Time measurement: SMTH 论时刻 Discuss Hour Quarter (Ke)

This entry is my study about how old system of Time measurement. There are a lot of things that I don't understand.

论时刻

Discuss Hour Ke

The red line is the Equator, the yellow line is the sun's ecliptic movement across the year.

Ke (quarter) is a unit for time measurement. 1 Hour (Sichen) is made of 10 Ke - (8 Big Ke and 2 Small Ke).

夫昼夜十二时，均分百刻，一时有八大刻、二小刻，大刻总九十六，小刻总二十四，小刻六，凖大刻一，故共为百刻也。

That day and night with 12 hours are divided equally into 100 ke (quarter), one hour is made of 8 Big ke and 2 Small ke, there's 96 Big ke and 24 Small ke in a day, 6 Small ke is equal to 1 Big ke, thus a day has a total of 100 ke.

上半时之大刻四，始曰初初，次初一，次初二，次初三，最后小刻为初四。

The earlier half hour (SiChen) has four Big ke, they are named Early Early, continued by Early One, Early Two, Early Three and the last is Small Ke named Early 4.

下半时之大刻亦四，始曰正初，次正一，次正二，次正三，最后小刻为正四。

The later half hour (SiChen) also has four Big ke, they are called True Early, True One, True Two, True Three and the final small ke is True four.

Trey: The hour is divided into Early (which represent the upper part of the hour) and True (the lower part)

若子时，则上半时在夜半前，属昨日，下半时在夜半后，属今日。

If it is Zi hour, the earlier hour before midnight is regarded as the previous day, the half hour after midnight is today.

亦犹冬至，得十一月中气，一阳来复，为天道之初耳。

And as for Winter Solstice, getting the middle Qi of the eleventh month, One Yang comes to resume, that is the beginning of Heavenly way.

古历每时以二小刻为始，乃各继以四大刻，然不若今历之便於筹策也。

The ancient calendar begins with 2 small ke and followed by 4 big ke, that is not as convenient as today's calculation.

世谓子午卯酉各九刻，余皆八刻，非是。

People say Zi Wu Mao and You have 9 ke, while the rest have 8 ke, that is not true.


Trey: the texts below talk about the sun ecliptic movement as its position in the sky relative to the stars moves throughout the year according to the seasons (solar terms). Also it tells the time for sunrise and sunset and the lengths of day and night that differ accordingly.  

冬至日，日在箕五度，今在箕六三度，日出辰初一刻，日入申正四刻，后八日，躔星纪之次。
The day of Winter Solstice, the sun is at Ji (constellation name, literally winnow casket) 5 degree, now at Ji 63 degree, the sun rises at Chen hour on the Early 1 ke, the sun sets at Shen hour at True 4 Ke, after eight days, it follow the course of XinJi (a place at equator that correspond to Chou EB)

小寒日，日在斗十二度，今在斗八度，日入酉初二刻，后六日，日出卯正四刻，昼四十二刻，夜五十八刻。
The day of Lesser Cold, the sun is at Dou (constellation name, literally: is a unit of measurement for weight) 12 degree, now at Dou 8 degree, after six days, the sun rises at Mao at True 4 Ke, the length of day is 42 Ke, the length of night is 58 Ke.

大寒日，日在牛四度，今在牛初度。日入酉初一刻，后十二日，日出卯正二刻，后四日，躔玄枵之次，入子，女二度，昼四十三刻，夜一十七刻，十三后日，昼四十四刻，夜五十六刻。
The day of Greater Cold, the sun is a Niu (literally - 'cow') 4 degree, now at Niu early degree. Sun sets at You Early 1 Ke, after 12 days, the sun rises at Mao True 2 Ke, after 4 days, it follows the course of XuanXiao (correspond to EB Zi), enter Zi, Nv (Girl) 2 degree, the length of day is 43 Ke, the length of night is 57 Ke, thirteen days later, the length of day is 44 Ke, night 56 Ke.

立春日，日在危三度，今在女六度，后十二日，日入酉初三刻，后十三日，日出卯正二刻，昼四十五刻，夜五十五刻。
The day of Beginning of Spring,  sun is at Wei (literally 'danger') 3 degree, now at Nv 6 degree, for 20 days afterwards, sun sets at You Early 3 Ke, the rises at Mao True 2 Ke,  day time is 45 Ke, night time is 55 Ke.

雨水日，日在危六度，今在尾初度，后十二日，日入酉初三刻，十三日，日出卯正一刻，昼四十七刻，夜五十三刻，后四日，躔娵訾之次，入亥，危十三度，昼四十八刻，夜五十二刻。
The day of Rain Water, sun is at Wei (danger) 6 degree, now at Wei (Tail, different from the previous Wei) early degree, for 12 days afterwards, sun sets at You early 3 Ke, thirteen days later, sun rises at Mao True 1 Ke, day time is 47 Ke, night time is 53 Ke, after 4 days, it follow the course of  JuZi, enter Hai, Wei 13 degree, day time is 48 Ke, night time 52 Ke.

惊蛰日，日在室八度，今在危十五度，后十二日，日入酉初四刻，十三日，日出寅正初刻，昼四十九刻，夜五十一刻。
The day of Awakening Insects, sun is at Shi (room) 8 degree, now at Wei (danger) 15 degree, for 20 days afterwards, sun sets at You Early 4 Ke, 13 days, sun rises at Yin True Early Ke, day 49 Ke, night 51 Ke.

春分日，日在壁五度，今在室十度，后六日，日躔降娄之次，入戌，奎三度，后十三日，日入酉正一刻，十四日，日出卯初三刻，昼五十一刻，夜四十九刻。
The day of Spring Equinox, Sun is at Bi (wall) 5 degree, now at Shi 10 degree, for 6 days afterwards, the sun follow the course of JiangLou, enter Xu, Kui (constellation name) at 3 degree, for 13 days afterwards, the sun sets at You True 1 Ke, 14 days, sun rises at Mao Early 3 Ke, day 51 Ke, night 49 Ke.

