📘 Comprehensive Reference — Shù (术) Branch: Divination & Calculation
Na Yin (纳音) , literally "Harmonized Sound" or "Absorbed Tone," is an ancient Chinese metaphysical system that assigns a secondary Five Element quality to each of the 60 pillars in the 六十甲子 (Liù Shí Jiǎ Zǐ / Sixty Jia Zi) cycle. Unlike the standard method — where the element of a pillar is determined solely by its Heavenly Stem — Na Yin considers the combined resonance of both the Stem and Branch together, producing a qualitative "harmonic" element that describes the nature, texture, and strength of that pillar's energy. The system maps each consecutive pair of Jia Zi pillars to one of 30 distinct Na Yin elements , each carrying a vivid poetic image from sword-edge gold to ocean water, from thunderbolt fire to roadside earth.
"纳音者，天地之和声也。知其声，则知其命。" — "Na Yin is the harmonized sound of Heaven and Earth. Know its sound, and you know the destiny." — Attributed to 鬼谷子 (Guǐ Gǔ Zǐ)
✦ ◆ ✦
Module 1: What Is Na Yin? — 纳音概述 (Nà Yīn Gài Shù)
1.1 Origin and Historical Development
Na Yin is attributed to 鬼谷子 (Guǐ Gǔ Zǐ / Master of Ghost Valley) , the legendary Warring States period strategist, though the system was formally codified during the Tang Dynasty by 李虚中 (Lǐ Xū Zhōng) , who is widely considered the father of BaZi (八字) analysis. Li Xuzhong's method used three pillars (Year, Month, Day) and relied heavily on Na Yin for fortune reading — placing the Year Pillar Na Yin as the primary life element (本命纳音 Běn Mìng Nà Yīn).
It was only later, during the Song Dynasty, when 徐子平 (Xú Zǐ Píng) shifted the focus to the Day Master (日主 Rì Zhǔ) and the standard stem-based Five Element analysis that Na Yin was gradually de-emphasized in mainstream BaZi practice. However, Na Yin never disappeared. It remained a central tool in:
- 盲派 (Máng Pài / Blindman School) BaZi — where oral transmission preserved Na Yin mnemonics
- 阴宅风水 (Yīn Zhái Fēng Shuǐ) — burial Feng Shui, where Na Yin determines mountain compatibility
- 择日 (Zé Rì) — date selection, particularly for weddings and funerals
- 紫微斗数 (Zǐ Wēi Dǒu Shù) — Purple Star Astrology, for Life Palace calculation
- 民间命理 (Mín Jiān Mìng Lǐ) — folk fortune-telling traditions across China
1.2 How Na Yin Differs from Standard Five Elements
The standard method derives an element from the Heavenly Stem alone — 甲 and 乙 are Wood, 丙 and 丁 are Fire, and so on. This yields only 10 variations (five elements × Yin/Yang polarity). Na Yin, by contrast, considers the combined resonance of both Stem and Branch together, producing 30 unique element-types — each with a vivid poetic image describing its specific quality, magnitude, and environmental context.
| Aspect | Standard Stem Element (正五行) | Na Yin Element (纳音五行) |
|---|
| Derived from | Heavenly Stem alone | Stem + Branch combination |
| Number of types | 10 (5 elements × Yin/Yang) | 30 unique types |
| Quality information | Element + polarity only | Element + nature + magnitude |
| Primary era | Song Dynasty onward (Zi Ping method) | Tang Dynasty origin, still in use |
| Analytical layer | Structural / dynamic | Qualitative / environmental |
| Typical application | Day Master strength, Ten Gods | Year Pillar life element, compatibility, Feng Shui |
The Na Yin system does not replace standard analysis — it supplements it. For example, both 大海水 (Dà Hǎi Shuǐ / Water of the Great Sea) and 涧下水 (Jiàn Xià Shuǐ / Water Under the Stream) are Water, but their character is radically different — one is vast and overwhelming, the other gentle and hidden. This qualitative power is unique to Na Yin.
✦ ◆ ✦
Module 2: Complete Na Yin Table — 六十甲子纳音总表 (Liù Shí Jiǎ Zǐ Nà Yīn Zǒng Biǎo)
The following tables present all 30 Na Yin elements mapped to the 60 Jia Zi cycle. Each entry represents one Na Yin designation shared by a consecutive pair of pillars, organized by element.
