DayMaster 日主

DayMaster 日主

YHZP says:

予尝观唐书所载，有李虚中者，取人所生年月日时干支生剋，论命之贵贱寿夭之说，已详之矣！
I have already seen the record in Tang's (dynasty) book, as in Li XuZhong, uses a person birth year, month, day and hour, analyzes the engendering and countering relationships of the stems and branches, to determine the subject's nobility, lowliness, longevity or short-life, and I have gone through in detail.

至于宋时，方有子平之说；取日干为主，以年为根，以月为苗，以日为花，以时为果；
And as for the Song's (dynasty) period, there's the way of saying by ZiPing, Taken Day Stem as the Master, Year as the root, Month as sprout, Day as flower and Hour as fruit.

以生旺死绝休囚制化，决人生休咎。其理必然矣，复有何疑哉！
With Birth, Prosperity, Death, Extinction, At Rest, Trapped, Control and transformation to decide a person's auspiciousness or inauspiciousness. The principle is natural, no doubt about that!

一曰官，分之阴阳，曰官、曰杀，甲乙见庚辛也；
One is named 'Officer' is separated according to Yin and Yang, named Officer or named Killing, like Jia and Yi seeing Geng and Xin;

二曰财，分之阴阳，曰正财、偏财，甲乙见戊己也；
Two is named Wealth, separated according to Yin and Yang, named Direct (Conventional) Wealth or Indirect (unconventional) wealth, like Jia and Yi meeting Wu and Ji.

三曰生气之阴阳，曰印綬、曰倒食，甲乙见壬癸是也；
Three is named Engendering Qi of Yin and Yang,named 'Seal (an authority stamp) and the ribbon attached to it, named 'Pouring away food', like Jia and Yi meeting Ren and Gui.

四曰窃气之阴阳，曰食神、曰伤官，甲乙见丙丁是也；
Four is named Stealing Qi of Yin and Yang, is named the 'Food God' named 'Hurting Officer', Jia and Yi meeting Bing and Ding it is.

五曰同类之阴阳，曰劫财、曰阳刃，甲乙见甲乙是也。
Five is named the Same Kind of Yin and Yang, is named Rob Wealth, named Yang's blade, Jia and Yi meeting Jia and Yi it is.

大抵贵贱寿夭死生，皆不出于五者；
Generally, Noble or Lowly, long live or short live, death and birth are not out of these 5.

倘有妄立格局，从列其名，而无实用，其飞天禄马、倒冲井栏叉，即伤官，析而为之。
In case of absurd structures, there's a list of names, they are not really usable, like 飞天禄马, 倒冲, 井栏叉 (these 3 are special structures), are Hurting Officer, only of separate type.

举此一端，餘可知矣！
Seeing from this aspect, the rest can be known!

以日为主，年为本，月为提纲，时为辅佐。
Take the day as the Master, Year as the Base, Month as the Essential or Boundary, Hour as Assistant.

以日为主，大要看日加临于甚度，或身旺？或身弱？又看地支有何格局？
With day as the Master, is important to see if it adds up and arrives to what degree, or is Self prosperous, of is Self weak? and also see the branches have what structure.

金木水火土之数；后看月令中金木水火土，何者旺？又看岁运有何旺？却次日下消详。
Calculation of the five elements, after that look at the element inside the month's decree, which is prosperous? and also look at year and luck, which is prosperous? This should be analyzed in detail after analyzing the day.

此非是拘之一隅之说也。
This is not a biased or one sided view.

且如甲子日生，四柱中有个申字，合用子辰为水局；次看餘辰有何损益？
E.g, born in JiaZi day, in four pillars there's Shen, to combine with Zi and Chen to form a water frame, nect is to look at the remain of Chen, what has suffered damage and what has benefited?

四柱中有何字，损其甲子日主之秀气？
In the four pillars, which characters would  damage DayMaster JiaZi's Qi?

有坏其月神，则要别制之，不要益之。
If it's damaging the Month's God, it's necessary to be restrained, and not to be supported. 

论命者切不可泥之，月令消详；故表而出之。
Those discuss life must not be casual (careless), month's decree must be analyzed in detail; as one dresses when he goes out (meaning it's the logical thing to do).

地支 EB - Earthly Branches

地支 Earthly Branches EB

EB, unlike HS are mostly made of several elements, it's a popular notion to say Zi is Water, Chou is earth, Yin is wood etc etc, the notion is only partially true. The Qi in heavenly stem is pure e.g Jia is purely wood, Geng is purely metal but the Qi in earthly branches are mixed, except for Zi, Mao and You.

Regarding the polarity of EBs, DTS says:

原注：子、寅、辰、午、申、戌，阳也，其性动，其势强，其发至速，其灾祥至显；丑、卯、巳、未、酉、亥，阴也，其性静，其气专，发之不速，而否泰之验，每至经年而后见。

Zi, Yin, Chen, Wu, Shen and Xu are Yang, it is moving, its intensity is strong, it develops with speed, its auspiciousness and inauspiciousnes will be prominent; Chou, Mao, Si, Wei, You and Hai are Yin, it is still, its Qi focused, it develops without speed, its consequences could been seen after passing years. 

Directions of EB and elements

Table of EB, showing directions of elements

EB is often associated with directions,

Wood - Yin, Mao and Chen reside East, denotes the spring season

Fire - Si, Wu and Wei reside South, denotes summer

Metal - Shen, You and Xu reside West, denotes autumn

Water - Hai, Zi and Chou reside North, denotes winter.