清明日，日在奎十二度，今在壁十度，昼五十三刻，夜四十七刻，其日出入皆在春分后。
The day of Bright and Clear, sun is at Kui 12 degree, now at Bi 10 degree, day is 53 Ke, night is 47 Ke, that the sun rises and sets as after Spring Equinox.

榖雨日，日在娄十度，今在娄初度，本日，日出卯二刻，后八日，日躔大梁之次，入酉，胃四度，昼五十五刻，夜四十五刻。
The day of Grain Rain, Sun is at Lou (constellation name) 10 degree, now at Lou early degree, this day, sun rises at Mao 2 Ke, after 8 days, the sun follows the course of DaLiang, enter You, Wei (stomach) 4 degree, day time 55 Ke, night time 45 Ke.

立夏日，日在胃十三度，今在胃一度，日入酉正三刻，后三日，日在卯初一刻，昼五十六刻，夜四十四刻。
The day of Beginning of Summer, Sun is at Wei (stomach) 13 degree, now at Wei (stomach) 1 degree, sun sets at You True 3 Ke, for 3 days after, sun (rises) at Mao Early 1 Ke, day is 56 Ke, night is 44 Ke.

小满日，日在毕初度，今在昴四度，后十日，日入酉正四刻，日出卯初初刻，后九日，日躔实沈之次，入申，毕七度，昼五十八刻，夜四十二刻。
The day of Little Full, sun is at Bi (finish) early degree, now is at Mao (constellation) 4 degree, for 10 days after, sun sets at You True 4 Ke, sun rises at Mao Early Early Ke, for 9 days after, the sun follows the course of ShiShen, enter shen, Bi (finish) 7 degree, day is 58 Ke, night is 42 Ke.

芒种日，日在毕十四度，今在毕十一度，日出卯初初刻，日入酉正四刻，其昼夜本无节。
The day of Awn Grow, the sun is at Bi (finish) 14 degree, now at Bi (finish) 11 degree, sun rises at Mao Early Early Ke, sun sets at You True 4 Ke, that the length of day and night is not noticeably different (from the previous solar term)

夏至日，日在井一度，今在觜十一度，日出寅正四刻，日入戌初初刻，后八日，日躔鹑首之次，入未，井九度，昼五十九刻，夜四十一刻。
On the day of Summer extreme (Summer solstice), the sun is at Jing (Well) 1 degree, now at Zi (constellation) 11 degree, sun rises at Yin True 4 Ke, sun sets at Xu Early Early Ke, for 8 days after, the sun follows the course of ChunShou, enters Wei, Jing (Well) 9 degree, day is 59 Ke, night is 41 Ke.

小暑日，日在井十六度，今在井十三度，日出卯初初刻，后八日，日入酉正四刻，昼五十八刻，夜四十二刻。
The day of Lesser Heat, sun is at Jing (Well) 16 degree, now at Jing 13 degree, sun rises at Mao Early Early Ke, sun sets at You True 4 Ke, day is 58 degree, night is 42 degree.

大暑日，日在鬼一度，今在井二十八度，后七日，躔鹑火之次，入午，柳四度，日出卯初一刻，入酉初三刻，昼五十七刻，夜四十三刻。
The day of Greater Heat, sun is at Gui (ghost) 1 degree, now at Jing (well) 28 degree, for 7 days after, it follows the course of ChunHuo, enters Wu, Liu (willow) 4 degree, sun rises at Mao Early 1 Ke, sets at You Early 3 Ke, day is 57 Ke, night is 43 Ke.

立秋日，日在星一度，今在柳九度，日出卯初一刻，入酉正四刻，昼五十六刻，夜四十四刻。
The day of Autumn Begins, sun is at Xing (star) 1 degree, now at Liu (willow) 9 degree, sun rises at Mao Early 1 Ke, sets at You True 4 Ke, day 56 ke, night 44 Ke.

处暑日，日在张八度，今在星七度，日出卯初二刻，入酉正二刻，后九日，躔鹑尾之次，入巳，张十六度，昼五十四刻，夜四十六刻。
The day of Dwelling Heat, sun is at Zhang (piece), now at Star 7 degree, Sun rises at Mao Early 2 Ke, sets at You True 2 Ke, for 9 days after, it follows the course of ChunWei, enters Si, Zhang (piece) 16 degree, day 54 Ke, night 46 Ke.

白露日，日在翼五度，今在张十三度，日出卯初三刻，日入酉正一刻，昼五十二刻，夜四十八刻。
The day of White Dew, sun at Yi (wing) 5 degree, now at Zhang 13 degree, sun rises at Mao Early 3 Ke, sets at You True 1 Ke, day 52 Ke, night 48 Ke.

秋分日，日在轸一度，今在翼十度，日出卯初四刻，日入酉正初刻，后十一日，日躔寿星之次，入辰轸十二度，昼五十刻，夜五十刻。
The day of Autumn Equinox, the sun at Zhen (carriage) 1 degree, now at Yi 10 degree, sun rises at Mao early 4 ke, sets at You True Early Ke, for 11 days after, the sun follows the course of ShouXing, enters Chen at Zhen 12 degree, day is 50 ke, night is 50ke.

寒露日，日在轸十六度，今在轸八度，日出卯正一刻，日入酉初三刻，昼四十八刻，夜五十二刻。
The day of Chilly Dew, sun is at Zhen 16 degree, now at Zhen 8 degree, sun rises at Mao True 1 Ke, sets at You Early 3 Ke, day 48 Ke, night 52 Ke.

霜降日，日在角初十度，今在角十度五分，日出卯正二刻，日入酉初二刻，后十二日，日躔大火之次，而入卯，氐三度，昼四十六刻，夜五十四刻。
The day of Frost Descent, sun is at Jiao (horn) early 10 degree, now at Jiao 10 degree, 5 minute, the sun rises at Mao True 2 Ke, sets at You Early 2 Ke, for 12 days after, the sun follows the course of DaHuo, enters Mao, Di (low) 3 degree, day is 46 Ke, night is 54 Ke.

