ZPZQ 子平真诠 writes:
论用神变化
Discussing Changes of the Useful God
用神既主月令矣，然月令所藏不一，而用神遂有变化。
The Useful God is primarily the Month's Decree, but what is hidden in the Month's Decree is more than one, thus the Useful God has changes.
如十二支中，除子午卯酉外，余皆有藏，不必四库也。
As the 12 Branches, all of them have more than one hidden stems apart from Zi, Wu, Mao and You, not necessarily only the 4 storage (have miscellaneous Qi).
Innate Qi as Governor, ChangSheng Qi as Prefect and Local Magistrate
即以寅论，甲为本主，如郡之有府，丙其长生，如郡之有同知，戊亦长生，如郡之有通判；假使寅月为提，不透甲而透丙，则如知府不临郡，而同知得以作主。此变化之由也。
Take Yin EB for example, Jia as the Master, like a governor of a district, Bing is ChangSheng, like a sub-prefect for a district, Wu is also in ChangSheng, is likened to a local magistrate, If Yin Month is the outline, Jia does not protrude while Bing protrude, is like the governor is not overlooking the district, so the sub-prefect rules the district. This is the reason for (Useful God) changes.
故若丁生亥月，本为正官，支全卯未，则化为印。
If Ding is born in Hai Month, is originally a DO structure, if the EBs has Mao and Wei, DO is transformed to Seal.
己生申月，本属伤官。藏庚透壬，则化为财。
Ji born in Shen Month, is originally a Hurting Officer structure, if Geng is hidden and Ren protrudes, it transforms to Wealth.
凡此之类皆用神之变化也。
Cases like this are changes of the Useful God.
变之而善，其格愈美；
Benevolent (improved) change, the structure becomes more beautiful.
变之不善，其格遂坏，
Not benevolent (worsen) change, the structure becomes worse.
Useful God changes for the better
何谓变之而善？
What does it mean by benevolent (improvement) change?
如
Like for example,
辛生寅月，逢丙而化财为官；
Xin born in Yin month, meeting Bing that transforms Wealth to Officer;
壬生戌月逢辛而化煞为印。
Ren born in Xu month, meeting Xin that transform Devil to Seal
此二者以透出而变化者也。
These two examples (have Useful God) that changes because of protrusions.
癸生寅月，月令伤官秉令，藏甲透丙，会午会戌，则寅午戌三合，伤化为财；
Gui born in Yin month, month decree has Hurting Officer in charge. With Jia hidden and Bing exposed, meeting Wu and Xu will form a Yin Wu Xu 3 combinations, Hurting Officer is transformed to Wealth.
加以丙火透出，完全作为财论，即使不透丙而透戊土，亦作财旺生官论。
Plus, if Bing fire protrudes, it has to be regarded as Wealth (structure) completely, and even if Bing does not protrude, and Wu earth protrude, (the chart structure) should be regarded as Prosperous Wealth engendering Officer.
盖寅午戌三合变化在前，不作伤官见官论也。
That is because Yin-Wu-Xu transformation take precedence, the chart should not be regarded as Hurting Officer meeting Officer.
乙生寅月，月劫秉令，会午会戌，则劫化为食伤，透戊则为食伤生财，不作比劫争财论。
Yi born in Yin month, Rob Wealth takes charge, meeting Wu and Xu would transform Rob Wealth to Food and Hurt, with Wu protrudes, it would be regarded Food and Hurt engendering Wealth, is not regarded as Compare and Rob competing for Wealth
此二者因会合而变化者。
These 2 examples (have Useful Gods) that changes because of meetings and combinations
因变化而忌化为喜，为变之善者。
Due to changes and transformation, the unfavorable becomes favorable, that is change to become benevolent.
Useful God changes for worse
何谓变之不善？
What does it mean by not benevolent (worsen) change?
如
Like for example,
丙生寅月，本为印绶，甲不透干而会午会戌，则化为劫。
Bing born in Yin month, is originally a Seal structure, Jia does not protrude, and meeting Wu and Xu in the branches, (Seal) transforms to Rob.
丙生申月，本属偏财，藏庚透壬，会子会辰，则化为杀。
Yin born in Shen month, is originally Indirect Wealth (structure), Geng is hidden and Ren protrudes, meeting Zi and Chen, (Indirect Wealth) transforms to become Killing.
如此之类亦多，皆变之不善者也
Cases like this are many, they change to become not benevolent (worse).
Changes (of Useful God) that does not change the original structure
又有变之而不失本格者。
There are also cases of changes that do not lose the original structures.
