The Food Star structure

In Four Pillars of Destiny (BaZi), a chart has a Food Star structure when the stem taken from its month branch is the Food Star: the stem the Day Master generates that has the same polarity. It drains the Day Master, yet the books value it because it generates Wealth and gives a strong Day Master an outlet.

The True Interpretation of Ziping (子平真诠; Qing dynasty, 18th century) explains why it is welcomed:

食神本属泄气，以其能生正财，所以喜之。

Our translation: The Food Star is by nature a drain; it is welcomed because it can generate Direct Wealth.

Commentary on the True Interpretation of Ziping (子平真诠评注; ROC, 1936) adds that a strong Day Master’s force needs an outlet, and the Food Star is where that force comes out.

The True Interpretation of Ziping · On the Food Star; Commentary on the True Interpretation of Ziping · On the Food Star; The Deep Sea of Ziping · On the Food Star; Comprehensive Guide to the Three Fates · On the Food Star

What holds it up

• The Food Star generating Wealth: with a strong Day Master and a strong Food Star, and Wealth revealed and rooted in the branches, the structure is at its best.
• The Food Star checking Seven Killings: the Day Master is strong, and the Food Star holds Seven Killings in check.
• Setting the Food Star aside for Seven Killings and Resource: when Resource controls the Food Star so that it cannot be used, Resource is used to convert Seven Killings instead.
• A strong Day Master. The Deep Sea of Ziping (渊海子平; Ming dynasty, 16th century) says the Food Star welcomes a strong Day Master, which gives it the force to generate Wealth.

The True Interpretation of Ziping · On the Food Star; Commentary on the True Interpretation of Ziping · On the Food Star; The Deep Sea of Ziping · On the Food Star

What can unsettle it

• Indirect Resource controlling the Food Star. The True Interpretation of Ziping calls this the overturned Food Star, or the Owl seizing the Food Star.
• The Direct Officer meeting the Food Star: the Food Star controls the Officer, and The Deep Sea of Ziping says the Food Star does not welcome the Officer.
• A Food Star with Seven Killings that also meets Wealth: Wealth generates Seven Killings, and the Food Star cannot hold it in check.
• A weak Day Master, drained too heavily by the Food Star.

The True Interpretation of Ziping · On the Food Star; The True Interpretation of Ziping · On How the Four Benefic Elements Can Break a Structure; The Deep Sea of Ziping · On the Food Star; Comprehensive Guide to the Three Fates · On the Food Star

What restores it

• When Resource seizes the Food Star, revealed Wealth checks the Resource and keeps the Food Star safe.
• When Wealth and Seven Killings both appear, with Wealth in front, Seven Killings behind and the Food Star between them, Wealth cannot reach Seven Killings, and the structure can still form.
• When the Day Master is weak, elements that support it are welcome.
• Climate: a Metal Day Master with a Water Food Star, born in deep winter, can meet the Officer; a Wood Day Master with a Fire Food Star, born in high summer, takes revealed Resource without harm. This is choosing by cold and warmth; see the lesson on climate balance.

The True Interpretation of Ziping · On the Food Star; Commentary on the True Interpretation of Ziping · On the Food Star; The True Interpretation of Ziping · On Decade Phases for the Food Star

See also: Climate balance: the climate element

Decade phases

The True Interpretation of Ziping, on decade phases for the Food Star, says that when the Food Star generates Wealth and Wealth and the Food Star are light, decade phases of Wealth and the Food Star suit; when they are heavy, decade phases that support the Day Master suit; Officer and Seven Killings decade phases suit neither. The other pairings each have their own fits; see the lesson on decade phases and your structure.

The True Interpretation of Ziping · On Decade Phases for the Food Star

Try it on your chart

1. Confirm the pivot is the Food Star: the stem taken from the month is generated by the Day Master and shares its polarity.
2. Look for Wealth: is it present, revealed, and rooted in the branches?
3. Look for Indirect Resource: does it control the Food Star? If so, see whether Wealth checks it.
4. Look for the Direct Officer and Seven Killings: with Seven Killings, see whether the Food Star can hold it in check; with the Officer, see whether this is a Metal Day Master with a Water Food Star, born in deep winter.
5. Compare with the Day Master’s strength: if the Day Master is weak and the Food Star heavy, watch for support.

See also: Two kinds of handling: nurture and restrain

See also: The enabler: the structure’s supporting element

See also: How a structure forms, breaks and recovers