On the Connection with the Divine · Eight, Earthly Branches

壬辰 己酉 甲申 甲子／庚戌 辛亥 壬子 癸丑 甲寅 乙卯。此與前造只換一辰字，以俗論之，前則制官留殺，此則合官留殺，功名仕路，無所高下，殊不知有天淵之隔。夫制者克而去之，合者有去有不去也。如以辰土為財，則化金而助殺；以酉金為官，仍化金而黨殺。由此觀之，清中帶濁，且以財為病者，不但功名蹭蹬，而且刑耗難辭。惟亥運逢生，可獲一衿，壬子如逢木，秋闈有望；癸丑合去子印，一阻去程，有凶無吉；甲寅運被申沖破，壽元有礙矣。

Four pillars: Renchen, Jiyou, Jiashen, Jiazi; major years: Gengxu, Xinhai, Renzi, Guichou, Jiayin, Yimao. This chart differs from the previous one only by the replacement of the character 'Chen'. According to common views, the previous chart was one of restraining official power and retaining the killer, while this one is one of combining with official power and retaining the killer, so the prospects for fame and official career should be about the same. However, in reality, there is a vast difference between the two. The term 'restraining' refers to eliminating or removing it, while 'combining' means that some can be removed and others cannot. For example, if Chén soil is considered as a treasure, Chén combines with You metal to transform into metal, helping the killer; if You metal is considered as official power, You still transforms into metal and joins the killer. Therefore, this destiny is clear but mixed with turbidity, and the treasure is considered a problem. Not only will the prospects for fame be difficult, but also there will be difficulties, injuries, and losses. Only during the Xai year, the day master meets the growth, which can bring a scholar's title; during the Renzi year, if there is also wood, there is some hope for the provincial examination; during the Guichou year, Chou combines with Zi, removing the Zi water, which blocks the future, bringing only misfortune and no good fortune; during the Jiayin year, Yin is destroyed by Shen metal, which affects longevity.

上下貴乎情協。原注：天干雖非相生，宜有情而不反背。任氏曰：上下情協者，互相衛護，干支不反背者也。如官衰傷旺財星得局，官旺財多比劫得局，殺重用印，忌財者財臨劫地，身強殺淺，喜財者財坐食鄉，財輕劫重，有官而官星制劫，無官而食傷化劫，皆謂有情。如官衰遇傷，財星不現，官旺無印，財星得局，殺重用印，忌財者財坐食位，身旺煞輕，喜財者財坐劫地，財輕劫重，無食傷而官失令，有食傷而印當權，皆為不協。

The relationship between the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches should be based on harmony and mutual support. The original commentary states that although the Heavenly Stems may not necessarily be mutually generating, they should still have a harmonious relationship and not contradict each other. Ren Shi explains that harmony between the upper and lower elements refers to the mutual protection between the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, with no opposition. For example, if the official star is weak and the injurious star is strong, the wealth star can form a harmonious combination to mediate; if the official star is strong and there is an excess of wealth, the same-rank elements can form a harmonious combination to support the person; if there is a heavy killing star and the seal star is used as the useful element while wealth is considered harmful, the wealth star happens to be in the same-rank position and is taken away; if the person's strength is strong and the killing star is weak, and wealth is desired, the wealth star happens to be in the position of the injurious star and is generated; if wealth is weak and same-rank elements are strong, an official star is used to control the same-rank elements, or if there is no official star, the injurious and wealth stars are used to transform and drain the same-rank elements—these are all considered harmonious. Conversely, if the official star is weak and meets the injurious star without the wealth star appearing; if the official star is strong but there is no seal star, and the wealth star forms a harmonious combination; if there is a heavy killing star and the seal star is used as the useful element while wealth is considered harmful, but the wealth star is in the position of the injurious star and is generated; if the person's strength is strong and the killing star is weak, and wealth is desired, but the wealth star is in the same-rank position and is taken away; if wealth is weak and same-rank elements are strong, there is no injurious or wealth star, or although there are injurious stars, the seal star is dominant—these are all considered disharmonious.

己巳 癸酉 丙寅 庚寅／壬申 辛未 庚午 己巳 戊辰 丁卯。此日主兩坐長生，年支又逢祿旺，足以用官。癸水官星被己土貼身一傷，喜得官臨財位，尤妙巳酉拱金，則己土之氣已洩，而官星之根固矣。所以一生不遭凶險，名利兩全也。

The four pillars are Ji Si, Gui You, Bing Yin, and Geng Yin; the big years are Ren Shen, Xin Wei, Geng Wu, Ji Si, Wu Chen, and Ding Mao. The person's day stem is Bing Yin, which is a strong fire. The day branch and hour branch both have Yin Wood, which is the growth position for fire. The year branch Si Fire is also a strong position for fire. The body is strong enough to use the official star. The official star, Gui Water, is slightly harmed by the year stem Ji Earth. However, it is fortunate that the official star is sitting on You Metal, which is the wealth position, and wealth can generate official star. Especially remarkable is that the year branch Si and the month branch You form a metal trinity, allowing the Ji Earth energy to flow into metal. This makes the official star's root even stronger. Therefore, he will not encounter misfortune in his life and will achieve both fame and fortune.

癸亥 癸亥 丙辰 甲午／壬戌 辛酉 庚申 己未 戊午 丁巳。此官殺乘旺，原可畏也，然喜午時生食制煞，時干透甲，生火洩水。旺殺半化為印，衰木兩遇長生，賴此木根愈固，上下情協，不誣也。白手成家發財數萬。

Four Pillars: Guihai, Guihai, Bingchen, Jiawu; Grand Destiny: Renxu, Xinyou, Gengshen, Jiwei, Wuwu, Dingsi. The official and killer elements are strong, which is usually fearsome; however, it is pleasant that the birth time is in the hour of Wu. The fire of Wu supports the body and can generate the earth element Wu-tǔ food god in the earth of Chen to control the killer. The heavenly stem at the hour also reveals Jiā mù, which generates fire and drains water. In this way, half of the strong water killer is transformed into the印绶 to support the body. The weak Jiā mù also meets the long life of Hai twice, relying entirely on this, the root of wood becomes even stronger. The relationship between the upper and lower is harmonious, and this is indeed true. Therefore, he started from nothing and accumulated wealth in the tens of thousands.

甲寅 庚午 乙卯 丙子／辛未 壬申 癸酉 甲戌 乙亥 丙子。專祿日主，時支子水生之，年干甲木，亦坐祿旺，用庚金則火旺無土，坐干火地，用丙火則子沖去其旺支，即或用火，亦無安頓之運。所以一敗如灰，至乙亥運，水木齊來，竟為乞丐。

Four pillars: Jiayin, Gengwu, Yimao, Bingzi; Great Destiny: Xinwei, Renshen, Guiyou, Jiaxu, Yihai, Bingzi. The day stem is Yimao, with the earth branch Mao, which is the 'special fortune' for wood. The hour branch Zi water supports the fire, and the year stem Jiamao is also in the strong position of the earth branch Yin. If we need Geng metal, there is no earth to generate metal, and Geng metal is itself in the fire branch Wu, which is strong fire. If we need Bing fire, the hour branch Zi water directly conflicts with the fire branch Wu, which is the strong position of fire. Even if we try to use fire, there is no step in the destiny that can stabilize fire. Therefore, the family business is ruined completely. When entering the Xinwei destiny, water and wood come together strongly, leading to becoming a beggar.

