Running the Years and Miscellaneous Notes

身旺而四柱傷盡官星，行財運則當發福。用官而見傷官，妙入財印之運。用傷官而多者，宜印運。用傷官而少者，忌印運。用傷官而見官者，運入官旺鄉，禍不堪言，雖有吉神解救，亦必生惡疾，甚至殘軀，或遭官事。傷官原有官星，行去官運發福。傷官帶印，不宜再行財運。傷官用印，運行官殺為宜，印運亦吉，傷食不礙，財運則凶。

When the body is strong and the official star in the four pillars is completely destroyed by the official killer, this is called "destroying the official star." In such a case, when the fortune moves into the wealth path, it will bring good fortune. The wealth can lead the official killer's energy away from the official star, so that they no longer interfere with each other. Moreover, a strong body is well suited to bear wealth. If the official star is the useful god and the pillar contains the official killer, the best fortune is to move into the wealth path or the scholar path. Wealth can connect the official killer and the official star, while the scholar path can directly control the official killer. If the official killer is the useful god and there is too much official killer in the pillar, it is best to move into the scholar path, as the scholar can stop the excessive leakage of energy. If the official killer is the useful god and there is not much official killer in the pillar, it is not good to move into the scholar path, as the scholar will destroy even the little official killer present. If the official killer is the useful god and the pillar also contains the official star, once the fortune moves into a strong official star path, the consequences will be very bad. Even if there are auspicious deities to rescue, there will certainly be serious illness, or even physical injury, or legal troubles. If the official killer and the official star are originally present in the birth chart, moving into a fortune that removes the official star will instead bring good fortune. In a birth chart with the official killer and the scholar, it is not good to move into the wealth path, as wealth will damage the scholar. In a birth chart where the official killer is used with the scholar, moving into the official or killer path is most favorable, as the official or killer generates the scholar; the scholar path is also good; moving into the food or killer path is not harmful; only the wealth path is bad, as wealth will damage the scholar, thus harming the useful god.

傷官多印比，而財淺者，喜行財運或傷官運。傷官用財者，行財得地運發福，逢敗財運必死。傷官用財，不宜比劫運。傷官用財，行財旺身輕運則吉。傷官而有殺印，印運最利，傷食亦亨，雜印非吉，逢財即危。四柱殺旺運純，身旺為官清貴（運純獨行制殺運也）。時上偏官無制伏，行制運亦可發福。

In a pattern of Wounding Official (Shang Gan) with many Useful Gods (Yong Shen) and Wealth Stars (Cai Xing) being weak, it is favorable to have a fortune of Wealth or Wounding Official. Wealth can reduce the excessive Useful Gods, and Wounding Official can generate the weak Wealth. For a pattern of Wounding Official using Wealth as the Useful God, when the Wealth Star is strong and in a favorable position, fortune is achieved; when the Wealth Star is in a weak or destroyed position, death is certain — the Useful God is destroyed, and the life is also destroyed. In a pattern of Wounding Official using Wealth, it is not favorable to have a fortune of similar elements (Bi Jie), as they will take away the Wealth. In a pattern of Wounding Official using Wealth, if the Wealth is strong and the body is not too heavy, it is favorable. When Wealth is strong, the Useful God is in a favorable position. In a pattern of Wounding Official with both Seven Killers (Qi Sha) and Useful Gods in the pillar, the fortune of Useful God is most favorable, as the Useful God can transform the Seven Killers into beneficial elements. The fortune of Food and Wounding Official is also favorable, as they can control the Seven Killers. However, if the Useful Gods are confused or mixed, it is not favorable. If a fortune of Wealth comes, it is dangerous, as Wealth will destroy the Useful Gods and generate the Seven Killers. If the Seven Killers are strong in the pillar and the fortune is pure, as long as the body is strong, official position will certainly be clear and honorable — the author notes: 'pure fortune' means that the fortune is exclusively for controlling the Seven Killers without mixing other elements. If the Seven Killer in the time pillar is not controlled by anything in the pillar, when the fortune is one that controls it, it can bring fortune.

柱中七殺，坐祿乘旺，發自坐長生臨官帝旺，又帶比劫，財能化鬼為官，運入印鄉必發。制殺太過為貧儒，但行財運醒殺，亦發威權。七殺乘旺，身又逢刃，貴不可言，只忌財旺生殺，歲運加之，身旺且多災，身弱則尤甚。殺強身弱有印，最忌財運。殺旺身弱，行身弱運，禍不旋踵。身強殺淺，殺運無妨。身殺俱旺無制伏，又行殺旺運，雖貴不久。殺重宜制，如行官殺運，不死必貧。七殺行官殺混雜之運，或制伏太過之運，多去官退職，甚至凶死。

The seven killing stars (seven杀) sitting on the position of wealth, riding on strong energy, with the day master itself sitting on the positions of growth, officialdom, and prosperity, and also accompanied by the same zodiac sign and wealth destruction stars to support the day master, at this time the wealth star can transform the attacking "ghost" into useful official stars (seven killing stars without control are called ghosts, but when controlled and transformed they are called officials). If the fortune enters the land of the mother star, it will certainly achieve success. Conversely, if the killing stars are controlled too much, it is mostly a poor scholar; but if the fortune enters the wealth land and reactivates the suppressed killing stars—since wealth can generate killing stars—it can also bring authority. When the seven killing stars are strong and the day master is also sitting on the yang ren position, it is beyond measure, as the killing stars and yang ren working together represent a sign of power. The only thing to be cautious about is when wealth is strong and generates killing stars, and if the year or fortune adds another layer of wealth, even a strong day master may suffer disasters, and a weak day master will certainly face even greater problems. If the killing stars are strong and the day master is weak, relying solely on the mother star to transform them, the most dangerous thing is encountering wealth fortune, as wealth can destroy the mother star, allowing the killing stars to directly attack the day master. If the killing stars are strong and the day master is weak, and the fortune further weakens the day master, misfortunes will come quickly. If the day master is strong and the killing stars are weak, encountering a killing star fortune is not a problem, as it can supplement the killing energy. If both the day master and the killing stars are strong without any controlling element, and the fortune again strengthens the killing stars, even if one becomes prominent, it will not last long. If the killing stars are heavy and should be controlled, but instead the fortune enters the official and killing star mixed path, or a path that controls the killing stars too much, it is likely to lose the official position, retire from office, or even meet a violent death.

殺用食制，殺重食輕，則喜助食之運；殺輕食重，則喜助殺之運。殺食平均，而日主根輕，則喜助身之運。帶殺正官，不論去官留殺，去殺留官，身輕則喜助身，食輕則喜助食。日干衰弱，但不能從殺，殺即有制有化，歲運逢財旺殺旺地，必成災禍。倘更無制無化，歲運逢財逢殺旺地，無不危亡。身殺兩等，行運寧可扶身。

Using the food god to control the seven killer: if the seven killer is strong but the food god is weak, it is favorable to have a fortune that supports the food god; if the seven killer is weak but the food god is strong, it is better to have a fortune that supports the seven killer —— both sides should be balanced. If the seven killer and the food god are originally balanced, but the day stem is too weak, it is favorable to have a fortune that supports the day stem. For a proper official accompanied by a seven killer, whether it is to remove the official and keep the seven killer or to remove the seven killer and keep the official, if the day stem is weak, it is favorable to have a fortune that supports the day stem; if the food god is weak, it is favorable to have a fortune that supports the food god. Even if the day stem is weak, if it is not weak enough to be considered as following the seven killer, then even if there is control and transformation of the seven killer in the column, once the fortune reaches a place where wealth and the seven killer are strong, disaster is inevitable; if there is no control or transformation in the column, and the fortune meets wealth or a strong seven killer, there is no way to avoid danger. When the strength of the day stem and the seven killer are equal, it is better to have a fortune that supports the day stem —— only when the day stem is strong can the seven killer be used effectively.

原有制伏，殺出為福。原無制伏，殺出為禍。（原有即八字既有七殺、又有制殺，殺出、即行殺運也，此指身弱而言。）官星純正，行運復得官旺之鄉，或官星成局之運，或財旺生官之地，皆是作福之處。（此指身強而言）。日干弱，財官旺，又有殺混，行運復遇，更是徒流之命。

If there is already a controlling force in the original chart, the appearance of seven killers in the big year is actually beneficial; but if there is no controlling force in the original chart, the appearance of seven killers in the big year becomes a disaster. The author explains: "Original presence" refers to the presence of both seven killers and a controlling element in the birth chart; "seven killer appears" means entering a big year of seven killers. This statement is referring to a weak day stem. If the official star is pure and uncluttered, and one enters a big year that strengthens the official star, or a big year that forms a trine with the official star, or a big year where wealth is strong and generates the official star, these are all beneficial. The author explains: this statement refers to a strong day stem — only a strong day stem can withstand a strong official star. If the day stem is weak, but the wealth and official star are already strong, and seven killers come to mix in, and then one enters a big year that meets the wealth, official, and killer, it will be a life of exile and punishment.

正官如月時重犯，天干多透，再行官旺鄉，變官為鬼，旺處必傾，多致災夭。正官格，行殺運，即是殺來混官。正官格，行墓運，即是官星入墓。財官旺強，日主衰弱，行運至財殺旺鄉，多染勞療。正官為用，大忌行運至傷官之地，更忌刑沖破害之運。正官而用財印，身稍輕，則喜助身運，官稍輕，則喜助官運。

The official star (正官) if appearing repeatedly in the month column and hour column, with the heavenly stem appearing in multiple places, and then encountering a strong official star in the fortune, the official star becomes a ghost that attacks the self; when it becomes extremely strong, it will definitely cause downfall and bring many calamities and early death. For a pattern based on the official star, encountering a seven killer (七杀) fortune is like the seven killer mixing with the official star, causing the pattern to become turbid immediately. For a pattern based on the official star, encountering the burial fortune of the official star is like the official star being buried, the useful god (用神) being hidden and unable to function. When the wealth and official star are strong but the day master is weak, encountering a fortune where wealth and killer stars are strong, one is likely to suffer from consumption (痨瘵). For a pattern using the official star as the useful god, the most dangerous is encountering a fortune of the injurious star (伤官), which directly attacks the official star; it is even more dangerous to encounter a fortune involving punishment, conflict, destruction, or harm, as the root of the official star is disturbed and the official star cannot stand firm. For a pattern based on the official star that also uses wealth and the printing star (印), one must see which is more important: if the body is slightly weak, one prefers a fortune that supports the body; if the official star is slightly weak, one prefers a fortune that supports the official star.

