Ni Guolian's birth chart

壬寅 丁未 乙巳 戊寅 七歲 戊申 十七 己酉 廿七 庚戌 三七 辛亥 四七 壬子 五七 癸丑 六七 甲寅

The heavenly stem and earthly branch of the year are Renyin, the month Dingwei, the day Yisi, and the hour Wuyin. The day stem is Yimao, and the day master is Yimao, born in the month of Wei. Starting from the age of seven, the big destiny runs in the order of Wushen, Jiyou, Gengxu, Xinhai, Renzi, Guichou, and Jiayin. The heavenly stem of the year, Ren, is yang, and for a male destiny, it is arranged in the order of the month. Therefore, from Dingwei, it proceeds to Wushen, Jiyou, Gengxu, and so on. The first part of the destiny is in the west of metal, and the latter part is in the north of water. In this case, the four earthly branches, Yin, Wei, Si, and Yin, all contain fire. The heavenly stem of the year, Ren water, is combined by the heavenly stem of the month, Ding fire. The heavenly stem of the hour, Wu earth, is dry earth. The entire chart is extremely hot in terms of dryness and heat, which is the entire basis for the subsequent analysis of illness.

人之疾病。亦可由命中推測。然有驗有不驗。蓋命該究患何疾。只能言其端緒。不能指其微。大抵以寒暖燥溼推之。百不失一焉。

A person's illness can also be predicted from their destiny, though some predictions are accurate and others are not. Because a destiny can only roughly indicate what illness a person may suffer, it cannot specify such fine details. In general, one can predict illness by referring to the four elements of cold, warmth, dryness, and dampness, and this method is always accurate. This passage complements the previous section on "Diseases" which discusses the correspondence between the Five Phases and the five internal organs: the Five Phases determine the location of the illness in the internal organs, while cold, warmth, dryness, and dampness determine the nature of the illness. Only by combining both can an accurate diagnosis be made. The following case is an example of diagnosis based on dryness and heat.

如文學家兼書法家倪古蓮先生。久耳餘名。囑評其造。余曰乙木生於夏令。精華發洩。外有餘而內實虛脫。地支無不藏火。壬水為丁所合。時上之戊。又為陽土。燥之極矣。暖之極矣。一無金水以濟之。肺病血疾。在所不免。純陽燥熱之體。尤敢定斷焉。

For example, Mr. Ni Gulian, a literary figure and calligrapher, has long heard of my name and asked me to assess his destiny. I said: Ethereal wood born in summer is fully expressed outwardly, appearing abundant on the surface but actually depleted within. None of the four earthly branches conceal fire; the heavenly stem at the year's beginning,壬 water, which could moisten the dryness, is instead combined by the heavenly stem at the month's beginning,丁 fire, and thus loses its effectiveness; the heavenly stem at the hour's beginning,戊 earth, is also yang earth and dry earth. The dryness is extreme, the warmth is extreme, and the entire chart has no trace of metal or water to balance it. Metal represents the lungs, and water represents blood; the absence of metal and water inevitably leads to lung diseases and ailments related to the blood. This is a constitution of pure yang dry heat, and I am especially confident in making this judgment. Here we see the practical use of the previous section on "dry and moist": an overly dry situation benefits from moisture, but since there is no water to moisten, the illness must manifest in the lungs and blood.

戍運為火庫。更屬可危。然甲戊年又多一庫。誠如雪上加霜。既已幸越。或無生命之憂矣。三十七後。運轉西北。一路康壯。非惟功名利祿。與日俱進。體格亦矯健勝昔。勉哉。倪君讚不絕口。旋蒙其備加你頌。並將感佩之意。刊諸社會晚報。

The Xu period is a fire warehouse, dryness on top of dryness, even more dangerous; and in the year of Jia Xu, there is another fire warehouse, truly like snow on top of snow. Since he has already managed to pass through itby chance, perhaps there is no danger to his life. After the age of thirty-seven, the movement turns to the Northwest, with Xinhai, Renzi, and Guichou in succession, all metal and water, which exactly compensates for the deficiencies in his destiny. Not only do his fame, wealth, and honor increase day by day, but his physique also becomes stronger than before. I hope he will strive to do his best. Ni Jun listened and praised continuously, then added more commendation (the original text says "ni song" which should be "cheng song"), and also published his feelings of gratitude in the Social Evening News.

癸酉 辛酉 乙丑 辛巳 二歲 庚申 十二 己未 廿二 戊午 三二 丁巳 四二 丙辰 五二 乙卯 六二 甲寅

The year pillar is Guiyou, the month pillar is Xinyou, the day pillar is Yichou, and the hour pillar is Xinsi. The day stem is Yi wood, born in the metal month of You. Starting from age two, the big destiny runs in the order of Gengshen, Jiwei, Wuwu, Dingsi, Bingchen, Yimao, and Jiayin. The year stem Gui is yin, and for a male destiny, it is reversed, so starting from the month pillar Xinyou, it goes back to Gengshen, Jiwei, Wuwu, and so on. In middle age, the destiny moves through the southern fire regions. In this case, the earth branches Si, You, and Chou form a complete triple harmony of metal, and the heavenly stems also reveal two Xin golds, so the metal energy is widespread. The Yi wood is isolated, and it seems as if it would abandon itself to follow the killing force. However, the single Gui water in the year stem is the key point of the entire argument.

