Fate-Star Method: Lookup Rules, Direction, and Limits
Learn how fate-star methods derive markers from tables, verify reference and target direction, and keep them as non-literal supporting evidence.
Overview
Fate-star method (神煞法, Shén Shā Fǎ) derives named markers from lookup rules that relate a declared reference—such as year branch, day branch, day stem, month, or pillar—to one or more target symbols. The category contains many markers from different texts and periods; they do not share one origin, weight, or decision hierarchy. A reproducible result names the marker, source table, reference, target, direction, pillar position, duplicates, exclusions, and timing layer. Markers may serve as supplementary prompts within a broader chart reading, but they should not override calculation, structure, strength, or direct evidence. Auspicious and adverse names cannot literally prove romance, nobility, crime, injury, illness, bereavement, fertility, or safety.
At a glance
- Method type
- Named-marker lookup rules from multiple sources
- Possible references
- Year branch, day branch, day stem, month, pillar
- Required record
- Source, table, reference, target, direction, position
- Evidence role
- Supplementary prompt within a declared hierarchy
- School variation
- Marker set, formulas, exclusions, and weights differ
- Cannot prove
- Romance, status, crime, illness, injury, or exact event
Publish the complete lookup rule
Name the marker and source, then show the exact reference symbol, target symbol, direction, eligible pillars, and whether natal and timing layers use the same table.
A marker name alone is not reproducible. Record variant formulas and do not switch between year-based and day-based rules without disclosure.
- Show source, reference, target, and direction.
- Keep formula variants separately labeled.
Check position, duplication, and competing relations
Record the pillar position, repetitions, combinations, clashes, transformations, season, and whether the marker is natal or activated by timing. Position can change the traditional interpretation.
Do not count duplicate names as independent proof when they derive from the same symbol or table. Also publish counterevidence from the wider chart.
- Avoid duplicate-evidence inflation.
- Read the marker inside the whole chart and timing layer.
Define a supplementary evidence hierarchy
State when a marker is considered, what evidence outranks it, and whether it can revise an existing structural conclusion. Different schools assign very different weight.
Do not create a universal auspicious-minus-adverse score. Named markers from different systems may answer different questions and are not commensurable by default.
- Declare marker weight and revision rules.
- No universal star-score arithmetic.
Translate names without literal prediction
Names involving romance, nobility, isolation, blades, robbery, illness, mourning, or disaster are symbolic labels shaped by historical language. They are not factual diagnoses or accusations.
Use direct evidence for health, law, safety, relationships, and employment. A marker cannot determine rights, eligibility, risk, or an inevitable event.
- Contextualize evaluative and violent names.
- No diagnosis, accusation, or high-stakes screening.
Sources and editorial basis
- 《三命通會》 (Sanming Tonghui)《三命通會》的神煞、干支、柱位及歲運材料提供具名標記的傳統來源與使用情境A historical compilation covering stems and branches, Ten Gods, Nayin, Shen Sha, and multiple classical pattern systems.
- 《五行精紀》 (Wuxing Jingji)《五行精紀》所收神煞與祿命引文支持追蹤規則來源，也顯示同名神煞在不同文本中可能有條件差異A transcribed historical compendium for tracing quoted Five-Phase, Nayin, Lu Ming, and symbolic-marker rules by volume.
- OpenFate Editorial Methodology神煞法頁要求先完成原局主體分析，再把神煞限定為輔助標記；禁止由單一神煞推論人格、疾病、災禍、婚姻或事件日期OpenFate separates deterministic chart calculation, traditional interpretation, and modern editorial explanation.