立冬日，日在氐五度，今在氐三度，日出卯正三刻，日入酉初一刻，昼四十四刻，夜五十六刻。
The day of Winter Begins, the sun is at Di (low) 5 degree, now at Di 3 degree, the sun rises at Mao True 3 Ke, sets at You Early 1 Ke, day is 44 Ke, night is 56 Ke.

小雪日，日在房三度，今在房一度，日出卯正四刻，日入酉初初刻，昼四十二刻，夜五十八刻，后十一日，日躔析木之次，入寅，尾四度。
The day of Little Snow, the sun is at Fang (house) 3 degree, now at Fang 1 degree, sun rises at Mao True 3 Ke, sets at You Early Early Ke, day 42 Ke, night 58 Ke, for 11 days after, the sun follows the course of XiMu, enters Yin, Wei (tail) 4 degree.

大雪日，日在尾八度，今在尾四度，日出卯初一刻，日入酉初初刻。
The day of Great Snow, the sun is at Wei (tail) 8 degree, now at Wei (tail) 4 degree, the sun rises atMao Early 1 Ke, sets at You Early Early Ke.

论曰：
Discussion says:

看命之法，以时为低昂，时有八刻，初正之气不同，初者，其朔气也，正者，其中气也，故用时之法，每用其正，若癸为子下四刻，艮为丑下四刻，以其得天干之正气焉。
The method of analyzing chart, take the hour as the high and low, the hour has 8 quarters (ke), the Qi of Early and True are different, Early has the beginning Qi, while True has middle Qi, when using the time, use it properly, as Gui represents the lower 4 quarters of Zi, Gen as the lower 4 quarters of Chou, and that gets the true Qi from the Heavenly stem.

若初则带先时之气，未占后时之气，况夜半不分，其日顿差，子亥中间，厥时难定，除初初正四刻，余六刻之间，或阴晴倏忽，寒暖迥别，人之生时果得其当也耶。
Trey: This verse more or less says that for the Early Ke, the Qi remains the Qi from the previous hour, while the Qi of this hour only comes after the middle of the hour. Furthermore, it is very difficult to determine the right time for the change of hour and day, thus it is difficult to know correct Qi.

余姑就授时历分之，要在智者密察而详问之，庶无误矣。
For the rest, at the time being, use the ShouShi Calendar to determine, it has to be done carefully by a person who is proficient, then it is almost unmistakable.

Time Measurement: SMTH: 论日刻 Discussing Day Quarter (ke)

夫日，一昼一夜十二时，当均分于一日，故上智设铜壶贮水，漏下壶箭，箭分百刻以度之。
That day, is one daytime and one nighttime with 12 hours. They are separated equally to be a day, the wise invented copper kettle that stores water, the water leak into the arrow of the kettle, those arrows are divided into a hundred ke (quarter) to be measured. (This apparently talks about the water clock)


虽日月晦明，终不能逃，是一日之中有百刻之候也。
Even though the sun and moon become dark and then bright and this will never change, that in one day there are terms of a hundred ke.


夫六气通主一岁，则一气主六十日八十七刻半，乃知交气之时有早晏也。
Having 6 Qi gone through denotes one Year, thus one Qi denotes 60 days and 87.5 ke, that the time for changing Qi has early and late.


冬夏日有长短之异，则昼夜互相推移，而日出入时刻不同，然终于百刻矣，其气交之刻则不能移也。
In winter and summer the lengths of days are different. That day and night pushes and moves each other, and the time for sunrise and sunset is different, but that ends at a hundred ke, the ke where Qi changes is not moved.

甲子之岁，

The Year of Jia Zi,

初之气始於漏水下一刻，终於八十七刻半，子正之中也。

The first Qi begins at the ke after water leaks (from the water clock), ends at 87.5 ke, which is the middle of true Zi.

二之气，复始於八十七刻六分，终於七十五刻，戌正四刻也。

The second Qi begins afterwards at 87.5 ke and ends at 75 ke, which is the true Xu and 4 ke.

三之气，复始於七十六刻，终於六十二刻半，酉正之中也。

Third Qi begins afterwards at 76 ke and ends at 62.5 ke, which is the middle of true You

四之气，复始於六十二刻六分，终於五十一刻，未正四刻也。

The fourth Qi begins afterwards at 62.5 ke, ends at 51 ke, which is the true Wei and 4 ke.

五之气，复始於五十一刻，终於三十七刻半，午正之中也。

Fifth Qi begins afterwards at 51 ke and ends at 37.5 ke, which is the middle of true Wu.

六之气，复始於三十七刻六分，终於二十五刻，辰正四刻也。

Sixth Qi begins at 37.5 ke and ends at 25 ke, as the true Chen with 4 ke.

此之谓周天之岁度，余刻交入乙丑岁之初气矣，如此而转至戊辰年，初之气，复始於漏水下一刻，则四岁而一小周也。

This is the measurement of year for the heavenly cycle, the remaining ke is given into Yi Chou Year's first Qi, and this continues to Wu Chen year, where the First Qi begins again at the next ke water water leaks, that 4 years is one small cycle.

故申子辰气会同者，此也。

Thus Shen Zi and Chen meets (form a frame) is (because of) this.

巳酉丑初之气，俱起於二十六刻。

The first Qi of Si-You-Chou, all begins at 26 ke

寅午戌初之气，俱起於五十一刻。

The first Qi of Yin-Wu-Xu, all begins at 51 ke

亥卯未初之气，俱起於七十六刻。

The first Qi of Hai-Mao-Wei, all begins at 76 ke

气皆起於同刻，故谓之三合，义由此也。

The Qi that begins at the same ke, thus is it called the three combination, the basis comes from this (phenomenon)

以十五小周为一大周，则六十年也。

15 small cycles make one great cycle, that is 60 years.