Earth resides in the middle and lodges at four corners 四隅，according to BaGua, the four corners would be Gen, Xun, Qian and Kun. 

Gen 艮 has Chou and Yin, is considered between Winter and Spring
Xun 巽 has Chen and Si, is considered between Spring and Summer
Kun 坤 has Wei and Shen, which is between Summer and Autumn
Qian 乾 has Xu and Hai, which is between Autumn and Winter

Earth represents the last month of every season.


In classical books, undergoing LP is often cited as 'going towards' a certain direction. For example, undergoing LP with water elements is always referred as 'going north', undergoing LP with fire element is 'going south' and so forth.

Earth is directionless, that is why clashes of earths is often regarded as less critical than clashes of other elements.

Earthly Branches and Seasons.

In analyzing a Bazi chart, the month's EB is extremely important as it is also the season when the DM is born.


In the classics, the EB of the month is called 月令，YueLing, which literally translated as 'the month's decree'. The term comes from the calendar system used in ancient China that emphasizes on 4 main seasons; Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, which are further divided into Early 孟，Mid 仲，and Late 季, thus 12 months and 12 EBs.

Yin, Si, Shen and Hai are early season 孟

Mao, Wu, You and Zi are mid season 仲

Chen, Xu Chou and Wei are late season 季

Earthly Branch and Hidden Heavenly Stem

In each EB contains hidden heavenly stems that represent the Qi of the EB.

Zi, Mao and You contain only a single HS within, these are termed as 专气，focused Qi, where the Qi is pure.

The rest of the EBs contain many HS within, they are called 杂气，mixed Qi. Though the term 杂气 mixed Qi is usually used to mean the Qi inside Chen, Xu Chou and Wei.

HS that is contained in the EB is associated with the season and the 12 Qi phase.

The first month, Yin is the season of spring and wood is the most prosperous element in spring. Yin is also the birth (ChangSheng) of Bing and Wu, so Yin contains Jia wood, Bing fire and Wu earth. Why Jia wood and not Yi wood? Because the Yin and Yang cycle starts with Yang and ends with Yin. 

The second month Mao has only Yi wood inside, it's the middle of spring where wood is under DiWang stage, as wood is ruling the month, it's the only element that decrees the Qi in the month.

The third month Chen late spring, earth leads all elements at the end of every season, when earth Qi is dominating, Yi wood Qi is residual, water Qi is in tomb in Chen. So Chen contains Wu earth, Yi wood and Gui water.

The fourth month Si is the beginning of summer, the season of fire, thus Bing fire leads the elements in Si, Si is also the ChangSheng of Geng metal, Si is also in one of the four corners 'Xun' where earth resides, thus Si contains Bing fire, Geng metal, and Wu earth.

The fifth month is the month of Wu, middle of summer, both fire and earth are in DiWang stage, so both rules the month together, thus Wu contains Ding fire and Ji earth. It's arguable that Earth is actually stronger than Fire in Wu month. QLMG thinks Ji earth is stronger but YHZP implies that they are both equally strong.

The sixth month is the end of summer, the month of Wei, so Earth leads the elements. At the end of summer, fire Qi is residual, so fire still remains in the HHS, Wei is also the tomb stage for wood, and such, Wei contains Ji earth, Ding fire and Yi wood.

The seventh month Shen is the beginning of Autumn, the season of metal which is also the birth place of water, and Shen itself is in a corner 'Kun', as earth resides at four coners, Shen has earth inside. So Shen contains Geng metal, Wu earth and Ren water.

The eight month belongs to Xin metal only, as metal is ruling (under DiWang stage) in You.

The ninth month is the end of autumn, the month of Xu, and earth month with residual metal Qi, and fire Qi in storage. Thus Xu contains Wu earth as the leading element, Xin metal as residual Qi and Ding fire as the storage Qi. 

The tenth month is the beginning of Winter, the month of Hai, the season of Water, the birthplace of Wood, Hai is also in one of the four corners Qian, however Since water and wood are both prosperous in Hai, Earth has been rendered useless. Which is why Hai contains only Ren water and Jia wood.

The eleventh month is the mid winter, water is prosperous and ruling the season, so only Gui is contained in Zi month.

The twelfth month  of Chou is an earthly month, as it is the end of Winter, water Qi is residual. Xin metal is in tomb. So Chou contains Ji earth, Gui water as residual and Xin metal in tomb.

Updated:
As for Earth in Yin, Si, Shen and Hai, some people consider them as residual Qi that remains from the previous earth month. 

Yin has earth which is residual from Chou
Si has earth which is residual from Chen
Shen has earth from Wei
Hai has earth from Xu, though unusable. 

Four corners where earth resides

Earth is born twice in the 12 branches, as Master XLW puts it:

附火而生，生于寅，禄于巳；
Born close to fire, born in Yin, Lu in Si

附水而生，生于申，禄于亥。
Born close to water, born in Shen, Lu in Hai

特在寅巳，有丙火帮扶，旺而可用；
At Yin and Si, there's Bing fire to support and assist, it's prosperous and usable. 

在申亥，寒湿虚浮，力量薄弱而无可用，故仅言丙戊生寅，而不言壬戊生申也。
At Shen and Hai, It's cold, wet, fake and floating, it's energy is weak and not usable, that's why it's often said that Bing and Wu born at Yin, and not said Ren and Wu born at Shen.

