San Ming Tong Hui (三命通會) , or "Comprehensive Discussions on the Three Destinies," is the encyclopedic magnum opus of the Ming Dynasty. Compiled by the scholar-official Wan Min Ying (萬民英) , it is the largest and most complete repository of BaZi knowledge in existence. It bridges the gap between ancient "Old Style" BaZi (pre-Zi Ping) and modern structural analysis, preserving techniques that would otherwise have been lost.
San Ming Tong Hui (三命通會)
The Comprehensive Compendium: The Encyclopedia of BaZi
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📜 Historical Context
Before Wan Min Ying, BaZi knowledge was fragmented across hundreds of disparate lineage texts. Wan Min Ying undertook the monumental task of collecting, editing, and verifying these texts, resulting in a 12-volume masterpiece. It was so highly regarded that the Qing Dynasty Emperor included it in the Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries), solidifying its status as an orthodox classic.
🔑 Core Methodology
1. The Na Yin System (納音)
Unlike modern BaZi which focuses mainly on the Ten Gods, San Ming Tong Hui preserves the Na Yin (Melodic Elements) system. This "Old Style" method assigns an elemental quality (like "Sea Gold" or "Lamp Fire") to each Pillar based on sound resonance theory. It reveals the "quality" of the element, not just its quantity.
2. The Year Pillar as Root
While modern BaZi centers on the Day Master, this classic emphasizes the Year Pillar as the "Grand Duke" and the root of ancestry. It argues that without a stable Year Pillar (ancestors/background), the Day Master cannot flourish.
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The 12 Stages of Life (十二長生)
San Ming Tong Hui provides the definitive descriptions for the 12 Phases of Qi, describing the lifecycle of an element:
| Stage | Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | 長生 (Chang Sheng) | New beginnings, vitality, purity. |
| Bath | 沐浴 (Mu Yu) | Vulnerability, romance, exposure, cleansing. |
| Youth | 冠帶 (Guan Dai) | Coming of age, dressing up, promotion. |
| Officer | 臨官 (Lin Guan) | Career peak, salary, official post. |
| Peak | 帝旺 (Di Wang) | Maximum power, danger of decline (Yang Extreme). |
| Decline | 衰 (Shuai) | Fading energy, retirement, wisdom. |
| Sickness | 病 (Bing) | Weakness, hidden issues, worry. |
| Death | 死 (Si) | Stillness, lack of activity, inflexible. |
| Grave | 墓 (Mu) | Storage, accumulation, hiding, miserly. |
| Extinction | 絕 (Jue) | Complete end, emptiness, danger. |
| Embryo | 胎 (Tai) | Conception, weak hope, fragile beginning. |
| Nourish | 養 (Yang) | Gestation, preparation, dependence. |
The Star Gods (神煞)
This classic is the primary source for the "Shen Sha" or Symbolic Stars. While Ren Tie Qiao (in Di Tian Sui ) dismissed them, Wan Min Ying cataloged them meticulously. Famous stars include:
- Nobleman (Tian Yi Gui Ren): The ultimate help star.
- Peach Blossom (Tao Hua): Romance and social attraction.
- Traveling Horse (Yi Ma): Movement, migration, and change.
- Academic Star (Wen Chang): Intelligence and literary success.
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The Generation of Five Elements (論五行生成)
五行一陰陽，五殊二實，無欠無餘。氣形於天，質具於地。
"The Five Elements are simply the One Yin and Yang; though five in distinction, they are two in essence, lacking nothing and having no excess. Qi takes form in Heaven; Substance is provided on Earth."
Insight: BaZi is the study of how celestial energy (Qi) manifests into physical life (Substance). Every individual is a unique combination of this universal flow.
