Chapter 26: The Principles of Growth, Flourishing, Entombment, and Extinction
Overall Paraphrase
This chapter focuses on the core application of the Five Elements (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth) in the Twelve Growth Stages, with particular emphasis on the four key states: Growth (长生), Flourishing (帝旺), Entombment (墓), and Extinction (绝). Through extensive practical verification, the author found that other states (such as Bathing, Crown, etc.) have lower accuracy in actual divination and recommends prioritizing these four main states.
🌊 Five Elements Growth, Flourishing, Entombment, and Extinction Quick Reference Table:
- Metal: Growth in Si (巳)｜Flourishing in You (酉)｜Entombment in Chou (丑)｜Extinction in Yin (寅)
- Wood: Growth in Hai (亥)｜Flourishing in Mao (卯)｜Entombment in Wei (未)｜Extinction in Shen (申)
- Water/Earth: Growth in Shen (申)｜Flourishing in Zi (子)｜Entombment in Chen (辰)｜Extinction in Si (巳)
- Fire: Growth in Yin (寅)｜Flourishing in Wu (午)｜Entombment in Xu (戌)｜Extinction in Hai (亥)
🧭 Judgment Logic:
- Judgment by Day Stem: For example, if the ruling Yao is Wood, encountering Hai (亥) day signifies Growth, Mao (卯) day signifies Flourishing, Wei (未) day signifies Entombment, and Shen (申) day signifies Extinction.
- Judgment by Moving Yao: If Hai (亥) Water appears as a moving Yao in the hexagram, the ruling Wood Yao gains Growth; moving Wei (未) Earth signifies Entombment; moving Shen (申) Metal signifies Extinction; moving Mao (卯) Wood signifies reaching Flourishing.
- Judgment by Changing Yao: If the ruling Yao changes into Hai (亥) Water, it transforms into Growth; changing into Mao (卯) Wood transforms into Flourishing; changing into Wei (未) Earth transforms into Entombment; changing into Shen (申) Metal transforms into Extinction.
🧠 In-Depth Understanding
Core Concepts 💡
- Mutual Generation and Restraint as Principle, Growth Stages as Phenomenon: The mutual generation and restraint of the Five Elements form the fundamental logic (理) for judging auspiciousness or inauspiciousness, while the Twelve Growth Stages are primarily used to extract specific phenomena (象), such as hospitalization, construction, bathing, etc.
- Conditional Auspiciousness or Inauspiciousness: The Twelve Growth Stages themselves do not determine auspiciousness or inauspiciousness. They must be combined with the strength or weakness of the Yao, as well as support or restraint. For example, a Metal Yao encountering Si (巳) Fire: if the Yao is strong, it gains Growth; if weak and lacking energy, it is restrained.
- Positioning of Earth’s Growth Stage: Through verification of natural phenomena (e.g., rain or clear weather on Shen (申) or Zi (子) days), the author confirms that Earth’s Growth is in Shen (申) and its Flourishing is in Zi (子), refuting the claims that Earth’s Growth is in Yin (寅) or You (酉).
Modern Interpretation 🌟
- 🌐 Decision-Making Reference: The Twelve Growth Stages provide clues about "phenomena," such as "Entombment" symbolizing hospitalization or confinement, and "Growth" symbolizing development or beginnings. However, the final judgment of auspiciousness or inauspiciousness must return to the analysis of the Five Elements' mutual generation and restraint, avoiding mechanical application.
- 🔁 Dynamic Mutual Generation and Restraint: The same Yao can simultaneously reflect mutual generation/restraint and Growth Stage phenomena (e.g., Chou (丑) Earth both entombs Metal and generates Metal). Dual interpretation based on specific contexts is necessary.
- 🧪 Empirical Thinking: The author emphasizes "using what is verified," reminding us to prioritize the summarization of practical cases rather than rigidly adhering to theoretical deductions.
Practical Value ⚡
- 🏥 Real-World Mapping:
- "Entombment" ⇒ Hospitalization, confined spaces, warehouses
- "Growth" ⇒ Growth, origin, investment
- "Extinction" ⇒ Termination, exhaustion, crisis
- "Flourishing" ⇒ Peak, vigor, maturity
- ⚖️ Balanced Judgment: Auspiciousness or inauspiciousness is primarily determined by the mutual generation and restraint of the Five Elements, with the Twelve Growth Stages serving as supplementary. For example, if a Yao is strong, it may find life even in Extinction; if weak, it may face restraint even in Growth.
Philosophical Reflection 🤔
The Twelve Growth Stages system is essentially a "state description model," complementing the "energy relationship model" of the Five Elements' mutual generation and restraint. It reminds us that all things undergo cyclical state changes (growth → flourishing → decline → rebirth). Decision-making must consider both the current state (phenomenon) and energy relationships (principle).
📚 Cases and Components
Case 1: House Feng Shui Divination (Mao Month, Ding You Day)
Hexagram: Ze Lei Sui (泽雷随, Following)
Interpretation:
- World Yao (妻财辰土) is empty and restrained by the month ⇒ Spending money;
- Sibling Yao (兄弟寅木) with Gou Chen restrains wealth ⇒ Spending on repairs;
- Chen (辰) Earth as a water reservoir + Teng She ⇒ Drainage pipes;
- Chen (辰) Earth in Bathing stage ⇒ Bathtub;
- Zhen Palace + Parent Yao with Zhu Que and Bai Hu ⇒ Busy roadside area.
Case 2: Father Divining Daughter’s Illness (Wu Month, Ding Hai Day)
Hexagram: Shan Ze Sun (山泽损, Damage) changing to Shan Huo Ben (山火贲, Adornment)
Interpretation:
- Offspring Yao (子孙申金) hidden under Chou (丑) Earth ⇒ Hospitalization;
- Parent Yao (父母巳火) moving covertly to restrain Metal ⇒ Illness due to conflict;
- Continuous mutual generation ⇒ Parents rushing to help;
- Wei (未) Month冲 Chou (丑) ⇒ Discharge from hospital; Shen (申) Month appearance of the useful deity ⇒ Recovery.
📖 Related Knowledge
- Related Concepts: Mutual generation and restraint of the Five Elements, hidden Yao, clashes and harmonies, covert movement, hexagram Yao symbolism (e.g., second Yao as house, fifth Yao as road)
- Further Reading: Liu Yao Gua Li Shuo Zhen (by Wang Hu Ying), Yi Mao
- Modern Research: Contemporary Liu Yao studies emphasize the "integration of phenomenon and principle," with the Twelve Growth Stages primarily used for detail extraction rather than determining auspiciousness or inauspiciousness.
💎 Chapter Insight: Skillfully use the Twelve Growth Stages to extract phenomena, but always rely on the mutual generation and restraint of the Five Elements as the foundation for judging auspiciousness or inauspiciousness. The two are like the wings of a bird, indispensable to each other.
