On the Success, Failure, and Remediation of the Focal Deity - Volume 4

论用神成败救应-卷四

论用神成败救应

沈孝瞻曰：用神专寻月令，以四柱配之，必有成败。何谓成？如官逢财印，又无刑冲破害，官格成也。财生官旺，或财逢食生而身强带比，或财格透印而位置妥贴，两不相克，财格成也。印轻逢煞，或官印双全，或身印两旺而用食伤泄气，或印多逢财而财透根轻，印格成也。食神生财，或食带煞而无财，弃食就煞而透印，食格成也。身强七煞逢制，煞格成也。伤官生财，或伤官佩印而伤官旺，印有根，或伤官旺、身主弱而透煞印，或伤官带煞而无财，伤官格成也。阳刃透官煞而露财印，不见伤官，阳刃格成也。建禄月劫，透官而逢财印，透财而逢食伤，透煞而遇制伏，建禄月劫之格成也。财旺生官者，月令星旺，四柱有官，则财旺自生官；或月令财星而透食神，身强则食神泄秀，转而生财。财本忌比劫，有食神则不忌而喜，盖有食神化之也。或透印而位置妥贴者，财印不相碍也。如年干透印，时干透财，中隔比劫，则不相碍；隔官星则为财旺生官，亦不相碍，是为财格成也。何谓败？官逢伤克刑冲，官格败也；财轻比重，财透七煞，财格败也；印轻逢财，或身强印重而透煞，印格败也；食神逢枭，或生财露煞，食神格败也；七煞逢财无制，七煞格败也；伤官非金水而见官，或生财而带煞，或佩印而伤轻身旺，伤官格败也；阳刃无官煞，刃格败也；建禄月劫，无财官，透煞印，建禄月劫之格败也。成中有败，必是带忌；败中有成，全凭救应。何谓带忌？如正官逢财而又逢伤；透官而又逢合；财旺生官而又逢伤逢合；印透食以泄气，而又遇财露；透煞以生印，而又透财，以去印存煞；食神带煞印而又逢财；七煞逢食制而又逢印；伤官生财而财又逢合；佩印而印又遭伤，透财而逢煞，是皆谓之带忌也。成中之败，亦变化万端，此不过其大概也。如财旺生官，美格也，身弱透官，即为破格。伤官见官，为格之忌，透财而地位配置合宜，则伤官生财来生官，反可以解，种种变化，非言说所能尽，在于熟习者之妙悟耳。何谓救应？如官逢伤而透印以解之，杂煞而合煞以清之，刑冲而会合以解之；财逢劫而透食以化之，生官以制之，逢煞而食神制煞以生财，或存财而合煞；印逢财而劫财以解之，或合财而存印；食逢枭而就煞以成格，或生财以护食；煞逢食制，印来护煞，而逢财以去印存食；伤官生财透煞而煞逢合；阳刃用官煞带伤食，而重印以护之；建禄月劫用官，遇伤而伤被合，用财带煞而煞被合，是谓之救应也。八字妙用，全在成败救应，其中权轻权重，甚是活泼。学者从此留心，能于万变中融以一理，则于命之一道，其庶几乎！

On the Success, Failure, and Remediation of the Focal Deity - Volume 4

Overall Paraphrased Translation

The selection of the Focal Deity is primarily based on the Month Branch (the earthly branch of the birth month) and is then paired with the Four Pillars (Year, Month, Day, and Hour Pillars). This combination inevitably leads to situations of success or failure. 🌱

Success refers to scenarios such as:

• In an Official Star pattern, the Official Star receives support from the Wealth Star and the Seal Star, with no destructive factors such as clashes, conflicts, breaks, or harms. This establishes the Official pattern.
• In a Wealth Star pattern, the Wealth Star generates and supports the Official Star, making it strong. Alternatively, the Wealth Star is nurtured by the Eating God, remains robust, and is accompanied by the Compare Shoulder. Or, the Wealth pattern reveals the Seal Star, but their positions are arranged appropriately, and they do not conflict. This establishes the Wealth pattern.
• In a Seal Star pattern, if the Seal Star is weak and encounters the Seven Killings, or if both the Official and Seal Stars are complete, or if both the self and the Seal Star are strong and use the Eating God or Hurting Officer to release energy, or if the Seal Star is excessive but encounters a Wealth Star that is revealed with light root energy, the Seal pattern is established.
• In an Eating God pattern, the Eating God generates wealth, or the Eating God carries the Seven Killings but lacks a Wealth Star, abandoning the Eating God to use the Seven Killings instead, and revealing the Seal Star. This establishes the Eating pattern.
• In a Seven Killings pattern, if the self is strong and the Seven Killings are subdued, the Killing pattern is established.
• In a Hurting Officer pattern, the Hurting Officer generates wealth, or the Hurting Officer is paired with a Seal Star, with the Hurting Officer strong and the Seal Star rooted. Alternatively, the Hurting Officer is strong but the self is weak, revealing the Seven Killings and Seal Star. Or, the Hurting Officer carries the Seven Killings but lacks a Wealth Star. This establishes the Hurting Officer pattern.
• In a Yang Edge pattern, if the Official Star or Seven Killings are revealed, and the Wealth and Seal Stars are exposed without the appearance of a Hurting Officer, the Yang Edge pattern is established.
• In the Establishing Luminosity and Month Robbery patterns, if the Official Star is revealed and encounters Wealth and Seal Stars, or if the Wealth Star is revealed and encounters the Eating God or Hurting Officer, or if the Seven Killings are revealed and subdued, the Establishing Luminosity and Month Robbery patterns are established.
• Wealth generating Officials refers to a scenario where the Month Branch Wealth Star is strong, and the Four Pillars contain an Official Star. In this case, strong wealth naturally generates Officials. Alternatively, if the Month Branch is a Wealth Star and reveals the Eating God, and the self is strong, the Eating God releases elegance and转而 generates wealth. The Wealth Star typically dislikes the Compare Robbery, but if the Eating God is present, it is not only unafraid but even welcomes it, as the Eating God can resolve the Compare Robbery. Or, if the Seal Star is revealed and positioned appropriately, Wealth and Seal do not conflict. For example, if the Year Stem reveals the Seal Star and the Hour Stem reveals the Wealth Star, with Compare Robbery in between, they do not hinder each other. If an Official Star is in between, it is a case of Wealth generating Officials, which also does not hinder. This is the success of the Wealth pattern.

Failure refers to scenarios such as:

• The Official Star encountering damage, control, clashes, or conflicts, leading to the failure of the Official pattern.
• The Wealth Star being light while the Compare Robbery is heavy, or the Wealth Star revealing the Seven Killings, leading to the failure of the Wealth pattern.
• The Seal Star being weak and encountering the Wealth Star, or the self being strong and the Seal Star heavy while revealing the Seven Killings, leading to the failure of the Seal pattern.
• The Eating God encountering the Owl God, or generating wealth but revealing killings, leading to the failure of the Eating God pattern.
• The Seven Killings encountering the Wealth Star but lacking control, leading to the failure of the Seven Killings pattern.
• The Hurting Officer not being in a Metal-Water pattern but encountering the Official Star, or generating wealth but carrying killings, or paired with a Seal Star but with a light Hurting Officer and strong self, leading to the failure of the Hurting Officer pattern.
• The Yang Edge lacking control from Officials or Killings, leading to the failure of the Yang Edge pattern.
• The Establishing Luminosity and Month Robbery patterns lacking Wealth and Officials, but revealing killings and seals, leading to their failure.