Birthplace, prosperous place, dead place, failed place, storage and tomb

Yin, Si, Shen and Hai are four corners, they are all the called the four birthplaces, ChangSheng. (四生地), 

Fire and Earth ChangSheng in Yin
Metal ChangSheng in Si
Water ChangSheng in Shen
Wood ChangSheng in Hai

When a Qi has just been birthed, it's fragile though its influence is strong, Clashes are considered inauspicious. They are also called the four 'Lu' 禄 places, Lu simply refers to GuanDai stage of the 12 life stages.'

Mao, Wu, You and Zi are called the four prosperous places 四旺地 which refers to the DiWang stage, 

Wood DiWang in Mao, 
Fire and Earth in Wu
Metal in You
Water in Zi

Also called the four failed places 四败地, which refers to the MuYu stage. 
Fire and Earth failed in Mao 
Metal failed in Wu
Water failed in You
Wood failed in Ren

Also called the four dead places 四死地 which refers to the Si stage of the 12 life stages.
Wood dies at Wu
Fire and Earth die at You
Metal dies at Zi
Water dies at Mao

It's commonly called the four 'cardinal' places in English for reasons unknown to me, I don't think these EBs are related to the Roman Catholic Church in any way.

Chen, Xu, Chou and Wei are called the 4 tomb places 四墓地, or the 4 storage 四库, it represents the Tomb stage of the 12 Qi stages.

Chen stores water, 
Wei stores wood, 
Xu stores fire 
Chou stores metal.

天干地支 HS / EB - Part 23 HS - YHZP Ren and Gui

壬

Ren Water

壬水汪洋併百川，漫流天下总无边；

Ren water, huge ocean, a combination of hundred rivers, flowing under heaven without boundary.

干支多聚成漂荡，火土重逢涸本源。

Stems and branches, accumulating will become drifting, fire and earth, repeated encounter dry its source.

养性结胎须未午，长生归禄属乾坤；

Yang and Tai must be in Wei and Wu, ChangSheng and GuiLu belongs to Qian & Kun

身强原自无财禄，西北行程厄少年。

Self is strong and in natal without Wealth and Lu, going west and north would cause one to undergo difficulties since young age.

癸

Gui Water

癸水应非雨露麼，根通亥子即江河；

Gui water should not be the likes of rain and dew, if the root is connected through Hai and Zi, it becomes rivers.

柱无坤坎还身弱，局有财官不尚多。

In the pillar without Kun and Kan and self is weak, however many wealth and authorities in the structure will not be too many.

申子辰全成上格，寅午戌备要中和；

Shen Zi Chen complete becomes an upper structure, Yin Wu Xu complete must be in moderation.

假饶火土生深夏，西北行程岂太过。

Even if fire and earth born in deep summer, how can the journey to west and north be too much?

天干地支 HS / EB - Part 22 HS - YHZP Geng and Xin

《庚》
Geng Metal 

庚金顽钝性偏刚，火制功成怕水乡；
Geng Metal is blunt and behaves rather tough. When it's successfully controlled by fire, water land is feared.

夏产东南过煆炼，秋生西北亦光芒。
Born in summer, east and south is over forged, born in autumn, west and north it's still shinning.

水深反是他相剋，木旺能令我自伤；
Deep water in turn has to be countered, prosperous wood would cause myself to be injured

戊己干支重遇土，不逢冲破即埋藏。
Wu and Ji heavy, not meeting clash will cause Geng to be buried.

Implied meaning -
Meeting Ding, water is not good
Born in summer, does not like to meet wood/fire in LP
Born in autumn, likes metal/water in LP
Strong water has to be countered by earth
Strong wood would hurt metal
Strong earth must be clashed so metal will not be buried

《辛》
Xin Metal 辛金珠玉性通灵，最爱阳和沙水清；
Xin metal as pearls and jades, it connects spirits, loves Yand and sandy water to be clear.

成就不劳炎火煆，资扶偏爱湿泥生。
If it's successful, does not need fiery fire to forge, as support, it likes wet clay to engender

水多火旺宜西北，水冷金寒要丙丁；
Abundant water, prosperous fire, it's beneficial at west and north, water is chilly and metal is cold wants Bing and Ding

坐禄通根身旺地，何愁厚土没其形。
Sitting on Lu, connects through its root self is prosperous, does not worry about thick earth  burying itself. 

Implied meaning
Xin metal likes Yang polarity element
Fire is not really necessary for a good structure, 
Like Chen/Chou wet earth to engender
When Fire is strong, water is strong, metal / water becomes auspicious
Metal born in winter needs fire
Does not fear strong earth if self is strong

天干地支 HS / EB - Part 21 HS - YHZP Wu and Ji

戊 Wu Earth

戊土城墙堤岸同，振江河海要根重，
Wu Earth is like the castle wall or river banks, to hold rivers and seas its roots have to be heavy.

柱中带合形还壮，日下乘虚势必崩。
Meeting combination in the pillar(s)? its shape is still strong, under the day sitting on 'fake' (unsupported) it will collapse.

力薄不胜金漏泄，功成安用木疏通。
If its strength is thin, it will not win metals exhaustion, to be successful, it's good to use wood to tilt and let through.

平生最爱东南健，身旺东南健失中。
It likes east and south the most, when its prosperous go east and south but when it's lost. middle.

