What Is Heavenly Doctor (天醫) in BaZi?
See OpenFate’s twelve month-branch targets for Heavenly Doctor, understand why historical systems differ, and avoid turning the marker into medical advice.
Overview
OpenFate calculates Heavenly Doctor from the month branch and looks for the immediately preceding branch: Yin month finds Chou, Mao finds Yin, and so on through all twelve months. This is a disclosed product convention among several historical Tian Yi systems, not a diagnosis or evidence of medical ability.
At a glance
- OpenFate reference
- Month branch
- OpenFate target
- Immediately preceding branch
- Example
- 寅 Yin month finds 丑 Chou
- Rule status
- Documented product convention
- Historical status
- Other systems preserve different monthly tables
- Medical boundary
- No diagnosis, prognosis, or aptitude test
The rule used by OpenFate
OpenFate uses the month branch as the reference and selects the branch immediately before it in the twelve-branch order. The table is Yin-Chou, Mao-Yin, Chen-Mao, Si-Chen, Wu-Si, Wei-Wu, Shen-Wei, You-Shen, Xu-You, Hai-Xu, Zi-Hai, and Chou-Zi.
A hit is recorded only when the target branch occurs among the four natal branches. The result should identify the month branch, target, and matched pillar so the calculation can be audited rather than presented as an unexplained health label.
- Use the month branch, then move back one branch.
- Keep the selected convention visible beside the result.
Why other Heavenly Doctor tables may differ
The name Tian Yi appears in date selection, Liuren, ritual calendars, and later Bazi compilations. These source systems do not preserve one universal monthly table; for example, Xie Ji Bian Fang Shu begins a different sequence from the first lunar month.
OpenFate therefore labels its implementation as a product convention instead of claiming that every school agrees. Readers comparing calculators should first compare the reference unit, starting month, direction, and target type.
- A shared name does not guarantee a shared formula.
- Do not silently mix Bazi, date-selection, and Liuren tables.
What the traditional name can and cannot suggest
Traditional commentary may connect the marker with care, remedies, learning about health practices, or receiving assistance. These are symbolic themes and should be discussed only after the branch’s Five Phase, Ten God, pillar, and interactions are known.
Interest in medicine, caregiving experience, and access to treatment are real-world matters shaped by training, opportunity, health systems, and personal choice. A marker cannot establish them on its own.
- Read the matched branch in its actual chart role.
- Treat vocation and caregiving themes as questions, not conclusions.
Medical safety boundary
Heavenly Doctor cannot diagnose illness, predict recovery, identify treatment, prove immunity, or show that someone is qualified to practise medicine. Its presence or absence says nothing reliable about current symptoms or clinical risk.
For symptoms, medication, treatment, emergencies, or mental health concerns, use qualified healthcare and current clinical evidence. This article documents a traditional lookup convention and its limitations only.
- Never delay or change care because of this marker.
- Do not use a chart to assess professional medical competence.
Sources and editorial basis
- OpenFate Editorial Methodology現行產品規則：以月支取前一支，並與醫療判斷分離OpenFate separates deterministic chart calculation, traditional interpretation, and modern editorial explanation.
- 《欽定協紀辨方書》卷四卷四「天醫者正月起戌順行十二辰」：證明不同術數系統保留異表A historical date-selection source preserving seasonal and monthly tables, including Four Waste and one Heavenly Doctor method. OpenFate cites each table with its source-system boundary instead of treating the whole work as a native Bazi engine rulebook.