庚 Gēng, The Forged Sword
宝剑 bǎo jiàn
Yang Metal · decisive, just, unflinching
庚 Gēng is the Yang Metal day master 日主 rì zhǔ, “ruler of the day”. Its image is raw iron, a broadsword.
Nature
Yang Metal is raw iron and the broadsword. It cuts. In the martial world you are the wandering swordsman who rights wrongs and keeps the oath.
Inner life
You think in terms of loyalty, justice and what must be done. Being forged under pressure makes you stronger.
Shadow side: The blade that cuts when it should shield
Bluntness that wounds; fighting when cutting through was not needed.
A practice. Before cutting, ask what you are protecting. Lead hard truths with one kind sentence.
The verse in the 滴天髓 Dī Tiān Suǐ, “Drops of Heaven’s Marrow”
庚金带煞刚健为最
gēng jīn dài shà, gāng jiàn wéi zuì
Geng Metal carries an edge; it is the hardiest of all.
Dī Tiān Suǐ 滴天髓, the classical verses on the ten stems
In each birth month
The Earth character of the month pillar sets the season, the 月令 yuè lìng, “the month’s command”. It decides how much strength 庚 Gēng draws from the climate it is born into.
Seasonal state 旺相休囚死 wàng xiàng xiū qiú sǐ, “prosperous, supported, resting, confined, dormant”
The season is your own element.
The season feeds you.
You feed the season.
You must work to control the season.
The season presses on you.
庚 Gēng begins its cycle of the 十二长生 shí èr cháng shēng, “twelve stages of long life” at 长生 cháng shēng, “Birth”, in the 巳 Sì Snake month, and stands at 帝旺 dì wàng, “On the throne”, in the 酉 Yǒu Rooster month.
Stellae Mundi follows 任铁樵 Rèn Tiěqiáo’s commentary on the 滴天髓: 阴阳同生同死 yīn yáng tóng shēng tóng sǐ, “yin and yang are born and die together”. So 庚 Gēng shares the life-stage cycle of its Yin partner 辛 Xīn.
| Month branch | Around | Season | Seasonal state | Life stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 寅Yín · Tiger | Feb | early spring | 囚 qiúconfined | 绝 juéSevered, cut off, starting over |
| 卯Mǎo · Rabbit | Mar | mid-spring | 囚 qiúconfined | 胎 tāiConceived, an idea taking shape |
| 辰Chén · Dragon | Apr | late spring | 相 xiàngsupported | 养 yǎngNurtured, held in the womb |
| 巳Sì · Snake | May | early summer | 死 sǐdormant | 长生 cháng shēngBirth, newly born and rising |
| 午Wǔ · Horse | Jun | midsummer | 死 sǐdormant | 沐浴 mù yùBathing, raw and impressionable |
| 未Wèi · Goat | Jul | late summer | 相 xiàngsupported | 冠带 guān dàiCapping, coming of age |
| 申Shēn · Monkey | Aug | early autumn | 旺 wàngprosperous | 临官 lín guānTaking office, capable and established |
| 酉Yǒu · Rooster | Sep | mid-autumn | 旺 wàngprosperous | 帝旺 dì wàngOn the throne, at peak power |
| 戌Xū · Dog | Oct | late autumn | 相 xiàngsupported | 衰 shuāiWaning, past the peak, seasoned |
| 亥Hài · Pig | Nov | early winter | 休 xiūresting | 病 bìngAiling, turned inward |
| 子Zǐ · Rat | Dec | midwinter | 休 xiūresting | 死 sǐStilled, still and quiet |
| 丑Chǒu · Ox | Jan | late winter | 相 xiàngsupported | 墓 mùEntombed, stored away, hidden |
The six day pillars of 庚 Geng
庚 Gēng is the Heaven character of six of the sixty pillars. Each one sets the sword on a different Earth branch.