金 (Jīn / Metal) — Six Types
| # | Jia Zi Pair (Chinese) | Pinyin | Na Yin Name (Chinese) | Pinyin | English Translation | Element |
|---|
| 1 | 甲子 / 乙丑 | Jiǎ Zǐ / Yǐ Chǒu | 海中金 | Hǎi Zhōng Jīn | Gold in the Sea | 金 Metal |
| 2 | 壬申 / 癸酉 | Rén Shēn / Guǐ Yǒu | 剑锋金 | Jiàn Fēng Jīn | Sword-Edge Gold | 金 Metal |
| 3 | 庚辰 / 辛巳 | Gēng Chén / Xīn Sì | 白蜡金 | Bái Là Jīn | White Wax Gold | 金 Metal |
| 4 | 甲午 / 乙未 | Jiǎ Wǔ / Yǐ Wèi | 沙中金 | Shā Zhōng Jīn | Gold in the Sand | 金 Metal |
| 5 | 壬寅 / 癸卯 | Rén Yín / Guǐ Mǎo | 金箔金 | Jīn Bó Jīn | Gold Leaf Gold | 金 Metal |
| 6 | 庚戌 / 辛亥 | Gēng Xū / Xīn Hài | 钗钏金 | Chāi Chuàn Jīn | Hairpin Gold | 金 Metal |
木 (Mù / Wood) — Six Types
| # | Jia Zi Pair (Chinese) | Pinyin | Na Yin Name (Chinese) | Pinyin | English Translation | Element |
|---|
| 7 | 戊辰 / 己巳 | Wù Chén / Jǐ Sì | 大林木 | Dà Lín Mù | Wood of the Great Forest | 木 Wood |
| 8 | 壬午 / 癸未 | Rén Wǔ / Guǐ Wèi | 杨柳木 | Yáng Liǔ Mù | Willow Wood | 木 Wood |
| 9 | 庚寅 / 辛卯 | Gēng Yín / Xīn Mǎo | 松柏木 | Sōng Bǎi Mù | Pine and Cypress Wood | 木 Wood |
| 10 | 戊戌 / 己亥 | Wù Xū / Jǐ Hài | 平地木 | Píng Dì Mù | Wood of the Plains | 木 Wood |
| 11 | 壬子 / 癸丑 | Rén Zǐ / Guǐ Chǒu | 桑柘木 | Sāng Zhè Mù | Mulberry Wood | 木 Wood |
| 12 | 庚申 / 辛酉 | Gēng Shēn / Xīn Yǒu | 石榴木 | Shí Liú Mù | Pomegranate Wood | 木 Wood |
水 (Shuǐ / Water) — Six Types
| # | Jia Zi Pair (Chinese) | Pinyin | Na Yin Name (Chinese) | Pinyin | English Translation | Element |
|---|
| 13 | 丙子 / 丁丑 | Bǐng Zǐ / Dīng Chǒu | 涧下水 | Jiàn Xià Shuǐ | Water Under the Stream | 水 Water |
| 14 | 甲申 / 乙酉 | Jiǎ Shēn / Yǐ Yǒu | 泉中水 | Quán Zhōng Shuǐ | Water in the Spring | 水 Water |
| 15 | 壬辰 / 癸巳 | Rén Chén / Guǐ Sì | 长流水 | Cháng Liú Shuǐ | Long-Flowing Water | 水 Water |
| 16 | 丙午 / 丁未 | Bǐng Wǔ / Dīng Wèi | 天河水 | Tiān Hé Shuǐ | Heavenly River Water | 水 Water |
| 17 | 甲寅 / 乙卯 | Jiǎ Yín / Yǐ Mǎo | 大溪水 | Dà Xī Shuǐ | Water of the Great Stream | 水 Water |
| 18 | 壬戌 / 癸亥 | Rén Xū / Guǐ Hài | 大海水 | Dà Hǎi Shuǐ | Water of the Great Sea | 水 Water |
火 (Huǒ / Fire) — Six Types
| # | Jia Zi Pair (Chinese) | Pinyin | Na Yin Name (Chinese) | Pinyin | English Translation | Element |
|---|
| 19 | 丙寅 / 丁卯 | Bǐng Yín / Dīng Mǎo | 炉中火 | Lú Zhōng Huǒ | Fire in the Furnace | 火 Fire |
| 20 | 甲戌 / 乙亥 | Jiǎ Xū / Yǐ Hài | 山头火 | Shān Tóu Huǒ | Fire on the Mountain Top | 火 Fire |
| 21 | 戊子 / 己丑 | Wù Zǐ / Jǐ Chǒu | 霹雳火 | Pī Lì Huǒ | Thunderbolt Fire | 火 Fire |
| 22 | 丙申 / 丁酉 | Bǐng Shēn / Dīng Yǒu | 山下火 | Shān Xià Huǒ | Fire at the Foot of the Mountain | 火 Fire |
| 23 | 甲辰 / 乙巳 | Jiǎ Chén / Yǐ Sì | 覆灯火 | Fù Dēng Huǒ | Lantern Fire | 火 Fire |
| 24 | 戊午 / 己未 | Wù Wǔ / Jǐ Wèi | 天上火 | Tiān Shàng Huǒ | Fire in the Sky | 火 Fire |
