Wealth and Authority Double Beauty: The Structural Quality of "Lu Ma (Authority and Wealth)" and Day Master Alignment
Ancient verses state: "Where Lu (Authority) and Ma (Wealth) reside together, one is either wealthy or noble." In professional practice, strictly translating "Ma" as "Horse" leads to misconceptions; here, it metaphorically refers to Wealth. Merely seeing the Day Master sitting on Wealth and Authority is insufficient to judge the quality of the chart. The true "Wealth and Authority Double Beauty" lies in the flow of energy between the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. We must analyze the structural essence of Ren Wu and Gui Si through the lens of Qi and foundational utility.
The Structural Essence of "Lu Ma Tong Xiang" (Authority and Wealth in the Same Village)
The term "Lu Ma" in classic texts is a metaphor: "Lu" represents the **正官 (Authority)**, and "Ma" represents the **正財 (Organizer)** or Wealth, implying movement and commerce. Thus, "Lu Ma Tong Xiang" means Authority and Wealth co-existing in the same Earthly Branch beneath the Day Master with pure energy. The classics point to Ren Wu and Gui Si. For Ren water sitting on Wu, the branch contains Ding fire (Organizer) and Ji earth (Authority). For Gui water sitting on Si, the branch contains Bing fire (Organizer), Wu earth (Authority), and Geng metal (Mentor). Professionals know that if the Day Master lacks roots or is too weak, this becomes "Excessive Wealth weakening the Self," turning the structure into a burden.
Day Master Alignment and the Utility of Combinations
The purity of a structure depends on alignment and flow. As the classics suggest, knowing a person's nobility comes from understanding the logic of the star of Authority. In this structure, the "Heaven and Earth Combination" is crucial. In the Ren Wu pillar, the Ren stem secretly combines with the Ding (inside Wu); in the Gui Si pillar, the Gui stem secretly combines with the Wu (inside Si). This implies the Day Master has control over and affection for the **Organizer** and **Authority**. If Zi clashes with Wu, or Hai clashes with Si, this bond is broken. Furthermore, climatic adjustment is vital. If born in deep winter, the water is frozen; without the warmth of Bing fire, even the presence of Lu Ma remains useless.
Differentiation Between Substance and Void through Clashes and Interactions
In practical analysis, many charts appearing to have this structure are actually void of substance. The key is distinguishing the solidity of the components. If **比肩 (Peer)** or **劫財 (Competitor)** appear in the Heavenly Stems to contest, or if the Earthly Branches suffer from punishment or harm, the structure is broken. For instance, if Ren Wu encounters a Zi clash, it not only dislodges the Wealth and Authority but also shakes the foundation of the Day Master. Similarly, if Gui Si meets Shen in a punishment-combination relationship, it may damage the root of the **Authority**. True beauty in a chart requires the Day Master to be capable of bearing the energy, and the **Organizer** and **Authority** to be free from severe damage.