The Section on Bi, Jie, Lu, and Ren

Reading mode

The relationships of the Five Elements are divided into five major categories: those that restrict me, those that I restrict, those that generate me, those that I generate, and those that are in harmony with me. Due to differences in yin-yang attributes, these relationships are further classified into specific terms: Seven Killings, Direct Officer, Hurt Officer, Eating God, Partial Seal, Direct Seal, Partial Wealth, Direct Wealth, as well as Comparable Relationships and Rob Wealth. Among these, Seven Killings, Eating God, Direct Officer, and Hurt Officer have been independently categorized in the Six Gods section, while Partial and Direct Wealth, as well as Partial and Direct Seal, are collectively referred to as "Wealth" and "Seal" without distinction in this section. This chapter will further elaborate on the advantages and disadvantages of Comparable Relationships and Rob Wealth, while also discussing Lu and Ren—both of which serve to support the self, with effects quite similar to Comparable Relationships and Rob Wealth.

1. Formation of Comparable Relationships (Bi Jian)

This refers to stems and branches that are of the same type as the Day Master and share the same yin-yang attribute. For example, when Wood (甲) encounters another Wood (甲) or Yin Wood (寅, which contains Wood), both belong to the Wood category and are yang. Specific examples include:

甲 sees 甲 or 寅
乙 sees 乙 or 卯
丙 sees 丙 or 巳
丁 sees 丁 or 午
戊 sees 戊, 辰, or 戌
己 sees 己, 丑, or 未
庚 sees 庚 or 申
辛 sees 辛 or 酉
壬 sees 壬 or 亥
癸 sees 癸 or 子

Core Concept 💡
Comparable Relationships are like siblings, representing peer support, competition, and cooperation. They serve to share pressure and enhance strength.

2. Formation of Rob Wealth (Jie Cai)

This refers to stems and branches that are of the same type as the Day Master but have opposite yin-yang attributes. For example, when Wood (甲, yang) encounters Wood (乙, yin), 乙 is the Rob Wealth of 甲. Specific examples include:

甲 sees 乙 or 卯
乙 sees 甲 or 寅
丙 sees 丁 or 午
丁 sees 丙 or 巳
戊 sees 己, 丑, or 未
己 sees 戊, 辰, or 戌
庚 sees 辛 or 酉
辛 sees 庚 or 申
壬 sees 癸 or 子
癸 sees 壬 or 亥

Core Concept 💡
Although Rob Wealth is of the same type, its opposite yin-yang attribute introduces traits of contention, change, and non-traditional cooperation. Caution is advised regarding financial or interpersonal competition.

3. Formation of Lu (Prosperity)

This refers to the earthly branch where the Day Master's primary energy resides, representing the root source of energy. For example, the primary energy of Wood (甲) is in 寅, so 寅 is the Lu of 甲. Specific examples include:

甲 sees 寅
乙 sees 卯
丙/戊 sees 巳
丁/己 sees 午
庚 sees 申
辛 sees 酉
壬 sees 亥
癸 sees 子

Core Concept 💡
Lu symbolizes a stable foundation and blessings, akin to a home or steady resources, providing continuous support.

4. Formation of Ren (Blade)

This refers to the earthly branch immediately following Lu (for yang stems, proceed forward; for yin stems, proceed backward), representing the peak of energy. For example, the Lu of 甲 is in 寅, and 卯 is the branch after 寅, so 卯 is the Ren of 甲. However, due to the different directional progression for yin and yang stems, for yin stems, the branch before Lu is considered Ren (e.g., the Lu of 乙 is in 卯, and 寅 is the branch before 卯, so 寅 is the Ren of 乙). Specific examples include:

甲 sees 卯
乙 sees 寅
丙/戊 sees 午
丁/己 sees 巳
庚 sees 酉
辛 sees 申
壬 sees 子
癸 sees 亥

In-Depth Understanding 🤔
Ren is the position of Emperor's Prosperity, symbolizing intensity and fierceness after energy reaches its peak. For yang stems, Ren is in 寅, 申, 巳, and 亥, which are positions of Emperor's Prosperity, aligning with logic. The traditional belief that yin stems have Ren in 辰, 戌, 丑, and 末 (tomb positions) is unreliable, as tomb positions are not prosperous and cannot serve as Ren.

5. Summary of the Abilities of Bi, Jie, Lu, and Ren

Support the Self: Enhance the strength of the Day Master.
Handle Officer and Killings: Resist or share the pressure from Officers and Killings.
Act as a Substitute for Drain: Bear the drain from Eating God and Hurt Officer on behalf of the Day Master.
Seize Wealth: Restrict the Wealth Star to prevent excessive wealth from weakening the self.

