What is Chang Qu Jia (Flanked by the Literary Stars)?

Wen Chang is the star of order, paperwork and exams; Wen Qu is the star of eloquence, artistry and expression. Chang Qu Jia (Wen Chang and Wen Qu flanking) is the two not sitting in the palace itself but standing one on each side, setting off the middle palace's affairs with polish and style. The classics rate it very highly, calling it "most remarkable." To check whether you have it, draw your chart.

How Chang Qu Jia forms

Wen Chang and Wen Qu both go by the birth hour: Wen Chang starts the Zi hour at Xu and counts backward; Wen Qu starts the Zi hour at Chen and counts forward. The two move symmetrically in opposite directions, so the only palaces they can flank are Chou and Wei.

Working back, only people born in four double-hours have Chang Qu Jia:

• Born in the Yin or Chen hour: flanking Wei.
• Born in the Shen or Xu hour: flanking Chou.

Xingge's detection only looks at the Life, Wealth, Career and Spouse Palaces and the palace holding the Body Palace. By this count, about 1 chart in 9 has Chang Qu Jia; with the Life Palace flanked, about 1 in 35.

The structure is very like Zuo You Jia: Zuo Fu and You Bi go by birth month, Wen Chang and Wen Qu by birth hour, but both pairs set out symmetrically from Chen and Xu, so both can only flank Chou or Wei.

What the classics say

Volume three of the Quan Shu says:

Wen Chang and Wen Qu flanking the Life Palace is most remarkable: for example, the Life Palace in Chou, Wen Chang in Yin, Wen Qu in Zi.

The commentary goes on: "if not noble, then wealthy." The classics speak of flanking the Life Palace; Xingge extends the same reading to the Wealth, Career and Spouse Palaces and the Body Palace. The original's example (Life Palace in Chou, Wen Chang in Yin, Wen Qu in Zi) is exactly someone born in the Shen hour.

How to read it today

The palace flanked by Wen Chang and Wen Qu is like having a scholar standing on each side:

• This area gets noticed easily. Wen Chang brings order and Wen Qu brings expression, so what you produce has quality, and you can talk about it well.
• Suited to gaining ground through writing, knowledge and expression. Writing, presentations, teaching, design and certifications are Chang Qu Jia's strengths.
• You come across as cultured and refined. Especially when it is the Life Palace that is flanked.

Xingge's reading: Wen Chang and Wen Qu flank this palace: this area is lifted by polish and order, and easily noticed.

In the Career Palace, you make your way at work through expertise and expression; in the Wealth Palace, you earn through knowledge, writing and creativity; in the Spouse Palace, your partner is talented, or you value communication highly in love.

Chang Qu Jia versus Wen Chang and Wen Qu in the same palace

Chang Qu Tong Gong is the two stars sitting in the same palace, with their polish concentrated right there; Chang Qu Jia is the two setting it off from the sides. Wen Chang and Wen Qu in the same palace also only happens in Chou and Wei (Wei for the Mao hour, Chou for the You hour), so its hours never overlap with Chang Qu Jia's.

What weakens it

• Wen Chang or Wen Qu taking Hua Ji. In Xin years Wen Chang takes Hua Ji, in Ji years Wen Qu does; what flanks the palace is then not just polish but small troubles with documents, contracts or misspoken words.
• Challenging stars or Hua Ji in the middle palace. The polish outside can't cover what is stuck inside.
• Wen Chang or Wen Qu at Xian. Both stars are weaker in certain branches, and the help is smaller.

The Six Auspicious Stars lesson covers Wen Chang and Wen Qu themselves, and the flanking palaces lesson the general rules of flanking.

Common questions

What does Chang Qu Jia Ming mean?

Wen Chang and Wen Qu sit one on each side of the Life Palace. The Quan Shu says "Wen Chang and Wen Qu flanking the Life Palace is most remarkable," and the commentary adds "if not noble, then wealthy." The modern reading: this area is lifted by polish and order, and you make your way easily through knowledge, writing and expression.

Which birth hours have Chang Qu Jia?

Only people born in the Yin or Chen hour (flanking Wei) or the Shen or Xu hour (flanking Chou). Then check whether the flanked palace is the Life, Wealth, Career or Spouse Palace, or the Body Palace.

Which is better, Chang Qu Jia or Zuo You Jia?

Both are good, in different directions. Zuo You Jia is help from people: someone beside you. Chang Qu Jia is help from talent: what you make has quality. People with both have connections and the ability to express themselves.