CASE DETAIL
Zheng Chenggong (郑成功)
Zheng Chenggong was a military and political figure at the Ming-Qing transition. Born in Hirado, Japan, he later held maritime bases in southeast China, resisted the Qing, and recovered Taiwan. The chart is read through heavy Seven Killings, Resource support, and the Chen hour’s Eating God and Direct Resource.
- Birth
- 1624-08-27 08:00 · Hirado, Japan
- Gender
- Male
- Time Source
- Literature
Birth Time Verification
This case uses 08:00, the Chen hour. Zheng Chenggong’s birthday is commonly recorded as the 14th day of the seventh lunar month in the Tianqi fourth year, corresponding to 27 August 1624, with Hirado, Japan as the birthplace. The key source is the Zheng family burial inscription, which says he was born in the Jia-Zi year, seventh month, fourteenth day, Chen hour. Because the day matches the historical birthday record, the hour source is treated as a literary record. With 1624-08-27 in the Chen hour, the four pillars are Jia-Zi year, Ren-Shen month, Bing-Yin day, Ren-Chen hour. Some later BaZi articles use the Wu hour, and a few materials give the thirteenth day in the Chen hour. The Wu-hour version lacks a clearer hour source, and the thirteenth-day version conflicts with the inscription. For this reading, the Chen-hour inscription is the stronger basis. The Chen hour concentrates the chart. Ren Water appears again as Seven Killings. Zi, Shen, and Chen form the Shen-Zi-Chen Water frame, so external war, regime pressure, and long-term depletion become central. Chen also stores Wu Earth Eating God, Yi Wood Direct Resource, and Gui Water Direct Officer. That means pressure turns into strategy, legitimacy, administration, and military execution. It fits Zheng’s main line: under severe pressure, he held an anti-Qing force through orthodox legitimacy, naval organization, and maritime power.
Confirmed Time
08:00
Hour
壬辰
Time Source
Literature
Core Analysis
Zheng Chenggong is a Bing Fire day master born in the Shen month. Metal and Water are already rising in Shen month; Ren Water Seven Killings appears on the month stem, and the Chen hour brings another Ren. The branches form the Shen-Zi-Chen Water frame. This is a chart where war, command, political change, and external pressure press directly on the self. Resource is the part that keeps the pressure usable. Jia Wood appears on the year stem, Jia is also stored in the day branch Yin, and Yi Wood is stored in Chen. Resource can carry Seven Killings, giving him legitimacy, lineage, orthodoxy, and long-range judgment. The imperial surname granted by the Longwu Emperor, and Zheng’s decision to resist Qing after his father surrendered, both sit naturally in this pressure-and-legitimacy pattern. Chen also stores Wu Earth Eating God. Here Eating God matters because it turns Seven Killings into strategy, military administration, supplies, fleets, bases, and execution. His long maritime resistance required more than courage. It required managing soldiers, ships, trade, food, and territory. The original chart also has Yin-Shen clash and punishment. Shen points to early environment and paternal power; Yin is his own stance and root. His father surrendered to the Qing while he resisted them, a clear expression of that conflict. The useful elements are Wood and Fire: Wood transforms pressure and supports the self; Fire lets Bing Fire stand. When Water becomes too heavy, victory arrives with depletion. In 1662, Ren-Yin year brought Seven Killings again and repeated the day branch Yin. His death soon after recovering Taiwan can be read through pressure converging in the year of victory.
Key BaZi Signals
Main Line
Day Master Bing
Structure
Seven Killings
Relations
Yin-Shen clash
Useful Elements
Useful Elements,
Traits
01
Commander under pressure
Double Ren Seven Killings and the Water frame turn pressure into command and hard decisions.
02
Strong sense of legitimacy
Jia and Yi Resource carry the pressure, giving weight to orthodoxy, name, and moral position.
03
War as organization
Eating God and Officer stored in Chen point to logistics, bases, naval force, and administration.
Timeline
Each year shows the event, luck pillar, annual pillar, relations, and interpretation for direct comparison.
1631
7yrs
migration
Left Japan and returned to Fujian through his father’s line
Xin-Wei year brings paternal resources and identity questions forward.
BaZi Note
Gui-You luck brings Officer and Wealth themes, so paternal resources and identity appear early. In Xin-Wei year, Xin Metal Direct Wealth appears and Wei Earth Hurting Officer enters. Leaving Japan for Fujian placed family, maritime trade, and belonging at the front of his life.