6. Analysis of Advantages and Disadvantages with Application Scenarios

🌱 Advantages (When the Day Master is Weak)

Support the Self: A weak Day Master supported by Bi, Jie, Lu, or Ren can handle the pressure from Wealth, Officer, Eating God, and Hurt Officer.
- Example: 己巳丙寅壬子壬寅
  The Day Master 壬 Water is weak. Although Wealth, Officer, and Eating God are favorable, it lacks the strength to enjoy them. Fortunately, 壬 Water Comparable Relationships and 子 Water Rob Blade provide support, enabling it to carry the blessings.

Embedded chart

Example One

Male chart

Pillars	Year	Month	Day	Hour
Ten Gods	正官	偏财	Self (M)	比肩
Stem	己	丙	壬	壬
Branch	巳	寅	子	寅
Hidden Stems	丙才戊杀庚枭	甲食丙才戊杀	癸劫	甲食丙才戊杀
Stage	绝	病	帝旺	病

Luck cycles

乙丑甲子癸亥壬戌辛酉庚申己未戊午

Handle Officer and Killings: A weak Day Master suppressed by Officers and Killings can rely on Bi and Jie to resist collectively.
- Example: 戊子戊午壬戌壬寅
  壬 Water is heavily suppressed by thick Earth (excessive killings and weak self). It relies on 壬 Comparable Relationships and 子 Blade to jointly resist the enemy, enabling it to handle the killings.

Embedded chart

Example Two

Male chart

Pillars	Year	Month	Day	Hour
Ten Gods	七杀	七杀	Self (M)	比肩
Stem	戊	戊	壬	壬
Branch	子	午	戌	寅
Hidden Stems	癸劫	丁财己官	戊杀辛印丁财	甲食丙才戊杀
Stage	帝旺	胎	冠带	病

Luck cycles

己未庚申辛酉壬戌癸亥甲子乙丑丙寅

Act as a Substitute for Drain: A weak Day Master overly drained by Eating God and Hurt Officer can have Bi and Jie bear the drain on its behalf.
- Example: 乙卯癸未壬子乙巳
  Excessive Wood drains Water. Fortunately, 癸 and 子 Rob Wealth bear the drain, transforming the unfavorable Eating God into a blessing.

Embedded chart

Example Three

Male chart

Pillars	Year	Month	Day	Hour
Ten Gods	伤官	劫财	Self (M)	伤官
Stem	乙	癸	壬	乙
Branch	卯	未	子	巳
Hidden Stems	乙伤	己官丁财乙伤	癸劫	丙才戊杀庚枭
Stage	死	养	帝旺	绝

Luck cycles

壬午辛巳庚辰己卯戊寅丁丑丙子乙亥

Restrict Wealth: A weak Day Master with excessive wealth can use Bi and Jie to restrict wealth, avoiding being overwhelmed by wealth.
- Example: 壬申丙午壬寅丙午
  Fire is strong, and Water is depleted. Excessive wealth weakens the self. 壬 Comparable Relationships restrict wealth, eliminating harm, which is more effective than peer support.

Embedded chart

Example Four

Male chart

Pillars	Year	Month	Day	Hour
Ten Gods	比肩	偏财	Self (M)	偏财
Stem	壬	丙	壬	丙
Branch	申	午	寅	午
Hidden Stems	庚枭壬比戊杀	丁财己官	甲食丙才戊杀	丁财己官
Stage	长生	胎	病	胎

Luck cycles

丁未戊申己酉庚戌辛亥壬子癸丑甲寅

⚠️ Disadvantages (When the Day Master is Strong)

Support the Self: A strong Day Master further supported by Bi and Jie may lead to excessive strength without reliance, intensifying competition.
- Example: 癸巳癸亥壬申壬寅
  壬 Water is already strong. Additional support from Bi and Jie is like an overly strong person becoming a burden, easily leading to isolation or conflict.

Embedded chart

Example Five

Male chart

Pillars	Year	Month	Day	Hour
Ten Gods	劫财	劫财	Self (M)	比肩
Stem	癸	癸	壬	壬
Branch	巳	亥	申	寅
Hidden Stems	丙才戊杀庚枭	壬比甲食	庚枭壬比戊杀	甲食丙才戊杀
Stage	绝	建	长生	病

Luck cycles

壬戌辛酉庚申己未戊午丁巳丙辰乙卯

Handle Officer and Killings: A strong Day Master that should be restrained by Officers and Killings may have its restraining power diluted by Bi and Jie.
- Example: 己亥壬申壬子丙午
  壬 Water is strong and requires Earth to restrain it. However, excessive Bi and Jie flood and impact the restraining embankment (Officer Star), leading to loss of control.

