Answers to Essentials of Four Pillars of Destiny
1.） State the respective age ranges, different phases of life and body parts that represent each pillar (palace):
2.）What are the implications when a clash between the Year Pillar and the Month Pillar is reflected in an individual’s Eight Characters?
- The Year Pillar not only represents grandparents but also parents; while the Month Pillar can represent brother(s). Therefore, we can assume that the relationship between brother(s) and parents is less than cordial.
- The clash between the Year Pillar and the Month Pillar may imply the possibility of accidents too. This possibility is especially higher before the age of 34.
3.） With reference to the above four-pillar chart, which of the Four Pillars represents the palace of Career?
Hour Pillar can signify the palace of Career.
We can deduce an individual’s career achievements or whether his supervisor may assist in his career development through the Hour Pillar.
4.)
a.)
Explicit Talent Deity shall suppress Proper Authority Deity.
Proper Authority Deity symbolises the ‘husband’ in a woman’s destiny, whereas Explicit Talent Deity connotes her aptitude and emotions. Thus, a woman is deemed to be more demanding towards her spouse if her Explicit Talent Deity appears overriding. As such, matrimonial problems may arise should there be improper management of the aforesaid qualities.
b.) This implies the overwhelming presence of wealth stars within the chart pattern that are too much for the Day Master to handle.
A wealth star can stand for an individual’s desire. Hence he may be perceived to embrace many desires with an overwhelming presence of wealth stars in his chart pattern or vice versa.
Thence, the strength or weakness of the Day Master shall determine if the individual possesses the drive to pursue his goals.
c.) A woman’s Deity of Secondary Resources may curb the Implicit Talent and Explicit Talent deities of her child. However, this situation can actually turn out to be a good thing if the deities of Implicit Talent and Explicit Talent are too uncontrollable.
d.) This refers to the submission of the wealth star to the Amiable Deity and the Competitive Deity.
5.)
- not too strong;
- not too weak;
- not too cold;
- not too hot and dry;
- the five elements within the four-pillar chart should be sinuous and fluid.
6. )
- Anger; Benevolence
- Joy/Happiness; Courtesy
- Contemplation; Trust
- Anxiety; Justice
- Panic; Wisdom
7.)
Clash of the heavenly stems lends to the ‘destructive relationships between the five elements’, while the directional clash of the heavenly stems also encompasses the ‘contradictory relationships in terms of directions’.
8.) The destruction of Yi Wood by Xin Metal exemplifies the destructive relationship of alike elements, because both elements are of “Yin” nature.
The destruction of Yi Wood by Geng Metal demonstrates the destructive relationship of opposite elements, as Geng Metal is “Yang”, whilst Yi Wood is “Yin” in nature.
9.) We may use the analogy of the human skeleton to refer to Yang and the flesh as Yin.
If a person’s body consists of the skeleton only and not a single strain of flesh or tissue (ie.the state of ‘pure yang’), he shall be unable to perform any simple task of movement.
Similarly, a person who has only ‘flesh’ is comparable to a pool of mud when in the absence of a skeletal frame.
10. (ii) wood
11.) The creation of Earth from Fire can describe the creative relationship between the Five Elements. In this process, Fire element reinforces Earth element’s strength but weakens from doing so at the same time. Therefore, both Creative and Diminishing Relationships between the Five Elements actually relate to the same thing.
12.) Please refer to Chapter 4, What are the Ten Heavenly Stems?, from Essentials of Four Pillars of Destiny (Elementary).
13.)
- Six-Conflict
- Six-Union
- Six-Union
- Six-Union
- Six-Conflict
- Six-Conflict
14.)
- Hour of Wu
- Hour of Xu
- Hour of Zi
- Hour of Shen
15.) Besides being classified as weak or strong, a day master can reflect hot or cold conditions.
16.)
- Peak/ Birth/ Death/ Decline/ Rest
- Spring/ Wood/ Fire/ Earth/ Metal/ Water
17.)
- Chen/ Xu/ Chou/ Wei
- Pools/ Water Pool/ Fire Pool/ Metal Pool/ Wood Pool
18.) Please refer to Chapter 5, Earthly Branches, from Essentials of Four Pillars of Destiny (Elementary).
19.)
- Growth/ Bath/ Cultivation/ Entry/ Peak/ Deterioration/ Sickness/ Death/ Burial/ End/ Conception/ Nurture
- Jia/ Hai/ Zi/ Chou/ Yin/ Mao/ Chen/ Si/ Wu/ Wei/ Shen/ You/ Xu
20.) “Hai” constitutes the Star of Aggression for ‘Gui Water’.
21.) Wu Jia Bing/ Wu Geng Ren/ Jia Ren/ Gui Wu Yi/ Ding Ji/ Wu Bing Geng
22.) (ii) Jia Chou & (iv) Yi Zi are incorrect.
23.)
24.) In the Farmers’ Calendar, the Awakening of Insects represents the solar month of ‘Mao’.