正官用財，運喜印綬身旺之地，切忌食傷，然若身旺而財輕官弱，仍喜財官運也。正官帶傷食而用印制，運喜官旺印旺之鄉。正官而帶殺，其命中用比合殺，則財運可行，傷食可行，只不可復露七殺；若命中傷官合殺，則傷食與財俱可行，而不宜逢印矣。

A person with a true official (正官) as the main element, where wealth (财) generates the official, will find good fortune in years of strong official energy and strong印 (helper) energy, because if wealth is strong, the body (self) needs support. They should avoid years of food and injury (食伤) because these directly harm the official. However, if the body is already strong and the wealth is light while the official is weak, then they still prefer wealth and official years. In general, it depends on which aspect is lacking. In a true official pattern, if the column contains food and injury (食伤) and relies on印 (helper) to control the food and injury, then good fortune comes from strong official and strong印 years. The official generates the印, and the印 controls the injury, making the useful god more solid. In a true official pattern with seven killers (七杀), if the original chart uses a similar element (比肩) to harmonize the seven killer, keeping the official and removing the killer, then wealth and food and injury years are acceptable, but the seven killer should not appear again. If the original chart uses food and injury (伤官) to harmonize the seven killer, then both food and injury and wealth years are acceptable, but it is not good to meet印 years, as the印 would destroy the food and injury that harmonizes the seven killer.

食神多者，宜行印運。食神少者，忌行印運。食神喜行身旺地，遇梟逢比總成空。身旺印多，財運無妨；身弱有印，殺運何妨。印有比肩，喜行財運；印無比肩，畏行財運。貪財壞印，喜行比劫之鄉。印綬太過，不喜再行身旺地。財有比肩，喜行比劫之鄉。印太輕，宜官殺運生之；印太多，須財運制之。

When there are many food gods, it is advisable to go through the official or minister's fortune, as the official can control the excessive food gods. When there are few food gods, it is not advisable to go through the official's fortune, as it would eliminate them entirely. Food gods are favorable when the body is strong, as a strong body can generate the food gods; if there is a hawk god stealing the food or if there are similar or competitive forces competing for the food, the food gods will be ineffective. If the body is strong and there are many officials, it is acceptable to go through the wealth fortune, as wealth can reduce the officials. If the body is weak but there are officials, it is also acceptable to go through the seven killers' fortune, as the officials can transform the killers into nourishment for the body. For an official pattern with a close companion in the column, it is favorable to go through the wealth fortune—although wealth may damage the officials, the close companion can share the wealth and protect the officials, thus not harming the useful god. For an official pattern without a close companion, it is feared to go through the wealth fortune, as there is no one to protect the officials. If the fate already forms the "greedy wealth damaging the officials" pattern, it is favorable to go through the close companion's fortune, as the close companions can remove the wealth and protect the officials. If the officials are already excessive, it is not favorable to go through a strong body fortune, as it will only make the situation more congested. For a wealth pattern with a close companion, it is also said to be favorable to go through the close companion's fortune—although close companions are usually things that take away wealth, this statement contradicts common sense, and it is suspected that the character "wealth" should be "official," which is a mistake based on the previous statement about "officials with a close companion." If the officials are too weak, it is advisable to go through the official or minister's fortune to generate them; if the officials are too numerous, it is necessary to go through the wealth fortune to control them.

財多身弱，畏入財鄉。財多身弱，身旺運以為榮；身旺財衰，財旺鄉而發福。財多全仗印扶身，喬木家聲舊有名，不但妻賢兒子秀，晚年財帛累千金。柱中無財，若行財運，雖美，有名無實。財多身弱，又行官鄉，或財旺之運，禍患百出。財多身弱，要印扶身；身旺財衰，怕劫分奪。刃助官，則運喜助官，若命中官根深，則印綬比劫之方，反為美運。刃用殺，殺不甚旺，則運喜助殺，殺若太重，則運喜身旺。小盈大虧，恐是劫財之地。財多身弱，遇劫為福。財弱身旺，見劫為禍。多劫又遇劫運，守窮途而悽惶。

When a person has excessive wealth but a weak body, they should be cautious about entering a wealth-rich environment. If one has too much wealth but a weak body, they can achieve success and recognition only when they encounter a period that strengthens their own strength. If one has a strong body but lacks wealth, they can gain prosperity when they enter a wealth-rich environment. Here is an old verse: "When wealth is abundant, it relies entirely on the印 (favorable influence) to support the self; noble family lineage is well known, not only does the wife become virtuous and the son outstanding, but in old age, wealth can accumulate in thousands of gold." This refers to a person with excessive wealth but a weak body who relies entirely on the印 (favorable influence) to support their own strength. If the印 is strong, not only does the person come from a noble family, but also the wife is virtuous and the son is outstanding, and in old age, they can accumulate thousands of gold. If there is no original wealth in the four pillars, even if they encounter a wealth period, it may seem good, but it is actually empty because the original chart lacks roots to support it. If one has excessive wealth but a weak body and encounters an official (authority) period or a wealth-rich period, many misfortunes will arise—wealth generates officials, officials suppress the self, and the self becomes even more unable to bear the burden. When one has excessive wealth but a weak body, they rely on the印 (favorable influence) to support themselves; when one has a strong body but lacks wealth, they fear the presence of rivals who will take away the wealth. For a person with the Yangren (sheep's horn) pattern who is controlled by the official star, they prefer a period that supports the official star. If the official star is already strong and deep-rooted in the original chart, then the directions of the印 (favorable influence) and rivals become favorable, because the official star is sufficient and there is no need for more. For a person with the Yangren (sheep's horn) pattern controlled by the seven deadly stars, if the seven deadly stars are not very strong, they prefer a period that supports the seven deadly stars; if the seven deadly stars are too strong, they prefer a period that strengthens themselves. The saying "small gain, great loss" mostly refers to encountering a period of rivals: gaining a little but losing a lot, which is the nature of the rival star. When one has excessive wealth but a weak body, encountering rivals brings fortune; when one has weak wealth but a strong body, encountering rivals brings misfortune. If the original chart already has many rivals, and then another period of rivals comes, they can only remain in a desperate situation, feeling lonely and anxious.

流年干支，利於用神為善。流年干支，不利於用神為惡。流年干支，利於用神，但為局中他神克去或合住，善而不善，然亦不惡，平庸而已。流年干支，不利於用神，但為局中他神克去或合住，惡而不惡，然亦不善，平庸而已。

The "flow year" refers to the group of heavenly stem and earthly branch that is in charge each year, changing every year. It is more closely related to current fortune and misfortune than the ten-year cycle of big years. The method of judging flow years is the same as judging big years: if the heavenly stem and earthly branch of the flow year are favorable to the useful god, it is a good year; if they are unfavorable, it is a bad year. If the flow year's heavenly stem and earthly branch are originally favorable to the useful god, but are overcome or combined by other characters in the birth chart, then the good aspect is not clearly visible, but it is not considered bad, and it is ordinary. Similarly, if the flow year's heavenly stem and earthly branch are originally unfavorable to the useful god, but are overcome or combined by other characters in the birth chart, then the bad aspect is not clearly visible, but it is not considered good, and it is also ordinary. In summary, the influence of the flow year should still be evaluated within the original birth chart, and cannot be viewed in isolation.

流年善，運亦善，則更妙。流年善，運惡，則善惡互見。流年惡，運亦惡，則更惡。流年惡，運善，則善惡互見。流年善，惟被局中某神克合，若運來制住克合之神，則仍佳妙。流年惡，惟被局中某神克合，若運來制住克合之神，則仍蹇劣。流年善，惟被局中某神克合，若運來生畏克合之神，則凶多吉少。流年惡，惟被局中某神克合，若運來生輔克合之神，則吉多凶少。流年善，運若生助之，則更善。流年惡，運若生助之，則更惡。（十一）流年善，運若克挫之，則善力減輕。（十二）流年惡，運若克挫之，則惡力減輕。

When considering the current year and the big destiny period together, there are twelve combinations. If both the current year and the big destiny period are favorable, then the situation becomes even better. If the current year is favorable but the big destiny period is unfavorable, then both good and bad influences are present. If both the current year and the big destiny period are unfavorable, then the situation becomes even worse. If the current year is unfavorable but the big destiny period is favorable, then again both good and bad influences are present. If the current year is originally favorable but is restrained or combined by a character in the birth chart, and the big destiny period removes that restraining or combining force, then the year remains favorable. If the current year is originally unfavorable but is restrained or combined by a character in the birth chart, and the big destiny period removes that restraining or combining force, then the year remains difficult and unfavorable—originally the hand that was protecting me has been removed by the big destiny period. If the current year is originally favorable but is restrained or combined by a character in the birth chart, and the big destiny period supports that restraining or combining force, then there will be more misfortune than good fortune (the original text says '生畏' which should be '生辅', and this applies to the following line as well). If the current year is originally unfavorable but is restrained or combined by a character in the birth chart, and the big destiny period supports that restraining or combining force, then there will be more good fortune than misfortune. If the current year is favorable and the big destiny period also supports it, then the situation becomes even more favorable. If the current year is unfavorable and the big destiny period also supports it, then the situation becomes even more unfavorable. The eleventh combination: if the current year is favorable but the big destiny period restrains or hinders it, then the favorable influence is reduced. The twelfth combination: if the current year is unfavorable but the big destiny period restrains or hinders it, then the unfavorable influence is also reduced.