五行一陰陽，五殊二實，無欠無餘。氣形於天，質具於地。
釋義： 所謂五行，實質上就是陰陽二氣的不同演化。雖然名目有五種，但本質上是一體的造化。無形的氣在天上流行，有形的質在地上化育。
The Preservation of the Old Method
Unlike the modern Zi Ping focus on the Day Master, San Ming Tong Hui preserves the earlier focus on the Year Pillar and the Na Yin (Melodic Elements) . It teaches that the Year is the "Root" of the family bloodline, and cannot be ignored even in modern structural analysis.
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The San Ming (三命) Framework — The Three Fates
三命者，禄命、身命、命也。三者合参，方得其全。
"The Three Fates are: Salary Fate, Body Fate, and Destiny. Only by examining all three together can one arrive at the complete picture."
三命者，禄命、身命、命也。三者合参，方得其全。
釋義： 所謂「三命」，即祿命、身命、命三個層面。只有將三者合在一起參看，才能得到完整的命運判斷。
The term San Ming (三命) literally means "Three Fates" or "Three Destinies." It represents one of the oldest systematic frameworks in Chinese fate-calculation (命理學), predating the modern Zi Ping (子平) method by several centuries. The San Ming system identifies three distinct but interlocking layers of fate:
The Three Layers of Fate
- 禄命 Lù Mìng (Salary Fate / Emolument Destiny) — A person's material fortune, career rank, and worldly prosperity. In imperial China, 禄 (lù) specifically meant the salary or grain stipend granted to officials. Primarily derived from the Year Pillar (年柱) and the relationship between the Year Stem and natal nobility stars (貴人).
- 身命 Shēn Mìng (Body Fate / Physical Destiny) — The person's physical constitution, health, longevity, and bodily experiences. Draws heavily on the 12 Life Stages (十二長生) and the Na Yin (納音) five-element quality of the birth year.
- 命 Mìng (Destiny / Core Fate) — The broadest layer encompassing the totality of a person's life trajectory: fundamental character, overarching life narrative, ultimate achievements and failures. The integrative layer where all pillars, stars, and elemental relationships are synthesized.
San Ming vs Zi Ping: The Fundamental Comparison
The critical distinction between San Ming and the modern Zi Ping method is one of focal point . Understanding where each system "looks" is essential for any serious student of BaZi:
| Aspect | San Ming (三命) Tradition | Zi Ping (子平) Modern Method |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Pillar | Year Pillar (年柱) | Day Pillar (日柱) |
| Identity of Self | Year Stem/Branch = the person | Day Master (日主) = the person |
| Primary Element System | Na Yin (納音) Five Elements | Heavenly Stem (天干) Five Elements |
| Star System | Heavy reliance on Shen Sha (神煞) — hundreds of symbolic stars | Reduced Shen Sha; emphasis on Ten Gods (十神) |
| Formation Basis | Noble stars, Na Yin patterns, positional/symbolic | Ten Gods relationships, elemental balance |
| Period of Dominance | Han Dynasty through early Song (~200 BCE – 1000 CE) | Song Dynasty onward (~1000 CE – present) |
| Key Classical Text | 三命通會 San Ming Tong Hui | 淵海子平 Yuan Hai Zi Ping |
| Strengths | Cosmic context, nobility patterns, Na Yin compatibility | Precision, mechanism, year-by-year timing |
💡 The Philosophical Root
The San Ming system is rooted in a cosmological worldview where Heaven (天) determines rank and nobility, Earth (地) determines material resources, and Man (人) navigates between these two forces. The Year Pillar — representing the grand celestial cycle at birth — was seen as the most "heavenly" of the pillars and therefore the most authoritative regarding a person's fundamental cosmic station. This is why the 禄命法 (Lù Mìng Fǎ / Emolument-Fate Method) focused almost exclusively on the Year Pillar: it was reading Heaven's assignment for the individual.
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Historical Development — From Lu Ming to Four Pillars
The San Ming tradition spans over two millennia, evolving through four major phases. Understanding this lineage illuminates why San Ming Tong Hui preserves techniques that might otherwise seem obsolete.