Implied meaning:

In order to contain Water, Wu earth has to be strongly rooted.
Meeting Gui to combine, Wu earth is still strong (as combination fire engenders earth)
Wu Zi pillar is inauspicious
Does not like metal when it's weak, 
To be successful, it needs wood
When it's strong it likes Wood and fire, 
When it's weak it likes Earth. 

Ji Earth

已土田园属四维.坤深为万物之基，
Ji earth as fields and gardens it belongs to the four corners (NE, SE, NW and SW), Kun is deep as it's the base of thousand beings

水金旺处身还弱.火土功成局最奇，
It's still weak at the place where water and metal are prosperous, it's most marvelous when fire and earth complete the work.

失令岂能埋剑戟.得时方能用磁基，
Losing the command, how can it bury swords and lances? gaining the season only it can be used loadstone. 

谩夸印旺遇多合.不遇刑冲总不宜
Prosperous resources with meeting many combinations are fake overestimation, not meeting punishment and clashes it will always not be beneficial

Implied meaning
Ji earth is weak at Chou and Shen, as metal and water exhaust earth. At these places fire and earth are beneficial.
Without support of the season, earth cannot withstand metal, when it's in season it can use metal.
Strong Fire and meeting combination is not really auspicious
Sitting on Si or Wei combination is not beneficial, clashes and punishments are beneficial

天干地支 HS / EB - Part 20 HS - YHZP Bing and Ding

《丙》Bing Fire


丙火明明一太阳，原从正大立纲常；
Bing fire is bright, as bright as the sun, its origin just and great, it sets WangChang (Wang Chang refers to the 3 Relationships; king and ministers, father and son, husband and wife, and the five virtues)

洪光不独窥千里，巨焰犹能遍八荒。
Its grand light peeps not only thousands of miles, its great flames also reaches to 8 directions.

出世肯为浮木子，传生不作湿泥娘；
Coming to this world, it's willing to be the child of floating wood, reincarnate and it does not want to be the mother of wet earth.

江湖死水安能剋，惟怕成林木作殃。
Dead water from rivers and lakes could counter / pacify it, it's only afraid of wood that's becoming forests as woe.

Implied meaning:
It's okay to be born by wet wood (wood with a lot of water)
It does not like to engender wet earth (Ji)
Ren 7K is okay for Bing (some think Ren is better than Gui but nowhere in this text indicates that)
It does not like abundant Jia wood. 


《丁》Ding Fire

丁火其形一烛灯，太阳相见夺光明；
Ding Fire has the form of candle and lamp, when meeting together with the Sun, the sun takes away its light.

得时能铸千金铁，失令难鎔一寸金。
When it is found (in season) it can cast thousands of gold and iron, when it's lost command (not supported by season) it's difficult to melt an inch of gold.

虽少乾柴犹可引，纵多湿木不能生；
Even though dry wood is little, it can ignite fire, even though wet wood is abundant, it cannot birth fire.

其间衰旺当分晓，旺比一炉衰一檠。
Strong or weak has to be divided to be analyzed, when it's prosperous it's a furnace, when weak it's a candlestick.

Implied meaning.
Strength is very important for Ding
Does not like Bing fire
When strong, metal is useful, when weak metal is not useful
Dry wood is useful when weak, just a small amount is enough
Wet wood cannot generate Ding fire

天干地支 HS / EB - Part 19 HS - YHZP Jia and Yi

《甲》Jia 

甲木天干作首排，原无枝叶与根荄；
Jia wood is the first of the Heavenly stems, originally without twigs, leaves and roots

欲存天地千年久，直向沙泥万丈埋。
It desires to exists in heaven and earth thousands years old, planted straight into the sand and clay hundred thousands of feet.

断就栋樑金得用，化成灰炭火为灾；
Cut to become ridge pole metal gets to be used, to turn into ashes and charcoals fire as the disaster;

蠢然块物无机事，一任春秋自往来。
A stupid, natural block of thing really has no use, naturally, letting spring and autumn come
 and go.

Implied meaning:
Both earth are useful for Jia,
In order to be successful, Metal should be used
When fire is too strong, health might have problem
Although seemingly useless, Jia could allow for longevity


《乙》Yi wood

乙木根荄种得深，只宜阳地不宜阴；
Yi wood has its root planted deep, only benefits from Yang land and not Yin.

漂浮最怕多逢水，刻断何当苦用金。
Drifting and floating it is afraid of too much meeting with water

南去火炎灾不浅，西行土重祸尤侵；
Going south fire and flame disaster is not shallow (strong disaster), going west heavy earth calamity is invading. 

栋樑不是连根木，辨别工夫好用心。
Ridge pole is not wood with chained roots, the knowledge to differentiate takes efforts to be studied. 

Implied meaning
Yi likes mostly Yang elements
Too many resources could be lonely or directionless
Too many authorities might injure Yi (health / body)
Too many wealths is not beneficial
To many outputs is not beneficial

十二长生, The Twelve Qi Stages

十二长生, The Twelve Qi Stages (or Phases)

What is the 12 Qi phase? It's a continuous cycle of Life and Death that applies to the five elements. The elements are very much like human, they are born, they grow, they mature, fall sick, they die and they are buried. These processes happen in a continuous cycle. The earthly branches are the 'time' or 'age' for the 'life' of the elements.

