Six Relations Theory

夫妻因緣宿世來，喜神有意傍天財。原注：妻與子一也，局中有喜神，一生富貴在子足，妻子在於是。在率依財看妻，如喜神即是財神，其妻美而且富貴；喜神與財神不相妒忌亦好，否則克妻，亦或不美，或欠和。然看財神，又須活法，如財神薄，須用助財；財旺身弱，又喜比劫；財神傷印者，要官星；財薄官多者，要傷官。財氣未行，要沖者沖，洩者洩；財氣流通，要合者合，庫者庫。或財神洩氣太重，比劫透露，及身旺無財者，必非夫婦全美者也。至於財旺身強者，必富貴而多妻妾，看著當審辨輕重何如。

The fate of a husband and wife is brought about from past lives. If the favorable god (喜神) is inclined to be associated with "heavenly wealth" (天财), the couple will have a harmonious relationship. The explanation states that the principles of examining a wife are similar to those of examining a child. If the destiny chart contains a favorable god, the person's wealth and honor will be manifested through their children. The virtue of the wife also depends on this. Generally, one examines the wife through the "wealth star" (财星). If the favorable god happens to be the wealth star, the wife will be both beautiful and bring wealth. If the favorable god and the wealth star do not conflict, it is also a good fate. Otherwise, it may lead to the wife being unkind, or the couple not getting along. However, examining the wealth star requires flexibility: if the wealth star is weak, it should be supported by food or injury stars (食伤); if the wealth star is strong but the main element (日主) is weak, it is favorable to have a sibling or rival (比肩劫财) to support the main element; if the wealth star damages the official star (印绶), there should be an official star (官星) to mediate; if the wealth star is weak and the official star is excessive, the injury star (伤官) should be used to generate wealth. If the wealth energy is stagnant, it should be opened by a conflict or released by a leakage; if the wealth energy is already flowing, it should be combined or stored in a repository. If the wealth energy is excessively released or if siblings or rivals appear in the heavenly stem, or if the main element is strong but there is no wealth star at all, it is definitely not a fate of a harmonious marriage. As for cases where the wealth star is strong and the main element is also strong, the person will certainly be wealthy and have multiple spouses—when examining a destiny, one must carefully distinguish the importance of these factors.

任氏曰：子平之法，以財為妻，財是我克。人以財來侍我，此理出於正論，又以財為父者，乃後人謬也。若據此為確論，則翁女同宗，豈不失倫常乎？雖分偏正之說，究竟勉強。財之偏正，無非陰陽之別，並不換他氣，且世無犯上之理，宜辨而闢之。如果財為父，官為子，則人倫滅矣，不特翁婦同完生孫，有是理乎？

Ren Shi explained: The method of Ziping considers the "wealth star" as the wife, because wealth is something I can control, and people provide goods to serve me. This reasoning comes from a correct perspective. However, the idea of considering the wealth star as the father is a mistake made by later generations. If this were considered a fixed principle, then the grandfather and the daughter-in-law would be regarded as the same star, becoming members of the same family, which would be a violation of proper social order. Although there is a distinction between "biased wealth" and "correct wealth," this distinction is merely a matter of yin and yang, and does not change the original five elements; moreover, there is no logic in the idea of subordination in society. Therefore, this should be clarified and refuted. If the wealth star is considered as the father and the official star as the son, human relationships would be destroyed: not only would the relationship between the grandfather and the daughter-in-law be confused, but also the relationship between grandfather and grandson would be mixed up. How could such a thing be acceptable?

是以六親之法，今當更定。生我者為父母，偏正財星是也；我生者為子女，食神傷官是也。我克者為婦妾，偏正財星是也，克我者為官鬼，祖父是也；同我者為兄弟，比肩劫財是也。此理正名順，乃不易之法，夫財以妻訟，財中饋賢能；財神濁，則河東獅吼。清者，喜神即是財星，不爭不妒是也。濁者，生煞壞屯，爭媯無情是也。

Therefore, the method of determining the Six Relations should now be redefined: those that nourish me are parents, namely the偏印 and 正印 (the original text mistakenly says '财星'); those I nourish are children, namely 食神 and 伤官; those I overcome are spouses, namely 偏财 and 正财; those that overcome me are officials and ghosts, belonging to the grandfather's generation; and those of the same kind as me are siblings, namely 比肩 and 劫财. This is only proper and cannot be changed. Regarding the wife through the 财星: if the 财星 is pure, the wife will be wise and capable in managing the household; if the 财星 is turbid, there will be a 'river east tiger's roar' wife at home.the so-called 'pure' means that the favorable god is exactly the 财星, neither competing nor jealous;the so-called 'turbid' means that the 财星 generates 七杀 and damages 印绶, competing and envying with other gods without any sentiment.

舊書不管日主之衰旺，總以陽刃劫財主克妻，究其理則實非，須分日主衰旺喜忌之別，四柱配合活看為是。如財神輕而無官，比劫多，主克妻；財神重而身弱，無比劫，主克妻。官殺旺而用印，見財星，主妻陋而克；官殺輕而身旺，見財星，遇比劫，主妻美而克。劫刃重，財星輕，有食傷，逢梟印，主妻遭凶死；財星微，官殺旺，無食傷，有印綬，主妻有弱病。

Old命 books do not consider the strength or weakness of the day's stem, but simply label "Yang Blade" and "劫财" as causing marital problems, which is not accurate. One must distinguish the strength or weakness of the day's stem and its favorable or unfavorable elements, and examine the entire four pillars in a flexible way. For example, if the wealth star is weak and there is no official star, with many similar elements, it indicates marital problems. If the wealth star is strong but the day's stem is weak, and there are no similar elements to support it, it also indicates marital problems. If the official or killing stars are strong and the official star is used as a beneficial element, but the wealth star comes to damage the official star, the wife will be ugly and suffer from marital problems. If the official or killing stars are weak and the day's stem is strong, but the wealth star is taken by similar elements, the wife will be beautiful but still suffer from marital problems. If "劫财" and "Yang Blade" are strong but the wealth star is weak, and there is originally a food or injury element to harmonize, but the枭印 comes to take the food element, the wife will suffer a violent death. If the wealth star is weak and the official or killing stars are strong, without a food or injury element to control the killing stars, but only the official star to release the killing stars, the wife will be weak and often ill.

劫刃旺，而財輕，有食傷，妻賢不克，妻陋不必亡；官星弱，遇財星，妻陋不克。身強煞淺，財星滋殺，官輕傷重，財星化傷，印綬重疊，財星得氣者，主妻賢而美，或得妻財臻富；殺重身輕，財星黨殺，官多用印，財星壞印，傷官佩印，財星得局者，主妻不賢而陋，或因正好抬禍傷身，日主坐財，財為喜用者，必得正好妻財；日主喜財，財合閒神而化財者，必得妻務。日主喜財，財合閒神而化忌神者，主妻有外情；日主喜忌而論。若財星浮泛，宜財深伏，宜沖動而引助。須細究之。

The heavenly stems are Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, and Gui. The earthly branches are Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai. The trigrams are Qian (Heaven), Dui (Lake), Li (Fire), Zhen (Thunder), Xun (Wind), Kan (Water), Gen (Mountain), and Kun (Earth). Useful God refers to the beneficial deity, Hostile God refers to the harmful deity, and Yangren refers to the sharp weapon. If劫财 (robber wealth) and Yangren (sharp weapon) are strong but the wealth star is weak, as long as there is a food and injury star in the middle to connect and harmonize, the wife will be wise and not be harmed, even if she is not beautiful, she will not die young. If the official star is weak and the wealth star comes to nourish the official star, the wife may be not beautiful but will not be harmed. If the day master is strong and the seven killers are weak, it relies on the wealth star to nourish the seven killers; if the official star is weak but the injury star is strong, it relies on the wealth star to transform and discharge the injury star to generate the official star; if the seal and support star is repeated and the wealth star is timely and vital, these three situations indicate that the wife is both wise and beautiful, or that wealth comes from the wife's family. If the seven killers are strong and the day master is weak, the wealth star instead helps the seven killers; if there are many official stars and the seal and support star is used as the useful god, the wealth star instead harms the seal and support star; if the injury star is paired with the seal and support star, and the wealth star forms a wealth pattern to harm the seal and support star, these three situations indicate that the wife is not wise and not beautiful, or that the wife brings trouble and harms oneself. If the day master sits on the wealth star and the wealth star is the preferred and useful deity, one will definitely marry a wise wife and gain wealth from the wife; if the day master prefers the wealth star and the wealth star combines with the idle deity to form wealth, one will definitely gain the wife's support. If the day master prefers the wealth star but the wealth star combines with the idle deity to form the harmful deity, it indicates that the wife has an affair elsewhere. In the end, everything should be judged based on the day master's preferences and aversions. If the wealth star is floating and not deep, it is better to make it deep and stored; if the wealth star is deeply hidden and not visible, it is better to use impulse to trigger and support it. All these matters need careful examination.

癸卯　乙丑　庚申　丁丑 甲子　癸亥　壬戌　辛酉　庚申　己未 此造寒金坐祿，印綬當權，足以用火敵寒。所忌者，年干癸水克丁為病，全賴月干乙木通根，洩水生火，此喜神即是財星也。更喜財星逢合，謂財來就我，其妻賢淑勤能，生三子，皆就書香。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Gui Mao, the month pillar as Yi Chou, the day pillar as Geng Shen, and the hour pillar as Ding Chou. The major destiny years are Jia Zi, Gui Hai, Ren Xu, Xin You, Geng Shen, and Ji Wei. This chart represents winter gold sitting in its own禄 (favorable) position in the Shen palace. The Chou earth official is in charge, which is sufficient to take the heavenly stem Ding fire to counteract the severe cold. However, the year stem Gui water is harmful to Ding fire, becoming a problem in the native's life. Fortunately, the month stem Yi wood has its root in Mao, which can drain the Gui water and generate the Ding fire. Here, the beneficial element is actually the wealth star (Yi wood is the wealth for Geng gold). Even more favorable is that the wealth star is in conjunction (Yi and Geng are in conjunction), called "wealth comes to me," so the native's wife is virtuous and capable, and he has three sons who are all able to study and make progress.