三车一览以申为水之生，子为水之旺，辰为水之库，故申子辰三合。

SanCheYiLan (a book) (states that) with Shen as the birth of water, Zi as the prosperity of water and Chen as the storage of water, so Shen Zi Chen make the triple combination

而不知气起於同刻，乃天道自然之妙耳。

But did not know that it is because the Qi begins at the same ke, that is the natural wonder of heavenly ways. 

BaZi: An Early Classic - 四言独步 SYDB Four Words Invincible Steps

SYDB is a very old poem from an unknown time and author. As it is contained in YHZP, it is safe to be assumed that SYDB is older than the time of Xu DaSheng of Tang dynasty. The texts are considered to be authoritative by literature. It is cryptic and requires quite a bit of classical knowledge to be understood. Here's my attempt at translating and interpreting:



先天何处，后天何处，要知来处，便知去处。
Where was it before heave? where was it after heaven, (one) has to know where it comes from, then (one) can know where it goes.


四柱排定，三才次分；日干为主，配合元辰。
Four pillars are arranged and determined, Three talents are distinguished; Day Stem as the Master, matches with the Origin time.

Three talents refers to Heaven, Earth and Human - the classical representation of the three talents are

Heaven - Heavenly Stems

Earth - Earthly Branches

Human - Nayin (The Qi that connects Heaven and Earth)

Modern interpretation of Human is the hidden stems under the Earth. 

Origin 元  refers to Heavenly Origin, the daymaster and Earthly Origin, the Month EB, while 'time' refers to the Year, Month, Day and Hour of the person's birth. 

神煞相绊，轻重较量；先观月令，论格推详。

ShenSha (Gods and Devils) keep company, lightness and heaviness are measured; firstly, look at the month's command, discuss structure for analysis.

Gods refer to the benevolent Gods - Wealth, Officer, Seal and Food. Devils refer to the malevolent ones - Hurting Officer, Devil, Owl and Blade.

The text stresses the importance of month command and chart structure.


以日为主，专论财官；分其贵贱，妙法多端。
With Day as the Master, focus discussion on Wealth and Officer, tell the difference between the noble and the lowly, wonderful methods are many.

Classical Bazi has always focused more on Wealth and Officer, Officer especially is regarded as the leader of the 10 Gods. These 2 are highly favorable as they denotes wealth and nobility.

独则易取，乱则难明；去留舒配，论格要精。

Single and it is easy to take, messy and it is difficult to understand, to be away or to be kept, (when one) analyzes the structures (he/she) needs to be proficient. 

Single denotes a single deity in the month command, thus only one Useful God. In this case chart reading becomes relatively easy.

Messy is when there are more than one Gods that reside in the month command and the chart has many deities competing for the command. In this case, it is difficult to analyze the chart.

To be away refers to - to be countered away like Yi is countered away by Xin, or to be combined away, like Yi is combined away by Geng.

To be continued.. 

BaZi: SMTH - 论倒食 Discuss Indirect Seal (Pouring Food) Part 2/2

又曰：凡命有食遇枭，犹尊长之制我，不得自由，作事进退悔懒，有始无终，财源屡成屡败，容貌欹斜，身品琐小，胆怯心虚，凡事无成，克害六亲，幼时克母，长大伤妻子。
When the chart has Food that meets the Owl (Indirect Seal), denotes my seniors controlling me, no freedom, do things without a sense of propriety, begins but never finishes, source of income or wealth comes and go, slanted facial features (meaning not good looking), the physique frail and tiny, cowardly and diffident, most of the things (he does) unsuccessful, counter and harm 6 relationships, when young counters mother, after grown hurt the wife.


赋云：倒食者，名为偏印，号曰枭神，值身旺而财丰福厚，遇刑煞则寿夭身贫，财星若见，披星带月不停留，煞星若生，驰担息肩无定日，身弱重逢偏印，须愁颜子之伤，正食若遇枭神，未免韩信之祸，始遇者精神慵懒，重犯者容貌欹斜。

The Odes says: Pouring Food, is named as Indirect Seal, called Owl God, when Self is prosperous denotes abundance of wealth and blessings, meeting punishment and devil denotes short life or lowly status, seeing wealth denotes working ceaselessly night and day without stopping, if it is engendered by Devil, denote laborious life with infrequent rest, beware of injuries of YanZi, if the true Food meets Owl God, HanXin's misfortune is unavoidable, when this case is not serious, it denotes a lazy and careless spirit, if this is serious, denotes distorted facial features.

Trey: YanZi or YanHui was the favorite student of Confucius who died at a young age of 32. HanXin was a general under LiuBang who won the war for his king but was (falsely) charged with treason and executed by LiuBang's wife Empress Lu.

《万祺赋》云：枭神见官煞，多成多败，偏印遇财曜，反辱为荣，身旺为贵，身弱乃常，有伤官而平生丰润，值食神则处世伶仃。

The Odes of WanQi says: Owl God seeing Officer and Devil, many successes and failures, Indirect Seal meeting Wealth star, turns dishonor into glory, a weak self is ordinary, with Hurting Officer one will enjoy abundance in his life, if it is Food God then one would be alone and helpless in his society.

古诗云：印星偏者是枭神，柱内最喜见财星，身旺遇此方为福，身衰枭旺更无情。
Old poem says: For the Indirect Seal Star is the Owl God, within the pillars Wealth stars are favorable, with strong Self seeing this as blessings, with weak Self and prosperous Owl is not affectionate.

如丙戌、丙申、甲戌、壬申，甲见丙食，又见壬倒食，甲生申月受煞制无气，二丙窃气，壬水制丙，煞得施行，故无名利。
Like

Ren         Jia         Bing         Bing
Shen       Xu         Shen         Xu

Jia sees Bing a Food and also Ren as Pouring Food, Jia being born in the month of Shen is restrained by Devil and thus have no Qi, the 2 Bings steal Qi, Ren water counters Bing, Devil gets to act as it wishes, thus (the subject has) no reputation nor benefits.