有謂流年，重天干。亦有以天干為上半年，地支為下半年，皆非的論。當以干支並看，最較精確。其法有十二。流年干支，皆利於有神，乃大吉之年。流年干支，皆不利於用神，乃大凶之年。流年天干，利於用神，地支不利於用神，乃吉凶參半之年。流年天干，不利於用神，地支益助用神，亦吉凶互見之年。流年天干，利於用神，而地支再輔助之，大吉之年。流年天干，不利於用神，而地支再輔助之，大凶之年。

Some people say that when looking at the flow of years, only the heavenly stems are important, while others treat the heavenly stems as the first half of the year and the earthly branches as the second half. Both of these views are not accurate. The reason we need to consider both heavenly stems and earthly branches together is that the energy of a year is naturally integrated. The heavenly stems govern the external aspects and correspond to already occurred events, while the earthly branches govern the internal aspects and conceal potential trends that have not yet manifested. To divide the year into two halves arbitrarily would be too rigid. The following twelve points are simply distinguishing the relationship between the heavenly stems and earthly branches in relation to the useful god, whether they support or oppose it, and their relative importance. If both the heavenly stem and the earthly branch are favorable to the useful god, it is a very auspicious year. If both are unfavorable, it is a very inauspicious year. If the heavenly stem is favorable but the earthly branch is not, it is a year with both good and bad aspects. If the heavenly stem is unfavorable but the earthly branch supports the useful god, it is also a year with both good and bad aspects. If the heavenly stem is favorable and the earthly branch also supports it, it is a very auspicious year. If the heavenly stem is unfavorable and the earthly branch also supports it, it is a very inauspicious year.

流年地支，利於用神，而天干再輔助之，大吉之年。流年地支，不利於用神，而天干再輔助之，大凶之年。流年天干，利於用神，而地支克挫之，吉力減輕。流年天干，不利於用神，而地支克挫之，凶力減輕。（十一）流年地支，利於用神，而天干克挫之，吉力減輕。（十二）流年地支，不利於用神，而天干克挫之，凶力減輕。

When the Earthly Branches are favorable to the Useful God and the Heavenly Stems support it, it is a very auspicious year. When the Earthly Branches are unfavorable to the Useful God and the Heavenly Stems also support it, it is a very inauspicious year. If the Heavenly Stems are favorable to the Useful God but the Earthly Branches hinder or weaken it, the auspicious force is reduced. If the Heavenly Stems are unfavorable to the Useful God and the Earthly Branches hinder or weaken it, the inauspicious force is reduced. Rule 11: When the Earthly Branches are favorable to the Useful God but the Heavenly Stems hinder or weaken it, the auspicious force is reduced. Rule 12: When the Earthly Branches are unfavorable to the Useful God and the Heavenly Stems hinder or weaken it, the inauspicious force is reduced. Summarizing these twelve rules, they can be divided into three main categories: when the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches are in the same direction, their power is complete; when they are in opposite directions, their power is divided; when one is hindered or weakened by the other, its power is reduced. To assess the flow year, first determine whether the Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch of that year are favorable or unfavorable to the Useful God, then check whether they support or hinder each other. The degree of auspiciousness or inauspiciousness will naturally become clear.

月建干支，利於用神為善。月建干支，不利於有神為惡。月建干支，利於用神，但為局中他神克運河或合住，善而不善，然亦不惡，平庸而已。月建干支，不利於用神，但為局中他神克去或合住，惡而不惡，然亦不善，平庸而已。

The "Month Builder" refers to the flow month, which is the set of heavenly stem and earthly branch that take turns governing each of the twelve months annually. It is a more detailed division than the flow year. Its interpretation is similar to that of the flow year: if the heavenly stem and earthly branch of the Month Builder are favorable to the Useful God, it is considered good; if unfavorable, it is considered bad (the original text's "unfavorable to have a god" should be "unfavorable to the Useful God"). If the Month Builder's heavenly stem and earthly branch are originally favorable to the Useful God, but are overcome or combined with by other characters in the birth chart, then the good aspect is not visible, but it is not bad either; it is ordinary. If the Month Builder's heavenly stem and earthly branch are originally unfavorable to the Useful God, but are also overcome or combined with by other characters in the birth chart, then the bad aspect is not visible, but it is not good either; it is also ordinary.

月建善，流年亦善，則更妙。月建善，流年惡，則善中有惡。月建惡，流年亦惡，則更惡。月建惡，流年善，則惡中有善。月建善，惟被局中某神克合，若流年制住克合之神，則仍佳妙。月建惡，惟被局中某神克合，若流年制住克合之神，則仍蹇劣。月建善，惟被局中某神克合，若流年生輔克合之神，則凶多吉少。月建惡，惟被局中某神克合，若流年生輔克合之神，則吉多凶少。月建善，流年再生助之，則更善。月建惡，充年再生助之，則更惡。月建善，流年若克挫之，則善力減輕。月建惡，流年若克挫之，則惡力減輕。

When considering the Month Builder (月建) together with the current year (流年), the rules are entirely parallel to the twelve principles for matching the current year with the big destiny period (大运). If both the Month Builder and the current year are favorable, it is even more auspicious. If the Month Builder is favorable but the current year is unfavorable, there is a mixture of good and bad. If both the Month Builder and the current year are unfavorable, it becomes even worse. If the Month Builder is unfavorable but the current year is favorable, there is a mixture of bad and good. If the Month Builder is originally favorable but is restricted or combined by a certain character in the chart, and the current year controls or subdues that restricting or combining element, then the month remains excellent. If the Month Builder is originally unfavorable but is restricted or combined by a certain character, and the current year controls or subdues that restricting or combining element, then the month remains difficult— the obstacle in front is removed. If the Month Builder is originally favorable but is restricted or combined by a certain character, and the current year instead supports or strengthens that restricting or combining element, it becomes mostly unfavorable. If the Month Builder is originally unfavorable but is restricted or combined by a certain character, and the current year also supports or strengthens that restricting or combining element, it becomes mostly favorable. If the Month Builder is favorable and the current year also supports it, it becomes even more favorable. If the Month Builder is unfavorable and the current year also supports it, it becomes even more unfavorable (the original text '充年' is a misspelling of '流年'). If the Month Builder is favorable and the current year comes to restrict or weaken it, the favorable force is reduced. If the Month Builder is unfavorable and the current year comes to restrict or weaken it, the unfavorable force is reduced. From this, we can see that the big destiny period governs the current year, the current year governs the Month Builder, and each level governs the one below it, with the closer level governing more specifically.

月建看法，月干重於月支，因干流動，而支固定。月建即流月也。或以干為上半月，支為下半月，不甚可信，總宜干支合看。亦有以月支所藏人元，分何者當旺幾天，而定幾天吉凶，更不足信，蓋完全偏重於月支。成如此說，則月建可無須月干矣。看命中強弱，且不能以建中人元旺幾天而標定，況流年中之流動月建耶。

Looking at the month builder, the heavenly stem of the month is more important than the earthly branch, because heavenly stems are flowing and change every year, while earthly branches are fixed — the first month is always寅, the second month is always卯, and so on every year. The month builder refers to the flowing month. Some people take the heavenly stem of the month as the first half of the month and the earthly branch as the second half, but this is not reliable. It is better to consider both the heavenly and earthly stems together. Others divide the heavenly stems hidden in the earthly branch of the month, assigning each to be dominant for certain days, and use this to determine which days are auspicious and which are inauspicious. This is even less reliable, as it focuses entirely on the earthly branch. If we follow this approach, would the heavenly stem of the month not be unnecessary? Moreover, even when assessing the strength of the five phases in a birth chart, we cannot rigidly determine their strength based on how many days each heavenly stem is dominant in the month, and even less so for the flowing month builder in the year.

正月必為寅月，二月必為卯月，月支固定，故不若月干之重視。然而時令與月建，頗有關繫焉。特敘述如後。（一）春令木旺，甲寅月、乙卯月、甲辰月，則木更盛。丙寅月、丁卯月、丙辰月，則火得木生而亦強。戊寅月、己卯月、戊辰月，則土被木克而不健。庚寅月、辛卯月、庚辰月，則金為木挫而無力。壬寅月、癸卯月、壬辰月，則水受木洩亦疲弱。

January is always the Year of the Tiger, and February is always the Year of the Rabbit. Since the Earthly Branch is fixed, it is not as significant as the Heavenly Stem. However, the relationship between the season and the Month Builder is quite close. Here is a detailed explanation. First, in spring, wood is strong. If it is the month of Jiayin, Yimao, or Jiachen, the Heavenly Stem is also wood, making wood even stronger. If it is the month of Bingyin, Dingmao, or Bingchen, the Heavenly Stem is fire, and fire is strengthened by the thriving wood. If it is the month of Wuyin, Jimao, or Wuchen, the Heavenly Stem is earth, and earth is weakened by the strong wood. If it is the month of Gengyin, Xinmao, or Gengchen, the Heavenly Stem is metal, and metal is weakened by the strong wood. Instead of saying wood overcomes metal, we say metal is weakened by wood because when wood is strong, the metal that comes to overcome it is itself weakened. If it is the month of Renyin, Guimao, or Renchen, the Heavenly Stem is water, and water is weakened by the strong wood. The same Heavenly Stem in different seasons has vastly different strength, which is why we need to consider the season as well.