丁未　乙巳　丁酉　癸卯 甲辰　癸卯　壬寅　辛丑　庚子　己亥 丁火生於孟夏，柱中梟劫當權，一點癸水，不足相制，最喜坐下酉金，沖去卯木，生起癸水。出身貧寒，癸運入學，又得財鉅萬；壬運登科，辛丑選知縣，仕至郡守。此造若無酉金，不但無財，而且名亦不成矣。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Dingwei, the month pillar as Yisi, the day pillar as Dingyou, and the hour pillar as Guimao. The major destiny periods are Jiachen, Guimao, Renyin, Xinchou, Gengzi, and Jihai. The Ding fire is born in the early summer month, with the biased wood yin (Yi wood) and the劫财 (sibling) in control. There is only a single癸 water in the heavenly stem, which is insufficient to suppress the fire. Fortunately, the day pillar is seated on You metal, which clashes with the hour pillar's Mao wood, and also generates the癸 water. This person was born into poverty, but during the Guimao period, he entered school and obtained a large fortune. During the Renyin period, he passed the imperial examination, and during the Xinchou period, he was appointed as a county magistrate, eventually reaching the position of governor. If there were no You metal in the day pillar, he would not only lack wealth, but also fail to achieve any official rank.

乙亥　庚辰　丙申　壬辰 己卯　戊寅　丁丑　丙子　乙亥　甲戌 丙火生於季春，印綬通根生旺，日主坐財，時干又透壬水，必以乙木為用。可嫌者，乙庚化金，生殺壞印，其妻不賢，妒悍異常，無子而絕。財之為害。可畏哉！

The person's birth chart shows the year pillar as Yihai, the month pillar as Gengchen, the day pillar as Bingshen, and the hour pillar as Renchen. The major destiny periods are Jimao, Wuyin, Dingchou, Bingzi, Yihai, and Jiaxu. The丙 fire is born in the third month of spring, the year stem Yimao is the mother wood which roots in Hai and is strong, the day stem sits on Shen metal which is the wealth, and the hour stem reveals Ren water which is the seven killing. Therefore, it is necessary to take Yimao as the useful god. However, the month stem Geng metal combines with the year stem Yimao to form metal, which in turn supports the seven killing and damages the mother wood. Therefore, the wife is not virtuous, jealous and fierce, and ultimately has no children and becomes childless. The harm caused by the wealth star is very serious and truly terrifying!

子女根枝一世傳，喜神看與殺相連。原注：大率依官看子。如喜神即是官星，其子賢俊，喜神與官星不相妒亦好，否則無子，或不肖，或不肖，或有克。然看官星，又要活法，如官輕須要功災民；殺重身輕，只要印比；無官星，只論財；若官星阻滯，要和扶沖發；官星洩氣太重，須合助遙會；若殺得身輕而無制者，多女。

Children are like branches growing from the roots, passing down generation after generation; to know about children, one must see whether the Favorable God is connected with "kill." The original commentary explains that generally one should look at the "official star" to determine children. If the Favorable God is exactly the official star, then the children will be virtuous and outstanding; if the Favorable God and the official star do not compete with each other, it is also good; otherwise, there may be no children, or the descendants may be unremarkable, or there may be conflicts and troubles. However, looking at the official star should be done flexibly: if the official star is light, one should use the wealth star to support it; if the seven deadly stars are strong and the day's main element is weak, then one should use the seal star and similar elements to transform the deadly stars and support the day's main element; if there is no official star in the fate, then one should only consider the wealth star, because wealth can generate the official star; if the official star is blocked and not flowing, one should use harmonizing, supporting, or opening methods to activate it; if the official star drains too much energy, one should rely on combination and remote connection to support it; if the seven deadly stars are dominant, the day's main element is weak, and there is no control, there will be more daughters.

任氏曰：以官為子之說，細究之，終有犯上之嫌。夫官者，管也。朝廷設官，官治萬民，則不敢妄為，循守規矩。家庭必酋長為管，出入動作。皆遵祖父訓是也。不服官俯之治者，則為逆子；夫命者理也，豈可以民為子而犯上乎？莫非論命竟可地君無父乎？諺云：「父在子得自專」，若以官為子，父反以子管治，顯見父不得自專矣，故谷以克父克母為是，有是理乎？

Ren Shi explained: The idea of treating the official star as a son is, upon careful consideration, ultimately suspicious and disrespectful. "Official" means to govern: the court appoints officials to manage the people, and only then can the people refrain from wrongdoing and follow rules and regulations. In a family, there must be a superior to manage and discipline, so that the family members follow the teachings of their ancestors. Those who do not obey the government are called rebels, and those who do not obey their elders are called rebellious sons. Astrology is about reason; how can "the people I govern" be regarded as sons, thereby creating a situation of subordinates governing superiors? How can a fortune analysis have a ruler but no father? A proverb says, "While the father is alive, the son cannot act independently." If the official star is considered a son, then the father would be governed by the son, which clearly violates the principle of the father's authority. Therefore, old texts have expressions like "overcoming the father and mother," which is clearly unreasonable.

今更定以食傷為子女。書云：「食神有壽妻多子，時逢七煞本無兒」，「食神有制定多兒」，此兩說，可謂確據矣。然此亦死法，倘局中無食傷無官殺者，又作何論？故命理不可執一，總要變通為是，先將食傷認定，然後再看日主之衰旺，四柱之喜忌則用之。故「喜神看與殺相連」者，乃通變之至論也。

Now, redefining, we take "food god" and "hurt official" as children. The命书 says "food god brings longevity, many wives and children, when seven killing comes at the hour, there is no son," and also says "food god determines many sons." These two sentences can be considered solid evidence. However, this is also a fixed method: if the birth chart has neither food god nor hurt official, nor official killing, then how should we discuss it? Therefore, divination should not be rigid, but should understand flexibility. First, take food god and hurt official as children' stars, then look at the strength and weakness of the day master and the favorable and unfavorable elements in the four pillars, and then decide accordingly. Therefore, the classic says "favorable stars should be connected with killing," which is indeed the ultimate principle of flexible reasoning.

如日主旺，無印綬，有食傷，子必多；日主旺，印綬得，食傷輕，子必少；日主旺，印綬重，食傷輕，有財星，預防多而賢；日主旺，印必無；日主弱，食傷重，印綬地，亦無子；日主弱，食傷輕，無比劫，愛星，子必無；日主弱，斷殺重，印綬輕，微伏財，必多女，日主弱，七殺重，食傷輕，有比劫，女多子少；日主弱，官殺重，無印比，子必無；日主旺，食傷輕，逢印綬，遇財星，子少孫多；日主旺，印綬重，官殺輕，有印綬，遇財星，有子必逆。

For example, if the day stem is strong, has no official seal, but has food and injury, there will be many children; if the day stem is strong, the official seal is powerful but food and injury are weak, there will be few children; if the day stem is strong, the official seal is heavy, food and injury are weak, and there is a wealth star to control the official seal and protect the food and injury, there will be many and virtuous children; if the day stem is strong, the official seal is too heavy, and there is no food and injury, there will be no children. If the day stem is weak, food and injury are heavy, and the official seal is not in a good position, there will be no children; if the day stem is weak, food and injury are light, there is no brother or sister to support the body, and there is no favorable god to like, there will be no children; if the day stem is weak, seven killers are heavy, the official seal is light, and the wealth star is slightly hidden to generate the killer and damage the official seal, there will be many daughters; if the day stem is weak, seven killers are heavy, food and injury are light, and there are brothers or sisters to support the body, there will be many daughters and few sons; if the day stem is weak, seven killers are heavy, and there is no official seal or brothers or sisters, there will be no children; if the day stem is strong, food and injury are light, there is an official seal stealing food, and there is a wealth star controlling the official seal, there will be few sons and many grandsons; if the day stem is strong, the official seal is heavy, seven killers are light, there is an official seal releasing the seven killers, and there is a wealth star damaging the official seal, even if there are children, they will be rebellious.

又有日主旺，無印綬，食傷伏，有官殺，子必多者，又有日主旺，比劫我，無印綬，食傷伏，子必多者，蓋母多惡意子之意也。故木多火熄，金克木則生火；火多土焦，水克火則生土；土重金埋，木克土則生金；金多水滲，火克金剛水克火則生水；水多木浮，土克水則生木。以官殺為子也，此這謂也。明雖以官殺為子也。大率身旺財為子，身衰印作兒，此皆余之試驗者，故敢更定，仔細推之，無不應也。

There are cases where the day master is strong, there is no official seal, and the food and injury are hidden, yet there are many children; there are also cases where the day master is strong, there are many similar elements, no official seal, and the food and injury are hidden, yet there are many children—this is the principle of "many mothers leading to the death of the child." Therefore, if there is too much wood, the fire is smothered, and metal is needed to control wood in order to generate fire; if there is too much fire, the earth is scorched, and water is needed to control fire in order to generate earth; if there is too much earth, the metal is buried, and wood is needed to control earth in order to generate metal; if there is too much metal, the water is drained, and fire is needed to control metal in order to generate water; if there is too much water, the wood is floated, and earth is needed to control water in order to generate wood. Sometimes the official and killer (the god that controls me) is considered as children, which refers exactly to this meaning. It may seem contradictory on the surface, but in reality it conforms to this principle. In general, when the body is strong, wealth is considered as children; when the body is weak, the official seal is considered as children. These are all conclusions I have personally verified, so I dare to re-examine and redefine them. Careful consideration shows that none of them fail to be verified.

辛丑　辛丑　戊戌　癸丑 庚子　己亥　戊戌　丁酉　丙申　乙未 此造日主旺，比劫多，年月傷官並透通根，丑為溼土，能生金蓄水，戌為火庫，日主臨之，不致寒凍也，是以農業富厚，更喜運走西方不悖，余雖斷其多子，實不敢定其數目，詢之云，自十六歲生子，每所得一子，連生十六子，並無損傷。此因命之美，印星不現，辛金明潤不雜木火之妙也。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Xin Chou, the month pillar as Xin Chou, the day pillar as Wu Xu, and the hour pillar as Gui Chou. The big years are in sequence: Geng Zi, Ji Hai, Wu Xu, Ding You, Bing Shen, and Yi Wei. The day's ruler is Wu earth, which is strong, and there are many siblings. The year and month pillars both have Xin metal as the visible heavenly stem, which is a damaging official, and they both have roots in Chou. Chou is a moist earth that can generate metal and retain water, while Xu is a fire repository. The day's ruler sits on top of Xu, so the whole chart does not become cold and dry, thus making it suitable for farming and leading to a wealthy family. Even more fortunate is that the native's fortune flows through the western metal lands, which does not contradict the birth chart. I was certain that he would have many children, but I could not be sure of the exact number. After asking, I found out that he started having children at the age of sixteen, almost one every year, and he had sixteen sons, none of whom died young. This is entirely due to the beauty of the birth chart—the food star does not come to take away the food, and the Xin metal is clear and moist, without any wood or fire to damage it.