Success with failure inevitably arises from carrying taboos; failure with success relies entirely on remediation for adjustment. 🌊

Carrying taboos refers to scenarios such as:

• The Official Star encountering the Wealth Star but also encountering the Hurting Officer.
• Revealing the Official Star but also encountering combination or transformation.
• Wealth generating Officials but also encountering the Hurting Officer or combination.
• The Seal Star revealing the Eating God to release energy but also encountering the revealed Wealth Star.
• Revealing the Seven Killings to generate the Seal Star but also revealing the Wealth Star, leading to the removal of the Seal Star and preservation of the killings.
• The Eating God carrying killings and seals but also encountering the Wealth Star.
• The Seven Killings encountering the Eating God for control but also encountering the Seal Star.
• The Hurting Officer generating wealth but the Wealth Star encountering combination.
• Paired with a Seal Star but the Seal Star being damaged, or revealing wealth but encountering the Seven Killings.
  All these are referred to as carrying taboos. Failure within success is ever-changing, and this is only a general description. For example, Wealth generating Officials is a beautiful pattern, but if the self is weak and the Official Star is revealed, the pattern is broken. The Hurting Officer encountering the Official Star is a taboo in patterns, but if the Wealth Star is revealed and the configuration is appropriate, the Hurting Officer generates wealth to generate Officials, which can反而 resolve the situation. The myriad changes cannot be fully described in words and depend on the learner’s subtle understanding through proficiency.

Remediation refers to scenarios such as:

• The Official Star encountering the Hurting Officer but revealing the Seal Star to resolve it, or混杂 with the Seven Killings but using combination to clarify, or encountering clashes and conflicts but using meetings or combinations to resolve.
• The Wealth Star encountering Compare Robbery but revealing the Eating God to transform the robbery, or generating Officials to control the robbery, or encountering the Seven Killings but using the Eating God to control the killings and generate wealth, or preserving wealth by combining with the killings.
• The Seal Star encountering the Wealth Star but using the Robbery Wealth to resolve, or combining with wealth to preserve the seal.
• The Eating God encountering the Owl God but turning to the Seven Killings to establish the pattern, or generating wealth to protect the Eating God.
• The Seven Killings encountering the Eating God for control, or the Seal Star protecting the killings, but encountering the Wealth Star to remove the seal and preserve the Eating God.
• The Hurting Officer generating wealth but revealing the Seven Killings, and the killings being combined or transformed.
• The Yang Edge using Officials or Killings but carrying the Eating God or Hurting Officer, and using a heavy seal to protect.
• The Establishing Luminosity and Month Robbery patterns using Officials but encountering the Hurting Officer, and the Hurting Officer being combined, or using wealth but carrying killings, and the killings being combined.
  All these are referred to as remediation.

The subtlety of the Eight Characters lies entirely in the success, failure, and remediation. The judgment of weights and measures is highly flexible. If learners focus here, they can integrate one principle amidst myriad changes. Then, they will have nearly mastered the way of fate theory! 🔥

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🧠 In-Depth Understanding

Core Concepts 💡

• Focal Deity as the Core: In Eight Characters fate theory, the Focal Deity is key to analyzing personal destiny. It is determined based on the Month Branch (birth month) and judged through the configuration of the Four Pillars for pattern success or failure.
• Mechanism of Success and Failure: The success of a pattern depends on the harmony of the Five Elements' generation and control, and the coordination of the Ten Gods. For example, the Official Star requires support from the Wealth and Seal Stars, while the Wealth Star requires the Eating God to resolve Compare Robbery. Failure arises from clashes, conflicts, the appearance of taboo Ten Gods, or improper configuration.
• Principle of Remediation: Adjustment of patterns through the generation, control, combination, and transformation among the Ten Gods, such as using the Seal Star to transform the Hurting Officer or using the Eating God to control the killings, reflects the idea of dynamic balance.
• Variability: Fate analysis is not a fixed formula but requires flexible judgment based on specific configurations, emphasizing "subtle understanding" and practical experience.