土 (Tǔ / Earth) — Six Types
| # | Jia Zi Pair (Chinese) | Pinyin | Na Yin Name (Chinese) | Pinyin | English Translation | Element |
|---|
| 25 | 庚午 / 辛未 | Gēng Wǔ / Xīn Wèi | 路旁土 | Lù Páng Tǔ | Earth by the Roadside | 土 Earth |
| 26 | 戊寅 / 己卯 | Wù Yín / Jǐ Mǎo | 城头土 | Chéng Tóu Tǔ | Earth on the City Wall | 土 Earth |
| 27 | 丙戌 / 丁亥 | Bǐng Xū / Dīng Hài | 屋上土 | Wū Shàng Tǔ | Earth on the Roof | 土 Earth |
| 28 | 庚子 / 辛丑 | Gēng Zǐ / Xīn Chǒu | 壁上土 | Bì Shàng Tǔ | Earth on the Wall | 土 Earth |
| 29 | 戊申 / 己酉 | Wù Shēn / Jǐ Yǒu | 大驿土 | Dà Yì Tǔ | Earth of the Great Post Road | 土 Earth |
| 30 | 丙辰 / 丁巳 | Bǐng Chén / Dīng Sì | 沙中土 | Shā Zhōng Tǔ | Earth in the Sand | 土 Earth |
Classical Mnemonic Verse — 口诀 (Kǒu Jué)
盲派口诀 — Blindman School Oral Mnemonic
Blind fortune-tellers memorized the following verse completely, allowing them to instantly identify the Na Yin for any year, month, day, or hour pillar spoken to them — a remarkable feat of oral tradition:
甲子乙丑海中金，丙寅丁卯炉中火。
戊辰己巳大林木，庚午辛未路旁土。
壬申癸酉剑锋金，甲戌乙亥山头火。
丙子丁丑涧下水，戊寅己卯城头土。
庚辰辛巳白蜡金，壬午癸未杨柳木。
甲申乙酉泉中水，丙戌丁亥屋上土。
戊子己丑霹雳火，庚寅辛卯松柏木。
壬辰癸巳长流水，甲午乙未沙中金。
丙申丁酉山下火，戊戌己亥平地木。
庚子辛丑壁上土，壬寅癸卯金箔金。
甲辰乙巳覆灯火，丙午丁未天河水。
戊申己酉大驿土，庚戌辛亥钗钏金。
壬子癸丑桑柘木，甲寅乙卯大溪水。
丙辰丁巳沙中土，戊午己未天上火。
庚申辛酉石榴木，壬戌癸亥大海水。
✦ ◆ ✦
Module 3: Theoretical Basis — 纳音理论基础 (Nà Yīn Lǐ Lùn Jī Chǔ)
3.1 The Mathematical Derivation
Na Yin assignment is not arbitrary. It follows a precise mathematical formula rooted in 先天八卦 (Xiān Tiān Bā Guà / Pre-Heaven Trigram) numerology and the 洛书 (Luò Shū / Luo Shu Magic Square).
The derivation process involves assigning numerical values to each Heavenly Stem (1–10) and each Earthly Branch (1–12), then combining them through a formula related to the Pre-Heaven Numbers (先天数 Xiān Tiān Shù). The Pairing Principle (纳音配对原则) states that each consecutive Yang–Yin stem pair (甲乙, 丙丁, 戊己, 庚辛, 壬癸) with their respective branches forms a pair sharing one Na Yin. This is because in Chinese cosmology, Yang and Yin within the same stem-element phase are considered one complete unit of Qi transformation.
3.2 The Luo Shu Connection (洛书关联)
The 洛书 (Luò Shū) magic square provides the generative constants underlying Na Yin:
| Generation-Completion Pair (生成数) | Element Produced | Direction | Classical Statement |
|---|
| 1 and 6 | 水 Water | North | 天一生水，地六成之 |
| 2 and 7 | 火 Fire | South | 地二生火，天七成之 |
| 3 and 8 | 木 Wood | East | 天三生木，地八成之 |
| 4 and 9 | 金 Metal | West | 地四生金，天九成之 |
| 5 and 10 | 土 Earth | Center | 天五生土，地十成之 |
These 生成数 (Shēng Chéng Shù / Generation-Completion Numbers) are the foundational constants from which the Na Yin element for each Stem-Branch pair emerges through their interaction.