此為許世英先生之命。乙木凋零。支金已酉丑。四柱純金。識者咸以從殺格推之。不知年頭癸水進氣。洩金生木。乙有根原。不能從殺。應作身弱用印。以化其殺。

This is the birth chart of Mr. Xu Shiying. The ethereal wood (乙木) is already withered in autumn. The earthly branches巳, 酉, and 丑 form a metal trinity, and the entire chart is almost entirely of metal energy. Those who understand fate would classify this as the "following the killer" pattern. However, they do not realize that the癸water in the year pillar is at its rising phase (in autumn, metal generates water, and water receives the supportive energy). The癸water both drains the metal and nourishes the wood, providing the ethereal wood with its root and foundation, so it cannot be considered as "following." The establishment of the "following" pattern requires that the day's main element has no support or assistance and can only submit to the killer. Once there is an印 (helper) to support it, it remains a weak body. Therefore, this chart should be viewed as a weak body using the印 (helper), relying on the癸water to transform the seven killers' energy into nourishing the body.

否則中年午丁己丙四部火運。制殺最力。為從格所大忌。烏得穩度谷關。且屢膺重任耶。卯運重沖。應有不利。此後甲寅劫財幫身。老當益壯。東山再起。足可掌握大權。若仍致力於慈善事業。更能廣種心田。癸運亦不為惡。壽至丑運。方臻危境。

If that were the case, the four fire phases of the middle years—午 (Wu), 丁 (Ding), 己 (Ji), and 丙 (Bing)—would be most effective in overcoming metal and controlling the killer force, which is precisely the great taboo of the grand pattern. How could he have passed through dangerous situations safely and repeatedly taken on important responsibilities? This is using actual events to test the pattern, the most reliable method to determine whether the pattern is followed or not. The卯 (Mao) phase conflicts heavily with the酉 (You) metal in the birth chart, uprooting the wood roots, which should bring some misfortune. However, the next two phases, 甲 (Jia) and 寅 (Yin), are places where the劫财 (robber wealth) supports the body, allowing him to grow stronger in old age and rise again, capable of holding great power. If he continues to focus on charitable activities, he can also cultivate great merit. The癸 (Gui) phase is not a bad phase. It is not until the丑 (Chou) phase, when丑 (Chou) joins with巳 (Si) and酉 (You) to form a metal trinity, that he reaches a dangerous situation, and his lifespan is also determined there.

若作從殺。忌逢幫身。則甲寅癸三運。又多色齬齟矣。秋浦夏直欽君。囑余推評。夏君以仁宦而兼精子平。亦謂此老命局。按理以論。及過去事實推之。從殺格以較勉強。

If considered as a from-kill pattern, the from-pattern is most忌 to have supporting elements for the body, then the three steps of the journey of Jia, Yin, and Gui would all become discordant periods, which does not match the actual situation. A person from Qiupu, Xia Zhiqin, asked me to evaluate this. Xia is a person who holds an official position and is also skilled in the art of Zi Ping. He also said that the old gentleman's destiny, when analyzed according to the principles and verified by past events, is somewhat勉强 to explain with the from-kill pattern. The author's willingness to discuss with others without being hasty is a precious quality of this book: the debate over patterns should ultimately be decided by the person's entire life circumstances.

乙丑 己卯 乙亥 癸未 一歲 戊寅 十一 丁丑 廿一 丙子 三一 乙亥 四一 甲戌 五一 癸酉 六一 壬申

The year pillar is Yichou, the month pillar is Jimao, the day pillar is Yihai, and the hour pillar is Guiwei. The day stem Yi wood is born in the month of Mao. Starting from the first year of the big destiny, the sequence is Wuyin, Dingchou, Bingzi, Yihai, Jiaxu, Guiyou, Renshen. The year stem Yi is yin, and for a male's destiny, it is arranged in reverse order, so starting from the month pillar Jimao, it goes back to Wuyin, Dingchou, Bingzi, etc. In this case, the earth branches Hai, Mao, and Wei form a complete triple harmony of wood, meeting the conditions for the "Qu Zhi Ge" (wood bending and straightening pattern). However, the year branch Chou contains hidden Xin metal, which is the most忌 (to be avoided) for a strong and specialized pattern, thus breaking the pattern. The following text compares this with the destiny of Duan Qirui, differing only by one hour. This contrast clearly shows the importance of the hour.

此老出外宦途。飽經榮祿。年三十後。家道中落。幸擅長書法。磨空鐵硯。利賴筆耕。幼時延人批命。僉謂仁壽曲直之格。謬以有為期許。曩緣友人介紹。造訪余廬。詢問究竟。余曰。乙生卯月。支全木局。年支丑中藏辛。曲直已破。只堪作身旺財輕之命以為斷。

This old gentleman once held an official post and enjoyed great honor and wealth; after the age of thirty, his family fortune declined, but fortunately he was skilled in calligraphy, wearing out an iron mortar with his brush, and making a living through writing. When he was young, he had his fortune interpreted by others, who all said it was the "Curve and Straight Kindness and Longevity Pattern," wrongly expecting great future prospects. Some time ago, through a friend's introduction, he came to my house to visit and asked for an explanation. I said: The ethereal wood (Yi) is born in the卯month (Mao), and the earthly branches form a complete wooden pattern, which is originally close to the Curve and Straight pattern; however, the year branch丑contains hidden辛gold, and a single trace of metal qi breaks the exclusive dominance of the pattern. Since the pattern is broken, it can only be interpreted as a common pattern of strong self and light wealth — the wood is strong and the wealth (earth) is light, the day master is strong but has nowhere to express itself.

廿六歲前。運行中南火土。所以少年得志。迨夫三十一歲運轉東北。難免坎坷悽惻。然壬運至凶。無傷大祿。亦云幸矣。再後辛運苟延。未運化木。危如風燭。

Before the age of 26, the person's destiny was moving through the southern fire and earth elements. Fire released the brilliance of wood, and earth was considered wealth for a strong self, so they achieved success at a young age. However, at 31, the destiny shifted to the northeast (Yihai and Jiaxu), where there was competition for wealth, leading to difficulties and a bleak situation. Although the壬 (Ren) period was extremely unfavorable, it did not harm the major official position, which was fortunate. Later, during the辛 (Xin) period, they managed to hold on, but during the未 (Wei) period, the wood trinity was formed, making the energy more biased, and the situation became as precarious as a candle in the wind (the Xin and Wei periods are not listed in the previous large destiny chart, suggesting a possible error or omission in the original text, so they are recorded as they appear).

