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title: An Ming Shen Gong Jue (Placing Life and Body Palaces) description: The method for placing the Life Palace and Body Palace in Zi Wei Dou Shu, which is a key step in chart construction.

An Ming Shen Gong Jue (Placing Life and Body Palaces)

Overview

The "An Ming Shen Gong Jue" is a method for placing the two most important palaces in Zi Wei Dou Shu: the "Life Palace" (Ming Gong) and the "Body Palace" (Shen Gong). The Life Palace represents the center of a person's destiny, while the Body Palace represents the physical body and health. The accurate placement of these palaces forms the foundation for chart interpretation.

Basic Principles

In Zi Wei Dou Shu, the placement of the Life and Body Palaces follows these principles:

1. Determining the Life Palace: Calculated from the birth date and time, representing the center of a person's destiny.
2. Determining the Body Palace: Derived from the Life Palace, representing a person's physical body and health.

Calculation Methods

Calculating the Life Palace

The following steps are required to calculate the Life Palace:

1. Identify the Lunar Month: Confirm the lunar month of birth.
2. Identify the Hour Pillar: Confirm the Earthly Branch (12 time divisions) corresponding to the birth hour.
3. Calculate the Life Palace:
   • Start counting from the lunar month and count backwards (counter-clockwise) the number of places indicated by the hour pillar.
   • For example, if born in the 3rd lunar month (Yin) and at Wu hour (which is the 7th hour), count 7 places backwards from Yin to find the Life Palace.

Formula: Life Palace = Birth Month Branch - Birth Hour Branch (counting backwards)

Calculating the Body Palace

The Body Palace is derived from the Life Palace:

1. Identify the Life Palace Position: Confirm the position of the Life Palace calculated above.
2. Calculate the Body Palace:
   • Starting from the Life Palace, count forward (clockwise) the same number of places as indicated by the hour pillar.
   • For example, if the Life Palace is in Xu and the birth hour is Wu (7th hour), count 7 places forward from Xu to find the Body Palace.

Formula: Body Palace = Life Palace + Birth Hour Branch (counting forwards)

Practical Example

For instance, for a person born in the 3rd lunar month (Yin month), during Wu hour (11:00-12:59):

Life Palace Calculation:

1. Birth Month: Yin (3rd month)
2. Hour Pillar: Wu (7th position)
3. Counting 7 places backwards from Yin: Yin → Chou → Zi → Hai → Xu → You → Shen
4. Therefore, the Life Palace is in Shen.

Body Palace Calculation:

1. Life Palace: Shen
2. Hour Pillar: Wu (7th position)
3. Counting 7 places forward from Shen: Shen → You → Xu → Hai → Zi → Chou → Yin
4. Therefore, the Body Palace is in Yin.

Theoretical Basis

This method is based on classical texts such as "San Ming Tong Hui" and "Yuan Hai Zi Ping" and reflects the relationship between a person's birth date and time and cosmic energy patterns. The Life and Body Palaces are considered the most fundamental indicators symbolizing the quality of a person's destiny and physical body.

Applications and Considerations

1. Importance of the Life Palace: The Life Palace is central to Zi Wei Dou Shu interpretation, and the stars placed here have the strongest influence.
2. Complementary Role of the Body Palace: The Body Palace complements the Life Palace and is particularly important for interpreting health aspects and physical characteristics.
3. Need for Accurate Birth Data: Accurate calculation of the Life and Body Palaces requires precise birth date and time information.

Conclusion

The "An Ming Shen Gong Jue" is the core part of creating a Zi Wei Dou Shu chart and forms the basis for all interpretations. With the Life and Body Palaces correctly placed, it becomes possible to position the other ten palaces and stars, and to interpret them.