乙丑 己卯 乙亥 壬午／戊寅 丁丑 丙子 乙亥 甲戌 癸酉。此己土之財，通根在丑，得祿於午，似乎身財並旺，不知己土之財，比肩奪去，丑土之財，卯木克破，午火食神，亥水克之。壬水蓋之，無從引化，所謂上下無情也。初逢戊寅丁丑，財逢生助，遺業頗豐；一交丙子，沖去午火，一敗而盡；乙亥運，妻子俱賣，削髮為僧，又不守清規，凍餓而死。合此兩造觀之，則上下之情協與不協，富貴貧賤，遂判天淵，即於此證驗焉。

Four pillars: Yichou, Jimao, Yihai, Renwu; Great Journey: Wuyin, Dingchou, Bingzi, Yihai, Jiaxu, Guiyou. This person's earthy wealth star, Ji soil, is rooted in the year's branch, Chou, and also gets its own strength in the hour's branch, Wu. It seems that both body and wealth are strong. However, the Ji soil wealth in the month's dry branch is taken by the Yi wood fellow in the year's dry branch, and the Ji soil wealth in the year's branch is destroyed by the Miao wood in the month's branch. The fire food god in the hour's branch is also overcome by the Hai water in the day's branch, and there is also Ren water above covering it, so there is no way to connect and transform. This is called the lack of harmony between upper and lower. In the early years of the Great Journey, Wuyin and Dingchou, the wealth star is supported and strengthened, so the person has a lot of inheritance. But when entering the Bingzi Great Journey, the Zi water conflicts with the Wu fire, causing the family business to collapse completely. When entering the Yihai Great Journey, the person even sells his wife, becomes a monk, and does not follow the monastic rules, finally dying of cold and hunger. When combining these two cases, the harmony or lack of harmony between upper and lower, and the difference between wealth and poverty, are as if they are from the heavens and the earth, which can be clearly verified here.

左右貴乎同志。原注：上下左右，雖不全一氣之物，須生化不錯。任氏曰：左右同志者，制化得宜，左右生扶，不雜亂者也。如殺旺身弱，有羊刃合之，或印綬化之；身旺殺弱，有財星生之，或官星助之；身殺兩旺，有食神制之，或傷官敵之，此謂同志。若身弱而殺有財滋，財幾為累矣；身旺而劫將官合，財官已忘矣。總之，日主所喜之神，必要貼身透露，喜殺而殺與財親，忌殺而煞逢食制，喜印而印居官後，忌印而印讓財先，喜財而遇食傷，忌財而遭比劫，日主所喜之神，得閒神相助，不爭不忌，所忌之神，被閒神制伏，不肆不逞，此謂同志。宜細究之。

In the four pillars, the heavenly stems and earthly branches adjacent to each other should share the same intention. The original commentary says: although it is impossible for all pillars to be of the same nature, they must not produce any errors in their generation and transformation. Master Ren explained: what is meant by "same intention" is that both control and transformation are appropriate, and the adjacent pillars support each other without confusion. For example, if the seven killing stars are strong and the day master is weak, having a Yangren to bind the seven killing stars or an official star to transform and release the seven killing stars is appropriate; if the day master is strong and the seven killing stars are weak, having a wealth star to generate the seven killing stars or an official star to assist is appropriate; if both the day master and the seven killing stars are strong, having a food god to control the seven killing stars or a damaging star to oppose the seven killing stars is appropriate—these are all cases of same intention. If the day master is weak and the seven killing stars are nourished by the wealth star, the wealth star becomes a burden; if the day master is strong and the same kind of stars combine with the official star, the official and wealth stars become ineffective. In summary, the gods that the day master favors must be close and clearly present: if the day master favors the seven killing stars, the seven killing stars should be close to the wealth star; if the day master dislikes the seven killing stars, the seven killing stars should be controlled by the food god; if the day master favors the official star, the official star should be supported by the intellectual star; if the day master dislikes the official star, the intellectual star should be ahead to damage the official star; if the day master favors the wealth star, the wealth star should be generated by the food and damaging stars; if the day master dislikes the wealth star, the wealth star should be taken by the same kind of stars. The gods that the day master favors are assisted by other gods without competing or envying; the gods that the day master dislikes are controlled by other gods without being excessive or unrestrained—this is called same intention. This section should be carefully studied.

壬申 丙午 庚午 庚辰／丁未 戊申 己酉 庚戌 辛亥 壬子。此丙火之殺雖旺，壬水之根亦固，日主有比肩之助，辰土之生，謂身殺兩停。用壬制殺，天干之同志者；地支之同志者，辰土也，一制一化，可謂有情。運喜金水之鄉，仕途顯赫，位至封疆。

Four pillars: Renshen, Bingwu, Gengwu, Gengchen; Great Destiny: Dingwei, Wushen, Jiyou, Gengxu, Xinhai, Renzi. The propitious fire seven killer is strong, but the root of the壬water is also firm. The year's branch, Shen, is the growth place of the壬water. The day's stem, Geng metal, is supported by the hour's stem Geng metal and nourished by the hour's branch Chen earth. Thus, the body and the killer are evenly matched. Taking the壬water to control the killer is a kind of harmony in the heavenly stems. The earth branches also have harmony with the Chen earth. On one side, the killer is controlled, and on the other, the killer is transformed into nourishment for the body. This is considered harmonious. The favorable destiny is to travel through the land of metal and water, so the career is prominent, and he reaches the position of a high-ranking official.

壬午 丙午 庚申 戊寅／丁未 戊申 己酉 庚戌 辛亥 壬子。此造與前合觀，大同小異，況乎日坐祿旺，壬水亦緊制殺，何彼則名利雙收，此則終身不發？蓋彼則壬水逢申之生地，制殺有權，此則壬水坐午之絕地，敵殺無力；彼則時干比劫幫身，又可生水，此則時上梟神克水，而不能生食。所謂左右不能同志者也。

Four pillars: Renwu, Bingwu, Gengshen, Wuyin; big years: Dingwei, Wushen, Jiyou, Gengxu, Xinhai, Renzi. When viewed together with the previous set, they are largely similar, especially since the day master sits on Shen, which is a strong and prosperous position, and the Ren water is closely adjacent to control the seven killing stars. So why did the previous set achieve both fame and fortune, while this one remains unsuccessful throughout life? The reason is that in the previous set, the Ren water met Shen, which is the place of growth, thus having the power to control the killing stars. In this set, however, the Ren water is in Wu, which is a dead position, making it powerless to control the killing stars. In the previous set, the time heavenly stem was a same-king helper that supported the body and could also generate water. In this set, however, the time heavenly stem is Wu earth, aOwl Spirit, which only knows how to control water and cannot generate or support food and energy. This is what is meant by the left and right not being in agreement.

始其所始，終其所終，富貴福壽，永乎無窮。原注：年月為始，日時不反背之日地為終，年月不妒忌之，凡局中所喜之神，引於時支，有所歸者，為始終得所，則富貴福壽，永乎無窮矣。任氏曰：始終之理，要干支流通，四柱生化不息之謂也。必須接續連珠，五行俱足，即多缺乏，或有合化之情，互相護衛，純粹可觀，所喜者逢生得地，所忌者受克無根。閒神不黨忌物。忌物合化為功，四柱干支，一無棄物，縱有傷梟劫刃，亦來輔格助用。喜用有情，日元得氣，未有不富貴福壽者也。

One should properly begin and properly conclude. When the beginning is well established and the conclusion is properly handled, wealth, honor, happiness, and longevity will be endless. Original commentary: The year and month pillars represent the beginning, while the day and hour pillars represent the conclusion, provided the day and hour pillars do not contradict each other. Also, the year and month pillars should not compete with the day and hour pillars. In the entire birth chart, if the beneficial gods are properly guided to the hour pillar and have a proper resting place, then both the beginning and the conclusion are in their proper places, and thus wealth, honor, happiness, and longevity will be endless. Ren Shi explained: The principle of beginning and conclusion requires that the heavenly stems and earthly branches flow smoothly, and that the four pillars continuously generate and transform each other. The pillars must be connected in sequence, like a chain of pearls, with all five elements present. Even if there is a deficiency, there should be a harmonious transformation, with mutual protection among the elements, resulting in a pure and commendable pattern. The beneficial gods should be supported and have a strong position, while the harmful gods should be restrained and lack a root. The idle gods should not join forces with the harmful gods, and the harmful gods should be harmonized and transformed into beneficial elements. None of the heavenly stems and earthly branches in the four pillars are useless. Even if there are harmful elements such as wounded officials, hawk gods, competing wealth, and yangren, they all contribute to the pattern and assist the beneficial gods. When the beneficial and useful gods are in harmony, and the day's heavenly stem is strong and has a good position, such a birth chart will surely bring wealth, honor, happiness, and longevity.