Phase 1: The Ancient Lu Ming System (禄命法) — Year Pillar Era
Period: Han Dynasty through Tang Dynasty (~200 BCE – 700 CE)
The earliest known systematic fate-calculation in China was the 禄命法 (Lù Mìng Fǎ) , the "Emolument-Fate Method." This system used only the Year Pillar , relied on Na Yin five elements, employed an extensive catalogue of Shen Sha (symbolic stars), and assessed a person's rank, wealth, and longevity primarily through the Year Stem-Branch combination. It was essentially a lookup method : given your year of birth, consult tables of noble stars, Na Yin elements, and cosmic patterns. Elegant but limited — two people born in the same year would receive nearly identical readings.
Phase 2: Li Xuzhong (李虛中) — The Tang Dynasty Revolution
Li Xuzhong (approximately 761–813 CE) was a Tang Dynasty official credited with the monumental innovation of expanding analysis from one pillar to three pillars : Year, Month, and Day. The famous literary giant Han Yu (韓愈) wrote Li Xuzhong's epitaph, praising his astonishing accuracy using the "three pillars of year, month, and day."
Key Contributions of Li Xuzhong
- Added the Month Pillar (月柱) — introducing seasonal and climatic influence
- Added the Day Pillar (日柱) — introducing individual-day specificity
- Still used Na Yin as the primary element system
- Still regarded the Year Pillar as the most important
- Dramatically increased predictive granularity: people born in the same year but different months/days would now receive distinct readings
Phase 3: Xu Ziping (徐子平) — The Song Dynasty Paradigm Shift
Xu Ziping (approximately late 10th century CE) , a reclusive scholar of the Northern Song Dynasty, is traditionally credited with two transformative innovations that would define modern BaZi:
- Adding the Hour Pillar (時柱) — completing the Four Pillars (四柱)
- Shifting the analytical center from the Year Pillar to the Day Master (日主) — the Heavenly Stem of the Day Pillar
This second innovation was revolutionary. By making the Day Stem the "self," Xu Ziping created the Ten Gods (十神) relational system that defines modern BaZi. The system named after him — Zi Ping Fa (子平法) — gradually became the dominant methodology from the Song Dynasty onward. However, the older San Ming traditions did not disappear; they continued to be practiced and synthesized alongside the new method.
Phase 4: Wan Minying (萬民英) — The Ming Dynasty Grand Synthesis
Wan Minying (approximately 1521–1603 CE) was a Ming Dynasty scholar-official whose magnum opus, the 三命通會 , completed around 1578 CE, represents the most ambitious attempt in Chinese history to synthesize all existing fate-calculation traditions into a single comprehensive work .
Why the Grand Synthesis Matters
Wan Minying's approach was encyclopedic: he preserved the ancient Lu Ming methods, the Na Yin system, the extensive Shen Sha catalogues, AND the newer Zi Ping Ten Gods system, all within a single reference. His stated goal was not to choose one over the other but to demonstrate that all approaches had merit when properly understood and applied . This is why San Ming Tong Hui is simultaneously a museum of ancient methods and a practical manual for synthesis .
📜 The Complete Lineage at a Glance
禄命法 (Lu Ming Fa) ← Oldest tradition (Han–Tang)
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李虛中命書 (Li Xuzhong) ← Three-Pillar expansion (Tang)
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淵海子平 (Yuan Hai Zi Ping) ← Zi Ping revolution (Song)
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三命通會 (San Ming Tong Hui) 神峰通考 (Shen Feng Tong Kao)
[Grand Synthesis] [Illness–Medicine Method]
↓ ↓
滴天髓 (Di Tian Sui) 窮通寶鑒 (Qiong Tong Bao Jian)
[Philosophical Apex] [Practical Reference]
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Na Yin (納音) Integration — The Heart of San Ming Analysis
Na Yin (納音) is a system that assigns one of 30 poetic five-element images to each pair of Jia Zi combinations, resulting in 30 unique Na Yin for the 60 Jia Zi cycle. In the San Ming tradition, Na Yin was the primary element system — not merely supplementary but the very foundation of chart analysis. San Ming Tong Hui devotes its entire Volume Three (卷三) to Na Yin theory, signaling Wan Minying's belief in this system's analytical value.