25.)
26.)
Coinciding Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch
: The occurrence of a heavenly stem and a earthly branch to belong to the same element within a Four-Pillar Chart.
Jia Wood is prevalent in heavenly stem and earthly branch.
Proximity
: Refers to nearness and closeness.
Jia Wood and Bing Fire are close in proximity.
Interval Pillar
: Refers to a separating gap.
A possible six-union can exist between Yin and Hai, but the union is separated by the gap of the month pillar, You Metal.
27.) (i) Deity of Primary Resources
28.) Gui/ Wu Geng Ren/ Ren Jia/ Wu Bing Geng
Deity of Implicit Talent, Deity of Unconventional Wealth, Deity of Imposing Authority/ Deity of Imposing Authority, Deity of Secondary Resources/ Deity of Implicit Talent, Amiable Deity, Deity of Unconventional Wealth
29.) (ii) Fire
30.)
31.)
32.)
Deity of Proper Authority (Zheng Guan) lends to the merciful conquest between Yin and Yang, where its intentions are positive and meant for the day master to abide rules and regulations.
Deity of Imposing Authority (Qi Sha) lends to a more offensive conquest of identical elements.
33.)
Deity of Explicit Talent (Shang Guan) comes from the creation of Yin from Yang or vice versa.
Deity of Implicit Talent (Shi Shen) is created from the day master and is either Yang with Yang, or Yin with Yin, which are both indifferent.
34.)
Deity of Primary Resources and Deity of Secondary Resources are amongst the Ten Deities, which can suppress Deity of Implicit Talent and Deity of Explicit Talent.
35.) The implications can be deduced as follow:
- Day Master is deemed to be temperamental and likes to indulge in trivial smartplay.
- Weak physical health
- If the candidate is female and expecting, extra precaution must be exercised to prevent high possibilities of a miscarriage.
36.) His month of birth is considered to be a supportive season.
37.)
When a Day Master is born in the supportive season, this individual is very likely to be strong. In addition to the aforesaid observation, we should also consider if his earthly branches and arrangement of pillars are supportive or not.
A Day Master may turn from ‘strong to weak’ when his earthly branches or arrangement of pillars is unsupportive.
38.)
The need to raise the temperature of a four-pillar chart will be constituted when the individual is born during winter (such as months of Hai, Zi and Chou), with fairly strong Metal or Water elements that can come to his aid within his life chart.
The need to lower the temperature of a four-pillar chart may be necessary when the individual is born during summer (such as months of Si, Wu and Wei), with fairly strong Wood or Fire elements that can come to his aid within his life chart.
39.)
Birth in months such as Hai, Zi, Chou or Yin (especially the first half of Yin month), can likely render a chilly four-pillar chart.
40.)
Deities of proper authority and imposing authority may overpower the day master in the absence of deities of resources.
41.) Positive Temperate Element takes priority before the Boosting Element.
42.)
A Chart Pattern reveals the key features of the Eight Characters. Quick understanding of the life chart can be established when the principal chart pattern is accurately identified.
There are many types of chart patterns in general. They are usually classified under 2 major types, which are namely the Common Chart Pattern and the Special Chart Pattern.
43.)
This is because the positive and reinforcing elements of the Common Chart Pattern and the Special Chart Pattern are very different from each other.
Many a time, the positive and reinforcing elements for a Common Chart Pattern are the negative elements for a Special Chart Pattern.
44.)
In the broad spectrum, the equilibrium of a life chart will be disturbed when its strength, weakness, heat or coldness exceeds that of a normal level. In such cases, the use of certain Five Elements is necessary to return the balance, which refers to the ‘antidote’ or ‘positive and reinforcing elements’.
If the imbalance of the life chart is slight, simple remedies are sufficient to rectify the shortfall. This is deemed as a Common Chart Pattern.
Those life charts that are severely imbalanced, where common methods of reinforcement and support are rendered inadequate, shall be considered as Special Chart Patterns.
45.)
Careful observation of the covert stem’s main energy and residual energy within the month branch shall foremost identify the Common Chart Pattern. After which, the type of Ten Deities that emerges from the covert stem will determine the chart pattern.
Below are factors to consider when determining the chart pattern:
- If the main energy (covert stem) within the month branch corresponds with the year stem, month stem or hour stem, then the creative or destructive relationship between this main energy and the day stem shall determine the chart pattern.
- If the main energy (covert stem) within the month branch does not correspond with the year stem, month stem or hour stem, then the creative or destructive relationship between any residual energy (covert stem) and the day stem shall determine the chart pattern.
- If neither main energy (covert stem) nor residual energy (covert stem) within the month branch corresponds with the year stem, month stem or hour stem, then locate the covert heavenly stems within the month earthly branch. Pick the most advantageous Five Element after a comparison of the strengths and weaknesses amongst the various covert stems within the month branch. The creative or destructive relationship between this element and the day stem shall determine the chart pattern.
46.)
