Wu Chen (戊辰): the Yang Earth Dragon, pillar 5 of 60
Last checked · images quoted from the San Ming Tong Hui on Chinese Wikisource; dates calculated
Compiled by the Fengshui Zen editors · About and method
戊辰 is pillar 5 of the sixty: the yang earth stem 戊 Wu over the Dragon branch 辰 Chen. The last 戊辰 year was 1988 and the next is 2048; the next 戊辰 day is Oct 21, 2026. The San Ming Tong Hui gives it the image of trees too gnarled to cut for timber, in mountain forests and wild hills, and it shares the Na Yin Forest Wood (大林木) with 己巳.
Stem
戊 Wu · Yang Earth
Branch
辰 Chen · Dragon · Earth
Na Yin
大林木 Forest Wood
Void branches
戌亥 (Dog, Pig)
戊辰 in the San Ming Tong Hui (三命通會)
By Wan Minying (Ming dynasty), chapter one, quoted from Chinese Wikisource; translations are ours.
Image, from the list of the sixty pillars
戊辰……山林山野处不材之木
戊辰: trees too gnarled to cut for timber, in mountain forests and wild hills.
Why its Na Yin is called 大林木, from 「论纳音取象」
气不成量，物已及时，枝叶茂盛，郁然成林
Its qi is not yet at full measure, but things have reached their season: branches and leaves flourish into a dense forest.
Its Na Yin against the facing one, 平地木 (戊戌 and 己亥)
大林平地，一盛一衰，巽乾殊方也
Great Forest and Flatland: one flourishing, one declining, in the opposite quarters of Xun and Qian.
The likes, dislikes and star names that follow in the book are not reproduced. Read 三命通會 卷一 on Wikisource.
Inside the 戊辰 pillar
| Hidden stem in 辰 | Element | Ten God from 戊 |
|---|---|---|
| 戊 Wu (main) | Yang Earth | Friend 比肩 |
| 乙 Yi | Yin Wood | Direct Officer 正官 |
| 癸 Gui | Yin Water | Direct Wealth 正财 |
| Branch element against the stem | Earth 土: the same element as the stem (Earth) |
|---|---|
| Root of the stem | Wu is rooted in 辰: 戊 among the hidden stems is Earth |
| Twelve stages | Wu is in 冠带 Cap and Belt on 辰 |
| Ten-day group (旬) | starts with 甲子; void branches 戌 Xu, 亥 Hai |
| As an hour pillar | the Dragon hour, 07:00-09:00, on 甲 and 己 days |
How 辰 Chen relates to the other branches
| Six Harmony (六合) | 酉 You (Rooster), associated with Metal |
|---|---|
| Clash (六冲) | 戌 Xu (Dog) |
| Harm (六害) | 卯 Mao (Rabbit) |
| Punishment (刑) | itself (自刑) |
| Three Harmony (三合) | 申子辰: the Water frame |
| Seasonal group (方合) | 寅卯辰: East, Spring, Wood |
戊 Wu against each Day Master
| Day Master | 戊 is its | Chinese |
|---|---|---|
| 甲 Jia Wood | Indirect Wealth | 偏财 Pian Cai |
| 乙 Yi Wood | Direct Wealth | 正财 Zheng Cai |
| 丙 Bing Fire | Eating God | 食神 Shi Shen |
| 丁 Ding Fire | Hurting Officer | 伤官 Shang Guan |
| 戊 Wu Earth | Friend | 比肩 Bi Jian |
| 己 Ji Earth | Rob Wealth | 劫财 Jie Cai |
| 庚 Geng Metal | Indirect Resource | 偏印 Pian Yin |
| 辛 Xin Metal | Direct Resource | 正印 Zheng Yin |
| 壬 Ren Water | Seven Killings | 七杀 Qi Sha |
| 癸 Gui Water | Direct Officer | 正官 Zheng Guan |
戊辰 years, 1900 to 2100
Next 戊辰 months and days
China Standard Time; a month runs from one jie solar term to the next.
Months
- Apr 4, 2029 to May 5, 2029
- Apr 5, 2034 to May 5, 2034
Days
- Oct 21, 2026
- Dec 20, 2026
- Feb 18, 2027
- Apr 19, 2027
- Jun 18, 2027
- Aug 17, 2027
FAQ
Is 戊辰 a good or bad pillar?
Not on its own; that depends on the whole chart, which this site does not read. Structurally, Wu is rooted in 辰, which clashes with 戌 and combines with 酉.
What is the Na Yin of Wu Chen?
Forest Wood (大林木), which Wu Chen shares with 己巳 Ji Si; the Na Yin names go in pairs, 30 for the 60 pillars. The San Ming Tong Hui explains how the name was chosen in its 论纳音取象 section, quoted above.
Which years are Wu Chen (戊辰) years?
Between 1900 and 2100: 1928, 1988, 2048. Each starts at Lichun, around February 4, not on January 1. Under the Chinese New Year rule the same years are the Year of the Yang Earth Dragon.
Neighboring and related pillars
Quotations keep the script of the source. Not a reading, a prediction or advice.