癸亥　甲子　丁酉　癸卯 癸亥　壬戌　辛酉　庚申　己未　戊午 此造殺官當令，嫌其甲木透干，不能棄命從殺，只得殺重用印，則忌卯酉逢沖，去甲木之旺地。所生妻生八女，妾生入女，竟兒子。所謂身衰印作和，此財星壞印之故也。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Guihai, the month pillar as Jiazi, the day pillar as Dingyou, and the hour pillar as Guimao; the big years are in sequence Guihai, Renxu, Xinyou, Gengshen, Jiwei, and Wuwu. In this case, the official and killer stars are in command, but it is regrettable that the Jia wood in the month pillar is revealed, making it impossible for the day master to abandon the destiny and follow the killer. Therefore, the path of using the printing star to counteract the killer is taken. Thus, the most dangerous thing is the conflict between Mao and You. The conflict removes the Mao land where the Jia wood relies on for growth and strength. As a result, his wife gave birth to eight daughters, and his concubine gave birth to several more daughters, and there were no sons. This is exactly what was mentioned earlier, "when the body is weak, the printing star is considered as a son," but in this case, the wealth star damaged the printing star.

乙未　辛巳　戊戌　丁巳 庚辰　己卯　戊寅　丁丑　丙子　乙亥 戊土生於巳月，柱中火土本旺，辛金露而無根；兼之己時，丁火獨透克辛，局中全無溼氣；更嫌年干乙木，助火之烈，所以克兩妻，生十二子，刑逝十子。現存二子。

The person's fate is as follows: the year pillar is Yiwei, the month pillar is Xinsi, the day pillar is Wuxu, and the hour pillar is Dingsi. The major years are in sequence Gengchen, Jimao, Wuyin, Dingsi, Bingzi, and Yihai. TheWu Earth is born in the巳 month, where fire and earth are already strong. TheXin Metal official is revealed in the heavenly stem but has no root in the earth; additionally, theDing Fire in the hour pillar alone is strong enough to overcome theXin Metal. The entire chart has no moisture to nourish it. It is even worse that the heavenly stem Yi wood in the year pillar enhances the intensity of the fire. Therefore, this person has killed two wives, had twelve sons, and ten of them died young, leaving only two surviving now.

戊子　癸亥　壬戌　甲辰 甲子　乙丑　丙寅　丁卯　戊辰　己巳 壬水生於孟冬，喜其無金，食神獨透，所以書香小就，甲寅入泮，有十子皆育。其不妻者，無財之妙也；秋闈不利者，無地寅卯也。此造如戌土換之以木，青雲得路矣。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Wuzi, the month pillar as Guihai, the day pillar as Renxu, and the hour pillar as Jiachen. The big years are in sequence Jiazi, Yichou, Bingyin, Dingmao, Wuchen, and Jisi. The壬water is born in the early winter month, and it is fortunate that there is no metal in the chart to generate and strengthen the water. The heavenly stem of the hour is Jia wood, which is the food god, and it is clearly visible. Therefore, there is some achievement in the field of study. In the year of Jiayin, he passed the entrance examination and entered the academy. He had ten sons, all of whom grew up. The reason he did not marry is that there is no wealth star in the chart to compete with. The repeated failure in the local examination is due to the lack of the wood of寅and卯in the big years to support the food god. If the day branch戌earth is changed to wood, he would be able to rise to success.

庚寅　丙戌　辛亥　辛卯 丁亥　戊子　己丑　庚寅　辛卯　壬辰 辛金生於戌月，印星當令；又寅拱丙生天干，比劫不能下生亥水；又亥卯拱木，四柱皆成財官，二妻四妾生三子皆克，生十二女又克其九。還喜秋金有氣，家業豐隆。

The person's birth chart shows the year pillar as Gengyin, the month pillar as Bingxu, the day pillar as Xinhai, and the hour pillar as Xinmao. The major years are in sequence: Dinghai, Wuzi, Jichou, Gengyin, Xinmao, and Renchen. The person was born in the month of Xu, where the earth element Wu is in charge. There is also Yin wood supporting Bing fire, which in turn supports the heavenly stem official star. The two similar elements are restrained by the official star and cannot generate the heavenly stem food and injury elements in the day pillar. Moreover, the arch between Hai and Mao forms wood, so the entire birth chart is almost entirely composed of wealth and official stars, with the only missing element being the son star. Therefore, he has two wives and four concubines, and he has three sons who are all harmed, and twelve daughters, nine of whom are also harmed. Fortunately, the metal of autumn is naturally strong, so his family fortune is still quite prosperous.

丁酉　丁未　戊戌　丁巳 丙午　乙巳　甲辰　癸卯　壬寅　辛丑 土生夏令，重疊印綬，四柱全無水氣，燥土不洩火生金，克三妻五子。至丑運溼土晦火生金，又會金局，得一子方育。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Dingyou, the month pillar as Dingwei, the day pillar as Wuxu, and the hour pillar as Dingsi. The major destiny periods follow in order: Bingwu, Yisi, Jiachen, Guimao, Rennyin, and Xinchou. The native's earth element is born in summer, with three Ding fire elements in the heavenly stems, forming a heavy wealth element. There is no water element at all in the four pillars. The dry earth cannot release the fire or generate metal, causing the water element to be harmed. Therefore, the native is said to have killed three wives and five sons. It was not until the Xinchou destiny period that the native's fortune improved. The Xinchou pillar is a damp earth, which can obscure the fire and generate metal. It also forms a metal cycle with the You and Si pillars, resulting in the birth of one son who was raised to adulthood.

由此數造觀之，食神傷官為子也明矣。凡子息之有無，命中有一定之理，命中子只有五數，水一火二木三金四土五也。當令者倍之，休囚者減半，除加減之外而多者，此秉賦之故也。

From the above examples, it is clear that the food god and the injurer are used to indicate children. Whether or not one has children is determined by fate: the number of children in a person's destiny is fixed at five, corresponding to water as one, fire as two, wood as three, metal as four, and earth as five. If the child star is in its season and strong, its number doubles; if it is weak and confined, its number is halved. If someone has more children than these calculations suggest, it is because of their particularly deep innate constitution from birth.

辛卯　辛卯　甲辰　丁卯 庚寅　己丑　戊子　丁亥　丙戌　乙酉 此造春木雄壯，金透無根，喜其丁火透露，傷其辛金，所以已丑戊子運中，不但得子不育，而且財多破耗，丁亥支拱木而干透火，丁財並益，丙戌俞美，生五子，家業增新，由此觀之，凡八字之用神即是子星，如用神是火，其子必在木火運星，或木火流年得；如不是木火運年得，必子息翕中多木火，或木火日主，否則難抬，或不肖，試之屢驗，然命內用神，不物妻財子祿，而窮通壽夭，皆在用神一字定之，其可忽諸？

The native's birth chart shows the heavenly stem and earthly branch of the year column as Xin Mao, the month column as Xin Mao, the day column as Jia Chen, and the hour column as Ding Mao. The big years in sequence are Geng Yin, Ji Chou, Wu Zi, Ding Hai, Bing Xu, and Yi You. In spring, the wood is strong, but the two Xin metal stems are visible on the heavenly stem but have no roots. Fortunately, the Ding fire stem in the hour column is visible and can weaken the Xin metal. Therefore, during the Ji Chou and Wu Zi big years, the native not only fails to have children who can support him, but also suffers from financial losses. When the Ding Hai big year comes, the earthly branches support wood and the heavenly stem shows fire, so both children and wealth are beneficial. In the Bing Xu big year, the native has five sons and the family business becomes prosperous again. From this, we can see that the essential element in the native's chart is the son star. If the essential element is fire, the native's children will definitely be benefited during the wood and fire big years or in the years of wood and fire. If the children are not benefited during the wood and fire big years, then the children's chart must contain more wood and fire, or the native himself is a wood or fire day stem. Otherwise, it is difficult to have children, and even if children are born, they are likely to be unremarkable. I have tested this many times and it has always been accurate. Therefore, the essential element in the native's chart not only determines wife, wealth, children, and official position, but also determines poverty, prosperity, and lifespan. How can we ignore it?

父母或降與或替，歲月所關果非細。原注：子平之法，以財為父，以印為母，以斷其吉凶，十有九驗，然看歲月為緊。歲氣有益於月令者，及歲月不傷夫喜神者，父母必昌。歲月財氣斬喪於時干者，先克父；歲月印氣斬喪於時支者，先克母。又須活看其局中之大勢，不可專論財印，中間有隱露其興亡之機，而不必在於財印者。與財生印生之神，而損益舒得所，及陰陽多寡之論，無有不驗。

The prosperity or decline of one's parents is greatly influenced by the year pillar and the month pillar. In the method of Zi Ping, the "wealth star" represents the father and the "imperial robe" represents the mother. By judging according to these, the fortune is usually accurate in nine out of ten cases. However, the year and month pillars are most important. If the energy of the year pillar benefits the month pillar, and if the year and month pillars do not harm the favorable gods, then the parents will certainly be prosperous. If the wealth energy of the year and month pillars is harmed by the dry branch of the hour, the father will be harmed first. If the imperial robe energy of the year and month pillars is harmed by the hidden stem of the hour, the mother will be harmed first. In addition, one must consider the overall situation of the entire chart, and not be confined solely to wealth and imperial robe. Often, there are hidden mechanisms of prosperity and decline that may not be directly related to wealth or imperial robe. As for the gods that generate wealth and imperial robe, whether they are harmed or benefited, and the reasoning based on the balance of yin and yang, none of these fail to be accurate.

任氏曰：父母者，生身之根本，是以歲月所關，知其與替之不一，可謂正理不易之法也。原注竟以財印分屬父母，又論克父母之說，無把握，仍惑於谷書之謬也。夫父母屆可以克字加之？當更定喪親、刑妻、克子為至理。如年月官印相生，日時財傷不犯，則上叨廕庇，下受兒榮；年月官印相生，日時刑傷沖犯，則破蕩祖業，敗壞門風。

Ren Shi explained: Parents are the fundamental source of one's birth, so by examining the relationships involved in the year and month pillars, one can understand the differing fortunes of the parents' generation. This is a fixed principle that cannot be altered. The original commentary mistakenly assigned wealth and officialdom to parents and discussed the concept of 'overcoming father and mother,' which lacks certainty and is still influenced by the errors of old fate books. How can parents and elders be described with the term 'overcoming'? It should be redefined as: referring to parents as 'bereavement,' to wife as 'imprisonment,' and to children as 'overcoming children,' which is the true principle. For example, if the year and month pillars have officialdom and official seal in mutual generation, and the day and hour pillars lack wealth stars and injurious officials that cause interference, then one can inherit the blessings of ancestors above and enjoy the honor of descendants below. However, if the year and month pillars have officialdom and official seal in mutual generation, but the day and hour pillars have conflicts and injuries, then the family fortune will be ruined and the family reputation will be damaged.

