On the Nobility and Inferiority of Auspicious Deities

原文

论贵神优劣

丑文星贵神。乙未华盖贵神（截路空亡）。丁未退神，羊刃贵神（一云半吉）。己未羊刃贵神（一云半吉）。辛未华盖贵神（一云空亡大败）。癸未伏神，华盖贵神。（已上甲戊庚人月日时贵神）。
甲子进神贵神。丙子交神贵神。戊子伏神贵神。庚子德合贵神。壬子羊刃贵神。甲申截路空亡贵神（一云半吉）。丙申大败贵神。戊申伏马贵神。庚申建禄马贵神。壬申大败贵神（一云半吉）。（已上乙己人月日时贵神
乙酉破禄贵神。丁酉喜神贵神（一云大败）。己酉进神贵神。辛酉建禄交贵神。癸酉伏神贵神（一云吉）。乙亥天德贵神。丁亥文星贵神。（已上丙丁人月日时贵神。）
甲午进神贵神。丙午交羊刃贵神（一云半吉）。戊午伏羊刃贵神。庚午文星截路贵神（一云半吉）。壬午禄旺气贵神。甲寅文星建禄贵神。丙寅文星贵神。戊寅伏马贵神。庚寅破禄马贵神。壬寅截路贵神。（已上六辛人月日时贵神。）
乙卯天喜贵神。丁卯截路贵神（一云半吉）。己卯进神贵神。辛卯交破禄贵神。癸卯旺禄贵神。乙巳正禄马贵神。丁巳九天禄库贵神。己巳九天禄马库贵神。辛巳截路贵神（一云半吉）。癸巳伏马贵神。（已上壬癸人月日时贵神。）
凡如此已上贵神，若与禄马同窠，不犯交退伏神，支干相合者，定须官高职清。若无德，更值空亡交退伏神，五行无气，至死不贵。紧要在月日时支干，相合则为吉，不然乃庸常流也。（并同金书命诀。）
此格有三干合为上，支合次之，无合又次之。如甲子己未此为上格，盖甲己合也，无死绝冲破空亡，更有福神助之，当极一品之贵宰。有死绝为鄙吝杀也，如有死绝冲破空亡之类，只作正郎员郎，然多难无福耳。如戊子己丑，此为次格，若无死绝冲破空亡，须作两制两省，少年登科，当居清要华近之选，更有福神相助，为两府矣。有死绝即减作正郎员郎，亦须有职名。若有冲破空亡，只作一多难州县官，晚年得至朝官极矣。如辛未庚寅，此为第三等，若无死绝冲破空亡，即作正郎卿监少达历清要差遣，更有福神为之助，往往为两制矣，若有死绝即作员郎京朝官，更有冲破空亡，平生多难，只作州县卑冗之官，纵得改官易位，寿不永矣。（林开五命。）
紫虚局，贵人交互人多贵，旺气相乘馆殿资，切莫五行伤着主，令人闲地冷清虚。（寸珠尺璧，凡月日时互换见贵，太岁不带者，不贵。）
_贵合贵食，有贵合，则官位穹崇所作契合；有贵食，则禄丰足，所成造望，如甲戊庚贵在丑未，甲得己丑己未，戊得癸丑癸未，庚得乙丑乙未。乙己贵在申子，乙得庚子庚申，己得甲子甲申。丙丁贵在亥酉，丙得辛酉辛亥，丁得壬寅壬辰，如此之类，谓之贵合。甲食丙乙食丁，丙丁贵在酉亥，甲得丙寅丙辰，乙得丁酉丁亥，庚食壬辛食癸，壬癸贵在卯巳，庚得壬申壬戌，辛得癸卯癸巳，如此之类，谓之贵食。有贵合则官多称意，有贵食则禄多称意。二者兼之，官高禄重，无往不利。（阎东叟书。）
天乙贵神合者，谓天乙在贵神，亦合上是也。甲戊庚在子午，乙己在丑巳，丙丁在寅辰，壬癸在申戌，辛在亥未，皆主大福，遇两合以上者，主贵。（三命提举。）

译文

Overall Paraphrased Translation
This chapter systematically discusses the types of auspicious deities corresponding to specific heavenly stem and earthly branch combinations in the sixty Jiazi, along with their auspicious or inauspicious attributes. These are categorized based on different daily stems (Jia-Wu-Geng, Yi-Ji, Bing-Ding, Liu-Xin, Ren-Gui) and listed for combinations where the monthly, daily, or hourly branches encounter auspicious deities. If an auspicious deity appears in the same pillar as the Lu (Prosperity) and Ma (Horse), and is not afflicted by conflicting, retreating, or hidden deities, or by void and emptiness (Kong Wang), and if the stems and branches harmonize, it indicates high official rank and nobility. Conversely, if it encounters virtue-lessness, void and emptiness, retreating deities, or lacks the energy of the Five Elements, it suggests a lifelong struggle to achieve nobility. The key lies in the coordination of the stems and branches in the month, day, and hour pillars; harmony brings auspiciousness, while lack of harmony results in mediocrity. The text further classifies auspicious deity patterns into three tiers: stem harmony is the highest grade, branch harmony is the next, and lack of harmony is the lowest. Combined with the presence or absence of death and exhaustion, clashes and breaks, void and emptiness, and the support of fortune deities, it meticulously delineates the levels of official ranks and life circumstances. Finally, the concepts of "Noble Harmony" (Gui He) and "Noble Nourishment" (Gui Shi) are supplemented, along with the usage of the Tianyi Noble Deity harmony, emphasizing the cumulative effect of multiple harmonious configurations on enhancing nobility.

