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Seasonal phases · Framework

Five Seasonal Phases of the Five Elements (旺相休囚死)

Use the complete 旺相休囚死 framework to compare Five Element seasonality, derive each phase, and avoid confusing seasonal position with favorability.

Chinese
五行旺相休囚死
Pinyin
Wàng Xiàng Xiū Qiú Sǐ
Also known as
five seasonal states · prosperous-supportive-resting-imprisoned-dead

Editorially reviewed:

Overview

旺相休囚死 classifies all Five Elements relative to the current season: the ruling element is prosperous; what it generates is supportive; what generates it rests; what it controls is imprisoned; and what the supportive element controls is dead. The framework is a relational seasonal map, not a fixed percentage table, moral ranking, or standalone destiny judgment.

At a glance

旺
Element governing the current season
相
Element generated by 旺
休
Element that generates 旺
囚
Element controlled by 旺
死
Element controlled by 相
Limit
Seasonal relation, not a complete strength score

Build all five positions from one season

First assign the prosperous element from the solar-term season. Then use the generating and controlling cycles to derive 相, 休, 囚, and 死 without improvising the order.

Earth months and transitional periods require a published convention because schools model them differently. Consistency across calculator and article is essential.

  • Derive every phase from the same rule.
  • Document the Earth transition policy.

Use the framework as a relative map

The five labels compare seasonal position among elements. They do not by themselves assign exact strength percentages or tell whether an element is useful.

If software adds coefficients, it should version them, bound their impact, and preserve the underlying categorical evidence for audit.

  • Keep category and coefficient separate.
  • Avoid false classical precision.

Integrate season with roots and structure

After assigning phases, locate actual stems and branches, grade roots, identify generation and control, and inspect combinations, clashes, climate, and structure.

A chart can contain a rooted 死 element and an unrooted 旺 element. The phase is important, but the concrete chart decides practical force.

  • Check where each element actually appears.
  • Preserve counterevidence.

Do not rank people or outcomes by the labels

旺 is not automatically lucky, and 囚 or 死 is not automatically harmful. The terms describe relative seasonal qi, not human worth or inevitable events.

Use them for transparent structural analysis and keep medical, legal, financial, and relationship advice outside unsupported inference.

  • No moral ranking of phases.
  • No life verdict from one table.

Sources and editorial basis

  1. 《三命通會》 (Sanming Tonghui)
    卷二「論五行時地分野吉凶」完整列出旺相休囚死的季節關係與吉凶不可只按階段名判斷的警語A historical compilation covering stems and branches, Ten Gods, Nayin, Shen Sha, and multiple classical pattern systems.
  2. 《淵海子平》 (Yuanhai Ziping)
    月令、四時與旺衰諸論支持先定季節再察得地、生扶、耗洩與制化，不以五態表代替全盤A foundational Ziping reference for branch months, hidden stems, roots, and stem-branch relationships.
  3. OpenFate Editorial Methodology
    五行旺相休囚死頁公開土月與轉換期政策，將古典分類、產品係數與人生解釋分層OpenFate separates deterministic chart calculation, traditional interpretation, and modern editorial explanation.
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