The Nature of Wen Chang

Wen Chang is the 'star of literary eminence': it governs examinations, documents and orthodox learning. Unlike the major stars it is a supporting star placed by the birth hour, counting backward from Xu for the Zi hour, so which palace holds Wen Chang depends only on the hour of birth.

The key is the second half: meeting Tai Yang, Tian Liang and Lu Cun, 「財官昭卓」. Later writers condensed it into Yang Liang Chang Lu (sun, shelter, literature and wealth), the most famous examination pattern. The Tai Wei Fu also says 「太陽會文昌於官祿，皇殿朝班」. Read today: examinations, certificates, paperwork and academic paths go especially smoothly, and the ability to write is this person's asset.

This segment is about Wen Chang fallen. Its fallen positions are Yin, Wu and Xu, and 'hard first and easy later' is its commonest verdict; the song in What Does Wen Chang Govern? also says 「先難而後易，中晚有聲名」. With Qing Yang and Huo Xing the person is a craftsman, as in the major-star chapters: with heavy malefic stars the road turns from office to craft. 「亦能延壽」 is an unexpected turn: ill, yet long-lived, as if the ancients thought Wen Chang's pure qi kept the person alive.

For 「旺有暗痣，陷有斑痕」 the Xing Xing Fu has 「在廟定生異痣，失陷必有斑痕」, a common old link between stars and looks; today it is enough to take it as traditional lore.

A woman's Wen Chang in its temple is only 'ordinary', and wealth and rank come only with lucky stars, a more guarded tone than for a man, reflecting the ancients' lower expectations of women studying and taking office. The condition in the second half is long: fallen, and meeting Qing Yang, Huo Xing, Ju Men, Tian Ji, killing stars and Hua Ji. Ju Men and Tian Ji appear here because the ancients saw Tian Ji with Ju Men as changeable and quarrelsome.

The verdict, 「下賤淫娼使婢」, keeps its original meaning, the heaviest judgment of station. What Does Wen Chang Govern? says that for a woman clashed and broken by the four malefic stars it is 「偏房下賤，僧道宜之」, close in tone. A modern reading: cleverness and talent with no proper stage tend to be spent where they win no recognition.

Yin, Wu and Xu are Wen Chang's fallen positions, yet here they are written as 'having its place'; the Xingge approach above explains that Xingge follows the table and marks them fallen. In the list of stems, Jia years put Lu Cun in Yin and Ding and Ji years in Wu, mostly worked out from Lu Cun as in the major-star chapters. Geng years are harder to explain.

Wen Chang belongs to metal, and Yin-Wu-Xu is the fire trine; fire overcomes metal, which is the five-element reason Wen Chang is judged fallen in these three palaces. That this segment says 'has its place' may come from another school, or from a copying error. When reading a chart, go by the brightness in the small text on Xingge, while knowing the Quan Shu disagrees with itself here.

Shen-Zi-Chen is the water trine; metal produces water, so Wen Chang gives off strength here but is not overcome, hence 'has its place', and Xingge marks it De too. The stems: in Geng years Lu Cun is in Shen and in Gui years in Zi; Jia years are hard to see from the transformations.

This segment gives a 'pattern of rank', leaning more toward name and standing than segment 4's 'wealth and office pattern', in keeping with Wen Chang's rule over literary fame. Wen Chang in Shen, Zi or Chen builds up reputation, credentials and degrees more easily than wealth. Set against 'greatly noble' in segment 6, the Quan Shu can be seen to rank Wen Chang's four trines.

Si-You-Chou is the metal trine; Wen Chang belongs to metal and is back in its own house, hence in its temple, at the highest grade, 'greatly noble'. The stems: in Yi years Lu Cun is in Mao, not here; in Xin years Lu Cun is in You; in Wu years Lu Cun is in Si.

Xin years deserve attention: by the transformation table Wen Chang takes Hua Ji in Xin years, yet the Quan Shu puts Xin on the list for Wen Chang in its temple, greatly noble. Possible explanations: Lu Cun is in You and Hua Ji on a Wen Chang in its temple is lighter; or the ancients valued the whole effect of Xin years, with Wen Qu's Hua Ke and Tai Yang's Hua Quan. The Quan Shu does not say. On a chart, a person born in a Xin year with Wen Chang in Si, You or Chou will see a Ji mark beside Wen Chang, which is exactly the doubtful point of this segment.

