What Is Nourish and Support (Sheng Fu)?
Sheng Fu is the collective term in Bazi for forces that assist the Day Master:
- Fu (Support): Peers (Bi Jian and Jie Cai) are of the same element as the Day Master, directly supporting and strengthening it
- Sheng (Nourish): Seals (Zheng Yin and Pian Yin) generate the Day Master, nourishing and assisting it, indirectly strengthening it
Together they are called "Sheng Fu," and they represent the primary Useful God direction for weak (Shen Ruo) charts.
Specific Sources of Nourish and Support
| Type | Ten Gods | Effect on Day Master |
|---|---|---|
| Fu | Bi Jian, Jie Cai (Peers) | Stand alongside as equals, directly assist the Day Master |
| Sheng | Zheng Yin, Pian Yin (Seals) | Generate the Day Master, protect and nourish |
Sheng Fu vs. Ke Xie Hao
Forces in the chart can be divided into two major directions:
- Sheng Fu (Assists Day Master): Peers + Seals
- Ke Xie Hao (Depletes Day Master): Officer/Killing (restrains me) + Output (drains me) + Wealth (consumes me)
Chart strength assessment is precisely about comparing these two forces — if Sheng Fu dominates, the Day Master is strong; if Ke Xie Hao dominates, the Day Master is weak.
Sheng Fu as Useful God for Weak Charts
For those with a weak Day Master, Sheng Fu is the primary Useful God direction:
- Favorable Peer Cycles: When Luck Cycles or Annual Luck bring Peers, same-element support arrives — competitive support amid challenges
- Favorable Seal Cycles: When Luck Cycles or Annual Luck bring Seals, benefactors assist, knowledge grows, and the Day Master is protected
The Problem of Excessive Sheng Fu
If the chart's Sheng Fu forces are already sufficient, and additional Sheng Fu arrives through Luck Cycles (strong Seal or Peer cycles), the Day Master becomes excessively strong — already not weak, and further support renders Ke Xie Hao forces useless, unbalancing the structure. This may lead to arrogance or stubborn complacency.