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Chapter 9 of 14
神煞章
"Empty" (Kōng) is opposite to "Substantial" (Shí), and "Death" (Wáng) is opposite to "Existence" (Yǒu). The Shenbai Jing says: "The forms of Empty Death are manifold; wherever the Ten Heavenly Stems do not reach, it is regarded as Empty." The Dongxuan Jing says: "When the遁 (dùn) cycle reaches its exhaustion, Death is born; hence the endpoint of a Jia旬 (xún, ten-day cycle) is called Empty Death." What is meant by "having a position but no salary" is called Empty — the Earthly Branch exists but the Heavenly Stem does not arrive; what is meant by "having a branch but no stem" is called Death — the Earthly Branch remains but the Heavenly Stem is exhausted. For example, in the Jiazi旬, when the Heavenly Stems遁 (cycle) reaches Yǒu, all ten stems are exhausted, so the two branches Xū and Hài have no Heavenly Stem to pair with, becoming Empty Death. The other five xún follow the same pattern — this is the origin of Empty Death. However, within emptiness there is substance, and within death there is preservation, so one cannot simply judge Empty Death as inauspicious upon encountering it.
⚖️ Empty Death is a neutral spirit but leans toward maleficent overall. If an auspicious spirit falls into Empty Death, its auspiciousness is halved (e.g., Celestial Nobleman, Heavenly Virtue and Lunar Virtue, Scholar Hall encountering Empty Death); if a maleficent spirit falls into Empty Death, its inauspiciousness is likewise halved (e.g., Seven Killings, Death Spirit, Robbery Spirit encountering Empty Death). Therefore, whenever Empty Death is encountered, it cannot be uniformly judged as inauspicious: for instance, the Seven Killings may severely harm the Day Master, but if the Seven Killings sits in Empty Death, its harming nature is reduced; the Death Spirit may be present upon the chart, but if it encounters Emptiness, its malignance diminishes. Yet Empty Death also has its inauspicious aspects: such as in a female chart, when the Officer or Seven Killings falls into Empty Death — since Officer/Seven Killings represent the husband — this indicates late marriage, the husband being away from home for long periods, and so forth.
When a person's chart bears the Empty Death maleficent, if the element is in its Prosperity phase, it suggests a broad-minded and generous disposition, apt to attain empty fame, a full and ample physique, and to receive many unexpected and unintentional blessings. If in its Death/Extinction phases, then a lifetime of successes and failures, drifting and uncertainty; but if Empty Death falls upon a lively and supported position in one's own chart, it cannot cause harm. ❌ The greatest taboo is when the Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch combine with the Heavenly Center Maleficent — this is called "the petty person gains position," indicating treachery, cunning, and unscrupulous behavior. If the stem-branch of Empty Death is overcome by one's own element, this is "the Heavenly Center suffers tribulation," which instead transforms into extraordinary fortune. (For example, a Wùwǔ Fire person encountering Jiǎzǐ Metal in Empty Death, and so forth.) The nature of Empty Death is ever-changing:
🔍 Empty Death is calculated from the Day Pillar, while the Heavenly Center Maleficent is calculated from the Year Pillar. The Day represents oneself; the Year represents the state/environment; if both locations are empty, it indicates that in both one's own person and the external environment there is no place for one, no one to restrain them, and thus they are "unscrupulous in all things" — such individuals are most suited to being undercover agents or spies.
Combined with Official Talisman: The Official Talisman governs literary matters; when it encounters Empty Death, it manifests as exaggeration, boastfulness, and superficial showmanship. Combined with Robbery Spirit: The Robbery Spirit governs bravery and forthrightness; when it encounters Empty Death, it carries a cunning undertone. Combined with Death Spirit: The Death Spirit governs death; when it encounters Empty Death, one is prone to dying far from home. Combined with Established Salary: This is Salary Emptiness, indicating difficulty in retaining wealth, and poverty.
Ancient texts also state: "When a person's chart encounters Empty Death, if it is seen at the Hour Pillar, the person is mostly stubborn and obstinate, acting in ways that are high-sounding but unreal. If further combined with the Sacred Canopy, it definitely indicates few children. If seen at the Day Pillar, the person is often born to a concubine, or experiences estrangement between wife and concubine; if encountering Combination, then often lewd and dissolute."
When the Hour Pillar sees Empty Death, the person is obstinate in nature, ambitious but impractical; if further encountering the Sacred Canopy, then children will certainly be few. When the Day Pillar sees Empty Death, it mostly indicates birth from a concubine (not the principal wife), or distant relations with wife and concubines; if encountering Combinations, lewd behavior tends to arise.