🧠 In-Depth Understanding

Core Concepts 💡

Auspicious Deities Vary in Quality: Auspicious deities themselves possess auspicious or inauspicious attributes (e.g., advancing deities and literary stars are auspicious; intercepted paths, void and emptiness, Yang Blade, and major defeat often carry inauspicious traits). Their judgment requires comprehensive analysis based on specific stems and branches and other mystical symbols.
Harmony is Key: The harmony of stems and branches (especially the heavenly stem five harmonies) is the core mechanism for the activation of auspicious deities. Without harmony, the noble energy remains unrealized.
Combinations Determine Hierarchy: Auspicious deity patterns are classified into various grades, requiring holistic consideration of factors such as Lu and Ma, void and emptiness, death and exhaustion, clashes and breaks, and the support of fortune deities.
Noble Harmony and Nourishment Enhance Fortune: "Noble Harmony" primarily signifies smooth official career advancement, while "Noble Nourishment" indicates abundant salary and benefits. Possessing both leads to high rank and substantial emoluments.

Modern Interpretation 🌟

Essence of Auspicious Deities: Can be understood as positive magnetic fields or windows of opportunity triggered by specific stem and branch combinations in a命运 chart. However, their effectiveness depends on meeting multiple conditions (e.g., being in season, unbroken, and harmonious).
Pattern Thinking: Viewing "auspicious deities - Lu and Ma - void and emptiness - harmonious configurations" as an interconnected system. Any single element must be evaluated within the whole, akin to the "systems thinking" in modern management.
Dynamic Auspiciousness and Inauspiciousness: The same auspicious deity may be "semi-auspicious" (e.g., Ding-Wei, Bing-Wu), indicating hidden risks within auspiciousness or the need for specific conditions to trigger it, reflecting the ancient dialectical perspective.

Practical Value ⚡

Career Planning: Those with high-quality auspicious deity harmonies (e.g., Jia-Zi + Ji-Wei) are suited for development within systems or large platforms, easily attaining high positions. Those with inauspicious deities or broken patterns should pursue technical expertise or freelance careers, prioritizing "prosperity" over "nobility."
Risk Warning: Encountering auspicious deities like "void and emptiness" or "major defeat" signals potential workplace setbacks or project obstacles. It is advisable to develop multiple skills in advance and maintain stable cash flow.
Timing Opportunities: The stem and branch years corresponding to auspicious deities (e.g., a Yi-Si person encountering a Yi-Si year) may be critical turning points, warranting proactive efforts to seize opportunities.

Philosophical Reflection 🤔

Conditionality: Ancient命运 analysis rarely offers absolute conclusions, emphasizing conditional chains like "if/more/without/then," reflecting the deep-seated philosophy that success requires the resonance of multiple factors.
Concept of Fortune Deities: Beyond命运 techniques, the idea of "fortune deities assisting" implies that accumulating virtue and fostering interpersonal harmony practically enhance命运, aligning with the thought that "virtue matches position."

📚 Related Knowledge

Related Concepts

Tianyi Noble Deity: For Jia-Wu-Geng, it is Ox and Goat (Chou-Wei); for Yi-Ji, it is Rat and Monkey (Zi-Shen)... Most auspicious deities in the text are derived from this.
Lu and Ma: Lu refers to official salary and emoluments (e.g., Jian Lu), while Ma signifies change and promotion (e.g., Yi Ma). The co-occurrence of auspicious deities with Lu and Ma in the same pillar is an excellent combination.
Void and Emptiness (Kong Wang): The empty space of the旬, where auspicious deities lose strength and inauspicious ones become more malignant. Modern interpretation can be "the timing isn't right" or "insufficient preparation."
Advancing/Retreating Deities: Indicate the momentum of advancement or retreat. Advancing deities (e.g., Jia-Zi, Ji-You) favor expansion, while retreating deities (e.g., Ding-Wei) suggest consolidation.

Modern Research

Some scholars attempt to map "auspicious deities" to institutional advantageous resources in modern society (e.g., education, qualifications, social networks), whose "activation conditions" highly resemble命运 logic.
The combination of "Noble Harmony and Nourishment" can be analogized to professional qualifications (harmony) and profitability (nourishment). Those possessing both are more likely to succeed.

💡 Tip: Practical命运 analysis must holistically consider the waxing and waning of the Five Elements and the flow of major cycles. One should not focus solely on auspicious deities.

原文

论贵神优劣

译文