又如壬申、壬子、甲戌、丙寅，会印归禄，水精火神之妙，木火通明之象。
Also

Bing         Jia           Ren            Ren
Yin          Xu            Zi              Shen

Meets Seal (Seal form a frame) and returned 'Lu' (Lu in hour pillar), it's wonderful that water is spirited and fire is godly, the image of wood and fire brightly lit.

Trey: Little subtleties can change a chart drastically

又，己未、壬申、甲子、丙寅，以煞化印，归禄得秀，木火通明，水木清奇。
Also,

Bing          Jia          Ren           Ji
Yin            Zi          Shen         Wei

With Devil transformed by Seal, with Returned 'Lu' (Fortune God in hour pillar) (this DM) gets elegant, wood and fire brightly lit, water and wood clear and wonderful.


二命俱大贵。
These 2 lives are greatly noble.

前忌倒食，逢制合反贵，切不可一见倒食，便以凶论。
The first one fears Pouring Food, but meeting restraint or combination it will turn to be noble, one must not analyze the chart as inauspicious upon seeing Pouring Food. 

BaZi: SMTH - 论倒食 Discuss Indirect Seal

Trey: 倒食 DaoShi - literally 'reversed eating', reversed food or throwing away food, is a name given to the element that engenders DM of the same polarity. The term is the opposite of 顺食 ShunShi, which is 'eating' in the direction of engendering, e.g Jia eats Bing eats Wu etc.  like DM Jia seeing Ren or DM Bing seeing Jia. The name of this god carries a negative implication, as it counters 食神 Food God (Indirect Seal is the 7K of Food God), which represent Food. If DM Jia has an edible (usable) Bing Food, seeing a Ren 'Pouring Food' is like having the food disposed, DM no longer has food to eat.


倒食即偏印之谓，一名吞啖煞，食神最忌见之。
Pouring Food is a name for Indirect Seal, another name is Swallowing Eating Devil, it is fearful to be seen by Food God.


如甲生丙火为食，火能生土，为甲之财，财旺生金，为甲之官，食神生旺，财官备矣。
Like Jia engenders Bing Fire as Food, fire can engender Earth, as the Wealth of Jia, when Wealth is prosperous it engenders Metal, which is the Officer for Jia, so if Food God is born prosperous, Wealth and Officer are both available.

Trey: Although Wealth and Officer might be absent from the natal chart, the prosperous Food will engender obscured Wealth and Officer, these obscured entities are usable although they are absent from the chart.


今甲见壬为倒食者，壬旺则克了丙火，丙被克去，不能生土，甲无财矣；壬合起丁，伤甲之辛，甲无官矣；壬克去丙，庚煞得安，来伤甲木，甲生灾矣。所谓用食忌见者，此也。
Like Jia seeing Ren as Pouring Food, prosperous Ren will counter Bing Fire, when Bing is countered, it cannot engender Wealth, Jia has no Wealth; Ding combines with Ding, which hurts Xin of Jia (Xin is Jia's officer), and Jia has no Officer; when Bing is countered away by Ren, Geng Devil will get peace (because Bing is the 7K for Geng), and it can harm Jia wood, and this creates misfortune for Jia. Thus, it is said that for a chart that has Food as the Useful God, it is most dreadful to see Pouring Food.


凡命带倒食，福薄寿夭，若有制合，如
When a chart carries Pouring Food, it denotes thin blessings and short life, if there is restraint or combination like


甲日见壬辰、壬戌，辰戌中带有土制丁合；
Jia DM seeing Ren Chen, Ren Xu, within Chen and Xu contain Earth to restrain and Ding to combine.


乙日见癸未、癸丑，丑未中有己制癸；
Yi day seeing Gui Wei, Gui Chou, within Chou and Wei there's Ji to restrian Gui


丙日见甲申，
Bing day seeing Jia Shen


丁日见乙巳、乙酉，
Ding day seeing Yi Si, Yi You


戊日见丙子、丙申、丙辰，
Wu day seeing Bing Zi, Bing Shen, Bing Chen


己日见丁亥，
Ji day seeing Ding Hai


庚日见戊寅、戊辰，
Geng day seeing Wu Yin, Wu Chen


辛日见己卯、己亥，

Xin day seeing Ji Mao, Ji Hai


壬日见庚午、庚戌，
Ren day seeing Geng Wu, Geng Xu


癸日见辛巳、辛未。
Gui day seeing Xin Si, Xin Wei


此等偏印不能为食害，有克制故也。
For these, the Indirect Seal cannot be harmful to Food, as it is countered and restrained.


柱中身旺，财官俱生，可取为福助身，阳日逢之能暗合伤官生财，阴日逢之能暗合财星，柱中无食，只以偏印论。
Self is prosperous within the pillars, with Wealth and Officer both engendered, they can be taken as blessings to support Self, Yang DM seeing this can obscurely combine with Hurting Officer to engender Wealth, Yin DM seeing this can obscurely combine Wealth star, if there's no Food within the pillars, it shall be analyzed as Indirect Seal only.


Trey: Obscure combination means one of the entity that is involved in the combination is absent.


Like for example if Jia DM is prosperous and it has prosperous Ren Indirect Seal, with the absence of Bing , Ren can obscurely combine with a missing element Ding to bring the influence Ding Hurting Officer into the chart, this 'hidden' Hurting Officer is as prosperous as Ren that brings its influence out and it acts like a true hurting Officer, where it can engenders Wealth and harm the Officer star.


If a prosperous Yi DM sees a prosperous Gui, Gui can obscurely combine with Wu earth which is Wealth for Yi DM and brings the influence of Wealth into the chart.


