Qiong Tong Bao Jian (窮通寶鑒) , originally known as Lan Jiang Wang (攔江網 - The Net that Intercepts the River) , is the unique "Ecosystem Manual" of BaZi. While other classics focus on social structures (Gods) or logical flows (Qi Shi), this book focuses entirely on Biology and Climate . It posits that a chart is a living ecosystem that requires specific temperature and moisture levels to thrive.
Qiong Tong Bao Jian (窮通寶鑒)
The Treasury of Communications: The Art of Seasonal Balance
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📜 Historical Context
The authorship is unknown, but it was refined by Yu Chun Tai in the Qing Dynasty. Unlike the scholarly Zi Ping Zhen Quan , this text reads like a farmer's almanac. It ignores the names of the Ten Gods (Officer, Wealth, etc.) and speaks directly of "Sun warming the River" or "Rain nourishing the Tree." It is the master guide to Tiao Hou (調候 - Climate Adjustment) .
🔑 Core Methodology
The Ecosystem Logic (Tiao Hou 調候)
The central premise is that Survival precedes Status . Even if a chart has a "Noble Structure" (e.g., Direct Officer), if the chart is frozen solid (born in winter) or burning up (born in summer), the structure cannot function. Life must exist before it can be noble. Therefore, temperature regulation is the first priority.
Seasonal Requirements
The book provides a "cookbook" recipe for every Day Master in every month. Examples:
- Winter (Water/Cold): All charts need Fire (Bing) to thaw. "Frozen water cannot grow wood." Without Fire, the person may be intelligent but poor/lonely.
- Summer (Fire/Hot): All charts need Water (Gui/Ren) to cool. "Scorched earth creates no metal." Without Water, the person may burn out or suffer health issues.
- Spring (Wood/Wind): Wood is tender. Needs Fire to bloom, but fears heavy Metal (axe) which kills young sprouts.
- Autumn (Metal/Dry): Metal is sharp. Needs Fire (Ding) to forge it into tools, or Water to wash it clean.
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The Ecosystem Logic: Tiao Hou (調候)
五行之理，以中和為貴。寒暖燥濕，不可偏勝。
"The principles of the Five Elements prize central harmony above all. Cold, Warmth, Dryness, and Wetness must not skew into extremes."
Insight: A person born in deep winter (Cold) needs Sun (Fire) to thaw, even if their chart seems strong. Without warmth, life cannot grow.
五行之理，以中和為貴。寒暖燥濕，不可偏勝。
釋義： 五行的道理，以中庸平衡為最重要。環境的寒冷、溫暖、乾燥、潮濕，絕不能過於極端，否則命局就會偏枯。
Example: Jia Wood in the Tiger Month (正月甲木)
正月甲木，初春尚有餘寒，急需丙火溫暖，亦需癸水滋潤。
"Jia Wood in the first month: early spring still retains residual cold; it urgently requires Bing Fire for warmth, and also Gui Water for nourishment."
Insight: To achieve "Wealth and Nobility" (Qiong Tong), this specific combination of Fire and Water is required. Fire activates the life force, and Water sustains the growth.
正月甲木，初春尚有餘寒，急需丙火溫暖，亦需癸水滋潤。
釋義： 出生於正月的甲木（大樹），雖然春天已到但寒氣未除。最需要丙火（太陽）來解除寒凍，同時也需要癸水（雨露）來滋養根基，如此方能成材。
💡 Practical Application
Modern practitioners use Qiong Tong Bao Jian as the final arbiter of "Level" (Grade of Life). While Zi Ping Zhen Quan tells you what happens (e.g., "you get a promotion"), Qiong Tong Bao Jian tells you the quality of the life (e.g., "you are happy and healthy while doing it"). A chart with good structure but poor climate adjustment is often described as "Rich but suffering" or "Noble but lonely."
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🌡️ The Tiao Hou Method Explained (調候用神)
Tiao Hou (調候) literally means "adjusting the climate." It is the principle that a BaZi chart — like a living organism — must exist in an environment with the right temperature and moisture before any social structure (wealth, rank, relationships) can function.
The Three Priorities of Chart Assessment
- Tiao Hou (調候): Is the chart too cold or too hot? Fix climate first. — Qiong Tong Bao Jian
- Fu Yang Yi Shen (扶抑抑身): Is the Day Master too strong or too weak? Balance the self. — Di Tian Sui
- Ge Ju (格局): What social structure emerges from the Month Branch? — Zi Ping Zhen Quan
The QTBJ insists that Priority 1 always comes first. A frozen chart cannot produce wealth; a scorched chart cannot support health. Climate adjustment is the precondition for everything else.
