Seven Killings (Qi Sha, 七杀)

What the classic Yuan Hai Zi Ping (渊海子平) says

Its section On Seven Killings (论七杀), whole.

Seven Killings (七杀) is also called Seven Killings (偏官). It likes a strong self that binds the Killings (杀), likes the Killings held down, and likes the Yang Blade (阳刃); it dislikes a weak self, dislikes meeting Wealth (财), and where it is produced dislikes having nothing to check it. Self strong and the star with force in it, call it Seven Killings; self weak and nothing checking it, call it Seven Killings. Where this star is present, do not simply call it ill. Having a Seven Killings is better than having a Direct Officer (正官): many of the greatly rich and greatly honoured have it — but only where the self is strong and binds the Killings is it fine. Yang Wood (甲) takes Yang Metal (庚) as its Seven Killings and welcomes a Yang Fire (丙) or Yin Fire (丁) to hold it down; a Yin Wood (乙) binding it instead is called a binding that forgets the Killings (贪合忘杀), greedy for the union and forgetting the Killings. The Killings should be held down, but not held down too far — anything taken to its extreme turns back into misfortune. Self strong and running a period that strengthens the self makes blessing. Self weak and running toward further weakness, and the misfortune does not wait to arrive. If the four pillars already carry something that holds it down, a Seven Killings period is welcome. If they carry nothing, the Seven Killings coming out is the misfortune. Running toward strength for the self, with a Yang Blade as well, the honour is beyond speaking of — but Wealth in strength is unwelcome, because Wealth produces the Killings. When the year or the period comes onto it, even a strong self has much calamity, and a weak self far more. Wood Monkey (甲申), Wood Rooster (乙酉), Fire Ox (丁丑), Earth Tiger (戊寅), Earth Rabbit (己卯), Metal Goat (辛未) and Water Goat (癸未): people born on these seven days are governed by the Killings — quick-tempered, sharp, clever and deft of mind. Where much Killings is seen, it means a person harsh and short-lived and thin in means. Seen in the month it weighs heavy, in the hour light. Why? The day's Seven Killings is only one; if the year and the hour show it again, the Killings is many and becomes misfortune. Then ground that holds it down is wanted, and a strong self with something holding it down makes it authority instead. What it most fears is a clash, and the Yang Blade, which is very ill. An hour Seven Killings is only one, and the self must be strong; where the year, month and hour all hold it down there is blessing. Then a period where the Killings is strong is wanted, and a period reaching suitable ground in trine will also open out. Without anything holding it down, a period that holds it down is what brings the blessing. Running a strong-Killings period with nothing to check it, and misfortune is made. An hour Seven Killings fears neither the Yang Blade nor a clash. Take [Metal Ox, Wood Goat, Wood Rabbit, Fire Rat (辛丑 乙未 乙卯 丙子)]: the self is strong, born in the sixth month, with Metal Ox (辛丑) showing in the year as Seven Killings; happily the Fire Rat (丙子) binds the Metal Ox Killings, so there is rank and authority with it. Take [Wood Horse, Fire Tiger, Metal Rat, Fire Rat (甲午 丙寅 庚子 丙子)]: the self is weak, a Fire frame present, a Fire Tiger (丙寅) Seven Killings in the month and a Fire Rat again in the hour; Fire controls the Yang Metal and Metal dies at Rat (子). Self weak, Killings strong, and nothing holding it down — so illness and thin means, as it should be. Take [Fire Snake, Earth Monkey, Water Rat, Earth Monkey (丁巳 戊申 壬子 戊申)]: the self is strong, two Yang Earth (戊) as Seven Killings drawn back to Snake (巳); Yin Fire binds with Yang Water (壬) and Yang Earth binds with Yin Water (癸), Metal has its Birth (長生) at Snake and Yang Earth has its prosperity star (禄) at Snake. So both the Yang Water and the Yang Earth are strong, and hence the honour. In verse: Seven Killings is like a tiger and fears many clashes; with the fortune strong and the self strong, what can it do? Self weak and tiger strong makes calamity; self strong and the Killings held down is honour in balance. In verse: Seven Killings and Indirect Resource (偏印) are hardest of all to read; above and below producing each other there is profit and a name; the four stores seated on Wealth should face honour, and one steps out to duke and minister easily. In verse: if Yang Earth or Yin Earth (己) meets officer and Killings, with Metal and Water added to the frame; born with Fire it should meet Fire, and when the Fire withdraws it worries at Metal and fears Wood breaking in. In verse: Seven Killings held down turns into authority — one mounts the clouds at a touch and rises young; if the year and the period run to ground where the self is strong, the name is greatly used and blessing doubled. In verse: Seven Killings cannot be called ill as a rule — held down it gives clothing and income in plenty; an Eating God (食神) above with a binding in the branches, and there are grandchildren to fill the eye and blessing without end. In verse: a yin Yin Water meeting much Yin Earth is injured, and the Killings star needs Wood to bring it down; the name and profit may stand high, but the years of the life are not long. In verse: a Yang Fire person with much Pig (亥) and Rat has the Killings star holding the Resource (印) and turns back to balance; going east the name and profit rise, and the fortune reaching west turns everything to grinding. In verse: spring Wood without Metal is nothing rare, and much Metal risks danger in return; take the balanced qi within the pattern and there is blessing, long life, peace and everything in order.

