Clash-Combine Official Emolument (冲合禄马): The Art of Dynamic Nobility

In the realm of BaZi special patterns, there is a remarkably clever and dynamic method for acquiring nobility, known as the Clash-Combine Official Emolument (冲合禄马). Its essence lies in the "clash first, combine later" mechanism: when the birth chart lacks a direct Executive (正官) star, a powerful "clash force" from an Earthly Branch is first used to strike the opposite branch's hidden official emolument, "clashing" it out. Then, a "combine force" present in the chart forms a Triple Combination with this clashed-out energy, firmly "combining" the nobility for the Day Master's use. As the classic San Ming Tong Hui (三命通会) states: "When the clashing force meets a combining force, unhindered by restraints, one is sure to ascend to pure nobility."

Identifying the Pattern

This pattern primarily applies to the four Day Masters: Jia (甲), Yi (乙), Wu (戊), and Ji (己). The core condition is that the chart must lack the direct Executive star. It relies on multiple "clash forces" (e.g., Mao clashing You) to remotely clash out the official emolument, and then a "combine force" (e.g., Si or Chou combining with You) to secure it.

The specific identification method can be broken down as follows:

• Jia Day (甲日): The Four Pillars must lack Executive stars such as Geng, Xin, Shen, or You. It favors multiple "Mao" (卯) branches, whose vigorous Wood energy clashes the opposite You (酉) position, thereby drawing out the Xin (辛) Metal Executive hidden within You. Simultaneously, the chart must contain "Si" (巳) or "Chou" (丑) to form a Si-You-Chou Triple Combination Metal Bureau, securing the Executive.
• Yi Day (乙日): The Four Pillars must lack Executive stars such as Geng, Xin, Shen, or You. It favors multiple "Yin" (寅) branches, whose Wood energy clashes the opposite Shen (申) position, drawing out the Geng (庚) Metal Executive hidden within Shen. Simultaneously, the chart must contain "Zi" (子) or "Chen" (辰) to form a Shen-Zi-Chen Triple Combination Water Bureau, securing the Executive.
• Wu Day (戊日): The Four Pillars must lack Executive stars such as Jia, Yi, Yin, or Mao. It favors multiple "You" (酉) branches, whose Metal energy clashes the opposite Mao (卯) position, drawing out the Yi (乙) Wood Executive hidden within Mao. Simultaneously, the chart must contain "Hai" (亥) or "Wei" (未) to form a Hai-Mao-Wei Triple Combination Wood Bureau, securing the Executive.
• Ji Day (己日): The Four Pillars must lack Executive stars such as Jia, Yi, Yin, or Mao. It favors multiple "Shen" (申) branches, whose Metal energy clashes the opposite Yin (寅) position, drawing out the Jia (甲) Wood Executive hidden within Yin. Simultaneously, the chart must contain "Wu" (午) or "Xu" (戌) to form a Yin-Wu-Xu Triple Combination Fire Bureau, securing the Executive.

Meaning of the Pattern

Individuals with this pattern are typically strategic and bold, excelling at seizing opportunities and creating new situations amidst contradictions and changes. The "clash" in the pattern symbolizes a pioneering spirit that breaks conventions and dares to advance; the "combine" represents the coordinating wisdom to integrate resources and stabilize achievements. Therefore, the native often does not fear competition and can transform external challenges and opposing forces into stepping stones for personal advancement. Through active maneuvering, they ultimately gain power and status. If the pattern is pure and unbroken, the native may hold a high-ranking position, becoming a commanding general or a key strategist.

However, the path to success for this pattern is often accompanied by struggle and upheaval. If there is a clash without a combine, the nobility remains floating and unstable, leading to life's ups and downs and recklessness without strategy. If the pattern is severely damaged, the fortune is greatly diminished, and the native may only become a dependent of the powerful, struggling to hold real power, or even fall into hardship.

