Day Master Returning to the Lu (日禄归时): A Pattern of Peaceful Later Years

In BaZi (Eight Characters) fortune analysis, there is a pattern that symbolizes a stable and prosperous final chapter in life: the "Day Master Returning to the Lu" (日禄归时). This occurs when the "Official" (临官) stage, or Lu (禄) position, of the Day Master's Heavenly Stem falls precisely on the Earthly Branch of the Hour Pillar. The Hour Pillar represents the outcome of one's life, children, and achievements in later years. When the Lu God (禄神), which signifies one's personal foundation, resides here, it often indicates that regardless of life's journey, the person will ultimately gain solid support and peaceful blessings. Thus, it is considered an auspicious pattern. The classic text Xi Ji Pian (《喜忌篇》) states: "When the Day Master's Lu returns to the Hour and there is no Executive (正官) Star, it is called 'A Clear Path to High Office' (青云得路)."

How to Identify This Pattern

The core of this pattern is that the Earthly Branch of the Hour Pillar must be the Lu (Prosperity) position of the Day Master's Heavenly Stem, and ideally, the entire BaZi chart should have no Executive (正官) or Warlord (七杀) Stars revealed in the Heavenly Stems. This pure combination is known as 'A Clear Path to High Office.'

Here are the specific rules:

• Core Correspondences:
  • Jia (甲) Day Master born in Yin (寅) hour; Yi (乙) Day Master born in Mao (卯) hour; Bing (丙) Day Master born in Si (巳) hour; Ding (丁) Day Master born in Wu (午) hour.
  • Wu (戊) Day Master born in Si (巳) hour; Ji (己) Day Master born in Wu (午) hour; Geng (庚) Day Master born in Shen (申) hour; Xin (辛) Day Master born in You (酉) hour.
  • Ren (壬) Day Master born in Hai (亥) hour; Gui (癸) Day Master born in Zi (子) hour.
• Pure Combinations: Among the above, seven combinations are considered the pure form of the pattern because the Hour Stem also does not form an Executive or Warlord: Jia Yin (甲寅) hour, Ding Wu (丁午) hour, Wu Si (戊巳) hour, Ji Wu (己午) hour, Geng Shen (庚申) hour, Ren Hai (壬亥) hour, Gui Zi (癸子) hour.
• Key Conditions for Formation:
  1. Avoidance of Executive and Warlord: The Heavenly Stems of the Four Pillars should ideally not contain the Executive or Warlord Star, and the Earthly Branches should not have strong roots for these stars. These stars restrain the Day Master and suppress the Lu God, preventing it from functioning freely.
  2. Avoidance of Punishments and Clashes: The Lu position in the Hour Branch is most vulnerable to Punishments (刑), Clashes (冲), Breaks (破), or Harms (害) from other branches in the chart or from the Luck Cycle (大运) and Annual Cycle (流年). If the Lu encounters a Clash or Break, the foundation is shaken, and the auspicious pattern can turn inauspicious.
  3. Avoidance of Voids: The Lu position in the Hour Branch should not fall into a Void (空亡). If the Lu God encounters a Void, it means the blessings are difficult to materialize, and the person may experience much toil with little reward.

Core Meaning of the Pattern

People with the Day Master Returning to the Lu pattern are typically independent, resilient, and possess strong self-support. Because the Lu God resides in the Hour Pillar, it symbolizes smooth fortunes in later life, a solid foundation, and the ability to reap good results. Even if their early or middle years are full of challenges, their later years are often stable and comfortable, with children who are filial and successful. If the pattern is pure, forming the "Clear Path to High Office," it suggests the person can break free from traditional bureaucratic constraints, using their talents (Talent/食神 or Maverick/伤官) or business acumen (Venturer/偏财 or Earner/正财) to forge their own path to success. This is a high-level pattern that can lead to great wealth and prominence. Depending on its combination with other Ten Gods like Wealth, Mentor (正印), or Talent, there are variations, such as "Returning Lu Meets Wealth" (prosperity), "Returning Lu Meets Mentor" (scholarly fame), or "Returning Lu Meets Maverick" (brilliant talent). All variations, however, are predicated on not damaging the Lu God in the Hour Branch.

