Strength of the Daymaster

(Update: This post was written when I was still researching the 'standard modern BaZi' which analysis depends heavily on the strength of DayMaster. I no longer use this as the key point for analysis as I have changed my practice to base on the classical works. This post could be used as reference but please be informed that the strength of DayMaster isn't really that important as it is commonly thought to be.)

Determining the DM strength is almost subjective, a DM that appears strong to one person may seem to be weak for another. People may see the strength differently but there's only one true analysis.

Knowing the DM strength is possibly the first step in analyzing a chart, it is very important, but might not be as important as identifying the Useful God and the overall structure. After so many months researching Bazi, I still cannot decidedly determine if the DM is strong or weak.

My own way of analyzing the DM strength is based on the below factors:

1. 势 Intensity, is most possibly the strongest influence, IMO, a that is DM born in season should be termed 'timely' as 得时 DeShi in Chinese can be literally translated as 'getting the time', these DMs are strong, like wood born in spring, fire in summer, metal in autumn, water in winter and earth at the last month of each season. Being born timely also guarantees the support of the month's root.

2. 气, Qi refers to the 12 Qi stages of the Yang element as it represent the stages for the element in general, thus Yin DM should also refer to the Yang element. as Master Xu LeWu says "Having one Storage is better than having one BiJian (parallel), having a residual Qi is better than having 2 BiJians, meeting ChangSheng Lu or Wang is better than having 3 BiJians". IMO storage, residual Qi or ChangSheng Lu and Wang are not restricted to the Month's EB only. ChangSheng refers to the EB where the HS is born, Lu refers to GuanDai stage and Wang refers to the DiWang stage. This only apply to Yang DM, Yin DM ChangSheng is not as strong but Lu and Wang are just as strong. Yin storage however, is useless.

3. 生 Engendering and  泄 Exhausting, 生 Engendering refers to the element that the DM, and  泄 Exhausting refers to the element that DM engenders. Having many elements that engenders DM does not necessarily mean the DM is strong. When the engendering element is overly strong and the engendered element is weak, it's a condition called 母旺子衰, 母慈灭子 'Compassionate mother destroys the child. E.g many water would cause wood to float. Many earth bury metal, many metal cause water to be turbid etc.

通根, connected through roots, or 'rooted' refers to the HHS of the same element as the DM or the 10 Gods.The polarity of the elements in HHS does not matter, a Yang DM can root through a Yin HHS and vice versa. 通根 is directly the result of Intensity and Qi.

Examples:

Lady Gaga

Chart of a superstar, Xin metal born mid-spring, 

1. In spring season, metal intensity is trapped 囚.

2. Metal does not have Qi as metal is in womb in Mao. 

3. DM sits on Earth, the engendering element, however Wei is half combined with Mao to form a wood structure, support from earth is greatly reduced because strong wood is countering earth.

4. There is a Xin metal at month which is already combined with Bing on Year pillar. This Xin does not support DM

5. Metal has ChangSheng Qi in Si, however, Gui intends to combine with Wu in Si to form fire, metal in Si is unlikely to support DM because it is countered by strong fire.

Based on the 5 points above we could conclude that the DM is extremely weak.

(Update: Those were the days when I thought a DM like this is weak, but now I really think this DM is strong because metal has a ChangSheng Qi in Hour)

Oprah Winfrey

Chart of a philanthropist television celebrity, 

Yi wood born in late Winter.

1. Yi wood does not have intensity as wood is trapped in earth month.

2. Yi wood is under GuanDai stage in Chou, meaning wood Qi is still weak but sharply on the rise.

3. Wood is ChangSheng in Yin. 

4. Yi has support from HS Gui which engenders DM

5. DM has support from Yi wood on month pillar
6. Si You Chou forms a metal frame.

We can conclude that DM is fairly weak, not extremely weak as it has support on HS and EB.

(Update: Again, I think this DM is strong as wood has LinGuan Qi in hour pillar)

Bill Gates

Chart of a business magnet and philanthropist,

Ren water born in late autumn, 

1. As it is an earth month, water is dead.

2. Water has no Qi in Xu as it is still under GuanDai stage.

3. Ren finds 'Lu' in Hai, which is under LinGuan stage.

4. Xin on hour pillar supports Ren water

It seems like the DM is also fairly weak.

(Update: This is another strong DM as Ren is Lu in Hai)

David Cameron

Chart of a young prime minister,

Xin metal born late autumn,

1. Xin metal born in earth month is 相, ministerial, strong but not prosperous.

2. Metal is under 'Shuai' declining stage in late Autumn, it's Qi residual

3. Xin metal sits on Chou, its own storage, Chou earth is also the element that engenders earth. 

4. DM has a parallel element on hour pillar which supports DM.

Having support from the season, the storage, a HS, and many resources, we can only conclude that DM is strong for this chart.

(Update: DM sits on storage is strong, with the Month Command changed from Seal to Officer, DM has lost the support from the Month, however the protruding Seal makes the chart affectionate) 

*Birth data taken from Astro Databank.