（二）夏令火旺。丁巳月、丙午月、丁未月，則火更盛。己巳月、戊午月、己未月，則土得火生而亦強。辛巳月、庚午月、辛未月，則金被火熔而不健。癸巳月、壬午月、癸未月，則水為火灼而無力。乙巳月、甲午月、乙未月則木受火洩亦疲弱。（三）秋令金旺。庚申月、辛酉月、庚戌月，則金更盛。壬申月、癸酉月、壬戌月，則水得金生而亦強。甲申月、乙酉月、甲戌月，則木被金克而不健。丙申月、丁酉月、丙戌月，則火為金磨而無力。戊申月、己酉月、戊戌月土受金洩亦疲弱。

Second, in summer the fire is strong: in the months of Ding Si, Bing Wu, and Ding Wei, the heavenly stem is also fire, so the fire becomes even stronger. In the months of Ji Si, Wu Wu, and Ji Wei, the heavenly stem is earth, and earth becomes strong because it is generated by the strong fire. In the months of Xin Si, Geng Wu, and Xin Wei, the heavenly stem is metal, and metal becomes weak because it is melted by the strong fire. In the months of Gui Si, Ren Wu, and Gui Wei, the heavenly stem is water, and water becomes weak because it is scorched by the strong fire. In the months of Yi Si, Jia Wu, and Yi Wei, the heavenly stem is wood, and wood becomes weak because it is drained by the strong fire. Third, in autumn the metal is strong: in the months of Geng Shen, Xin You, and Geng Xu, the heavenly stem is also metal, so the metal becomes even stronger. In the months of Ren Shen, Gui You, and Ren Xu, the heavenly stem is water, and water becomes strong because it is generated by the strong metal. In the months of Jia Shen, Yi You, and Jia Xu, the heavenly stem is wood, and wood becomes weak because it is overcome by the strong metal. In the months of Bing Shen, Ding You, and Bing Xu, the heavenly stem is fire, and fire becomes weak because it is worn down by the strong metal—fire usually overcomes metal, but when metal is strong, it instead weakens the fire. In the months of Wu Shen, Ji You, and Wu Xu, the heavenly stem is earth, and earth becomes weak because it is drained by the strong metal.

（四）冬令水旺，癸亥月、壬子月、癸丑月，則水更盛。乙亥月，甲子月，乙丑月，則木得水生而亦強。丁亥月、丙子月、丁丑月，則火被水克而不健。己亥月、戊子月、己丑月，則土因水泛而無力。辛亥月、庚子月、辛丑月，則金受水洩亦疲弱。（五）四立前各十八天土旺。戊辰月、己未月、戊戌月、己丑月，則土更甚。庚辰月、辛未月、庚戌月、辛丑月，則金得土生而亦強。壬辰月、癸未月、壬戌月、癸丑月，則水被土克而不健。甲辰月、乙未月、甲戌月、乙丑月，則木為土折而無力。丙辰月、丁未月、丙戌月、丁丑月，則火受土洩亦疲弱。

Fourth, in winter water is strong: in the months of Gui Hai, Ren Zi, and Gui Chou, the heavenly stem is also water, so water becomes even more powerful. In the months of Yi Hai, Jia Zi, and Yi Chou, the heavenly stem is wood, so wood becomes strong because it is nourished by the abundant water. In the months of Ding Hai, Bing Zi, and Ding Chou, the heavenly stem is fire, so fire is weakened because it is overcome by the strong water. In the months of Ji Hai, Wu Zi, and Ji Chou, the heavenly stem is earth, so earth becomes weak because it is overwhelmed by the powerful water—earth usually controls water, but when water is strong, earth is dispersed. In the months of Xin Hai, Geng Zi, and Xin Chou, the heavenly stem is metal, so metal becomes weak because it is drained by the strong water. Fifth, before the beginning of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, the earth is strong for eighteen days: in the months of Wu Chen, Ji Wei, Wu Xu, and Ji Chou, the heavenly stem is also earth, so earth becomes even stronger. In the months of Geng Chen, Xin Wei, Geng Xu, and Xin Chou, the heavenly stem is metal, so metal becomes strong because it is nourished by the powerful earth. In the months of Ren Chen, Gui Wei, Ren Xu, and Gui Chou, the heavenly stem is water, so water becomes weak because it is overcome by the strong earth. In the months of Jia Chen, Yi Wei, Jia Xu, and Yi Chou, the heavenly stem is wood, so wood becomes weak because it is suppressed by the strong earth. In the months of Bing Chen, Ding Wei, Bing Xu, and Ding Chou, the heavenly stem is fire, so fire becomes weak because it is drained by the strong earth. Considering these five sections, there is one general rule: the current element is strong, the element that is generated by the current element is strong, the element that is overcome by the current element is weak, the element that overcomes the current element is weakened, and the element that drains the current element becomes weak.

何為六親。六親者，父、母、兄、弟、妻、子是也。六親之更定。舊論父子殊多謬誤（詳見命理約言），特更定六親看法如後。（一）父：男女命皆以生我之印為父。（二）母：同父。（三）夫：克我之官殺為夫。（四）妻：所克之財為妻。（五）兄弟：男女命，皆以同我之比劫為兄弟。（六）子：男女命，皆以我生之傷官食神為子。父母妻子之官位。（一）月為父母。（二）日支為妻（女命為夫）。（三）時為子息。

What is the concept of the Six Relations? The Six Relations refer to father, mother, elder brother, younger brother, wife, and son. Regarding the method of determining the Six Relations, old methods often had errors in distinguishing between father and son (see Qing dynasty scholar Chen Su'an's "Ming Li Yue Yan" for details). Therefore, a revised method is proposed as follows. First, father: regardless of whether the person is male or female, the heavenly stem that generates me is considered the father. Second, mother: similar to the father, the heavenly stem that generates me is also considered the mother. Third, husband: the heavenly stem that overcomes me is considered the husband. Fourth, wife: the heavenly stem that I overcome is considered the wife. Fifth, brothers: regardless of whether the person is male or female, the heavenly stem that is similar to me is considered brothers. Sixth, son: regardless of whether the person is male or female, the heavenly stem that I generate is considered the son. This differs from the old method which considered "wealth" as father and "seal" as mother, and "official star" as son. Wei's method instead determines based on the order of generation and overcoming. Parents are both considered as the heavenly stems that generate me, and children are both considered as the heavenly stems that I generate, making the meaning more consistent. In addition, there is the concept of palace positions (the original text's "parents and wife's palace position" should be "palace"). First, the month pillar represents the position of parents; second, the day branch represents the position of wife, and for female birth charts, it represents the position of husband; third, the hour pillar represents the position of children. When analyzing the Six Relations, both the category of heavenly stems and the palace positions should be considered together.

（一）妻。妻之吉。用神即是財神，妻美而且富貴。用神與財神不相悖背，妻亦美好。財旺身強者，富貴多妻妾。官星弱，遇食傷，又有財，妻賢而不克。劫刃旺而財輕，有食傷，妻賢不克。

First, we discuss the wife. A favorable sign for the wife is when the useful god in the destiny is exactly the wealth star. The wife is both beautiful and brings wealth. Wealth is the general god of the wife, and if the useful god also falls here, the wife naturally benefits the person. Although the useful god and the wealth star are not the same, they do not contradict each other, and the wife is also beautiful. When wealth is strong and the body is also strong, there will be both wealth and many wives and concubines. A strong body can bear the wealth, and abundant wealth leads to many wives. If the official star is weak and there are food and injury stars that overcome the official star, fortunately there is a wealth star in the middle to mediate. The food and injury stars generate wealth, and wealth generates the official star, so the wife is virtuous and not overcome. If the ratio and yangren are strong but the wealth star is weak, this is a sign of many rivals competing for wealth, which is unfavorable for the wife. However, if there are food and injury stars in the middle to transform and guide the ratio and yangren energy into the wealth star, the wife will also be virtuous and not overcome.

日支為財，財為用神，必得妻財妻力。財神薄，有助財之字，或財旺身弱，有比劫，或財神傷印，有官星，或財薄官多，有傷官，皆主妻賢。身強殺淺，財星滋殺，或官輕傷重，財星化傷，或印綬重疊，財星得氣，皆主妻賢，而富。或得妻財致富，劫比多，財藏庫內（如甲日多乙，己財藏於丑內）。妻亦賢而不克。財星深藏，有沖動引助（如庚日乙財，藏於辰內，有戌沖開，及干上丁火護乙，或癸水生乙），亦主妻賢。

The day branch is the wealth star, and wealth is the useful god of the entire chart. This means one will surely gain wealth from the wife's family and receive the wife's support — the day branch is the wife's palace, and the palace and the useful god are both beneficial. If the wealth star is weak but there are characters in the chart that support and generate wealth; or if wealth is strong but the self is weak and there are similar or competitive elements to help the self and share the wealth; or if the wealth star would normally harm the official star, but there is an official star to mediate, allowing wealth to generate official star, and official star to generate the scholar star, so the wealth does not harm the scholar star; or if the wealth is weak but there are many officials, and the wealth is excessively drained, but there is a harmful official to generate wealth: all these situations indicate a virtuous wife. If the self is strong but the seven deadly stars are weak, and the wealth star nourishes the seven deadly stars; or if the official star is weak but the harmful official is strong, and the wealth star transforms the harmful official's energy into wealth; or if the scholar star is heavy and clogs the chart, but the wealth star has strength and can reduce the scholar star: all these situations indicate a virtuous and wealthy wife, or wealth gained through the wife's family. Even if there are many similar or competitive elements, but the wealth star is deeply hidden in a repository (for example, if the day master is jia wood and there are many yi wood competitive elements in the chart, and the official star is ji earth, which is hidden in the chou repository), the group of competitive elements cannot take it away, so the wife is virtuous and not harmed. If the wealth star is deeply hidden, but there are characters that stir or trigger it (for example, if the day master is geng metal and the official star is yi wood, which is hidden in chen, and there is xu to stir open the chen repository, the heavenly stem has ding fire to protect yi wood, or there is jiu water to generate yi wood), this also indicates a virtuous wife.

妻之不吉。財神洩氣太重，妻不得力。身旺無財，妻難偕老。財神輕而無官，比劫多，克妻。財神重，而身弱，無比劫，克妻。官殺旺而用印，見財星，主妻陋而克。官殺輕而身旺，見財星，遇比劫，主妻美而克。劫刃重財星輕，有食傷，逢梟印，主妻遭凶死。日支不利於用神，妻不得力。

Unfavorable signs for a wife: The wealth star is too strong and drains energy, and the wealth star continuously generates officials and evils without returning, so the wife is not helpful. If the body is strong but there is no wealth star in the column, the wife will not be able to live happily. If the wealth star is weak and there is no official star to control the rivals and competitors, and the rivals and competitors are numerous, it indicates the wife will be harmed. If the wealth star is strong but the body is weak, and there are no rivals and competitors to help the body and share the wealth, it also indicates harm to the wife—unable to bear such wealth. If the officials and evils are strong and need the seal to transform them, but the wealth star appears, which harms the seal, then I lose my support, indicating the wife is ugly and harmful. If the officials and evils are weak and the body is strong, the appearance of the wealth star could generate officials, but if rivals and competitors appear, it indicates the wife is beautiful but still harmful. If the rivals and competitors and yangren are strong and the wealth star is weak, relying on food and injuries to transform, but if the hawk and seal star appears to take the food and injuries, the transformation path is cut off, indicating the wife suffers a sudden death. The position of the day branch is unfavorable to the useful god, so the wife is not helpful—the wife's palace is where the hostile god resides, so the wife naturally cannot help me.