按段祺瑞命。為乙丑己卯乙亥壬午。其乙祿在卯。己祿在午。壬祿在亥。交互得祿。旺氣所繫。且木旺水健。午水洩秀。格局清奇。故在萬民之上。八字之相差一時。其土壤徑庭。有如此者。籲。可畏哉。

According to the birth time of Dan Qirui, his fate is Yichou, Jimao, Yihai, and Renwu: the Yihuo (Yi) is strong in Mao, the Ji (Ji) is strong in Wu, and the Ren (Ren) is strong in Hai. The heavenly stems interact with the earthly branches to find their strength and prosperity, and the situation is clear and unique. Moreover, the wood is strong and the water is vigorous, and the Wu fire can release the essence of wood (the original text says 'Wu water' but should be 'Wu fire'). The pattern is extraordinary, so his position is above all people. The same year, month, and day, differing only by an hour—one is Guiwei and the other is Renwu—leads to a difference as great as heaven and earth (the original text says 'soil' but should be 'heaven and earth'). Alas, how terrifying it is. This case, along with the previous one of Qian Xinzhong and Yang Yuting, follows the same pattern, reminding scholars that if the hour is not accurate, the entire calculation is baseless.

壬子 壬子 庚辰 丁丑 九歲 十九 廿九 三九 四九 五九 六九

The heavenly stem and earthly branch of the year are Renzi, those of the month are Renzi, those of the day are Gengchen, and those of the hour are Dingchou. The day's main stem is Geng metal, born in the month of Zi. The section on the great years is missing some text in the original: only the ages of nine, nineteen, twenty-nine, thirty-nine, forty-nine, fifty-nine, and sixty-nine are present, with all the heavenly stems and earthly branches for each step missing. The original is preserved as it is, without any conjectural additions. According to the following mention of "entering the Xu cycle at the age of twenty-four" and "in the later years, purely traveling through the southern fire cycles," it is inferred that the great years should be traced backward from the month's stem and branch Renzi, resulting in Xinhai, Gengxu, Jiyou, and so on. However, there is no conclusive evidence. This chart has two sets of Renzi appearing, and both Chen and Chou are damp earths, making the entire chart cold and damp. Only the hour's stem, Ding fire, serves as the basis for the subsequent discussion.

此名妓花月影之命。庚生嘉冬。兩見壬子。辰丑又皆溼土。區區丁火。瑜不掩瑕。危險直如風燭。夫星與身主。兩有所缺。以致早落平康。年方及筆。即出應徵。送往迎來。極盡歡笑。

This is the birth chart of the famous courtesan Hua Yuying. The庚 metal is born in the last month of winter, November, when the water is very strong; both the heavenly stem and earthly branch show Renzi, indicating an extremely powerful water element. The辰 and丑 are also moist earths, which do not control the water but instead enhance its moisture. A single Ding fire is insufficient, with more flaws than merits, making the situation as dangerous as a dying candle in the wind. For the庚 metal, Ding fire is the official star, and for a woman's chart, the official star represents the husband. Since the husband's star is weak, the day's main element, the庚 metal, is completely drained by water, making the body's strength weak. Both the husband's star and the body's strength are lacking, leading to an early fall into the world of prostitution. At the age of fifteen, she began entertaining guests, receiving and sending them off, and indulging in endless laughter.

然二十四歲達入戍運。戍乃火庫。亦為燥土。更以流年如丙子丁丑戊寅己卯。中南順行。當有貴客垂青。納為擁抱。從此附驥益顯。獲掌家政苟得忠心侍主。舉案勤勞。以後美運接軫。或堪身列命婦。福祿綿延。晚歲純行南方火運。蔗境更榮。詩云。永言配命。自求多福。固非吳下歌女媲也。

However, at the age of twenty-four, she entered the Xu cycle, which is the fire warehouse and also dry earth, thus capable of warming this cold water. With the flow years of Bingzi, Dingchou, Wuyin, and Jimao, moving smoothly toward the central and southern fire and earth directions, she should be favored by noblemen, and be taken as a concubine. From then on, by attaching herself to a powerful person (the phrase "fu ji" means to attach oneself to a nobleman), she could manage household affairs; as long as she remained loyal to her master, maintained harmony, worked diligently, and managed the household well, her good fortune would come step by step, and perhaps she might even attain the position of a诰命 (honorary) lady, enjoying long-lasting blessings and honors. In her later years, she would continue to move through the southern fire cycle, making her later life even more prosperous and distinguished. The Book of Songs says, "Forever keep in harmony with fate, seek your own great blessings," which is not something an ordinary songstress from the Wu region could ever achieve.

細按命之水清如鏡。理宜丰姿卓煢。陽春白雪。婉轉歌喉。不失為秦樓楚館中豔美之名焉。或謂女命水多。性同鴿雀。籲。是則語涉猥褻。豈文人名教中所能道耶。

Looking closely at her destiny, there is clear water like a mirror, which by nature should indicate a graceful and outstanding appearance, with a singing voice as melodious and refined as the high and pure music of spring snow. She would certainly be a famous and beautiful figure among the entertainment quarters. Some people say that a woman's destiny with much water indicates a light and frivolous nature, like a pigeon or a sparrow. - Alas, such remarks are indecent and not something a person who reads and follows proper etiquette should say. This passage can be compared with the previous section on "Female Destinies Being Indecent." Although there are such rules, the author does not use them to mock women, showing his sincerity and integrity in discussing destiny.