Favorable and Unfavorable Points of the Pattern

• Favorable:
  1. Wealth Stars and Talent/Maverick: This is the best combination. The Day Master is strong due to the Lu in the Hour, and most benefits from Talent or Maverick Stars to express ability and generate Wealth Stars. This indicates outstanding capability, natural wealth and honor, and the potential for great achievement.
  2. Support from Mentor (印绶): If the chart has a Mentor Star supporting the Day Master, it resonates with the Lu God in the Hour Pillar, forming a "Mentor and Lu Following Each Other" (印禄相随) configuration. This signifies academic success, protection from elders or reputation, and a prominent name.
  3. Strong Foundation for the Day Master: If the Day Master has strong roots in other positions, such as the Month or Day Branch, in addition to the Lu in the Hour, the pattern's foundation is deeper and the blessings more enduring.
• Unfavorable:
  1. Restraint by Executive or Warlord: For the pure "Clear Path to High Office" pattern, the Executive and Warlord are the primary unfavorable gods. Their appearance directly restrains the Day Master and Lu God, lowering the pattern's quality and greatly reducing its nobility.
  2. Punishments, Clashes, Breaks, and Harms: Any Punishment, Clash, Break, or Harm directed at the Lu position in the Hour Branch is the most direct damage to this pattern, indicating potential setbacks in later life and an unstable foundation.
  3. Voids and Death/Extinction: If the Lu position in the Hour Branch falls into a Void or is in a state of Death (死) or Extinction (绝), the Lu God's power is weak and illusory, making it difficult for blessings to manifest.
  4. Seizure by Peers and Rivals: An excess of Peer (比肩) or Rival (劫财) Stars in the chart creates a situation where many people compete for the Lu God's blessings. Even if success is achieved, it often must be shared, leaving little for the individual.

Classical Text and Modern Interpretation

From San Ming Tong Hui (《三命通会》)

The Xi Ji Pian says: "When the Day Master's Lu returns to the Hour and there is no Executive Star, it is called 'A Clear Path to High Office.'" This pattern has seven specific hours: Jia Yin, Ding Wu, Wu Si, Ji Wu, Geng Shen, Ren Hai, Gui Zi. The Day Master's Lu returns to the Hour position. It is favorable if the Day Master is strong, born in a month with the Mentor Star, or if the Heavenly Stems reveal Wealth Stars, Talent/Maverick Stars, or Heavenly Virtue (天德) and Monthly Virtue (月德) Nobles. This indicates great wealth and honor. It is unfavorable if the Lu position encounters Punishments, Clashes, Breaks, Harms, Voids, Death, or Extinction, or if there are Peers/Rivals seizing the Lu, the Maverick Star (偏印/倒食) combining with it, or Executive/Warlord Stars restraining it. Even if the pattern can be used, it is impure. The same principles apply to the Luck Cycle and Annual Cycle.

For example, if a Yi (乙) Day Master encounters a Ji Mao (己卯) hour, it is a Wealth Star on the Hour Pillar pattern. If a Bing (丙) Day Master encounters a Gui Si (癸巳) hour, it is an Executive Star revealed. If a Xin (辛) Day Master encounters a Ding You (丁酉) hour, it is a Warlord on the Hour Pillar pattern. These are not considered Returning Lu patterns. The judgment depends on the entire chart. If the Month Branch contains an Executive Star, or the Heavenly Stems reveal Wealth or Executive Stars, it should be analyzed as a Wealth/Executive pattern. If the Hour Branch is the Day Master's Lu, and the Year, Month, or Day Branches also contain Lu positions, it is called "Gathered Blessings Returning Lu" (聚福归禄) or "Five Elements Returning Lu" (五行归禄). If the Day Master's Lu is in the Hour Branch and the Hour Stem's Lu is in the Day Branch, it is called "Mutual Exchange Lu" (互换禄). If the Year Stem's Lu is in the Hour Branch and the Hour Stem's Lu is in the Year Branch, such as Jia Shen (甲申) year with Geng Yin (庚寅) hour, it indicates great nobility and enjoyment of blessings. If Lu positions appear repeatedly, such as a Jia (甲) Day Master born in a Yin (寅) hour and also in a Yin (寅) month, with weak Wealth and Executive Stars, it should be analyzed as a Jian Lu (建禄) pattern. If the Month Stem and Day Stem are the same, and only the Hour Pillar has a Lu, it is called "Divided Lu" (分禄), which is not very useful. However, if the Month Stem and Day Stem each have their own Lu positions returning to their respective places, it is not a problem.

