What is Ji Xiang Li Ming (Pole Star Facing the Light)?

Zi Wei is the pole star, which the ancients called "the pole"; Wu lies due south, belonging to the Li trigram, which stands for fire and brightness. The pole star facing the brightest south is Ji Xiang Li Ming (the pole facing the light of Li). It is the most highly regarded of Zi Wei's twelve positions: in Wu, the emperor star is at Miao. To see whether you have it, draw your chart.

The conditions for Ji Xiang Li Ming

The condition is: the Life Palace is in Wu, and its only main star is Zi Wei.

In Wu, Zi Wei always sits alone. By this condition, about 1 chart in 110 has it.

The main stars move together, so the San Fang Si Zheng of a Ji Xiang Li Ming chart is fixed too:

• The Travel Palace opposite (Zi) holds Tan Lang.
• One trine holds Wu Qu and Tian Xiang, the other Lian Zhen and Tian Fu.

In other words, the Life Palace's San Fang holds the complete Zi Fu Lian Wu Xiang set: Zi Wei in the middle, Tian Fu, Tian Xiang, Wu Qu and Lian Zhen shining in from both sides, and Tan Lang opposite.

The name "Ji Xiang Li Ming" was given by later astrology books; the Quan Shu has no pattern by this name. But it writes about "Zi Wei in Wu" more than once.

What the classics say

The Gu Sui Fu in volume one says:

Zi Wei in Wu, with no challenging stars joining, rises to the three highest offices.

"The three highest offices" were the top posts in ancient government. The ancients said that with Zi Wei in the Life Palace in Wu, as long as no challenging stars join it, you can reach the very top. When volume three discusses Zi Wei, it adds:

Zi Wei in Wu with no Xing or Ji: people of Jia, Ding and Ji years reach the ranks of ministers.

The commentary goes on: "with Xing or Ji added, it is ordinary; Xing is Qing Yang." Meeting Qing Yang or Hua Ji brings it back to ordinary.

Why Jia, Ding and Ji years? One visible reason is Lu Cun: in Jia years Lu Cun is in Yin, a trine of Wu; in Ding and Ji years Lu Cun is in Wu, right in the Life Palace. In all three years, Lu Cun lands in the Life Palace or its San Fang.

When the Xing Yuan Lun in volume one discusses the Wu palace, it uses exactly the words "light of Li":

As for Wu, fire: strong, shining with the light of Li, clear through inside and out.

How to read it today

The emperor star at its brightest, read today:

• Natural presence and bearing. You don't need to try; others see you as the one who decides.
• Suited to going high. Management, running a business, leadership and rule-making: the bigger the role, the more you can do.
• A complete set of resources around you. The San Fang is the full Zi Fu Lian Wu Xiang set: someone for money, someone for reserves, someone to coordinate, someone to keep to the rules, while you set the direction.

Where Ji Xiang Li Ming tends to get stuck

First, face matters too much. Zi Wei already values dignity, and at its brightest even more so. When challenged, it's easy to protect your face first and only then consider whether you're right.

Second, Tan Lang opposite. The Travel Palace holds Tan Lang, so out in the world there are plenty of desires, social engagements and things you want to try. The emperor's focus can sometimes be scattered by outside temptations.

Third, wanting to decide everything yourself. The stars in your San Fang are all very capable, but if you insist on signing off every decision personally, you waste a very good hand.

What weakens it

• Qing Yang in the Life Palace. In Bing and Wu years Qing Yang lands in Wu with Zi Wei, which is what the classics mean by "with Xing added": drive turns into meeting force with force.
• Hua Ji in the San Fang. Wu Qu taking Hua Ke and Lian Zhen taking Hua Lu in Jia years add to it, for example, but Wu Qu taking Hua Ji in Ren years or Lian Zhen taking Hua Ji in Bing years adds worry to the San Fang.
• No Zuo Fu or You Bi in the San Fang. The classics say Zi Wei needs its court of officials; without helpers, you are close to the situation of a lonely ruler.

On the other hand, with both Zuo Fu and You Bi present it becomes Jun Chen Qing Hui, and with Hua Lu, Hua Quan and Hua Ke in the San Fang as well, volume three calls it "most remarkable."

How to check whether you have Ji Xiang Li Ming

1. Draw your chart and see whether your Life Palace is in Wu.
2. Check whether its only main star is Zi Wei.
3. Then check whether Qing Yang is in the Life Palace and whether Hua Ji is in the San Fang, against the classics' "no Xing or Ji."

Zi Wei's full personality is in its star introduction, and you can start reading Zi Wei through the twelve palaces with Zi Wei in the Life Palace.

Common questions

What does Ji Xiang Li Ming mean?

Zi Wei is the pole star, which the ancients called "the pole"; Wu lies in the south and belongs to the Li trigram, which stands for brightness. Zi Wei in the Life Palace in Wu is the pole star facing the brightest south. The Quan Shu says "Zi Wei in Wu, with no challenging stars joining, rises to the three highest offices," which today reads as natural presence and suiting a path upward.

Is Ji Xiang Li Ming a pattern in the Quan Shu?

The name "Ji Xiang Li Ming" comes from later astrology books; the Quan Shu has no pattern by this name. But the Quan Shu's Gu Sui Fu and volume three both write about "Zi Wei in Wu" and rate it very highly.

Is Zi Wei in the Life Palace in Zi just as good?

No. In Zi, Zi Wei is only at Ping, its weakest position. Volume three says "Zi Wei in Zi or Wu with Hua Ke, Hua Quan and Hua Lu shining in is most remarkable," meaning both Zi and Wu need those transformations in the San Fang to be complete, but on brightness alone, Wu is far better than Zi.

How common is Ji Xiang Li Ming?

Not common: about 1 chart in 110. It needs Zi Wei alone in the Life Palace exactly in Wu.