丙午 庚寅 壬午 丙午 九歲 辛卯 十九 壬辰 廿九 癸巳 三九 甲午 四九 乙未 五九 丙申 六九 丁酉

The heavenly stem and earthly branch of the year are Bingwu, the month Gengyin, the day Renwu, and the hour Bingwu. The day's main element, Ren water, is born in the寅 month. Starting from the age of nine, the big destiny runs in the order of Xinmao, Renchen, Guisi, Jiawu, Yiwei, Bingshen, and Dingyou. The heavenly stem of the year, Bing, is yang, and for a male destiny, it is arranged in order, so from the month Gengyin, it proceeds to Xinmao, Renchen, Guisi, and so on. This destiny has three Wus and two Bings. Fire is the wealth for the Ren water. The entire chart is full of wealth, and the day's main element, Ren water, has no root. There is only one Yin metal at the heavenly stem of the month, which floats above. This is the situation of 'abandoning the destiny to follow wealth'. Three Wus in the chart secretly bring in a Wei, which is the only noble element in the entire chart.

有以宣統這命垂詢者。余曰。滿盤是財。偏枯之局。本無足貴。其為失國之君。良以身不任財。棄命而從之故耳。惟二午暗邀合宮之未。示藏己土正官。即命理約言所謂暗合格。是乃貴徵。故出身天潢。貴胄後裔。得繼大統。

Someone asked me about the fate of Xuan Tong. I said: All the elements in his chart are wealth, forming a biased and imbalanced structure, which is inherently not valuable. He became a fallen emperor precisely because the day stem could not bear such wealth, so he had to give up his destiny and follow the wealth (although following the wealth is also a noble pattern, it ultimately shows a lack of control). The only valuable aspect is that there are several wu in the chart, which secretly attract the compatible wei (wu and wei form a harmonious combination). Wei contains ji earth, which controls ren water, and since yin and yang are different, it forms a proper official position — this is what the "Synopsis of Destiny" calls "hidden qualification." When elements not present in the chart are secretly combined, it is a sign of high status. Therefore, he was born into the royal family (the term "Tian Huang" refers to the royal lineage), and thus inherited the throne.

惜行運不濟。如壬辰運之犯火。乃從格所大忌。失其自由。任人支配。三十幾交癸運。仍雖樂觀。三十五以後。己甲午乙。一路東南木火。始堪吐氣揚眉。激昂青雲。五十五未運為暗合填實。壽終於此。

It was a pity that the fortune was not favorable. For example, during the Renchen period, the water of Ren was conflicting with the fire throughout the chart (the from-wealth pattern most fears the assistance to the self which competes with the dominant element), which was a major disaster for the pattern. Therefore, during that time, freedom was lost and one was at the mercy of others. Even during the癸 period in the thirties, optimism was still not possible. After the age of thirty-five, with the continuous flow of wood and fire in the southeast direction, namely Jia, Wu, and Yi, the wood generated fire, and fire represented wealth, thus allowing one to breathe freely, become vigorous, and rise upward. By the time of the Wei period at fifty-five, the originally hidden and harmonious Wei character became an obvious and real one. The命书 called this situation "filling in the real" — once the hidden harmony of nobility is made real, its subtlety is lost. Therefore, he died at this time.

餘於庚午秋。得見一命。為丙午甲午壬午丙午。生於夏令。又為四午。合官最力。格局遠在宣統之上。想其前程必有可觀。乃一福州人。惜已忘其姓氏。茲論宣統命造。忽憶及此君。不勝神往焉。

I once saw a birth chart in the Gengwu year's autumn with the heavenly stems Bingwu, Jiawu, Renwu, and Bingwu. He was born in summer, and all four earthly branches were Wu, which暗暗 combined with the strength of the official position hidden in Wei. This configuration was far superior to that of Xuan Tong, and his future prospects must have been promising. He was a person from Fuzhou, but I have forgotten his surname. Now, when considering Xuan Tong's birth chart, I suddenly recall this person and feel a deep admiration. By comparing this chart with Xuan Tong's, it illustrates the same kind of "hidden combination" of noble fortune, yet the difference in quantity, purity, and complexity determines the level of superiority.

丁亥 癸丑 己亥 戊辰 九歲 壬子 十九 辛亥 廿九 庚戌 三九 己酉 四九 戊申 五九 丁未 六九 丙午

The year pillar is Dinghai, the month pillar is Guichou, the day pillar is Jihai, and the hour pillar is Wuchen. The day stem Jihai is born in the month of Chou. Starting from the age of nine, the big destiny runs in the order of Renzi, Xinhai, Gengxu, Jiyou, Wushen, Dingwei, and Bingwu. The heavenly stem of the year, Ding, is yin, and for a male destiny, it is arranged in reverse order, so starting from the month pillar Guichou, it goes back to Renzi, Xinhai, Gengxu, etc. The month stem is癸water, with two Hais and one Chen, so water is the wealth for the Jihai earth. The wealth is extremely strong. The destiny relies on the hour stem Wutu to support and control the water. Between the two Hais there is a Chou, leaving the Zi position empty. In destiny books, this is called "gong" (support). The "gong gui" mentioned later refers to this.