如
Like for example
丙生申月，逢壬化煞，而又透戊，则食神能制煞生财，仍为财格，不失富贵。
Take Yin EB for example, Jia as the Master, like a governor of a district, Bing is ChangSheng, like a sub-prefect for a district, Wu is also in ChangSheng, is likened to a local magistrate, If Yin Month is the outline, Jia does not protrude while Bing protrude, is like the governor is not overlooking the district, so the sub-prefect rules the district. This is the reason for (Useful God) changes.
故若丁生亥月，本为正官，支全卯未，则化为印。
If Ding is born in Hai Month, is originally a DO structure, if the EBs has Mao and Wei, DO is transformed to Seal.
己生申月，本属伤官。藏庚透壬，则化为财。
Ji born in Shen Month, is originally a Hurting Officer structure, if Geng is hidden and Ren protrudes, it transforms to Wealth.
凡此之类皆用神之变化也。
Cases like this are changes of the Useful God.
变之而善，其格愈美；
Benevolent (improved) change, the structure becomes more beautiful.
变之不善，其格遂坏，
Not benevolent (worsen) change, the structure becomes worse.
Useful God changes for the better
何谓变之而善？
What does it mean by benevolent (improvement) change?
如
Like for example,
辛生寅月，逢丙而化财为官；
Xin born in Yin month, meeting Bing that transforms Wealth to Officer;
壬生戌月逢辛而化煞为印。
Ren born in Xu month, meeting Xin that transform Devil to Seal
此二者以透出而变化者也。
These two examples (have Useful God) that changes because of protrusions.
癸生寅月，月令伤官秉令，藏甲透丙，会午会戌，则寅午戌三合，伤化为财；
Gui born in Yin month, month decree has Hurting Officer in charge. With Jia hidden and Bing exposed, meeting Wu and Xu will form a Yin Wu Xu 3 combinations, Hurting Officer is transformed to Wealth.
加以丙火透出，完全作为财论，即使不透丙而透戊土，亦作财旺生官论。
Plus, if Bing fire protrudes, it has to be regarded as Wealth (structure) completely, and even if Bing does not protrude, and Wu earth protrude, (the chart structure) should be regarded as Prosperous Wealth engendering Officer.
盖寅午戌三合变化在前，不作伤官见官论也。
That is because Yin-Wu-Xu transformation take precedence, the chart should not be regarded as Hurting Officer meeting Officer.
乙生寅月，月劫秉令，会午会戌，则劫化为食伤，透戊则为食伤生财，不作比劫争财论。
Yi born in Yin month, Rob Wealth takes charge, meeting Wu and Xu would transform Rob Wealth to Food and Hurt, with Wu protrudes, it would be regarded Food and Hurt engendering Wealth, is not regarded as Compare and Rob competing for Wealth
此二者因会合而变化者。
These 2 examples (have Useful Gods) that changes because of meetings and combinations
因变化而忌化为喜，为变之善者。
Due to changes and transformation, the unfavorable becomes favorable, that is change to become benevolent.
Useful God changes for worse
何谓变之不善？
What does it mean by not benevolent (worsen) change?
如
Like for example,
丙生寅月，本为印绶，甲不透干而会午会戌，则化为劫。
Bing born in Yin month, is originally a Seal structure, Jia does not protrude, and meeting Wu and Xu in the branches, (Seal) transforms to Rob.
丙生申月，本属偏财，藏庚透壬，会子会辰，则化为杀。
Yin born in Shen month, is originally Indirect Wealth (structure), Geng is hidden and Ren protrudes, meeting Zi and Chen, (Indirect Wealth) transforms to become Killing.
如此之类亦多，皆变之不善者也
Cases like this are many, they change to become not benevolent (worse).
Changes (of Useful God) that does not change the original structure
又有变之而不失本格者。
There are also cases of changes that do not lose the original structures.
如
Like for example
丙生申月，逢壬化煞，而又透戊，则食神能制煞生财，仍为财格，不失富贵。
Bing born in the month of Shen, seeing Ren to transform Devil, also protruding is Wu, that Food God can restrain 7K and engender Wealth, so the chart ownder does not lose his wealthiness and nobility.
辛生寅月，透丙化官，而又透甲，格成正财，正官乃其兼格也。
Xin born in Yin month, Bing protrudes to transform (Wealth structure to) Officer, also protrudes Jia, structure becomes Direct Wealth, Direct officer is also the zusammen structure.
乙出申月，透壬化印，而又透戊，则财能生官，印逢财而退位，虽通月令，格成正官，而印为兼格。
Yi born in Shen month, protruding Ren changes the structure to Seal, also protrude Wu, thus Wealth can engender Officer, Seal when it sees Wealth, Seal retreats, even if Seal connects through Month's Decree, the structure becomes Direct Officer, and Seal is the zusammen structure.
