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Chapter 14 of 22
Ming Li Tan Yuan — Origins of Destiny Study
Shen Xiaozhan points out: The patterns of the Eight Characters (Ba Zi) are highly variable, thus categorized into success and failure. Within these categories, unpredictable reversals can occur, leading to the peculiar phenomena of success turning into failure and failure turning into success. 🌪️ For example, transforming the Officer of Harm (伤官) into a Wealth Star (财星) is typically a successful pattern (e.g., Officer of Harm generating wealth). However, if the Day Master is Xin Metal (辛金) born in the month of Hai (亥月, a water-dominated month), with Ding Fire (丁火, the Wealth Star) revealed in the heavenly stems and the earthly branches forming a wealth combination (e.g., Mao-Wei combination), it may unexpectedly strengthen the Seven Killings (七煞, as wood generates fire, fire generates earth, and earth overcomes water, enhancing the killing energy), leading to failure despite initial success. Similarly, using the Seal (印绶) with the Seven Killings is typically a successful pattern (e.g., killings generating the seal). However, if the Day Master is Gui Water (癸水) born in the month of Shen (申月, a metal-dominated month), and the Wealth Star is revealed or other factors disrupt the balance (details omitted in the original text), it may lead to failure despite success. Such cases are numerous, often seen in excessive autumn metal (metal-heavy and body-strong) 🌫️, where a slight presence of the Wealth Star (fire) is needed to reduce its excess. However, encountering the Seven Killings (water or earth) may cause conflict between the seal and killings, ultimately leading to failure despite success.
Conversely, encountering the Officer of Harm in an official-seal pattern is typically a failure (e.g., Officer of Harm conflicting with the official). However, if the Day Master is Xin Metal (辛金) born in the month of Wu (戊月, an earth-dominated month), with Bing Fire (丙火, the Official Star) in the year stem and Ren Water (壬水, the Officer of Harm) in the hour stem, Ren Water cannot bypass Wu Earth (the Seal Star) to overcome Bing Fire. Instead, it can drain the body (Xin Metal) to generate elegance (water moistening metal to promote growth), thus turning failure into success. Similarly, encountering the Food God (食神) in a killing-blade pattern is typically a failure (e.g., the Food God overly controlling the killings). However, if the Day Master is Geng Metal (庚金) born in the month of You (酉月, a metal-dominated month), with Bing Fire (七煞, Seven Killings) in the year stem and Ding Fire (官星, Official Star) in the month stem, and Ren Water (食神, Food God) in the hour stem, the Food God combines with the Official Star, leaving the killings untouched (Ren combining with Ding, leaving Bing as the pure killing). This purifies the killing-blade pattern, turning failure into success. Such cases are also abundant, all examples of failure leading to success.
The changes within are unpredictable and elusive 🌀. Only by applying the principles of the Yi Jing (易经) can one weigh the circumstances, observe the logic of events, and adapt to the transformations of time and fortune. No matter how peculiar the phenomena, there exists an immutable and appropriate truth. Those who study destiny must not be迷惑 by appearances and lose their judgment or become rigid and inflexible in their views.
The success or failure of Ba Zi patterns is not absolute but dynamic: successful patterns may turn into failures due to external factors (e.g., interactions of the Five Elements, clashes of spirits), while failed patterns may transform into successes through internal adjustments (e.g., transformation of the Use Spirit, suppression of忌神). The key lies in the balance of the Five Elements and the flexible application of the Use Spirit, emphasizing the philosophy of "change" (变易)—everything seeks harmony through flow.
Please translate the above content into English, maintaining the original format and structure.