傳聞近代偉人。以顧維鈞為最富。視其命造。洵不偶然。蓋己生丑月。干透癸水。支見兩亥。辰又為蓄水之庫。財旺極矣。全得力於時上戊土之鎮水幫身。用神應即歸諸戊土劫財。良以無戊則安可任財。不任財則安得豪富。或取丑中辛金食神為用。恐身主更弱矣。

It is said that Gu Weijun, a modern great figure, was the richest. Looking at his birth chart, it is indeed no accident. His day stem is Ji Earth, born in the Chou month (the Earthly Branch for the second month), with the heavenly stem Gui Water appearing in the sky, and two Hai (Water) branches in the earthly branches. The Chen (Earth) branch is also a reservoir for Water, so the wealth (Water) is extremely strong. The entire chart relies on the hour stem Wu Earth to control the Water and support the day stem, so the useful god (useful element) should be Wu Earth, the劫财 (wealth thief). Without Wu Earth, how could one bear such great wealth? If one cannot bear the wealth, how could one become extremely rich? This is exactly an example of the previous statement, "When there is too much wealth and the body is weak, the wealth thief is suitable." Some people suggest taking the Xin Metal (food god) hidden in Chou as the useful god (food god generates wealth), but this might actually weaken the day stem further. A weak body should not be further drained, so this is a matter of precision in selecting the useful god.

兩亥夾丑。拱子水貴人。宜其疊膺距任。折衝壇玷。為國爭光。四支皆藏財。又有拱財。一生知多豔福。財重用劫。內助雖得力。仍不免鼓盆興歡。且克妻獨在於戍運。是更命之可信矣。

Two Hais sandwich a Chou, and the Zi is missing between Hai and Chou. In the book of destiny, this is called "gong" — not visible but present in essence. For the Ji day, Zi is also called "Tianyi Nobleman," the first auspicious deity among the ten heavenly stems, with Tianyi for Ji day located in Zi and Shen. Gaining the support of the nobleman, it is no wonder he has repeatedly taken on important responsibilities, negotiating on the diplomatic stage and bringing glory to the country. Among the four earthly branches, there are hidden treasures, and additionally, there is the treasure gained through gong, so he has had many fortunate experiences in life. However, since wealth is heavy, the use of劫财 (劫财) is required. The劫财 helps the body but also harms the wife. Although the wife is helpful, it is still unavoidable to suffer the pain of losing her (the term "gupen" refers to the story from Zhuangzi where he sang while beating the drum after his wife's death). Moreover, the harm to the wife occurs precisely during the Xu year, which further demonstrates the reliability of the destiny.

查前運多金水。花枝招展。境遇榮繁。然竊以戊運之用神得助。掌握重權。或有更進者。申運順流而下。總之。此命逢金水火土之運。皆不為事業心。惟憎木之損傷用神。幸生平無木運，故三元不敗。堪稱得天獨厚者矣。

His previous years of destiny have mostly been in the metal and water elements, leading to a prosperous and flourishing situation. However, I privately think that during the Wushen (戊申) period, the useful god, which is the Wutu (戊土), receives support, allowing him to hold great power and possibly achieve even greater success. The Shen (申) period, on the other hand, flows smoothly and slightly eases. In summary, this destiny is not hindered by the metal, water, fire, or earth elements in terms of career development (metal releases earth and generates water, ensuring continuous wealth sources; fire and earth support the body, enabling him to handle wealth). The only element to be avoided is the wood element, which would harm the useful god, the Wutu (戊土). Fortunately, throughout his life, there has been no period of the wood element, so the year, month, and day elements have never failed, making his destiny exceptionally favorable. Looking at the big destiny chart, it is indeed the case: Renzi (壬子), Xinhai (辛亥), Gengxu (庚戌), Jiyou (己酉), Wushen (戊申), Dingwei (丁未), and Bingwu (丙午), with no single period of the wood element.

乙巳 己卯 乙卯 丙子 七歲 庚辰 十七 辛巳 廿七 壬午 三七 癸未 四七 甲申 五七 乙酉

This is a female birth. The heavenly stem and earthly branch of the year are Yi Si, the month are Ji Mao, the day are Yi Mao, and the hour are Bing Zi. The day stem Yi Wood is born in the month of Mao. The big destiny starts at age seven, in order: Geng Chen, Xin Si, Ren Wu, Gui Wei, Jia Shen, Yi You. The heavenly stem of the year Yi is yin, and for a female born in a yin year, the sequence is in the order of the month column Ji Mao, then Geng Chen, Xin Si, Ren Wu, etc. In this case, the Yi Wood is in the month of Mao, which is its禄 (lucky position), and the day branch is also Mao, so there is a heavy repetition of the same stem. The heavenly stem of the month Ji is earth, which is the wealth, but it is overcome by the group of woods. The only vitality in the entire chart is the heavenly stem of the hour Bing Fire. Bing Fire drains Wood and nourishes Earth, which is the key to the destiny. The following analysis of her lifespan is based on this point.

壬申九月，友人某。囑評此命，謂繫廣東妓女，由奧追蹤來滬。堅欲以身相許。惟我年逾半百。且已兒孫繞 。恐納妓後，家庭反而我故，躊躇莫決。謹詢於君，乞部其詳，

In the year of Renshen, in the ninth month, a friend asked me to evaluate this fate. He said that it was about a female prostitute from Guangdong who had followed him all the way to Shanghai, determined to offer herself to him. He mentioned: However, I am over fifty years old, and my children and grandchildren are around me — here the original text is missing a character after '儿孙绕', the original edition left it blank, and I will transcribe it as is without adding anything — so I fear that taking her in may bring trouble to my family because of me, hence my hesitation and indecision, and I now humbly seek your advice, please analyze the details thoroughly (the original text says '乞部' which should be '乞剖').

