Classical BaZi - the structural sect 格局派

The most traditional way of analyzing BaZi does not begin with knowing the strength of the DM. The classical way begins analysis with looking at the month branch and see how it interacts with the DM. In other words, establishing the structure. Refer to any of the poetic texts and one could see that the Month EB is really where the analysis should begin.

I would like to write an article to explain how this can be done, but I'm not articulate enough to do this. So I'd just translate a text from SMTH and add some commentary to explain the procedure.

看命口诀

The art of analyzing Life (BaZi)

大凡看命先看月支，有无财官，方看其它，月令为命也。

Largely, when one analyzes BaZi, one should look at the Month EB first, see if there is Wealth or Officer, then only look at the others, the month EB is Life

This text tells us first to look for Officer and Wealth in the Month EB. Normally, if there is Officer in the chart and the Officer protrudes, we regard the chart as Officer structure. If there's Wealth and it protrudes, we regard it as Wealth structure. If there's neither of them, we would see which god protrudes and establish the structure based on the protruding god. However, Officer structure always takes precedence over other structures, followed by Wealth.

月取支神，年取天干，日取天干，流岁取天干，大运取支神。

Month, take the deity from the EB, Year, take the deity from the HS, Day, take the deity from the HS, the Annual pillar, take the deity from the HS, LP take from the EB.

This text tells us which part of the pillar is more important for the BaZi

月为本，日为主，如月有正官及偏官，而时又入他格，只以月中取，他格无用。

Month as the foundation, Day as the Master, if the Month has Direct Officer or Indirect Officer, but the hour has fallen into another structure, then only the one within the Month is taken, other structures are not used.

This is an important part of classical BaZi.

Month is seen as the 'Time' of the Year. In a year, Qi changes from Spring to Summer to Autumn and Winter.

In certain 'time' of the Year, certain element takes command. This is what we referred to as YueLing, the Month Command. There's an article in this blog that explain this.

Hour is seen as the 'Time' of the Day. In a day, Qi changes from Sunrise to Noon to Sunset and Midnight. 

In certain 'time' of the Day, certain element takes command. We don't refer this as the Hour Command, but we usually call this 'Birth Hour'. It is a very important point of analysis in classical BaZi.

So when Month EB carries a structure, naturally Hour EB carries another structure.However, if the Month Command carries an Officer or 7K structure, the structures that can be derived from the Birth Hour or from any other part of the chart will be disregarded.

如月令全无可用，方看他格。

If the Month Command has nothing to be used, the we would look for another structure.

古歌云：三宫带格混难详，不晓凭谁是贵方，一任三宫皆带格，除非只得用提纲是也。

The Old Song says: 

Three palaces carrying structure is mixed and difficult to analyze, don't know from whom (where) we should based the nobility on, One duty and all three palaces bring structures, nonetheless only the key-point(Month EB) can be used.

Three palaces are the Year, Month and Hour. Each of these could carry Officer and Wealth. And thus the BaZi will have 3 structures. Nonetheless, only the Month EB will be analyzed. The rest has to be disregarded. 

月令用地支，假如官星，须要上下干支透出为妙。

The Month Command uses EB, if it is Officer star, it is wonderful if it protrudes both in the Stem and Branch.

或干透出，支中不透，主聪俊。

If it only protrudes in the Stem but not in the Branch, it denotes intelligence and handsomeness. 

忌年与时冲月支, 日支自冲不妨，大运及岁君来冲月支则祸。

It is feared for Year EB and  Hour EB to clash the Month EB, but Day EB clashing the Month EB does not matter, but if the Annual Pillar and Luck Pillar comes to clash Month EB, then it is disaster.

凡正官一位，乃君子贵人，笃厚纯粹，刚直廉明，年时有印尤妙，多则反主成败。

When there is only one Direct Officer, one is a noble person, sincere and magnanimous, pure-hearted, direct, honest and clean, if there's Seal at Year or Hour pillar it would be very good, if there's many Officers, it denotes success and failure.

四位纯官，仕宦虚名。
Four places with pure Officer, one is a government official with underserved reputation

凡七煞一位，聪明伶俐，二位三位，先清后浊。
If there's only one 7k, one is very bright, clever and intelligent, two or three 7K denotes clean at first and dirt after.

四柱纯煞有制贵，无制贫凡。.
Four pillars with pure 7K (four 7Ks), with restraint it is noble, without restraint is poor or common people.

财一位务要得时，富贵成家，为人性燥紧急。
As for Wealth, if there's only one, it must obtain the 'time' (season or hour), then one can be wealthy and successful, but one is quick tempered and hasty.


二位性气灭半，三位四位耗气身衰。
If there's two Wealths, the quick temperamental is reduced to half, if there's 3 or 4 Wealth stars then it wastes Qi and DM is weak.

若身旺甚则可成立，弱则劳苦生受。
If DM is strong, then (the Wealth structure) can be established, if DM is weak then one will have a difficult life

凡印不论一位二位四位都好，格中不宜见财破印。
As for Seal, it does not matter if there's only one or two or four, they are all considered good, but within the structure there must not be Wealth to break the Seal.

Here's the recap of the above text from SMTH

1. When analyzing BaZi, first look for Wealth or Officer from the month EB.
2. If there is not Wealth or Officer, then establish another structure base on the Month EB
3. Year, Month and Hour all can carry structures but if the Month EB carries Direct Officer or Indirect Officer structure, all other structures are disregarded.

BaZi: Royalties - Prince Charles of Wales

bazi-calculator.com

I thought I'd just finish with the royalties. I'm very lazy to translate lately. I had suddenly thought about 泄漏天机 'leaking the mechanism of Heaven' as we say in Chinese. Telling people stuff that are supposedly 'secrets' of Heaven. I'm hesitating, should I keep on translating? There's really nothing for me in return. Hmmmm....

Back to the topic.

亥月借取伤官格。Hai month borrows Hurting Officers structure.

Gui water born in Hai. A borrowed Hurting Officer structure.

Wu Earth is on the Year HS. This is a case of 伤官见官. Hurting Officer seeing Officer. Supposedly inauspicious. But not really.

There are 3 elements Hurting Officer that is auspicious to see Officer.

The classics says:

故经云：


伤官火土宜伤尽，

Hurting Officer Fire and Earth has to Hurt completely.


金水伤官要见官，

Metal Water Hurting Officer wants to meet Officer.


木火见官官要旺，

Wood Fire seeing Officer, Officer must be prosperous.


土金官去反成官，

Earth Metal Officer is discarded then one would become Officer (holds a government Office)


惟有水木伤官格，

Only Metal Wood Hurting Officer structure,


财官两见始为欢。

That when Wealth and Officer are both seen, that is really favorable.

SMTH says:

水以木为伤，以土为官，木虽克土，若水泛木浮，不得土止，难以存活，况木得土成栽培之力

Water has Wood as Hurt(ing Officer), has Earth as Officer, even though Wood counters Earth, if Water is rampant, Wood floats, and without Earth to stop (the Water), it is difficult (for Wood) to survive, furthermore, Wood needs to have Earth to grow.

The Prince's chart has rampant water and prosperous wood. That makes the Wu earth on the Year Pillar favorable. The only missing element is Fire, now that he's going through the LPs of Fire, it is his time. 

BaZi: SMTH 倒冲禄 - DaoChongLu Inverted clash of Prosperity (Lu)

伤官月建，内有倒冲禄马格，喜忌与飞天同，惟时不论。

When Hurting Officer is the month EB, within, there is Inverted clash of Prosperity (Officer) and Horse, it's favorable and unfavorable are the same as Flying Sky (another special structure), only when it's in the hour it is not analyzed as such.



此格止有二日：

There are only 2 days with this structure:



丙午、丁巳，夏日纯阳，

Bing Wu and Ding Si, The summer days where they are purely Yang,



丙以癸水为官，要柱中午多有力，冲出子中癸水，则丙日得官星；

Bing uses Gui water as Officer, there must be many Wu EB within the pillars so that it is strong, then it clashes out Gui water within Zi, and Bing DM attains its Officer star;



丁以壬水为官，要柱中巳多有力，冲出亥中壬水，则丁日得官星。

Ding uses Ren water as Officer, there must be many Si EB within the pillars so that it is strong, then it clashes out Ren water within Hai, and Ding DM attains its Officer star.