For this reason, if a chart has no Wealth, which represent wife for a man, we can analyze how 'clear' or prosperous is the Seal star and how it can 'obscurely combine' with the Wealth star. In other words, we analyze the Seal star as wife for a Yin DM man. Other missing entities can be analyzed this way.

BaZi: SMTH - Special structure 稼穑 - Earth dominant structure

稼穑

Sowing (grain) and harvesting.

赋云：戊己欣逢四季，乃为稼穑之名。
The odes say: Wu and Ji gladly seeing the final months of the four seasons, it takes the name of Sowing and Harvesting.

是戊己生逢季月，喜见木为官，止得一木为妙，木多则土虚，主虚诈，为破家不仁之人。
That is Wu and Ji seeing the final month of the season, likes to meet wood as Officer, but there can be only one wood, abundant wood earth would be insubstantial, denotes tricky and hypocritical, a person that destroys family and is not benevolent.

辰未土聚之地，见巳午火即贵，亦不宜多，多则土燥，不能滋生万物。
The place where earth gathers Chen and Wei, seeing Si and Wu fire is noble, but many is no beneficial, as abundant fire parch the earth, it cannot nourish creations.

丑戌之土，内怀金气，不宜重见，恐存煞气，不生万物，又不宜见金泄气，不贵。
The earth of Chou and Xu, it carries metal Qi within, it should not be seen repeatedly, it is feared that they contain devil Qi, cannot engender creations, also it is not beneficial to see metal to exhaust Qi, not noble.

秋土不成器为死土，因土内含金，冬土不成器为泥土，因土内含水，故土只四季也。
Earth of Autumn that is inutile is dead earth, as it contains metal inside, Earth of Winter that is inutile is mud earth, as it contains water inside, thus only the final month of the seasons earth (is utile).

诗曰：戊己日生宜四季，多防丑戌坏金气，生来见木或逢荧，个中消息真荣贵。
Poem says: Wu and Ji is good to be born in the final months of the four seasons, it should guard against Chou and Xu that contains bad metal Qi,  born to seeing wood or meeting glimmer (fire), its news is truly glorious and noble.

又：戊己生逢四月中，戊辰丑未要全逢，喜行财地嫌官煞，运到东方定有凶。
Also: Wu and Ji born to the four months, Chen Xu Chou Wei must all be completely seen, likes to go through Wealth places but not Officer or Devil. when Luck goes to East it is surely inauspicious. 

BaZi: SMTH - Special structure 润下 Water dominant structure

润下
Nourishing Under, the nature of water that nourishes life and always goes under, if we pour water on ground, it will go underneath the earth.

壬癸日见申子辰全，忌引卯巳死绝之地，三刑四冲之乡，死绝则不流，冲刑则横流，岁运同。

Ren or Gui DM seeing complete Shen Zi Chen, fears being lead (Year Pillar) into Gui and Si where it is Dead and Extinct, or places with 3 punishments and 4 clashes, if it were Dead and Extinct, it will not flow, if it were clashed or punished, it will flow out of the correct path, AP and LP are the same.

或曰水太泛须柱有土神一两位制之，得成堤岸，既有土怕会木为凶，如有木伤土要金印救解，终是一生成败。
Or it is also said that when water is too rampant, the pillars need to have an Earth God or two to restrain, to become the water bank,  if there's earth, it fears seeing wood as inauspicious, if there's wood injuring earth, then it needs metal Seal to rescue, success and failure of a lifetime.

运喜西方，不宜东南。
Luck favors West direction, does not favor East or South

诗曰：壬癸日逢申子辰，局名润下最为真，必须巳午并辰戌，申字当权贵绝伦。
The poem says: Ren Gui seeing Shen Zi Chen, its name is Nourishing Under that is true, there must be Si Wu together with Chen Xu, with Shen holding to power it is extremely noble.

又：天干壬癸喜冬生，更值申辰会局成，或是全归亥子丑，等闲平步上青云。
Also: HS Ren and Gui likes to be born in Winter, when Shen and Chen meets the frame is established, or everything returns to Hai-Zi-Chou, waiting leisurely to step on green clouds (can acheive high status easily).

BaZi: ZPZQ - To combine or not to combine?

原文：十干化合之义，前篇既明之矣，然而亦有合而不合者，何也？
The meaning of combination and transformation is already explained in the previous chapter, but still there are cases where combination is actually not combining, why?


原文：盖隔于有所间也，譬如人彼此相好，而有人从中间之，则交必不能成。譬如甲与己合，而甲己中间，以庚间隔之，则甲岂能越克我之庚而合己？此制于势然也，合而不敢合也，有若无也。
That is because they are separated, sort of like (two) people liking each other, but there's someone else in between, so the matching will not have result. For example Jia combines with Ji, but in between there's Geng, how can Jia pass through Geng that counter itself to combine with Ji? This naturally restrains the intensity, combine but does not dare to combine, the combination is there but actually it's not there.


原文：又有隔位太远，如甲在年干，己在时上，心虽相契，地则相远，如人天南地北，不能相合一般。然于有所制而不敢合者，亦稍有差，合而不能合也，半合也，其为祸福得十之二三而已。
Also, it could be that they are separated by a distance, like Jia on Year stem while Ji is on hour stem, even though their hearts are getting along well, but the distance is too far, like people on southern heaven and northern earth, cannot be together like normal, and this relative to the one that is restrain has some difference, combine but cannot combine, half combine, it's auspiciousness or inauspiciousness becomes like 20 to 30% only.


原文：又有合而无伤于合者，何也？如甲生寅卯，月时两透辛官，以年丙合月辛，是为合一留一，官星反轻。
Also, there's combination that does not injure the combined entity, why? like Jia born of Yin and Mao, on Month and Hour protrude 2 Officers, so the Year Bing would combine with the Month Xin, one is combined and another is left. Officer star has become lighter.

Trey: 2 Officer stars is inauspicious.