年官月印，月官年印，祖上清高；日主喜官，時日逢傷，日主喜印，時日逢財，必敗祖辱宗，年財月印，日主喜印，時日逢官印者，知其幫父興家：年秎月印，日景喜印，時日逢官者，知其父母印者，知其自創成家。年官月劫，年劫月劫，年印月劫，日主喜財，時日逢財或傷者，出身寒窘，創業之命。年劫月財，日主喜財，遺緒豐勇，日主喜劫，清高貧寒。年官月傷，日主喜官，時日適官必跨灶，時日遇劫，必破敗。總之財官印綬，在於年月，為日主之喜，父母不貴亦富；為日主之忌，不貧亦賤，宜詳說察之。

The heavenly stem on the year column represents official position, and the earthly branch on the month column represents official seal, or vice versa, indicating that the ancestors are certainly noble and upright. If the day stem prefers official position but both the day and hour columns encounter official position damage, or if the day stem prefers official seal but both the day and hour columns encounter wealth, such a person will certainly lose the family fortune and disgrace the ancestral lineage. If the year column has wealth and the month column has official seal, and the day stem prefers official seal, and both the day and hour columns encounter official position to generate official seal, then he can help his father establish a family. If the year column has wealth and the month column has official seal, and the day stem prefers official seal, and both the day and hour columns encounter official position, then he can inherit the family business from his parents; if the year and month columns are unfavorable but the preferred and useful elements are in the day and hour columns, then he is someone who starts from nothing and builds a family. If the year column has official position and the month column has劫财 (robber), or both the year and month columns have劫财, or the year column has official seal and the month column has劫财, and the day stem prefers wealth, and both the day and hour columns encounter wealth or official position damage, then he comes from a humble background and is destined to create his own career. If the year column has劫财 and the month column has wealth, and the day stem prefers wealth, then the ancestors have a rich inheritance; if the day stem prefers劫财, then he is noble but poor. If the year column has official position and the month column has official position damage, and the day stem prefers official position, and both the day and hour columns encounter official position, then he will certainly surpass his father's achievements (crossing the stove); if both the day and hour columns encounter劫财, it will lead to ruin. In summary, if wealth, official position, and official seal are in the year and month columns and are preferred by the day stem, then the parents are not noble but wealthy; if they are disliked by the day stem, then they are not poor but lowly. This should be carefully examined.

癸卯　乙丑　丙子　己丑 甲子　癸亥　壬戌　辛酉　庚申　己未 此造官印透而得祿，財星藏而歸庫，格局未嘗不美，所嫌者，丑時傷官肆逞，官星退氣，日主衰弱，全賴乙木生火而衛官。年月官印相生，亦出身官家，至亥支入泮；壬戌水通根，破耗異常加捐出仕，不過清規；至酉運，財星壞印，竟伏國刑。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Gui Mao, the month pillar as Yi Chou, the day pillar as Bing Zi, and the hour pillar as Ji Chou. The big years are Jia Zi, Gui Hai, Ren Xu, Xin You, Geng Shen, and Ji Wei in order. The official star and the scholar's robe are both revealed in the heavenly stem and each has its own禄 (favorable position), while the wealth star is hidden in the branch and stored in the warehouse. The overall pattern is not without beauty. However, the Ji soil in the hour pillar harms the official star and shows excessive strength, and the official star is already in decline, while the day's main element is weak. The native relies entirely on the Yi wood in the month pillar to generate fire and support the self, and also to protect the official star. The official and scholar's robe in the year and month pillars mutually generate each other, so he was born into an official family. When he reached the Hai year, the branch supported his education and he passed the examination. In the Ren Xu year, the Ren water rooted in the branch, causing excessive loss of wealth and dispersal, so he had to pay tribute and take office, but it was a poor position. When he reached the You year, the wealth star damaged the scholar's robe, leading to legal punishment.

乙卯　丁亥　戊午　丙辰 丙戌　乙酉　甲申　癸未　壬午　辛巳 戊土生於孟冬，財星臨旺，官印雙清坐祿，日元臨旺逢生，四柱純粹可觀，一行生化有情，喜用皆有精神，所以行運不破局，身出官家，連登科甲，五筆型五子皆登仁籍，富貴福壽之造也。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Yi Mao, the month pillar as Ding Hai, the day pillar as Wu Wu, and the hour pillar as Bing Chen. The major destiny periods are in order: Bing Xu, Yi You, Ji Shen, Gui Wei, Ren Wu, and Xin Si. The day stem Wu Tu was born in the early winter month of October, with the Hai water in the month being the proper place for the wealth star. The official star in the year and the seal star in the month and hour are pure and not mixed, each sitting on their own禄 (lucky position). The day stem is strong and receives support, and the entire chart is pure and harmonious. The destiny path is harmonious and beneficial, with the auspicious and useful stars showing vitality. Therefore, the destiny path does not break the pattern. This person was born into an official family, consecutively passed the imperial examinations, and all five sons also entered official ranks, making it a birth chart that is rich in wealth, honor, and longevity.

丁巳　辛亥　戊子　戊午 庚戌　己酉　戊申　丁未　丙午　乙巳 此造柱中三火二土，似乎旺相，不知亥子當權，沖壞印綬，天干火土虛脫，其祖上大富，至父輩破敗；兼之初運西金地，生助旺水，半生顛連不遇。及交丁未，運轉南方，接連丙午二十年，大遂經營之願，發財十餘萬。

The native's pillars are: year pillar Dingsi, month pillar Xinhai, day pillar Wuzi, and hour pillar Wuwu. There are three fires and two earths in the pillars, which seem prosperous and strong at first glance. However, the water of Hail and Zi is in command, which clashes with the fire, causing the fire and earth in the heavenly stems to be floating and rootless. His ancestors were originally very wealthy, but the family declined during his father's generation. Moreover, in his early years, his fortune was in the western metal direction, which actually helped the strong water, leading to a difficult and troubled life. When he entered the Dingsi big year, his fortune shifted to the south, and together with the Bingwu big year for twenty years, he fulfilled his wish of engaging in business and planning, accumulating wealth of several ten thousand.

乙亥　辛巳　丙辰　癸巳 庚辰　己卯　戊寅　丁丑　丙子　乙亥 此造支逢兩祿乘權，年干印透通根，凡推命者，作旺論用，以財星斷其名利雙收，然丙火生孟夏，火氣方進，年干印綬，被月干財星所壞，巳亥逢沖，破祿去火，則金反得生扶，木火失勢。又坐下辰土，竊去命主無神，時癸蓋頭，巳火亦傷，必作弱推，用以巳火，初運東方木土，出身遣業豐百姓；丙子火不通根，官得地，家多破耗；丑運生金洩火，刑剋異常，家業十去八九，夫婦皆亡。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Yihai, the month pillar as Xinsi, the day pillar as Bingchen, and the hour pillar as Guisi. The big years are in sequence Gengchen, Jimao, Wuyin, Dingchou, Bingzi, and Yihai. In this case, the earth branches have two禄 (two Si), which are powerful. The year stem Yimao is the official star, which is revealed and has its root in Hai, so generally, people would consider the native's strength as strong and use the wealth star to predict success in both fame and fortune. However, the丙 fire is born in the early summer month, so the fire is just beginning to grow and has not yet reached its peak. The year stem official star is damaged by the month stem Xingold star. The Si and Hai branches conflict, breaking the禄 and weakening the fire. The gold star actually gets supported by water, so the wood and fire lose their power. Moreover, the day stem sits on Chen soil, which steals the native's origin god. The hour stem Gui water covers the Si fire, damaging the hour branch Si fire as well. Therefore, we must consider the native as weak, and still take Si fire as the useful element. In early years, when the big years are in the eastern wood and earth, the family's fortune is still abundant. During the Bingzi big year, the fire does not have its root, and the official star (water) is strong, leading to many losses in the family. During the Chou big year, the wet earth produces gold and drains the fire, causing abnormal conflicts, and the family's fortune is reduced by eight or nine tenths, with both spouses passing away.

兄弟誰廢與誰興，提用財神看重輕。原注：敗財比肩羊刃，皆兄弟也。要在提綱之神，與財神喜神較其重輕，財官弱，三者顯其攘奪之跡，兄弟必強；財官旺，三者出其助主之功，兄弟必美；身與財官平，而三者伏而不出，兄弟必貴；比肩重而傷民財殺亦旺者，兄弟必富。身弱而幫者不顯，有印而兄弟必多；身旺而三者又顯，無官而兄弟必衰。

The question of which brother is weak and which is strong depends on comparing the useful god of the month and the wealth star. The key is to compare the key element of the month's stem with the wealth star and the favorable god: if the wealth and official stars are weak, and these three elements show signs of competition, the brothers will be strong. If the wealth and official stars are strong, and these three elements instead support the day master, the brothers will be good. If the day master and wealth and official stars are of equal strength, and these three elements remain hidden, the brothers will be prominent. If the same element is repeated and the food and injury, wealth, and killing stars are also strong, the brothers will be wealthy. If the day master is weak and the supporting element is not visible, but the seal star is present to support the day master, there will be many brothers. If the day master is strong and these three elements are visible without the official star to control them, the brothers will be weak.

任氏日；比肩為兄，敗財為弟，祿刃亦同此論。如殺旺無食，殺重無印，得敗財合殺，必得弟力；殺旺食輕，印弱逢財，得比肩敵殺，必得兄力；殺旺食輕，印弱逢財，得比肩敵殺，必得兄財輕劫重，印綬制傷，不免司馬之憂；財官失勢，劫刃肆逞，周公之慮。

Ren Shi explained: The term "bi pian" represents an elder brother, while "jie cai" (or "bai cai") represents a younger brother. The terms "lu" and "yang ren" are also interpreted in the same way. For example, if the seven杀 (severely oppressive star) is strong but there is no food god (sheng shen) to control it, or if there are multiple seven杀 stars but no official seal (yin shou) to transform and release them, and if "jie cai" is used to harmonize and restrain the seven杀, then one is certainly able to gain the support of the younger brother. On the other hand, if the seven杀 is strong but the food god is weak, the official seal is weak and the wealth star (cai xing) is harmful, and if "bi pian" is used to resist the seven杀, then one is certainly able to gain the support of the elder brother. If the wealth star is weak but "jie cai" is strong, and the official seal restrains the food and injury (sheng shang) (making it impossible for "jie cai" to transform and release), then one is inevitably like Sima Niu, lamenting "everyone has brothers, but I alone do not." If the wealth and official stars lose their power, and "jie cai" and "yang ren" act recklessly, then there will be the worry of having a brother like Guan and Ci, as in the case of Duke Zhou's execution of them.

