Year-Branch vs. Day-Branch Fate Stars (年支與日支)
Distinguish Shen Sha looked up from the Year Branch from markers anchored to the Day Branch, and never swap the two reference systems.
Overview
Year-Branch and Day-Branch Fate-Star rules answer different lookup questions. The Year Branch is commonly used by source traditions for a natal-year reference, while the Day Branch may anchor another set of markers tied to the day pillar. A valid result names the anchor explicitly, scans the permitted targets, and does not combine both systems into one stronger score.
At a glance
- Anchor A
- Natal Year Branch
- Anchor B
- Natal Day Branch
- Targets
- Only positions allowed by each table
- Shared result
- Two evidence paths, not double certainty
- Required record
- Anchor and target pillar
- Boundary
- Neither anchor proves a life domain
Use the Year Branch only where the source requires it
A Year-Branch rule begins from the exact earthly branch in the natal year pillar.
Its traditional associations do not make every returned marker a statement about ancestry, society, or childhood.
- Name the Year Branch explicitly.
- Keep symbolic domain claims conditional.
Keep Day-Branch tables independent
A Day-Branch rule uses the earthly branch beneath the Day Master and follows its own target list.
Do not reuse the Year-Branch row or assume the spouse-palace metaphor defines the marker’s outcome.
- Use the correct Day Branch.
- Separate palace imagery from calculation.
Handle overlapping matches without inflation
The same target branch may satisfy both a Year-Branch and Day-Branch table under valid but distinct routes.
Record both routes, then assess whether the overlap adds contextual relevance rather than counting it as doubled fate.
- Preserve both provenance records.
- Avoid additive good-bad scores.
Anchor choice is a technical rule
Neither reference system proves relationships, family history, sexuality, status, illness, or a future event.
When schools disagree about the anchor, display both attributed variants or select one transparently.
- Do not hide variant tables.
- Keep sensitive inferences out.
Sources and editorial basis
- 《御定星曆考原》卷一《御定星曆考原》神煞諸篇：以年支起例者須與其他支基查法分開A historical source for stem and branch Yin-Yang, Five Phase, direction, seasonal, and calendrical correspondences.
- 《三命通會》 (Sanming Tonghui)《三命通會》卷三華蓋、咸池、驛馬等支基神煞：起例地支與三合局位置依條目而定A historical compilation covering stems and branches, Ten Gods, Nayin, Shen Sha, and multiple classical pattern systems.
- OpenFate Editorial Methodology年支與日支神煞頁保存兩種基準及目標柱位，重疊只保留雙來源，不作吉凶倍增或人物推定OpenFate separates deterministic chart calculation, traditional interpretation, and modern editorial explanation.