Positive and Reinforcing Elements of a Wood Domineering Chart Style:
Positive: Wood
Reinforcing: Water, Wood, Fire
47.) Characteristics of Domineering Chart Style:
The unique feature is the unrestrained strong dominance of another element that is similar to the day master. As a result, the day master will become exceedingly strong. In other words, Domineering Chart Style relates to the solo supremacy of the element of the day master.
Characteristics of Passive Chart Style:
Passive Chart Style connotes the idea of submission. Since the day master is extremely weak in the eight characters, he has to yield to the dominant energy of his four-pillar chart to get by.
48.) Conditions to establish the Fire Domineering Chart Style:
Day Master : Bing; Ding
Months of Birth : Si, Wu or Yin (growth stages of Fire)
Seasonal Combination (San Hui) or tri-union (San He) of the earthly branches: Seasonal combination of Si, Wu and Wei; or Tri-union of Yin, Wu and Xu
No restraining or destructive elements : Ren, Gui, Hai, Zi
49.)
50.) Conditions to establish the Wealth Submissive Chart Style:
- Day master is weak with no support (No amiable and competitive deities or deities of primary and secondary resources in four pillars);
- Deities of authority rule the month branch;
- Earthly branches form tri-union/ seasonal combination of wealth;
- Extremely strong deities of wealth, which are created from deities of talent;
- Heavenly stems reveal deities of wealth
51.)
i. Imposing Authority and Proper Authority Chart Styles
Proper Authority Chart Style
The individual is upright, gentle and kind. Besides being humble and polite, he is also reliable, down-to-earth, disciplined and helpful. His sense of responsibility earns him respect.
Imposing Authority Chart Style
The individual is vigorous, brave and decisive. He is not afraid of hardships and likes challenges. Additionally, he upholds justice and has a high tolerance for external pressures. However, his thirst for challenges can render him to be rather imposing and daunting, which others may find offensive.
ii. Implicit Talent and Explicit Talent Chart Styles
Implicit Talent Chart Style
The individual prefers freedom and a carefree lifestyle. He is optimistic, loves poetry and dance, possesses artistic inclination, and likes to go about doing what he enjoys. Being gentle and introverted by nature, he dislikes pressure and confrontations.
Explicit Talent Chart Style
The individual is energetic, competitive, ambitious and driven. He learns fast, has quick reflexes and his principles are based on his preferences. Personal benefits take precedence over benefits to others. His strong desires plus wilful and arrogant personality make him unsuitable for a vocation in the civil service.
52.)
The Day Earthly Branch relates to the Day Master’s palace of husband and wife. Thus, the spouse is deemed to have good qualities if the day earthly branch is favourable.
53.)
Please refer to Chapter 1, Introduction to Four Pillars and Palaces, from Essentials of Four Pillars of Destiny (Elementary).
54.)
Please refer to Chapter 1, Introduction to Four Pillars and Palaces, from Essentials of Four Pillars of Destiny (Elementary).
55.)
Please refer to Chapter 4, What are the Ten Heavenly Stems, from Essentials of Four Pillars of Destiny (Elementary).
56.)
57.)
Please refer to Chapter 5, Earthly Branches, from Essentials of Four Pillars of Destiny (Elementary).
58.)
59.)
60.)
61.)
Yin, Shen, Si and Hai are the earthly branches that pertain to the Voyager Star.
62.)
Zi, Wu, Mao and You are the earthly branches that pertain to the Star of Romance.
63.)
The Four Burial Stages of the earthly branches are Chen, Xu, Chou and Wei.
64.)
The Star of Aggression is a compound star, which is also the ‘Peak’ phase in the 12 Natural Stages of Life.
The Star of Aggression is akin to the Competitive Deity of the Ten Deities too. The competitive deity is established as so when it corresponds to the heavenly stem. It is only called the star of aggression when the competitive deity corresponds to the earthly branch.
65.)
People who possess the academic star are smart, hardworking and have a thirst for knowledge. They are apt at using their talents and wit to turn a problematic situation around. With gentle and gracious mannerisms, they have depth and dislike socialising with uncouth individuals.
However, an overpowering presence of the academic star may not be a good thing too, as he can be misguided by his personal conceit, which will bring about his downfall.
66.) (iii. South)
67.) (iv. Transitional Phase)
68.) (i. Upward)
69.) (iv. Wu, Ji)
70.) (iv. Bing)
71.) (ii.12)
72.) (iii. West)
73.) (iv. Winter)
74.) (iii. Xu)
75.) (iii. Day Pillar)
76.)
The presence of the Voyager Star in the eight characters portrays an active and carefree individual who is well suited for mobile jobs.
By the same token, a person who has many Voyager stars in his four pillars tends to be very unsettled and travels frequently.
77.)
78.) (iii. Wu)
79.) (ii. You)
80.) (iv. Yin Mao)
81.) (i. Fire)
82.) (ii, Yin Male, Reverse Calculation)
