Qiong Tong Bao Jian (Precious Mirror for Examining the Profound)

In a nutshell: A dedicated treatise on climate adjustment — laying out the favorable and unfavorable elements for every Day Stem across all twelve months. An indispensable working reference.

Background

Compiled by Yu Chuntai (余春台) during the Qing Dynasty. Its defining contribution: it turns climate adjustment from an abstract theory into a lookup table — given a Day Master and birth month, you simply check what to take first, what to take next, and what to avoid.

The Republican-era commentary by Xu Lewu (徐乐吾) is the most widely circulated edition. This project uses the Xuchang Zhiyan Zhai (许昌知砚斋) edition, collated from the original text — 53 pages covering a general discourse on the Five Elements plus a four-season analysis for each of the ten Heavenly Stems.

Book Structure

10 Heavenly Stems × 12 months = 120 favorable-element combinations — the most complete table of climate-adjustment remedies in all of classical BaZi literature.

General Theory of the Five Elements (Opening Essentials)

The Five Elements pervade heaven and earth without end — thus they are called xing. In the north, yin reaches its extreme and gives rise to cold; cold begets Water. In the south, yang reaches its extreme and gives rise to heat; heat begets Fire. In the east, yang scatters and disperses, giving rise to wind; wind begets Wood. In the west, yin arrests and gathers, giving rise to dryness; dryness begets Metal. At the center, yin and yang mingle, giving rise to warmth; warmth begets Earth.

Basic Attributes of the Five Elements

• Fire: the sun — its nature blazes upward
• Water: the moon — its nature moistens downward
• Wood: lesser yang — its nature soars upward without rest
• Metal: lesser yin — its nature sinks downward and comes to rest
• Earth: no fixed nature of its own — it takes its character from the four seasons

The Dispositions of the Five Elements (the Five Confucian Virtues)

• Water: wisdom
• Fire: propriety
• Wood: benevolence
• Metal: righteousness
• Earth: trustworthiness (the most generous and all-embracing of the five)

Form and Color

• Water is black, Fire is red, Wood is green, Earth is yellow — these are the primary colors
• The rule of transformation: in birth and flourishing, the primary color prevails; in death and exhaustion, the mother's color appears; in forming and capping, the wife's color shows; in illness and decline, the ghost's color emerges; in fullness and entombment, the child's color takes over

The Numbers of the Five Elements

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

On Wood (Living Wood and Dead Wood)

Jia Xu and Yi Hai — the source of Wood. Jia Yin and Yi Mao — the homeland of Wood. Jia Chen and Yi Si — the birthplace of Wood. All of these are living Wood. Jia Shen and Yi You — Wood is under attack. Jia Wu and Yi Wei — Wood dies of its own accord. Jia Zi and Yi Chou — Metal overcomes Wood. All of these are dead Wood.

• Living Wood gains elegance from Fire — Bing and Ding serve equally well
• Dead Wood gains utility from Metal — Geng and Xin are essential
• Living Wood meeting Metal wounds itself; Dead Wood meeting Fire consumes itself

Three Springs Jia Wood (First through Third Month) — Favorable Elements in Detail

General Theory

Wood in the spring months shows signs of gradual growth. Early spring still carries a lingering chill; warming it with Fire brings ease and vitality. Too much Water overwhelms and weakens its spirit. When growth and vigor are redoubled, Geng Metal is needed to hew and shape it — only then can it become pillar and beam. By late spring, yang grows strong and Water runs dry; with Water's nourishment, flowers bloom and leaves grow lush.

First-Month Jia Wood (Start of Spring to Awakening of Insects)

Early spring still carries a lingering chill. When Bing and Gui come together, wealth and status are both assured. Gui hidden in the Branches and Bing revealed in the Stems — this is called the Cold Wood Facing the Sun pattern, and it confers great wealth and honor.

Pattern: Gui hidden, Bing revealed = Cold Wood Facing the Sun → great wealth and honor Pattern broken: No Bing, only Ren = Water inundates, Wood drifts → "dies without a coffin"

Second-Month Jia Wood (Awakening of Insects to Clear Brightness)

When Geng Metal is well placed, this is called the Yang Blade Harnessing Seven Killings pattern — it indicates minor distinction, prominence through unconventional paths, or a military career, though it still requires Wealth to sustain it.

Third-Month Jia Wood (Clear Brightness to Start of Summer)

Wood's energy is nearly spent. First take Geng Metal, then use Ren Water. When both Geng and Ren are revealed, success in the imperial examination is within reach.

Pattern: Both Geng and Ren revealed → first-rank scholar Special case: Wu or Ji revealed in the Stems, Branches forming an Earth frame → Abandoning the Day Master to Follow Wealth, the person rises to wealth and status through others

Three Summers Jia Wood (Fourth through Sixth Month)

General Theory

Wood in the summer months: roots are dry, leaves are parched — coiled yet straight, bent yet able to extend. Abundant Water to provide nourishment is truly indispensable. An excess of Fire invites destruction and is therefore inauspicious.

Fourth-Month Jia Wood

Bing Fire holds authority. First Gui, then Ding.

Fifth-Month Jia Wood

Wood's nature is scorched and hollow. In the fifth month, Gui and Geng both revealed — this is the finest possible pattern.

Sixth-Month Jia Wood

In the dog days, a trace of cool returns; Ding Fire's influence recedes. First Ding, then Geng; Gui is not strictly necessary.

General caution: Heavy Earth brings misfortune; excessive Metal cannot carve effectively

Three Autumns Jia Wood (Seventh through Ninth Month)

General Theory

Wood in the autumn months: its energy grows desolate, its form withers. In early autumn, the Fire of summer has not fully dissipated — Water and Earth together are especially welcome. By mid-autumn, the fruit has set and hard Metal is needed to prune and trim.

Seventh-Month Jia Wood

Ding Fire is paramount; Geng Metal comes next. Fire separated by Water cannot melt Metal on its own — Ding Fire melts Metal, and Geng Metal must not be absent.

Eighth-Month Jia Wood

Wood is imprisoned, Metal is ascendant. Ding Fire first, then Bing Fire; Geng Metal third.

Ninth-Month Jia Wood

Wood is waning. It cherishes Ding Fire above all, with Ren and Gui to nourish it. When Ding, Ren, and Gui are all revealed, and Wu and Ji appear as well, the chart achieves a harmonious balance.

Special pattern: In the ninth month, "Ding and Gui together, with Wu revealed, surely confers nobility" Example: Wu Xu, Ren Xu, Jia Zi, Jia Shen — Branches form a Water frame → great distinction

Three Winters Jia Wood (Tenth through Twelfth Month)

General Theory

Wood in the winter months: coiled upon the ground, it craves abundant Earth for cultivation. It dreads excess Water, which drowns its form. No amount of Metal can cut it down in this state, but Fire in abundance brings the merit of warmth.

Tenth-Month Jia Wood

Geng and Ding are essential; Bing Fire comes next. Ren Water flooding the chart is to be avoided — Wu Earth is needed to hold it in check.

Eleventh-Month Jia Wood (Zi Month)

Wood's nature turns cold. Ding first, Geng next, Bing Fire as support. Gui Water holds authority this month and afflicts both Fire and Metal. In sum, the eleventh-month Jia Wood is a cold branch — Geng and Ding are the clear remedy. Ren revealed without Bing produces nothing more than a clerk on an obscure path.

Twelfth-Month Jia Wood (Chou Month)

The heavens are frigid; Wood's nature is deeply frozen, with no sign of new growth. First use Geng to split Jia, and only then can Ding Fire be drawn forth.

10 Heavenly Stems × 12 Months = 120 Favorable-Element 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 Adjustment General Verse

Metal and Water Day Masters in the second month must not meet Wood — Wood flourishes in spring and drains their qi beyond measure Fire and Earth Day Masters in the seventh month must pair with Metal — Metal mediates the elemental transition in autumn

The Four Climate Methods (summarized by Ren Tieqiao 任铁樵 and Xu Lewu 徐乐吾)

• Cold: use warmth → Fire as primary, Wood as secondary
• Hot: use coolness → 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-Adjustment Tips

• Winter-born, first favorable element for climate adjustment: Bing Fire — dispelling the cold comes first
• Summer-born, first favorable element for climate adjustment: Ren and Gui Water — moistening the dryness comes first
• Spring and Autumn: assess overall Five Elements balance; climate adjustment is secondary
• Climate adjustment > support and restraint: in extreme climates (winter or summer births), climate adjustment takes priority

Four Core Principles (Distilled from the Original Text)

1. When the Day Master is rooted in the Month Branch, assess support and restraint; when it is not, turn to climate adjustment

• Month Branch carries a root (the ruling qi is revealed in the Stems) → assess support and restraint
• Month Branch carries no root, or the root is weak → turn to climate adjustment

2. First take and second take — do not confuse the order

The book's "first X, then Y" format establishes a clear hierarchy:

• Jia Wood in the first month: first Bing, then Gui
• Bing Fire in the fifth month: only when Ren and Geng are both revealed does it become a top-tier chart
• The sequence itself tells you the priority of each element

3. When one element dominates, a special pattern may form

• A proliferation of Geng and Xin: a life of hardship, hardship for spouse and children
• A proliferation of Ren and Gui: Water inundates, Wood drifts
• A proliferation of Wu and Ji, with Branches combining into a Metal frame → Wealth excessive, Day Master weak
• Abandoning the Day Master to Follow Wealth: no root in the chart, Wealth stars forming a frame

4. Do not pile up favorable elements

• Too many favorable elements = no favorable element at all
• A single well-chosen element = the true remedy
• "A blunt axe without steel" — scattered force achieves nothing

Relationship to the Other Four Classics

Three Worked Examples (Selected from the Original Text)

Example 1: Jia Wood — Cold Wood Facing the Sun

Early-spring Jia Wood: Gui hidden, Bing revealed — great wealth and honor.

Analysis: Jia Wood in the Yin month, early spring still cold. Bing Fire dispelling the cold is the primary favorable element; Gui Water moistening the Wood is the supporting one. Both Bing and Gui revealed = the Cold Wood Facing the Sun pattern.

Example 2: Ninth-Month Jia Wood — Great Distinction

Wu Xu, Ren Xu, Jia Zi, Jia Shen — Branches form a Water frame.

Analysis: Ninth-month Jia Wood, its vigor fading, cherishes Ding Fire above all. This chart reveals Ren and Wu (complemented by Ding, Ren, and Gui), with Branches forming a Water frame → great distinction.

Example 3: Fifth-Month Jia Wood — The Finest Pattern

Fifth-month Jia Wood: Gui and Geng both revealed — the finest possible pattern.

Analysis: Jia Wood in the Wu month, its nature scorched and hollow. Gui Water moistening the Wood is the primary favorable element; Geng Metal splitting Jia to draw out Ding is the secondary one. Both revealed → a top-tier chart.

Suggested Learning Path

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

Get comfortable with the nature, dispositions, forms, colors, and numbers of the Five Elements.

Step 2: Memorize the Core Favorable Elements for All 10 Heavenly Stems × 12 Months

Start with the seasonal archetypes:

• Spring (Yin, Mao, Chen): Wood ascendant — focus on Geng Metal and Bing Fire
• Summer (Si, Wu, Wei): Fire ascendant — focus on Ren and Gui Water, and Geng Metal
• Autumn (Shen, You, Xu): Metal ascendant — focus on Ding Fire and Ren Water
• Winter (Hai, Zi, Chou): Water ascendant — focus on Bing Fire and Wu Earth

Step 3: Study One Day Master at a Time

Give each Heavenly Stem three or four days of focused reading.

Step 4: Verify with Real Charts

Cast a chart → look up the Day Master and Month Branch → check whether the favorable element is well supported and doing its work.

Study Recommendations

• ✅ Best for: Hands-on practitioners — an essential desk reference
• ⚠️ Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ (clear tables, easy to pick up)
• 📖 Recommended edition: Xuchang Zhiyan Zhai (许昌知砚斋) collated edition (digital version included in this project)
• 🎯 Study path: Read alongside Zi Ping Zhen Quan — learn the Pattern method first, then use this book to look up climate adjustments

🔗 Related reading: Di Tian Sui (climate-adjustment theory) · Zi Ping Zhen Quan (Pattern method) · San Ming Tong Hui (case-study library)