財生殺黨，比劫幫峰，大被可以同眠；殺重無印，主衰傷伏，鴿原料能無興嘆。殺旺印伏，比肩無氣，弟雖敬而史必衰；官旺印輕，財星得氣，兄雖愛而弟無成。日主雖衰，印旺月提，兄弟成群；身旺逢梟，劫重無官，獨自主持，財輕劫重，食傷化劫，可無斗粟尺布之謠；財輕遇劫。官得明顯，不作煮豆燃萁之詠。梟比重逢，財輕殺伏，未免折翎之悲啼；主衰有印，財星逢劫，反許棠棣之競秀。不論提綱之喜忌，全賃日主之愛憎，審察宜精，斷。

The wealth star supports the seven killing star, forming a group, while the same zhi and劫 wealth stars come to help the day master. Brothers are close, like the brothers Jiang Gong of the Later Han Dynasty who shared one blanket and slept together. If the seven killing star is strong but there is no official star to resolve it, and the day master is weak with hidden food and injury stars unable to control the killing star, it is like the poem from the Book of Songs, Xiao Ya, Chang Di, which says "the sparrow is on the plain," where brothers are in urgent need but can only sigh. If the seven killing star is strong and the official star is hidden, while the same zhi is weak, the younger brother may be respectful, but the elder brother will certainly be weak. If the official star is strong but the official star is light and the wealth star is timely and strong, the elder brother may be friendly, but the younger brother will find it hard to achieve success. If the day master is weak but the official star is strong in the month's main clause, there will be many brothers. If the day master is strong and meets the枭 star and the same zhi is heavy without the official star to control it, then he will be alone to support the family. If the wealth star is light and the same zhi is heavy, but there is food and injury star to transform and release the same zhi, there will be no ridicule like the Han Dynasty folk song "a sheng of millet, a chi of cloth can still be sewn" about brothers not getting along. If the wealth star is light and meets the same zhi, but the official star is clear and can control the same zhi, it will not lead to the sorrowful song by Cao Zhi, "boiling beans with the bean stalks as fuel." If the枭 star and same zhi meet heavily, the wealth star is light and the seven killing star is hidden, it is inevitable to have the sorrow of a lone goose with broken wings and scattered siblings. If the day master is weak but has the official star, and the wealth star is controlled by the same zhi (without harming the official star), it can allow the brothers to be like the棠棣 flowers blooming, competing to flourish. In conclusion, one should not be rigid about the preferences and dislikes of the month's main clause, but determine everything based on the day master's preferences. The examination must be meticulous.

丁亥　壬寅　丙子　丁酉 辛丑　庚子　己亥　戊戌　丁酉　丙申 丙火生於春初，謂相火有焰，不作旺論。月干壬水通根，亥子殺旺無制，喜其丁午寅亥合而化印，以雜為恩。時支財星，生官壞印，以雜為恩。時支財星，生官壞印，又得丁火蓋頭，使其不能克木，所以同胞七人，皆就書香，而且兄愛弟敬。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Dinghai, the month pillar as RENYIN, the day pillar as BINGZI, and the hour pillar as DINGYOU. The major years are XINCHOU, GENGZI, JIHAI, WUXU, DINGYOU, and BINGSHEN in order. The fire element is born in early spring, so it can only be considered as "fire with flame" but not as strong. The month dry branch RENWATER has its root in HAIZI, making the seven killing stars strong and unchecked. Fortunately, the fire element DING and the branch YINHAI combine to form a wooden official, turning the originally mixed elements into benevolent ones. The hour branch YOU metal wealth element would normally generate the official element and harm the official, but it is protected by the hour dry branch DING FIRE on top, preventing it from harming the wooden official. Therefore, he has seven brothers and sisters, all of whom can study and progress, and they are friendly and affectionate towards each other.

癸巳　戊午　丙午　庚寅 丁巳　丙辰　乙卯　甲寅　癸丑　壬子 此造羊刃當權，又逢生旺，更可嫌者，戊癸合而化火，財為眾劫所奪，兄弟六人，皆不成器，遭累不堪。余造年月日皆同，換一壬辰時，弱殺不能相制，亦有六弟，得力者早亡，其餘皆不肖，以致拖累破家。總之劫刃太旺，財官無氣，兄弟反少，縱有，不如無也。然官殺太旺亦傷殘，秘須身財並旺，官印通根，可敦友愛之情。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Gui Si, the month pillar as Wu Wu, the day pillar as Bing Wu, and the hour pillar as Geng Yin. The major years of destiny are Dingsi, Bingchen, Yimao, Jiayin, Guichou, and Renzi. In this case, the Yangren (sheer blade) is strong and in power, and there is wood to nourish it and fire to strengthen it. Worse still, the year and month pillars have Wu and Gui combining to form fire, which causes the wealth star to be taken by many thieves. Therefore, all six brothers are not capable, and they cause great hardship. My own birth chart is the same in the year, month, and day pillars, but with Ren Chen as the hour pillar. The weak killing star cannot control the strong fire, and I also have six younger brothers. The capable ones die early, and the rest are not useful, leading to the destruction of the family. In general, when thieves and sheer blades are too strong and the wealth and official stars are weak, there are fewer brothers. Even if there are brothers, they are not as good as having none. However, if the killing stars are too strong, they also cause harm to the siblings. Only when the body and wealth are strong, and the official stars and their roots are connected, can the brothers be harmonious and friendly.

何知其人富？財氣通門戶。原注：財旺身強，官星衛財，忌印而財能壞印，喜印而財能生官，傷官重面財神流通，財神重而傷官有限，無財而暗成財局，財露而傷亦露者，此皆財氣通門戶，所以富也。夫論財與論妻之法，可相通也，然有妻賢而財薄者，亦有財富有妻傷者，看刑沖會合。但財神清而身旺者妻美，財神濁而身旺者家富。

How do we know if a person is wealthy? We look at whether their wealth energy flows through the gate. The original commentary explains: if the wealth energy is strong and the day master is strong, and there is an official star protecting the wealth energy; if there is a fear of the official star, the wealth energy can remove the bad influence of the official star; if there is a preference for the official star, the wealth energy can generate the official star to then nourish the official star; if there is heavy official star and the wealth energy can circulate it, or if the wealth energy is heavy and the official star is limited; if the wealth energy is not present but there is an implied wealth pattern, or if the wealth energy is clearly present along with the official star—these all belong to 'wealth energy flowing through the gate,' thus indicating wealth. The method of discussing wealth and the method of discussing the wife can be similar; however, there are cases where the wife is virtuous but the wealth is limited, and cases where the wealth is abundant but the wife is harmed, which depends on the specific situations of conflict, opposition, combination, and connection. Generally, if the wealth energy is pure and the day master is strong, the wife is beautiful; if the wealth energy is mixed and the day master is strong, the family is wealthy.

任氏曰：身旺財弱無官者，必要有食傷；身旺財旺無食傷者，必須有官有殺。身旺印旺食傷輕者，財星得局，身旺官衰印綬重者，財得當令，身旺劫旺，無財印而有食傷者；身弱財重，無官印而有比劫者，皆財氣通門戶也。財即是妻，可以通論也。若清財妻美，濁財家富，其理雖正，尚未深論之也。

Ren Shi explained: When the day stem is strong but the wealth is weak and there is no official star, it is necessary to have food and injury stars to generate wealth; when the day stem is strong and wealth is also strong but there are no food and injury stars, it is necessary to have official or killing stars to protect the wealth. When the day stem is strong, the nourishing star is also strong, but food and injury stars are weak, then wealth stars must form a wealth pattern to restrain the nourishing star; when the day stem is strong, the official star is weak, and the nourishing star is heavy, then wealth stars must be in command to destroy the nourishing star and generate the official star; when the day stem is strong, the劫财 is also strong, and there is no wealth or nourishing star but there are food and injury stars to transform the劫财; when the day stem is weak but wealth is heavy, there is no official or nourishing star but there are similar and helpful stars to support the day stem—these all belong to 'wealth qi passing through the gate'. The wealth star is the wife star, and they can be discussed together. As for the saying that clear wealth leads to a beautiful wife and turbid wealth leads to a wealthy family, although this is correct, it has not been discussed in depth.

如身旺有印，官星洩氣，四柱不見食傷得財星生官，無食傷則財星亦淺，主妻美而財薄也；身旺無印，官弱逢傷，得財星化傷生官，則亦通根，官亦得助，不特妻美，而且富厚；身旺官弱，食傷重見，財星不與官通，家雖富而妻必陋也；身旺無官，食傷有氣，財星不與劫連，無印而妻財並美，有印則財旺妻傷。此四者宜細究之。

For example, if the day stem is strong and has a seal (印绶), the official star's energy is drained by the seal, and there is no food or injury (食伤) in the four pillars. The wealth star is relied upon to generate the official star. Since there is no food or injury to generate wealth, the wealth star itself is weak, indicating a beautiful wife but limited wealth. If the day stem is strong without a seal, the official star is weak and is attacked by injury stars. Wealth star is used to transform and drain the injury stars to generate the official star. If the wealth star is rooted and the official star is supported, then not only is the wife beautiful, but the family is wealthy. If the day stem is strong and the official star is weak, with many food or injury stars appearing, and the wealth and official stars are not connected, then although the family is rich, the wife is certainly coarse. If the day stem is strong without an official star, and food or injury stars have energy to generate wealth, and the wealth star is not connected with the劫财 (competitor for wealth), then without a seal, both wife and wealth are good; with a seal, wealth is strong but the wife is harmed. These four situations should be carefully examined.

甲申　丙子　壬寅　辛亥 丁丑　戊寅　己卯　庚辰　辛巳　壬午 壬水生於仲冬，羊刃當權，年月木火無根，日支食神沖破，似乎平常。然喜日寅時亥，乃木火生地；寅亥合，則木火之氣愈貫；子申會，則食神反得生扶，所謂財氣通門戶也。富有百餘萬，凡鉅富之命，財星不多，只要生化有情，即是財氣通門戶，若財臨旺地，不宜見官，日主失令，必要比劫助之，期為美也。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Jia Shen, the month pillar as Bing Zi, the day pillar as Ren Yin, and the hour pillar as Xin Hai. The big years are in order: Ding Chou, Wu Yin, Ji Mao, Geng Chen, Xin Si, Ren Wu. The Ren water is born in the middle winter month of Zi, with Yang Ren in power. The Jia wood and Bing fire in the year and month pillars have no roots, and the Yin wood food god in the day pillar is broken by the Zi water. At first glance, it seems ordinary. However, it is fortunate that the Yin wood in the day pillar and the Hai water in the hour pillar are the places where wood and fire are born. The Yin and Hai combine, making the wood and fire energy more connected. The Zi and Shen form a combination, allowing the food god to be supported. This is called "wealth energy flows through the gate." The person has a fortune of over one million. Generally, the birth charts of extremely wealthy people do not necessarily have many wealth stars; as long as they are harmonious and supportive, it is called "wealth energy flows through the gate." If the wealth star is in a strong position, it is not advisable to have the official star to drain the wealth. If the day ruler is not in season and is weak, there must be siblings or relatives to support, which is considered a complete and harmonious chart.