The Hour Pillar is the position of children; Empty Death means insubstantiality, and bearing the Sacred Canopy further indicates difficulty in bearing children.
An ancient song says: "When the embryo encounters Emptiness at birth, one fears the Empty; encountering Emptiness at the time of birth brings stupor and confusion; though you have nine plans in every ten steps, inevitably you will drift, now west, now east."
When the Embryo Origin (Tāiyuán) falls into Empty Death, the person is dull and confused; though intelligent and resourceful, they inevitably drift through life without direction, rushing east and west.
Another verse: "Established Salary facing Emptiness yields only empty fame; a lifetime of study, yet nothing achieved in old age; if Horse and Nobleman come to the rescue, though office be obtained, it will again be halted."
When the Salary position falls into Empty Death, it primarily indicates having only empty reputation; though studious throughout life, nothing is accomplished in old age, and wealth and honor cannot last. Even if the Traveling Horse and Nobleman come to aid, once office is obtained it will again be revoked.
Another verse: "Jiǎyín, Wùwǔ, and Gēngshēn, upon Chǒu is the Heavenly Center most unkind; by original lot born to receive salary, yet meeting the Five Ghosts brings decline and poverty." Jiǎyín Water destiny seeing Xīnchǒu Earth acts as a ghost overcoming the destiny. Wùwǔ seeing Dīngchǒu, Gēngshēn seeing Yǐchǒu — likewise all are Empty Death, and the taboo is overcoming the destiny.
If the Nà Yīn element of the Empty Death pillar overcomes the Nà Yīn of the Year Pillar (destiny element), this is called "Ghost overcoming the destiny" — inauspicious. For example, the Jiǎyín Water person seeing Xīnchǒu Earth in Empty Death — Earth overcomes Water, being ghost overcoming destiny; the Wùwǔ Fire person seeing Dīngchǒu Water in Empty Death — Water overcomes Fire; the Gēngshēn Wood person seeing Yǐchǒu Earth in Empty Death — Earth overcomes Wood (note: Gēngshēn's Nà Yīn is Pomegranate Wood, Yǐchǒu's Nà Yīn is Metal in the Sea — there's an inconsistency in the original text, preserved as-is). This situation primarily indicates decline and poverty due to the "Five Ghosts."
There is the "Road-Blocking Empty Death" (Jiélù Kōngwáng) — just as a person on a journey encounters water, unable to advance, unable to cross, hence called "Road-Blocking." It is only determined by taking the Day Pillar to examine the Hour Branch. For example, in the Jiǎ-Jǐ days, when遁 through the twelve hours, at the Shēn and Yǒu hours one encounters Rén-Guǐ (Water), hence Jiǎ-Jǐ days seeing Shēn or Yǒu hours constitutes Road-Blocking Empty Death; Yǐ-Gēng days see Wǔ-Wèi hours; Bǐng-Xīn days see Chén-Sì hours; Dīng-Rén days see Yín-Mǎo hours; Wù-Guǐ days see Xū-Hài hours. These two-hour periods all encounter Rén-Guǐ Water, hence they are "road-blocking."
Road-Blocking Empty Death is Hour Pillar Empty Death combined with Water, chiefly indicating obstacles in affairs, lack of smooth progress, and inclination to retreat. Great Luck Cycles and Annual Periods encountering it are judged likewise. Whether seeking wealth, promotion, distant travel, or marriage, all encounter obstructions — such as failed promotions, failed business partnerships, and the like.
There are the "Four Great Emptinesses" (Sì Dà Kōngwáng): among the six Jiǎ xún, in the Jiǎchén and Jiǎxū xún, all Five Elements (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth) are complete; in the Jiǎzǐ and Jiǎwǔ xún, only Water is lacking; in the Jiǎyín and Jiǎshēn xún, only Metal is lacking — these four xún have incomplete Five Elements. Thus, those born in the Jiǎzǐ or Jiǎwǔ xún encountering Water, and those born in the Jiǎyín or Jiǎshēn xún encountering Metal, are called true offenders (Zhèngfàn). If the natal chart does not offend, but when traveling luck arrives at Water or Metal positions, this too is considered offending. If one bears this maleficent, it indicates a lifetime of obstruction and stagnation; whether poor or rich, humble or noble, it all indicates premature death. If one encounters it three times in accumulation (natal chart, Great Luck, Annual Period), then death comes in the blink of an eye. The Húzhōngzǐ says: "Yán Huí's premature death was solely due to the Four Great Emptinesses." This is precisely its meaning.