Embedded chart

Example Six

Male chart

Pillars	Year	Month	Day	Hour
Ten Gods	正官	比肩	Self (M)	偏财
Stem	己	壬	壬	丙
Branch	亥	申	子	午
Hidden Stems	壬比甲食	庚枭壬比戊杀	癸劫	丁财己官
Stage	建	长生	帝旺	胎

Luck cycles

辛未庚午己巳戊辰丁卯丙寅乙丑甲子

Act as a Substitute for Drain: A strong Day Master that could showcase its talents may have opportunities diluted by Bi and Jie taking over the drain.
- Example: 癸亥癸亥壬申乙巳
  Excessive Water causes Wood to drift. The talent of Hurt Officer is dispersed by Rob Wealth, akin to resources being divided, making it difficult to focus on achievements.

Embedded chart

Example Seven

Male chart

Pillars	Year	Month	Day	Hour
Ten Gods	劫财	劫财	Self (M)	伤官
Stem	癸	癸	壬	乙
Branch	亥	亥	申	巳
Hidden Stems	壬比甲食	壬比甲食	庚枭壬比戊杀	丙才戊杀庚枭
Stage	建	建	长生	绝

Luck cycles

壬戌辛酉庚申己未戊午丁巳丙辰乙卯

Restrict Wealth: A strong Day Master that favors wealth may have its wealth seized by Bi and Jie, leading to financial difficulties.
- Example: 壬午壬子壬子丙午
  Winter Water favors Fire Wealth to warm the configuration. However, numerous Bi and Jie seize wealth, trapping the individual in resource struggles and hindering development.

Embedded chart

Example Eight

Male chart

Pillars	Year	Month	Day	Hour
Ten Gods	比肩	比肩	Self (M)	偏财
Stem	壬	壬	壬	丙
Branch	午	子	子	午
Hidden Stems	丁财己官	癸劫	癸劫	丁财己官
Stage	胎	帝旺	帝旺	胎

Luck cycles

癸丑甲寅乙卯丙辰丁巳戊午己未庚申

7. Summary of Favorable and Unfavorable Conditions

✅ Favorable (Suitable Conditions)

Support the Self: Weak self favors Bi and Jie for support; strong self with Bi and Jie favors Officers and Killings to restrain them.
Handle Officer and Killings: Weak self with Bi and Jie to resist killings favors balance between self and killings; strong self with Bi and Jie resisting killings favors Wealth generating Officers.
Act as a Substitute for Drain: Weak self with Bi and Jie substituting drain favors Seal restraining Eating God to support the self; strong self with Bi and Jie substituting drain favors Wealth and Officers flourishing.
Restrict Wealth: Weak self with Bi and Jie restricting wealth favors Seal supporting the self; strong self with Bi and Jie restricting wealth favors Officers and Killings restraining them.

❌ Unfavorable (Conditions to Avoid)

Support the Self: Weak self with Bi and Jie dislikes Officers and Killings restricting them; strong self with Bi and Jie dislikes Seal further strengthening them.
Handle Officer and Killings: Weak self with Bi and Jie handling killings dislikes Wealth aiding killings; strong self with Bi and Jie handling killings dislikes Seal draining Officers.
Act as a Substitute for Drain: Weak self with Bi and Jie substituting drain dislikes Officers and Killings restricting them; strong self with Bi and Jie substituting drain dislikes Seal damaging Eating God.
Restrict Wealth: Weak self with Bi and Jie restricting wealth dislikes Eating God and Hurt Officer generating wealth; strong self with Bi and Jie restricting wealth dislikes Seal further supporting the self.

🧠 Modern Interpretation 🌟

Adaptation to Social Scenarios:

Bi and Jie in the workplace represent colleagues, partners, or competitors. Strategies for cooperation or competition should be determined based on one's own strength or weakness.
Those with weak selves encountering Bi and Jie can seek team support; those with strong selves should avoid internal friction and actively seek systemic constraints (Officers and Killings).
In financial planning, Bi and Jie seizing wealth indicate potential partnership financial disputes. Clear responsibilities and contracts are advised.

Philosophical Reflection 🤔
The essence of Bi, Jie, Lu, and Ren is the "art of energy balance." The strong need to exercise restraint and收敛, while the weak need to borrow strength to grow—this aligns with the principles of "resource allocation" and "team dynamics" in modern management, emphasizing dynamic balance and situational adaptability.

📚 Extended Related Knowledge

Related Concepts: Interactions of the Ten Gods, rise and fall of the Five Elements, selection of Useful Gods.
Further Reading: "Zi Ping Zhen Quan" section on Bi and Jie, "San Ming Tong Hui" Volume 7: Discussion on Lu and Ren.
Modern Research: Scholars believe Bi and Jie can be mapped to Social Capital, with their effectiveness depending on an individual's ability to integrate resources effectively.

Please translate the above content into English, maintaining the original format and structure.