Modern Interpretation: The Xi Ji Pian points out that when the Day Master's Lu position resides in the Hour Pillar and the chart lacks an Executive Star, it forms the "Clear Path to High Office" pattern. There are seven specific hour combinations that form the pure version of this pattern. The pattern favors a strong Day Master, birth in a month with the Mentor Star, or the presence of Wealth, Talent/Maverick, or Heavenly/Monthly Virtue Nobles in the Heavenly Stems, indicating great wealth and honor. It is unfavorable if the Lu position is Punished, Clashed, Broken, or Harmed, falls into a Void, or is in a state of Death or Extinction. It is also unfavorable if Peers or Rivals seize the Lu, the Maverick Star (偏印) takes away the Talent Star (食神/倒食), or Executive/Warlord Stars restrain it. If these unfavorable conditions are present, the pattern is impure. The same favorable and unfavorable conditions apply to the Luck Cycle and Annual Cycle.

For example, a Yi (乙) Day Master encountering a Ji Mao (己卯) hour is a Wealth Star on the Hour Pillar pattern. A Bing (丙) Day Master encountering a Gui Si (癸巳) hour is an Executive Star revealed. A Xin (辛) Day Master encountering a Ding You (丁酉) hour is a Warlord on the Hour Pillar pattern. These are not analyzed as Returning Lu patterns. Judgment must consider the whole chart. If the Month Branch contains an Executive Star or the Heavenly Stems reveal Wealth or Executive Stars, the chart should be analyzed primarily as a Wealth/Executive pattern. If the Hour Branch is the Day Master's Lu, and the Year, Month, and Day Branches also have Lu positions, it is called "Gathered Blessings Returning Lu" or "Five Elements Returning Lu." If the Day Master's Lu is in the Hour Branch and the Hour Stem's Lu is in the Day Branch, it is called "Mutual Exchange Lu." If the Year Stem's Lu is in the Hour Branch and the Hour Stem's Lu is in the Year Branch, such as a Jia Shen (甲申) year with a Geng Yin (庚寅) hour, it indicates great nobility and enjoyment of blessings. If Lu positions appear repeatedly, such as a Jia (甲) Day Master born in a Yin (寅) hour and also in a Yin (寅) month, with weak Wealth and Executive Stars, it should be analyzed as a Jian Lu (建禄) pattern. If the Month Stem and Day Stem are the same, and only the Hour Pillar has a Lu, it is called "Divided Lu," which is not very useful. However, if the Month Stem and Day Stem each have their own Lu positions returning to their respective places, it is not a problem.

The classic text further divides this pattern into seven variations, such as the pure "Clear Path to High Office," "Executive Star Sitting on Lu" (官星坐禄), "Returning Lu Meets Two Virtues" (归禄逢二德), "Returning Lu Meets Mentor" (归禄逢印绶), "Returning Lu Meets Maverick" (归禄逢伤官), "Returning Lu Meets Warlord" (归禄逢杀), and "Returning Lu Meets Wealth" (归禄逢财). Each variation has corresponding examples and conditions for success or failure.

Other classical texts also provide commentary. Du Bu (《独步》) says: "Day Master's Lu returns to the Hour, a clear path to high office. If the Month Branch has Wealth or Executive, encountering it brings good assistance." Yuan Li Fu (《元理赋》) says: "Returning Lu obtains Wealth and gains blessings; without Wealth, Returning Lu still leads to poverty." It also says: "When the Day Master's Lu returns to the Hour, the Four Pillars, Luck Cycle, and Annual Cycle all dislike the Executive Star. If there are Punishments or Harms, the blessings are halved." Jing Jian (《景鉴》) says: "Seeing Executive or Warlord makes the clear path difficult to achieve; encountering Punishments, Harms, or the Travelling Horse (驿马) brings honor to the body." Hu Zhong Zi (《壶中子》) says: "It is rare to encounter a Jia (甲) year with a Yin (寅) hour."

A poem says: "When the Day Master's life returns to the Lu in the Hour, with no Clashes, Punishments, or Voids. If Executive and Warlord do not approach, and Wealth and Mentor are strong, with healthy Talent and Maverick, the blessings are a thousand-fold." Another poem says: "For a Jia (甲) person, the Lu is in Yin (寅). If they encounter an Executive Star, nobility is hard to extend. If the body is not strong, they appreciate the Mentor. If the Lu is abundant, they love the Talent Star. If they encounter a Clash, disaster will surely come. If they suddenly suffer a Break or Restraint, blessings have no cause. The Luck Cycle and Annual Cycle are discussed the same way. Wealth and honor will be supreme, surpassing all others."