Na Yin: Qualitative vs Quantitative Elements
The key difference: Na Yin provides qualitative elements. "Sea Gold" (海中金 Hǎi Zhōng Jīn) behaves differently from "Sword-Edge Gold" (劍鋒金 Jiàn Fēng Jīn) — the former is hidden and potential, the latter is sharp and cutting. Standard Zi Ping five elements are quantitative — you have more or less of each element, and balance is the key concern. Na Yin asks not "how much Metal?" but " what kind of Metal?"
Sample Na Yin Assignments (Partial Table)
| Jia Zi Pair | Na Yin Element | Poetic Image | Quality Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 甲子 (Jiǎ Zǐ), 乙丑 (Yǐ Chǒu) | 金 Metal | 海中金 Hǎi Zhōng Jīn — Gold in the Sea | Hidden wealth, latent potential, treasure beneath the waves |
| 丙寅 (Bǐng Yín), 丁卯 (Dīng Mǎo) | 火 Fire | 爐中火 Lú Zhōng Huǒ — Fire in the Furnace | Contained, productive, transformative heat |
| 戊辰 (Wù Chén), 己巳 (Jǐ Sì) | 木 Wood | 大林木 Dà Lín Mù — Great Forest Wood | Vast, sheltering, community-oriented growth |
| 庚午 (Gēng Wǔ), 辛未 (Xīn Wèi) | 土 Earth | 路旁土 Lù Páng Tǔ — Roadside Earth | Exposed, enduring, associated with pathways and journeys |
| 壬申 (Rén Shēn), 癸酉 (Guǐ Yǒu) | 金 Metal | 劍鋒金 Jiàn Fēng Jīn — Sword-Edge Gold | Sharp, decisive, cutting, martial in nature |
How Na Yin Functions in San Ming Chart Analysis
San Ming Na Yin Reading Method
- Determine Year Pillar Na Yin: This is the person's "root identity." A person born in a 甲子 year carries the Na Yin of "Sea Gold" — this is their fundamental elemental essence, not merely a secondary attribute.
- Map Na Yin of All Four Pillars: Check whether the Na Yin elements across all pillars form generating cycles (相生 — smooth life) or clashing cycles (相克 — obstacles and reversals).
- Apply 12 Life Stages to Na Yin: Check where the Na Yin element of the Year Pillar falls in the 12 Life Stages relative to each Branch. Is the natal element at 長生 (Birth), 帝旺 (Zenith), or 墓 (Tomb)?
- Read the Poetic Imagery: "Sea Gold" behaves differently from "Sword-Edge Gold." Let the imagery guide understanding of personality and fate quality.
Na Yin in Modern Zi Ping: The Decline
In the modern Zi Ping system, Na Yin has been largely reduced to a supplementary role. Most contemporary practitioners either ignore it entirely or use it only for quick personality sketches. The primary analysis is conducted through the Heavenly Stem five elements and the Ten Gods. San Ming Tong Hui stands as a reminder that this ancient system once carried primary analytical weight — and many practitioners argue it still reveals insights that standard Zi Ping misses, particularly regarding the quality and character of elemental energy rather than its mere quantity.