更得丑寅或申辰卯未，但有一字合住禄马为妙，多则不中。

Furthermore, if there is Chou, Yin, or Shen, Chen, Mao and Wei, but only with one of them combined with the Officer horse is regarded as wonderful, many and then it misses.



丙午日怕未，

Ren Wu day fears Wei (EB)



丁巳日怕申辰等字羁绊，

Ding Si day fears Shen or Chen and the likes, as they entangle (with Si)



则巳午贪合，不能冲子亥中之禄，柱有亥壬子癸为煞官显露，则减分数，岁运同。

Then Si and Wu will be inclined to combine, and that would prevent them to clash out the Prosperity within Zi and Hai, if within the pillars are Hai, Ren or Zi and Gui with Devil and Officer prominently exposed, then the marks are reduced, so is the Luck Pillars.

Update, second part:

又曰：丙午、丁巳，不论合禄，只嫌羁绊。

Also it is said: Bing Wu, Ding Si is not analyzed as Combining Lu, only it does not like being entangled.

年月并冲为上。
Year and Month clashing together is better.

只日上有，月内无，则不能冲禄取贵。

If it is only on the day, while absent on the month, then it cannot clash out the Lu and be taken as noble.

日上无，月时有，亦可取用。

If it is not on the day, but it is on the Month and Hour, it can also be used.

但丙午是刃，虽贵终凶。
But Bing Wu is Ren (YangRen), although it is noble, it eventually is inauspicious.


一见合刃，便为凶命。

Once it sees combining Ren, then it is an inauspicious Life.

若月令亥子官杀合格，或透官杀有气旺相，反取合杀为大贵格，不可专以日刃论，不可全拘填实论。
If Month Command is Hai Zi,  Officer or 7K combining structure, or if Officer and 7K protrudes, with prosperous or apparent Qi, then it should be analyzed as Combining 7K structure which is greatly noble, it cannot be analyzed solely as the Day YangRen, and it cannot be analyzed as TianShi (Filling the Solid).


丁巳日或见辛亥时，柱中有巳亥，不妨格。
If Ding Si day sees Xin Hai hour, or if there's already Si and Hai in the pillars, it does not disturb the structure.


以丁生四月巳旺，亥无气，三月亦取。

As Ding is born in the fourth month, Si is prosperous, Hai has no Qi, on the 3rd month it is also used.

喜行水乡，见火则福，只宜巳火，余火不宜。
Favors going through Water LP, seeing Fire is blessing, only Si fire is beneficial, the others are not. 

Classical Poem - The Lute Song by Cao Zhi

The Lute Song

The banquet has been readied in the hall
To entertain my kith and kin and all.
A festive banquet busies the kitchen house,
With cocks killing and boiling sheep and cows.

The Zheng music excites a frenzied wildness;
The Se music soothes the gentle mildness.
How the dancers dance with pretty poise;
How the singers sing with a tender voice.

In high spirits the guests begin to wine;
In good appetite the guests begin to dine.
I give the guests lots of gold when they part;
They wish me a long life for my good heart.

They say that they take me as an eternal friend
And otherwise they'll come to no good end.
I say that I'm just doing what I can
And I'll not ask favor from any man.

With sudden gales, the sun goes past its best;
With time and tide, the sun runs to the west.
The prime of life will by no means return;
The flight of time is my foremost concern.

Today we seek great pleasure in the hall;
Soon we'll be like the leaves that shrink and fall.
Whoever in the world will never die?
Why should I worry? Why should I?

置酒高殿上，
亲交从我游。
中厨办丰膳，
烹羊宰肥牛。

秦筝何慷慨，
齐瑟和且柔。
阳阿奏奇舞，
京洛出名讴。

乐饮过三爵，
缓带倾庶羞。
主称千金寿，
宾奉万年酬。

久要不可忘，
薄终义所尤。
谦谦君子德，
磬折欲何求？

惊风飘白日，
光景驰西流。
盛时不再来，
百年忽我遒。

生存华屋处，
零落归山丘。
先民谁不死，
知命复何忧！

BaZi: A brief introduction to the 10 gods

In the classical books, the 10 Gods are divided into 2 groups.

The first group is benevolent Gods. They are

1. 正官 ZhengGuan - Literally the True Officer, or commonly known as Direct Officer. DO is the leader of the 10 Gods. If a chart is of DO structure, DO must be protected at all costs, DO must not be injured, clashed, harmed, punished etc. DO must not see 7K, under normal circumstanes.

In ancient times, DO denotes one's position in society, authority, nobility and salary.

2. 正财 and 偏财 - ZhengCai and PianCai - Literally 'True Wealth' /and 'Unconventional Wealth' , or commonly called Direct Wealth and Indirect Wealth, is often considered second to Direct Officer. Wealth is one element that disregard polarity. Somehow Indirect Wealth is considered the more powerful of the 2. However they are different in subtle ways.

Wealth represents.... Wife, Wealth and properties, things that belong to you.

3. 食神 ShiShen, literally Food God or commonly known as Eating God, is a powerful benevolent deity. As it is the 'offspring of the DM' it acts to protect the DM and brings Wealth to the DM. A powerful Food God is just as auspicious as Wealth and Officer.

Food represents - Food and Clothing, longevity, to have offspring, carefree, blessings.

4. 正印 ZhengYin, literally the True Seal, or most commonly known as Direct Resource, is another benevolent deity. Seals are marked of authority back in ancient China, it's a personal stamp used by the court officers, without a Seal, the Officer cannot prove his authority. It's often associated with 秀气，the Qi of elegance.

Seals represents intelligence, wisdom, compassion, kindness, health, integrity, protection and together with Direct Officer, it denotes high authority.

So, these deities represent the things we need and desire in life.

DM -- > Food --> Wealth --> Status / Power --> Elegance, Higher Power and Protection.





The other group is made of malevolent gods:

1. 七杀， 7th Killing or originally 七煞 7th Devil, (or malevolent spirit) so named as it is the 7th deity, for example, Geng is the 7th HS after Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding etc. In classical texts, it is mostly referred to as 煞 Devil (or malevolent spirit). 7K is the most dangerous of the malevolent deities and it functions to counter DM. Emphasis is placed on 7K before the analysis of Useful God.

7K can be turned to become auspicious with the presence of Food or Seal, its benevolent form is named 偏官， Untrue Officer or unconventional Officer, commonly known as Indirect Officer, which functions are the same as Direct Officer but signify the 武 'martial' ways, as opposed to Direct Officer which signify the 文 'scholar' ways.

7K represents calamity, injuries, misfortune, malevolence, disrespect, lawlessness.

2. 伤官 ShangGuan， Literally Injuring Officer or Hurting Officer, is named so as it injures or hurts the Direct Officer star, it is the 7K of the Direct Officer star. Although HO is often regarded as a malevolent spirit, it is also the offspring of DM, so it belongs to the DM and it works to generate Wealth for the DM.

Hurting Officer represents intelligence, skills, arts, talents, scholarship, pride, ego, evil thoughts, clumsiness, etc depending on the dynamics.

3. 枭神 XiaoShen， Literally 'Owl God', is commonly known as Indirect Seal. According to the classical texts, Indirect Seal is the benevolent form of the Owl God. The Owl God is so named because it seizes Food, 枭神夺食。 It counters Food (Eating God). As Food is a greatly auspicious deity, the Owl is considered inauspicious. Owl God works to take away one's blessings and lifespan.

It is also called 倒食 DaoShi， Literally 'Pour Away the Food', or 'Disposing Food' due to it's nature to counter Food God.

However, if Food is not used within the chart, the Owl God works as an Indirect Seal. It functions the way Direct Seal does, but unlike Direct Seal which favors weak DM, Indirect Seal favors a strong DM.

Owl God denotes: greed, gluttony, restraint, lack of blessings, short life, loneliness, procrastination, unsuccessful endeavors.

4. 阳刃 YangRen, literally the 'blade of Yang (as in YinYang), is Rob Wealth at its extreme. A deity for only the Yang DM - Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, Ren. Is traditionally regarded as a malevolent spirit. For example Jia has YangRen in Mao. Mao clashes with the Direct Officer You EB and Yi inside Mao could rob DM's Wealth, also Yi combines with 7K. So YR works to clash the DM's Direct Officer, robs DM's Wealth and save 7K. By countering all the benevolent deities saving the bad deity, YR is considered extremely inauspicious.