餘日。乙木得祿於卯月。比肩林立，財星已去。用時上丙火。賴之洩生財。命非下乘。丰姿卓約。固異凡卉。官之無力。即夫星不顯。然居造室。亦無所疑。惟刻行壬運。又逢壬年。用神損傷。十一月且為壬子。一片汪洋。丙火殲滅。恐防其壽。故納寵問題。可容綬議。茲惟虛與委蛇。是乃上策。

I replied: The wood of Yi is getting its strength in the month of Mao, with the help of the same kind of wood. The earthy wealth, represented by Ji soil, has already been overcome by the group of woods. Therefore, we should take the heavenly stem of Bing fire in the hour as the useful god. It can both relieve the excessive strength of the wood and generate the wealth. This destiny is not of the lower class; the person is graceful and different from ordinary flowers and plants. However, the official star (metal) is weak, and the husband star is not prominent, but being a concubine is not a problem. However, now we are in the year of Ren, and this year is also the year of Ren. The water of Ren is overcoming the fire of Bing, thus the useful god is damaged. In the eleventh month, it is the month of Renzi, and the water is like a vast ocean, completely extinguishing the fire of Bing. It is feared that even life may be in danger. Therefore, taking a concubine should be postponed for now. At present, it is better to act in a superficial way.

友唯唯而去。後相值途次。問友以此事究竟。友嘆曰。誠如君言。是妓已於壬申喜冬。服毒旅邸。而歸物化矣。微君果斷。又增我幾許煩惱。誠哉。命之不欺不也。

A friend kept assenting and then left. Later, on the way, I met him again and asked him about the outcome of that matter. The friend sighed and said, "As you said, that courtesan died by poisoning in a lodging house during winter in the Renshen year; had you not acted decisively, I would have had much more trouble. Fate is indeed not deceptive." (The original ending reads "Fate does not deceive," with an extra "not" added.) The verification of this case entirely depends on the principle that "the year when the useful god is overcome is the year of death," which, together with the previous case of Ni Gulian, where cold, warmth, dryness, and dampness were used to determine illness, represents the two methods used by Wei to determine life and death.

乙亥 己卯 壬午 癸卯 十一 庚辰 廿一 辛巳 三一 壬午 四一 癸未 五一 甲申 六一 乙酉

This is the fate of the first child born on the same day, a girl. Her heavenly stem and earthly branch for the year are Yihai, for the month Jimao, for the day Renwu, and for the hour Guimao. The day stem Ren water is born in the month of Mao. Starting from age eleven, her big years are in sequence Gengchen, Xinsi, Renwu, Guwei, Jiashen, and Yiyou. The heavenly stem of the year, Yihai, is yin, and for a female's fate, the sequence is in order. Therefore, starting from the month column Jimao, it proceeds in order to Gengchen, Xinsi, Renwu, and so on. The other two children born on the same day are boys, with only the hour column differing: one was born at Bingwu hour, and the other at Dingwei hour. The following text compares these three cases, which is the only instance in the entire book of "same day, different hours."

有具名雁峰飄流客者。寓書與餘。告余本埠南市某姓家。有一青衣婢。同日產生三孩。初落地者為女嬰（其命排列如上）次乃男孩。八字為乙亥己卯壬午丙午。再次者亦屬干麟四柱為乙亥己卯壬午丁未並囑余推評優劣。

There is a person named "Yanfeng Piaoliu Ke" who wrote to me, saying that in our city's southern market, a servant girl gave birth to three children on the same day. The first child was a girl, with the birth chart as mentioned above. The second child was a boy, with the four pillars of destiny being Yihai, Jimao, Renwu, and Bingwu. The third child was also a boy, although the original text mistakenly wrote "Ganlin" instead of "Nongzhang," which refers to a boy. His four pillars were Yihai, Jimao, Renwu, and Dingwei. The letter asked me to compare the merits and demerits of the three children. All three children had the same year, month, and day pillars, but only the hour pillars differed, which clearly demonstrates how much a single hour can change one's destiny.

餘特簡覆曰。女命傷官太重。官得無力。又乏印綬以制傷保身。一無可取。本年乙亥。傷官更歷。恐即夭殤。蓋夢幻泡影而已。次生男造。傷官得祿於卯月。正官得祿於午時。更喜時上丙財。洩木生火。周旋於傷官正官之間。應作從財格論。走火土運不為忌。僅子運沖午。稍形不利。

I briefly replied: The female's destiny has excessive official stars (two Mao signs are the official stars of Ren water), and the official star (Ji earth) is weak and powerless, also lacking the official star to control the official star and protect the day master, so there is nothing good about it. This year is Yihai, wood is even more powerful, the official star becomes even stronger, I fear she may die young, it is just a dream and illusion. As for the second son's destiny, the official star is in the Mau month, and the official star is in the Wu hour, it is even more favorable that the hour stem is Bing fire as wealth: wood generates fire, fire generates earth, the wealth star circulates between the official star and the official star, making them no longer directly conflicting, it should be considered as the wealth star pattern. Walking the fire and earth destiny is not bad, only the Zi destiny conflicts with Wu, which is slightly unfavorable.

再次之男命。乃交互得祿且為純粹化木之格。八字無金。行運又無金。大貴之徵。將來積學深造。出冠多士。正如馬蹄春風。長途萬里之才也。三命較量。次出之命。較首出為優。後出之命更較次出為優。儻所謂後來居上者。非耶。

The third boy's destiny involves several heavenly stems interacting with the earthly branches to gain favor, and it is a pure "wood pattern" through the combination of Ding and Ren. He was born in the month of卯 (Mao), when wood is strong, and the pattern of wood is fully realized. There is no trace of metal in his birth chart to break the pattern, and his fortune also avoids metal. This is a clear sign of great fortune. In the future, he will study diligently and excel, like a spirited horse in full spring, possessing the talent for a long journey. Comparing the three destinies: the second surpasses the first, and the third surpasses the second. This is probably what is meant by "later generations surpassing the previous ones." Having three children on the same day yet differing greatly in quality shows that judging a destiny cannot rely only on year, month, and day; the hour is decisive.

