Qiong Tong Bao Jian (Precious Mirror for Evaluating Fate)

In one line: A specialized manual on the climate Useful God — listing favor and aversion by Day Stem × 12 months, an essential practical reference.

Background

Compiled by Yu Chuntai (余春台) in the Qing Dynasty. Its defining feature: transforms "climate" from abstract theory into a queryable table — given a Day Master and birth month, you can directly look up "first take, then take, avoid what".

The Republican-era Xu Lewu (徐乐吾) annotated version is the most widely circulated. This project uses the Xuchang Zhiyan Zhai (许昌知砚斋) edition — collated from the original, 53 pages (including a general theory on the Five Elements (Wu Xing) and a four-season analysis of all 10 Day Stems).

Book Structure

Total: 10 Day Stems × 12 Months = 120 Useful God combinations — the most complete climate Useful God table in the Chinese BaZi world.

Five Elements General Theory (Opening Essentials)

The Five Elements are infinite within heaven and earth, hence called "xing" (行, "moving"). The northernmost yin produces cold, and cold produces Water. The southernmost yang produces heat, and heat produces Fire. The eastern yang disperses and leaks, producing wind, and wind produces Wood. The western yin halts and gathers, producing dryness, and dryness produces Metal. The central yin and yang interact, producing warmth, and warmth produces Earth.

Basic Five Elements Attributes

• Fire: the sun, with an upward-blazing nature
• Water: the moon, with a downward-moistening nature
• Wood: lesser yang, with an upward-soaring and unresting nature
• Metal: lesser yin, with a downward-sinking and stopping nature
• Earth: no fixed nature, taking its cue from the four seasons

Five Elements Dispositions (the Confucian Five Constants)

• Water = wisdom
• Fire = propriety
• Wood = benevolence
• Metal = righteousness
• Earth = trustworthiness (chief of generosity and inclusiveness)

Form and Color

• Water black, Fire red, Wood green, Earth yellow → primary colors
• Variation rules: in birth or flourishing, take the primary color; in death or exhaustion, take the mother's color; in forming and crowning, take the wife's color; in illness and decay, take the ghost's color; in flourishing and burial, take the child's color

The Numbers of the Five Elements

Water one, Fire two, Wood three, Metal four, Earth five. In birth or flourishing, double; in death or exhaustion, halve.

On Wood (Divided into Living and Dead)

Jia Xu, Yi Hai, the source of Wood. Jia Yin, Yi Mao, the homeland of Wood. Jia Chen, Yi Si, the birth of Wood. All are living wood. Jia Shen, Yi You, Wood is restrained. Jia Wu, Yi Wei, Wood dies of itself. Jia Zi, Yi Chou, Metal restrains Wood. All are dead wood.

• Living Wood: gains beauty from Fire; Bing and Ding are the same
• Dead Wood: gains crafting from Metal; Geng and Xin must be present
• Living Wood meeting Metal hurts itself; Dead Wood meeting Fire burns itself

Three Springs Jia Wood (1st–3rd month) — Detailed Useful God

General Theory

Spring Wood gradually takes on the sign of growth. Early spring still has residual cold; it should be warmed by Fire, then it has the beauty of ease. Excessive Water causes damage, harming the spirit. Heavy signs of birth and flourishing necessarily require Geng Metal to chop, which can form rafters and beams. In late spring, yang is strong and Water is parched; with Water's help, flowers bloom and leaves flourish.

First Month Jia Wood (Lichun to Jingzhe)

Early spring still has residual cold; meeting Bing and Gui together brings wealth and nobility both complete. Gui hidden, Bing transparent, called "Cold Wood facing the sun", presiding over great wealth and nobility.

Pattern: Gui hidden, Bing transparent = "Cold Wood facing the sun" pattern → great wealth and nobility Pattern broken: No Bing but has Ren = Water flooding, Wood floating → "dies without a coffin"

Second Month Jia Wood (Jingzhe to Qingming)

Geng Metal in its place, called "Yang Blade driving Killings", may be called small nobility, prominent in unconventional paths, or presiding over military posts, but requires Wealth to support it.

