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五行者，性本乎天地之间而不穷者也，是故谓之行.
研究命理，首须明五行之为何物，五行者，春夏秋冬之气候也，流行於天地之间，循环不断，故谓之行。
财官食印等八神名称，古人担纲挈领。以示初学，所以便於论休咎也，如论生克，五行各有所宜，性质不同，未可概论，言财官食印，不如径言五行之为便，故本书专论五行，不言八神，四时气候，古人代之以卦，名曰卦气，至汉代，始易以五行，生克，及印比官鬼等名称（详子平粹言）卦气合气候方位言，今论五行，亦宜会其意也。
北方阴极生寒，寒生水，南方阳极生热，热生火，东方阳散以泄而生风，风生木，西方阴止以收而生燥，燥生金，中央阴阳交而生温，温生土，其相生也所以相维，其相克也所以相制，此之恋谓有伦。
以五行代春夏秋冬之名称，配合方位，出於天然，北方亥子丑，冬季也。南方巳午未，夏季也，东方寅卯辰，春令也，西方申酉戌，秋令也，冬季阴寒为水，夏季阳热为火，春令阳和散泄为木，秋令寒肃收敛为金，土无专位，居中央而寄四隅，四隅者，艮（丑寅）巽（辰巳）坤（未申）乾（戌亥），即四季交脱之际也，春夏之交，木气未尽，火气已至，间杂之气名也属土，（夏秋冬同论）如统一年而论土，至午未月为最旺，亦居中央之意也，顺序相生，所以相维，故循不而不断，隔位相克，所以相制，故盛极则衰，否极则泰，无往不复，天之道也，伦者常也，言有一定之程序也。
夫五行之性，名致其用，水者其性智，火者其性礼，木其性仁，金其性义，惟土主信，重厚宽博，无所不容，水附之而行，木托之而生，金不得土则无自出，火不得土则无自归，必损实以为通。致虚以为明，故五行皆赖土也。
由五行之性质而推其用，水性流动，其象为智，火性光明，其象为礼，木性阳和，其象为仁，金性严肃，其象为义，土性浑厚，则近於信，以五行配五常，有此象徵，人秉五行之气以生，随其秉赋而成各人之个性，有类似之点，如金水伤官，人必绝顶聪明，火性炎上，生居东南，果断有为。若居西北谨畏守礼，（见下论火）曲直成格，必主仁寿，由各人之秉赋而推其性情，犬致不甚相远也。土无专位，而四时皆有其用，金水木火，赖土以存，然言其性，则过於厚重而不灵，必损其实，致其虚，方能致用，故土之用，所赖金水木火以成也，推其形色，则水黑，火赤，木青，金白，土黄。及其变易则不然，当以生旺从正色，（当生旺则正气全，可见正色）死绝从母色（水者木之母，死绝则黑，木者，火之母，死绝则青，火者，土之母，死绝则赤，土者，金之母，死绝则黄，夫五行死绝，则气归根见母之色，凡人遇苦楚呻吟呼母者，即此之义也，形成冠带从妻色。（少壮之年及衰老之际仰妻之时也），病败从鬼色，（病、败之地，鬼旺之乡，受克则气归鬼）。旺墓从子色，（旺为傅，墓为收敛，故色在於子），其数则水一、火二、木三、金四、土五、生旺加倍，死绝减半，以义推之。
五行之色，随生旺绝十二宫而变易，生旺者，长生临官。成形冠带者，沐浴冠带也，旺墓者，帝旺墓库也。病败者，病位衰位也，死绝者，死位绝位兼胎养育之也。五行之数，即河图之数也，更以生旺死绝增减推之。
夫万物负阴而抱阳，冲气以和，过与不及，皆为乖道，故高者抑之使平。下者举之使崇，或益其不及，或损其太过。所以，贵於折衷，归於中道，使无有余不足之累，即财官印食贵人驿马之微意也。行运亦如之，则命理之说，思过半矣。
阴阳者正负也，万物皆有阴阳，生长而盛而衰老病死。一气循环，周流不断，由生而长为阳，为正气，由盛而衰老病死为阴，为退气。（参阅子平粹言）命理之意，无非损之益之，使其归於中道，无过与不及而已，才官食印，为五行生克制化之代名词，贵人驿马列等神杀，亦五行动静变化之名称也，原命合於中道，不待运而发，原命有缺，则必待运之助，吉凶休咎，胥由此出，子平之理，不外乎此矣。
Overall Interpretation
The Five Elements are a fundamental energy system that operates eternally between heaven and earth 🌍. To study destiny analysis, one must first understand the essence of the Five Elements—it essentially represents the cyclical flow of climate through the four seasons 🌱🔥🍂❄️, circulating ceaselessly between heaven and earth, hence the term "Elements" (行, movement). The ancients used terms like Wealth, Authority, Resource, and Seal as introductory guides, but a deeper discussion of generation and restraint must return to the inherent nature of the Five Elements. This book focuses on the analysis of the Five Elements because the correspondence between the four seasons' climates and directions is rooted in nature: the cold north corresponds to Water, the hot south to Fire, the dispersing east to Wood, the contracting west to Metal, and the central intersection to Earth. Generation sustains, while restraint counterbalances, forming a dynamically balanced cosmic order 🔥→⛰→🌊→🌱→🔥. The Five Elements also correspond to human personality traits: Water governs wisdom, Fire governs courtesy, Wood governs benevolence, Metal governs righteousness, and Earth governs trustworthiness, with Earth serving as the foundation of all things. The colors and numerical values of the Five Elements (Water 1, Fire 2, Wood 3, Metal 4, Earth 5) change with their states of prosperity and decline. The core of destiny analysis lies in harmonizing Yin and Yang, achieving balanced moderation by reducing excess and supplementing deficiency.
The Five Elements theory reveals fundamental cosmic principles:
Note: The Five Elements theory should be applied in conjunction with specific Bazi analysis, avoiding mechanical application. Modern applications should discard fatalistic components and emphasize its practicality as a dynamic adjustment tool.