壬寅 甲辰 丁亥 己酉／乙巳 丙午 丁未 戊申 己酉 庚戌 辛亥 壬子。年干壬水為始，是支亥水為終。官生印，印生身，食神發用吐秀，財得食之覆，官逢財星之生。傷官雖當令，印緩制之有情，年月不反背，日時不妒忌，始終得所。貴至二品，富有百萬，子孫濟美，壽至八旬。

Four Pillars: Renyin, Jiachen, Dinghai, Jiyou; Great Years: Yisi, Bingwu, Dingwei, Wushen, Jiyou, Gengxu, Xinhai, Renzi. The heavenly stem of the year, Ren water, is the official star, which is the beginning. The day branch, Hai water, is the end. The official star generates the seal, the seal nourishes the main stem, and the Ji soil food god initiates the transmission, revealing elegance. The wealth star (You metal) has the food god covering it and generating it. The official star is also supported by the wealth star. Although the Chen soil injurious star is in command, it is restrained by the Ji wood seal, which is harmonious. The year and month do not contradict each other, and the day and hour do not compete. Each element is in its proper place. Therefore, the official and noble positions reach the second rank, the family has a million taels of wealth, the descendants are all talented, and the lifespan reaches eighty years.

戊戌 庚申 癸亥 乙卯／辛酉 壬戌 癸亥 甲子 乙丑 丙寅 丁卯 戊辰。此造土生金，金生水，水生木，干支同流，但有相生之誼，而無爭妒之風。戊戌中財星歸庫，官司清印正分明，食神吐秀逢生。鄉榜出身，仕至黃堂，一妻二妾，子有十三，科第連綿，富有百萬，壽過九旬。

Four pillars: Wuxu, Gengshen, Guihai, Yimao; major years: Xinyou, Renxu, Renxu, Jiazi, Yichou, Bingyin, Dingmao, Wuchen. The destiny shows earth generating metal, metal generating water, water generating wood, with the heavenly stems and earthly branches flowing smoothly together. There is only mutual generation and no conflict or jealousy. In the Wuxu pillar, fire, the wealth star, is stored in the Xu earth; the official star is clear and the educational support is proper, with clear boundaries. The ethereal wood food god is revealed with elegance, and it meets the water of the day's main element to nourish it. Therefore, he passed the local examination and became a recommended candidate, reached the position of prefect, had one wife and two concubines, thirteen sons, continuous success in the imperial examinations, and amassed a fortune of a million taels. He lived beyond ninety years.

甲子 丙寅 己巳 辛未／丁卯 戊辰 己巳 庚午 辛未 壬申 癸酉 甲戌。此造天干木生火，火生土，土生金，地支水生木，木生火，火生土，土生金。且由支而生干，從地支則以年支子水生寅木為始，至時干辛金為終；從天干亦以年支子水生甲木為始，至時干辛金為終。天地同流。正所謂始其所始，終其所終也，是以科甲聯登，仕至極品，夫婦齊美，子孫衍，科甲不絕，壽至九旬。

Four pillars: Jiazi, Bingyin, Jisi, Xinwei; great years: Dingmao, Wuchen, Jisi, Gengwu, Xinwei, Renshen, Guiyou, Jiaxu. The heavenly stems show wood generating fire, fire generating earth, and earth generating metal. The earthly branches show water generating wood, wood generating fire, fire generating earth, and earth generating metal. The energy flows from the earthly branches to nourish the heavenly stems. Looking at the earthly branches, it begins with the year branch Zi water generating the month branch Yin wood, and continues until the hour stem Xin metal as the conclusion. Looking at the heavenly stems, it also begins with the year branch Zi water generating the year stem Jia wood, and continues until the hour stem Xin metal as the conclusion. The energies of heaven and earth flow together and advance in unison, which is precisely what is meant by "beginning where it begins and ending where it ends." Therefore, one achieves success in the imperial examinations consecutively, attains an official rank of the first grade, enjoys a harmonious marriage, has numerous descendants, and continues to achieve academic success throughout life, living to be ninety years old.

兩氣合而成象，象不可破也。原注：天干屬木，地支屬火，天干屬火，地支屬木，其象則一。若見金水則破，餘仿此。任氏曰：兩氣雙清，非獨木火二形也，如土金、金水、水木，木火、火土，相生各半五局。即相剋之五局亦是也，如木土、土水、水火、火金、金木之各半用敵也。相剋務須均敵，切忌偏重偏輕。若用金水，則火土不宜夾雜；如取水木，則火金不可交爭。木火成象者，最怕金水破局；水火得濟者，尤忌土來止水。各既如此，取運亦仿此而行。一路澄清，必位高而祿重；中途混亂，恐職棄而家傾。故此格最難全美，而看法貴在至精。若生而復生，乃是流通之妙；倘克而遇化，亦為和合之情。或謂理僅兩神，似嫌狹少，不知格分十種，盡費推詳。

Two energies combine to form a single image, which should not be disturbed. Original commentary: If the heavenly stem belongs to wood and the earthly branch to fire, or the heavenly stem belongs to fire and the earthly branch to wood, the image formed is the same. If gold and water appear, the image is broken, and the rest follows the same pattern. Ren Shi explains: The term "two energies clearly separated" does not refer only to the wood and fire combination. There are five patterns where the elements are mutually generating and each occupies half, such as earth and gold, gold and water, water and wood, wood and fire, and fire and earth. There are also five patterns of mutual control, such as wood and earth, earth and water, water and fire, fire and gold, and gold and wood, each occupying half and opposing each other. In cases of mutual control, the forces must be balanced; it is most undesirable for one side to be stronger and the other weaker. If gold and water are used, fire and earth should not be mixed in. If water and wood are chosen, fire and gold should not conflict. The image formed by wood and fire is most vulnerable to disruption by gold and water. In cases where water and fire are each half and form the "Already Completed" pattern, it is especially undesirable for earth to stop the water. If the birth chart is like this, the chosen fortune path should follow the same principle: a continuous and clear path will surely lead to high status and great wealth; if there is confusion and disorder along the way, one may lose office and position, and the family may decline. Therefore, this pattern is difficult to achieve perfection, and the analysis must be extremely detailed. If there is a new birth in life, it is a sign of smooth flow of energy; if there is mutual control but also transformation, it can be considered as harmony. Some people say this only discusses the relationship between two deities, which seems too narrow. In reality, there are ten different patterns, and examining each one requires considerable effort.

