In the Twelve Longevity Stages, Changsheng (Longevity), Guandai (Crowned), Linzhang (Official Position), and Diwang (Imperial Power) represent auspicious and prosperous energies, known as the "Four Auspicious Stages." Bai (Defeat), Si (Death), Mu (Waste), and Jue (Exhaustion) represent adverse energies, known as the "Four Adverse Stages." Shuai (Decline), Bing (Illness), Tai (Womb), and Yang (Nurturing) represent average or unremarkable energies.

Generally, Changsheng energy is considered auspicious. Changsheng means growth, from nothing to something, so people whose destiny is based on Changsheng have the ability to create, develop, and expand. The earthly branches of Changsheng all have Yin stars (supportive elements), which can assist themselves. Therefore, during the Changsheng great cycle or the year, their thoughts are particularly active, and they tend to have new ideas and insights. However, the disadvantage is that Changsheng is afraid of being struck, and if struck, the foundation becomes unstable, and in severe cases, the foundation disappears, leading to a tendency towards discouragement. Striking the Yin star corresponds to the element of wealth (Cai Xing) and the elements of Food Spirit and Injury Spirit. Wealth represents profit, and Food Spirit represents one's own thoughts and opinions. In reality, this leads to greed for profit or overconfidence. When Changsheng is struck, it cannot nourish, but instead brings failure and setbacks due to reckless actions.
People whose destiny or great cycle is in Changsheng should seek employment in large, well-established organizations, taking on roles that require independent development, research, or expansion. During their work, if difficulties arise, they can be resolved by senior management or other cooperating units, avoiding the burden of double responsibilities. If they are self-employed, long-term thinking is needed rather than short-term benefits or vanity. It is also advisable to have elders or professionals around for consultation, which is the hidden power of the Yin star.
Changsheng has the virtues of gentle nature, respect for others, and calm demeanor. Among the ten heavenly stems, the most auspicious are Bing Yin and Ren Shen. For women, if the moon or day stem is self-sitting on Changsheng, they have beautiful features, are gentle and modest. If there are no conflicts or collisions in the four pillars, even if the husband star is not in a strong position, they can still have a harmonious family. One thing to note is: "The hour branch must not carry Diwang," remember this carefully.

Guan means a hat, and Dai means ancient accessories. Guandai was the coming-of-age ceremony for men and women when they reached twenty years old, indicating they had become adults. Guandai signifies joy and celebration, representing the achievement of affairs and career. It is auspicious when it falls on the fate or body, and it also indicates minor nobility. When it falls on the limit, it indicates minor success and increased wealth. This is metaphorically similar to the small achievements of men wearing hats and women carrying bags.
Generally, people whose destiny is based on Guandai have an overly strong sense of self-respect and like to dominate others, unwilling to be dominated. Therefore, they are prone to making enemies. Women have a masculine character. Such women often command their husbands, yet they take good care of their families. There is also a saying: "Guandai brothers' country, although there are hills between them, they live under the same roof, but the firelight is separate." This is only a tendency, please use it with caution to avoid mistakes, as Yixue (the study of change) is complex and cannot be applied rigidly.

Lin Guan is also called Linzhang. Guan means a hat, and after going through the stages of Tu (womb), Yang (nourishing), Changsheng (longevity), Mu (bath), and Guandai (crowned), one begins to pursue official titles. In ancient times, those who excelled in studies would enter government service, and their efforts would be rewarded. In some divination studies, Linzhang contains meanings such as public, government, illness, disaster, presence of men, near death, flattery, serving officials, becoming an official, having a political career, status, civil servants, self-reliance, self-effort, growth, nearing success, state-owned enterprises, danger, etc., which are related to political careers.
Generally, people with Linzhang in their eight characters have strong independence and possess the characteristics of Bi Jian (comrade). Those with Linzhang in their destiny experience more ups and downs than ordinary people. Due to a stubborn and indomitable spirit, although they face more challenges, they can continuously strive and achieve success. They do not take these challenges too seriously and consider them a natural part of life.