Although malevolent by nature, YangRen could turn auspicious under certain circumstances.

YangRen denotes: strong-willed, high ambitions, cruelty, violence, chronic illness etc.

The malevolent deities can become auspicious when they are 'used' properly, 'use' means having the right dynamics among the deities. Please refer to the Useful God chapters for more information.

Is my Daymaster strong or weak?

While I was wandering around the web looking for information regarding the concept of 进退 (advancing and retreating), I stumbled across a blog of a traditional ZiPing practitioner, Mr Wang XiangShan 王相山先生. He wrote something that tickles my sense of humor. So I thought I'd translate his article into English. Unfortunately, my translation is not as funny as the original mandarin article (due to my limited command of English). But, I think I have more or less managed to translate the message of the original article.

IMO, the criticism is directed at other Chinese BaZi practitioners, as they supposedly understand Chinese and have access to the information contains in literature but somehow they disregard literature and made some theories up on their own.

Original source: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_63d1d9ea0102v2jo.html

旺衰，是梗于命理喉咙的一根骨刺。
Strong and Weak, is a bone stuck in the throat of Knowledge of Life (BaZi)

“我八字日元旺还是弱？”常有人这样问。
"Is my DayMaster Strong or Weak?" That is a very commonly asked question.

常人如是，好多命学大师也被旺衰弄得神经兮兮。
Common people are like that, many BaZi Masters have also gone crazy with the concept of Strong and Weak


张大师说旺，李大师说弱。

Master Zhang says it's strong, Master Li says it's weak.

同一个大师，今天说旺，明天又说弱。

The same Master, today he says strong, tomorrow he would say weak.

台湾某某看到这种状况，弄出了一套系统软件，通过打分测定日元旺衰，从此软件充斥网络，本人亦名声大噪。

In Taiwan, someone saw this happening, and created a system or software, that gives scores to determine if Daymaster is strong or weak, this software is all over the internet and the creator becomes very famous.

一时间，日元旺衰论命法大有一统江湖之势。但实践证明，大批学旺衰者，交高价学费奔旺衰而去，反被旺衰碰得鼻青脸肿，才慢慢醒过神来，自己是被旺衰引入了命理深渊。

At one time, the method that focuses on the strength of DayMaster is the major force in every corner of the (BaZi) world. But practically, those who learnt that method paid expensive tuition fees. They were hit badly by the concept of 'Strong and Weak' until their noses become green and their faces swollen, only after that they are slowly awakened and they realized that they have been led by 'strong and weak' into the abyss of Knowledge of Life (BaZi). 

只有那些文化功底浅薄者，无力读古籍者，只想以上混饭而不想而为学者的，仍然抱着旺衰论命行走于江湖。因为它简单，好学，能碰。

Only those who knows little about culture or unable to read the classics, and with that they want to 'have meals at other's expense' and not thinking about learning, would embrace the concept of  'strength of DayMaster' and practice it. That is because it is easy, it's easy to learn and it's within grasp. 

实际上，正宗的论命法，就是古法格局派。

In truth, the orthodox method of analyzing BaZi, is the ancient method, the structural sect. 

江湖上，那些各立山头的，盲派，正宗子平，真宗子平，自然门，形意门，门户派等，其实，都是在对古法格局的研究中，因对某一问题有独到见解而创立的“新门派”。

In every corner of the (BaZi) world, those who established their own factions, like the blind sect, the orthodox ZiPing, traditional ZiPing, Natural Sect, As-You-Wish Sect, Doors and Door Sect, etc, are actually, when they were researching the ancient methods of structures and have found their own unique viewpoints, established a new Sect.

以为无门派就不能成师成名，无门派就不能收徒开班授课。

They think that without having a school or a sect, then one cannot become a teacher and get some reputation, without a school or a sect, one cannot have students and give classes.

以某一个问题而开山立派，我总觉得，是对古人的不尊，内里流露的是一股浮躁气。

Having seen a problem and then establish a Sect, I find it disrespectful of the ancient people (those who created BaZi), the Qi that flows within is restless.

一切命理真知源于古籍，格局中分出的任何一个门派，离开古法格局，都会成为无源之水，无本之木，又如何成为另一门独立的学问呢。

All those true knowledge of BaZi have the classics as their sources, all those structures that were separated out to become a sect, that deviate from the ancient methodical structures, will become a water that has no source, a tree that has no foundation, how could that become a knowledge that is completely self-sufficient?

抛开古籍而自创难免差强人意，因为命是古人创立，古人的格局法，是一个综合的庞大的理论体系，各位命学专家呕心沥血对子平格局进行研究，对某一问题有独到的见面，实令人敬佩。

To leave the classics and establish a Sect would give some kind of satisfaction, that is because the method was invented by ancient people, is a synthesis of an enormous theoretical system. Every BaZi specialists who laboriously researched ZiPing structures, and found unique viewpoints regarding certain aspects are admirable.

但不能因对某一问题有见解，就超越了古人，凌驾于古人之上，另立门派。

But one should not, because of having found certain viewpoints to certain problems, put himself above the ancient people and establish new sects or schools.

在这方面，我还是比较敬佩那些潜心研究子平术，而不开山立派的学者们。

On this aspect, I respect more those who studies ZiPing method meticulously without establishing new sects. 

离开古人本意的所谓“真知”最终会成为邪说。

To deviate from what was actually meant by the ancient people and to call that deviation 'true knowledge' will eventually become heresy.

玄学本身不是普通人大众化的学说，所以从古到今多为口传的形式，传到如今，很多真理停留在口诀之上，而有些口诀被误解，所以今人所学的东西难免带有很大的瑕疵。

Xuan Xue (mystical knowledge) itself is not a form of public knowledge, thus, from the ancient times until now, most of the knowledge were passed on orally, today, a big part of the knowledge is stuck in the form of 'odes', some of the odes are incorrectly interpreted, so the knowledge that is learnt today, ineluctably, is flawed.

恰恰经典口诀《五言独步》记载着惊人的真知等待后人的觉悟。

Exactly, the classical Ode, WuYanDuBu contains surprisingly huge amount of true knowledge that awaits the 'after people' (new generations) to come to understand.

BaZi: Royalties - Elizabeth II, Queen of England

chart taken from bazi-calculator.com

This chart has me perplexed for quite some time. I couldn't figure out how a queen could have a chart that is seemingly.... not outstanding.

Geng metal born in the end of spring, water takes command. Also protruding on top of Month EB is Ren Food God.

The strong Food God structure is auspicious, especially when 7K on the Year EB is rightly used. A Food God controlling 7K structure. However, also protruding is DO on the hour HS. This is a sickness that is called 官杀混杂, mixed authority, sickness breaks the structure.

The chart has 2 GuiKang pillars, Geng Chen and Ren Chen. Naturally many people would think that this is a GuiKang chart. Favors metal and earth, dislikes Wealth and Authorities.

This chart has 2 authorities, if this was a GuiKang structure, the chart will be completely broken. It's not possible for the Queen of the Commonwealth to have a broken chart. If this were really the case, I'd throw away all my books and forget all about BaZi.

GuiKang is a special structure that is only considered when a normal structure cannot be established. Special structures are only established after many criteria are put into consideration. These are some very important ground rules that apply to every set of BaZi.

有杀只论杀, 无杀方论用
With 7K, analyze 7K first, without 7K then analyze the Useful God.

提纲有用提纲重
When the Month EB has a Useful God, the Month EB is important (should be used)

In this chart, there's 7K on the Year HS and there's Useful God (Food) on Month HS. Hence, this chart cannot be considered as a GuiKang structure.

When I first knew about mixed authorities, the only remedy I know is 官杀混杂要制伏. Mixed authorities has to be restrained. Restrain means having output elements that is strong enough to suppress both the 7K and DO. That is a form of remedy, suppressing 7K is fine, but what about suppressing DO? isn't that inauspicious?

Little did I know back then.

Queen Elizabeth II BaZi chart has a better remedy for the mixed authority problem. The protruding Ren acts as both the cure and the Useful God.

Ren counters away 7K and at the same time saves Direct Officer 去杀留官. (Refer to the previous post). Clearing the structure from a strong sickness. Thus the subject is very noble.