3.3 Connection to the Five Musical Notes (五音 Wǔ Yīn)
The character 音 (yīn / sound) in 纳音 directly connects this system to ancient Chinese music theory . The five notes of the pentatonic scale map to the Five Elements:
| Musical Note | Pinyin | Element | Organ | Direction |
|---|
| 宫 | Gōng | 土 Earth | Spleen (脾) | Center |
| 商 | Shāng | 金 Metal | Lungs (肺) | West |
| 角 | Jué | 木 Wood | Liver (肝) | East |
| 徵 | Zhǐ | 火 Fire | Heart (心) | South |
| 羽 | Yǔ | 水 Water | Kidneys (肾) | North |
The theory states that when a Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch combine, they produce a specific vibrational frequency — a "sound" or "tone" — that resonates with one of the Five Elements. The 律吕 (Lǜ Lǚ / Pitch Pipes) system of 12 chromatic tones in ancient Chinese music further links to the 12 Earthly Branches. When the 10 Stems interact with the 12 Branches, the resulting 60 combinations produce 30 unique "harmonic" outcomes — the 30 Na Yin elements. This is why Na Yin is called "Harmonized Sound": the acoustic metaphor for the energetic quality of the Stem-Branch union.
✦ ◆ ✦
Module 4: Na Yin in BaZi — 纳音在八字中的应用 (Nà Yīn Zài Bā Zì Zhōng De Yìng Yòng)
4.1 Year Pillar Na Yin as Life Element (本命纳音 Běn Mìng Nà Yīn)
In traditional Chinese folk practice and in 盲派 (Máng Pài / Blindman School) methodology, a person's Year Pillar Na Yin is their "life element" or "fate sound." When someone says 我是XX命 (Wǒ shì XX mìng / "I am XX destiny"), they are referring to their Year Na Yin. For example:
- Born 1984 (甲子 year): 海中金命 (Hǎi Zhōng Jīn Mìng) — "Gold in the Sea destiny"
- Born 1990 (庚午 year): 路旁土命 (Lù Páng Tǔ Mìng) — "Roadside Earth destiny"
- Born 1986 (丙寅 year): 炉中火命 (Lú Zhōng Huǒ Mìng) — "Furnace Fire destiny"
This designation is still widely used for quick compatibility checks, determining favorable colors and directions, folk fortune assessment at temples, and naming children.
4.2 Inter-Pillar Na Yin Interactions
When analyzing a full BaZi chart using Na Yin, practitioners examine the relationships between the Na Yin elements of all four pillars:
- 生 (Shēng / Generating): One pillar's Na Yin generates another's — energy flows supportively. Example: Year = 大林木 (Wood) generates Month = 炉中火 (Fire) → family background supports career.
- 克 (Kè / Controlling): One pillar's Na Yin controls another's — tension exists. Example: Year = 剑锋金 (Metal) controls Day = 杨柳木 (Wood) → harsh upbringing pressuring the self.
- 同 (Tóng / Same Element): Pillars share the same Na Yin element — resonance and reinforcement, but overabundance is possible.
4.3 Quality-Specific Interactions — The Unique Power of Na Yin
Even within the same elemental control relationship, the quality of each Na Yin matters enormously. This qualitative analysis is unique to Na Yin and cannot be replicated by standard stem-element analysis:
- 大海水 (Great Sea Water) can easily extinguish 覆灯火 (Lantern Fire) — devastating control
- 大海水 (Great Sea Water) vs. 天上火 (Sky Fire) — mutual respect; the sun shines above the ocean, neither overwhelms the other
- 涧下水 (Stream Water) cannot overcome 天上火 (Sky Fire) — control exists in theory but is ineffective in practice
4.4 Mangpai (盲派) vs. Wuxingpai (五行派) Usage
| Aspect | 盲派 Mangpai (Blindman School) | 五行派 Wuxingpai (Five Element School) |
|---|
| Na Yin status | Integral part of chart reading | Largely de-emphasized or supplementary |
| Oral verses (口诀) | Frequently reference Na Yin directly | Rarely used in modern practice |
| Year Pillar role | Establishes "base tone" of entire chart | Typically only considered for folk assessment |
| Formation ID (格局) | Na Yin used to identify formations standard analysis misses | Formations based on Ten Gods and Day Master |
| Timing events | Na Yin clash between transits and natal = significant events | Standard Heavenly Stem / Earthly Branch clash |
| Doing-work (做功) | Some lineages use Na Yin for 做功 quality assessment | 做功 based on standard element dynamics only |
4.5 When Na Yin Diverges from Standard Analysis
Key scenarios where Na Yin reveals what standard analysis cannot:
- Hidden Strength: A weak Day Master by standard analysis has a strong Na Yin year element providing an unseen "foundation" — the person performs well despite appearing weak on paper.