Key Likes and Dislikes of the Pattern

• Likes:

  1. Strong Clash Force: The initiating Earthly Branches (Mao, Yin, You, Shen) must be numerous and powerful in the chart to ensure the successful "clash" of the opposite branch and the drawing out of nobility.
  2. Present Combine Force: The Earthly Branches forming the Triple Combination must appear in the chart. This is crucial for "materializing" and "stabilizing" the nobility invited from afar. Only with both clash and combine is the pattern complete.
  3. Robust Day Master: The Day Master must be strong, supported by Mentor (正印) or Peer/Rival (比肩/劫财), to have a solid foundation capable of bearing the power and status obtained through fierce competition.

• Dislikes:

  1. Filling the Official Star: This is the number one taboo. If the Executive star or its emolument branch (e.g., seeing You or Xin for a Jia Day) appears directly in the Four Pillars, the "hidden clash" becomes meaningless, and the pattern is immediately broken.
  2. Restraining the Clash Force: The Earthly Branch used to initiate the clash, if combined (e.g., Mao with Xu) or tripled in the chart, will "forget to clash due to greed for combination," rendering the clashing force inactive.
  3. Injuring the Useful God: The Earthly Branches that are key to the pattern (the clash force and combine force) should not be subjected to Punishments (刑), Clashes (冲), Harms (害), or Breaks (破) from other branches. Otherwise, the pattern's foundation is shaken, and the nobility dissipates.

Classical Text

From San Ming Tong Hui (三命通会)

For a Jia Day person, if the pillars lack You or Xin but have many Mao clashing You, and Si or Chou combine with You to form the Jia Day's Executive, it is favorable to have Ren or Shui for support, and unfavorable to have You or Xin filling the position. Even if there is only one Mao, if there are other Punishments or Combinations to activate it, it can still be a good fate. For a Yi Day person, if the pillars lack Shen or Geng but have Yin clashing Shen, and Zi or Chen combine to form the arch, or Si punishes it out, it becomes the Yi Executive. It favors Ren or Shui for support, and dislikes Shen or Geng filling the position. For a Wu Day person, if the pillars lack Mao or Yi but have You clashing Mao, and Hai or Wei combine with Mao, Wu obtains the Executive. It favors Ren or Shui as wealth, Bing or Ding as Mentor, and dislikes seeing Mao or Yi. For a Ji Day person, if the pillars lack Yin or Jia but have Shen clashing Yin, and Wu or Xu combine with Yin, there is a hidden Executive. It favors wealth and Mentor, and dislikes seeing Yin or Jia. For Bing and Ding Days, it is the Reverse Clash Emolument pattern; for Geng, Xin, Ren, and Gui Days, it is the Flying Heaven Emolument pattern, which can be deduced by analogy.

For the above four stems (Jia, Yi, Wu, Ji) using clash and combine, all dislike the Executive star being openly revealed or injured. It is excellent if the month branch holds the Executive and it is strong. When the clashing force meets a combining force, unhindered by restraints, one is sure to ascend to pure nobility, reaching the rank of general, minister, or marquis. If one element is missing, the grade is reduced. If broken, one may only be close to nobility for food and clothing. In severe cases, poverty results. The likes and dislikes for the Luck Cycle and Annual Cycle are the same.

The Wu Bao Jing (巫宝经) says: "When the Heavenly Stem belongs to Wood, the Earthly Branch belongs to Wood, and the Human Element belongs to Wood, this is called 'Ultimate Integrity.' Such a person cannot be corrupted by wealth and honor, cannot be swayed by poverty and lowliness, and cannot be subdued by force—a true man." This is because the matching of Yin and Yang is like a six-door gate: Yang stems are half a catty, Yin stems are half a catty, to form a proper match. If there is an imbalance, creation is difficult. For example, a pure and chaste woman must be matched with a righteous and virtuous husband. The flourishing Wood of Yi Mao will never combine with the declining Metal of Geng Wu, Geng Yin, Geng Zi, or Geng Chen. Such decaying Metal cannot combine with the vigorous Wood of Yi Mao. What can be done? One must wait until the Luck Cycle arrives at the Shen or You Metal prosperous phase, when Yi Wood follows the times and becomes compliant, just as a virtuous woman waits for the strong Geng Shen Metal as her match. The Geng Wu, Geng Yin, Geng Zi, and Geng Chen cannot subdue her; this chaste woman becomes their wife.