有病方为贵,.
With sickness and remedy it is noble, . (Wu Yan Du Bu)

The chart becomes greatly auspicious.

Update: I forgot to add, after 'Discard Devil and Save Officer', the structure becomes a Direct Officer structure. (refer to previous post)

有物去官留煞者，即以偏官论，有物去煞留官者，即以正官论。
If there's an entity that can discard DO and save 7K, it should be discussed as Indirect Officer (structure), if there's an entity that can discard 7K and save DO, it should be discussed as Direct Officer (structure). Thus Useful God has changed from Food to Officer. 

Positive Food countering Devil on month and year denotes coming from a powerful family. 7K on year pillar denotes powerful ancestors. Positive officer on hour pillar denotes noble children.

That aside, Geng Chen is also a pillar known as 日德, Day Virtue. which denotes a kind and gentle person.

It took me a few months to figure out how this chart actually works.

PS: I have to say bazi-calculator.com is really a great bazi calculator. It comes with so many charts of famous people. That is so convenient for study.

BaZi: SMTH 官煞去留杂论 'Mixed Authorities' 7K + DO in a chart.

When DO is used in a BaZi chart, 7K is unfavorable. Likewise, when 7K is used in a chart, DO is naturally unfavorable. If DO and 7K are both present in the chart, it's a condition called 官杀混杂 (Officer and Devil mixed). Something I term 'Mixed Authorities'

Mixed Authorities is a form of sickness 病 for a BaZi, thus it requires a remedy '方'.


《喜忌篇》云：煞官混杂类，有去官留煞，亦有去煞留官。

<XiJiPian> says: For the likes of Mixed Authorities, it could discard Officer and save 7K and it could also get rid of 7K and save Officer.



盖言柱中官星七煞交差，月上见官时上见煞，或月上见煞时上见官，或四柱叠见，有物去官留煞者，即以偏官论，有物去煞留官者，即以正官论。

That is talking about having DO and 7K in a BaZi chart, like seeing DO on Month and seeing 7K on hour, or seeing 7K on Month and seeing DO on hour, or seeing them repeatedly in the four pillars, if there's an entity that can discard DO and save 7K, it should be discussed as Indirect Officer, if there's an entity that can discard 7K and save DO, it should be discussed as Direct Officer.



凡看去留，要详柱中官煞孰重孰轻，天干透者易去，月支所藏者难去，须伤官食神去官煞之物众而有力，方才去得。

When looking at the process of discarding and saving, one should see how heavy or light (strong or weak) the DO and 7K are, the ones that protrudes in the HS can be easily discarded, but the one hidden inside Month EB is difficult to be discarded, it requires Hurting Officer or Food God to be many and strong, only that it can be done.



五阳日食神，能去煞，又能留官；

The 5 Yang Daymasters with Food God, it can discard the Devil and save the Officer


五阳日伤官，但能去官，不能留煞，必须得羊刃合，方成去官留煞。

The 5 Yang Daymasters with Hurting Officer can discard Officer but cannot save the Devil, unless YangRen is present, with YangRen combined with the Devil, only the Devil can be saved.



假如甲日生人，甲以辛为官，庚为煞，若官重煞轻，得丙食一位，克去庚金，与辛相合，此谓去煞留官，有情而贵；

For example, a DM Jia,

Jia uses Xin as Officer, Geng as Devil, if Officer is heavy and Devil is light, having on Bing (Food), it would counter Geng metal away and combine with Xin, this is called 'discard Devil and save Officer', it is affectionate and thus noble;



若煞重官轻，得丁火伤官，克去辛金，再得乙木羊刃，与庚相合，此谓去官留煞，有情而贵。

If Devil is heavy and Officer is light, seeing Ding fire Hurting Officer, it would counter away Xin metal, also if Yi YangRen is present, it would combine with Geng, this is called 'Discard the Officer and save the Devil', it is affectionate and thus noble.



五阴日食神，能去煞却不能留官，日主自能留之，

The 5 Yin DayMasters with Food God, it can discard Devil but cannot save Officer but the DM itself can save the Officer,


五阴日伤官，能去官又能留煞。

The 5 Yin DayMasters with Hurting Officer, it can discard the Officer and it can also save the Devil.



假如乙日生人，以庚为官，辛为煞，若官重煞轻，得丁食一位，克去辛煞，则乙与庚合，此谓去煞留官，有情而贵；

Like a Yi DayMaster,


With Geng as the Officer and Xin as Devil, if Officer is heavy and Devil is light, having one Ding Food God will counter away Xin Devil, and Yi itself will combine with Geng, this is called 'discard Devil and save Officer, it is affectionate and thus noble;


若煞重官轻，得丙火伤官，克去庚金，来合辛金，此谓去官留煞，有情而贵。

If Devil is heavy and Officer is light, having one Bing Fire Hurting Officer, it would counter away Geng Metal and combine with Xin Metal, this is called 'Discard Officer and save Devil', it is affectionate and thus noble.



《元理赋》云：去煞留官当论贵，去官留煞主威权。

<YuanLiFu> says: Discard Devil and save Officer is analyzed as Noble, discard Officer and save Devil denotes authority.


又曰官星七煞交差，却有合煞为贵，此之谓也

It is also said: when DO and 7K see each other, to combine 7K would be noble, so it is said.



合煞有二义，有合去合来，合来是去官留煞，合去是去煞留官。

There are 2 kinds of combining Devil, combination to go and combination to come, combination to come is to discard Officer and save Devil, combination to go is to discard Devil and save Officer




I'll just stop here, the rest of the chapter talks about more or less the same thing.

BaZi: SMTH - 日贵 Day Noble

日贵者，自坐天乙是也。
Day Noble, Self sits on TianYi (TianYiGuiRen - Heavenly Yi Nobleman)

此格只有四日：丁酉、丁亥、癸巳、癸卯，主为人纯粹，有仁德，有姿色，不傲物气高。
There are only four days for this structure: Ding You, Ding Hai, Gui Si and Gui Mao, it represents

贵气聚于日，更有财食印相助，贵气为福。
The Noble Qi gathers around day, and with the assistance from Wealth and Seal, the noble Qi becomes a blessing.

喜三六合宅墓合，行贵人财旺运，发福
Favors 3 combinations and 6 combinations and the combination between residence and tomb, when luck goes to prosper Nobleman or Wealth, one can become rich.


大忌刑冲破害空亡，运行再遇前忌，太岁加会，更见魁罡，定主贫夭。
Greatly unfavorable is Punishment, clash, harm and breakage, when Luck sees the more of those is unfavorable, seeing TaiSui, and also GuiKang, it represents poverty or short life.


若别成格，不论。
If the chart can be established as other structure, this structure will not be established.


日贵须分昼夜，日生要癸卯、丁亥，夜生要癸巳、丁酉，日夜不皆为得体。
Day Noble has to be separated to day and night, those born in the morning want Gui Mao and Ding Hai, those born at night want Gui Si and Ding You, Day and night are not altogether regarded as getting the Form.

经云：贵人者慈祥恺悌之号，德性尊重之名，遇财官印食则吉，值煞刃冲刑则凶，运遇魁罡，为害不浅。
Nobleman, is the way to call a person of peace and harmony, a name for the moral and respectable, seeing Wealth, Officer, Seal and Food is auspicious, until Devil, Blade, clash and punishment is inauspicious. With Luck seeing GuiKang, the harm is not little.

古歌曰：生日天干坐贵支，若见魁罡福不齐，年逢月禄不为喜，日贵重逢奇又奇。
The old song says: The day of birth with HS sitting of Noble, seeing GuiKang the blessing is not complete, seeing Yue (DeGuiRen) or Lu on Year is not favorable, seeing Day Noble repeatedly is wonder upon wonders.

又：日德日贵主慈祥，财官印遇福荣昌，刑冲煞刃如来见，反吉为凶不可当。
Also: Day virtue (another special structure) and Day noble denote kindness, seeing Wealth, Officer and Seal denotes blessing and glory, seeing punishment, clash, devil or blade would in turn become very inauspicious.