丙生寅月，午戌会劫，而又或透甲，或透壬，则仍为印而格不破。
Bing born in Yin month, Wu and Xu meets (transforms the structure) to Rob, and when Jia protrudes or Ren protrudes, the structure would still be the Seal (structure) and it is not broken.
丙生申月，逢壬化煞，而又透戊，则食神能制煞生财，仍为财格，不失富贵。
Bing born in Shen Month, meeting Ren transform (the structure) to Devil, a protruding Wu means the Food can control the Devil and engender Wealth, that is still a Wealth structure, (the structure)does not lose its wealthiness and nobility.
如此之类甚多，是皆变而不失本格者也。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。
Cases like this are many, charts that change without losing its original structure. That is because BaZi could not be established without Useful God, Useful God is not efficacious without changes and transformation, ..........
辛生寅月，透丙化官，而又透甲，格成正财，正官乃其兼格也。
Xin born in Yin month, Bing protrudes to transform (Wealth structure to) Officer, also protrudes Jia, structure becomes Direct Wealth, Direct officer is also the zusammen structure.
乙出申月，透壬化印，而又透戊，则财能生官，印逢财而退位，虽通月令，格成正官，而印为兼格。
Yi born in Shen month, protruding Ren changes the structure to Seal, also protrude Wu, thus Wealth can engender Officer, Seal when it sees Wealth, Seal retreats, even if Seal connects through Month's Decree, the structure becomes Direct Officer, and Seal is the zusammen structure.
丙生寅月，午戌会劫，而又或透甲，或透壬，则仍为印而格不破。
Bing born in Yin month, Wu and Xu meets (transforms the structure) to Rob, and when Jia protrudes or Ren protrudes, the structure would still be the Seal (structure) and it is not broken.
丙生申月，逢壬化煞，而又透戊，则食神能制煞生财，仍为财格，不失富贵。
Bing born in Shen Month, meeting Ren transform (the structure) to Devil, a protruding Wu means the Food can control the Devil and engender Wealth, that is still a Wealth structure, (the structure)does not lose its wealthiness and nobility.
如此之类甚多，是皆变而不失本格者也。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。
Cases like this are many, charts that change without losing its original structure. That is because BaZi could not be established without Useful God, Useful God is not efficacious without changes and transformation, ..........
yin wu xu changed the structure from HO to wealth in your example of the Gui DM above. what about a Mao Xu combo. will 6 harmony combos be strong enough to change a structure ?
ReplyDeleteNo, 6 combination is the pairing of Yin and Yang, it's the earthly version of 5 combination of the HS. It's about harmony relationship, celebration, it does not form a frame.
ReplyDeleteThks for your reply. Does it then mean that although HS and 6 Harmony combines and transform to another element, eg Ding Ren or Yin Hai combines to form wood (assuming transformation takes place) the additional wood will not be strong enough to be used( assuming wood is favourable ) to improve the relevant elements in the chart. ?
ReplyDeleteAs another example, if a chart is cold, Mao Xu combination does not help to warm the chart ?
Also, your articles on Useful god, wealth stars and Direct Officer are very useful for those of us who are interested in learning more about bazi but who unfortunately do not read Chinese. Thank you very much for spending time to translate the classics for others. It is much appreciated. I hope you will continue to help others understand the Classics and I especially look forward to the opportunity to learn more about the other 10 gods from your work.
Hi Joe,
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading the blog, thanks for the feedback too.
Imo, the transformed wood can be used if it is favorable, (assuming transformation happens). If transformation does not happen, we regard the combined elements as 'combined away'. For example if Geng uses Ding as Officer, and in the HS there's Ren, Ding will combine with Ren and the DM loses both auspicious star. If transformation happens, Ding Ren transforms to wood and Geng DM will have Wealth to use instead of Officer and Food.
Combining away can sometimes be auspicious too, for example Geng DM uses Ding as Officer, there's also a Bing HS on the stems as 7K, this results in a broken structure that is called 官杀混杂 (Officer and Killing mixed and mingled), seeing Xin will combine away the 7K and leaving Officer alone. That sort of 'clears' the chart.
The 6 combinations does not form a frame (局) or a partial frame (半局), that is they don't change the chart structure or the Useful God.
Hi Trey,
ReplyDeleteCan LP change the structure? For example with above case,
Ding is born in Hai Month is originally a DO structure, but if the EB only has Mao and meet Wei LP, is it considered DO be transformed to Seal when meeting Wei LP?