XinggeWhat Does Hua Ke Govern?
〈問化科星所主若何？〉
The Complete Book of Zi Wei Dou Shu, Volume 1: Rhapsodies, questions on the stars, and chart patterns · Original text with translation
Introduction
This is the question 「問化科星所主若何？」 in the Zhu Xing Wen Da Lun (Questions and Answers on the Stars) in volume one of the Complete Book of Zi Wei Dou Shu: what does Hua Ke (the Transformation of Fame) govern? The whole chapter is a single passage from Master Xiyi. Hua Ke is 「上界應試，主掌文墨之星」, the star of the upper realm that oversees examinations and governs writing. Guarding the Body or Life Palace and meeting Hua Quan and Hua Lu, it brings the rank of a chief minister; even meeting evil stars, the person is a scholar of fine writing who can be a model and teacher to many. A woman with lucky stars embracing it is noble and receives honours; even with the four malefic stars clashing and breaking it, she counts as rich and noble. The last line says Hua Ke embracing from the trine or shining from the opposite palace is judged the same as Hua Ke in the palace itself.
1希夷先生答曰：科星上界應試，主掌文墨之星。守身命權祿相逢宰臣之貴。如逢惡曜亦為文章秀士，可作群英師範。女命吉拱，主貴封贈。雖四殺沖破，亦為富貴。與科星拱照沖同論。
TranslationMaster Xiyi answered: Hua Ke is the star of the upper realm that oversees examinations and governs ink and writing. Guarding the Body or Life Palace and meeting Hua Quan and Hua Lu, it brings the rank of a chief minister. If it meets evil stars, the person is still a scholar of fine writing who can be a model and teacher to many. A woman's chart with lucky stars embracing it means nobility and honours from the court. Even with the four malefic stars clashing and breaking it, she counts as rich and noble. Hua Ke embracing it or shining on it from opposite is judged the same.
- 宰臣
- A chief minister or high official.
- 秀士
- A talented scholar.
- 與科星拱照沖同論
- Terse; the sense is that Hua Ke embracing from the trine or shining from opposite is judged the same as Hua Ke in the palace.
Hua Ke is 「上界應試，主掌文墨之星」, governing exams, reputation and learning. Compared with Hua Lu and Hua Quan it is the gentlest: meeting evil stars, 「亦為文章秀士，可作群英師範」; with the four malefic stars clashing and breaking it, 「亦為富貴」. There is almost no bad outcome. That is the Quan Shu's overall view of Hua Ke: it does not necessarily bring great wealth and rank, but it rarely lets a person hit bottom.
The last line, 「與科星拱照沖同論」, says Hua Ke embracing from the trine or shining from the opposite palace works the same as sitting in the palace itself, a fairly generous view among the four transformations. The Nature of the Four Transformations adds what Hua Ke fears: 「但嫌截路空亡、旬空、亦畏忌天空」. A reputation that comes to nothing is the thing Hua Ke dreads most. By the year stem, Hua Ke falls on a main star or on stars such as Wen Chang, Wen Qu (in Xin years), You Bi and Tian Fu. Following the Quan Shu, Xingge makes Tian Fu the Hua Ke of Ren years; some schools use Zuo Fu instead, so take care when reading other books.
Base text (Wikisource, partly in simplified Chinese)
FAQ
What does Hua Ke govern in the Complete Book of Zi Wei Dou Shu?
Master Xiyi says Hua Ke is the star of the upper realm that oversees examinations and governs writing. Guarding the Body or Life Palace and meeting Hua Quan and Hua Lu, it brings the rank of a chief minister; meeting evil stars, the person is still a scholar of fine writing who can be a model and teacher to many.
Is Hua Ke still good when it meets malefic stars?
The original says Hua Ke 「如逢惡曜亦為文章秀士」, and that for a woman 「雖四殺沖破，亦為富貴」. The Quan Shu rarely says anything negative about Hua Ke.