What Is Growth (Chang Sheng)?
Growth (Chang Sheng) is the first stage of the Twelve Growth Stages. It represents the state in which the qi of the Five Elements is born into the world, filled with primal vitality. Like a human being's birth, Growth marks the beginning of a new energy cycle.
Within the Twelve Growth Stages, the Growth stage possesses vigorous, life-filled energy, though it is somewhat less potent than Imperial Prosperity, since life has only just begun and still has room to ascend.
Life Metaphor
Like a newborn baby's first cry — not to announce its arrival, but simply because it must breathe. The energy of the Growth stage is not a carefully planned offensive but pure instinct: the moment has come; it must begin. It is immature and imprecise, yet it possesses the purest explosive force of the entire life cycle.
Thus, in Destiny Analysis, those under the Growth stage often possess an aura of the "newborn calf" — not the strongest, yet the one most capable of making others feel that the future holds great promise.
Growth Stage Positions for Each Heavenly Stem
| Stem | Growth Stage Branch |
|---|---|
| Jia | Hai (Water) |
| Yi | Wu (Fire) |
| Bing | Yin (Wood) |
| Ding | You (Metal) |
| Wu | Yin (Wood) |
| Ji | You (Metal) |
| Geng | Si (Fire) |
| Xin | Zi (Water) |
| Ren | Shen (Metal) |
| Gui | Mao (Wood) |
Meaning of Growth in Destiny Analysis
- Day Master in Growth: When the Day Master resides in its Growth position, it is strong and vigorous, possessing Branch Support (De Di) and developmental potential.
- Useful God in Growth: When a Useful God (Yong Shen) is in its Growth position, its force is ample and it can readily exert its influence, making the chart tend toward auspiciousness.
- Ten God in Growth: When a particular Ten God (e.g., Direct Officer, Direct Wealth) is in its Growth position, the life domain it represents (office, wealth, etc.) continues to improve and is full of vitality.
Characteristics of Growth
The Growth position carries the image of burgeoning vitality, though it has not yet reached the extreme peak of Imperial Prosperity. Encountering Growth in a chart or Luck Cycle often represents a new beginning — the sprouting of new work, new relationships, or new endeavors. Compared to other weak positions (Decline, Sickness, Death, Extinction, Grave), Growth already belongs to a relatively strong energy state.