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Key Chapters Reference — The Twelve Volumes (十二卷)
San Ming Tong Hui is organized into twelve volumes (卷) , each addressing a major topic area. This systematic progression — from fundamental elements to derived systems to practical application — makes it both a reference encyclopedia and a structured textbook.
| Volume | Title | Content Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 卷一 | 論天干 (Lùn Tiān Gān) | Comprehensive theory of the 10 Heavenly Stems — qualities, interactions, combinations (合), clashes (冲), and elemental transformations |
| 卷二 | 論地支 (Lùn Dì Zhī) | Theory of the 12 Earthly Branches — hidden stems (藏干), three harmonies (三合), six harmonies (六合), penalties (刑), clashes, and harms (害) |
| 卷三 | 論納音 (Lùn Nà Yīn) | Detailed treatment of the 60 Na Yin five-element assignments, their imagery, and application in fate analysis |
| 卷四 | 論神煞 (Lùn Shén Shā) | Comprehensive catalogue of symbolic stars — hundreds of Shen Sha with derivation, meaning, and practical application |
| 卷五 | 總論格局 (Zǒng Lùn Gé Jú) | Overview of all major formations/patterns — both San Ming and Zi Ping classifications |
| 卷六–卷九 | 分論格局 (Fēn Lùn Gé Jú) | Detailed analysis of specific formations: Regular (正格), Special (特殊格), and Miscellaneous (雜格) |
| 卷十 | 論大運流年 (Lùn Dà Yùn Liú Nián) | Luck Pillars (大運) and Annual Pillars (流年) — timing methods and predictive techniques |
| 卷十一 | 論女命 (Lùn Nǚ Mìng) | Female destiny analysis — specific rules, patterns, and case studies for women's charts |
| 卷十二 | 論小兒命 (Lùn Xiǎo Ér Mìng) | Children's destiny analysis — early life prediction, childhood health, and developmental patterns |
Why San Ming Tong Hui Is the Most Comprehensive Classical BaZi Reference
- Encyclopedic Scope: No other single text covers Na Yin, Shen Sha, Ten Gods, formation theory, timing methods, and specialized topics (women, children) all in one work.
- Historical Preservation: Wan Minying quotes extensively from texts now lost. Many ancient formulas survive only because he included them.
- Imperial Endorsement: Included in the 四庫全書 (Sì Kù Quán Shū / Complete Library of the Four Treasuries) — the Qing Dynasty imperial library project.
- Bridging Function: The only text that deliberately looks backward AND forward — preserving the ancient San Ming worldview while documenting the modern Zi Ping method.
Companion Classical Texts
San Ming Tong Hui is best studied alongside these related classical works:
- 淵海子平 Yuān Hǎi Zǐ Píng: The foundational Zi Ping text. Introduces the Ten Gods system. Contains both early Zi Ping teachings and remnants of the older San Ming tradition.
- 神峰通考 Shén Fēng Tōng Kǎo: Famous for the 病藥法 (illness-and-medicine method) — the chart's imbalance is the "illness," the correcting element is the "medicine." A more mature Zi Ping approach.
- 滴天髓 Dī Tiān Suǐ: The most philosophically profound BaZi text. Emphasizes essence (體) and function (用) of the Day Master. The theoretical apex of Day Master-centered analysis.
- 窮通寶鑒 Qióng Tōng Bǎo Jiàn: Organizes analysis by Day Master element + Birth Month combinations. Extremely practical — essentially a lookup reference for chart assessment.