For example, Yi uses Geng and Shen as its husband. If the pillars lack these but have Zi and Chen, they can combine to bring out the Geng hidden in Shen as Yi's Executive. In this case, there is no need for Yin to clash; having Yin is even better. If the pillars lack Zi and Chen, then one relies on the clash to bring it out. The stems Jia Yin, Yi Mao, Bing Wu, Ding Wei, Wu Wu, Ji Wei, Geng Shen, Xin You, Ren Zi, and Gui Hai are themselves vigorous and strong, and their clash for the emolument is most powerful. For Ren Chen, Ren Xu, Wu Chen, and Ji Chou, the clash for the emolument is slower. Other stems are not used.

For example, the Ming Emperor Shenzong's chart: Gui Hai, Xin You, Gui Hai, Xin You. The main stem Gui Hai is vigorous and strong, clashing out the Si hidden Bing (wealth) and Wu (Executive) for Gui's use. It also has two You combining to secure the Si, forming a perfect clash-combine linkage, hence a noble fate.

Interpretation: This classical text elaborates on the operating principles and examples of the Clash-Combine Official Emolument pattern. For instance, a Jia Day person whose chart lacks the Executive stars You or Xin, but has many Mao clashing You, and also has Si or Chou forming a Triple Combination with You, has secretly invited the Executive for the Jia Day Master. It favors support from Ren or Shui Water, and dislikes the direct appearance of You or Xin Metal "filling" the official position. Even with only one Mao, if there are other ways (Punishments or Combinations) to activate the Executive, it is still considered a good chart. The same logic applies to Yi, Wu, and Ji Days: all require the absence of the Executive, the presence of a clash, and the presence of a combine. Bing and Ding Days use the "Reverse Clash Emolument" pattern, while Geng, Xin, Ren, and Gui Days use the "Flying Heaven Emolument" pattern, with similar principles.

For the four stems (Jia, Yi, Wu, Ji) using clash and combine, all dislike the Executive star being openly revealed or injured. It is even better if the month branch holds the Executive and it is strong. When the clashing force meets a combining force, unhindered by restraints, the native is sure to ascend to pure nobility, reaching the rank of general, minister, or marquis. If either the clash or combine is missing, the pattern's level is reduced. If the pattern is broken, the native may only be close to nobility for food and clothing. In severe cases of pattern breakage, poverty is inevitable. The likes and dislikes for the Luck Cycle and Annual Cycle are judged similarly.

The Wu Bao Jing further uses the metaphor of Yin-Yang matching to illustrate the importance of balanced strength. For example, the vigorous Wood of Yi Mao will not combine with the declining Metal of Geng Wu, etc. One must wait until the Luck Cycle arrives at the Shen or You Metal prosperous phase, when Yi Wood follows the times and becomes a good match. This is like a woman of high character who must be matched with a virtuous and talented husband. The text also points out that if Yi Wood lacks an Executive but has Zi and Chen in the pillars to form a Triple Combination that brings out the Geng Executive hidden in Shen, then there is no need to force a clash with Yin; having Yin is a bonus. Only without Zi or Chen does one rely on the "clash" method.

Day stems like Jia Yin, Yi Mao, etc., which sit on the Official (临官) stage (the Emolument), are extremely strong themselves, so their effect of clashing for the official emolument is most powerful and significant. For stems like Ren Chen or Ren Xu, the effect of clashing for the emolument is relatively slower. Other Day Masters do not apply to this pattern.

Finally, the text uses the chart of Ming Emperor Shenzong as an example: Gui Hai, Xin You, Gui Hai, Xin You. The Day Master Gui Shui sits on Hai, the Emperor (帝旺) stage, making it extremely strong. With this vigor, it clashes out the Si hidden Bing (wealth) and Wu (Executive) for Gui's use. It also has two You branches combining to secure the Si fire, forming a perfect clash-combine linkage, hence a noble fate.