On the Division of Palace Degrees and Proper Positions, The Nine Matters, The Six Rulers, and The Method of Establishing the Life Palace - Volume 5
Overall Meaning Translation
This chapter systematically elaborates on the division of palace degrees in astrological fate calculation, the essential principles of the Nine Matters, the composition of the Six Rulers, and the method for calculating the establishment of the Life Palace. A "Proper Position" (正垣) refers to the Sun, Venus, and Mars residing precisely in the twelve palaces such as Zi, Wu, Mao, You, and Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei, symbolizing pure energy; a "Deviant Position" (偏垣) refers to celestial bodies like Saturn, Jupiter, Mercury, and the Moon falling at the boundaries between two palaces, requiring analysis based on degrees to determine auspiciousness or inauspiciousness. Fate analysis must consider both the Lord of the Palace (宫主) and the Lord of the Degree (度主), neither should be neglected. The Nine Matters encompass three major systems for forecasting fate: the Bamboo Net Three Limits (竹罗三限), the Four Origins (四元), and the Temporal Fate (时命). The Six Rulers include six types of core ruling stars: Life (命), Prosperity (禄), Fortune (福), Wealth (财), Property (田), and Body (身). The method for establishing the Life Palace involves counting backward from the birth month and forward from the birth hour until reaching the Mao position to fix the location, thereby laying the foundation of the birth chart 🌌.
🧩 Structured Components
🧠 In-Depth Understanding
Core Concepts 💡
- Division of Proper and Deviant Positions: A celestial body entering its temple in a proper palace (e.g., Sun in Zi, Wu, Mao, You) is a "Proper Position," indicating stable energy; a body falling on a palace boundary (e.g., Nu Tu between Zi and Chou) is a "Deviant Position," requiring detailed analysis combined with its degree.
- Dual Reference of Palace and Degree: Interpreting fate must simultaneously observe the Lord of the Palace (governing the palace) and the Lord of the Degree (governing the zodiac degree), as both influence auspiciousness and inauspiciousness.
- System of the Six Rulers: The Life Ruler (essence of self), Prosperity Ruler (career achievements), Fortune Ruler (foundation of blessings), Wealth Ruler (financial resources), Property Ruler (household assets), and Body Ruler (physical health) constitute the six major dimensions of life.
- Logic of Establishing the Life Palace: The Life Palace is determined by counting backward from the birth month and forward from the birth hour until reaching the Mao position, establishing the coordinate benchmark for the star chart.
Modern Interpretation 🌟
- Analogy of Proper and Deviant Positions: Similar to the need for a comprehensive interpretation in modern astrology of the Sun sign (Proper Position) and the Ascendant sign plus planetary cusps (Deviant Positions), relying on a single indicator can easily lead to bias.
- Multidimensional Analysis: The System of the Six Rulers is essentially an ancient model for resource allocation, covering personal development (Life/Prosperity), material foundation (Wealth/Property), and physical-mental state (Fortune/Body). It can correspond to modern fields like career planning, asset management, and mental health.
- Essence of the Life Establishment Method: It is an algorithm converting birth time and space into astrological coordinates based on astronomical calendars, similar to the logic behind calculating the Ascendant sign in astrology.
Practical Value ⚡
- Birth Chart Analysis: When interpreting a chart, one must pay attention to both the influence of the palace (Lord of the Palace) and the characteristics of the zodiac degree (Lord of the Degree) to avoid one-sided conclusions.
- Life Planning: By assessing the strength of the Six Ruler stars, one can identify innate tendencies and adjustment directions in areas such as career, wealth, and health.
- Foundation for Forecasting: The establishment of the Life Palace is the foundation for initiating major cycles (大限) and yearly运势 (流年运势); accurate calculation is crucial.
Philosophical Reflection 🤔
The distinction between Proper and Deviant Positions in palaces and degrees reflects the Chinese philosophical wisdom of "adhering to the proper position" (守常) and "adapting to change" (通变). Proper Positions are like upholding constants, while Deviant Positions are like exercising flexibility. The System of the Six Rulers embodies the ancient holistic view of life as the comprehensive management of resources, which resonates with the modern concept of "whole-person development."
📚 Related Knowledge
- Associated Concepts: Temple, Exaltation, Fall, Detriment; Mutual Reception between Lord of the Palace and Lord of the Degree; Forecasting method of the Bamboo Net Three Limits; System of the Four Origins and Spiritual Entities (神煞)
- Further Reading: "Song of Stars Entering Their Temples" in Volume 1 of Guo Lao's Astrological Compendium (果老星宗); "Examples of Establishing the Life Palace" in Zhang Guo's Astrological Compendium (张果星宗)
- Modern Research: Academic studies already exist comparing cross-cultural astrology by converting traditional stellar degree coordinates into ecliptic longitude degrees.