甲午 丁卯 甲午 丁卯／戊辰 己巳 庚午 辛未 壬申 癸酉。此造木火各半，兩氣成象，取丁火傷官，秀氣為用。四柱金水全無，純粹可觀。巳運丁火臨官，南宮奏捷，名高翰苑；庚運官殺混局，降知縣。夫南方之金，尚有不足，將來西方之水，難言無咎。

Four pillars: Jiawu, Dingmao, Jiawu, Dingmao; big years: Wuchen, Jisi, Gengwu, Xinwei, Renshen, Guiyou. In this destiny, wood and fire each occupy half, forming a complete image. The use of Ding fire as the official is taken as the useful god. There is no metal or water in the four pillars, making the pattern pure and commendable. When the big year is Shiyi, the Ding fire is in Shiyi, which is the official position, thus achieving success in the imperial examination and ranking as a Hanlin scholar. When the big year is Gengwu, the official and killer stars mix into the pattern, leading to a demotion to county magistrate. One must know that when traveling to the southern direction, metal is still insufficient in strength. In the future, when traveling to the western direction and encountering water, it will be difficult to avoid calamity.

丁卯 乙巳 丁卯 乙巳／甲辰 癸卯 壬寅 辛丑 庚子 己亥。此亦木火各半，兩氣成象，非前傷官之比。日主是火，長於夏令，木從火勢，格成炎上，更不宜見金運。火逢生助，巡撫浙江；至辛運水年，木火皆傷，故不能免禍。所謂「二人同心，可順而不可逆也。」

Four pillars: Dingmao, Yisi, Dingmao, Yisi; big years: Jiachen, Guimao, Renyin, Xinchou, Gengzi, Jihai. This configuration also has wood and fire each taking up half, forming a dual aspect, but it cannot be compared to the previous configuration's official position pattern. The day stem is fire, and it is in the summer season, so wood supports the fire, forming the "Inflaming Ascendancy" pattern, which is even more unsuitable for encountering the metal big years. Fire is supported by wood, so he reached the position of Inspector General of Zhejiang; but when he encountered the Xinchou big year and met a water year, both wood and fire were harmed, leading to misfortune. This is what is meant by "two people with the same heart can go with the flow but not against it."

丙午 戊戌 丙午 戊戌／己亥 庚子 辛丑 壬寅 癸卯 甲辰。此火土各半，兩氣成象，取戌土食神，秀氣為用。辛丑運溼土晦火，秀氣流行，登鄉榜；壬運壬年，赴會試，死於都中，蓋水激丙火，則火滅也。如兩戌換以兩辰，不致燥烈，雖逢水運，亦不至大凶也。

Four pillars: Bingwu, Wuxu, Bingwu, Wuxu; big years: Jihai, Gengzi, Xinchou, RENYIN, GUIMAO, Jiachen. In this case, fire and earth each occupy half, forming a balanced pattern. The use of the earth element in Wuxu as the food god (shishen) is taken as the useful god. During the Xinchou big year, which is damp earth, it obscures the fire and allows the refined energy to flow, hence passing the imperial examination. When reaching the RENYIN big year and encountering the RENYIN year, he went to the capital for the imperial examination and died there. Originally, water stirred the Bing fire, causing the fire to be extinguished. If the two Wuxu were replaced by two Jiachen, the destiny would not be so intense, and even if encountering a water big year, there would not be such a great misfortune.

戊戌 辛酉 戊戌 辛酉／壬戌 癸亥 甲子 乙丑 丙寅 丁卯。此土金各半，兩氣成象，取辛金傷官為用。喜其一路北方運，秀氣流行，少年科甲，仕至黃堂；交丙破辛金之用，不祿。凡兩氣成象者，要日主去生，或食或傷。謂英華秀發，多致富貴；所不足者，運破局，不免於禍。如金水水木之印綬格，無秀可取，故無富貴，試之屢驗。

Four pillars: Wuxu, Xinyou, Wuxu, Xinyou; major years: Renxu, Guihai, Jiazi, Yichou, Bingyin, Dingmao. In this case, earth and metal each take up half, forming a balanced structure. The useful god is Xinyou, the metal official. Fortunately, the person's journey has been through the northern water years, allowing the refined qualities to flourish, so he passed the imperial examination in his youth and reached the position of governor. However, when he entered the Bing fire year, the Bing fire destroyed the Xinyou useful god, leading to his death. Generally, for a balanced structure, the day master should generate the other element, either as a food god or a damaging official, which is called the flourishing of refined qualities, and such people often become wealthy and noble. The deficiency is that once the journey breaks the structure, misfortune is inevitable. For example, the metal and water, or water and wood, which are generated by the day master through the mother, do not have refined qualities to take, so they do not lead to wealth and nobility, and this has been repeatedly verified.

戊戌 癸亥 戊戌 癸亥／甲子 乙丑 丙寅 丁卯 戊辰 己巳。此水土各半，兩氣成象，喜其通根燥土，財命有一。然氣勢稍寒，所以運至丙寅，寒逢陽運，登科甲，更妙亥中甲木暗生，仕至郡守，宦途平坦。

Four pillars: Wuxu, Guihai, Wuxu, Guihai; Great Destiny: Jiazi, Yichou, Bingyin, Dingmao, Wuchen, Jisi. The person's destiny has equal parts of water and earth, with two energies forming a pattern. It is fortunate that the day stem is rooted in dry earth, so both wealth and self have strength. However, the overall energy is somewhat cold, so it was not until the Bingyin destiny that the cold pattern met a warm and yang destiny, allowing the person to pass the imperial examination and achieve the status of Jia. Even more remarkable is that the hidden Methane wood in Hai secretly generates fire, thus enabling the person to attain the position of prefect and have a smooth official career.

癸亥 己未 癸亥 己未／戊午 丁巳 丙辰 乙卯 甲寅 癸丑。此土水相剋，兩氣成象，純殺無制，日主受傷。初走火土之鄉，生助七殺，正是明月清風誰與共，高山流水少知音；一交乙卯，運轉東方，制殺化權，得奇遇，飛昇縣令。由此觀之，生局必須食為美，印局無秀氣，不足為佳。財局身財均敵，日主本氣無傷，然又要運程安頓得好，斯為全美，一遇破局，則禍生矣。

Four pillars: Guihai, Jiwei, Guihai, Jiwei; great destiny: Wuwu, Dingsi, Bingchen, Yimao, Jiayin, Guichou. In this case, the earth and water are in mutual control, two energies forming a pattern, entirely seven killers without restraint, the day's ruler is injured. In early years, when the destiny moves through fire and earth, fire and earth instead help the seven killers, which is like a bright moon and clear wind with no one to share, or high mountains and flowing water with few who understand. When it reaches Yimao, the destiny moves to the eastern wood land, wood can control the killer, transform the killer into power, thus achieving a rare encounter, and suddenly rising to become a county magistrate. From this, we can see that the pattern of mutual generation must be best with food and injury; if it forms an imprint pattern, there is no refined quality to take, and it cannot be considered a good destiny. The wealth pattern has the body and wealth in equal strength, the day's ruler's main energy is not injured; but it still needs good fortune to be properly arranged, only then can it be perfect. Once it encounters a broken pattern, disaster comes.

五氣聚而成形，形不可害也。原注：木必得水以生之，火以行之，土以培之，金以成之。是以成形於要緊之地，或過或缺，則害。餘皆仿之。任氏曰：木之成形，食傷洩氣，水以生之；官殺交加，火以行之；印綬重疊，土以培之；財輕劫重，金以成之。成形於得用之地，庶無偏枯之病，何患名利不遂乎？即舉木論，五行皆可成形，變仿此而推。若四柱無成，成之於歲運又無成處，則終身碌碌，凶多吉少，有志難伸矣。

The qi of the Five Phases gathers together to form a shape, and this shape must not be harmed. The original commentary says: taking wood as an example, wood must have water to nourish it, fire to circulate its qi, earth to nourish its roots, and metal to shape its material. Therefore, the "shaping" element must be in a key position. If it is excessive or lacking, it becomes harmful. The other four phases follow the same principle. Ren Shi explains: the shaping of wood is like this—when food and children are excessive and drain its qi, water is needed to nourish it; when officials and killers are in conflict, fire is needed to circulate its qi and control the killers; when the mother and son are excessive, earth is needed to nourish it, and wealth is used to control the mother and son; when wealth is weak and siblings are strong, metal is needed to shape it, and officials and killers are used to control the siblings. Only when the shaping element is in a position where it can be effectively used can there be no imbalance, and how could one not achieve fame and fortune? This is only an example with wood; all five phases can be shaped, and other changes follow the same logic. If the four pillars themselves do not have a shaping element, and there is no place to support it in the year or month, then one will be always busy without success, with more misfortune than good fortune, and one's aspirations will remain unfulfilled.