又；癸临蛇兔是英奇，丁向猪鸡一例推，切忌魁罡分昼夜，更防刑害失尊卑；
Also: Gui arriving on Snake and Rabbit is outstanding, Ding facing Pig and Rooster is analyzed similarly, greatly unfavorable is GuiKang,  day and night - it is separated, (it) has to be careful of punishment and harm because (one) loses his (social) status.

BaZi: An Early Classic - 四言独步 SYDB Four Words Invincible Steps Part 8

I spent 2 hours labeling all the posts! Hopefully, visitors would find the blog a little more organized than before.

SYDB says:

官杀重逢，制伏有功；如行帝旺，遇之不凶。
Officer and 7K are seen repeatedly, control and suppression will attain success; if it goes to DiWang, seeing that is not inauspicious.

The thing with the Officers is that they want to be alone. DO together with 7K is generally considered a sickness.

SYDB states that when DO and 7K are mixed, there should be suppression. For example a Jia wood with Geng 7K and Xin DO in the chart favors Fire.

When the LP goes to DiWang (YangRen for the Yang DM), it should not be analyzed as inauspicious. That is because mixed authorities favor strong DM.

More information about mixed authorities is in this post

BaZi: YHZP Accidents and Injuries

This is taken from the same chapter as the Illness chapter in YHZP

金主刀刃刑伤，
Metal represents knife, blade or punishments injury


水乃溺舟而死，
Water is death caused by drowning


木乃悬樑自縊、虎啖蛇嗔，
Wood is hanging oneself from the ridge pole, eaten by tigers or angered snakes


火则夜眠颠倒、蛇伤烧焚，
Fire is inverted night sleep, snake injury or being burned


土乃山崩石压、泥陷墻崩。
Earth is land fall or crushed by rocks, mud trap or fallen walls

BaZi: YHZP - 疾病 Disease or Illness

YHZP states that the human body is made of the Internal and the External:

The internal called ZhangFu 脏腑: which is made of

• 心、肝、脾、肺、肾为五脏，
• Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lungs and Kidneys as the 5 Zang
• 胃、胆、三焦、膀胱、大肠、小肠为六腑
• Stomach, Gallbladder, Triple warmer, Prostrate, Large Intestines, Small Intestines as the 6 Fu

The external called ZiTi『肢体』which are the limbs and trunks.

八字干支，五行生剋之义，取伤重者而断之；五行干支太旺、不及俱病。

The Stem and Branches of BaZi, with the principles of Engendering and Countering, take that is heavily wounded to be analyzed; when the five elements are overly prosperous or inadequate, they are all regarded as sickness.

For the Internal Organs, the representations of the HS are as below:

诗曰：『甲肝，乙胆，丙小肠，丁心，戊胃，己脾乡，庚是大肠，辛属肺，壬是膀胱，癸肾脏。』


Jia - Liver
Yi - Gallbladder
Bing - Small intestines
Ding - Heart
Wu - Stomach
Ji - Spleen
Geng - Large Intestines
Xin - Lungs
Ren - Prostrate
Gui - Kidneys


For the External limbs, the representations are:
甲头，乙项，丙肩求，丁心，戊胁，己属腹，庚係人脐，辛为股，壬脛，癸足自来求


Jia - Head
Yi - Forehead
Bing - Shoulders
Ding - Heart (Chest)
Wu - Laterals (from armpits to ribs)
Ji - Abdomen
Geng - Bellybutton (possibly upper abs and lower abs)
Xin - Buttocks / Thighs
Ren - Calves
Gui - Feet


As for the EBs, the representations are:

子疝气，丑肚腹，寅臂肢，卯目手，辰背胸，巳面齿，午心腹，未脾胸，申咳疾，酉肝肺，戌背肺，亥头肝


Zi - Hernia?
Chou - Abdomen
Yin - Arms
Mao - Eyes and Hands
Chen - Back and Chest
Si - Face and Teeth
Wu - Heart and Abdomen
Si - Spleen and abdomen
Shen - Cough related illness
You - Liver and Lungs
Xu - Back and Lungs
Hai - Head and Liver


Now this part is something that I don't understand.

肾通于眼，胆藏魂，肝藏魄，肾藏精，心藏神，脾藏气
Kidneys are connected through the eyes,


Gallbladder stores the soul 魂,
Liver stores vigor 魄,
Kidneys stores essence 精,
Heart stores spirit 神
Spleen stores Qi 气.


Other part of the text is too complicated for me to translate, it requires some knowledge in TCM which I do not have.


May TCM practitioners find this helpful.

BaZi: DTS 顺逆 Forward (Follow) and Reverse

要与人间开聋聩，顺逆之机须理会 
Wanting to clear the ignorance of people, the mechanism of forward and reverse must be understood and known.

I interpret this verse differently from the original annotation and RTQ annotation.

顺 - Forward

To me, in this context it refers to 顺用, the way the benevolent gods should be used. Officer, Wealth, Food and Seal; they should either be engendered or protected for a good structure to be established.

In general, Forward (or Follow) Use according to ZPZQ is like this:

Officer likes to be engendered by Wealth and protected by Seal

Wealth likes to be engendered by the Outputs and protected by Officer

Seal likes to be engendered by the Authorities and protected by the Parallels.

Food likes to be engendered by the parallels and protected by Wealth

逆 - Reverse

Most possibly refers to 逆用，the way the malevolent gods should be used. Hurting Officer, 7 Killing, YangRen and the Owl. These are used in specified ways.

Hurting Officer likes to be countered by Seal or transformed to Wealth

7K likes to be countered by Food or transformed to Seal

YR likes to be combined with 7K or countered by Officer

Owl likes to be countered by Wealth

That is when the gods are being used. 

BaZi: DTS 精神 Essence and Spirit - on the subject of Balance

DTS says:

人有精神，不可以一偏求也，要在损之益之得其中。
Men has essence and spirit, it cannot be seek (to be strong) only from one side, it must be damaged (reduced) or supported to attain moderation.


Men in this context most probably refers to the entity that participates in the dynamics of the chart i.e the 10 Gods. I'd probably think this is the Useful Gods - Officer, Wealth, Seal, Food, Hurting Officer, Devil, Blade or the Owl. Depending on how the Gods are being used.

As there are only 4 pillars in BaZi, the influences of the Gods are mostly imbalance, one of the deities might be more influential than the others.

Take an Officer structure for example: An Officer structure favors a strong Officer. However, an overly strong Officer often comes with a weak DM. In this case, the presence of Wealth star might not be as helpful as the presence of Seal. As Seal supports DM and simultaneously reduce the strength of the Officer, whereas Wealth star will further strengthen the Officer without helping the DM. Although it is known that an Officer + Wealth structure is superior than an Officer + Seal structure, due to the concept of Balance, Seal is the preferred Minister God for a weak DM.

On the other hand, if the Officer structure comes with a strong DM, Wealth star is preferred to Seal, as Seal will weaken the Officer and further strengthen the already strong DM.

Nevertheless, the presence of the trio Wealth, Officer and Seal is always the more auspicious structure than the other 2 structures described above.

Remember that Balance in BaZi does not mean all five elements have to be equally strong. The Officer structure will never want to see the outputs.

BaZi: ZPSYJY - Year, Month, Day and Hour pillars and the period of life

Lately, I've been studying a book written in Ming dynasty called  子平四言集腋 (ZiPing SiYan JiYe), where all the information are written into four words sentences. It's very similar to SYDB but it explains a lot more than that cryptic poem. Still it is a very strange book.

This excerpt is taken from that over 500 years old book.

年月主初, 共年廿五, 气未大舒, 日为中限, 二十五年, 时为末限, 五十年全

Year and Month represents the Early (time of life), a total of 25 years (old), where the Qi is yet greatly unfold, Day as the middle boundary, 25 years (of age), Hour as the eventual boundary, a complete of 50 years (old)

In summary,

Year + Month pillar -- Below 25 years old --- known as early boundary 初限
Day Pillar -- Between 25 to 50 years old --  as middle boundary 中限
Hour Pillar -- Above 50 years old -- as eventual (final) boundary 末限

Bazi : Royalties - Prince William, Duke Of Cambridge

Image taken from bazi-calculator.com

Yi DM born in the mid of Summer with Bing protruding on the Month and Hour HS. Wu and Xu form a partial Fire frame, strengthening the Fire on the HS.

This is a very distinct Hurting Officer structure.

