XinggeWhat Does Zuo Fu Govern?
〈問左輔所主若何？〉
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 Zuo Fu question 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: 「問左輔所主若何？」, what does Zuo Fu govern? The whole chapter is a single passage from Master Xiyi. Zuo Fu is 「帝極主宰之星」, the star that assists Zi Wei, and guarding the Body or Life Palace it brings blessings in every palace; the person looks sturdy and honest, and is generous and dashing. With Zi Wei, Tian Fu, Lu and Quan clashing and shining from the trine, it means great rank in civil or military life; clashed and broken by Huo Xing and Hua Ji, wealth and rank do not last, and the chart is judged a middle pattern.
Zuo Fu's verse is placed after the next chapter, What Does You Bi Govern?, where the two stars are discussed together.
1希夷先生答曰：左輔帝極主宰之星，守身命諸宮降福。主人形貌敦厚慷慨風流。紫府祿權若得三合沖照，主文武大貴。火忌沖破，雖富貴不久。僧道清閑，所以溫重賢曉，旺地封贈。火忌沖破，以中局斷之。
TranslationMaster Xiyi answered: Zuo Fu is the star that serves the emperor's pole and governs. Guarding the Body or Life Palace, it brings blessings in every palace. It makes the person sturdy and honest in looks, generous and dashing. If Zi Wei, Tian Fu, Hua Lu and Hua Quan clash and shine on it from the trine, it means great rank in civil or military life. Clashed and broken by Huo Xing and Hua Ji, there is wealth and rank but not for long. For monks and Daoist priests, a quiet life; so the person is mild and steady, worthy and understanding, and in a strong place receives honours from the court. Clashed and broken by Huo Xing and Hua Ji, it is judged a middle pattern.
- 帝極
- The emperor star at the celestial pole: Zi Wei.
- 沖照
- Shining from the opposite palace.
- 中局
- A middle-grade pattern.
Zuo Fu is the assistant of 「帝極主宰之星」, Zi Wei's chief minister. The key word in this passage is dependence: Zuo Fu brings blessings on its own, but great rank needs 「紫府祿權若得三合沖照」, Zi Wei, Tian Fu, Hua Lu and Hua Quan shining from the San Fang or the opposite palace. This is the other side of the Zi Wei chapter's point that Zi Wei without Zuo Fu and You Bi is a lonely ruler: the ruler needs ministers, and the ministers need a ruler.
「火忌沖破，雖富貴不久」 and the closing 「火忌沖破，以中局斷之」 say the same thing twice, and the conclusion is a middle pattern, not a base one. Zuo Fu is placed by birth month, starting from Chen for the first month and counting forward; it shares a palace with You Bi in Chou and Wei. Today Zuo Fu reads as support from peers, colleagues and a team: steady, visible help. The Nature of Zuo Fu has more detail.
Base text (Wikisource, partly in simplified Chinese)
FAQ
What does Zuo Fu govern in the Complete Book of Zi Wei Dou Shu?
Master Xiyi says Zuo Fu is the star that serves the emperor and governs; guarding the Body or Life Palace it brings blessings in every palace, and the person looks sturdy and honest and is generous and dashing. With Zi Wei, Tian Fu, Lu and Quan clashing and shining from the trine, it means great rank in civil or military life; monks and Daoist priests have a quiet life; in a strong place there are honours from the court.
What happens when Zuo Fu meets Huo Xing and Hua Ji?
The original mentions 「火忌沖破」 twice: once saying that wealth and rank do not last, and once saying 「以中局斷之」, that the chart is lowered to a middle pattern.