壬戌 壬子 甲子 戊辰／癸丑 甲寅 乙卯 丙辰 丁巳 戊午 己未。此造水勢猖狂，獨戊土以培之，以作砥柆之功，不致浮泛也。然戊土亦賴有戌土而根固，若有辰而無戌，辰乃溼土，見水則蕩，戊土不能植根而虛矣。無根之土，豈能止百川之源？故此造所重者，戌之燥土也。但寒木無陽，必須火以溫之，則木方可發榮，所以運至南方火旺之鄉，發財數萬，名成異路也。

Four pillars: Renxu, Renzi, Jiazi, Wuchen; great years: Guichou, Jiayin, Yimao, Bingchen, Dingsi, Wuwu, Jiwei. The water is very strong, and the entire structure relies on a single Wutu to cultivate the roots of the wood, acting as a central pillar to prevent drifting and floating. However, the Wutu itself depends on the戌 earth in the year pillar to have a solid foundation; if there is only Chen but no Xu, Chen is a damp earth, which disperses when encountering water, and the Wutu has nowhere to take root and becomes floating. Without a root, how can the earth withstand the sources of a hundred rivers? Therefore, in this case, the Xu, which is a dry earth, is most important. Cold wood lacks yang energy, and must have fire to warm it, so that the wood can flourish. Therefore, when the destiny reaches the southern region where fire is strong, it brings wealth of ten thousand, and achieves official rank through an unconventional path.

戊寅 乙卯 甲辰 辛未／丙辰 丁巳 戊午 己未 庚申 辛酉。此造支類東方，劫刃肆逞，一點微金，成之不足，故書香不繼，初運火土，不失化之情，財源通裕；至庚申辛酉，辛金得地，而成之異路，加捐仕至州牧；癸運生木洩金，不祿。

Four Pillars: Wuyin, Yimao, Jiachen, Xinyou; Great Years: Bingchen, Dingsi, Wuwu, Jiwei, Gengshen, Xinyou. The hidden heavenly stems of the birth chart are Yin, Mao, Chen, all belonging to the eastern direction. The劫财 and Yangren are strong, and only a slight amount of Xin metal in the time stem is insufficient to form wood, so academic success and official rank cannot be achieved. In the early Great Years, which are fire and earth, the fire and earth can transform and release the劫财 and birth the wealth star, so the source of wealth is quite abundant. When reaching Gengshen and Xinyou Great Years, the Xin metal is in its native place, thus achieving official rank through an alternative path, and obtaining an official position through donation, reaching the rank of prefect. When reaching the癸 Great Year, the癸 water nourishes wood and drains metal, and the person then dies.

癸未 乙卯 甲戌 乙亥／甲寅 癸丑 壬子 辛亥 庚戌 己酉。此造柱中，未土深藏，戌土自坐，謂財來就□，未嘗不美。只因四柱無金以成之，五行無火以行之，再加亥時，癸水通根生劫，亥卯未全，助起劫刃猖狂。查其歲運，又無成地，以致祖業消磨，克妻無子。由此推之，命之所重在運，運其可忽乎？諺云：「人有凌雲志，無運不能自達也。」

Four pillars: Guiwei, Yimao, Jiayin, Yihai; great years: Jiayin, Guichou, Renzi, Xinhai, Gengxu, Jiyou. In this birth chart, the earth of Wei is deeply hidden in the year branch, and the earth of Xu is seated directly under the day stem, which can be said to have the wealth star coming to the day stem (the original text is missing one character). Originally, this was not without merit. However, the four pillars lack metal to complete the wood, and the five phases also lack fire to manifest its refined energy. Moreover, the hour of Hai has the water of Gui rooted in Hai, which supports the same kind of elements, and the three characters Hai, Mao, and Wei form a wood trinity, further enhancing the strength of the劫财 and Yangren. Checking his age and great years, there is no step that can complete this situation, leading to the complete loss of ancestral property, harming his wife and leaving him childless. From this, we can infer that in fortune telling, the great years are most important, and how can the great years be ignored? There is a proverb that says, "A person may have lofty aspirations, but without good fortune, he cannot achieve them."

獨象喜行化地，而化神要昌。原注：一者為獨，曲直炎上之類也。所生者為化神，化神宜旺，則其氣流行，然後行財官之地方可。任氏曰：權在一人，曲直炎上之類是也。化者，食傷也，局中化神昌旺，歲運行化神之地，名利皆遂也。八字五行全備，固為合宜，而獨象乘權，亦主光亨。木日，或方或局全，不雜金為曲直；火日，或方或局全，不雜水為炎上；土日，四庫皆全，不雜木為稼穡；金日，或方或局全，不雜火為從革；水日，或方或局全，不雜土為潤下。皆從一方之秀氣，不同六格之常情。必要得時當令，遇旺逢生。但體質過於自強，須以引通為妙，而氣勢必有所關，務須審察其情。

The "dou xiang" (single dominant element) prefers to flow into a place where it is transformed and released, and the transformed element must be strong. Original note: Among the Five Phases, if one element alone holds power, it is called "dou." For example, "qu zhi" (wood and water) or "yan shang" (fire). The element that is born from the day's ruler is the transformed element; the transformed element should be strong, so its energy can flow, and then it can go to the place of wealth and officialdom. Ren Shi explains: When power is concentrated in one person, it is called "qu zhi" or "yan shang" type of pattern.所谓 "hua" (transformation) refers to food god and injurious star. If the transformed element is strong in the chart, and the year or month also flows into the transformed element's place, then fame and fortune can be achieved. Although having all five elements in the birth chart is suitable, if the single dominant element is in power and in season, it also indicates brightness and smoothness. For a day ruler of wood, if the branches form a set or a pattern without mixing with metal, it is "qu zhi"; for a day ruler of fire, if the branches form a set or a pattern without mixing with water, it is "yan shang"; for a day ruler of earth, if the four earth branches (chen, xu, chou, wei) are complete without mixing with wood, it is "jia se"; for a day ruler of metal, if the branches form a set or a pattern without mixing with fire, it is "cong ge"; for a day ruler of water, if the branches form a set or a pattern without mixing with earth, it is "run xia." These are all following the refined energy of one direction, different from the usual patterns of official and seven killers. It must be in season, strong, and supported. However, this type of destiny is overly self-reliant, so it needs to be guided to flow its energy. The flow of energy must have a key point, so it is essential to examine its condition.