The protruding Ren is extremely auspicious in the Year Pillar (which also denotes ancestors). Ren Direct Seal counters the two Hurting Officers Bing, giving the chart the structure 伤官佩印  ShangGuanPeiYin (SGPY) - Hurting Officer adorns with Seal.

According to the old books, a high grade SGPY structure has the following criteria.

1. 伤官旺 - Prosperous Hurting Officer

Hurting Officer is undoubtedly strong in  Prince William's chart, Fire being in DiWang stage in the middle of summer and supported by partial Fire frame.

2. 印根深 - Strongly Rooted Seal

Seal Ren is strongly rooted in Hai, which is the LinGuan stage.

3. 身稍弱 - Self is a little weak

Self is a little weak, the only supporting Qi is from the day EB, which is the ChangSheng stage for Wood.

Apparently, this chart meets all three criteria that makes it a very high grade SGPY structure.

What is more wondrous, is that the Yi wood is being born in Summer and meets water. This is termed 夏木逢润, Summer wood seeing water (to nourish).

夏木逢润，其秀百倍，所以一品之贵

Summer wood being nourished by water, its elegance is a hundred-times fold, that is why it is a first class noble.

A SGPY structure dislikes Wealth, favors Authority and Seal. Outputs LPs are neutral. 

BaZi: An Early Classic - 四言独步 SYDB Four Words Invincible Steps Part 7

格格推详，以杀为重，化杀为权，何愁损用。

Analyze in detail each structure, 7K should be regarded as (most) important, transform 7K into authority, why worry about damaging the (Use)ful god.

A set  of BaZi can have more than 1 structure. It can have 2 structures, 3 structure or even 4 structures. The more structure it has, the less clear it is. A good grade Bazi must be clear '清'. 

As 杂论 ZaLun says:

一格二格，非卿即相；三格四格，财官不纯，非隶卒多是九流。

One structure or two structures, if not high ministers then should be ministers;

Three structures or four structures, Wealth and Officer are not pure,  If not LiZu (the guards at the courtroom) then mostly is commoner.

In case of a chart having more than 1 structures, and one of the structures is 7K, 7K should be analyzed first, as it is the most important.

 'Transform 7K into authority' refers to using 7K in the correct way, for example to use Food to control 7K, or Seal to transform 7K or YR to withstand 7K. 

When the 7K star is correctly used. It really does not matter what happen to the Useful God of the Month EB.

YHZP says: 官杀混杂要制伏 

Officer and Devil mixed has to be control and restrained.

As we know Officer cannot be restrained. That results in a broken structure. But in this case, 7K has to be restrained and accordingly, Officer is disregarded.

Another famous saying with the similar meaning is a phrase in 五言独步 WuYanDuBu

有杀只论杀，无杀方论用；只要去杀星，不怕提纲重

If there is Devil, Devil should be discussed first. If there is no Devil, the Use(ful) God can be discussed.;
When the Devil star is gotten rid of, it does not fear the heaviness of the outline (Month EB)

We always say that the outline (Month EB) is heavy 提纲有用提纲重.

That is to emphasize the importance of Month Commander i.e YueLing and how chart structures and Useful Gods should be derived from the Month EB. Everything else should be disregarded when Useful Gods reside in the month EB. But in the case of 7K, month EB should be secondary although it is heavy.

BaZi: An Early Classic - 四言独步 SYDB Four Words Invincible Steps Part 6

十恶大败，格中大忌；若遇财官，反成富贵。

ShiErDaBai, The ten evil of great defeat, is very unfavorable to the structure; however if it meets Wealth and Officer, it becomes rich and noble.

Shi Er Da Bai are the 10 days where the 十干禄 Shi Gan Lu have fallen into 空亡 Kong Wang.

The 10 days are:

甲辰、乙巳、丙申、丁亥、戊戌、己丑、庚辰、辛巳、壬申、癸亥

Jia Chen

Yi Si

Bing Shen

Ding Hai

Wu Xu

Ji Chou

Geng Chen

Xin Si

Ren Shen

Gui Hai

Having the 10 Evil does not necessarily mean inauspicious luck. If the chart has Wealth and Officer, and if they are usable, strong and affectionate. One can also become rich and noble. 

The 10 days that transform

I came across a little piece of information in YHZP a few days ago when I was researching about Transformation Structure.


This is quoted from 杂论口诀 in YHZP

化者有十日：甲申、乙酉、庚寅、辛卯、壬午、癸未、丙子、丁丑、戊午、己丑，

Transformation, there are 10 days:

Jia Shen

Yi You

Geng Yin

Xin Mao

Ren Wu

Gui Wei

Bing Zi

Ding Chou

Wu Wu

Ji Chou

八字虽不入格，富贵亦是盈餘；

Even the BaZi is not under any structure (common), Fortune still is over-flowing

另有福德秀气，各有天地神祇。

There are other Qi of blessings, virtues and elegance, each with its own heaven, earth, deities and spirits

This means transformation structure has its own set of rules that is different from the common structures

论化之格，化之真者，名公巨卿；化之假者，孤儿异姓。

For transformation structure, real transformation, one become duke or high ministers; fake transformation, one is an orphan or carry a different surname (like adopted child)

Don't forget DTS says: 孤儿异姓能出类, orphans or adopted children can be outstanding.

Which means a fake transformation structure can also be successful like true transformation structure.

逢龙即变化，飞龙在天，利见大人。

Seeing dragon will change (transform), flying dragon in the sky, easy to see virtuous men.

This sentence is YiJing, some people interpret this as a good time to act. Though I am not entirely sure what it means. I think that when a transformation or fake transformation structure sees the EB Chen, transformation structure becomes auspicious. It is a good time to act for improvement. 

BaZi: SMTH - 化象 Transformation Image (化气格 Transformation Qi Structure)

This excerpt is taken from a classical text: 

神趣八法

Shen Qu Ba Fa

化 象

Transformation Image

化象者，乃甲己日生人，在辰戌丑未月，天干有一己字合甲字，謂之甲己化土。

Transformation Image, is like a Jia Ji born person, in the month of Chen Xu Chou or Wei, having a Ji on the HS to combine with Jia, it's called Jia Ji transformation to Earth

喜行火運。

Favors going through Fire LP

如逢甲木生旺，逢化不成，反為不吉，己字中露出二甲字，為之爭合，有一個乙字露出，謂之妒合，均破格不成。

If Jia wood is born in ChangSheng or DiWang, then the transformation will not be successful, that is inauspicious, if there is one Ji between one Jia, it is called competing combination, if there's a Yi exposed, it is called jealousy combination, they are broken and unsuccessful structures.

又曰："化者，陰陽合化之意也。乃天地相停，五行均配。

Also: Transformation means it the pairing of Yin and Yang that transforms. That is Heaven and Earth equates, five elements are matching. 

"經云："化內從局，運轉而成封帝側。

The classics says: "For Transformation, Internal and Follower Structure, when the Luck turns to be successful, one could be appointed to be someone close to the emperor"

"又曰："化象伏而平生碌碌, "謂干支相停者化，是看日時合化不合化。

Also: Transformation Qi that 'submits', one's life will be mediocre. It is said that when Stems and Branches are equal transformation happens, it is to be seen whether Day and Hour combine and transform or combine but do not transform.

玉井云："五氣有化象，須要純一清潔。化而或返，有貴有賤，化而不化，或壽或夭。

Yu Jing says: " The five Qi have transformation image, it must be pure and clean, transformed or inverted, there's noble and there's lowly, transform but does not transform, could be long-lived or short-lived.

"通玄論云： "乙旺庚從，庚旺乙從。日主無氣化有氣，方可用。若各無氣，不可用，如丁壬化木，生於春，則夫從妻生；生於冬，則妻從夫生，是謂化也。

Tong Xuan Lun says: "When Yi is prosperous, Geng will follow. The DM without Qi will transform to be with Qi, then only it is usable. If each are without Qi, they are both unusable. like Ding Ren transforming to wood, born in spring, the husband will follow his wife to engender; born in winter, the wife will follow her husband to engender, this is called transformation.

如甲戌甲寅癸巳戊午，戊癸化火，生於寅月，臨官於巳，旺於午，此化氣得時得位。

Like

Wu    Gui    Jia     Jia

Wu    Si      Yin     Xu

Wu and Gui transforms to Fire, ChangSheng in the month of Yin, LinGuan in the month of Si and DiWang at Wu, this transformation structure obtains the time and the place. 

