Hook and Noose (勾绞煞): Entanglement and Obstruction in Destiny

Core Influences

In traditional Chinese astrology, the Hook and Noose (勾绞煞) is a Fate Star that brings entanglement and obstruction. Its main effects center on emotional relationships and interpersonal interactions. Those with this star in their chart often face turbulence in love, with frequent arguments and misunderstandings between partners, making marriage difficult. It also symbolizes conflict and friction in relationships, easily leading to gossip, disputes, and even lawsuits, hindering wealth accumulation. From a safety perspective, this star hints at a tendency toward accidental injuries. If the chart also contains fierce stars like "Metal God" or "Blade," the risks may amplify, requiring extra caution regarding personal safety.

How to Find It

The Hook and Noose is determined by using the Earthly Branch of the birth year as a reference, then checking the other branches (month, day, hour) for specific combinations. The rule varies by gender and the Yin-Yang nature of the year's Heavenly Stem:

• Yang Stem Male, Yin Stem Female: Count forward three positions from the year branch to find the "Hook" (勾), and backward three positions to find the "Noose" (绞).
• Yin Stem Male, Yang Stem Female: The rule is reversed: forward three is the "Noose," backward three is the "Hook."

Example: A male born in the Jia Zi year (Jia is Yang), with the year branch Zi. Counting forward three positions gives Mao, which is the "Hook"; counting backward three gives You, which is the "Noose."

For quick reference, here is a table of year branches and their corresponding Hook and Noose branches:

Origins and Classical Texts

Records of the Hook and Noose star trace back to the ancient astronomical text Shi Shi Xing Jing (石氏星经). Although the original is lost, its content is partially preserved and elaborated in overseas documents, such as Japan's Miko, Makoto no Uketsugisha. Ancient scholars believed that if a woman's chart contains the Hook and Noose but has a favorable pattern, it could actually benefit her husband's fortune. However, this requires the coordination of "Four Image Energies" in the chart to aid the spouse, often supplemented by ritual seals for harmonization. Different birth months also have corresponding sealing methods to dissolve the star's negative energy.

A classic verse vividly describes the danger of this star:

"The claw and tooth star leaves the fate's three branches, greatly fearing the Metal God and Blade's presence; if the star overcomes the self without rescue, one often suffers snake or tiger injuries."

This verse indicates that if the Hook and Noose combines with fierce stars like Metal God or Blade, and the chart lacks saving auspicious stars, the person is prone to entrapment and accidental injuries.