Introduction / 引言
BaZi (八字), also known as Four Pillars of Destiny or Ziping Method, is a profound system of Chinese metaphysics used to analyze an individual's destiny based on their birth time. Rooted in the ancient theories of Yin-Yang, Five Elements, Heavenly Stems, and Earthly Branches, its evolution spans over a millennium, transforming from rudimentary interpretations into a sophisticated and systematic predictive art.
八字命理學，又稱四柱推命或子平法，是一門深奧的中國玄學體系，通過出生時間來分析個人命運。它根植於古老的陰陽五行、天干地支學說，其發展歷經千年，從最初的粗略解讀演變為一套精密而系統的預測藝術。
Early Origins: From Han to Tang Dynasties / 早期源流：漢唐時期
- Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE): Early forms of destiny analysis can be traced back to the Han Dynasty. At this stage, methods primarily focused on physiognomy (bone and body features) and simple interpretations based on the Earthly Branch of the birth year. Texts like the Taiping Jing (太平經) from the Eastern Han period record such methods. However, a rigorous, systematic framework for BaZi had not yet emerged.
- Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) and Li Xuzhong (李虛中): The study of numerology reached new heights during the Tang Dynasty. Li Xuzhong (李虛中) (762-815 CE), a prominent official and astrologer, is widely regarded as the patriarch of traditional Chinese numerology. He pioneered an "ancient method" (古法模型) of destiny calculation that primarily focused on the birth year. His contributions included the integration of concepts like Tai Yuan (胎元 - fetal breath), Na Yin Five Elements (纳音五行 - elemental qualities of sound), Shen Sha (神煞 - symbolic stars), and the cyclical nature of Yun (运 - luck cycles), laying crucial groundwork for future developments.
- 漢代（公元前206年 – 公元220年）：命理分析的早期形式可追溯至漢代。此階段主要通過骨相、體相以及出生年份的地支來進行簡單的命運解讀。東漢時期的《太平經》中即記載了此類方法。然而，此時八字尚未形成嚴謹的系統框架。
- 唐代（公元618–907年）與李虛中：命理學在唐代達到了新的高峰。李虛中（公元762-815年），一位著名的官員和占星家，被廣泛視為傳統命理學的鼻祖。他開創了以出生年份為主的“古法模型”，並引入了“胎元”、納音五行、神煞和“運”的概念，為後來的發展奠定了重要基礎。
The Foundational Shift: Xu Ziping and the Day Master / 奠基轉變：徐子平與日主
The most significant transformation in BaZi occurred during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE) with the contributions of Xu Ziping (徐子平). Building upon the earlier framework, Xu Ziping revolutionized the method by:
- Establishing Four Pillars (四柱): He formalized the use of all four chronological pillars—Year (年), Month (月), Day (日), and Hour (时)—each comprising a Heavenly Stem and an Earthly Branch, to form eight characters (八字).
- Day Master as the Self (日干為我): Critically, Xu Ziping shifted the central point of analysis from the birth year to the Day Master (日干), the Heavenly Stem of the Day Pillar, as representing the individual ("self"). This innovative change laid the cornerstone for modern BaZi analysis.
- Emphasis on Five Element Interactions: His method primarily focuses on the intricate relationships of the Five Elements (五行) within the Four Pillars—their generation (生), conquering (克), transformation (化), clashing (冲), and combination (合)—to deduce an individual's strengths, weaknesses, and life path.
Due to his profound influence, BaZi is frequently referred to as the "Ziping Method" (子平法) or "Ziping BaZi" (子平八字學), solidifying its modern form.