Let's take an ancient Chinese man's life as an analogy (The theory was developed back in those days, so this is the most pertinent analogy I thought possible):

One begins to exist in the mother's womb as a zygote is formed. 胎 Tai - the stage of 'Womb' 

The zygote grows to become embryo and fetus, reared in the mother's womb. 养 Yang - the stage of 'Rear'
After sometime, a baby is born. 长生ChangSheng - the stage of 'Birth' 

The baby is bathed right after it is born and with time it grows to be a toddler. 沐浴 MuYu - the stage of 'Bath' 

The toddler grows fast and becomes a teenager, and he reaches adulthood 冠带 GuanDai - The stage of 'Wearing Hat'. 

 
The man studies and work, he becomes more capable and stronger, he is ready to become a government officer (back then everyone wanted to be government officers). 临官 LinGuan - the stage of 'Arriving Officer' 

The man rises to prominence, that is the pinnacle of achievement in his life. The time when he is strongest as he could be, he is appointed as the emperor's assistant. 帝旺 Di Wang - The stage of 'Imperial Prosperity' 

 
The man's health becomes weaker, his capability wanes. 衰 Shuai - the stage of 'Waning' 

 
As his health become weaker and weaker, he gets sick. 病 Bing - The stage of 'Sickness' 

 
Sickness overcomes him and he dies. 死 Si - the stage of 'death' 

The man is buried, there's a funeral held where everyone says remembrance. Friends and family mourns over his death. 墓 Mu - the stage of 'Grave' 

After some time, the man's existence is forgotten, or maybe very few will remember him. 绝 Jue - the stage of 'Extinct'

All the elements, wood, fire, earth, metal and water go through the same life and death cycle as the ancient Chinese man in the analogy.


The 12 Qi phases are:


胎 Tai - the stage of 'Womb'

养 Yang - the stage of 'Rear'

长生 ChangSheng - the stage of 'Birth'

沐浴 MuYu - the stage of 'Bath'

冠带 GuanDai - the stage of 'Wearing Hat'.

临官 LinGuan - the stage of 'Arriving Officer'

帝旺 DiWang - the stage of 'Imperial Prosperity'

衰 Shuai - the stage of 'Waning'

病 Bing - The stage of 'Sickness'

死 Si - the stage of 'Death'

墓 Mu - the stage of 'Grave'

绝 Jue - the stage of 'Extinct'

Please take note that my translation for the names of the stages in English is quite literal to give the readers an idea of what the Chinese characters mean. I strongly recommend readers to use PinYin or better still the Chinese characters when discussing the 12 Qi phase to avoid confusion.


On this subject, ZPZQ writes:

原文：支有十二月，故每干长生至胎养，亦分十二位。
There's 12 EB, 12 months, thus for each HS, from ChangSheng to Tai and Yang, is separated into 12 places.


而长生沐浴等名，则假借形容之词也。
The terms (names) of ChangSheng MuYu etc, were borrowed for describing purpose.


长生者，犹人之初生也。
ChangSheng is the beginning of a person is when he's born


沐浴者，犹人既生之后，而沐浴以去垢；如果核既为苗，则前之青壳，洗而去之矣。
MuYu is like after a person is born, he's bathed to remove the dirt, it's like when a seed is sprouting, the green shell (kernel) is washed away.


冠带者，形气渐长，犹人之年长而冠带也。
GuanDai, describe Qi as gradually growing, it's like when a person is growing with age.


临官者，由长而壮，犹人之可以出仕也。
LinGuan, is because after one is grown, he's becoming strong, it's like when the person can join the government.


帝旺者，壮盛之极，犹人之可以辅帝而大有为也。.
Diwang, is the peak of prosperity and strength, it's like when a person can assist the emperor to achieve greatness.


衰者，盛极而衰，物之初变也。
Shuai, when the peak is reached, it starts to wane, the beginning of change for things (to decline)


病者，衰之甚也。
Bing, is quite waned (declined / aged)


死者，气之尽而无余也。
Si, Qi is completely finished without residue


墓者，造化收藏，犹人之埋于土者也。
Mu, the creator keeps and stores, it's like when a person is buried in the earth.


绝者，前之气已绝，后之气将续也。
Jue, the Qi before is extinct, the Qi after will continue


胎者，后之气续而结聚成胎也。
Tai, the Qi after continues and materialized, gathered to become womb


养者，如人养母腹也。
Yang, is like a person is feeding inside mother's womb.


自是而后，长生循环无端矣。
And after this is ChangSheng and the cycle repeats without end.


Master Xu LeWu wrote:

生旺墓绝之说，由来甚古。
The saying of Born (ChangSheng), Prosperity (DiWang), Grave (Mu) and Extinct (Jue) has an ancient origin.


《准南子》曰：春令木壮，水老，火生，金囚，土死；
The book of Huai Nan Zi says:
In winter:
wood is strong,
water is old,
fire is born,
metal is imprisoned and
earth is dead.

《太平御览·五行休旺论》曰：立春艮旺，震相，巽胎，离没，坤死，兑囚，乾废，坎休云云。
The book of TaiPing YuLan, in the topic of the resting and prosperity of 5 elements says:

At the beginning of spring:
Gen is prosperous,
Zhen is ministerial (strong),
Xun is in womb,
Li is gone,
Kun is dead,
Dui is imprisoned,
Qian is barren,
Kan is at rest and so forth


名词虽有异同，而其意则不殊。
Even though the names and terms are different, but the meanings are almost similar.