The Logic of Seasonal Need
| Season | Months | Climate Problem | Universal Need | Key Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 冬 | 亥 Hài, 子 Zǐ, 丑 Chǒu | Frozen: Water at peak, everything congeals | Fire 火 to thaw | 丙 Bǐng (Sun) or 丁 Dīng (Lamp) |
| Summer 夏 | 巳 Sì, 午 Wǔ, 未 Wèi | Scorched: Fire at peak, everything dries up | Water 水 to cool | 壬 Rén (River) or 癸 Guǐ (Rain) |
| Spring 春 | 寅 Yín, 卯 Mǎo, 辰 Chén | Residual cold: tender Wood needs nurturing | Fire 火 to bloom + Water 水 to nourish | 丙 Bǐng Fire + 癸 Guǐ Water |
| Autumn 秋 | 申 Shēn, 酉 Yǒu, 戌 Xū | Dry and sharp: Metal dominates, cuts life force | Fire 火 to forge + Water 水 to polish | 丁 Dīng Fire (temper) + 壬 Rén Water (wash) |
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📊 Seasonal Element Needs: Jia Wood (甲木) Across 12 Months
The QTBJ provides a "cookbook recipe" for every Day Master in every month. Below is the complete prescription for Jia Wood (甲木) — the most commonly referenced Day Master in the text.
| Month | Branch | Season | Primary Need (用神) | Secondary | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | 寅 Yín | Early Spring | 丙 Bǐng Fire | 癸 Guǐ Water | Wood just awakening; needs Sun warmth + Rain nourishment |
| M2 | 卯 Mǎo | Mid Spring | 庚 Gēng Metal | 丙 Bǐng Fire | Wood at peak strength; needs the Metal axe to carve it into useful form |
| M3 | 辰 Chén | Late Spring | 庚 Gēng Metal | 壬 Rén Water | Earth season but Wood still has Qi; Metal for discipline, Water for life |
| M4 | 巳 Sì | Early Summer | 癸 Guǐ Water | 庚 Gēng Metal | Fire drains Wood urgently; Water prevents burning alive |
| M5 | 午 Wǔ | Mid Summer | 癸 Guǐ Water | 丁 Dīng Fire | Peak Fire; Water is critical. Without it: "Wood scorches to ash" |
| M6 | 未 Wèi | Late Summer | 癸 Guǐ Water | 庚 Gēng Metal | Hot dry Earth; Water first priority, Metal to produce Water |
| M7 | 申 Shēn | Early Autumn | 丁 Dīng Fire | 庚 Gēng Metal | Metal season attacks Wood; Ding Fire controls Metal as raw material |
| M8 | 酉 Yǒu | Mid Autumn | 丁 Dīng Fire | 丙 Bǐng Fire | Peak Metal; Wood under siege. Fire essential: "秋木凋零" (Autumn wood withers) |
| M9 | 戌 Xū | Late Autumn | 庚 Gēng Metal | 甲 Jiǎ Wood | Earth season; approaching winter. Metal to discipline, companion Wood for strength |
| M10 | 亥 Hài | Early Winter | 庚 Gēng Metal | 丁 Dīng Fire | Water season nourishes root; Metal to shape, Fire for warmth |
| M11 | 子 Zǐ | Mid Winter | 丁 Dīng Fire | 庚 Gēng Metal | Peak cold; Fire for warmth is critical. "寒木向陽" (Cold wood turns toward the sun) |
| M12 | 丑 Chǒu | Late Winter | 丁 Dīng Fire | 甲 Jiǎ Wood | Frozen earth; Ding Fire is the singular life-saving warmth |
Pattern Recognition: Notice that summer months (M4–M6) always need Water first, while winter months (M10–M12) always need Fire first. The transitional months (spring/autumn) need the element that shapes the wood (Metal) alongside temperature regulation. This is the QTBJ's "ecosystem logic" — survival before status.
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⚖️ The Great Debate: Xu Lewu vs. Ren Tieqiao
The Qiong Tong Bao Jian's importance has been fiercely debated by two of BaZi's greatest commentators:
Xu Lewu (徐樂吾) — Champion
The Republican-era scholar considered the QTBJ the "final arbiter" of chart quality. He annotated the text extensively in his work Qiong Tong Bao Jian Ping Zhu (窮通寶鑒評注), elevating it to one of the "Four Great Texts" of BaZi alongside Di Tian Sui, Zi Ping Zhen Quan, and San Ming Tong Hui.