如木局見土運，斯雖財神資養，先要四柱有食有傷，庶無分爭之慮。見火運，謂英華發秀，須看原局有財無印，方免反克為殃，名利可遂；見金運，謂破局，凶多吉少；見水運，而局中無火，誤用生助強神，亦主光亨，故舊有從強之說，再行生旺為佳，若四柱先有食傷，必主凶禍臨身；如原局徽伏破神，須運有合沖之妙；若本主失時得局，要運遇生旺之鄉，亦主功名小就。苟行運偶逢殺地，獨象立見凶災，若局有食傷反克之能，方無大害。總之干乃領袖之神，陽氣為強，陰氣為弱；支乃會格之物，方力較重，局力較輕。獨象雖美，只怕運途破局；合象雖難，即喜制化成功。

For example, if a wood destiny meets a soil cycle, although this is considered the wealth god supporting the day stem, it is first necessary for the four pillars to contain the food god and the injurer to mediate, so as to avoid the worry of multiple conflicts. When encountering a fire cycle, it is called the flourishing of essence and brilliance, but one must also check if the original chart has wealth but no seal, so as to avoid the seal star counteracting the food and injurer, causing disaster, and thus achieving fame and fortune. When encountering a metal cycle, it is considered breaking the chart, leading to more misfortune than good fortune. When encountering a water cycle, if the chart does not contain fire, although it is considered using an incorrect element to support a strong god, it still indicates brightness and smooth progress, hence the old saying of "following strength." It is better to proceed to a thriving place. However, if the original chart already contains food and injurer, then certain misfortunes will certainly occur. If the original chart secretly contains a breaking pattern, then the cycle must be cleverly resolved through harmony and conflict. If the day stem is out of its proper time but only has the chart, then encountering a thriving place in the cycle will still lead to some achievement in fame and status. If by chance the cycle encounters the seven killers, immediate misfortune will be encountered; but if the chart contains food and injurer that can reverse and control the seven killers, then there will be no major harm. In summary, the heavenly stems are the governing deities, with yang energy being strong and yin energy being weak; the earthly branches are the elements that form the pattern, with the forces of the square being stronger and the forces of the cycle being weaker. A single pattern may be beautiful, but it is feared that the cycle will break it. A combined pattern may be difficult, but it is favored when it is successfully transformed and harmonized.

甲寅 丁卯 甲辰 丙寅／戊辰 己巳 庚午 辛未 壬申 癸酉。支全寅卯辰，東方一氣，化神者，丙丁也。發洩菁華，少年科甲，早遂仕路之光；行財地，得過且過有食傷化劫之功；行金運，又得丙丁回克之能；交壬破局傷秀，降職歸田不祿。

Four Pillars: Jiayin, Dingmao, Jiachen, Bingyin; Grand Destiny: Wuchen, Jisi, Gengwu, Xinwei, Renshen, Guiyou. The Earthly Branches include Yin, Mao, and Chen, forming the entire East direction, with the transformed element being Bing and Ding fire. The essence is able to be expressed, so in youth he passed the imperial examination and enjoyed the glory of officialdom early on. When he entered the Earth element and wealth area, although he merely managed by the day, he still had the function of food and injury elements to release the competition elements. When he entered the Metal destiny, he had the ability of Bing and Ding fire to overcome Metal. When he reached the Renshen destiny, the water destroyed the pattern and injured the elegance, so he was demoted and returned home, and soon died.

己未 丁丑 戊子 己未／丙子 乙亥 甲戌 癸酉 壬申 辛未。費中堂造，天干戊已逢丁，地支重午丑未。子丑化土，斯真格象，已成稼穡。所不足者，丑中辛金無從引出，且局中丁火三見，辛金暗傷，未得生化之妙，所以嗣息艱難。若天干透一庚辛，地支藏一申酉，必多子矣。

Four pillars: Jiwei, Dingchou, Wuzi, Jiwei; big years: Bingzi, Yihai, Jiaxu, Guiyou, Renshen, Xinwei. This is the destiny of Fei Zhongtang (a Grand Councilor). The heavenly stems have Wu and Ji, which are further supported by Ding fire. The earthly branches have repeated Chou and Wei, with Zi and Chou combining to form earth. This is the true pattern, already forming the "Jia Se" (cultivation of crops) structure. The deficiency lies in the fact that the hidden Xin metal in Chou cannot be drawn out, and the three appearances of Ding fire in the chart—Ding in the month stem and two in Wei—cause the hidden Xin metal to be injured, preventing it from being transformed and generated. Therefore, there are difficulties in having children. If a stem of Geng or Xin were to appear in the heavens, and a branch of Shen or You were to be hidden in the earth, there would certainly be many children.

丙寅 甲午 丙戌 乙未／乙未 丙申 丁酉 戊戌 乙亥 庚子。支全火局，木從火勢，格成炎上。惜木旺克土，秀氣有傷，書香難就，武甲出身，仕至副將。行申酉運，運亦有戌未之化，所以無咎；亥運，幸得未會寅合，不過降職；交庚子，干無食傷，支逢沖激，死在軍中。

Four pillars: Bingyin, Jiawu, Bingxu, Yiwei; great years: Yihai, Bingshen, Dingyou, Wuxu, Yihai, Gengzi. The earth branches Yin, Wu, and Xu form a fire trinity, and wood follows the fire, forming the pattern of "Inflaming Ascendancy." Unfortunately, strong wood overpowers earth, and the earth of Xu and Wei loses its refinement, making it difficult to achieve academic success, so he had to enter the military, becoming a deputy general. During the years of Shen and You, there was earth of Xu and Wei to transform metal, so there were no calamities; during the year of Hai, although there was a future trinity and Yin to combine, it was only a demotion; when entering the year of Gengzi, there was no food or injury in the heavenly stems to use, and the earth branch Zi water clashed with the strong Wu fire, so he died in battle.

庚申 乙酉 庚戌 庚辰／丙戌 丁亥 戊子 己丑 庚寅 辛卯。此造天干乙庚化合，地支申酉戌全，格成從革，惜無水，肅殺之氣太銳，不但書香不利，而且不能善終。行伍出身，官至參將，一交寅運，陣亡。蓋局無食傷之故耳；又寅戌暗拱，觸其旺神也。

Four pillars: Gengshen, Yiyou, Gengxu, Gengchen; great years: Bingxu, Dinghai, Wuzi, Jichou, Gengyin, Xinmao. The heavenly stems have Yi combining with Geng to form metal, and the earthly branches have Shen, You, and Xu all present, forming the pattern of 'From Revolution'. Unfortunately, there is no water in the chart, so the sharp and severe energy is too strong. Not only is his academic success and official rank not smooth, but he also does not have a good end. He started his career from the military and became a general. When he entered the Yin great year, he died in battle. This is because there is no food or injury in the chart to release the refined energy. Moreover, Yin and Xu form an implicit fire pattern, which violates the strong metal element.

壬子 辛亥 癸丑 壬子／壬子 癸丑 甲寅 乙卯 丙辰 丁巳。地支亥子丑，干透壬癸辛，局成潤下。喜行運不背，書得早遂；甲寅運氣流行，登科發甲；乙卯宦途平坦，由縣令而遷州牧；丙辰原局無食傷之化，群劫爭財，不祿。

Four pillars: Renzi, Xinhai, Guichou, Renzi; great years: Renzi, Guichou, Jiayin, Yimao, Bingchen, Dingsi. The earthly branches include Hai, Zi, and Chou, and the heavenly stems reveal Ren, Gui, and Xin, forming the pattern of 'Runxia'. Fortunately, the great years do not contradict the pattern, allowing the person to achieve academic success and official rank early on. During the Jiayin great year, the helper stem is in command and the energy flows smoothly, leading to passing the imperial examination and becoming a jinshi. In the Yimao great year, the official career is smooth, rising from county magistrate to prefect. By the Bingchen great year, the original chart lacks food and injury elements to transform and release the energy, so the group of thieves compete for the single wealth element of Bing fire, and the person eventually passes away.

