄豪杰，生得其时，自然事半功倍；遭时不顺，虽有奇才，成功不易。
是以印绶遇官，此谓官印双全，无人不贵。而冬木逢水，虽透官星，亦难必贵，盖金寒而水益冻，冻水不能生木，其理然也。身印两旺，透食则贵，凡印格皆然。而用之冬木，尤为秀气，以冬木逢火，不惟可以泄身，而即可以调候也。
伤官见官，为祸百端，而金水见之，反为秀气。非官之不畏夫伤，而调候为急，权而用之也。伤官带煞，随时可用，而用之冬金，其秀百倍。
伤官佩印，随时可用，而用之夏木，其秀百倍，火济水，水济火也。
伤官用财，本为贵格，而用之冬水，即使小富，亦多不贵，冻水不能生木也。
伤官用财，即为秀气，而用之夏木，贵而不甚秀，燥土不甚灵秀也。
Interpretation
Therefore, without the favorable element, the eight characters of one's birth date and time cannot establish a proper structure. Without changes in the favorable element, the fate cannot show its flexibility. Those who are good at analyzing fates must examine this aspect in detail.
Since the use of spiritual energy involves changes, within these changes, there emerge the pure and the mixed. The pure brings good fortune, while the mixed brings misfortune.
What is meant by "pure"? It refers to the situation where two elements interact and both gain benefits. For example, when Xin is born in the Yin month, and both Jia and Bing are revealed, the wealth and the official star generate each other, and both gain benefits. When Wu is born in the Shen month, and both Geng and Ren are revealed, the wealth and the eater star generate each other, and both gain benefits. When Gui is born in the Wei month, and both Yi and Ji are revealed, the killing star and the eater star counteract each other. If the counteraction is appropriate, both also gain benefits. Situations like these are all examples of pure favorable gods.
What is meant by "mixed"? It refers to the situation where two elements are used together but do not coordinate with each other. For example, when a person is born in the month of the sixth earthly branch (Wei) under the influence of the ninth heavenly stem (Ren), and both the second heavenly stem (Yi) and the sixth earthly branch's associated element (Ji) are revealed, the official and the resource - damaging element are in conflict and do not coordinate with each other. When a person is born in the month of the fifth earthly branch (Chen) under the influence of the first heavenly stem (Jia), and both the fifth earthly branch's associated element (Wu) and the ninth heavenly stem (Ren) are revealed, the seal and the wealth are in conflict and also do not coordinate with each other. Situations like these are all examples of "mixed" usage.
The principle of purity and mixture lies within the realm of change. When we analyze and sort them out, the principle becomes clearer. Those who study the art of fortune - telling should not be unaware of this.
Once there is a useful element in the eight characters of one's birth date, there must be a pattern. Where there is a pattern, there must be a difference in its quality. Whether it is the pattern of wealth, official, seal, food, killing, injury, robbery, or blade, which pattern does not have noble people? And which pattern does not have humble people? From the extremely noble to the extremely humble, there is a wide variety, and the changes are in countless forms. How can it be fully described in words? However, the general principle lies only in whether there is harmony and whether there is strength.
For example, when the proper official is accompanied by the seal, it is not as good as the appearance of wealth. However, if there is an injury star in the four pillars, the seal is actually recommended. Therefore, when in the stem of the heavenly stems, there is the official metal (You represents metal for Jia wood) for Jia wood, and the fire (Ding) appears to combine with the water (Ren), which is called combining the injury star to preserve the official star, thus forming an auspicious pattern because of the harmonious interaction. Wealth is afraid of the peer - robbery stars, but when the peer - robbery star combines with the killing star, the peer - robbery star can be put to good use. Therefore, when Jia wood is born in the Chen month, and the earth (Wu) appears in the stem to form a pattern, when Yi wood (peer - robbery for Jia) appears, and Geng metal (killing star for Jia) also appears, and these two combine, both can be effectively utilized, thus forming an auspicious pattern, also because of the harmonious interaction.
When one has a strong body with the killing qi revealed and the eating god qi also strong, for example, if a person is born in the You month (the eighth month in the lunar calendar) with the Heavenly Stem Yi, the Metal element Xin is revealed, the Fire element Ding is strong, and the Wood element in autumn is prosperous. When all these three conditions are met, it indicates extremely high nobility, because it is powerful. When the official qi is strong, the wealth qi is revealed, and the body meets the lucky blade, for example, if a person is born in the Zi month (the eleventh month in the lunar calendar) with the Heavenly Stem Bing, the Water element Gui is revealed, the Metal element Geng is shown, and the person sits on Yin and Wu. When these three conditions are balanced, it leads to great nobility, also because it is powerful.
There are also those that combine affection with strength and those that combine strength with affection. For example, when the Jia stem uses the You official, and the Ren water combines with the Ding fire to purify the official, and the Ren water has a deep root, this is a case of combining affection with strength. When the Yi stem uses the You killing, and the Xin metal is controlled by the Ding fire, and the Xin's prosperity is the Ding's birth, sharing the same root in the monthly order, this is a case of combining strength with affection. These are all the highest - level configurations.
For example, if in the Bazi (Chinese astrological system), the Heavenly Stem of the Day Master is Jia (Yang Wood), and the Earthly Branch contains You (Metal, representing the official star). When Ding (Fire) appears on the Heavenly Stem and meets Gui (Water), it is better for Gui to combine with Ding rather than to overcome it. This shows a certain kind of harmony but not the ultimate harmony. If the Day Master is Yi (Yin Wood) and meets You (Metal, representing the killing star), and Ding (Fire) appears on the Heavenly Stem to control the killing star. Sometimes, the killing star is strong while Ding is a bit weak; sometimes, Ding is prosperous while the killing star is not overly powerful; or sometimes, both Xin (Metal) and Ding are prosperous but the roots of Yi are not very deep. This indicates having some strength but not full - fledged strength. It represents a relatively high - level but not the top - level Bazi pattern.