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The Six-Step San Ming Reading Method
Wan Minying's San Ming Tong Hui provides a sequential analytical methodology — distinct from modern Zi Ping's Day Master-centered approach. The following six steps synthesize the core process as used by classical practitioners:
- Step 1 — Identify the Year Pillar Na Yin (年柱納音)
Determine the Na Yin element of the birth year. This is the person's "root identity" in the San Ming framework — their fundamental elemental essence, not a secondary attribute. A person born in a 甲子 year is, at the deepest level, "Sea Gold" (海中金) — hidden wealth, latent potential. - Step 2 — Map Na Yin Across All Four Pillars
Determine the Na Yin for all four pillars. Check whether these Na Yin elements form generating cycles (相生 Xiāng Shēng — harmonious life flow) or controlling cycles (相克 Xiāng Kè — conflict, obstacles, and reversals). This Na Yin-to-Na Yin relationship reveals the fundamental quality of life's various spheres. - Step 3 — Apply 12 Life Stages to the Year Pillar Na Yin
Apply the 12 Life Stages (十二長生) to the Year Pillar's Na Yin element across all four Branches. Is the person's natal element at 長生 (Birth), 帝旺 (Zenith), or 墓 (Tomb) in key chart positions? The Life Stage of the natal Na Yin in the Day Branch reveals conditions of the spouse palace; in the Month Branch, the career sphere. - Step 4 — Assess Noble Star Placement (貴人 Guì Rén)
Determine whether 天乙貴人 and other noble stars appear in the Month Pillar (career palace), Hour Pillar (children/achievement palace), or Day Branch (spouse palace). Their position determines WHERE in life the native receives cosmic support. Tian Yi Gui Ren by Heavenly Stem: 甲戊庚→丑未, 乙己→子申, 丙丁→亥酉, 壬癸→卯巳, 辛→午寅. - Step 5 — Examine San Ming Formations
Identify any San Ming-specific formations: Na Yin-based patterns (quality interactions between Na Yin elements across pillars), Shen Sha-based formations (合 combinations, 禄 Salary patterns, 馬 Post Horse configurations), Lu formations (salary-fate patterns from Year Stem and noble stars), and Gui formations (nobility indicators from 天乙 positions). - Step 6 — Synthesize with Zi Ping Analysis
Wan Minying himself advocated synthesis. After completing the San Ming analysis, conduct a standard Zi Ping analysis (Day Master strength, Ten Gods, modern formations) and compare. Where both methods agree, analytical confidence is high. Where they diverge, examine which system better explains known life facts. The San Ming will often reveal the cosmic quality and nobility context that Zi Ping captures as mechanism and elemental balance.
When to Use San Ming vs Modern Zi Ping
- Use San Ming when: analyzing historical charts (pre-Song Dynasty), assessing nobility/rank potential, examining Na Yin compatibility for marriage, understanding the broader cosmic context of a birth year, or when modern Zi Ping analysis produces ambiguous results.
- Use Zi Ping when: performing detailed year-by-year timing analysis, assessing specific Ten Gods dynamics, analyzing modern career/relationship questions, or when precise Day Master strength assessment is needed.
- Use Both when: maximum analytical depth is desired, when teaching the full breadth of Chinese fate-calculation, or when one method alone fails to explain life events.
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San Ming Case Studies — Applied Methodology
The following cases illustrate San Ming methodology in practice, drawn from classical examples in San Ming Tong Hui (Volume 9) and traditional practitioner records. Each demonstrates how the Year Pillar, Na Yin, and Shen Sha interact to reveal patterns invisible to the standard Zi Ping approach.
Case 5: Comparative Reading — Same Chart with San Ming and Zi Ping
Chart: Female born in 甲子 (jiǎ zǐ) Year, 丁丑 (dīng chǒu) Month, 壬寅 (rén yín) Day, 辛亥 (xīn hài) Hour
| Aspect | San Ming Reading | Zi Ping Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Elemental Foundation | Year Na Yin: 海中金 (Hǎi Zhōng Jīn / Gold in the Sea) — hidden wealth, potential not yet realized, treasure beneath the waves | Day Master: 壬 (Rén / Yang Water) sitting on 寅 — Long Life stage for Water. Strong Day Master with productive attributes. |
| Noble Stars | 天乙貴人: From Year Stem 甲, falls at 丑 (chǒu) — Month Branch IS 丑 = "Nobility aids the career sphere" | Month Stem 丁 = Zheng Cai (正財 / Direct Wealth); Year Stem 甲 = Shi Shen (食神 / Eating God) |
| Assessment | Wealth is hidden but noble support exists. Life will feel like potential waiting to be unlocked. When the right Luck Pillar brings 巳 (activating Wen Chang Literary Star from 甲), the treasure emerges. | A capable person who earns wealth through skill and output (Food God generates Wealth). Seal (Hour Pillar) provides late-life wisdom and support. |
| Key Insight | San Ming emphasizes the HIDDEN and LATENT nature of wealth — the poetic image of Sea Gold (buried treasure) shapes the entire reading. It activates only under specific celestial conditions. | Zi Ping identifies the MECHANISM of wealth creation (Food God → Wealth) without the qualitative, imagery-based insight into timing and readiness. |
Both analyses reach a broadly compatible conclusion — wealth comes but requires activation — through entirely different analytical paths. Where they agree, analytical confidence is high. Where they diverge, San Ming often reveals the quality and cosmic timing that Zi Ping's structural analysis misses.