日支被沖，妻室喪亡。財星微，官殺旺，無食傷，有印綬，主妻有弱病。劫刃旺而無財，有食傷，妻賢必克，妻陋不傷。日主喜財，財被合化者，主妻有外情。殺重身輕，財星生殺，或官多用印，財星壞印，或傷官佩印，財星得局，皆主妻不賢而陋，或因妻招禍傷身。

When the Day Branch is conflicting with another Branch, it indicates that the wife's situation is unstable and there may be loss or misfortune in the marital relationship. The wife's position is weak, and the wealth star is weak while the official and killing stars are strong, causing the wealth to be drained by the official and killing stars. If the wealth star is not supported by food or injury stars, and only the official star is present, which only helps to weaken the official and killing stars and supports the self, then the wife is likely to be weak and sickly. If the ratio of similar elements and Yangren is strong but there is no wealth, and only food or injury stars are present, then a virtuous wife will be harmed, while an ugly wife may not cause harm, because the strong similar elements have no wealth to compete with, and the virtuous wife is the one most affected. The Day Master originally benefits from wealth, but the wealth star is combined with another character and thus disappears, indicating that the wife may have an affair, and the desired wealth has been taken by someone else. If the seven killing stars are strong and the Day Master is weak, the wealth star is used to nourish the killing stars; or if there are many officials and the official needs to be transformed by the official star, but the wealth star harms the official; or if the injury star pattern uses the official star as a helper, but the wealth star harms the official star, then these situations indicate that the wife is not virtuous and is ugly, and may even bring misfortune to the self.

（二）夫。夫之榮枯。官星太旺，以傷官救之，傷官之力有餘則夫榮，不足則夫枯。官星太微，以財救之，財力有餘則夫榮，不足則夫枯。傷官旺而無財官，以印救之，印力有餘則夫榮，不足則夫枯。官星太旺，無比劫，以印救之，印力有餘則夫榮，不足則夫枯。官星太弱有傷官，以財救之，財力有餘則夫榮，不足則夫枯。滿盤比劫，而無印無官者，以傷食救之，傷食之力有餘則夫榮，不足則夫枯。

Next, we discuss the prosperity and decline of the husband. There is a general method to assess this: first, examine where the husband's star, the official star, is weak, then check whether the saving element is strong enough. If the saving element is sufficient, the husband will be prosperous and prominent; if it is insufficient, the husband will be weak and withered. If the official star is too strong, use the official's son to restrain it. If the official's son is strong enough, the husband will be prosperous; if it is insufficient, the husband will be weak. If the official star is too weak, use wealth to generate it. If the wealth is sufficient, the husband will be prosperous; if it is insufficient, the husband will be weak. If the official's son is strong and there is no wealth or official star in the column, the refined energy is wasted without a place to return, so use the scholar's element to restrain the official's son. If the scholar's element is sufficient, the husband will be prosperous; if it is insufficient, the husband will be weak. If the official star is too strong and there is no brother or sister in the column to share the burden, use the scholar's element to transform the official star and generate the self. If the scholar's element is sufficient, the husband will be prosperous; if it is insufficient, the husband will be weak. If the official star is too weak and there is a strong official's son to restrain it, use wealth to mediate between them. If the wealth is sufficient, the husband will be prosperous; if it is insufficient, the husband will be weak. If the column is full of brothers and sisters, with no scholar's element or official star, use the food or official's son to release the energy. If the food or official's son is strong enough, the husband will be prosperous; if it is insufficient, the husband will be weak.

滿局印綬，而無官無傷者，以財救之，財力有餘則夫榮，不足則夫枯。傷官旺，日主衰，以印救之，印力有餘則夫榮，不足則夫枯。日主旺，傷食多，以財救之，財力有餘則夫榮，不足則夫枯。官星輕，印綬重，亦以財救之，財力有餘則夫榮，不足則夫枯。官有殺混，以食神救之，食神之力有餘則夫榮，不足則夫枯。日支利於用神則夫榮，不利於用神則夫枯。

When all the elements in the chart are in the form of nourishing stars, and there are neither official stars nor harmful stars, then use wealth to reduce the nourishing stars. If there is enough wealth, the husband will be prosperous; if not, the husband will be poor. When harmful stars are strong and the day's main element is weak, then use nourishing stars to both control the harmful stars and support the day's main element. If the nourishing stars are strong, the husband will be prosperous; if not, the husband will be poor. When the day's main element is strong and there are many food and harmful stars, then use wealth to guide and transform the food and harmful stars. If there is enough wealth, the husband will be prosperous; if not, the husband will be poor. When official stars are weak and nourishing stars are strong, the official energy is completely drained by the nourishing stars. In this case, use wealth to reduce the nourishing stars. If there is enough wealth, the husband will be prosperous; if not, the husband will be poor. When the official star is mixed with seven killers, use food stars to control the killers and retain the official star. If the food star is strong, the husband will be prosperous; if not, the husband will be poor. The last point does not discuss the category of the useful god but the position of the palace: the day's branch is the husband's palace. If the day's branch is favorable to the useful god, the husband will be prosperous; if not, the husband will be poor. The above twelve points are actually based on one principle: for a woman's fortune, the official and killer stars represent the husband. When the husband's star is in a bad condition, seek the saving god. The strength of the saving god represents the strength of the husband.

夫之刑剋。官星微，無財星，日主強，傷官重，必剋夫。官星微，無財星，日主旺，印綬重，必剋夫。比劫旺，而無官，必剋夫。印旺無財，必剋夫。官星旺，印綬輕，必剋夫。比劫旺，無官星，有傷官，印綬重，必剋夫。食神多，官星微，有印綬，遇財星，必剋夫。日支為官逢沖，夫難偕老。

The eight patterns indicating marital discord are as follows. If the official star is weak and there is no wealth to nourish it, and the day's ruler is strong while the injurious star is heavy, the injurious star directly harms the official star, leading to marital discord. If the official star is weak and there is no wealth, and the day's ruler is strong while the nurturing star is heavy, the nurturing star drains the official star's strength, leading to marital discord. If the rival stars are strong and there is no official star to restrain them, the day's ruler is strong while the husband has no position, leading to marital discord. If the nurturing star is strong without wealth to weaken it, the heavy nurturing star drains the official star, leading to marital discord. If the official star is strong but the nurturing star is weak, the official star cannot transform and directly harms the day's ruler, causing conflict, leading to marital discord. If the rival stars are strong, there is no official star, and there are also injurious stars and heavy nurturing stars, the husband has no position and is harmed, leading to marital discord. If the food star is numerous and the official star is weak, although there is a nurturing star to restrain the food star, wealth again harms the nurturing star, making the restraining power ineffective, leading to marital discord. The last pattern concerns the position: the day's branch is the husband's position, and the official star at this position is in conflict, making it difficult for the husband to live long.

（三）父母。父母之吉。年月官印相生，日時財傷不犯，必上叨廕庇。年官月印，月官年印，祖上清高。年財月印，日主喜印，時日逢官者，知其幫父興家。年傷月印，日主喜印，時日逢官者，知其父母創業。年官月印，日主喜官，時日逢財，出身富貴，守成之造。財官印綬，在於月上，為日主之喜，父母不富亦貴。印不論偏正，但不遭沖剋，則父母俱全。印之扶抑合宜，則父母雙壽。印帶貴氣（如印受官生，或印兼貴人，或印為用神）父母榮顯。

Now talking about parents. The auspicious signs for parents are when the official star and the seal star in the year pillar and month pillar mutually generate each other, while the wealth star and the injurious star in the day pillar and hour pillar do not interfere with this pair — if wealth harms the seal or injurious star harms the official star, then one will certainly inherit the blessings from ancestors. If the year pillar is official and the month pillar is seal, or the month pillar is official and the year pillar is seal, it indicates that ancestors were noble and upright. If the year pillar has wealth and the month pillar has seal, and the day ruler prefers seal, and the day and hour pillars also meet official star, although wealth may harm the seal, with official star in the middle to mediate, it turns into wealth generating official star and official star generating seal, indicating that this person can help the father revitalize the family business. If the year pillar has injurious star and the month pillar has seal, and the day ruler prefers seal, and the day and hour pillars also meet official star, it indicates that parents were the generation who started from nothing. If the year pillar is official and the month pillar is seal, and the day ruler prefers official, and the day and hour pillars also meet wealth star to generate official, it indicates that one is born into wealth and is a person who maintains the existing fortune. If wealth, official star, and seal star are in the month pillar and are what the day ruler prefers, then parents are not wealthy but noble. Whether it is a partial or full seal star, as long as it is not clashed or controlled, both parents are present. If the seal star that should be supported is supported and the seal star that should be restrained is restrained, and the combination is appropriate, both parents will live long. If the seal star carries noble qualities — for example, the seal star is generated by official star, or there is Tianyi Nobleman sitting on the seal star, or the seal star itself is the useful god — then the parents will be distinguished and prosperous.