- Deceptive Wealth: Strong Wealth stars in standard analysis, but the Day Pillar Na Yin is controlled by the Year Pillar Na Yin — the person earns money but cannot retain it.
- Marriage Compatibility: Two people whose standard charts show compatibility may have Na Yin in a destructive relationship — folk practitioners catch this when modern analysts miss it.
✦ ◆ ✦
Module 5: Na Yin in Feng Shui & Date Selection — 纳音在风水择日中的应用
5.1 House Orientation Selection (阳宅择向 Yáng Zhái Zé Xiàng)
In traditional 阳宅 (Yáng Zhái / Living Residence) Feng Shui, the homeowner's Year Na Yin determines favorable house orientations. The house sitting-facing direction should have a Na Yin relationship that generates or supports the owner's Na Yin life element:
- Owner is 海中金命 (Metal life): Prefer directions associated with 土 Earth (Earth generates Metal)
- Owner is 大林木命 (Wood life): Prefer directions associated with 水 Water (Water generates Wood)
- Avoid: Facing directions whose associated Na Yin controls the owner's Na Yin
5.2 Burial Site Compatibility (阴宅风水 Yīn Zhái Fēng Shuǐ)
Na Yin is critically important in burial (Yin House) Feng Shui — arguably more so than in any other application. The deceased person's 骨气 (Gǔ Qì / bone Qi) resonates with the land's energy through Na Yin. Key rules:
- The mountain (来龙 Lái Lóng / incoming dragon) Na Yin should generate the deceased's Year Na Yin
- The water exit (水口 Shuǐ Kǒu) Na Yin should not control the deceased's Na Yin
- The sitting direction of the tomb should be compatible with the deceased's Na Yin
- The burial date Na Yin (Day Pillar) should generate or be the same element as the deceased's Na Yin
5.3 Ze Ri Date Selection — Core Principle (择日核心原则)
The fundamental rule of Na Yin in date selection:
"所选日课的纳音应生扶本命纳音，忌克泄本命纳音"
"The selected date's Na Yin should generate or support the person's life Na Yin; avoid controlling or draining it."
5.4 Na Yin Date Selection by Event Type
| Event Type | Key Na Yin Rule | Special Note |
|---|
| 嫁娶 Wedding | Day Na Yin should generate both bride's and groom's Year Na Yin | If only one can be generated, prioritize the bride's (she enters new household) |
| 开业 Business Opening | Day Na Yin generates owner's Year Na Yin | Match business type: finance→Metal, restaurant→Fire, education→Wood |
| 安葬 Burial | Day Na Yin generates deceased's Year Na Yin | Strictly avoid Day Na Yin controlling deceased's Na Yin ("pressing the bones" 压骨) |
| 动土 Ground-Breaking | Day Na Yin should NOT control the land's Na Yin | Day Na Yin should generate owner's Year Na Yin simultaneously |
5.5 Quick Compatibility Matrix
| Person's Na Yin Element | Favorable Day Na Yin | Unfavorable Day Na Yin |
|---|
| 金 Metal | 土 Earth (generates Metal) | 火 Fire (controls Metal) |
| 木 Wood | 水 Water (generates Wood) | 金 Metal (controls Wood) |
| 水 Water | 金 Metal (generates Water) | 土 Earth (controls Water) |
| 火 Fire | 木 Wood (generates Fire) | 水 Water (controls Fire) |
| 土 Earth | 火 Fire (generates Earth) | 木 Wood (controls Earth) |
✦ ◆ ✦
Module 6: Element Strength Hierarchy — 纳音强弱排序 (Nà Yīn Qiáng Ruò Pái Xù)
Each element has six Na Yin types ranked from strongest/most abundant to weakest/most refined . Understanding this hierarchy is essential for assessing qualitative interactions.