后世以十二支配八卦，而定为长生沐浴十二位之次序，
The later generations uses 12 Earthly branches to match 8 Guas, and established the system of 12 stages of life,

虽为术家之说，
although it's the saying of the art practitioners,


而合于天地之自然，
it matches with the nature of heaven and earth,


语虽俚俗，
although the language is unrefined,


含义至精，
the meaning it contained is extremely profound,


究五行阴阳者，莫能外此也。
for those who research into the subject of Yin and Yang and 5 elements, cannot be away from this (is saying thatthe basic concept has to be adhered to).


SMTH states:


五行寄生十二宫：长生、沐浴、冠带、临官、帝旺、衰、病、死、墓、绝、胎、养，循环无端，周而复始，造物大体与人相似，循环十二宫亦若人世轮回也。
5 elements lodging at the 12 palaces: ChangSheng, MuYu, GuanDai, LinGuan, DiWang, Shuai, Bing, Si, Mu, Jue, Yang, Tai, the cycle is without end, after one complete cycle, another cycle beings again, creations are similar to humans, the cycle in the 12 palaces is like human reincarnation.


《三命提要》云：SanMing TiYao says:

五行寄生十二宫，Five elements lodging at 12 palaces:

一曰受气，又曰绝，曰脆，以万物在地中未有其象，如母腹空，未有物也；
One is named Receiving Qi, is also named Extinct, named brittle, is like ten thousand beings inside the earth that yet to have an image, like the mother's womb is empty, there's nothing inside.


二曰受胎，天地气交，氤氲造物，其物在地中萌芽，始有其气，如人受父母之气也；
Two is named Receiving Womb, Qi of heaven and earth interchanges, cloudy and forming creations, the creation is sprouting in the earth, its Qi begins to exist, like a person receives Qi from its parents.


三曰成形，万物在地中成形，如人在母腹成形也；
Three is named Taking Shape (Forming), it's like ten thousand beings taking their shapes in earth, like a person taking shape in the mother's womb.


四曰长生，万物发生向荣，如人始生而向长也；
Four is named Birth, ten thousand beings are born to glory, like a person is born and grow.


五曰沐浴，又曰败，以万物始生，形体柔脆，易为所损，如人生后三日以沐浴之，几至困绝也；
Five is named Bath, also named Failure, when beings are born, its body is soft and brittle, easily wounded, is like three days a person is born, is showered, is almost towards being bound and and extinct; (this phase seems to imply that Qi strength at MuYu is almost as weak as Jue)


六曰冠带，万物渐荣秀，如人具衣冠也；
Six is named Wearing of Hat, beings are gradually becoming glorious and refined, is like a man wearing dress and hat.


七曰临官，万物既秀实，如人之临官也；
Seven is named Arriving officer, beings are truly defined, like when one is ready to become and officer.


八曰帝旺，万物成熟，如人之兴旺也；
Eight is named Imperial prosperity, beings are mature, like a man prospers.


九曰衰，万物形衰，如人之气衰也；
Nine is named Waning, beings are waning, like a man's Qi is waning.


十曰病，万物病，如人之病也；
Ten is named Sickness, beings are sick, like a man is sick.


十一曰死，万物死，如人之死也；
Eleven is named death, beings are dead, like a man is dead.


十二曰墓，又曰库，以万物成功而藏之库，如人之终而归墓也。归墓则又受气，胞胎而生。
Twelve is named grave, or storage, is when beings had complete their work and store the in storage, is like a man eventually return to the grave, after returning to grave, it starts to receive Qi, forming in womb and born again.


凡推造化，见生旺者未必便作吉论，见休囚死绝未必便作凶言。
When analyzing birth charts, seeing ChangSheng, or Wang does not necessarily means auspicious, seeing resting, imprisonment, death and extinction does not necessarily means inauspicious.


如生旺太过，宜乎制伏，死绝不及，宜乎生扶，妙在识其通变。
Like when it is overly prosperous, it should be controlled and overcome, if it is dead and extinct, it should be engendered and supported, it is wonderful is one has the knowledge of the changes.


古以胎生旺库为四贵，死绝病败为四忌，余为四平，亦大概言之。
The ancient takes Tai (Womb), Sheng (Born), Wang (Prosperity) and Ku (storage) as 4 nobles, Dead, Extinct, Sickness and Failure s 4 taboos, the rest are four flats, is a generalized saying.

Elemental Qi strength based on the 12 Stages

Qi is strongest when the elements are in the stage of ChangSheng, LinGuan (or sometimes called JianLu 建禄) and DiWang. The next strongest Qi are the stages of Mu (grave) and GuanDai.


Qi is weakest when the elements are in the stages of Si (dead) and Jue (extinct)


ZPZQ says:


原文：人之日主，不必生逢禄旺，即月令休囚，而年日时中, 得长禄旺，便不为弱，就使逢库，亦为有根。

DM of a person does not neccesarily has to be birth meeting Lu and Wang (LinGuan and DiWang), even if the month's command makes it rest or trapped, but on Year, Day and Hour see ChangSheng, JianLu and DiWang, is not regarded as weak, and if it meets storage (Mu), it still is rooted.


时产谓投库而必冲者，俗书之谬也，但阳长生有力，而阴长生不甚有力，然亦不弱。

The trendy saying that things stored in storage must be clash is an absurd saying from rustic books, but Yang ChangSheng is powerful, Yin ChangSheng is not powerful, but is not weak.