全象喜行財地，而財神要旺。原注：三者為一，有傷官而又有財也，主旺喜財旺，而不行官殺之地方可。任氏曰：三者為全，非專論傷官與財也。傷官司生堸。固為全矣，而官印相生，財官並見，豈非全乎？傷官生財，日主旺相，固宜財運，倘四柱比劫多見，財星被劫，官運必佳，傷官運更美。須觀局中意向為是。日主旺，傷官司輕，有印綬，喜財而不喜官；日主旺，財神輕，有比劫，喜官而不喜財；財官並見，日主旺相，喜財而不喜官；官印相生，日主休囚，喜印緩而不喜比劫。大凡論命，不可執一，須全局之意向，日景喜忌為的。

The full combination favors movement to the wealth position, and the wealth deity must be strong. Original note: The three elements combined as one mean that both the injurious official and wealth are present. If the day stem is strong, it prefers a strong wealth, and it must not go to the official or killing position. Master Ren explains: When the three elements are complete, it is called "full," not necessarily referring only to the injurious official and wealth. Although the injurious official generating wealth is full, is it not also full when the official and wealth are both present along with the minister and seal? If the day stem is strong and the injurious official is light with the minister present, it prefers wealth rather than official; if the day stem is strong, the wealth is light with the same or similar elements present, it prefers official rather than wealth; if both wealth and official are present and the day stem is strong, it prefers wealth rather than official; if the official and minister generate each other and the day stem is weak, it prefers the minister rather than the same or similar elements. In general, when judging a person's destiny, one must not be rigid in one aspect, but must take the overall intention and the preferences and aversions of the day stem as the standard.

戊申 丙辰 丁卯 甲辰／丁巳 戊午 己未 庚申 辛酉 壬戌。丁卯日元，生於季春。傷官生財，嫌其木盛土虛，書香難就。土得其傷官化劫，使丙火無爭財之意，所以運至庚申辛酉，承先人事業雖微，而自創規模頗大，財發十餘萬。

Four Pillars: Wushen, Bingchen, Dingmao, Jiachen; Great Destiny: Dingsi, Wuwu, Jiwei, Gengshen, Xinyou, Renxu. The day stem Dingmao was born in the third month of spring, which is a case of the official being nourished by the minister; it is feared that the wood is too strong and the earth is weak, making it difficult to achieve academic success and official rank. Fortunately, the earth of Chen and Wu can transform and discharge the excess of the minister and the same kind, so the heavenly stem丙 fire does not have the desire to compete for the wealth star. Therefore, when the destiny reaches Gengshen and Xinyou, although the inheritance from ancestors is small, the self-created scale is quite considerable, and wealth of more than ten ten thousand is obtained.

己巳 辛未 丙午 丁酉／庚午 己巳 戊辰 丁卯 丙寅 乙丑 甲子 癸亥。此造火長夏天，支類南方，旺之極矣，火土傷官生財格。所嫌者，丁火羊刃透干，局中全無溼氣，劫刃肆逞，祖業無恆，父母早亡，幼遭孤苦，中受飢寒。六旬之前，運走東南木火之地，妻財子祿，一字無成。至丑運，北方溼土，晦火生全，暗會金局，從此得際遇，立業發財，至七旬又買妾，連生二子。及甲子癸亥，北方水地，獲利數萬，壽至九旬。諺云：「有其運，必得其福」，為人豈可限量哉！

Four pillars: Ji Si, Xin Wei, Bing Wu, Ding You; big years: Geng Wu, Ji Si, Wu Chen, Ding Mao, Bing Yin, Yi Chou, Jia Zi, Gui Hai. This destiny is fire born in late summer, with the earth branches Si, Wu, Wei all belonging to the south, reaching the peak of strength. It belongs to the pattern of fire and earth official generating wealth. The only concern is that the Ding fire Yang Ren appears in the hour stem, and there is not a single trace of dampness in the chart. The劫财 and Yang Ren act recklessly, so the ancestral property cannot be maintained, the parents die early, and the person is lonely in childhood. In middle age, he suffers from hunger and cold. Before the age of sixty, when the big years go to the southeast wood and fire areas, there is no achievement in wife, wealth, children, or official position. When the big year reaches Chou, which is northern damp earth, it can obscure fire and generate metal, and also forms an invisible metal triple combination of Si, You, and Chou. From then on, he gets opportunities and establishes a career and gains wealth. At seventy, he takes a concubine and has two sons. When the big years reach Jia Zi and Gui Hai, the northern water areas, he gains profits of ten thousand, and lives to ninety. The proverb says, "If there is the right fortune, there must be the corresponding blessing." How can a person's fate be limited in advance!

形全者宜損其有餘，形缺者宜補其不足。原注：如甲木生於寅、卯、辰月，丙火生於已、午未月，皆為形全；戊土生於寅、卯、辰月，庚金生於巳、午、未月，缺。餘仿此。任氏曰：形全宜損，形缺宜補之說，即子平「旺則宜洩宜傷，衰則喜幫喜助」之謂也。命書萬卷，總不外此二句，讀之直捷痛快，顯然明白，故人人得而知之。究之深奧異常，其中作用實有至理，庸俗只知旺用洩傷，衰用幫助，以致吉凶顛倒，宜忌淆亂也。以余論之，須將四字分用為是，通變在一「宜字」。

When a form is complete, it is appropriate to remove its excess parts; when a form is incomplete, it is appropriate to supplement its deficiency. Original commentary: For example, Jia wood born in the months of Yin, Mao, or Chen, and Bing fire born in the months of Si, Wu, or Wei, are considered complete forms. However, Wu earth born in the months of Yin, Mao, or Chen, and Geng metal born in the months of Si, Wu, or Wei, are considered incomplete forms. The rest can be inferred in the same way. Ren Shi explained: The principle of "when form is complete, it is appropriate to remove; when form is incomplete, it is appropriate to supplement" is the same as the saying in Zi Ping's study, "when strong, it is appropriate to release or injure; when weak, it is appropriate to help or assist." Among thousands of volumes of命书 (literary texts on destiny), they all revolve around these two sentences. Reading them is straightforward and clear, so everyone can understand them. However, when deeply studied, they are extremely profound, with very deep reasoning behind them. Common people only know that when something is strong, they should release or injure it, and when it is weak, they should help or assist it, which leads to confusion between good and bad fortune and the reversal of what is appropriate and what is not. In my opinion, the four characters "release, injure, help, assist" should be used separately, and the key to flexibility lies in the character "appropriate."

宜洩則洩之為妙，宜傷則傷之有功。洩者食傷也，傷者官殺也。均是旺也，或洩之有害，而傷之有利；或洩之有利，而傷之有害，所以洩傷兩字，宜分而用之也。宜幫則幫之為切，宜助則助之為佳。幫者比劫也，助者印綬也。均是衰也，幫之則凶，而助之則吉；或幫之則吉，而助之則凶，所以幫助兩字，亦宜分而用之也。

When something should be released, it should be released most effectively; when something should be harmed, it should be harmed with benefit.the so-called「泄」 refers to using food god and injurious officials;the so-called「伤」 refers to using official stars and seven killers. Even when the body is strong, sometimes releasing it can be harmful while harming it can be beneficial, and sometimes releasing it can be beneficial while harming it can be harmful. Therefore, the terms 「泄」 and 「伤」 should be used separately. When something should be supported, it should be supported most appropriately; when something should be assisted, it should be assisted best.the so-called「帮」 refers to using identical siblings and plundering wealth;the so-called「助」 refers to using seal and robe. Even when the body is weak, sometimes supporting it can lead to misfortune while assisting it can bring good fortune, and sometimes supporting it can bring good fortune while assisting it can lead to misfortune. Therefore, the terms 「帮」 and 「助」 should also be used separately.