八字命理學最為重要的轉變發生在宋代（公元960–1279年），歸功於徐子平的貢獻。他在早期框架的基礎上，通過以下方式徹底改革了命理方法：
- 確立四柱：他正式確立了使用年（年）、月（月）、日（日）和時（時）這四個時間柱，每個柱由一個天干和一個地支組成，形成八個字（八字）。
- 日干為我：關鍵地，徐子平將分析的中心點從出生年份轉移到日主（日干），即日柱的天干，作為代表個人“我”的標誌。這一創新奠定了現代八字分析的基石。
- 強調五行互動：他的方法主要側重於四柱內五行（五行）之間錯綜複雜的生（生）、克（克）、化（化）、沖（沖）和合（合）關係，從而推斷個人的優勢、劣勢和人生軌跡。
由於其深遠的影響，八字命理學常被稱為“子平法”（子平法）或“子平八字學”（子平八字學），確立了其現代形式。
Foundational Classical Texts / 奠基經典著作
- Yuan Hai Ziping (淵海子平): Considered the foundational and ancestral text of BaZi. Originally based on Xu Ziping's theories, it was compiled by Xu Dasheng (徐大升) during the Song Dynasty. The book systematically elucidates the Four Pillars method, profoundly influencing the development of Chinese numerology. The current version is a synthesis of Xu Dasheng's original works (`Yuan Hai` and `Yuan Yuan`) combined and expanded by Yang Cong (杨淙) in the Ming Dynasty. An early variant, `Ziping San Ming Tong Bian Yuan Yuan` (子平三命通变渊源), is also a significant original source.
- San Ming Tong Hui (三命通会): A monumental work authored by Wan Minying (万民英) in the Ming Dynasty. This comprehensive treatise synthesizes both the ancient methods preceding the Song Dynasty and the later Ziping Method. Its high academic standing is recognized by its inclusion in the prestigious Siku Quanshu (四库全书). It serves as an invaluable resource for understanding the complete landscape of traditional Chinese numerology.
- 《淵海子平》：被視為八字命理學的奠基之作和宗祖經典。它最初基於徐子平的理論，由宋代徐大升編纂。該書系統地闡述了四柱推命法，對中國命理學的發展產生了深遠影響。現今流傳的版本是徐大升的原著（《淵海》和《淵源》）經明代楊淙合編增補而成。早期的一個重要版本是《子平三命通變淵源》。
- 《三命通會》：明代萬民英撰寫的一部宏篇巨著。這部全面的論著綜合了宋代以前的古法和後來的子平法。其在學術上的崇高地位得到了《四庫全書》的收錄。它是理解中國傳統命理學全貌的寶貴資源。
Later Influences and Notable Authors / 後世影響與著名作者
The BaZi system continued to evolve and be refined through the contributions of numerous scholars and masters in subsequent dynasties. While `Yuan Hai Ziping` and `San Ming Tong Hui` remain cornerstones, other influential works deepened the theoretical understanding and practical application of BaZi:
- Shen Xiaozhan (沈孝瞻) (Qing Dynasty): Authored Ziping Zhenquan (子平真诠), a highly regarded text known for its systematic approach to analyzing the Ten Gods and their intricate relationships.
- Ren Tieqiao (任铁樵) (Qing Dynasty): His commentary on Di Tian Sui (滴天髓), titled Di Tian Sui Chanwei (滴天髓阐微), is celebrated for its profound insights into the nuances of BaZi interpretation and its emphasis on practical experience.
- Wei Qianli (韋千里) (Republic of China): A modern master, his Qianli Mingao (千里命稿) is a popular and accessible work that helped popularize BaZi in the 20th century.
- Yuan Shushan (袁樹珊) (Republic of China): A prolific author, his works like Mingli Tanyuan (命理探源) offered comprehensive explorations and syntheses of BaZi theories.
八字體系在後續朝代中，經由眾多學者和名家的貢獻不斷演進和完善。儘管《淵海子平》和《三命通會》仍是基石，但其他具影響力的著作也深化了八字命理的理論理解和實際應用：
- 沈孝瞻（清代）：著有《子平真詮》，這是一部備受推崇的經典，以其系統分析十神及其複雜關係而聞名。
- 任鐵樵（清代）：他對《滴天髓》的註解，題為《滴天髓闡微》，因其對八字解讀細微之處的深刻洞察和對實踐經驗的強調而廣受讚譽。
- 韋千里（民國）：一位現代大師，他的《千里命稿》是一部受歡迎且易於理解的著作，有助於八字在20世紀的普及。
- 袁樹珊（民國）：一位多產的作家，他的著作如《命理探源》對八字理論進行了全面的探索和綜合。