As for using the Seven Kills in the Bazi (Four Pillars of Destiny), it is originally considered an auspicious configuration. However, if one has a strong body (Day Master) and an overly prosperous Seal, and the Seven Kills are revealed, it may lead to a situation of loneliness and poverty. This is because when the body is strong, it doesn't need the support of the Seal, and when the Seal is prosperous, it doesn't need the assistance of the Seven Kills. It is an extreme and unbalanced situation, showing a lack of harmony. When an Indirect Officer is paired with a Seal, it is usually associated with talent and nobility. But if the Day Master is extremely strong, the Indirect Officer is very weak, and the Seal is overly heavy, then there will be neither nobility nor talent. This is because if the Seal is used to support the body, the body is already strong; if it is used to restrain the Indirect Officer, the Indirect Officer is too weak. What's the use of such a heavy Seal? This is also a situation of lack of harmony. Moreover, if the Seven Kills are strong, the Food God is prosperous, but the Day Master has no roots; or if the Day Master is strong with many Peer elements and the Wealth element has no energy, it may result in either an early death or poverty, due to the lack of balance and strength. All these are inauspicious configurations that are of little use.
However, the reasons for the differences in quality within it are very subtle. Sometimes a single character can carry the weight of a thousand jun (a unit of measurement in ancient China), while sometimes half a character can ruin the beauty of the whole. One should observe the principles at all times, and it's hard to make a definite judgment. What has been said here is just a general outline.
In the eight characters of one's birth date, there are various changes, which lead to success or failure. And within success and failure, there are unpredictable changes. Thus, there are the strange phenomena of achieving failure because of success and achieving success because of failure.
Therefore, when turning harm into wealth, it indicates the completion of the pattern. However, if a person is born in the month of Hai under the Xin element and Ding is revealed for use, and there is a combination of Mao and Wei to form wealth, which actually supports the killing energy, then success turns into failure. When using the seven - killing energy with the seal, it also indicates the completion of the pattern. However, if a person is born in the month of Shen under the Gui element, with the strong metal of autumn, and a little wealth is present to reduce the excessive energy, but when the killing energy appears, both the killing and the seal are averse to wealth, and thus success turns into failure. There are countless such examples, all of which are cases where success turns into failure.
When the official seal is damaged, it is a sign of the failure of the horoscope pattern. However, if a person is born in the fifth month of the lunar year with Xin as the day stem, Bing in the year pillar and Ren in the hour pillar, Ren cannot cross over Wu to overcome Bing. Instead, it can drain the energy of the day stem to form a virtuous appearance. Thus, it turns failure into success. When the killing qi and the blade are countered by the eating god, it is also a sign of the failure of the horoscope pattern. Nevertheless, if a person is born in the eighth month of the lunar year with Geng as the day stem, Bing in the year pillar and Ding in the month pillar, and Ren appears in the hour pillar, then the eating god combines with the official qi to retain the killing qi, so that the official qi and the killing qi are not mixed, and the pattern of the killing qi and the blade becomes clear. This is also a case of turning failure into success. There are countless such examples, all of which are cases of turning failure into success.
In the process, there are all sorts of strange and unpredictable changes. Only by weighing them with reason, observing reason everywhere, and adapting to the changes according to the time, no matter how strange and unpredictable they are, there is always a principle that is extremely appropriate and unchangeable. Those who observe fate should not be dazzled and lose their judgment, nor be rigid and inflexible.
When discussing one's fate, one should mainly focus on the favorable element in the month's stem and branch. However, it is also necessary to consider the climate and make comprehensive judgments. For example, heroes and outstanding figures will naturally achieve twice the result with half the effort if they are born at the right time. If they encounter unfavorable circumstances, even if they have extraordinary talents, it is not easy for them to succeed.
Therefore, when the seal and the official position coincide, it is called having both the seal and the official position, and no one fails to be noble. In winter, when the wood element meets the water element, even if the official star is revealed, it is still difficult to guarantee nobility. This is because when the metal is cold, the water freezes even more, and frozen water cannot nourish the wood. This is the natural principle. When both the body and the seal are strong, and the output star is revealed, one will be noble. This is true for all seal patterns. When applied to the wood in winter, it is especially elegant. For when the wood in winter meets the fire, it can not only vent the body's energy but also regulate the climate.
When the Hurting Officer meets the Official, it brings countless disasters. However, when it occurs in the context of Metal and Water, it turns out to be a sign of elegance. It's not that the Official isn't afraid of the Hurting Officer, but rather that adjusting the climate is of utmost urgency, so it's used as a measure of expediency. When the Hurting Officer is accompanied by the Seven Killings, it can be used at any time. And when it's applied to Metal in winter, its elegance is multiplied a hundredfold.
When the Hurting Officer is paired with the Seal, it can be used at any time. When applied to the Wood in summer, its elegance is multiplied a hundredfold. It's like Fire assisting Water and Water assisting Fire.
When the Hurting Officer is combined with Wealth, it is originally a noble configuration. However, when this occurs in the context of winter water, even if there is a small amount of wealth, it is often difficult to achieve nobility, because frozen water cannot nourish wood.
When using wealth in the case of the Hurting Officer pattern, it shows elegance. However, when applying this pattern to the Wood of summer, although it can bring nobility, it doesn't display much elegance because the dry Earth in summer lacks spiritual elegance.