After Linzhang comes Diwang in the Twelve Longevity Stages. In Linzhang, we mentioned that one starts to hold office, which is considered entering the right path. Diwang is reaching the peak, the most vigorous period of life, like the sun at its zenith, the peak of vitality. Once past this peak, it gradually declines.
Diwang represents strength and prosperity, also auspicious and noble. It signifies that matters are fulfilled, profits increase, children are born, and other happy events. It symbolizes the peak of physical and mental maturity, like a monarch's power at its peak, implying the crisis of decline. Some divination books describe Diwang as containing meanings such as prosperity, development, satisfaction, spirit, excitement, vigor, strength, magnificence, grandeur, expertise, power, brilliance, flourishing, promotion, authority, limits, climax, and peak.
Generally, a person with Diwang in their destiny is the most vigorous among the twelve branches. For yang-day masters, Diwang is actually Yang Renshi (Yang刃), showing a tendency toward decline after reaching its peak, feeling strong but unable to control. Such people have a strong sense of self-respect, following the principle of "excess leads to reversal." Generally, male destinies have a weak connection with parents, but a good relationship with the mother-in-law's family. Women may dominate their husbands, making the marriage difficult to be harmonious.

After the stages of Changsheng, Guandai, Linzhang, and Diwang, one enters the stage of Shuai (Decline) in the destiny system, gradually declining, starting to decrease according to certain standards. According to the literal meaning, Shuai means the decline after being strong. In destiny, Shuai represents despondency, stagnation, and lack of ambition, making one prone to pessimism and depression when facing setbacks. When it appears in the limit, it indicates many troubles, diseases, losses, and decline. It symbolizes the decline of physical and mental energy, lacking the spirit and patience to overcome difficulties. Some divination books say that Shuai contains meanings such as weakness, frailty, feebleness, poor conditions, low intelligence, decay, small strength, bad luck, retreat, no support, weaknesses, timidity, fragility, small stature, incompetence, lack of skills, neither high nor low, and fear of resistance.
Generally, a person with Shuai in their destiny shows a conservative, mature, and unyielding appearance. Most experiences in life have been tried, and they have considerable experience, so such people handle affairs cautiously, do not show off, and are persistent, easily satisfied. Here, it is important to note that Shuai is different from the concept of the eight characters' strength and weakness; they are not the same concept.

The word "Bing" literally means a biological body experiencing unhealthy phenomena, including flaws, errors, damage, harm, dissatisfaction, criticism, etc. Some divination books say that Bing contains meanings such as disease, lesion, pestilence, annoyance, hatred, enemies, hostility, shortcomings, deficiencies, problems, weaknesses, loopholes, pain points, critical points, heart ailments, corruption, and issues.
Generally, a person with "Bing" in their destiny moves slowly and over-thinks. People sitting in the Bing position are especially sensitive, missing opportunities due to overthinking. They like public welfare, enjoy contributing their own strength, and have extreme likes and dislikes, with a clean obsession, a determined personality, yet good manners. Although somewhat sensitive, they do not regret. For female masters, their personalities are unstable and somewhat withdrawn, and they cannot get along well with their siblings.

Si is easy to understand, generally containing meanings such as death, getting stuck in a dead end, inflexibility, inability to adapt, stagnation, conclusion, failure, sticking to one idea, walking into a dead end, no room for maneuver, poor conditions, no vitality, no energy, stiff, clumsy, not seeing the light, narrow-minded, no way out, silence, quiet, terrifying, etc.
In terms of the positions of the twelve longevity, death refers to the process in terms of personality and career, whether it is success or failure. (Here, it is different from the actual death.) Generally, a person with "Si" in their destiny is outwardly soft but inwardly strong. If not clashed or interfered with, they are steady in their work, with perseverance, and are amicable with others. Women with two or more "Bing" branches in their destiny often have poor marriages. Women born on Yi Hai and Geng Zi have particularly bad family and marital relationships. People who sit in the "Si" position are mostly skilled or knowledgeable individuals.

We often say that Mu is a grave, cemetery, graveyard, tomb path, tombstone, and residence, which seems closely related to death. In fact, in the theory of the Eight Characters, it is not interpreted this way. Here, Mu is also called Ku (storehouse), and the storehouse makes it easier to understand. People with Mu in their Eight Characters are best suited for the real estate industry, business people, possessing the virtue of maintaining stability, and have a very vigorous inner desire for exploration and development. Another point is that people born on a Mu day usually come from poor families, with shallow connections with relatives; they leave home at a young age and suffer hardship, and they have good luck before adulthood. They must bear the responsibility of caring for their family, have considerable income-generating abilities, and generally develop during middle age; however, before they start their luck, there are significant fluctuations in fortune.
Marriage obstacles are numerous, and although the marriage prospects seem good, there are often disputes.