His position: "The QTBJ tells you the grade of a person's life. A chart with perfect structure but terrible climate is like a noble who lives in misery."
Ren Tieqiao (任鐵樵) — Critic
The Qing Dynasty master who annotated the Di Tian Sui was more skeptical. He acknowledged the QTBJ's usefulness but warned against treating it as absolute law.
His position: "Tiao Hou is one consideration, not the only consideration. A chart born in winter with no Fire can still prosper if the Ge Ju (structure) is perfect. Do not be enslaved by temperature alone."
Modern Consensus
Contemporary practitioners generally hold that both masters are correct within their domains . The QTBJ excels at assessing the quality of life (happiness, health, comfort), while Ge Ju theory from Zi Ping Zhen Quan excels at predicting events (promotion, divorce, illness). The best analysis uses both: first check climate (Tiao Hou), then read structure (Ge Ju).
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💡 Famous Examples of Tiao Hou Application
Example 1: Winter Wood Saved by Fire (冬木得火)
Chart: Male, born December 1966 (Zǐ month)
Four Pillars: 丙午 / 庚子 / 甲寅 / 丁卯
QTBJ Prescription: "甲木生於子月，寒木向陽，丁火為先" — Jia Wood born in Zi month: cold wood turns toward the sun, Ding Fire is the first priority.
Assessment: Ding Fire ✓ at Hour Stem. Geng Metal ✓ at Month Stem. Bing Fire ✓ at Year Stem for additional warmth. Both prescribed elements present and transparent. Grade: Upper (上格) .
Outcome: Successful government administrator; known for warm personality — "寒木向陽，丁火照明" (cold wood turning to sun, Ding Fire illuminating).
命造： 男命，1966年12月（子月）
四柱： 丙午年 / 庚子月 / 甲寅日 / 丁卯時
寶鑒論斷： 甲木生於子月，寒木向陽，丁火為先，庚金為佐。丁火透出於時干✓，庚金透出於月干✓，丙火透出於年干增添暖意✓。調候用神齊備，為上格。
驗證： 命主仕途順利，官至行政高層，性格溫和，人緣極佳。
Example 2: Summer Wood Missing Water (夏木缺水)
Chart: Female, born June 1972 (Wèi month)
Four Pillars: 壬子 / 丁未 / 甲申 / 甲子
QTBJ Prescription: "癸水為先" — Gui Water (gentle rain) is the top priority to cool scorching summer Earth.
Assessment: No Gui Water visible. Ren Water at Year Stem partially substitutes, but the QTBJ specifically wants Gui (Yin Water, gentle rain) for nurturing Wood in hot months — Ren (Yang Water, the flood) is less ideal. Grade: Middle (中格) .
Outcome: Moderate career success but persistent health issues related to dehydration and heat. Health improved significantly after relocating to a cooler, wetter climate — a practical remedy for a Tiao Hou deficiency.
命造： 女命，1972年6月（未月）
四柱： 壬子年 / 丁未月 / 甲申日 / 甲子時
寶鑒論斷： 未月甲木，暑氣蒸騰，癸水為先。查四柱無癸水，僅有年干壬水代替，但壬為洪水，非雨露之功，調候不精，為中格。
驗證： 命主事業中等，但長期受熱性疾病困擾。後遷居涼爽濕潤之地，健康大為改善。此為以風水補命理調候不足之實例。
Example 3: The "Rich but Suffering" Chart (富而不樂)
Concept: A chart can have a perfect Wealth Structure (正財格成格) per Zi Ping Zhen Quan — predicting material success — yet have terrible Tiao Hou (born deep winter with no Fire).
QTBJ Verdict: "Rich but suffering" (富而不樂). The person accumulates wealth but is chronically ill, depressed, or isolated. The social structure functions (wealth flows), but the biological organism suffers (cold, no life force).
Modern Application: This is why experienced practitioners check Tiao Hou first . A person who is healthy and warm can endure poverty; a person who is sick and cold cannot enjoy riches.
概念： 一個命局如果按子平真詮的格局論法為正財格成格，預示財富豐厚；但若生於隆冬而四柱無火，調候全失。
寶鑒判斷： 「富而不樂」。此人能積累錢財，但身體虛寒，常年生病，性格孤僻。社會結構運作正常（財氣流通），但生命體本身受苦（寒凍無生機）。
現代啟示： 此所以資深命理師必先查調候。健康溫暖之人能忍受貧窮；體弱寒冷之人無法享受富貴。