金 Metal Hierarchy — Strongest to Most Refined
| Rank | Na Yin (Chinese) | Pinyin | English | Reasoning |
|---|
| 1 | 剑锋金 | Jiàn Fēng Jīn | Sword-Edge Gold | Tempered steel sharpened to perfection; most powerful and dangerous Metal |
| 2 | 钗钏金 | Chāi Chuàn Jīn | Hairpin Gold | Formed into shape, solid and complete; refined but substantial |
| 3 | 白蜡金 | Bái Là Jīn | White Wax Gold | Pure and luminous but softer; elegant Metal that lacks an edge |
| 4 | 沙中金 | Shā Zhōng Jīn | Gold in the Sand | Valuable but dispersed and hard to gather |
| 5 | 海中金 | Hǎi Zhōng Jīn | Gold in the Sea | Deeply hidden; latent, inaccessible, potential rather than manifest |
| 6 | 金箔金 | Jīn Bó Jīn | Gold Leaf Gold | Paper-thin gold foil; beautiful but fragile, the most delicate Metal |
木 Wood Hierarchy — Strongest to Most Refined
| Rank | Na Yin (Chinese) | Pinyin | English | Reasoning |
|---|
| 1 | 大林木 | Dà Lín Mù | Great Forest Wood | Vast ancient forest; immense, towering, the mightiest Wood |
| 2 | 松柏木 | Sōng Bǎi Mù | Pine & Cypress Wood | Evergreen, resilient, noble; withstands harsh winters |
| 3 | 桑柘木 | Sāng Zhè Mù | Mulberry Wood | Strong, practical, deep roots and useful purpose |
| 4 | 杨柳木 | Yáng Liǔ Mù | Willow Wood | Graceful and flexible but not structurally strong |
| 5 | 石榴木 | Shí Liú Mù | Pomegranate Wood | Fruitful but small-statured; ornamental rather than timber |
| 6 | 平地木 | Píng Dì Mù | Wood of the Plains | Grassland shrubs; widespread but low-growing, weakest Wood |
水 Water Hierarchy — Most Abundant to Most Gentle
| Rank | Na Yin (Chinese) | Pinyin | English | Reasoning |
|---|
| 1 | 大海水 | Dà Hǎi Shuǐ | Great Sea Water | The ocean itself; limitless, all-encompassing, the ultimate Water |
| 2 | 天河水 | Tiān Hé Shuǐ | Heavenly River Water | Celestial river / Milky Way; heavenly, carries divine authority |
| 3 | 长流水 | Cháng Liú Shuǐ | Long-Flowing Water | Great river flowing endlessly; powerful, persistent, far-reaching |
| 4 | 大溪水 | Dà Xī Shuǐ | Great Stream Water | Mountain torrent; vigorous and dynamic but contained in valleys |
| 5 | 泉中水 | Quán Zhōng Shuǐ | Spring Water | Pure and constant but limited in volume |
| 6 | 涧下水 | Jiàn Xià Shuǐ | Water Under the Stream | Gentle brook trickling beneath rocks; softest and most quiet Water |
火 Fire Hierarchy — Most Powerful to Most Gentle
| Rank | Na Yin (Chinese) | Pinyin | English | Reasoning |
|---|
| 1 | 天上火 | Tiān Shàng Huǒ | Fire in the Sky | The sun; supreme Fire, illuminates everything, the most powerful |
| 2 | 霹雳火 | Pī Lì Huǒ | Thunderbolt Fire | Lightning strike; sudden, devastating, explosive — fierce but brief |
| 3 | 炉中火 | Lú Zhōng Huǒ | Furnace Fire | Intense, sustained, purposeful forge fire; transformative |
| 4 | 山头火 | Shān Tóu Huǒ | Mountain Top Fire | Wildfire on peaks; dramatic and visible but hard to control |
| 5 | 山下火 | Shān Xià Huǒ | Mountain-Base Fire | Sunset glow, campfire at the base of a hill; warm, gentle, fading |
| 6 | 覆灯火 | Fù Dēng Huǒ | Lantern Fire | Covered lamp; small, contained, easily extinguished, weakest Fire |
土 Earth Hierarchy — Most Solid to Most Dispersed
| Rank | Na Yin (Chinese) | Pinyin | English | Reasoning |
|---|
| 1 | 大驿土 | Dà Yì Tǔ | Great Post Road Earth | Vast, well-compacted highway earth; connecting major cities |
| 2 | 城头土 | Chéng Tóu Tǔ | City Wall Earth | Rammed-earth fortification; dense, fortified, purposefully strengthened |
| 3 | 路旁土 | Lù Páng Tǔ | Roadside Earth | Common, abundant, fertile, widely available |
| 4 | 屋上土 | Wū Shàng Tǔ | Roof Earth | Clay tiles on rooftops; elevated, sheltering, but limited in quantity |
| 5 | 壁上土 | Bì Shàng Tǔ | Wall Earth | Plaster on walls; thin, decorative, dependent on structure to hold it |
| 6 | 沙中土 | Shā Zhōng Tǔ | Earth in the Sand | Sandy soil; loose, dry, shifting, most unstable and weakest Earth |
✦ ◆ ✦
Module 7: Case Studies — 纳音案例研究 (Nà Yīn Àn Lì Yán Jiū)
Case 1: Career in Finance Predicted by Na Yin — 海中金命从事金融业
Chart: Male born 1984年 (甲子年 Jiǎ Zǐ Nián)
- Year Pillar: 甲子 → Na Yin: 海中金 (Gold in the Sea)
- Month Pillar: 丁卯 → Na Yin: 炉中火 (Furnace Fire)
- Day Pillar: 庚辰 → Na Yin: 白蜡金 (White Wax Gold)
- Hour Pillar: 壬午 → Na Yin: 杨柳木 (Willow Wood)
Standard Analysis: Day Master 庚 (Gēng Metal) born in 卯 month is weak Metal. Standard analysis suggests education or technology career based on dominant 伤官 (Shāng Guān / Hurting Officer) in the Ten Gods configuration.