Case 7: Marriage Compatibility — Year Pillar Na Yin Matching
Couple: Husband born 甲子 (jiǎ zǐ) year; Wife born 丁卯 (dīng mǎo) year
San Ming Marriage Analysis
- Husband's Year Na Yin: 海中金 (Hǎi Zhōng Jīn / Gold in the Sea) — Metal
- Wife's Year Na Yin: 爐中火 (Lú Zhōng Huǒ / Fire in the Furnace) — Fire
- Na Yin Interaction: Fire controls Metal (火克金). On the surface: destructive. However, San Ming applies nuance — 海中金 (Sea Gold) is submerged and protected by water. Furnace Fire cannot easily reach gold buried beneath the ocean. The clash is theoretical rather than devastating in practical life.
- Year Branch Interaction: 子 (zǐ) and 卯 (mǎo) form a 刑 (Xíng / Penalty) relationship — the "Unkindness Penalty" (無禮之刑 Wú Lǐ Zhī Xíng). This suggests occasional disrespect or breaches of propriety between spouses.
- San Ming Verdict: Compatible at the deep level (Na Yin clash softened by imagery); periodic surface conflicts arise from the Branch penalty. Not ideal, but functional — a marriage that endures through understanding its patterns.
Modern Zi Ping compatibility analysis would examine the Day Pillars of both individuals and their Ten Gods relationships — ignoring Na Yin entirely, thereby missing the qualitative texture revealed here.
Case 8: San Ming Grand Cycle Theory — Historical Disaster Year (庚子)
The San Ming tradition applies Na Yin analysis not only to individuals but to collective fate — reading the annual pillar as an indicator of social and epidemiological patterns across the population. This is a fundamentally different application from personal chart reading.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Year Analyzed | 庚子 (Gēng Zǐ) — Year 37 of the 60 Jiǎ Zǐ cycle |
| Na Yin | 壁上土 (Bì Shàng Tǔ / Earth on the Wall) — fragile, superficial stability. The image: Wall Earth appears solid but is thin and vulnerable to water and wind. A veneer of civilization masking structural fragility. |
| Shen Sha Indicators | 子 triggers 桃花 (Peach Blossom) for 酉-year birth groups — emotional and relational upheaval. 庚 carries 白虎 (Bái Hǔ / White Tiger) energy — associated with illness, mourning, and metal-related violence. |
| Historical Pattern | Classical practitioners noted that 庚子 years historically correlated with epidemics, political upheavals, and societal restructuring: — 1840 CE: Opium War (First Sino-British War begins) — 1900 CE: Boxer Rebellion and foreign invasion of Beijing — 1960 CE: Great Famine — 2020 CE: COVID-19 pandemic The Wall Earth imagery (裂缝) — crumbling infrastructure, fragile social order — recurs. |
| Methodological Note | San Ming grand cycle prediction reads the Na Yin element and imagery of the annual pillar as a collective indicator, not an individual one. This is the system's most distinctive predictive application and one of its most striking achievements when historically validated. |