壬申　丙午　癸亥　戊午 丁未　戊申　己酉　庚戌　辛亥　壬子 癸水生於仲夏，又逢午時，財官太旺。喜其日元得地，更妙年干劫坐長生，財星有氣，尤羨五行無木，財水洩而火無助，壬水可用。且運走西北，金水得地，遺緒不豐，自創四五十萬，一妻四妾八子。

The person's birth chart shows the year pillar as Renshen, the month pillar as Bingwu, the day pillar as Guihai, and the hour pillar as Wuwu. The person was born in the middle summer month of Wu, and the hour is also Wu, so wealth and official power are very strong. Fortunately, the day's main element, Gui water, is supported by the亥 water in the day's position. It is especially fortunate that the heavenly stem壬 water, which is the劫财, is sitting on the申 metal long life position, so the wealth star has some strength and the day's main element also has support. Moreover, there is no wood in the five phases, so water is not drained and does not help fire. Therefore, the壬 water in the year pillar can be used. With the fortune moving through the northwest metal and water positions, the day's main element is supported. The person's ancestors did not leave much inheritance, but the person created a business worth forty to fifty thousand households, and had one wife and four sons.

何知其人貴？官星有理會。原注：官旺身旺，印綬衛官，忌劫而官能去劫，喜印而官能生印，財神旺而官星通達，官星旺而財神有氣，無官而暗成官局，官星藏而財神亦藏者，此皆官星有理會，所以貴也。夫論民與論子之法，可相通也，然有子多而無官者，身顯而無子者，亦看刑沖會合。但官星清而身旺者必貴；官星濁而身旺者必多子；至於得象得氣、得局、得格者，妻子富貴兩全。

How do we know that a person is of high status? We look to see if his official star is orderly and supportive. The original commentary explains: if the official star is strong and the day's ruler is also strong, and there is an official star supported by the seal star; if there is a dislike of劫财, the official star can control the劫财; if there is a preference for the seal star, the official star can generate the seal star; if the wealth star is strong and the official star is clear and supported, or if the official star is strong and the wealth star also has strength; if the official star is not present in the chart but is formed through hidden connections, or if the official star is hidden in the branches and the wealth star is also hidden—these all belong to the category of "the official star is orderly and supportive," thus indicating high status. The method of discussing the official star can also be applied to the discussion of children; however, there are cases where there are many children but no official position, and cases where there is a high position but no children. Similarly, we must consider the effects of conflicts, clashes, combinations, and harmonies. In general, if the official star is pure and the day's ruler is strong, the person will certainly achieve high status; if the official star is mixed and the day's ruler is strong, the person will certainly have many children; as for those who have the official star, the wealth star, the form, and the pattern, they will have both wife, children, wealth, and status.

任氏曰：身旺官弱，財能生官，官旺身弱，官能生印，印旺官衰，財能壞印，印衰官旺，財不現，劫重財輕，官能去劫，財星壞印，官能生印，用官，官藏財亦藏，用印，印露官亦露者，皆官星有理會，所以貴顯也。如身旺官旺印亦旺，格局最清，而四柱食傷，一點不混，財星又不出現，官星之情依乎印，印之情依乎日主，只生得一個本身，所以有官無子也；縱使稍雜食傷，亦被印星所克，子亦艱難。

Ren Shi explained: When the day stem is strong and the official star is weak, there is a wealth star to generate the official star; when the official star is strong and the day stem is weak, there is an official star that turns to generate the seal star; when the seal star is strong and the official star is weak, there is a wealth star to damage the seal star and support the official star; when the seal star is weak and the official star is strong, the wealth star does not appear at all (does not assist the official star); when the competition star is heavy and the wealth star is light, there is an official star to control the competition star; when the wealth star is damaging the seal star, there is an official star in the middle to connect and generate the seal star; when taking the official star as the main use, the official star is hidden in the branch and the wealth star is also hidden; when taking the seal star as the main use, the seal star appears in the heavenly stem and the official star also appears; all these belong to 'the official star has a proper connection', so they can achieve high status. For example, when the day stem is strong, the official star is strong, and the seal star is also strong, the pattern is the clearest and purest, and there is no trace of food and injury stars in the four pillars, and the wealth star also does not appear: the official star relies on the seal star, the seal star relies on the day stem, and all the generation and transformation only nourish the day stem itself, so there is an official position but no children; even if a little food and injury star is mixed in, it is controlled by the seal star, and children are still difficult to have.

如身旺官旺印弱，食傷暗藏，不傷官星，不受印星所克，自然貴而有子；必身旺官衰，身傷有氣，有印而財有壞印，無才而暗成財局，不貴而子必富；如身旺官衰，食傷旺而無財，有子必貧；如身弱官旺，食傷旺而無印，貧而無子，或有印逢財，亦同此論。

For example, if the day stem is strong, the official star is strong, but the seal star is weak, and the food and injury stars are hidden in the branches, they do not harm the official star nor are they completely suppressed by the seal star. Thus, one naturally attains high status and has children. If the day stem is strong but the official star is weak, and the food and injury stars are strong with the presence of the seal star, then the wealth star can damage the seal star and protect the food and injury stars. Without the wealth star, the wealth star may still form a wealth pattern secretly. In such cases, although one does not attain high status, the children will be wealthy. If the day stem is strong but the official star is weak, and the food and injury stars are strong without the presence of the wealth star, then having children will certainly lead to poverty. If the day stem is weak but the official star is strong, and the food and injury stars are strong without the presence of the seal star to transform the official star and nourish the day stem, then one will be poor and childless. Alternatively, if there is a seal star but it is damaged by the wealth star, the same conclusion applies.

癸卯　癸亥　丁卯　辛亥 壬戌　辛酉　庚申　己未　戊午　丁巳 此造官殺乘權，原可畏也，然喜支拱印局，巧借栽培，流通水勢，官星有理會。第嫌初運庚申辛酉，生殺壞印，偃蹇功名；己未支全印局，干透食神，雲程直上，仕至尚書。然有其命必得其運，如不得其運，一介寒儒矣。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Gui Mao, the month pillar as Gui Hai, the day pillar as Ding Mao, and the hour pillar as Xin Hai. The major years are Ren Xu, Xin You, Geng Shen, Ji Wei, Wu Wu, and Ding Si. In this case, the official stars and killing stars are strong and in command, which is usually formidable. However, it is fortunate that the hidden heavenly stems in the branches form a wood official star pattern through the mutual support of Hai and Mao, which cleverly helps to nourish the day master. This is called "the official star has a proper connection." The native's early years, during Geng Shen and Xin You, strengthen the official stars and damage the wood official star pattern, leading to difficulties in achieving official status. When reaching Ji Wei, the hidden heavenly stems in the branches complete the wood official star pattern, and the heavenly stem also reveals Ji earth food star to control the killing stars, thus enabling the native to rise rapidly and attain the position of Minister. This shows that a person's fate depends on the corresponding years. If the appropriate years are not obtained, the native will remain a poor scholar.

癸酉　丁巳　丙午　壬辰 丙辰　乙卯　甲寅　癸丑　壬子　辛亥 丙火生於孟夏，坐祿臨旺，喜其巳酉拱金，財生官，官制劫，更妙時透壬水，助起官星，以成既濟。三旬外運走北方水地，登科發甲，名利雙輝。勿以官殺混雜為嫌也，身旺者，必要官殺混雜而發也。

The birth chart shows the year pillar as Guiyou, the month pillar as Dingsi, the day pillar as Bingwu, and the hour pillar as Renchen. The major years are successively Xinhai, Guichou, Jiayin, Yimao, Bingchen, and Dingsi. The丙 fire is born in the early summer month, sitting on the午 fire's strength and in a flourishing position. It is fortunate that the巳 and 酉 form an arch to create metal, allowing the wealth star to generate the official star, and the official star to control the劫财. Even more remarkable is the壬 water appearing in the hour pillar, supporting the official star and forming the "both water and fire are in order" pattern. After the age of thirty, when the destiny moves to the northern water territory, one will pass the imperial examination, achieve rapid success, and gain both fame and fortune. Do not worry about the mixture of official and killing stars—those with a strong day pillar can benefit from the mixture of official and killing stars to achieve success.

甲午　丙寅　辛酉　己丑 丁卯　戊辰　己巳　庚午　辛未　壬申 此造財臨旺地，官遇長生，日主坐祿，印綬通根，天干四字，地支皆臨祿旺，五行無水，清而純粹。春金雖弱，喜其時印通根得用，庚運幫身。癸酉看登科；午運殺旺，病晦刑喪；辛運己卯年發甲入詞林；後運金水幫身，仕路未可限量也。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Jia Wu, the month pillar as Bing Yin, the day pillar as Xin You, and the hour pillar as Ji Chou. The big years are in sequence: Ding Mao, Wu Chen, Ji Si, Geng Wu, Xin Wei, Ren Shen. In this case, the Jia wood, which represents the wealth star, is in a strong position. The Bing fire, which represents the official star, meets the growth of Yin. The day's main element, Xin metal, is seated on You, which is its own禄 (favorable position). The Ji earth, which represents the scholar star, is rooted in Chou. All four heavenly stems are in the earth branches where they have their禄 or strength. Among the five phases, there is no water to muddy the clarity, so the elements are pure and clear. Although spring metal is weak, it is fortunate that the scholar star is rooted in the hour pillar and can be used. In the Geng year, the same element helps the main element, and in the Gui You year, the native passed the imperial examination. In the Wu year, the seven killing star becomes strong, leading to many illnesses and obstacles, and also encountering lawsuits and mourning. In the Xin year, in the Ji Mao year, the native achieved success, entering the Hanlin Academy. After that, when the destiny moves to the metal and water elements that support the main element, the official career has no limits.

乙巳　辛巳　庚辰　甲申 庚辰　己卯　戊寅　丁丑　丙子　乙亥 庚金生於立夏前五日，土當令，火未司權，庚金之生坐實，且辰支申昌，生扶並旺，身強殺淺。嫌其財露無根逢劫，所以出身貧寒；一交丁運，官星元神發露，戊寅己卯兩年，財星得地，喜用齊來，科甲聯登，又入詞林。書云：「以殺化權，定顯露門貴客」，此之謂也。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Yisi, the month pillar as Xinsi, the day pillar as Gengchen, and the hour pillar as Jiashen. The big years are in sequence Gengchen, Jimao, Wuyin, Dingchou, Bingzi, and Yihai. The庚 metal is born five days before the beginning of summer, at which time the earth element is still dominant and fire has not yet fully taken control, so the庚 metal has a solid growth. Moreover, the day branch is chen earth and the hour branch is shen metal, which generate and support the庚 metal, forming a strong body with a weak official star. The only drawback is that the甲 wood, which represents wealth, is revealed in the heavenly stem but lacks a root and is contested by the same element, leading to a poor origin. When the fire big year arrives, the official star's origin god is revealed. In the years of Wuyin and Jimao, the wealth star finds its proper place, and the auspicious and useful gods arrive together, resulting in consecutive success in exams and being selected into the Hanlin Academy. The fortune book says, "Transforming the official star into power, surely brings about the success of a poor family's noble guest," which exactly describes this destiny.