Na Yin Analysis: Year Na Yin 海中金 and Day Na Yin 白蜡金 — double Metal Na Yin . The "life sound" resonates powerfully with Metal energy. 海中金 represents "hidden treasure" — wealth submerged deep, requiring diving to extract. This directly points toward finance, banking, and investment — industries where one "dives deep" to find hidden value.
Outcome: This person became a successful investment banker, specializing in undervalued assets and distressed debt — literally "finding gold in the sea." The standard analysis alone could not have predicted the specific industry alignment.
Source: Adapted from 盲派命理实例 (Mangpai Case Examples), attributed to teachings of 段建业 (Duàn Jiàn Yè).
Case 2: Marriage Compatibility — 天上火 vs. 大海水 (Sun and Ocean)
Husband: Born 1978年 (戊午年 Wù Wǔ Nián) → Year Na Yin: 天上火 (Fire in the Sky)
Wife: Born 1982年 (壬戌年 Rén Xū Nián) → Year Na Yin: 大海水 (Water of the Great Sea)
Folk Assessment: Immediate alarm — Water controls Fire! 大海水 克 天上火. Many folk practitioners would strongly advise against this marriage.
Nuanced Na Yin Analysis: 天上火 is the sun and 大海水 is the ocean . The sun shines above the sea; the ocean cannot reach the sun. The qualitative imagery overrides the elemental control cycle. This is actually an auspicious pairing:
- The sun warms the ocean (husband provides warmth and direction)
- The ocean reflects the sun (wife mirrors and amplifies husband's brilliance)
- Neither can destroy the other (stable, balanced partnership)
Outcome: The couple married in 2006 and have had a harmonious marriage for 20 years. If the superficial element-control analysis had prevailed, they might never have married.
Key Lesson: Na Yin interpretation requires understanding the poetic imagery , not just the bare Five Element cycle. 涧下水 (stream water) vs. 覆灯火 (candle fire) would be genuinely problematic — the stream easily extinguishes the candle. But 大海水 vs. 天上火 is cosmic harmony.
Source: Classic example from 民间合婚术 (Folk Marriage Matching), widely cited in Mangpai teaching lineages.
Case 3: Business Volatility — 剑锋金 Sword Attacking 大林木 Forest
Chart: Male, born 1992年 (壬申年 Rén Shēn Nián)
- Year Pillar: 壬申 → Na Yin: 剑锋金 (Sword-Edge Gold)
- Day Pillar: 戊辰 → Na Yin: 大林木 (Great Forest Wood)
Standard Analysis: Strong Wealth stars (偏财 Piān Cái) suggested entrepreneurial success. Multiple Earth and Fire elements supporting the Day Master. The chart appeared favorable for business.
Na Yin Reveals the Problem: Year Na Yin 剑锋金 (Sword-Edge Gold) controls Day Na Yin 大林木 (Great Forest Wood). This is the sharpest, most aggressive Metal attacking the largest, most abundant Wood . The image: an axe swinging at a great forest. Each blow is devastating, but the forest is vast.
Pattern: The person starts businesses (大林木 — expansive, growing), but repeatedly faces sharp disruptions (剑锋金 — lawsuits, contract disputes, partner betrayals). The forest regrows, but the axe keeps swinging: build → destruction → rebuild .
Outcome: Built three successful businesses between ages 25–33, each facing a sharp crisis (legal dispute, partner absconding, regulatory shutdown). Each time, he rebuilt. The Na Yin dynamic perfectly described the cycle.
Recommendation: Pursue 水 (Water) industries — Water exhausts Metal (reduces the axe's sharpness) while generating Wood (feeds the forest). The person shifted to water purification technology and found greater stability.
Source: Mangpai analysis adapted from 夏仲奇命理讲义 (Xià Zhòng Qí Destiny Lecture Notes).
