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.