夫七杀者，亦名偏官，喜身旺合杀、喜制伏、喜阳刃；忌身弱、忌见财，生忌无制。 身旺有气为偏官，身弱无制为七杀。 凡有此杀不可便言凶？有正官不如有偏官，多有巨富大贵之人；惟其身旺合杀为妙。 如甲以庚为七杀，喜丙丁制之；乙合之，谓之『贪合忘杀』。 七杀却宜制伏，亦不要制之太过；盖物极则反为祸矣！ 身旺又行身旺之运为福。 如身弱又行身弱之乡，祸不旋踵。 四柱中元有制伏，喜行七杀运；元无制伏，七杀出为祸。 如行身旺乡，更有阳刃，贵不可言；但忌财旺，财能生杀故也。岁运临之，身旺亦多灾；身弱尤甚。 甲申、乙酉、丁丑、戊寅、己卯、辛未、癸未，此七日生主杀，性急伶俐、心巧聪明。 如见杀多者，主人凶夭贫薄；月见之重，时见之轻。何也？日七杀，只一位见之，如年时再见，杀多为祸；却要制伏之乡，又要身旺有制伏为权，最怕冲与阳刃大凶。 时七杀只一位，要本身旺，如年月时三处有制伏为福；却要行杀旺运，运三合得地亦发；若无制伏，则要行制伏为福。 行杀旺运无制伏，则祸作。 时上七杀，却不怕阳刃，而亦不畏冲。 如【辛丑，乙未，乙卯，丙子】：此命身旺，生于六月之中，岁干透出辛丑为七杀；喜得丙子合辛丑之杀，乃贵而有权。 如【甲午，丙寅，庚子，丙子】：此命身弱，见火局，又见月令丙寅七杀，时又见丙子；火剋庚金，金死于子，身弱杀旺，又无制伏，宜乎带病贫薄。 如【丁巳，戊申，壬子，戊申】：此命身旺，见二戊为七杀，引归于巳；丁与壬合，戊与癸合，金又长生于巳，戊禄在巳；乃壬戊二字俱旺，所以贵也。 夫偏官者，盖甲木见庚金之类；阳见阳，阴见阴，乃谓之偏官，不成配偶，犹如经言：『二女不能同居，二男不可并处』是也。 偏官即七杀，要制伏，盖偏官七杀即小人；小人无知，多凶暴，无忌惮，乃能劳力以养君子，而服役护御君子者。小人也，惟是不惩不戒，无术以控制之，则不能驯伏而为用；故，杨子曰：『御得其道，则驯伏或作使；御失其道，则狙诈或作敌。』小人者，狙诈也，要控御得其道矣；一失控御，小人得权，则祸立见矣！ 经曰：『人有偏官，如抱虎而眠，虽借其威，足以摄群畜；稍失关防，必为其噬脐，不可不虑也。』如遇三刑俱全、阳刃在日及时、又有六害；复遇魁罡相冲，如是人之凶不可具述。 制伏得位，运复经行制伏之乡，此大贵之命也。 茍于前者，凶神俱聚，运游杀旺之乡，凶害有不可言者可知也。 如有一杀，而制伏有二三，复行制伏之运，反不作福。何以言之？盖尽法无法，虽猛如狼，不能制伏矣！是又不可专言制伏，要须轻重得所；不可太甚，亦不可不及。须仔细审详而言，则祸福如影响矣！ 又云，有制伏则为偏官，无制伏则为七杀；譬诸小人，御之得其道则可使，失其道则难敌，在吾控御之道何如耳！ 凡见此杀，勿便言凶，殊不知带此杀者，多有贵命。如遇三刑六害、或阳刃魁罡相冲，如是之凶，不可谓之制伏；但运行制伏，此贵人命也。茍如前凶神俱聚，其运复行杀旺之乡，祸不可言。 大抵偏官七杀，最喜身旺、有制伏为妙。元有制伏，可行杀旺之方；元无制伏，可行制伏之运。 身旺化之，得为偏官；身弱无制伏，则为七杀。 制伏复行制伏运，谓之大运，则为偏官无餘烬矣！ 月中之气，怕冲与阳刃。其本身弱，若杀强则难制；如身强杀浅，则是假杀为权刃。 如曰七杀不怕刑冲。宜详之！ 《诗诀》偏官如虎怕冲多，运旺身强岂奈何；身弱虎强成祸患，身强制伏贵中和。 《诗诀》偏官偏印最难明，上下相生有利名；四库坐财宜向贵，等闲平步出公卿。 《诗诀》戊己若逢见官杀，局中金水更加临；当生有火宜逢火，火退愁金怕木侵。 《诗诀》偏官有制化为权，唾手登云发少年；岁运若行身旺地，功名大用福双全。 《诗诀》偏官不可例言凶，有制还他衣禄丰；干上食神支又合，儿孙满眼福无穷。 《诗诀》阴癸多逢己字伤，杀星须用木来降；虽然名利能高显，争奈平生寿不长。 《诗诀》六丙生人亥子多，杀星拘印返中和；东方行去兴名利，运到西方事转磨。 《诗诀》春木无金不是奇，金多犹恐反遭危；格中取得中和气，福寿康寧百事宜。