父母之不吉。日主喜官，月上傷官。日主喜財，月上劫財。日主喜印，月上逢財。日主喜比劫，月上逢官殺。日主喜殺，月上食神。日主喜傷食，月上逢印。（以上皆主父母不得力）印遭沖剋，父母不全。印破用神，父母多累。印衰多財，父母早喪。財官印綬，在於月上，為日主之忌，父母不貧亦賤。印重身輕，亦主不得父母之力，且重子肩之累。印重而官殺又多，父母亦不得力。

The unfavorable signs for parents: if the day stem favors officials, but the month pillar has a harmful official that harms the official; if the day stem favors wealth, but the month pillar has a competitive wealth that takes away wealth; if the day stem favors a seal, but the month pillar has wealth that destroys the seal; if the day stem favors similar elements, but the month pillar has officials and evils that control the similar elements; if the day stem favors seven evils, but the month pillar has food and harm that control the seven evils; if the day stem favors food and harm, but the month pillar has a seal that controls food and harm. The author notes that all these six situations indicate that parents are not supportive. The reason is that the month pillar is the palace of parents, and the element in this pillar is precisely the globalHostile God. The seal is attacked and controlled, so parents cannot both be present. The seal is destroyed by theHostile God, so parents become burdens. If the seal is weak and there is much wealth in the column, the wealth destroys the weak seal, leading to early death of parents. If wealth, officials, and seals are in the month pillar and are exactly what the day stem dislikes, parents are not poor but lowly. If the seal is heavy but the body is light, it also indicates that parents are not supportive and one has to bear the burden of more children. (The original text says 「重子肩之累」, which should be 「重仔肩之累」, meaning burden.) If the seal is heavy and there are many officials and evils, the officials and evils come to generate the seal, making the seal heavier, and parents are still not supportive.

（四）子女。子女之吉。日主旺，無印綬，有食傷，子必多。日主旺，印綬重，食傷輕，有財星，子多而賢。日主旺，無印綬，食傷伏，有官殺，子必多。日主旺，比劫多，無印綬，食傷伏，子必多。日主旺，傷官旺，無財印，子多而強。日主旺，傷官輕，有印受，財得局，子多而富。傷食扶助用神，子必佳。日主弱，食傷重，有印綬，無財星，必有子。日主弱，無官星，有傷食，必有子。食傷不遭沖剋，必有子。食傷喜扶而得扶，喜仰而得抑，則多子。命中用神即食傷，子多而得力。用神居時，子息繁衍。或得子息之力。

As for children, children are associated with the food and injury elements as their class god, and the time pillar as their position. The auspicious signs for children are: if the day master is strong and there is no seal to control the food and injury elements, and the column contains food and injury elements, then children will be numerous. If the day master is strong, the seal is heavy, and the food and injury elements are light, but there is wealth to reduce the seal and protect the food and injury elements, then children will be numerous and virtuous. If the day master is strong, there is no seal, and although the food and injury elements are only hidden in the earth branches, there are officials and killers to control the day master, then children will be numerous. If the day master is strong, there are many similar elements, no seal, and the food and injury elements are hidden, then children will also be numerous, and the similar elements can still transform into food and injury elements. If the day master is strong and the injury element is also strong, and there is no wealth to release it or no seal to control it, then children will be numerous and strong. If the day master is strong and the injury element is light, there is a seal to control it, and wealth is in a good position, wealth can reduce the seal and protect the injury element, then children will be numerous and wealthy. If the food and injury elements can support the useful god, then children will be excellent. If the day master is weak and the food and injury elements are heavy, there is a seal to stop the leakage, and there is no wealth to damage the seal, then there will certainly be children. If the day master is weak and there is no official to control it, and the column contains food and injury elements, then there will certainly be children. If the food and injury elements are not clashed or controlled, then there will certainly be children. If the food and injury elements that should be supported are supported, and those that should be restrained are restrained, then there will be many children. If the useful god in the destiny is exactly the food and injury elements, then children will be numerous and effective. If the useful god is exactly in the time pillar, then children will be numerous, or they may benefit from the help of children.

子女之不吉。日主旺，印綬重，食傷輕，子必少。日主弱，印綬輕，食傷重，子必少。日主弱，食傷輕，無比劫，有官星，子必無。日主弱，食傷旺，有印綬，遇財星，雖有若無。日主旺，有印綬，無財星，子必少。日主旺，印綬重，無財星，必無子。日主弱，官殺旺，必無子。日主弱，食傷旺，無印綬，必無子。火炎土燥，無子。

Unfavorable signs for children: If the day stem is strong, the mother (印绶) is heavy, and the food and injury (食伤) are light, the mother will exhaust the food and injury, resulting in few children. If the day stem is weak, the mother is light, and the food and injury are heavy, the body is excessively drained without the mother to save it, resulting in few children. If the day stem is weak, the food and injury are light, and there are no brothers or sisters (比劫) to support the body, and there is an official star (官星) that harms the self, there will be no children. If the day stem is weak and the food and injury are strong, although the mother restrains the drainage, but if there is a wealth star (财星) that harms the mother, then even though there are children, they are like none. If the day stem is strong, there is a mother but no wealth star to damage the mother, there will be few children. If the day stem is strong, the mother is heavy, and there is no wealth star, there will be no children. If the day stem is weak and the official and killer stars (官杀) are strong, they excessively harm the self, resulting in no children. If the day stem is weak, the food and injury are strong, and there is no mother to protect the self, the drainage and leakage are uncontrolled, resulting in no children. If the four pillars are fiery and dry, with an imbalanced atmosphere and no vitality, there will be no children.

水泛木浮，無子。金寒水冷，無子。重疊印綬，無子。財官太旺，無子。滿局食傷，無子。食傷遭沖剋，無子。食傷受扶太過，無子。食傷受抑太過，無子。食傷破壞用神，少子，或子不得力。克破用神之字，居於時上，子不得力。

Water is overflowing and wood floats uncertainly, with no children. Metal is cold and water is freezing, with a bleak and severe atmosphere lacking warmth, resulting in no children. These two statements, along with the previous mention of excessive fire and dry earth, all describe an extreme imbalance in the Five Phases, leading to the cessation of vitality. When the印绶 (nurturing and supporting force) is repeated excessively, it over-controls the food and injury (food and injury refer to the elements that generate and consume the day master), resulting in no children. When wealth and official stars are too strong, the day master is exhausted in dealing with them, resulting in no children. When the entire chart is filled with food and injury elements, they are over-exhausted, leading to no children. When food and injury elements are clashed or controlled, there are no children. When food and injury elements are overly supported, there are no children. When food and injury elements are overly restrained, there are no children—both excess and deficiency lead to failure. When food and injury elements destroy the useful god (用神), there are few children, or even if there are children, they are not effective. Whenever the character that destroys the useful god falls exactly on the time pillar, the children are not effective: the time pillar is the palace of children, but the palace is occupied by the hostile god (忌神).

（五）兄弟。兄弟之吉。殺旺無食，或殺重無印，得劫財合殺，必得兄弟之力。殺旺食輕，或印弱逢財，得比肩智敵殺，制財，亦主兄弟得力。財生殺黨，比劫幫身，大被可以同眠。日主雖衰，印旺月提，兄弟成群。財輕劫重，食傷化劫，可無斗粟尺布之謠。財輕遇劫，官星明顯，不作煮豆燃箕之誦。主衰有印，財星逢劫，反許棠棣之競秀。比劫非大過，亦非不及，兄弟必敬受。比劫為用神，尤得兄弟之力。

Regarding brothers, brothers are classified under the category of "bipartite companions and wealth thieves." The auspicious signs for brothers are: when the seven killers are strong but there is no food god to control them, or when there are many seven killers but no seal to transform them, and if the wealth thief combines with the seven killer to restrain it, then brothers will be helpful. If the seven killer is strong but the food god is weak, or if the seal is weak and wealth comes to destroy the seal, and if the bipartite companion comes to resist the seven killer and control the wealth star, it also indicates that brothers will be helpful. When wealth nourishes the seven killer, and wealth and seven killer join forces to attack the self, the whole situation relies on the bipartite companion to support the self, and brothers will be as friendly as the Eastern Han dynasty's Jiang Gong brothers who slept together. Although the self is weak but the seal is strong and in the month's stem, the seal generates the bipartite companion, and brothers will be numerous. If wealth is light but the bipartite companion is strong, they would normally compete, but if there is food or injury to guide the bipartite companion's energy to the wealth, there will be no scandal like the saying "a foot of cloth can still be sewn, a measure of grain can still be pounded" regarding brothers fighting over property. If wealth is light and the bipartite companion is present, but there is a clear official star to control the bipartite companion, there will not be a situation like Cao Zhi's "Seven Steps Poem" where brothers destroy each other. If the self is weak but there is a seal, and wealth would normally destroy the seal, but the seal is first taken by the bipartite companion, it can be expected that brothers will be as harmonious as the棠棣 flowers blooming together. If the bipartite companion is neither excessive nor insufficient, brothers will certainly love and respect each other. The bipartite companion itself is a useful god, especially able to gain the strength of brothers.

兄弟之不吉。官輕傷重，比劫生傷，必遭兄弟之累。制殺太過，比劫助食，亦主兄弟多累。財輕劫重，印綬制傷，不免司馬之憂。殺重無印，主衰傷伏，鴿原能無興歡。身旺逢梟，劫重無官，獨自主持。梟比重逢，財輕釘伏，未免折翊之悲啼。比劫破壞用神，兄弟多累。比劫被用神所破，自己興而兄弟衰。比劫應扶而不得扶，或應抑而不得抑，兄弟非稀少，即枯澀。

The ill omen of brothers: the official star is weak while the injurious official is strong, and the like and rival forces assist the injurious official, further injuring the official star, leading inevitably to burdens from brothers. If the killing star is already overly restrained, and the like and rival forces assist the food god, the restraint becomes excessive, also indicating many burdens from brothers. If wealth is weak while the rival forces are strong, and the official seal is biased and restrains the injurious official that could transform the rival forces, worries about brothers competing for wealth are unavoidable. If the killing star is strong without an official seal to transform it, and the day master is weak while the injurious official is hidden and cannot restrain the killing star, how can there be joy among brothers? (The original text '鸽原能无兴欢' should be '鹡鸰原上，能无兴叹', referencing the 'Book of Songs' 'Small Ya' 'Chang Di', where the jilin bird on the plain symbolizes brothers supporting each other in times of hardship.) If the day master is strong and the hawk demon takes away the food, and the like and rival forces are strong without an official star to restrain them, all affairs must be handled alone, with no reliance on brothers. If the hawk demon and like forces meet heavily, and the wealth star is weak and hidden, it is inevitable to suffer a tragic loss of wings (the original '折翊' refers to '折翼', symbolizing the injury or death of siblings). When the like and rival forces destroy the useful god, brothers bring much burden. When the like and rival forces are instead destroyed by the useful god, oneself becomes prosperous while brothers decline. If the like and rival forces should be supported but cannot be, or should be restrained but cannot be, brothers are either few or in difficult circumstances.