The Four Great Emptinesses are inauspicious beyond inauspicious, indicating premature death, regardless of poverty or wealth, low or high station. If the Great Luck Cycle encounters the Four Great Emptinesses, it is also inauspicious; if the Annual Period (current year) further encounters it, then death follows.
For example, a person born in the Jiǎzǐ year seeing the Jiǎxū hour — this is a direct encounter at the hour, with a milder degree. A person born in the Jǐsì year seeing the Guǐhài hour — this too is an internal offense at the hour, with the most severe degree.
The Zhímí Fù says: "When Salary enters Empty Death, one must distinguish the branches before and after. This manifests the distinction of Yīn and Yáng, and clarifies the gradations of severity." The Bāzì Jīnshū says: "In the Jiǎyín xún, Rén-Guǐ fall into Empty Death; in the Jiǎchén xún, Jiǎ-Yǐ; in the Jiǎshēn xún, Bǐng-Dīng; in the Jiǎxū xún, Gēng-Xīn." Using two Earthly Branches to discuss the Heavenly Stems, some call this the Ten Evils, Great Defeat (Shí'è Dàbài). Those born on such days are primarily indicated for poverty and low station.
The Ten Evils, Great Defeat chiefly indicates poverty and lowliness; even if wealth and honor come, they do not last.
The meaning of Empty Death is relatively straightforward, with the core points as follows:
| Level | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Basic Meaning | Whether auspicious spirit or maleficent, upon encountering Empty Death, its potency is at least halved |
| Combination Meaning | Note the meanings of Empty Death combining with Heavenly Center, meeting Death Spirit or Robbery Spirit, and combining with Official Talisman |
| Special Forms | Note the meanings of Road-Blocking Empty Death, the Four Great Emptinesses, and the Ten Evils, Great Defeat |
If these three levels of meaning are thoroughly understood, the Empty Death spirit is essentially mastered.
The essence of Empty Death is the asymmetry between the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches — the Earthly Branch exists but the Heavenly Stem does not arrive, creating a pattern of "having the name but not the substance." Through this phenomenon, the ancients abstracted a set of philosophical logic: the substantiality and emptiness of position, the having and lacking of name, the strength and weakness of power. Empty Death is not absolute "non-existence," but rather "existing yet empty" — like a room that exists but has no one living in it; the structure is there but the function is lost. This thinking of "halving" rather than "zeroing" embodies the traditional Chinese numerological view of Yīn-Yáng waxing and waning, and the transformation of emptiness and substance — a dialectical perspective.
In the contemporary context, Empty Death can be understood as a kind of functional deficiency:
| Application Scenario | Modern Advice for Empty Death |
|---|---|
| Career Choice | If a chart bears Empty Death combined with Sacred Canopy or Three Wonders, it suits academic research, artistic creation, etc. If combined with Robbery Spirit, it suits positions requiring "agile adaptation," but is not suitable for pure execution roles (due to discounted execution capability). |
| Marriage and Emotion | Those with Officer/Seven Killings in Emptiness should proactively adjust expectations, accept long-distance or semi-long-distance marriage forms, or seek partners who equally need personal space. |
| Wealth Management | Those with Established Salary in Emptiness experience "empty salary, no wealth retention," should avoid long-term fixed investments, and are better suited to liquid asset allocation; partnership is also inadvisable. |
| Travel and Decision-Making | When an Annual Period meets Road-Blocking Empty Death, important signings, travel, job-seeking, and weddings should deliberately avoid that period or at minimum prepare alternative plans. |
| Health and Safety | For charts bearing the Four Great Emptinesses, "safety redundancy" should be a life principle — avoid extreme sports, high-risk occupations, and undergo preventive medical examinations in relevant Annual Periods. |
The profound philosophical significance of Empty Death lies in the value of "emptiness." Laozi said, "What exists is used for benefit, but what does not exist is used for function" — a room is useful as a dwelling because it is hollow; a vessel is useful for holding things because it is empty inside. Empty Death appears to be a deficiency, yet in reality it leaves space within the chart. If an Eight Characters chart is filled with auspicious stars with not a single Empty Death, that is not necessarily a good thing: without vacancy there is no transformation, without transformation there is no vitality. The existence of Empty Death reminds us: the meaning of life lies not entirely in "possessing," but also in "containing." It liberates people from the obsession with "seeking perfection" and teaches them to coexist with imperfection. Those seemingly "useless" voids are precisely the source of personal freedom and creativity. To a certain extent, Empty Death is a reverse form of protection granted by destiny — trading halved perils and the honor of "empty fame" for a rare sense of ease.
Contemporary numerology scholars' research on Empty Death primarily focuses on the following directions: