WHY BA ZI STUDENTS STILL CANNOT READ A BA ZI CHART
It is appalling that many students who have completed theirBa Zi studies still cannot read a Ba Zi chart. This outcome seemed to be the same even for those serious students who studied from various famous masters.
Surely this situation also reflected poorly on the masters as much as the students. What were the probable causes of this state of affairs
“TO KNOW EVERYTHING IS TO UNDERSTAND NOTHING”
Some students might be gratified to have studied under masters who professed to have taught them everything. These students were given the opportunity to be taught all possible and probable topics under the sun, from A until Z. They probably also covered all the possible angles in any given chart, from the steepest and most improbable angles to the more common angles.
The only drawback was that the same group of students were not told what was essential and what was trivial. As a result, they seemed to have no idea what to look for in a Ba Zi chart. They did not even know where to start, let alone what to find.
The sad fact was that the students were not told that they only needed to look for a few essential issues. Therefore, they searched all over the chart without any idea what they were supposed to focus on. They looked everywhere and found nothing!
THE WRONG WAY OF WRITING THE CHART CAN RESULT IN A MISTAKEN READING
Then some of the students were taught by various masters to write the Ba Zi chart in an incorrect manner. For instance, some masters said that it was not even necessary to learn how to write the Ba Zi chart in the Chinese language. If the student could read the Ba Zi chart in the English language, then the English language would do just as well, thank you.
If the student chose to follow this axiom, he would probably not be able to pursue his Ba Zi studies to the deepest possible level.
However, even if the master emphasized to the student that he had to learn how to read the Ba Zi chart in the Chinese language, it was still possible to present the chart in an inaccurate way. For example, some masters said that the main Qi in the Earthly Branches should be written in the centre, followed by the second element or Qi on the left side and the third element or Qi on the right side.
The result of following this practice meant that the third Qiwas wrongly placed when it came to the four graveyards. In the traditional practice, the third Qi was the Qi that was being stored or that was entering the tomb.
The practice of writing the main Qi in the centre with two secondary Qi on each side reminded one of the left and right assistant mountains or stars in the study of feng shui.
It was up to the individual student to decide which method he wanted to follow when writing the Ba Zi chart. However, we should point out that if sufficient care was not taken in writing the Qi in the Ba Zi chart, it could cause confusion in the reading.
CAREER AND THE TEN GODS
When the student was asked to analyse which career the client should pursue, he usually used the Ten Gods to work out the answer. For instance, perhaps a water day master would be advised to venture into the fire business because his wealth element was fire.
This approach meant that the answer was easier to give. The method of working was not wrong.
But it was also only half right. In the first place, while there were Ten Gods, it should be borne in mind that there were only Six Relationships.
In the second place, the student should have begun by analysing the client’s character and potential for wealth before proceeding to analyse which career was suitable.
However, the potential for wealth was not obtained by counting the number of wealth elements. Some masters taught that the higher the number of wealth elements, the greater the potential for wealth!
THE FAMILY – WHICH FAMILY?
Similarly, some masters taught that the correct method of plotting the family tree was to use the Ten Gods. This approach was viable and logical.
But this method was also somewhat long winded. When the concept of Yin and Yang was not adhered to, the result can lead to a very different family.
When the members of the family tree were wrongly identified, what would happen to the Ba Zi reading given by the Ba Zi student to his client?
CLASHES VERSUS PUNISHMENTS
The Ba Zi student was taught all that he needed to know about clashes and punishments. But he was not told which relationship had greater priority – the clash or the punishment.
For instance, the丑Ox clashed with the未Goat. But the丑Ox also had ungrateful punishment with the very same未Goat. Which should relationship should take precedence?
Then the寅 Tiger clashed with the申Monkey. But the寅Tiger also had vigorous punishment with the same申Monkey. How to read the chart in such a situation?
THE MINOR STARS BECAME THE MAJOR METHOD OF ANALYSIS
The students were taught by some masters to use the minor stars to analyze the chart.
For instance, they might have been told to check for Harms and Destruction. They were taught about other minor stars such as “Sky Horse”, “Monthly Virtue” or “Peach Blossom.”
These were only the minor methods of analysis. They could be used to add spice to the reading or to give the student more things to explain to the client.
But the minor roads to analysis should not have been expanded into major highways.
HARMONY IN THE BA ZI UNIVERSE
The principle that “best chart was the balanced chart” had been so often repeated by many masters that this axiom should have become ingrained in the minds of the students.
This rule was true and sound. In practice, however, almost all charts were imbalanced. The only difference was the degree of imbalance. Yet despite these imbalances, the owners of these charts managed to overcome their difficulties and enjoy their achievements. For some of them, these achievements need not necessarily be monetary in value.
It has been said that the owner of the balanced chart would not have any problems in his lifetime for one generation. That did not necessarily mean that he would also have achievement during his lifetime.
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