Third Month Jia Wood (Qingming to Lixia)

Wood's qi is at its limit. First take Geng Metal, then use Ren Water. Geng and Ren both transparent, success in the first rank of examination is within reach.

Pattern: Geng and Ren both transparent → first rank (Jinshi) Special: Wu or Ji transparent, branch forms Earth frame → Abandoning Day Master to Follow Wealth Pattern, individual becomes rich and noble

Three Summers Jia Wood (4th–6th month)

General Theory

Summer Wood: roots are dry, leaves are parched, coiled yet straight, bent yet able to stretch. It wants abundant Water to provide moisture, which is truly indispensable. Fire abundance is greatly avoided for fear of being burned, hence considered inauspicious.

Fourth Month Jia Wood

Bing Fire holds authority, first Gui then Ding.

Fifth Month Jia Wood

Wood's nature is burned hollow. In the fifth month, Gui and Geng both transparent, the topmost pattern.

Sixth Month Jia Wood

In the three dog days, cold is born, Ding Fire recedes. First Ding then Geng, Gui not needed is also acceptable.

General Avoid: Heavy Earth becomes disaster, abundant Metal cannot carve

Three Autumns Jia Wood (7th–9th month)

General Theory

Autumn Wood: its qi gradually becomes desolate, its form gradually decays. In early autumn, Fire qi is not yet removed; it especially likes Water and Earth for mutual nourishment. In mid-autumn, fruits have formed; it wants strong Metal to trim.

Seventh Month Jia Wood

Ding Fire is the lord, Geng Metal next. Fire separated by Water cannot melt Metal, so Ding Fire melts Metal, Geng Metal cannot be missing.

Eighth Month Jia Wood

Wood is imprisoned, Metal is flourishing. Ding Fire first, then Bing Fire, then Geng Metal.

Ninth Month Jia Wood

Wood star is withered, alone loves Ding Fire, Ren and Gui to nurture. Ding Ren Gui transparent, Wu and Ji also transparent, this life is balanced and harmonious.

Special Pattern: Ninth month "Ding and Gui fixed, Wu transparent must be noble" Example: Wu Xu, Ren Xu, Jia Zi, Jia Shen, branch forms Water frame → great nobility

Three Winters Jia Wood (10th–12th month)

General Theory

Winter Wood: coiled on the ground, wants abundant Earth to nurture. Dislikes abundant Water to forget its form. Metal overall cannot cut it down, abundant Fire is meritorious for warmth.

Tenth Month Jia Wood

Geng and Ding are essential, Bing Fire next. Dislikes Ren Water flooding the body, requires Wu Earth to restrain it.

Eleventh Month Jia Wood (Zi month)

Wood's nature is born cold, Ding first, Geng after, Bing Fire assists. Gui Water holds authority, being the illness of Fire and Metal. In sum, the eleventh-month Jia Wood is the cold branch, definitely taking Geng and Ding. Ren transparent without Bing, no more than a clerk in an unusual path.

Twelfth Month Jia Wood (Chou month)

Heaven is cold and frozen, Wood's nature is extremely cold, with no sign of birth. First use Geng to split Jia, then draw out Ding Fire to begin.

10 Day Stems × 12 Months = 120 Useful God Combinations (Core Quick Reference)

Jia Wood

Yi Wood

Bing Fire

Ding Fire

Wu Earth

Ji Earth

Geng Metal

Xin Metal

Ren Water

Gui Water

Classic Verses

Climate General Verse

In the second month of Metal and Water, do not meet Wood — Metal and Water Day Masters born in spring, Wood's flourishing drains too much In the seventh month of Fire and Earth, must pair with Metal — Fire and Earth Day Masters born in autumn, need Metal to mediate

The Four Climate Methods (summarized by Ren Tieqiao / Xu Lewu)

• Cold: use warmth → Fire as primary, Wood as secondary
• Hot: use cool → Water as primary, Metal as secondary
• Dry: use moisture → Water as primary, Wood as secondary
• Damp: use dryness → Fire as primary, Earth as secondary

Key Climate Tips

• Winter-born climate's first Useful God: Bing Fire → relieving cold is first
• Summer-born climate's first Useful God: Ren, Gui Water → moistening dryness is first
• Spring/Autumn: look at Five Elements balance, climate is secondary
• Climate > Support/Restraint: in extreme climates (winter-born / summer-born), climate takes priority

4 Major Principles (Distilled from the Original Book)

1. With seasonal support, look at support/restraint; without, look at climate

• Month Branch has root (main qi transparent in stems) → look at support/restraint
• Month Branch has no root or is weak → look at climate

2. First take, then take — order matters

The original book's "First X, then Y" format:

• Jia Wood first month: first Bing, then Gui
• Bing Fire fifth month: Ren and Geng both transparent, only then is it the top fate
• Order is the priority of strength

3. A school of singular dominance may form a special pattern

• A school of Geng and Xin: presides over a life of toil, harming children and punishing wife
• A school of Ren and Gui: Water flooding, Wood floating
• A school of Wu and Ji, branch combining Metal frame → Wealth excessive, body weak
• Abandoning Day Master to Follow Wealth Pattern: no root in the pillar, Wealth Stars (Cai Xing) forming a frame

4. Useful Gods cannot be duplicated

• Too many Useful Gods = no Useful God
• One character in use = true god
• "A blunt axe has no steel" = scattered strength

Relationship to Other Classics

3 Practical Examples (Selected from the Original Book)

Example 1: Jia Wood — Cold Wood Facing the Sun

Early spring Jia Wood, Gui hidden, Bing transparent, presiding over great wealth and nobility.

Analysis: Jia Wood in Yin month, early spring still cold. Bing Fire relieving cold is the first Useful God, Gui Water moistening Wood is the companion. Bing and Gui both transparent = "Cold Wood facing the sun" pattern.

Example 2: Ninth-Month Jia Wood — Great Nobility

Wu Xu, Ren Xu, Jia Zi, Jia Shen, branch forms Water frame.

Analysis: Ninth-month Jia Wood, Wood star withered, alone loves Ding Fire. This chart has transparent Ren and Wu (paired with Ding, Ren, Gui), branch forms a Water frame → great nobility.

Example 3: Fifth-Month Jia Wood — Topmost Pattern

Fifth-month Jia Wood, Gui and Geng both transparent, the topmost pattern.

Analysis: Wu-month Jia Wood, Wood's nature is burned hollow. Gui Water moistening Wood is first, Geng Metal splitting Jia to draw out Ding is second. Both transparent → top fate.

Learning Path Recommendations

Step 1: Read the Five Elements General Theory (20 minutes)

Master the Five Elements qualities, dispositions, form/color, and numbers

Step 2: Memorize the Core Useful Gods for 10 Day Stems × 12 Months

Memorize the four seasons' representatives first:

• Spring (Yin, Mao, Chen): Wood flourishing, look at Geng Metal / Bing Fire
• Summer (Si, Wu, Wei): Fire flourishing, look at Ren, Gui / Geng Metal
• Autumn (Shen, You, Xu): Metal flourishing, look at Ding Fire / Ren Water
• Winter (Hai, Zi, Chou): Water flourishing, look at Bing Fire / Wu Earth

Step 3: Read one Day Stem at a time in depth

Spend 3–4 days on each Day Stem

Step 4: Practical verification

Get a chart → look up Day Master and Month Branch → see if the Useful God is gaining power

Study Recommendations

• ✅ Best for: An essential reference for practitioners
• ⚠️ Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ (clear tables, easy to pick up)
• 📖 Recommended edition: Xuchang Zhiyan Zhai edition (the project's digital edition is included)
• 🎯 Learning path: Read alongside Zi Ping Zhen Quan — first learn patterns, then use this book to look up climate

🔗 Related reading: Di Tian Sui (Climate theory) · Zi Ping Zhen Quan (pattern method) · San Ming Tong Hui (Case library)