女命看法，與男命無大異。惟女重夫子二星，取用之道，能夫子、自身，三者兼顧最妙。否則寧願身主較弱，夫星與子星，切不可受挫。再次必須顧全夫星，更次必須顧全子星，總以夫子兩全者為上命。至少或夫或子，有一可靠。若全不可恃，則為下命決矣。

The approach to female destiny is not greatly different from that of male destiny, but female destiny particularly emphasizes the husband star and the son star—official star and killing star represent the husband, and food and injury stars represent the sons. The principle of selecting useful gods is: the best situation is when the husband star, son star, and the self (day master) are all well considered. If this is not possible, it is better to let the day master be slightly weak, but the husband and son stars must not be harmed. If that is not possible, the husband star must be protected first; if that is not possible, the son star must be protected. In summary, the best destiny is when both husband and son are present. At least one of them should be reliable. If neither is reliable, it is definitely a poor destiny. This method of prioritizing husband and son stars is a common concept during the Republic of China era, and readers should understand the historical context of this theory.

（一）日主強，傷食多，取財為用。（二）日主強，傷食多，無財，取印為用。（三）日主強，傷食多，無財，無印，取傷食為用。（四）日主強，官殺多，取傷食為用。（五）日主強，官殺多，無傷食，取財為用。（六）日主強，官殺多，無傷食，無財，以官殺為用。（七）日主強，財多，取官殺為用。（八）日主強，財多，無官殺，取傷食為用。

The general rules for selecting the useful god in female destiny are twenty-seven in total. First, the rules are listed, followed by explanations for each. First, if the day master is strong and there are many food and injury elements, take wealth as the useful god. Second, if the day master is strong, there are many food and injury elements, but there is no wealth in the chart, take the seal as the useful god. Third, if the day master is strong, there are many food and injury elements, but there is neither wealth nor seal, then take the food and injury elements themselves as the useful god. Fourth, if the day master is strong and there are many official and killer elements, take food and injury as the useful god. Fifth, if the day master is strong, there are many official and killer elements, but there are no food and injury elements, take wealth as the useful god. Sixth, if the day master is strong, there are many official and killer elements, but there are neither food and injury elements nor wealth, then take the official and killer elements as the useful god. Seventh, if the day master is strong and there is a lot of wealth, take official and killer as the useful god. Eighth, if the day master is strong, there is a lot of wealth, but there are no official and killer elements, take food and injury as the useful god. It can be seen that whenever the day master is strong, the selection of the useful god is always among the three paths of overcoming, draining, and consuming the day master. If all three paths are missing, then the most prominent element in the current season is used as the useful god.

（九） 日主強，財多，無官殺，無傷食，取財為用。（十）日主強，印多，取財秋用。（十一）日主強，印多，無財，取官殺為用。（十二）日主強，印多，無財，無官殺，取傷食為用。（十三）日主強，比劫多，取官殺為用。（十四）日主強，比劫多，無官殺，取傷食為用。（十五）日主強，比劫多，無官殺，無傷食，取財為用。

Ninth, if the day master is strong and there are many riches, and there are neither officials nor food and injury, then the riches themselves are used as the key element. Tenth, if the day master is strong and there are many prints, then riches are used as the key element (the original text's 'take riches in autumn' is a mistake for 'take riches'). Eleventh, if the day master is strong, there are many prints, and there are no riches, then officials and injuries are used as the key element. Twelfth, if the day master is strong, there are many prints, and there are neither riches nor officials and injuries, then food and injury are used as the key element. Thirteenth, if the day master is strong and there are many rivals and companions, then officials and injuries are used as the key element. Fourteenth, if the day master is strong, there are many rivals and companions, and there are no officials and injuries, then food and injury are used as the key element. Fifteenth, if the day master is strong, there are many rivals and companions, and there are neither officials and injuries nor food and injury, then riches are used as the key element. These seven points are the same as the first eight: since the body is strong, one should look for a character that can overcome, drain, or consume it; first take the most direct one, and if it is missing, then look for the next best option.

（十六）日主弱，傷食多，取印為用。（十七）日主弱，傷食多，無印，取財為用。（十八）日主弱，傷食多，無印，無財，取比劫為用。（十九）日主弱，官殺多，取印為用。（二十）日主弱，官殺多，無印，取傷為用。（二十一）日主弱，官殺多，無印，無傷食，取比劫為用。（二十二）日主弱，財多，取比劫為用。

The following discusses the case where the day master is weak. Sixteenth, if the day master is weak and there are many food and injury elements, then the mother element is used. Seventeenth, if the day master is weak, there are many food and injury elements, and there is no mother element, then the wealth element is used. Eighteenth, if the day master is weak, there are many food and injury elements, and there is neither mother nor wealth element, then the same element is used. Nineteenth, if the day master is weak and there are many official and killer elements, then the mother element is used. Twentieth, if the day master is weak, there are many official and killer elements, and there is no mother element, then the food and injury elements are used (the original text says 'take injury as use' but should be 'take food and injury as use'). Twenty-first, if the day master is weak, there are many official and killer elements, and there is neither mother nor food and injury element, then the same element is used. Twenty-second, if the day master is weak and there is much wealth, then the same element is used. Since the day master is weak, the use is selected from the elements that generate it or are the same as it, occasionally using food and injury or official and killer elements to balance the weight between the two sides.

（二十三）日主弱，財多，無比劫，取官殺為用。（二十四）日主弱，財多，無比劫，無官殺，以印為用。（二十五）日主弱，印多，取財為用。（二十六）日主弱，印多，無財，取比劫為用。（二十七）日主弱，印多，無比劫，無財，取官殺為用。

Twenty-third, when the day stem is weak, there is an excess of wealth (财) but no balance (比劫), then the official star (官杀) is used. Twenty-fourth, when the day stem is weak, there is an excess of wealth, and neither balance nor official star is present, then the nurturing star (印) is used. Twenty-fifth, when the day stem is weak and there is an excess of nurturing stars, then wealth is used. Twenty-sixth, when the day stem is weak, there is an excess of nurturing stars, and no wealth is present, then balance is used. Twenty-seventh, when the day stem is weak, there is an excess of nurturing stars, and neither balance nor wealth is present, then the official star is used. These rules differ slightly for male destiny: for a male with a weak day stem and an excess of nurturing stars, wealth should be used to reduce the nurturing stars. However, for a female destiny, the wealth is also considered for its ability to generate official and killing stars (官杀). Therefore, when selecting, the husband star (夫星) and child star (子星) are also taken into account. The following explanations elaborate on this reasoning.

（一）日主強，傷食多，身主既健，子星亦美，取財為用。蓋賴財生官殺，則夫亦榮矣。（二）日主強，傷食多，無財，身主子星雖美，官殺直接受傷食之克。夫星有缺，取印為用。蓋賴印制傷食，以保官殺之夫星耳。（三）日主強，傷食多，無財，無印。隻身與子星之佳，官殺受傷食之克而無救，夫不可靠。取傷食為用，蓋唯有鞠養愛子，恃以終老耳。

The first point: the day stem is strong and there are many food and injury elements. Since the body is strong and the son element is good, the only missing element is the husband star, so we take wealth as the useful element—relying on wealth to generate official and killing elements, thus making the husband prosperous. Food and injury elements generate wealth, which in turn generates official and killing elements, forming a continuous line. The second point: the day stem is strong and there are many food and injury elements, but no wealth. Although the body and son element are good, the official and killing elements are directly attacked by food and injury elements, with no wealth to mediate, so the husband star is missing. Therefore, we take the scholar element as the useful element—relying on the scholar element to restrain food and injury elements, thus preserving the official and killing elements as the husband star. The third point: the day stem is strong and there are many food and injury elements, with neither wealth nor scholar element. Only the body and son element are good, but the official and killing elements are attacked by food and injury elements without any way to relieve them, making the husband unreliable. Therefore, we take food and injury elements as the useful element—only by nurturing and raising children can one rely on them for old age (「juyang」means to raise and care for children).

（四）日主強，官殺我，身主與夫星皆健。取傷食為用，蓋冀子星亦成立也。且官殺多而用傷食制之，亦幫夫之道耳。（五）日主強，官殺多，無傷食，僅身主與夫星之健，取財為用，蓋賴財幫夫耳。（六）日主強，官殺多，無傷食，無財，隻身主與夫星兩健，以官殺為用。蓋從夫管束，亦婦道之順也。

Rule four, when the day stem is strong and the official stars are numerous (the original text's "官杀我" has "我" as a mistake for "多"): both the self and the husband's star are strong, so we take the food and injury stars as the useful elements. First, this is to hope that the son star can also be established, and second, because there are too many official stars, we use the food and injury stars to control them, which is appropriate and also helps the husband. Rule five, when the day stem is strong, the official stars are numerous, but there are no food or injury stars: only the self and the husband's star are strong, so we take wealth as the useful element, relying on wealth to generate official stars and help the husband. Rule six, when the day stem is strong, the official stars are numerous, and there are neither food/injury stars nor wealth: still, the self and the husband's star are strong, so we take the official stars themselves as the useful element. A strong self that submits to the husband's control was, in the past, considered proper behavior for a woman. This rule is based purely on the ethical standards of the time; readers need only understand the reasoning behind it.