Case 4: Comparative Analysis — Same Chart, Two Readings
Chart: Female, born 1986年8月20日 午时 (Wǔ Shí)
| Pillar | Stem-Branch | Standard Element | Na Yin |
|---|
| Year | 丙寅 (Bǐng Yín) | 丙 Fire | 炉中火 (Furnace Fire) |
| Month | 丙申 (Bǐng Shēn) | 丙 Fire | 山下火 (Mountain-Base Fire) |
| Day | 辛未 (Xīn Wèi) | 辛 Metal | 路旁土 (Roadside Earth) |
| Hour | 甲午 (Jiǎ Wǔ) | 甲 Wood | 沙中金 (Gold in the Sand) |
Standard Analysis Only: Day Master 辛 (Xīn / Yin Metal) with strong double 正官 (Zhèng Guān / Direct Officer) stars → career-oriented woman in government or corporate management. Strong Officer = prominent husband. Prediction: corporate leadership, power marriage.
With Na Yin Layer:
- Year 炉中火 — Furnace Fire: Family of origin is a "forge" — strict, disciplined upbringing through heat and pressure
- Month 山下火 — Mountain-Base Fire: Career environment is warm but not intense. Despite strong Officer stems, Na Yin suggests a quiet, modest professional setting
- Day 路旁土 — Roadside Earth: Self is fundamentally practical, humble, service-oriented — not seeking glory
- Hour 沙中金 — Gold in the Sand: Children/legacy = hidden value requiring patient extraction. Late-life achievements
Na Yin chain: Fire → Earth → Metal — a smooth generative flow from origin to self to legacy.
Actual Outcome: Became a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner — a healing profession (gentle 山下火 warmth), grounded and practical (路旁土), with strict training (炉中火 forge). Her children showed academic talent that appeared only in their teenage years (沙中金 — hidden gold). Standard analysis would have predicted corporate management; the Na Yin layer corrected the trajectory toward healing arts.
Key Takeaway: Na Yin does not contradict standard analysis — it refines it. The Officer stars are real (she holds authority as a senior TCM practitioner), but the texture of that authority is warm, gentle, and humble — qualities only visible through Na Yin.
Source: Composite case from 盲派 and 传统命理 teaching examples.
✦ ◆ ✦
🛠️ Connection to Liuren Fajiao — 纳音在六壬法教中的应用
Na Yin holds a practical and sacred role within the Liuren Fajiao (六壬法教) tradition. While modern BaZi practitioners may treat Na Yin as supplementary, the Liuren practitioner recognizes it as an indispensable tool woven into ritual timing, divination interpretation, and spiritual practice.
Na Yin in Liuren Ritual Timing
- Ritual Date Selection (法事择日): When selecting dates for ceremonies, talismanic consecration, or altar work, the Liuren practitioner ensures the Day Pillar Na Yin generates or supports the client's Year Na Yin. A healing ritual for a 壁上土 (Wall Earth) person would avoid Wood Na Yin days (Wood controls Earth) and favor Fire Na Yin days (Fire generates Earth), ensuring the ritual energy nourishes rather than disrupts the recipient.
- Da Liu Ren Divination Overlay (六壬纳音叠加): In advanced Da Liu Ren practice, the Na Yin of the Day Pillar used to cast the chart adds a qualitative layer to the Four Courses (四课) and Three Transmissions (三传) interpretation. A 剑锋金 (Sword-Edge Gold) day carries sharp, cutting energy into the divination — favorable for questions about litigation but ominous for health queries involving Metal controlling Wood (liver/gallbladder).
- Talisman Activation Timing (符咒开光时辰): Talismans are most effective when activated during an hour whose Na Yin element generates the talisman's purpose. A wealth-attracting talisman (associated with Metal/Earth) activated during a 土 Earth Na Yin hour receives an energetic boost from the ambient harmonic resonance.
- Burial and Ancestral Rites (安葬祭祖): Liuren practitioners who assist families with burial site selection and ancestral veneration rely on Na Yin to match the deceased's bone Qi with the land's energy — ensuring the site nourishes descendants rather than creating spiritual discord.
- Annual Protection Rituals (年度保护法事): Each year's Na Yin determines which community members may face challenges. In a 剑锋金 year, practitioners proactively create protective talismans for clients with Wood Na Yin life elements (Metal controls Wood), while advising Earth Na Yin clients (Earth generates Metal — energy drains toward the year) to conserve resources.
In the Liuren tradition, Na Yin is not merely an analytical tool — it is a living energetic reality. The "harmonic sound" of each Stem-Branch combination is felt in ritual space, guiding the practitioner's timing, intention, and interaction with the spiritual dimension. Mastering the 30 Na Yin elements and their qualitative interactions is essential for any Liuren practitioner who aspires to precision in both divination and ceremonial practice.
✦ ◆ ✦
Explore the depth of Na Yin — the hidden harmonic layer of Chinese metaphysics. From BaZi chart reading to Feng Shui site selection, from date selection to ritual timing, Na Yin provides the qualitative texture that transforms competent analysis into masterful insight. Inquire about guided study in Na Yin and the Five Arts.