BaZi: An Early Classic - 四言独步 SYDB Four Words Invincible Steps Part 5

十干化神，有影无形；无中生有，福禄难凭。
Ten stems transformation god, with shadow without form; within 'nothing' something is engendered, blessings and fortunes are difficult to be proven.

Trey:
It seems to me that the verse talks about Transformation Qi structure, also it could be talking about two different type of structures.

Anyway, in this post I can only discuss about the first phrase in the verse. The second verse is cryptic and I have no idea what it's talking about at all.

十干化神 Ten stems transformation god in my opinion refers to the transformation Qi structures (or in DTS term - the transformation image 化象), like Jia + Ji transformation to earth, Bing + Xin transformation to water, Wu + Gui transformation to fire, Geng + Yi to metal and Ren + Ding to wood.

DTS states:

化得真者只论化, 化神还有几般话

One that truly transforms is discussed only as transformation, still, the transformation god has many types of sayings. 

This DTS verse probably has two meanings:

1. That there are many types of transformation structure - there are transformation that is true, fake and follow.

2. That the transformation structure behaves in ways, that were never explained by the DTS original text. 

The commentary in DTS on this verse states that when Jia and Ji transforms to earth, the intensity of the earth should be analyzed. If earth is too strong, then it needs water as Wealth, wood as Officer and Metal as Food. That when it meets Jia or Yi in the LP or AP, it should not be regarded as 'rivalry' or 'jealousy' combination, instead it should be regarded as the 'idle god'. 

I think this commentary contradicts itself. When earth is strong, does it not need wood as Officer? how can wood become an idle god for a strong earth transformation god?

DTS also states the following on the subject of 'fake transformation'

假化之人亦多贵，孤儿异性能出类

Many people who are 'fake transformation' are also noble, orphans or people with different surname can also be outstanding.

This verse indicates that fake transformation structure can also be noble structures, but people with fake transformation structure usually have difficult young age. 

'Transformation' of the DM is often regarded as a form of 'image' 象. A stem has 2 images i.e the original image and the transformed image. For example, Jia original image is wood and transformed image is earth, Bing original image is fire and transformed image is water etc.

When the DM sees its pairing (like Jia seeing Ji) among the stems, it has a tendency to transform. Transformation is then analyzed on the basis of how 'True' it is, then the structure is classified as 'true transformation' 真化 or 'fake transformation' 假化, probably for the sake of simplicity. I believe that transformation is continuum, rather than absolute.

A poem in SMTH 巫咸撮要 WuXianCuoYao, briefly discuss about transformation structure.

又若化格成象，须分衰旺相停。
Also when the transformation structure manages to become image, it must be distinguished as weak, prosperous or equal

尤宜配合之中，要识往来去路。
It is good that within the combination and matching, one knows the way where it comes and goes

金绝艮北，火没乾西，木落坤南而无形，水到巽东而无位。
Metal extincts and northern Gen, fire extinguished at western Qian, wood falls at southern Kun it has no shape, when water arrives at eastern Xun it has no place.

此乃阳干皆死，遇合而以类相从，
That is when all Yang stems die, when it meet its pairing, it joins,

妻若潜形，但见局中。
if the wive hides, hopefully it is seen in the structure

而可决阴生四正，时旺者身贵家荣。死绝墓伤类伤干，尤为不足。
and it can be decided that Yin (of Yin and Yang) is birthed at the four cardinals (Mao, Wu, You and Zi), that when it is prosperous (supported by season), one is noble and his family glorious. When it is dead, extinct, entombed, injuring others, injuring the stems, that is regarded as especially insufficient.

化气入格不破，大显贵者十有八九。
When the transformation Qi is not broken, eight or nine out of ten (people with the structure) are prominently noble.

化气失局有伤，论显荣者百无二三。
When the transformation Qi lost its frame or is injured, there would be no more than two or three people out of 100 who are prominent and glorious.

最高最贵者，居旺处三位，需要相扶持。
The highest (of status) and most noble of people, resides in prosperity places of three individuals, they must be mutually assisting. 

至贱至贫者，居衰处，四柱难寻造化。
The lowliest and poorest of people, resides at declining places, it is difficult to find a structure within the four pillars.

元象在地支之中，配合在天干之内。
The origin of image lies within the earthly branches, the matching and combination within the heavenly stems

象成旺用，皆生火土之中。四柱无伤，直列朝廷之上。
The image that is successfully created, prosperous and is used, are all engendered within fire and earth. If there is no injury within the four pillars, one is placed high in the imperial court

In my opinion, the truest transformation happens under these conditions:

1. Transformation god has the command of the month

2. Transformation god has the support of a frame

3. Transformation god meets the dragon (EB Chen)

4. Transformation god protrudes in heaven

In most cases, all these 4 criteria are not met, it is up to the reader to decide if the transformation is true or fake, and then decide which deities would be favorable to the chart. 

There is no definitive guidelines to do this, there is no sufficient information regarding transformation structure available in literature (AFAIK) to help us to do this correctly and SYDB acknowledges this difficulty.

Long absence

Dear readers,

I have been busy working and little time to be on cyberspace, I will take some time off from BaZi research and translating the texts.



Wish everyone a belated Happy Chinese New Year!

BaZi: 月令 Month command

Yue Ling

The term YueLing 月令 is made of 2 words, Yue 月 which means month and Ling 令, which means command. Historically, YueLing refers to the different proceedings of the government for different months through the year. Such was recorded in 礼记，The book of rites written around 200 BC. 令 'command' refers to the command from the government to the pheasants to carry out certain activities such as sowing, harvesting, repairing castle wall etc etc.

In Bazi, YueLing refers to the month commander, the entity that takes charge during a certain period of the month. There are 12 months in Bazi, beginning with Yin, which also marks the beginning of spring to Chou, which marks the end of the year. From Yin to Chou, the Yin and Yang of the 5 elements take turns in ruling the month.

SMTH writes:

轻清者为十干，主禄，谓之天元，

The ones that are light and pure are the 10 stems, they represent 'fortune', named as Heavenly Origin

重浊者为十二支，主身，谓之地元，

The ones that are heavy and mixed are the 12 branches, they represent 'body', named as Earthly Origin

天地多正其位，成才于两间者，乃所谓人也。

The ones that reside and work between heaven and earth are human.

故支吕所藏者主命，谓之人元，名为司事之神，以命术言之为月令

Thus, the ones stored inside the branches are called Human Origin, its name is the God that takes charge, from the art of life perspective, the name is Month Command.

Solar Terms

To understand the concept of YueLing, knowledge about the 24 Solar Terms is necessary. Solar Terms were used by the ancient Chinese to mark certain astronomical or natural event that happens through the year. A year is divided into 4 seasons 季，each season is divided into 6 terms 节 and each term is further divided into 3 pentads 候。Briefly, there are 4 seasons, 24 terms and 72 pentads in a year.

The table below shows the name of the 24 solar terms and the date they happen. (from wikipedia)