若是逢库，则阳为有根，而阴为无用。盖阳大阴小，阳得兼阴，阴不能兼阳，自然之理也。


If meeting storage, Yang is considered to be rooted, and Yin storage is useless. That is because Yang is great and Yin is little, Yin cannot be on par with Yang, that is the law of nature.

So now we know what the 12 stages are, but how do the elements pass through the stages? 

The element pass through the stages as they pass through the months, let's take Jia wood (Yang wood) as an example, Jia wood is born at Hai, dies at Wu. 

Hai - Born (ChangSheng)
Zi  - MuYu
Chou - GuanDai
Yin - LinGuan
Mao - DiWang
Chen - Shuai
Si - Bing
Wu - Dead (Si)
Wei - Mu
Shen - Jue
You - Tai
Xu - Yang
Hai - Born again.. 

When Yang is born, Yin is dead, when Yin is born Yang is dead. Yang follows the cycle of months and Yin goes against the cycle of months.

So for Yi wood (Yin wood), the months would be in reversed order.

Wu - Yi is born (ChangSheng) at Wu because Jia is dead at Wu
Si - MuYu
Chen - GuanDai
Mao - LinGuan
Yin - DiWang
Chou - Shuai
Zi - Bing
Hai - Dead (Si), <---When Yi is dead, Jia is born
Xu - Mu
You - Jue
Shen - Tai
Wei - Yang
Wu - born again... (ChangSheng) 

From the exercise above, we can do the same for other Stems, all we need to remember is:

Jia is born in Hai
Bing is born in Yin
Wu is born in Yin
Geng is born in Si
Ren is born in Shen

Or just refer to this table

天干地支 HS / EB - Part 18 San Ming Tong Hui - Gui Water

SMTH 癸 Gui Water

癸水继壬之后，乃天干一周阴阳之气，成于终而反于始之渐，故其为水清浊以分，散诸四方，有润下助土之功，滋生万物之德。
Gui water follows behind Ren water, is the Qi of one cycle of Yin and Yang, which is completed at the end but inversely begins again, water can be divided into clear and turbid, dispersed to the four, directions,it has the ability to moisten and help earth, the virtue of nourishing ten thousand beings. 

在天为雨露，在地为泉脉，谓之阴水。
In heaven as rain and dew, on earth as springs and underground water, is named Yin water.

其禄在子，子乃阴极阳生之地，辛生庚死之垣；
It is at the stage of 'Lu' at Zi, Zi is the time when Yin reaches the extreme and Yang is born, Xin is born and Geng dies. 


癸为活水，活水者，柔水也，喜阴金而生，畏阳金而滞，欲阴木行其根则能疏通阴土，阴土既通于地脉则能流畅。
Gui as living water, living water is gentle water, likes to be engendered by Yin Metal, fear of Yang metal as it can be sluggish, desires Yin wood as its root can tilt Yin earth, and tilted Yin earth will allow underground water to flow smoothly.

二月建卯，为花果树木，木旺土屋，癸水方得通达。
On the second month is strong Mao, which is flowers, fruits, trees and wood, prosperous wood causes earth to leak (as it is tilted it cannot contain water), Gui water can connect through.

至于申地，三阴用事，否卦司权，天地不交，万物不通，申中坤土、庚金遂成围堰，使癸水不能流畅，困于池沼，无所施设，岂再生物？

As for Shen Land, it's the matter of 3 Yins, Fou Gua (the 12th of the 64Gua) takes command, Heaven and earth does not associate with each other, ten thousand beings does not connect (go through), Kun earth within Shen, Geng metal becomes cofferdam, Gui water flow smoothly, and it is contained to be ponds and marshes, nowhere for it to set, how can it engender beings?

故癸水生于卯而死于申。经云：水不西流。正谓此也。
Thus Gui water is born in Mao and dies at Shen. The classic says: Water does not flow towards the west. That is the meaning of this.

天干地支 HS / EB - Part 17 San Ming Tong Hui - Ren Water

SMTH 壬 Ren Water

壬水喜阳土而为堤岸之助，畏阴木而为盗气之忧。
Ren water likes Yang Earth to be its bank, and it's afraid of Yi wood robbing it's Qi.



在天为云，在地为泽，谓之阳水。
In heaven as clouds, on earth as marsh, named as Yang Water.

其禄在亥，亥为池沼存留之水，谓之死水。
It is at the stage of 'Lu' at Hai, Hai as the water that is contained by pond and marsh, is named dead water.

死水者，刚水也，赖庚金而生，庚禄到申，能生壬水，乃五行转养之气。
Dead water is tough water, relies of Geng metal to engender, Geng is at 'Lu' stage at Shen, so it can engender Ren water, it's the cyclic 'Rear' Qi of the five elements.

至于卯地，卯乃花叶树木，木旺于卯则能克土，土虚则崩，故堤岸崩颓，而壬水走泄，散漫四野，流而不返，又被阴木盗气，岂得存活？
As for Mao land, Mao is flowers, leaves. trees and woods, prosperous wood at Mao can counter earth, weak earth collapses, when the bank is collapsed, water is drained, dispersed everywhere, flow out and will not return, and also its Qi is robbed by Wood, how can it survive?

故壬水生于申而死于卯也。经云：死水横流。正谓此也。
That is why Ren water is born in Shen and dies at Mao. The classics say: dead water flows horizontally. That is the meaning of this.