甲逢月刃，庚辛并透，丙与辛合，是为合官留煞，而煞刃依然成格，皆无伤于合也。
Jia born in the month of Blade (Mao), where Geng and Xin are protruding together, Bing combines with Xin is 'combining Officer leaving Devil', so Devil + Blade complete the structure, that it is not injured by the combination.


原文：又有合而不以合论者，何也？本身之合也。
Also, there are combination that is not regarded as combination, why? as they involve combining with Self (DM)


盖五阳逢财，五阴遇官，俱是作合，惟是本身十干合之，不为合去。
That is 5 Yangs seeing Wealth, 5 Yins meeting Officer, although they matches, it involves Self and thus it is not regarded as 'combined away'


假如乙用庚官，日干之乙，与庚作合，是我之官，是我合之。
For example Ji DM uses Geng Officer, the DM of Yi matches with Geng Officer, that is my Officer, my combination.


何为合去？若庚在年上，乙在月上，则月上之乙，先去合庚，而日干反不能合，是为合去也。
What does it mean by 'combined away'?, If Geng is on Year stem while another Yi is on month Stem, that Geng will combine with Yi on the month Stem, and DM would have nothing to combine, that is called 'combined away'


又如女以官为夫，丁日逢壬，是我之夫，是我合之，正如夫妻相亲，其情愈密。
As woman uses Officer as husband, Ding DM seeing Ren, it's my husband, my combination, it's like husband and wife loving each other, that relationship becomes closer.


惟壬在月上，而年丁合之，日干之丁，反不能合，是以己之夫星，被姊妹合去，夫星透而不透矣。
It fears that Ren is on the month stem while another Ding is on the Year stem, then Ding DM cannot combine, that is like my husband is being combined away by my sister, the Officer that is protruding is like not protruding.


原文：用神之情，不向日主，或日主之情，不向用神，皆非美朕也。
When the affection of the Useful God is not towards the DM, or when the affection of the DM is not towards the Useful God, these are not beautiful unions.


然又有争合妒合之说，何也？

Also there are sayings of 'rivalry combination' or 'jealousy combination', what is it?

如两辛合丙，两丁合壬之类，一夫不娶二妻，一女不配二夫，所以有争合妒合之说。

Like 2 Bings combining with Xin, 2 Dings combining with Ren, one husband cannot take 2 wives, one woman cannot marry 2 husbands, that is why they say 'rivalry combination' and 'jealousy combination'.

然到底终有合意，但情不专耳。

There is intention to combine, but the affection is not exclusive.

若以两合一而隔位，则全无争妒。如庚午、乙酉、甲子、乙亥，两乙合庚，甲日隔之，此高太尉命，仍作合煞留官，无减福也。

If there's 2 combining one but is separated by a distance, it has no rivalry or jealousy.

Like

Yi     Jia     Yi     Geng

Hai   Zi      You   Wu

Two Yis combining with Geng, one is separated by Jia DM, thus is a chart of Grand Commander Gao. This should be analyzed as 'Combining with Devil, leaving Officer' does not discount any blessings.

BaZi: SMTH - Special structure 从革 Metal dominant structure

从革
Follow formation describes the nature of metal that can be forged into the desired form.


庚辛日见巳酉丑局，须带丙丁巳午一二位方成其器，但不可火多。
Geng and Xin Day seeing Si You Chou frame, must have one or two Bing / Ding / Si / Wu, only will it become useful, but Fire must not be many.

如辛巳、辛酉、辛丑三日不喜五月生，被火所伤，宜八月或水土养育食神印绶为吉。

The days of Xin Si, Xin You and Xin Chou do not like to be born in the fifth month, as it will be injured by fire, it favors the eighth month or being nourished by Water and Earth as Food God or Seal to be auspicious.


诗曰：白虎但逢巳酉丑，格乎从革名偏厚，丙丁巳午少逢之，贵气炼成官最久。
The poem says: White Tiger seeing Si-You-Chou, structure like Follow Formation and reputation is inclined to be thick, when it sees few Bing, Ding, Si and Wu, it's noble Qi will be forged to become Officer (a government position) that is most long-lasting.


又：金居从革贵人钦，造化清高福最深，四柱火来相混杂，空门艺术谩经论。
Also: Metal resides in Follow Formation is a noble and respected person, the structure that is pure and high has very deep fortune, if fire comes in the four pillars to contaminate, as empty door (becoming a monk), art (being an artist) or a quack it be discussed.

Update: 14 December 2013

Just today I saw the BaZi chart of Paul Walker, who just passed away recently. His chart is said to be:

Gui        Xin         Xin         Gui
Si         Hai          You        Chou

If this were true, the chart must have been a Follow Formation structure. 

BaZi: SMTH - Special structure 炎上 Fire dominant structure

炎上
Flaming Above, describe the nature of fire that is always above the material that is burning.


丙丁日遇寅午戌局，柱中须有寅字带印为入格，无寅止是九流近贵之命，若火自旺，无亥水相济，不贵。

Bing or Ding day seeing Yin-Wu-Xu frame, there must be Yin EB in the pillars as Seal to be qualified as this structure, if there's no Yin then it's only a common person that is close to noble, if Fire is self prosperous, without Hai water to aid mutually, is not noble.

喜东北方运，忌见辰丑戊己，晦火光明，多主眼疾，或患风气，柱有木制成贵，忌水金乡，怕冲。

Favors North-Eastern Luck, does not favor seeing Chen, Chou, Wu and Ji, as they extinguish the bright light of fire, denotes eye ailments, or rheumatism, if there's wood to counter it becomes noble, dreads places of Water and Metal and fears clash.

诗曰：丙丁日坐寅午戌，火炎上格从此出，无寅无亥不成名，忌逢土晦主残疾。

The poem says: Bing Ding day sits on Yin-Wu-Xu, Fire blazing above structure is derived from this, Without Yin or Hai it gets no reputation, dreads seeing Earth to extinguish it denotes disability and ailment.