此為金融界巨擘。錢新之先生命造。丙火退氣於初秋。本不能任申酉之旺財。所妙時落於午。根得帝旺。遠勝干頭衰木之生扶。於焉轉弱為強。足可任財矣。益以運多金水。固宜財源四達。利益萬通。事業有陶朱盛名也。

This passage has a missing text: the four pillars and the big year column are entirely missing, only the commentary remains. Now I transcribe the original text, and dare not make up anything on my own (according to the following text, he and Yang Yuting's fate differ by only a moment. Yang's fate is Yiyou, Jiashen, Bingchen, Wuxu. It also says that his time is in the hour of Wu. Therefore, Qian's year, month, and day pillars should be the same as Yiyou, Jiashen, Bingchen, and the hour pillar is Wu, which is a possible explanation). The commentary says: This is the fate of Mr. Qian Xinzhong, a prominent figure in the financial world. The丙 fire reaches the early autumn, which is a time of decline, and is not strong enough to bear the wealth of Shen and You. Fortunately, the hour pillar is in Wu, which is the Prosperity of丙 fire. The day master gets a root, which is much more powerful than the weak wood (Jia and Yi) in the heavenly stem supporting it. Thus, it turns weakness into strength, and is able to bear wealth. Moreover, the big year mostly travels through metal and water, which is why the source of wealth is widespread, and his career has the fame of Tao Zhu Gong.

按揚宇霆命為乙酉甲申丙辰戊戍重土重金。且戊土司令。未免晦火太甚。僅賴甲乙印綬之制土幫身。已運乃得祿。所以聲勢最盛。轟烈可畏。庚運無險。而斃於辰運戊辰年，則以庚運盡屬木火流年。故仍炙手可熱。辰運為溼土。戊辰年土又如崩。晦火無光。不得善終。意中事耳。

Yang Yuting's fate is based on the birth time of Yiyou, Jiashen, Bingchen, and Wuxu. The earth and metal are both heavy, and the戊土 is in command, which inevitably covers the丙火 too much (excessive earth obscures fire, which is the worst kind of problem for丙火). Only the甲 and乙 wood can overcome the earth to support the body. During the巳 period, the丙火 gets its own strength, so those years were the most powerful and intimidating. The庚 period itself was not dangerous, but during the辰 period, in the year of Wuchen, he died. This is because the ten years of the庚 period coincided with years of wood and fire, so he remained influential. However, during the辰 period, the earth is damp, and the year of Wuchen further intensifies the earth's power, completely covering the fire, leading to a tragic end, which was predictable.

觀夫錢楊二命。僅差一時。楊氏之夢幻泡影。萬不及錢翁之福祿綿長。毫釐不爽。有如此才。談命固非易事。思念及此。不寒而慄矣。

Looking at the fortunes of Qian and Yang, they differ by only one hour: one has the hour of Wu with the Bing fire rooted, while the other has the hour of Xu with the fire obscured by earth. Yang's life is like a dream, a mirage, a bubble, and a shadow, far inferior to the enduring blessings and honors of Mr. Qian. The difference of a single moment is fulfilled so precisely, showing how difficult it is to discuss fate. Thinking about this, I shiver without cause. This passage corresponds with the previous examples of triplets and Deng Qirui, forming the main theme repeatedly emphasized in this book: the single word 'hour' determines one's status, fortune, and even life or death.

乙酉 庚午 庚子 己卯 十歲 辛未 廿十 壬申 三十 癸酉 四十 甲戌 五十 乙亥 六十 丙子

This is a female destiny. The year pillar is Yiyou, the month pillar is Gengwu, the day pillar is Gengzi, and the hour pillar is Jimao. The day stem Geng metal is born in the month of Wu. The big destiny starts at ten years old, in sequence: Xinwei, Renshen, Guiyou, Jiaxu, Yihai, Bingzi. The year stem Yi is yin, and for female destiny, the order is followed, so from the month pillar Gengwu, it proceeds in order to Xinwei, Renshen, Guiyou... The four branches of this destiny are exactly You, Wu, Zi, and Mao, which are called the "four defeats" and are considered a major problem in old interpretations. However, the author clearly distinguishes the lightness and severity of the clashes, and this is the most satisfying part in the book where the author breaks away from the superstitions of divine deities.

張翁家有一女傭。年逾風信。貌奇醜。面且麻。迄今未嫁。恐畢業難應人選故乞推究其命。余曰。庚生午月。干透己土。為正印格。午丙丁火司令。則正官乘權。官印並美。為坤之兆。命婦格局。固己成立。

Master Zhang's elderly father had a female servant who was past the age of twenty (the term "fengxin" refers to the age of a woman after she has reached adulthood and is eligible for marriage). She was very ugly, with pimples on her face, and had not yet married. She feared she would never be chosen by anyone, so she asked me to examine her fate. I said: Her destiny is based on the Heavenly Stem Geng (metal) born in the month of Wu (fire), with the time stem revealing Ji (earth). Ji earth generates Geng metal, but they are of different yin and yang, making it a true official (zhenyin) stem. Therefore, the "Zhenyin Pattern" is established. In the month of Wu, the fire of Bing and Ding is in command, and Ding fire controls Geng metal, again of different yin and yang, making it a true official (zhengguan). The official thus holds power. Both the official and the zhenyin are favorable, which is a good sign for a woman's destiny. For a woman's fate, the official represents the husband, and the zhenyin represents the root of her body. When official and zhenyin generate each other, the pattern of a high-ranking official's wife is already established.