Hai-Mao-Wei is the wood trine; metal overcomes wood, so Wen Chang is the side doing the overcoming, spending strength but not harmed, hence 'profitable', marked Li on Xingge. Only Yi and Wu are listed: in Yi years Lu Cun is in Mao, and in Wu years You Bi, one of Wen Chang's partner lucky stars, takes Hua Ke, which may be part of the reason, though the Quan Shu does not say.

Overall, segments 4 to 7 sort Wen Chang into four groups by trine, which broadly fit the generating and overcoming of the five elements; only Yin-Wu-Xu disagrees with the brightness table. That is the best key to reading these four segments.

The condition of this verse is Wen Chang in the Life Palace in a strong palace. In Xingge's brightness Wen Chang is Miao in Si, You and Chou, De in Shen, Zi and Chen, and Li in Hai, Mao and Wei, so the 'Wang palace' is broadly Si, You and Chou. 「志大財高抵萬金」 is high praise for Wen Chang, which is usually said to govern name rather than money; counting wealth in too is the verse's exaggeration.

For people with a strong Wen Chang, writing, planning and examinations are their skill: building a name through expertise, then turning the name into income, is the usual path.

The verse first calls Wen Chang guarding the Life Palace 'no common thing', then turns on a condition: as long as the luck periods bring no early death or injury, blessings and life are long; the fear is 「限沖逢火忌」. Wen Chang itself takes Hua Ji in Xin years, so 'Ji' may be Wen Chang's own Hua Ji or another star's Hua Ji clashing with it.

Star Combinations: Wen Chang and Wen Qu has 「昌曲陷於天傷，顏回夭折」, and the Gu Sui Fu has 「顏回夭折，文昌陷於天傷」, the same allusion to Yan Hui, Confucius's disciple who died young. Wen Chang people mostly live by their minds, and what they fear most is body and reputation being struck at once; when a luck period meets Huo Xing or Hua Ji, take care.

A woman with Wen Chang and Zi Wei and Tian Fu shining on it is a titled lady of wealth and rank. The condition has a practical snag: Wen Chang is placed by the birth hour, while Zi Wei and Tian Fu are placed by the birth day and the Five Elements Bureau, so there is no fixed relation between them, and 「紫府對沖三合照」 depends on the individual chart. On your own chart, check whether Zi Wei or Tian Fu is in the San Fang Si Zheng of the Life or Body Palace.

'Wearing the rosy robes' is the ceremonial dress of a woman granted a title by the court. In modern terms: talented herself, with solid resources and backing behind her, and high social standing.

This verse is segment 3 in verse form, with more specific conditions: meeting Lian Zhen, fallen, with Qing Yang, Huo Xing and Hua Ji. The Quan Shu is divided about Lian Zhen with Wen Chang: What Does Lian Zhen Govern? says 「遇文昌好禮樂」, a positive view, while here a woman meeting Lian Zhen with malefic stars and Hua Ji means prostitution and early death. The difference lies in the malefic stars and Hua Ji, not in Lian Zhen itself.

「偏房猶得主人輕」 is a very heavy line in its original sense. Talent and feeling are both easily exploited, leaving her the weaker party in a relationship; it is wise to see clearly first whether the other side gives her the place she is due.

The claim 「斗數之中第二星」 is not consistent across the Quan Shu: the song in What Do Wen Chang and Wen Qu Mean in the Annual Luck? says 「南北昌曲星，數中推第一」. There is no need to fuss over rankings; the point is that Wen Chang in a luck period governs examinations and degrees. 'Tai Sui' means the Annual Luck and 'the two luck periods' the Decade Luck and Minor Luck; when any of them reaches Wen Chang, a scholar has a chance of passing.

When the Annual Luck or Decade Luck reaches Wen Chang, it is a good time to sit examinations, apply for degrees, write or publish, or submit qualifications for review. On Xingge, lay the Annual Luck over the chart and see whether Wen Chang is in the year's Life Palace or its San Fang.

In contrast to the verse before, Wen Chang out of its place in a luck period, with malefic stars and Hua Ji, brings lawsuits and quarrels, ruin and injury. Wen Chang governs documents, so the trouble too is mostly on paper: contracts, signatures, failed examinations, disputes over official papers.

The Dou Shu Fa Wei Lun says 「昌曲在於凶鄉，林泉冷淡」, a milder tone, only a career that comes to nothing; here even the family fortune and injury are mentioned. They can be understood as two grades: fallen alone, a cold career; fallen with the four malefic stars and Hua Ji, lawsuits and ruin.