如日主旺相，柱中財官無氣，洩之則官星有損，秎則去比劫之有餘，補官星之不足，所謂傷之有利，而洩之有害也。日主旺相，柱中財官不見，滿局比劫，傷之則激而有害，不若洩之以順其氣勢，所謂「傷之有害，而洩之有利」也。日主衰弱，柱中財星重疊，印綬助之反壞，幫則去財星之有餘，補日主之不足，所以幫之則吉，而助之則凶也。日主衰弱，柱中官殺交加，滿盤殺勢，幫之恐反克無情，不若助之以化其強暴，所以幫之則凶，而助之則吉也。

For example, if the day's ruler is strong and prosperous, and there are no wealth or official stars in the four pillars, using food and injury stars to release the energy would harm the official stars; whereas using official and killing stars to restrain would not only remove the excess of the same kind but also supplement the deficiency of the official stars. This is called 'restraining is beneficial, while releasing is harmful'. Another example is when the day's ruler is strong and prosperous, and there are no wealth or official stars in the four pillars, but the entire chart is filled with same kind stars. In this case, using official and killing stars to restrain would anger the strong element and cause harm, so it is better to use food and injury stars to release, which follows its momentum. This is called 'restraining is harmful, while releasing is beneficial'. Another example is when the day's ruler is weak, and there are many wealth stars in the four pillars. Using the official star to assist would be worse, because wealth can damage the official star; whereas using same kind stars to help would remove the excess of wealth and supplement the deficiency of the day's ruler. Therefore, helping is good, while assisting is bad. Another example is when the day's ruler is weak, and there are official and killing stars that are pressing down, with the entire chart filled with killing energy. Using same kind stars to help may cause them to be killed and become ineffective, so it is better to use the official star to assist, which can neutralize the strong killing energy. Therefore, helping is bad, while assisting is good.

此補前人所未發之言也。至於木生這卯辰月，火生巳午未月為形全，亦偏論也。如木生寅卯辰月，干露庚辛，支藏申酉，莫非乃作全形而損之乎？火生巳午未月，干透壬癸，支藏亥子，莫非仍作全形而損之乎？土生於寅卯辰月為形缺，干丙丁而支己午莫非有作缺形而補之乎？凡此須究其旺中變弱、弱中變旺之理，不可執一而論。是以實似所當損者，而損之反有害，實似所當補者，而補之反無功，須說察焉。

This is a supplement to what previous scholars have not fully explained. As for the idea that wood is considered complete when born in the months of寅, 卯, 辰, and fire is considered complete when born in the months of巳, 午, 未, this is a biased view. For example, if wood is born in the months of寅, 卯, 辰, but the heavenly stem reveals 庚 or 辛, and the earthly branches conceal 申 or 酉, should we still consider it complete and thus weaken it? Similarly, if fire is born in the months of巳, 午, 未, but the heavenly stem reveals 壬 or 癸, and the earthly branches conceal 亥 or 子, should we still consider it complete and thus weaken it? If earth is born in the months of寅, 卯, 辰 and is considered incomplete, but the heavenly stem has 丙 or 丁, and the earthly branches have 巳 or 午 to nourish it, should we still consider it incomplete and thus strengthen it? All such cases must be examined according to the principle of "transformation from strength to weakness and from weakness to strength" within the state of strength. One must not be rigid in considering only one aspect. Therefore, what seems to require weakening may become harmful if weakened, and what seems to require strengthening may become ineffective if strengthened—here, one must carefully examine each case.

丁丑 庚戌 庚子 甲申／己酉 戊申 丁未 丙午 乙巳 甲辰。此秋金堅銳，官星虛脫，不能相制，財星臨絕，何暇生官！初運土金，晦火生金，形傷破髦，無所不見；丁未丙午助起官星，家業鼎新；乙巳晚景優遊，所謂傷之有功也。

Four pillars: Dingchou, Gengxu, Gengzi, Jiashen; big years: Jiyou, Wushen, Dingwei, Bingwu, Yisi, Jiachen. This fate has autumn metal that is hard and sharp. The Ding fire official star is floating and lacks roots, unable to control the day's ruler. The Jia wood wealth star is in the place of decline, how can it go to generate the official star! In the early years of earth and metal, earth obscures fire and produces metal, causing all kinds of injuries, losses and damages. When reaching the Dingwei and Bingwu years, the official star is supported, and the family business becomes renewed. In the Yisi year, the later years are peaceful and comfortable. This is what is called "injury brings benefit."

戊申 壬戌 庚申 乙酉／癸亥 甲子 乙丑 丙寅 丁卯 戊辰。此造乙從庚化，官星不見，支類西方，又坐祿旺，權在一人。從其強勢，雖有壬，戊土緊克，不能引通洩其殺氣。初交癸亥，財喜如心；一交丙寅，觸其旺神，一敗如灰，衣食難度，自縊而死。所謂洩之有益，傷之有害也。

Four pillars: Wu Shen, Ren Xu, Geng Shen, Yi You; major years: Gui Hai, Jia Zi, Yi Chou, Bing Yin, Ding Mao, Wu Chen. The time heavenly stem Yi Wood is submissive to Geng Metal and transforms, so the official star is not visible. The earthly branches Shen, You, Xu are all of the western direction, and the day master sits on its own strength and power, with authority concentrated in one person, so it can only submit to its strength. Although there is the monthly heavenly stem Ren Water that can release and refine, it is helpless because the yearly heavenly stem Wu Earth tightly controls it, unable to guide or release the severe and killing energy of Metal. At the beginning of the Gui Hai major year, wealth and favorable conditions are all as desired. But once entering the Bing Yin major year, it violates the strong Metal, leading to the complete collapse of family business, making it impossible to maintain basic needs, and ultimately resulting in suicide. This is what is called 'release is beneficial, but injury is harmful'.

庚申 辛巳 丙辰 乙未／壬午 癸未 甲申 乙酉 丙戌 丁亥。此造以俗論之，丙火生於巳月，建祿必要用財，無如庚辛重疊根深，獨印受傷，弱可知矣。運至甲申乙酉，金得地，木無根，破耗異常；丙戌丁運，重振家聲。此財多身弱，所謂幫之則有功也。

Four Pillars: Gengshen, Xinsi, Bingchen, Yiwei; Great Years: Renwu, Guiwei, Jiashen, Yiyou, Bingxu, Dinghai. According to common interpretations, the丙 fire is born in the巳 month, forming the Jianlu pattern, which definitely requires wealth. However, the Geng and Xinh metals are heavy and deep-rooted, and the only Yi wood tonic is harmed by the metal. The weakness of the day's ruler is evident. When reaching the Jiashen and Yiyou Great Years, the metal gains strength and becomes prosperous, while the wood has no root, leading to extraordinary losses. When reaching the Bingxu and Dinghai Great Years, the rivals and helpers strengthen the ruler, restoring family honor. This is a pattern of excessive wealth and a weak ruler, as it is said, 'helping brings benefit.'

壬子 癸丑 丙午 壬辰／甲寅 乙卯 丙辰 丁巳 戊午 己未。此造滿局官星，日主孤弱，雖食傷未見，但丑辰皆溼土，能蓄水，不能止水。初交甲寅乙卯，化殺生身，早游泮水，財炡有餘；後交丙辰，不但不能幫身，反受官殺回克，刑妻克子，家業耗散；申年暗拱殺局而亡。所謂助之則吉，幫之反害也。

Four pillars: Renzi, Guichou, Bingwu, Renchen; Great years: Jiayin, Yimao, Bingchen, Dingsi, Wuwu, Jiwei. This destiny is full of official and killing water, with the day master isolated and weak. Although there is no food or injury, Chou and Chen are damp earth, which can only hold water but not stop it. At the beginning, when Jiayin and Yimao Great years come, wood can transform the killing and benefit the self, so early on he passed the examination and became a scholar, and had considerable wealth. Later, when Bingchen Great year comes, the rivals and helpers not only do not benefit the self, but are instead harmed by the official and killing, leading to marital problems, loss of children, and depletion of family property. When the year of Shen comes, Shen forms a hidden water trinity with Zi and Chen, assisting the killing and causing death. This is what is called 'helping brings good fortune, assisting brings harm'.