Modern Interpretation 🌟

• Contemporary Application: In modern society, this theory can be used for personal development consulting, such as career choices (Official Star represents career, Wealth Star represents wealth), interpersonal relationships (Seal Star represents benefactors, Compare Robbery represents competition), and health management (Five Elements balance corresponds to physical and mental states).
• Demystification: Treat it as a traditional decision-making tool rather than fatalism. For example, after analyzing one’s Eight Characters pattern, one can identify strengths (successful aspects) and risks (failed aspects), thereby formulating strategies such as strengthening learning (Seal Star remediation) or avoiding conflicts (avoiding clashes and conflicts).
• Data-Driven Thinking: Analogous to modern project management, use the "success, failure, and remediation" framework to evaluate life decisions: first define the goal (Focal Deity), analyze resources (Four Pillars configuration), identify risks (taboos), and design contingency plans (remediation measures).
• Psychological Aspect: Helps individuals understand personality traits (e.g., those with a strong Hurting Officer may be creative but impulsive), promoting self-awareness and emotional management.

Practical Value ⚡

• Personal Planning: Through Eight Characters analysis, it is advised to focus on areas corresponding to the Month Branch Focal Deity (e.g., Wealth pattern suits finance, Official pattern suits management) and use remediation principles to adjust behavior (e.g., when the Seal Star is revealed, focus on learning; when encountering Compare Robbery, cooperate rather than compete).
• Decision Support: Before major decisions (e.g., entrepreneurship, marriage), simulate pattern success and failure: list advantages (success factors), disadvantages (failure factors), and design resolution plans (remediation actions), forming a "hypothesis-action-review" cycle.
• Educational Reference: Used for youth development guidance, e.g., those with a heavy Seal Star may suit academic paths, while those with a strong Eating God or Hurting Officer should be encouraged in creative expression, but this should be verified with modern educational science.
• Risk Awareness: Cultivate dialectical thinking, understanding that "success contains failure" reminds against blind optimism, while "failure contains success" encourages seeking opportunities in adversity.

Philosophical Reflection 🤔

• Yin-Yang Balance: Success, failure, and remediation reflect traditional Chinese Yin-Yang philosophy, emphasizing the mutual generation and control of all things and dynamic harmony. Success requires vigilance against hidden risks (carrying taboos), while failure蕴含 opportunities (remediation), revealing the impermanence and resilience of life.
• Holistic View: Eight Characters analysis emphasizes overall configuration (interaction of the Four Pillars) rather than isolated elements, echoing systems thinking and applicable to managing modern complex environments.
• Subjective Initiative: The concept of remediation implies that people can change situations through actions (e.g., learning, cooperation), rejecting fatalism and advocating a proactive attitude of "knowing fate and using fate."
• Way of Change: "Cannot be fully described in words" emphasizes practical wisdom, resonating with modern agile methodologies and encouraging iterative learning and adaptation to change.

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📚 Related Knowledge

Related Concepts

• Ten Gods System: Official, Killing, Seal, Owl, Wealth, Talent, Hurting Officer, Eating God, Compare Shoulder, Robbery Wealth, representing interpersonal relationships and destiny elements.
• Five Elements Generation and Control: The mutual generation and control relationships among Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, forming the basis of pattern analysis.
• Clashes, Conflicts, Breaks, Harms: Interactions among earthly branches, often leading to pattern destruction.
• Month Branch as the Outline: The earthly branch of the birth month determines the overall momentum and is key to locating the Focal Deity.

Further Reading

• Yuan Hai Zi Ping: In-depth study of the Ten Gods and pattern theory, suitable for further learning about success, failure, and remediation cases.
• San Ming Tong Hui: Comprehensive fate theory classic, containing numerous practical examples and remediation methods.
• Di Tian Sui: Emphasizes the essence of the Five Elements and the Focal Deity, aiding modern simplified application.

Modern Research

• Academic Integration: Contemporary scholars like Liang Xiangrun integrate traditional fate theory with psychology and statistics, validating the effectiveness of pattern theory in personality assessment.
• Critical Perspective: Advises dialectical viewing, avoiding absolutism; some studies point out that Eight Characters analysis needs to consider social environment changes (e.g., diversification of modern careers).
• Tool Development: The emergence of Eight Characters charting software and apps automates success, failure, and remediation calculations but emphasizes the importance of human interpretation.