BaZi: SMTH - 胞胎逢印绶 In womb seeing Seal and ribbon

经云：胞胎逢印绶，禄享千锺。
如庚寅、辛卯、丙申、乙酉等，日时月令逢印绶之地，主贵。
经云：时日胞胎格，月逢印綬通，逢煞官印运助，职位列三公。

This structure belongs to a few day pillars with Seal as the Month EB, when the DM sits on weak Qi, 胞胎 BaoTai, In womb refers to the stages of  Jue and Tai of 12 Qi phase.

胞 Bao - refers to the time of receiving Qi, the stage of Extinction, Jue. It's like a zygote that is just formed.
胎 Tai - refers to the time in Womb, like an embryo or fetus.

When DM sits on these EBs, it's Qi is extremely weak, and that makes Seal a very favorable element, much more when it's in the month EB. This follows the concept of 有情, having affection. 

According to the text, the pillars of BaoTai are Geng Yin, Xin Mao, Bing Shen, Yi You etc. But usually there are 10 pillars that are usually regarded as BaoTai pillars

They are 

甲申、Jia Shen - Jia sits on Jue Qi stage

乙酉、Yi You - Yi sits on Jue

丙子、Bing Zi - Bing sits on Tai

丁亥、Ding Wei - Ding sits on Tai

戊子、Wu Zi - Wu sits on Jue

己亥、Ji Hai - Ji sits on Tai

庚寅、Geng Yin - Geng sits on Jue

辛卯、Xin Mao - Xin sits on Tai

壬午、Ren Wu - Ren sits on Tai

癸未,   Gui Wei - Gui sits on Mu (why Mu I have no idea)

I believe Bing Shen in SMTH could be a typo because Bing Shen is Bing sitting on Bing (sickness). 

Any chart that falls into this structure favors Officer, 7K and Seal in the LP, it denotes great nobility (sort of like getting a very high position in one's employment) 

BaZi: SMTH - Special structure 曲直 Wood dominant structure

曲直
Bent and straight describe the nature of Wood, some plants climb with their vines (bent) and some trees grow straight with their trunks. Hence the name Bent and straight. (I don't think the 'Bent' is a good translation but you get the idea')

甲乙日得亥卯未局，柱中须有亥字带印为入格，若无亥有卯，止是木之本气，却要见金土为贵，既无亥字，又无金土，则木不秀不实，难以言贵。
Ji or Yi Day having Hai-Mao-Wei frame, there must be Hai in the pillars to carry Seal to be qualified, if there's not Hai but there's Mao, that is only the original Qi of wood, thus it needs Metal and Earth to be noble, if there's neither Hai nor Metal nor Earth, that wood is not elegant or solid, it's difficult to be said to be noble.

如甲寅日有亥，时见丁卯劫财、阳刃、伤官，虽贵不全合格。
Like Jia Yin day has Hai, on the hour sees Ding Mao, Rob Wealth, YangRen, Hurting Officer, even if it's noble it's not totally qualified as this structure

诗曰：甲乙日生亥卯未，局全曲直须荣贵，柱中无亥宜土金，自是生来享福地。
The poem says: Jia or Yi day sees Hai-Mao-Wei, the complete frame makes Bent and Straight glorious and noble, when there's no Hai in the four pillars, Earth and Metal are beneficial, the person is born to enjoy blessings.

又曰：甲乙生人寅卯辰，又名仁寿两堪评，亥卯未全嫌白帝，若逢坎位必身荣。
Also it says: Jia and Yi person with Yin Mao Chen, it is also named Benevolence and Longevity as both can be ascribed, when Hai - Mao - Wei is complete, the white emperor is feared (metal), meeting Kan place one will be glorious.

BaZi: SMTH - 官煞混杂 Devil and Officer mixed

人命官煞俱有谓之混杂，只取财印为用，柱元有财，运行财发，大要身强胜任其财方可，身弱官煞混，多夭贫。

When a chart has both Officer and Devil, it is called 'mixed', only Wealth and Seal can be used, if there's no Wealth in the natal chart, seeing Wealth in Luck would be successful, largely, Self must be strong to take on the Wealth, if Self is weak with Officer and Devil mixed, mostly denotes short life or poverty.


身旺有制亦好，无制，成印局化煞亦可。

If Self is prosperous, it's good to have restraint, if there's no restraint, forming a Seal structure to transform Devil is also ok.

诗曰：官煞交加用命推，个中消息要详之，得时身旺分轻重，贵财分明辨别知。

The poem says: When Officer and Devil are together, chart is difficult to be read, the 'news' from the chart has to be analyzed carefully, prosperous Self that has support from the season should be categorized into either light or heavy, noble and wealth have to be distinguished clearly.


如壬辰、丙午、丙辰、癸巳，身煞俱旺，官从戊化，德秀兼备。

Like 

Gui     Bing      Bing      Ren

Si       Chen     Wu       Chen

Self and Devil are both prosperous, Officer follows Wu and transformed, Virtue and Elegance are equipped.


丁亥、壬子、丁未、癸卯，丁从壬化、亥卯未会局，水木清奇。

Gui       Ding        Ren       Ding

Mao     Wei          Zi          Hai

Ding follows Ren and transformed, Hai-Mao-Wei meeting forms a frame, Water and Wood are wonderfully clear. 

甲午、己巳、辛酉、甲午、辛日巳丙为官，二午丁为煞，喜旺专禄，巳酉会局，胜煞，虽无制伏，初行西方，身益旺，故贵。

Jia          Xin          Ji           Jia

Wu         You        Si           Wu

Xin DM uses Si Bing as Officer, Ding from 2 Wu EBs as Devil, favors being prosperous with focused 'Lu' (Xin sitting on Lu), Si and You form a frame, that triumphed over Devil, even without restraint, earlier LP goes West, Self is at advantage because it's prosperous, thus is noble.

观三命不可以混杂为贱论。

Devil and Officer mixed should not be regarded as 'lowly' when analyzing the '3 Lifes'