何知其人貧？財貧神反不真。原注：財神不真者，不但洩氣被劫也，傷輕財重傷氣洩，財輕官重財氣洩，傷重印輕身弱，財重卻輕身弱，皆為財神不真也。中有一味清氣，則不賤。

How do we know that a person is poor? Because his wealth god is not genuine. The original commentary explains: when the wealth god is not genuine, it does not merely refer to the wealth star being weakened or taken by the rival or competitor. If the injurious star is light but the wealth star is strong, the energy of the injurious star is completely drained; if the wealth star is light but the official star is strong, the energy of the wealth star is completely drained; if the injurious star is strong but the official star is weak, and the day master is also weak; if the wealth star is strong but the rival or competitor is weak, and the day master is also weak—these all fall under the category of an inauthentic wealth god. However, if there is still a trace of clear energy remaining, then although the person may be poor, he will not be of low status.

任氏日：財神不真者有九，如財重而食傷多者，一不真也；財輕喜食傷而印旺者，二不真也；財輕劫重，食傷不現，三不真也；財多喜劫，官星制劫，四不真也；喜印而財星壞印，五不真也；忌印而財星生官，六不真也；喜財而財合閒神而化者，七不真也；忌財而財合閒神化財者，八不真也；官殺旺而喜印，財星得局者，九不真也。

Ren Shi explained that there are nine situations where the wealth god is not genuine. When the wealth star is strong and the food and injury stars are numerous, it is not genuine. When the wealth star is weak and the food and injury stars are desired to strengthen it, but the official and minister stars are strong and suppress the food and injury stars, it is not genuine. When the wealth star is weak and the劫财 is strong, and the food and injury stars do not appear to transform the劫财 into wealth, it is not genuine. When the wealth star is numerous and the劫财 is desired to share the burden, but the official and minister stars suppress the劫财, it is not genuine. When the day master desires the official star, but the wealth star damages the official star, it is not genuine. When the day master dislikes the official star, but the wealth star generates the official star, which in turn generates the official star, it is not genuine. When the day master desires wealth, but the wealth star combines with idle stars to form something else, it is not genuine. When the day master dislikes wealth, but idle stars combine with other stars to form wealth, it is not genuine. When the official and minister stars are strong and the day master desires the official star to transform the minister stars, but the wealth star forms a wealth pattern to damage the official star, it is not genuine.

此九者，財神不真之正理也，然貧者多富者少，故貧有幾等之貧，富有幾等之富，不可概定。有貧而貴者，有貧而正者，有貧而賤者，宜分辨之。如財輕官衰，逢食傷而見印綬者，或喜印，財星壞印，得官星解者，此貴而貧也；官殺旺而身弱，財星生助官殺，有印財一衿易得，無印則老儒冠，此清貧之格，所為皆正也。

These nine types represent the true principles of the wealth god not being genuine. However, in the world, there are many poor people and few rich ones, so poverty can be divided into different levels, and wealth can also be divided into different levels; they cannot be treated as a single case. There are those who are poor yet still hold high status, those who are poor yet have upright character, and those who are poor and lowly. These should be clearly distinguished. For example, if the wealth star is weak and the official star is declining, and if the food and injury stars drain the body but the seal star comes to control the food and injury stars; or if the day's main element prefers the seal star, and the wealth star originally harms the seal star, but the official star in the middle connects and resolves the conflict—this belongs to being noble yet poor. If the official and killer stars are strong and the day's main element is weak, and the wealth star also helps the official and killer stars: if there is a seal star to transform the killer, a scholar's official position may be easily obtained; if there is no seal star, then one will spend a lifetime wearing the cap of a scholar without achieving anything. This is a clear case of poverty, and the person's actions and behavior are all upright.

財多而心事必欲貪死，官旺而心志必欲求之，非合而合，不從而從，合之不化，從之不真，此等之命，見富貴而生諂容，遇財利而忘恩義，謂貧而賤也，即僥倖致富，亦不足貴也，凡敗業破家之命，初看似呼佳美，非財官雙美，即干支雙清，非殺印相生，即財臨旺地，不知財官雖可養命榮身，必先要日主旺相，主能任其財官，若太過不及，皆為不真，能散能耗則有之，終不能臻富貴也，此等格局最多，難以枚舉，宜細究之。

As for those whose fortune stars are numerous but their hearts are constantly greedy to the point of death, and whose official stars are strong but their aspirations are always seeking to gain favor; they approach what should not be compatible as if it were, and they follow what should not be transformed as if it were. When compatibility is achieved but transformation fails, and when following is attempted but it is not genuine—such people, upon seeing wealth and honor, display flattery, and upon encountering profit, forget gratitude and righteousness. This is called being poor and lowly. Even if they happen to gain wealth by chance, it is not truly valuable. All those whose fortunes lead to ruin and loss of family originally appear quite favorable: either they have both wealth and official stars in good condition, or their heavenly stems and earthly branches are clear and pure; either the killing star and the seal star mutually generate, or wealth is in a strong position. But they do not realize that although wealth and official stars can sustain life and bring honor, they must first have the day's main element strong and prosperous, capable of bearing the weight of wealth and official positions. If it is excessive or insufficient, it is considered 'not genuine,' and such cases often lead to depletion and destruction, ultimately failing to reach true wealth and honor. This type of pattern is the most common and cannot be fully listed here; one must carefully examine and investigate each case.

壬子　戊申　戊戌　辛酉 己酉　庚戌　辛亥　壬子　癸丑　甲寅 戊土生於孟秋，支在西方，秀氣流行，格局本佳，出身大富。所嫌者，年干壬水能根會局，則財星反不真矣。兼之運走西北金水之地，所以輕財重義，耗散異常，惟戌運入泮得子。辛亥壬子貧乏不堪。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Renzi, the month pillar as Wushen, the day pillar as Wuxu, and the hour pillar as Xinyou. The big luck periods follow in order: Jiyou, Gengxu, Xinhai, Renzi, Guichou, and Jiayin. The Wutu is born in the early autumn month of July, with the earthly branches located in the western metal position. The atmosphere of earth and metal is excellent, so the native is born into a wealthy family. However, the problem is that the year's heavenly stem Ren water is rooted in the Zi branch, and it forms a water trinity with the Shen branch, making the wealth star too strong and thus not genuine. Moreover, the native's fortune path involves the northwest metal and water regions, leading to a tendency to be light-hearted about wealth and valuing righteousness, with unusual wastefulness. Only during the Xuxu period did the native enter school and have a son. However, during the Xinhai and Renzi periods, the native became extremely poor.

癸卯　甲寅　丁巳　己酉 癸丑　壬子　辛亥　庚戌　己酉　戊申 此造財藏殺露，殺印相生，又聯珠相生，似乎貴格，所以祖業二十餘萬；不知年干之殺無根，其菁華盡被印綬竊去，必用酉金之財。蓋頭覆之以土。似科有情，但木旺土虛，相火逢生，則巳酉不會，財不真矣。一交壬子，洩金生木，一敗如灰；至亥支，印遇長生，竟遭餓死。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar asGuimao, the month pillar asJiayin, the day pillar asDingsi, and the hour pillar asJiyou. The major destiny periods areGuichou, Renzi, Xinhai, Gengxu, Jiyou, and Wushen. In this case, the wealth star is hidden in the branches, while the seven killing star is revealed in the heavens. The killing star and the printing star mutually generate each other, forming a chain of mutual generation from water to wood and then to fire. It seems like a noble destiny, so the native inherits a fortune of over 200,000. However, the癸 water in the year pillar has no root, and its essence is entirely stolen by the甲 wood printing star. Therefore, the酉 gold wealth star must be used. The己 earth in the hour pillar covers the酉 gold, seemingly beneficial, but since wood is strong and earth is weak, the丁 fire is also strengthened by wood. Thus, the巳 and 酉 do not form a metal group, and the wealth star is not genuine. When entering theRenzi period, water drains the gold and strengthens wood, leading to the complete loss of family fortune. By the亥 period, the printing star (wood) reaches its growth, and the native ends up in a state of starvation.

庚午　壬午　丙寅　庚寅 癸未　甲申　乙酉　丙戌　丁亥　戊子 此夏火逢金，財滋弱殺，兩支不雜，殺刃神清，定然名利雙輝。不知地支木火，不載金水，杯水車薪，不但不能制火，反洩財星之氣，夏月庚金敗絕，財之不真可知矣。早運癸未、甲申、乙酉土金之地，豐衣足食；一交丙戌，支全火局，刑妻克子，破耗異常，數萬家業，盡付東流；丁亥合壬寅而化木，孤苦不堪而死。

The birth chart shows the year pillar as Gengwu, the month pillar as Renwu, the day pillar as Bingyin, and the hour pillar as Gengyin. The big years follow in order: Guiwei, Jiashen, Yiyou, Bingxu, Dinghai, and Wuzi. This is a case of summer fire meeting metal, with the wealth star (Geng metal) nourishing the weak seven killer (Ren water). The earth branches are pure, with the killer and yang ren each clear and distinct. It seems certain that this person will achieve both fame and fortune. However, the earth branches only contain wood and fire, which cannot support the metal and water in the heavenly stems. It is like pouring water into a cart to put out a fire: the Ren water does not restrain the fire, but instead drains the energy of the wealth star (Geng metal). Moreover, Geng metal is in a state of decline in summer, so the wealth star is clearly not genuine. In the early years, during the Guiwei, Jiashen, and Yiyou big years, which are earth and metal, the person can still have enough to eat and wear. But once the Bingxu big year comes, the earth branches form a full fire trine, leading to marital problems, children's loss, and unusual losses, causing the family fortune to be completely lost. In the Dinghai big year, the Ding and Ren stars combine, and the寅 and亥 branches transform into wood, ultimately resulting in a lonely and painful death.