Longi- tude	Usual translation	Chinese name ¹	Japanese name	Korean name ²	Vietnamese name	Date ³	Remark
315°	start of spring	立春 lìchūn	立春 risshun	입춘 (立春) ipchun	Lập xuân	Feb 4
330°	rain water	雨水 yǔshuǐ	雨水 usui	우수 (雨水) usu	Vũ thủy	Feb 19	more rain than snow
345°	awakening of insects	驚蟄 (惊蛰) jīngzhé	啓蟄 keichitsu	경칩 (驚蟄) gyeongchip	Kinh trập	Mar 6	lit. awakening of hibernating insects. See the note at Chinese calendar#Solar term.
0°	vernal equinox	春分 chūnfēn	春分 shunbun	춘분 (春分) chunbun	Xuân phân	Mar 21	lit. spring division (or center)
15°	clear and bright	清明 qīngmíng	清明 seimei	청명 (清明) cheongmyeong	Thanh minh	Apr 5	time for tending graves
30°	grain rain	穀雨 (谷雨) gǔyǔ	穀雨 kokuu	곡우 (穀雨) gogu	Cốc vũ	Apr 20	lit. grain rain: rain helps grain grow
45°	start of summer	立夏 lìxià	立夏 rikka	입하 (立夏) ipha	Lập hạ	May 6
60°	grain full	小滿 (小满) xiǎomǎn	小満 shōman	소만 (小滿) soman	Tiểu mãn	May 21	grains are plump
75°	grain in ear	芒種 (芒种) mángzhòng	芒種 bōshu	망종 (芒種) mangjong	Mang chủng	Jun 6	lit. awns (beard of grain) grow
90°	summer solstice	夏至 xiàzhì	夏至 geshi	하지 (夏至) haji	Hạ chí	Jun 21	lit. summer extreme (of sun's height)
105°	minor heat	小暑 xiǎoshǔ	小暑 shōsho	소서 (小暑) soseo	Tiểu thử	Jul 7
120°	major heat	大暑 dàshǔ	大暑 taisho	대서 (大暑) daeseo	Đại thử	Jul 23
135°	start of autumn	立秋 lìqiū	立秋 risshū	입추 (立秋) ipchu	Lập thu	Aug 8
150°	limit of heat	處暑 (处暑) chǔshǔ	処暑 shosho	처서 (處暑) cheoseo	Xử thử	Aug 23	lit. dwell in heat
165°	white dew	白露 báilù	白露 hakuro	백로 (白露) baekro	Bạch lộ	Sep 8	condensed moisture makes dew white
180°	autumnal equinox	秋分 qiūfēn	秋分 shūbun	추분 (秋分) chubun	Thu phân	Sep 23	lit. autumn division (or center)
195°	cold dew	寒露 hánlù	寒露 kanro	한로 (寒露) hanlo	Hàn lộ	Oct 8
210°	frost descent	霜降 shuāngjiàng	霜降 sōkō	상강 (霜降) sanggang	Sương giáng	Oct 23	appearance of frost and descent of temperature
225°	start of winter	立冬 lìdōng	立冬 rittō	입동 (立冬) ipdong	Lập đông	Nov 7
240°	minor snow	小雪 xiǎoxuě	小雪 shōsetsu	소설 (小雪) soseol	Tiểu tuyết	Nov 22
255°	major snow	大雪 dàxuě	大雪 taisetsu	대설 (大雪) daeseol	Đại tuyết	Dec 7
270°	winter solstice	冬至 dōngzhì	冬至 tōji	동지 (冬至) dongji	Đông chí	Dec 22	lit. winter extreme (of sun's height)
285°	minor cold	小寒 xiǎohán	小寒 shōkan	소한 (小寒) sohan	Tiểu hàn	Jan 6
300°	major cold	大寒 dàhán	大寒 daikan	대한 (大寒) daehan	Đại hàn	Jan 20

From the beginning of spring 立春 to the great cold 大寒。Each of the solar terms has about 15 days more or less. Due to the speed of the earth along the ecliptic (黄道）varies depending on its distance from the sun (because of Earth's orbital eccentricity), some solar terms are longer than the others.

Solar Term and Month Command.

Month command is determined by the day in the Solar Terms when a person is born. This poem from YHZP tells which element has the command by referring to the Solar Terms.

立春念三丙火用，餘日甲木旺提纲。
Lichun, twenty three Bing fire is used, the rest of the days Jia wood is prosperous and the key factor.

惊蛰乙木未用事，春分乙木正相当。
Jing Zhe, Yi wood yet to take command, ChunFen, Yi wood is rightly taking charge.

清明乙木十日管，后来八日癸水洋；穀雨前三戊土盛，其中土旺要消详。
QingMing, Yi wood takes charge for 10 days, after that Gui water becomes ocean for 8 days; GuYu first three Wu earth is prosperous, the things inside the prosperous has to be analyzed.

立夏又伏戊土取；小满过午丙火光。
LiXia, again is taken by Wu earth; XiaoMan after Wu (horse) Bing fire shines.

芒种己土相当好，中停七日土高张；夏至阴生阳极利，丙丁火旺有土张。
MangZhong, Ji earth is really good, stops at the middle 7 days earth rises and expands; XiaZhi is when Yin is born and Yang is at its extreme, Bing and Ding fire are prosperous and earth expands.

小暑十日丁火旺，后来三日乙木芳，己土三日威风盛；大暑己土十日黄。
XiaoShu, ten days Ding fire is prosperous, after that for 3 days Yi wood is frangrant, Ji earth for 3 days is impressively prosperous; DaShu Ji earth is 10 days yellow.

立秋十日壬水涨；处暑十五庚金良。
LiQiu, 10 days Ren water rises; ChuShu, 15 Geng metal is good.

白露七日庚金旺，八日辛兮祇独行。
BaiLu, 7 days Geng metal prospers, 8 days Xin only walks alone.

寒露七日辛金管，八日丁火又水降；霜降己土十五日，其中杂气取无妨。
HanLu, 7 days Xin metal take charge, 8 days Ding fire and water surrenders; ShuangJiang, Ji earth fifteen days, the mixed Qi inside might as well be taken.

立冬七日癸水旺，壬水八日更流忙；小雪七日壬水急，八日甲木又芬芳。
LiDong 7 days Gui water prospers, Ren water 8 days gets busy flowing; XiaoXue 7 days Ren water is in hurry, 8 days Jia becomes fragrant again.

大雪七日壬水管；冬至癸水更潺汪。
DaXue 7 days Ren water takes charge; DongZhi Gui water's sounds of flowing accumulate.

小寒七日癸水养，八日辛金丑库藏；大寒十日己土胜，术者精研仔细详。
XiaoHan 7 days Gui water nourishes, 8 days Xin metal is stored inside storage; DaHan 10 days Ji earth wins, those who practice the art should research in great detail.

There are other versions of this poem. I do not know how they are derived and which is more accurate. At the moment I'm using this YHZP version and it seems pretty accurate to me.

Transformation and change of month command

In Bazi, one should know that HS and EB are made of Qi, Heaven has a focused Qi that is moving 动 and EB is majorly mixed Qi which are still (stationary) 静. When the Qi moves, it takes precedence over 'still' Qi. There are 2 ways for month EB Qi to move.

1. Protrudes in Heaven.
2. Interaction between the branches.

If there are 2 moving Qi from a particular Month EB, one chart will have 2 Commanders. Whether this is auspicious or not will be analyzed from the basics of Follow Use  顺用  or Against Use 逆用.

When there's no change or transformation involved, the original commander dictates by the solar terms remains the commander.

Month command is the YongShen

The final month commander (after transformation or the original) is the YongShen 用神 (refer ZPZQ), which is an abbreviation of the term 用事之神 YongShiZhiShen (refer DTS)  - The God that takes command. The literal translation by modern English bazi 'Masters' - Useful God is misleading because it does not reflect the true identity of this entity.

However, according to the theories in ZPZQPZ written by Master Xu LeWu who distorted Master Shen XiaoZan works - ZPZQ, YongShen is defined as the most needed entity in a chart. Master Xu's works  then give rise to contemporary / modern Bazi which deviates quite a distance from the classics (in my opinion), especially on subject of YongShen.

The use of Month Command, aka YongShen

BaZi is made of layers, each of the layers is analyzed according to the concept of TiYong 体用 - Form and Use.

The first layer takes DM as the Form, and month commander as Use.

The second layer takes the month commander Ti - Form, and then seek for the Yong - Use, according to the concept of ShunYong 'Follow Use' or NiYong 'Against Use'. and the Minister God could be found and the structure can be established.

The third layer takes the structure that is made of DM, Month command and Minister God as Form, other entities in the chart to use.

The fourth layer takes the chart as a whole as the Form, DaYun etc as Use.

In summary, determining the correct Month command is arguably the most important step in analyzing Bazi, which is why the month command is often called 提纲 - the Key Point in almost all literature. It is the focal point of classical Bazi analysis.

Reference:
1. SMTH -论人元司事 Discuss Human Origin taking charge
2. DTS -月令 Month Command
3. ZPZQ - A few chapters about Yong Shen
4. SFTK - 静动说 The saying about movement and stillness
5. The book of rites 礼记 - Month Command
6. Wikipedia - Solar Terms
7. YHZP - the poem about month command.
8. DTS - 体用 Form and Use

For those who are interested to read more about YueLing on LiJi, here's the link

Note: Thanks to duesouth for pointing out the correct name - The book of rites.