（七）日主強，財多，身主健，幫夫重，取官殺為用，則夫得財助，大有可造矣。（八）日主強，財多，無官殺，身主雖健，幫夫雖重，奈無夫星可助，則取傷食為用，夫既不可靠，唯恃乎子矣。（九）日主強，財多，無官殺，無傷食，如人之無子無夫可靠。幸有財，尚可度生，則不用財星，將歸諸誰耶。

Rule seven, when the day stem is strong and there are many wealth elements: the body is vigorous, and wealth is a helper for the husband—wealth can generate official power—so we take official power as the useful element. The husband, with the support of wealth, has great potential. Rule eight, when the day stem is strong, there are many wealth elements, but no official or killing elements: although the body is strong and the wealth, which helps the husband, is abundant, without the husband's star to support, we take food and injury elements as the useful ones; the husband is unreliable, so we can only rely on the children. Rule nine, when the day stem is strong, there are many wealth elements, but neither official nor killing elements, nor food and injury elements: this is like a person with no husband or children to rely on, but fortunately there is still wealth, which can sustain life; at this time, if we do not use the wealth element, to which other heavenly stem can we refer?

（十）日主強，印多，身既健，復得父母旺氣，惟太強則趨剛，非婦道之宜。取財為用，蓋賴財制印，稍殺其盛，並以幫夫。或曰何勿用官殺拘身，殊不知有多印之洩官殺而生身，官殺豈能制身，如妻不受夫制，用財則尚能助夫也。（十一）日主強，印多，無財制印，身旺已極，取官殺為用。雖不能拘身，官殺究屬夫星，如健婦雖不受夫制，但終須嫁夫從夫也。

Rule ten, when the day stem is strong and there are many parents (influences): the body is already vigorous and receives another strong influence from the parents. However, if it is too strong, it becomes too rigid, which in old times was considered unbecoming for a woman. Therefore, we use wealth (财) as the key. Wealth can control the parents and slightly reduce their excessive strength, while also helping the husband. Someone may ask: why not use officials or enemies (官杀) to restrain the day stem? It should be known that if there are many parents in the chart, the officials and enemies' strength will be weakened by the parents and then used to nourish the day stem. Officials and enemies will not be able to restrain the day stem. This is like a wife not being controlled by her husband; it is better to use wealth, which can still help the husband. Rule eleven, when the day stem is strong, there are many parents, and there is no wealth to control the parents: the body is extremely strong. In this case, we use officials or enemies as the key. Although officials or enemies cannot restrain such a strong day stem, they are still the husband's stars. It is like a strong woman who is not controlled by her husband, yet she still needs to marry and follow her husband.

（十二）日主強，印多，無財，無官殺，身既太旺，夫又無靠，則唯子之是恃，故以傷食為用也。且是言得印生，而生傷食，輾轉相生，則靈秀之氣，亦可吐發矣。（十三）日主強，比劫多，無官殺，是旺而無制，且無夫星可恃，則用傷食以洩氣，併為子星宜矣。（十四）日主強，比劫多，無官殺，是旺而無制，且無夫星可恃，則用傷食以洩氣，併為子星宜矣。

Rule twelve, when the day stem is strong and there are many nourishing elements, and there is neither wealth nor official killing elements: since the body is too strong, and there is no support from the husband, it can only rely on children, so we take the food and injury elements as the useful ones. Moreover, the day stem receives nourishment from the nourishing elements, which in turn generate the food and injury elements, creating a chain of mutual generation. Thus, the refined and intelligent qi of the entire body is released (the words 'is speaking' in the original text 'and is speaking' are a mistake and should be 'and the day stem receives nourishment'). Rule thirteen, when the day stem is strong and there are many similar elements, and there is no official killing element: being strong without anything to restrain it, and without a husband element to rely on, we use the food and injury elements to release this strong energy. Moreover, the food and injury elements are precisely the children elements, achieving two purposes at once. Rule fourteen is exactly the same as rule thirteen, and is a repetition in the original text. According to the previous 'great method', rule thirteen originally stated 'when there are many similar elements, take official killing elements as the useful ones', and rule fourteen was 'when there are no official killing elements, take food and injury elements as the useful ones'. During copying, the explanation was mistakenly repeated twice.

（十五）日主強，比劫多，無傷食，無官殺，是旺而無洩克，且夫子不可靠，取財為用，蓋財分我力，亦可稍殺我勢，且賴以為養命之源也。（十六）日主弱，傷食多，取印為用。蓋印能制傷食，保官殺，幫弱主，所謂夫子、自身三合者，皆印之功也。（十七）日主弱，傷食多，無印，身既弱極，夫星亦危（官殺多傷食之克，無印之救），取財為用。蓋財能洩傷食而生官殺，夫子仍保兩全，仍自身較弱而已。

Article 15: If the day master is strong and there are many siblings, and there are neither food/wealth nor officials/authority present: when the day master is strong but has no way to release its energy and no one to restrain it, both husband and son are unreliable. Therefore, we take wealth as the useful element. Wealth can take away some of my strength, slightly weaken my momentum, and also serve as a vital resource for life. Article 16: If the day master is weak and there are many food/wealth elements: we take the seal as the useful element. The seal can restrain the food/wealth without allowing it to become excessive, can protect the officials/authority (husband star), and can also support the weak day master. In this case, husband, son, and self are all fully supported, and all of this is due to the seal. (The original text says 'three harmonies' but should be 'three completions'.) Article 17: If the day master is weak, there are many food/wealth elements, but no seal: the body is extremely weak, and the husband star is also in danger. The author's note: when there are many officials/authority being restrained by food/wealth, and there is no seal to rescue, therefore we take wealth as the useful element. Wealth can release the energy of food/wealth and transform it into officials/authority, thus both husband and son can still be preserved, although the self remains weak.

（十八）日主弱，傷食多，無印，無財，夫危不可靠。子息亦艱（傷食多，身弱必無子），則唯保身為尚。故以比劫幫身為用也。（十九）日主弱，官殺多，夫重身輕，取印為用，蓋印能洩官殺而生我身，與夫得平勻之妙矣。（二十）日主弱，官殺多，無印夫太重，身太輕，取傷食為用。蓋賴以制官殺自身雖愈弱，夫子得兩平，亦計之善也。

Article 18: If the day stem is weak and there are many food and injury elements, and there is neither the seal nor wealth: the husband's star is in danger and unreliable, and children are difficult to have — the author's note: although there are many food and injury elements, the weak body ultimately leads to no children — so the priority is to preserve oneself, thus using the same kind of elements to help the body. Article 19: If the day stem is weak and there are many officials and killers: the husband is heavy and the body is light, so the seal is used as the main element; the seal both disperses the officials and killers and generates the body, thus achieving a balanced harmony between the self and the husband. Article 20: If the day stem is weak, there are many officials and killers, and there is no seal: the husband is too heavy and the body is too light, so food and injury elements are used as the main element, relying on them to control the officials and killers. Although the body becomes even weaker due to the dispersion of energy, both the husband and children benefit from the balance, which is also a good method — for female destiny, the greatest taboo is when the husband's star is too strong and the body cannot match it.

（二十一）日主弱，官殺多，無印，無傷食，則既夫子兩不可靠（無傷食，則子星為不及；官殺重，則夫星為太過），唯強身是尚，故取比劫幫身為用也。（二十二）日主弱，財多，取比劫為用，蓋賴制財則保身，生傷食，則全子也。（二十三）日主弱，財多無比劫，則身弱子難（財多則傷食受盜洩，身弱則傷食欠生助，子自難矣），取官殺為用。蓋官殺洩財，既可稍殺財勢，亦全夫星之美也。

Rule twenty-one, when the day stem is weak, and the official stars and killing stars are numerous, and there are neither the nurturing stars nor the food and injury stars: both husband and son are unreliable. The author notes: without food and injury stars, the son star is insufficient; with excessive official and killing stars, the husband star is excessive. Therefore, the emphasis is on using strong roots, so the use of similar stars to support the body is chosen. Rule twenty-two, when the day stem is weak and wealth is abundant: the use of similar stars is chosen. The similar stars both restrain the wealth star to protect the self, and also generate food and injury stars to protect the son star. Rule twenty-three, when the day stem is weak, wealth is abundant, and there are no similar stars: the body is weak and the son is also difficult to obtain. The author notes: abundant wealth steals the energy of food and injury stars, and a weak body lacks support for food and injury stars, so the son naturally becomes hard to obtain. Therefore, the use of official and killing stars is chosen. Official and killing stars can release the energy of wealth, thus slightly reducing the wealth's strength, and also complete the beauty of the husband star.

（二十四）日主弱，財多無比劫，己身弱子艱，又無官殺，則夫星亦不可靠，其唯強身是尚，故取印生身為用也。（二十五）日主弱，印多，夫子身皆不足（主弱則身不足，印多，克傷食，則子不足，印多洩官殺，則夫不足），取財為用，蓋財能壞印生官殺，三者之病盡去矣。（二十六）日主弱，印多，夫子身皆不足，又無財之生官殺，並去印，則用比劫，幫身而生傷食，庶身與子得兩全也。（二十七）日主弱，印多，無比劫，無財，取官殺為用，蓋求夫星之成立也。

Article 24: When the day stem is weak, wealth is abundant but there is no balance of the ten heavenly stems: since the self is weak, the children will also be difficult to have, and there is no official or killer element, so the husband star is also unreliable. Therefore, it is necessary to take the seal element to strengthen the self as the main use. Article 25: When the day stem is weak and the seal element is abundant: the husband, children, and self are all insufficient. The author's note: a weak day stem means the self is insufficient; an abundance of seal elements will restrain the food and injury elements, making the children star insufficient; an abundance of seal elements also disperses the official and killer elements' energy, making the husband star insufficient. Therefore, the wealth element is used. The wealth element can destroy the seal element, can generate the official and killer elements, and thus eliminate the three problems at once. Article 26: When the day stem is weak and the seal element is abundant, the husband, children, and self are all insufficient, and there is no wealth element to generate the official and killer elements and remove the seal element: then the balance of the ten heavenly stems is used. This helps the self and also generates the food and injury elements, thus preserving the self and the children star. Article 27: When the day stem is weak and the seal element is abundant, there is neither balance of the ten heavenly stems nor wealth element: the official and killer elements are used, in order to establish the husband star. In summary, the twenty-seven articles all reduce to one sentence: for a female's fortune, the use of elements must seek a balanced arrangement among the self, husband star, and children star, without neglecting any one of them.