Complete Compendium of Five-Star and Three-Fate Astrology, Volume 1 (1657) - Page 24

⚠Some characters are slightly blurred or show signs of woodblock wear. The print uses some shorthand/variant characters (e.g., 无, 灵).

Tomb and Vault

original: 墓庫 (Mùkù). The tenth stage. In Chinese metaphysics, the "Tomb" is not just a place of death, but a "Vault" where energy or wealth is stored and protected.

When the elemental phases generate and follow each other without conflict,
A person’s rank within wealth and nobility is clearly divided.
If a person’s fate encounters the "Tomb and Vault,"
They shall accumulate grain and gather wealth beyond counting.
Yet they are so stingy they will not spend a single penny,
Remaining a "slave to their money" until old age.
original: 守錢虜 (shǒuqiánlǔ), a traditional term for a miser who hoards wealth but refuses to use it for any enjoyment or charity.

Conception

original: 胞 (Bāo). This term literally means "placenta" or "cell." In this context, it refers to the very first spark of life or the "Conception Spirit" that forms immediately after the stage of Extinction.

Few know of the prosperity that can be found even within "Extinction";
Instead, one must look to the current life's chart for the calculation.
Returning to the root and origin requires careful discernment;
If things suddenly turn unfavorable, do not be filled with doubt.
The "Conception Spirit" is a stage that is difficult to fully extinguish;
But if it is countered or trapped, the wife and servants suffer, and the family way declines.

Extinction

original: 絕 (Jué). The eleventh stage, representing the total end of an energy cycle, a state of nothingness before rebirth.

Not only will one be busy rushing about from dawn till dusk,
But there is no distinction between the sheep’s grazing and the wolf’s greed.
original: 羊食狼貪 (yáng shí láng tān). This metaphor suggests a lack of moderation or a desperate, animalistic struggle for survival during this low point in the cycle.
One must carefully examine the "Gestation" and "Nourishment" stages;
Here, ill-fortune and good-fortune are evenly matched.

Gestation

original: 胎 (Tāi). The twelfth and final stage, representing the fetus in the womb—a state of protected, quiet preparation for birth.

Meeting with "Noble Spirits" should bring blessings;
But encountering "Evil Killings" repeatedly brings calamity.
Evil Killings (Sha): Malevolent stars or energy alignments in a person's horoscope that portend obstacles or physical harm.
Some say "Gestation" and "Nourishment" are like a "Minor Birth";
original: 小長生 (xiǎo chángshēng). This suggests that while not as powerful as the actual "Birth" stage, these phases contain the seeds of a new beginning.
In one’s fate, they bring a natural cleverness and spirit.

Nourishment

original: 養 (Yǎng). Technically the bridge between the end of one cycle and the "Birth" (Changsheng) of the next, representing the period of being nurtured and cared for.

If one pursues a scholarly life, they shall find success;
Otherwise, business ventures will also be glorious and prosperous.