或以子午卯酉。四敗四沖非之。然子水傷官。失其時令。與午丁沖。滴天髓所謂沖。衰則拔沖旺則發。午火正官。非惟不畏其沖。且因沖而益見籌強。子則沖拔。是庸何傷。于于卯酉地位遠隔。更無沖意。奚足為病。四敗之說。亦不可盡拘

Some people criticize this fate based on the "four败" and "four冲" of Zi, Wu, Mao, and You. Zi and Wu are the bathing places of the Five Phases, traditionally called "four败," which is commonly referred to as "Taohua." Having all four together is considered a major concern. However, one must look at the actual situation. Zi water is the official of Geng metal, but it is born in the month of Wu, which is not a favorable time. It conflicts with the Ding fire in Wu. The "Ditianmou" says, "When weak, it is uprooted; when strong, it is promoted." When the weak side is conflicted, it is uprooted completely; when the strong side is conflicted, it becomes even stronger. Wu fire is the official and is in its season, so it is not afraid of conflict; instead, it becomes stronger because of it. Zi water is weak and is uprooted, so there is no harm. As for Mao and You, one is in the year pillar and the other in the hour pillar, they are far apart and cannot conflict, so how can they be considered a problem? Therefore, the concept of "four败" should not be taken too literally.

惟現行申金。運為祿堂。所以吉星未照。錐示脫穎。龍未占晴。一旦時運轉園。行至癸水。即濟功成。即入昌明之路矣。甲運以後。尤見發揚。孟光之案與眉齊。相夫立極。彼梁鴻乘機而起。未始非得力於內助也。

The current path is the Shen (Metal) cycle. Shen is the禄 of Geng Metal, so there is an excess of brothers and rivals, and the official star is restrained. Therefore, auspicious stars have not yet illuminated, the needle has not yet emerged, and the dragon has not yet had its eyes marked. Once the time changes and the path shifts to the Gui Water cycle (Gui Water can moisten and regulate the climate, and release the strong energy of Metal), then Water and Fire will be in harmony, and success will be achieved, entering the path of prosperity. After the Jia cycle, especially, there will be great development. Jia Wood is the wealth of Geng Metal; wealth can generate official stars and support the husband. At that time, it will be like Meng Guang carrying the tray level with her husband, assisting him in establishing his career; and Liang Hong's ability to rise with the times was not without the help of his wife. Although the appearance may be ugly, the destiny is clear and noble, which shows that the study of destiny focuses on harmony and coordination, not on physical appearance.

庚戌 辛巳 己亥 乙亥 十歲 庚辰 廿十 己卯 三十 庚寅 四十 丁丑 五十 丙子 六十 乙亥

This is a female birth. The year pillar is Geng Xu, the month pillar is Xin Si, the day pillar is Ji Hai, and the hour pillar is Yi Hai. The day stem Ji Tu is born in the Si month. The big destiny starts at ten years old, the original text lists Geng Chen, Ji Mao, Geng Yin, Ding Chou, Bing Zi, Yi Hai; for a female born in a yang year (Geng), the order should be reversed, starting from the month pillar Xin Si and going backward, which should be Geng Chen, Ji Mao, Wu Yin, Ding Chou, Bing Zi, Yi Hai. Among these, "thirty Geng Yin" is actually a mistake for "Wu Yin." The original text is recorded as is, with a note on this error. In this case, the month branch Si is the original place for Ji Tu, but it is conflicting with two Hais. The hour stem Yi Wood, which is a seven killer, is also restrained by the year and month gold pillars. Both the body and the killer are unstable, which is the basis for the following judgment.

阮玲玉一死。轟動全國。吾友鄭君，特囑推究其命。余曰。己生巳月。因有兩亥。印綬沖散。時透乙木。因有庚辛，制殺太過。身主與七殺。一無可恃。故意志不堅。正途岐趨。莫之辨別。片念厄塞。死於非命。雖從兩夫。終無所歸。

After Ruan Lingyu's death, the whole country was shocked. My friend Zheng especially asked me to examine her fate. I said: Her heavenly stem is Ji Earth, born in the month of Si. Normally, the earthy element (印绶) is in its season and can nourish her. But the earth branch has two Hai, which conflict with Si, thus the earthy element is scattered, and the main element (日主) loses its root. The time stem reveals Yi Wood, which is the seven killing star (七杀). Also, the year stem has Geng and the month stem has Xin, both metal elements, which over-control the seven killing star. The seven killing star is another husband star for a woman's fate. If it is over-controlled, the husband star cannot stand firm. The main element and the seven killing star both lack support, so her will is not strong, and she cannot distinguish between the right and wrong paths. Once her mind is blocked, she dies an untimely death. Although she had two husbands before, she never found a proper place to settle.

至於傷食並露。秀氣發越。固宜英敏豔麗。精藝絕倫。不為銀壇領袖。當亦作歌裙舞扇之翹楚也。今年兩乙三亥。天干金木之戰。地支水火之沖。乃滿盤啟湓。禍起蕭牆。失足成恨。一代藝人。竟埋黃土。寧不悲哉。

As for the heavenly stem of the year being Geng and the heavenly stem of the month being Xin, both are the official and food god of Ji soil, appearing together in the heavenly stem. The refined qi is fully expressed, so she is intelligent, graceful, and exceptionally skilled in her arts; even if she does not become a leader in the film industry, she must certainly be the outstanding figure in the entertainment world. This year (Yihai), there are two Yis and three Haís: in the heavenly stem, metal and wood clash, and in the earthly branch, water and fire conflict, resulting in overall instability. Misfortune arises from within, and one misstep leads to eternal regret. A famous artist is suddenly buried in the earth, which is truly pitiful. This case matches the section "Female Fate of Immorality and Low Morality" which states "the day ruler is weak, the official and food gods are heavy, and there is no seal of the heavenly stem." However, when applied to a real person, the author's words are only filled with regret.