天干地支 HS / EB - Part 16 San Ming Tong Hui - Xin Metal

SMTH 辛 Xin Metal

辛金继庚之后，为五金之首，八石之元。
Xin metal follows behind Geng Metal, as the head of the five metals, the prime of the 8 rocks.

在天为日月，乃太阴之精，在地为金，金乃山石之矿，谓之阴金。
In heaven as the sun and mood, is the essence of the great Yin (the moon), on earth s metal, metal as the mineral from mountains and rocks, it is named Yin metal.


其禄到酉，酉中己土能生辛金，乃阴生阴也，谓之柔金，为太阴之精。
It is at the stage of 'Lu' at You, Ji earth in You can engenders Xin Metal, which is Yin giving birth to Yin, thus is named gentle metal, which is the essence of great Yin.


长生于子，子乃坎水之垣，坎中一阳属金，另有二阴属土，土能生金，子隐母胎，未显其体，得子水荡漾，淘去浮砂，方能出色，此乃水济金辉，色光明莹。
Xin metal is born in Z, Zi is the wall of Kan water, in Kan, one Yang belongs to metal, the other 2 Yin belongs to earth, earth can engender metal, child is hidden in mother's womb, has not shown its body, when it gets flushed by water which is the child of metal, sands / silt will be washed away, that is how it become prominent, when aided by water metal is glorious, its color and light is bright and clear.


至于巳地，巳为炉冶之火，将辛金炼成死器，亦被巳中戊土埋没，其形不能变化，岂能复生？
and as to Si land, Si is the fire of furnace and smelt, which molds Xin metal to become useful, but it  is also being buried by Wu earth n Si, its shaped cannot be changed, how can it be rebirth?

故辛金生于子而死于巳也。经云；土重金埋。正谓此也。
Thus, Xin metal is born at Zi and dies at Si. The classic says: Heavy earth buries metal. This is what it means. 

天干地支 HS / EB - Part 15 San Ming Tong Hui - Geng Metal

SMTH 庚 Geng Metal

庚金掌天地肃杀之权，主人间兵革之变。
Geng Metal is in charge of the Withering Qi that comes in Autumn,and warfare matter among mankind.


在天为风霜，在地为金铁，谓之阳金。
In heaven as frosty wind, on earth as Metal and Iron. It is named Yang Metal.


其禄到申，申乃刚金，喜戊土而生，畏癸水而溺；
It is at the 'Lu' stage in Shen, Shen is tough metal, likes to be engendered by Wu Earth, is afraid of  drowning in Gui water.




长生于巳，巳中戊土能生庚金，乃阳生阳也；
Is born at Si, Wu earth within Si can engender Geng metal, which is Yang engendering Yang


巳为炉冶之火，锻炼庚金，遂成钟鼎之器，叩之有声，若遇水土沉埋则无声也，所谓金实无声。
Si is the fire of furnace and smelt, molding Geng metal, making it to be objects like bells and censers (great objects), when it is knocked, it sounds, if it meets water and earth to be submerged or buried there would be no sound, it is said that metal truly has no sound.

至于子地，水旺之乡，金寒水冷，子旺母衰，亦遭沉溺之患，岂能复生？
Until Zi land, the place where water is prosperous, Metal is chilly and water is cold, child is prosperous and mother is weak, then it suffers the hardship of being drowned and not able to re-birth. 


故庚金生于巳而死于子。经云：金沉水底。正此谓也。
Thus, Geng metal is born in Si and dies at Zi. The classic says, Metal sinks at the bottom of water. That is the meaning of this. 

天干地支 HS / EB - Part 14 San Ming Tong Hui - Ji Earth

SMTH 己 Ji Earth

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己土继戊之后，乃天之元气，地之真土。
Ji Earth follows behind Wu earth, is the primordial Qi of heaven, and the true earth on earth. 


清气上升，冲和天地，浊气下降，聚生万物，谓之阴土。
Pure Qi ascends, harmonize heaven and earth, turbid Qi descends, collectively engenders ten thousand beings, it is names Yin earth.

天地人三才皆不可缺此土，如乾坤中一媒妁，阴阳失此，岂能配偶？
Heaven, earth and human, the three courses (refers to HS, EB and HHS) should not lack of this Earth,it is like the matchmaker of heaven and earth, if Yin and Yang does not have this, how can they match?

故于四行无不在，于四时则寄旺焉，乃真土也。
Thus in four elements, there's nowhere that is cannot be without,and in four seasons, it's still lodging prosperously, and this is true earth.

喜丁火而生，畏阳火而燥。
Likes Ding fire to engenders, fears Bing Fire as it gets parched.

其禄到午，午中丁火能生己土，被乙木盗其栽培之气。
It is at the stage of 'Lu' in Wu, Ding Fire in Wu can engender Ji Earth, Yi wood robs the nurturing Qi.

至于酉地，丁火而生，丁火既生，己土亦能生也；
And as for You land, Ding Fire is born, thus Ji earth also can be born.


至寅用事，木火司权，锻炼己土，遂成磁石，反失中和之气，岂有不损之理？
And what's happening at Yin, Wood and Fire take charge, molding Ji earth, eventually become porcelain rocks, lost it harmonious Qi, how can it not be broken?


故己土生于酉而死于寅。经云：火燥土裂。正此谓也。
Thus Ji Earth is born in You and dies at Yin. The classics says: Strong fire breaks the earth. That is the meaning of this.