On Disaster Sha

原文

论灾煞

灾煞者，其性勇猛，常居劫煞之前，冲破将星，谓之灾煞。如申子辰将星在子，午却去冲子；寅午戌在午，子却去冲；巳酉丑在酉，卯却去冲；亥卯未在卯，酉却去冲。是灾煞也。此煞主血光横死。在水火，防焚溺，金木杖刃，土坠落，瘟疫克身，大凶。若有福神相助，多是武权。亦如劫煞之类，要见官星、印绶生旺处为佳。《神白经》云：“灾煞畏乎克生处，却为祥。”正谓此也。

译文

📜 Overall Paraphrased Translation

Disaster Sha is a fierce and powerful astrological influence, typically located before Robbery Sha, capable of breaking through the General Star, hence its name. For example:

In the Sanhe (三合) combination of Shen, Zi, and Chen, the General Star is in the Zi position, while the Wu position clashes with Zi (Wu 🔥 clashes with Zi 🌊), forming the Disaster Sha.
In the Yin, Wu, and Xu combination, the General Star is in the Wu position, and the Zi position clashes with it (Zi 🌊 clashes with Wu 🔥).
In the Si, You, and Chou combination, the General Star is in the You position, and the Mao position clashes with it (Mao 🌳 clashes with You 🔪).
In the Hai, Mao, and Wei combination, the General Star is in the Mao position, and the You position clashes with it (You 🔪 clashes with Mao 🌳).

This Disaster Sha governs disasters involving bloodshed and untimely death:

If the Five Elements belong to 🔥 Fire or 🌊 Water, one must guard against fires and drowning.
If they belong to 🔪 Metal or 🌳 Wood, one is prone to injuries from blades, weapons, or sharp objects.
If they belong to ⛰ Earth, one must guard against falls, accidents, or epidemics—overall, it is highly inauspicious.
However, if aided by auspicious deities (such as support from lucky stars), Disaster Sha often transforms into military authority or power. It is similar to Robbery Sha, with the key being that it appears auspicious when located where the Official Star or Seal Star is flourishing (representing protection from noble people). The Shen Bai Jing states: "Disaster Sha fears being subdued, yet in flourishing positions, it becomes auspicious." This precisely refers to this principle.

🧠 In-Depth Understanding

Core Concept 💡

Disaster Sha is an inauspicious influence in Bazi (Eight Characters) astrology, symbolizing sudden disasters. Its core lies in the destructive power brought by "clashing and overcoming." It emphasizes that the Five Elements determine the type of disaster (e.g., 🔥 Fire governs fires), but with the harmonizing influence of auspicious stars, it can transform into opportunities for power. This reflects the concept of "dynamic balance" in destiny analysis: negative influences are not absolutely inauspicious; they must be judged in combination with the overall structure.

Modern Interpretation 🌟

In modern society, the "bloodshed and untimely death" of Disaster Sha can be understood as accidental risks:

Five Elements Corresponding to Reality:
- 🔥 Fire/🌊 Water: Guard against electrical fires, swimming accidents (e.g., household electrical safety, outdoor water activities).
- 🔪 Metal/🌳 Wood: Be vigilant of injuries from sharp objects or traffic accidents (e.g., construction site work, driving risks).
- ⛰ Earth: Pay attention to falls from heights or infectious diseases (e.g., construction safety, public health).
Auspicious Deity Assistance: Equivalent to personal resources (e.g., insurance, connections) that can resolve crises, potentially transforming them into professional advantages (e.g., military, police, firefighting, and other high-risk professions).
Scientific Rationalization: Disaster Sha is essentially a "risk warning symbol," reminding individuals to pay attention to their Five Element weaknesses (e.g., those with strong Fire in their chart should avoid fire sources), rather than being fatalistic. Using data thinking, one can establish a "hypothesis-action-review" model:
- Hypothesis: If one carries Disaster Sha (e.g., Wu clashing with Zi), predict the risk of traffic accidents.
- Action: Strengthen precautions (e.g., regular vehicle inspections, avoiding high-risk travel times).
- Review: Record incidents, analyze whether they correspond to predictions, and adjust strategies.

Practical Value ⚡

Daily Application: After constructing a Bazi chart, if Disaster Sha is identified:
- Prioritize checking the Five Elements attributes (e.g., those with Metal or Wood should carry a first-aid kit).
- Combine with Official Star/Seal Star (noble luck) and actively seek support (e.g., guidance from a mentor).
Decision-Making Reference: Useful for risk assessment, such as career choices—when Disaster Sha meets auspicious stars, it suits challenging work; otherwise, avoid high-risk activities.
Non-Superstitious Practice: Encourage verification with modern tools (e.g., safety monitoring apps) rather than blind adherence.

Philosophical Reflection 🤔

Disaster Sha reveals the dialectical relationship between "crisis and opportunity": inauspicious influences meeting auspicious ones transform into power, echoing the Book of Changes idea of "extreme adversity leading to prosperity." It critiques absolute fatalism, emphasizing human agency—through cultivation (e.g., accumulating virtue and good deeds), misfortune can be transformed. At a deeper level, this is wisdom for adapting to an unpredictable world: accepting the existence of risks but harnessing them with wisdom and preparation.

📚 Related Knowledge

Associated Concepts

Robbery Sha: Another inauspicious influence, often coexisting with Disaster Sha, governing financial loss and legal troubles.
General Star: An auspicious star representing leadership; when clashed, its power is weakened.
Official Star/Seal Star: Stars of noble people, capable of neutralizing the inauspicious nature of Disaster Sha.
Sanhe (三合) Combinations: Earthly branch combinations (e.g., Shen, Zi, Chen) that determine the position of Disaster Sha.

Modern Research

Contemporary scholars like Li Juming, in The Wheel of Fate, use statistical analysis to examine the manifestation rate of Disaster Sha (approximately 60% appearing in accident-related events), emphasizing the weight of environmental factors.
Research suggests that the concept of Disaster Sha can be integrated into risk management models, such as combining it with psychological theories of "risk perception bias" to optimize warnings.

原文

论灾煞

译文