1644
20yrs
education
Entered the Imperial Academy in Nanjing
Jia-Shen year repeats Shen and clashes Yin.
BaZi Note
Jia-Xu luck brings Resource, linking education, legitimacy, and the political climate. In Jia-Shen year, Jia Wood appears again, while Shen repeats the month branch and clashes the day branch Yin. Study in Nanjing was no quiet scholarly year; the wider crisis was already pressing close.
1645
21yrs
Career
Granted the imperial surname by the Longwu Emperor
Yi-You year brings Direct Resource and public legitimacy.
BaZi Note
Jia-Xu luck emphasizes recognition and name. In Yi-You year, Yi Wood Direct Resource appears, and You Metal Wealth enters. The imperial surname reads like Resource carrying Seven Killings: pressure remains, but he receives a public basis for action and begins drawing military-political resources.
1646
22yrs
Career
Raised forces after his father surrendered to the Qing
Bing-Xu year activates self-stance and Eating God.
BaZi Note
Jia-Xu luck gives legitimacy through Resource, while Xu contains Eating God and Wealth. In Bing-Xu year, Bing Fire appears and Xu Earth is activated. His father Zheng Zhilong surrendered; Zheng Chenggong chose resistance. This lands directly on the Yin-Shen clash between paternal line and personal stance, with Eating God turning resistance into military action.
1650
26yrs
Career
Took Xiamen and other maritime bases
Geng-Yin year repeats the day branch and clashes Shen.
BaZi Note
Yi-Hai luck brings Direct Resource, while Hai stores Ren Killing and Jia Resource, so legitimacy and war pressure stay heavy. In Geng-Yin year, Geng Metal Indirect Wealth appears, and Yin repeats the day branch while clashing Shen. Taking Xiamen was military action and also a matter of fleets, money, trade, and territory.
1659
35yrs
setback
Northern campaign toward Nanjing failed
Ji-Hai year shows strong action meeting heavier Water pressure.
BaZi Note
Bing-Zi luck lets Bing Fire appear, yet Zi Water also joins Shen and Chen, making Water stronger. In Ji-Hai year, Ji Earth Hurting Officer appears and Hai Water brings Seven Killings. The campaign had drive, but the pressure was heavier. This reads as Hurting Officer trying to break the situation while Officer-Killing Water keeps the battlefield hard.
1661
37yrs
Career
Led the attack on Taiwan
Xin-Chou year brings Wealth and Output into ships, food, money, and negotiation.
BaZi Note
Bing-Zi luck keeps the Water frame active. In Xin-Chou year, Xin Metal Direct Wealth appears, and Chou stores Hurting Officer, Direct Officer, and Direct Wealth. The Taiwan campaign depended on ships, grain, military funding, negotiation, and execution; Wealth and Output make the practical organization very visible.
1662
38yrs
death
Dutch governor surrendered; Zheng died the same year
Ren-Yin year brings Seven Killings again and repeats the day branch.
BaZi Note
Bing-Zi luck had already raised Officer-Killing pressure. In Ren-Yin year, Ren Water Seven Killings appears again, Yin repeats the day branch, and Yin continues to clash Shen. In traditional longevity reading, repeated pressure on the day branch, heavy Seven Killings, and root movement are important warning signs. Victory and depletion meet in the same year.
FAQ
Is Zheng Chenggong’s birth hour sourced? +
Yes. The Zheng family burial inscription records him as born in the Jia-Zi year, seventh month, fourteenth day, Chen hour. The day matches historical birthday records, so this reading uses the Chen hour as a literary record.
Why use the Chen hour? +
The inscription directly gives the fourteenth day and Chen hour. Other hour versions have weaker sourcing or a different date, so the Chen hour is the stronger working basis.
What is the key BaZi structure? +
Bing Fire is born in Shen month. Ren Water Seven Killings appears on both month and hour stems, and the branches form the Shen-Zi-Chen Water frame. Resource Wood carries the pressure, and Eating God in Chen helps turn it into strategy and execution.
Why does heavy Seven Killings fit a military figure? +
Seven Killings relates to danger, command, pressure, and external conflict. With Resource and Eating God present, the pressure becomes legitimacy, strategy, logistics, and military action.
Can the father-son split be seen in the chart? +
The Yin-Shen clash is the main signal. Shen points to early environment and paternal power; Yin is his own root and stance. His father surrendered while he resisted, which matches this clash closely.
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