The Twelve Longevity Stages are an important concept in Chinese fate studies. They not only relate to the direction of an individual's destiny but also profoundly influence the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the major luck periods. This article will delve into the relationship between the Twelve Longevity Stages and major luck periods, revealing how they jointly shape a person's life trajectory.
The Relationship Between the Twelve Longevity Stages and Major Luck Periods
The role of the Twelve Longevity Stages in the birth chart cannot be ignored. It is not only used for divination but is closely related to the judgment of auspiciousness and inauspiciousness. The major luck period is crucial for a person's prosperity or decline, and the Twelve Longevity Stages do not refer only to the major luck period, but also include the twelve stages of each age in the birth chart itself, the hidden luck stages, and the annual luck stages. These factors together form a complete luck cycle. A good major luck period includes the stages of Longevity (Sheng), Official Position (Lin Guan), and Imperial Prosperity (Di Wang), while stages such as Decline (Shuai), Illness (Bing), Death (Si), Tomb (Mu), and Extinction (Jue) are usually inauspicious. The stages of Embryo (Tai) and Nurture (Yang) represent ordinary luck periods.
The Cyclical Nature of Major Luck Periods and Life Stages
To form a good major luck period, after the birth chart is drawn, it is best to start from the stage of Longevity or Bathing (Mu). During childhood, one does not need a prosperous luck period but rather a learning phase, where one learns knowledge, culture, and establishes life aspirations. A major luck period lasts for 10 years. After the youth stage, one enters the stages of Crown and Cap (Guan Dai) or Bathing (Mu). At 30, one enters the stage of Official Position (Lin Guan), at 40, the stage of Imperial Prosperity (Di Wang), at 50, the stage of Decline (Shuai), at 60, the stage of Illness (Bing), at 70, the stage of Death (Si), at 80, the stage of Tomb (Mu), and at 90, the stage of Extinction (Jue). This luck cycle conforms to the natural process of learning during childhood, setting goals during youth, reaching the peak of life during the thirties and forties, and retiring after the age of fifty. However, if the major luck period starts with the stages of Official Position (Lin Guan) or Imperial Prosperity (Di Wang), then during the learning phase, one would be in a prosperous period, and when one should be prosperous, one would be in decline, illness, or death. Such a life path often results in achieving success early in life but facing a short-lived existence in later years.
Application of the Twelve Longevity Stages
The application of the Twelve Longevity Stages in the birth chart is simple; one just needs to remember the order of "Yang forward, Yin backward." For example, Jia (甲) is born in Hai (亥) and dies in Wu (午), bathes in Zi (子), and nurtures in Xu (戌). Yi (乙) is born in Wu (午) and dies in Hai (亥), and nurtures in Wei (未). The stages include Birth (Sheng), Bathing (Mu), Riding (Dai), Official Position (Lin Guan), Prosperity (Wang), Decline (Shuai), Illness (Bing), Death (Si), Repository (Ku), Extinction (Jue), Embryo (Tai), and Nurture (Yang). When studying the birth chart, it is best to understand and memorize through comprehension, using the "Finger Method" (掌诀) which is a mnemonic method by counting on fingers. Yang stems move forward, and Yin stems move backward. When a Yang stem is born, the Yin stem dies, and when a Yin stem is born, the Yang stem dies. Yang stems start from the four sources (four basic stages) and move forward, while Yin stems start from the four defeats (four negative stages) and move backward.
Correspondence Between Earthly Branches and the Twelve Longevity Stages
The correspondence between earthly branches and the Twelve Longevity Stages is crucial in the birth chart. Jia (甲) falls in Hai (亥), Bing (丙) and Wu (戊) fall in Yin (寅), Geng (庚) falls in Si (巳), and Ren (壬) falls in Shen (申). Yi (乙) falls in Wu (午), Ding (丁) and Ji (己) fall in You (酉), Xin (辛) falls in Zi (子), and Gui (癸) falls in Mao (卯). For Yang stems, we check forward to the birth branch and month, while for Yin stems, we check backward to the birth branch and month, and the position occupied is the location of the Twelve Longevity Stages.
Through an in-depth analysis of the Twelve Longevity Stages and major luck periods, we can see their important roles in personal destiny. The Twelve Longevity Stages not only affect the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of major luck periods but are also closely linked to different life stages. Understanding these relationships helps us better grasp the course of fate and plan our lives accordingly.