乙卯　乙酉　庚寅　壬午 甲申　癸未　壬午　辛巳　庚辰　己卯 秋金乘令，財官並旺，食神吐秀，大象觀之，富貴之命。第財星太重，官星拱局，日主反弱，不任其財官，全賴劫刃扶身，被卯沖午克，時干壬水，不能克火，反洩日元之氣，財財星不真矣。初運甲申祿旺，早年入泮，其後運走南方，貧乏不堪。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Yi Mao, the month pillar as Yi You, the day pillar as Geng Yin, and the hour pillar as Ren Wu. The major years are Ji Shen, Gui Wei, Ren Wu, Xin Si, Geng Chen, and Ji Mao. In autumn, the metal is in its season, and the wood wealth star and fire official star are both strong. The heavenly stem of the hour, Ren water, is the food god which shows talent. From a grand perspective, this is a prosperous and wealthy destiny. However, the wealth star is too strong, and the official star forms a fire trinity with Yin and Wu, which weakens the day's main element. The day's main element cannot bear the burden of so much wealth and official power, relying only on the month's You pillar's劫财 and Yangren to support it. Unfortunately, You is conflicting with Mao and is also being overcome by Wu fire. The hour's Ren water does not overcome the fire, but instead drains the day's main element's strength, making the wealth star not genuine. In early years, the Ji Shen major year brings the day's main element to its peak, and the native entered school at a young age. After that, when the major years move to the southern fire region, the native becomes extremely poor.

辛丑　丙申　癸巳　庚申 乙未　甲午　癸巳　壬辰　辛卯　庚寅 此財星坐祿，一殺獨清，似乎佳美，所嫌者，印星太重，丑土生金洩火，丙辛合而化水，以財為用，申又合巳，則財更不真。初運乙未甲午，木火併旺，祖業頗豐；一交癸巳，皆從申合，一敗如灰，竟為乞丐。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Xin Chou, the month pillar as Bing Shen, the day pillar as Gui Si, and the hour pillar as Geng Shen. The major destiny periods follow in order: Yi Wei, Jiawu, Guisi, Renchen, Xinchou, and Gengyin. In this case, the propitious fire wealth star (Bing) is seated on the Si (Snake) position, which is the fire's禄 (lucky position). The earth killer (Ji) is pure and uncluttered, making the chart appear favorable at first glance. However, the excessive presence of metal is a concern. The Chou earth generates and drains the fire, while the year stem Xin metal combines with the month stem Bing fire to transform into water, thus neutralizing the wealth star. Since the wealth star is intended to be the main focus, the Shen metal in the hour pillar further combines with the Si fire, making the wealth star even less genuine. In the early period Yi Wei and Jiawu, wood and fire are strong, supporting the wealth star, and the ancestral fortune is quite substantial. However, upon entering the Guisi period, the Si fire is completely combined by the Shen metal, leading to the complete collapse of the family fortune, and eventually the native becomes a beggar.

庚辰　乙酉　丁丑　乙巳 丙戌　丁亥　戊子　己丑　庚寅　辛卯 丁火日元，時逢旺地，兩印生身。火焰金疊，似乎富格，不知月干乙木，從庚而化，支會金局，四柱皆財，反不真矣。祖業亦豐，初運丙戌丁亥，比劫幫身，財喜如心；戊子已丑，生金晦火，財散人離，竟凍餓而死。

The person's birth chart shows the year pillar as Geng Chen, the month pillar as Yi You, the day pillar as Ding Chou, and the hour pillar as Yi Si. The major years are in sequence: Bing Xu, Ding Hai, Wu Zi, Ji Chou, Geng Yin, and Xin Mao. The day stem is Ding fire. The hour branch Si is a strong position for fire, and there are two Yi wood official stars in the heavenly stems to nourish the body. The fire seems to be strong and the metal is heavy, making it appear as a wealthy pattern. However, the Yi wood in the month stem is combined with the Geng metal in the year stem, turning into metal. The branches Si, You, and Chou form a metal trinity, turning almost all the pillars into wealth. Since there is too much wealth and the body is weak, the pattern is not genuine. This person's ancestors had a fairly prosperous legacy. In the early years Bing Xu and Ding Hai, the same stem and same branch help the body, and seeking wealth was smooth and successful. However, in the years Wu Zi and Ji Chou, the damp earth generates metal and obscures the Ding fire, causing the wealth to scatter and the person to lose everything, eventually dying from cold and hunger.

何知其人賤？官星還不見。原注：官星不見者，不但失令被傷也。身輕官重，官輕印重，財重無官，官重無印者，皆是官星不見也。中有一味濁財，則不貧；至於用神無力而忌神太過，敵而不受降，助旺欺弱，主從失宜，歲運不輔者，既貧且賤。

How do we know that a person is of low status? Because his official star is ultimately not present. The original commentary explains: the absence of the official star does not merely refer to the official star being out of season or being overcome. If the day master is weak while the official star is strong, or the official star is weak while the official star's nourishing star is strong, or the wealth star is strong without the official star, or the official star is strong without the nourishing star—these all fall under the category of the official star being absent. If there is also a mixture of a turbid wealth star, it does not lead to poverty. However, if the useful god is weak while the hostile god is too strong, and the hostile god resists and does not submit, assisting the strong god to oppress the weak one, causing the master and the servant to lose their proper positions, and the years and months of destiny do not come to support, then the person will be both poor and of low status.

任氏曰：此段原注太略，然富貴之中，未當無賤，貧賤之中，未當無貴，所以賤之一字，不易知也。如身弱官旺，不用印綬化之，反以傷官強制；如身弱印輕，不以官星生印，反以財星壞印；如財重身輕，不以比劫幫身，反以比劫奪財，合此格者，忘卻聖賢明訓，不思祖父積德，以致災生不測，殃及子孫。如身弱印輕，官旺無財，或身旺官弱，財星不現，合此格者，處貧困不改其節，遇富貴不易其志，非禮不行，大義不取。

Ren Shi explained: The original commentary is too brief. However, among the wealthy and noble, there are also those of low birth, and among the poor and humble, there are also those of high virtue. Therefore, the term "贱" (lowly) is the most difficult to determine accurately. For example, if the day stem is weak and the official star is strong, one should not use the seal star to resolve the situation, but instead use the injurious star to directly counteract it; if the day stem is weak and the seal star is light, one should not use the official star to nourish the seal star, but instead use the wealth star to damage the seal star; if the wealth star is heavy and the day stem is weak, one should not use the same kind of stem to support the day stem, but instead let them compete for the wealth star. Those who fit these patterns often forget the teachings of the sages, neglect the accumulated virtue of their ancestors, and thus invite unforeseen calamities, even affecting their descendants. Another example is when the day stem is weak and the seal star is light, while the official star is strong without the support of the wealth star; or when the day stem is strong and the official star is weak, but the wealth star does not appear. Those who fit these patterns remain steadfast in poverty without changing their conduct, and remain resolute in wealth without wavering their aspirations. They do not engage in improper actions or take unjust gains.

故知貪財改帛而戀金谷者，竟竟遭一時之顯戮，樂簞瓢而甘沿履者，終受千載之令各，是以有三等官星不見之理，如官輕印重而身旺，或官重印輕而身弱，或官印兩平而日主休囚者，此上等官星不見也，如官旺喜印，財星壞印，或官殺重無印，食傷強制，或官多忌財，財星得局，或喜官星，而官星合他神化傷者。或忌官星，他神合官星又化官者，此下等官星不見也。細究之，不但貴賤分明，而賢不肖亦瞭然矣。

From this we can see that those who are greedy for wealth and indulge in the luxurious opulence of Shi Chong's Gold Valley Garden ultimately suffer public punishment at the hands of the authorities. In contrast, those who are content with the simple life of Yan Hui, eating a single basket of food and drinking a single pot of water, and who are unbothered by worn-out shoes, are instead remembered for a thousand generations. Therefore, the concept of "official star not appearing" has three levels. For example, if the official star is light but the seal star is strong, and the day master is strong, or if the official star is strong but the seal star is weak, and the day master is weak, or if the official and seal stars are balanced but the day master is weak and in decline — this is considered the superior level of "official star not appearing" (the person may not achieve fame but possesses a noble character). Another example is when the official star is strong, the day master prefers the seal star to transform the official star, but the wealth star comes in and harms the seal star; or when there are many official and killing stars without a seal star to transform them, and only the food and injury stars are used to restrain them; or when there are many official stars and the wealth star is undesirable to generate more official stars, but the wealth star forms a wealth pattern; or when the day master prefers the official star, but the official star combines with another star to form the injury star; or when the day master dislikes the official star, but the official star is combined with another star, yet another official star is formed — this is considered the inferior level of "official star not appearing." By carefully examining these distinctions, not only can we clearly distinguish between the noble and the ignoble, but also between the virtuous and the wicked.

丁丑　壬子　丁亥　甲辰 辛亥　庚戌　己酉　戊申　丁未　丙午 丁火生於仲冬，干透壬水，支全亥、子、丑北主，官星旺格；辰乃溼土，不能制水，反能晦火，謂清枯之象，官星反不真也。喜其無金，氣勢純清，其為人學問真確，處世無苟，訓蒙度日，苦守清貧，上等官星不見也。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Dingchou, the month pillar as Renzi, the day pillar as Dinghai, and the hour pillar as Jiachen. The major destiny periods are Xinhai, Gengxu, Jiyou, Wushen, Dingwei, and Bingwu. The Ding fire is born in the middle of winter in the Zi month, with the heavenly stem revealing Ren water. The earth branches include Hai, Zi, and Chou, all in the northern water position, indicating extremely strong official stars. The hour branch Chén is a damp earth, which cannot control the strong water and instead obscures the Ding fire, creating the image of 'clear and dry' (qing ku). Although the official stars are strong, they are not genuine. Fortunately, there is no metal in the chart to generate water, so the energy is pure and clear. Therefore, the person has solid and accurate knowledge, is unwilling to be dishonest, and makes a living by teaching, enduring poverty with integrity. This is an example of superior official stars not being visible.

丙辰　庚寅　丙午　壬辰 辛卯　壬辰　癸巳　甲午　乙未　丙申 此造財絕無根，官又無氣，兼之運走東南之地，幼年喪父，依母轉嫁他姓；數年母死，牧牛度日，稍長則賣力傭工；後雙目失明，不能傭作，求乞自活。

The native's birth chart shows the year pillar as Bing Chen, the month pillar as Geng Yin, the day pillar as Bing Wu, and the hour pillar as Ren Chen. The major destiny runs are Xin Mao, Ren Chen, Gui Si, Jiawu, Yi Wei, and Bing Shen. In this case, the Geng metal wealth star is in the Yin position, which is a place of depletion and has no root, and the Ren water official star also lacks strength. Furthermore, the destiny runs through the southeast wood and fire directions, which further enhance the strength of the self but damage the wealth and official stars. Therefore, he lost his father at a young age and was taken in by his mother, who later married into another family. After a few years, his mother died, and he had to work as a cowherd to survive. As he grew older, he worked as a laborer, but later became blind and could no longer work, so he had to beg for a living.