What Is the Moon Virtue Noble (Yue De)?
In a Nutshell
Read from the month branch against the chart's stems — Yin, Wu, Xu months look for Bing; Shen, Zi, Chen months look for Ren; Hai, Mao, Wei months look for Jia; Si, You, Chou months look for Geng. Together with the Heavenly Virtue Noble it is called the "Heavenly and Monthly Virtues."
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| How to find it | Yin, Wu, Xu months → Bing; Shen, Zi, Chen months → Ren; Hai, Mao, Wei months → Jia; Si, You, Chou months → Geng |
| Reference | The month branch (Month Pillar), checked against the Four Pillars' stems |
| Pair | Together with the Heavenly Virtue Noble (Tian De), called the "Heavenly and Monthly Virtues" |
What is the Moon Virtue Noble?
The Moon Virtue Noble (Yue De Gui Ren), shortened to "Moon Virtue," is a Symbolic Star in the Four Pillars, found by taking the month branch (the Month Pillar) and scanning the chart's stems. The standard verse: "Those born in Yin, Wu, or Xu months — the stems look for Bing; Shen, Zi, or Chen months — for Ren; Hai, Mao, or Wei months — for Jia; Si, You, or Chou months — for Geng." First see which group the birth month belongs to, then look for the matching stem elsewhere in the chart. For example, born in a Yin, Wu, or Xu month with Bing among the chart's stems, you carry the Moon Virtue Noble.
The inner logic is very tidy: Yin, Wu, Xu form the Fire combination, and Fire's yang stem is Bing; Shen, Zi, Chen form the Water combination, Water's yang stem is Ren; Hai, Mao, Wei form the Wood combination, Wood's yang stem is Jia; Si, You, Chou form the Metal combination, Metal's yang stem is Geng. In other words, the Moon Virtue takes the yang stem of the month's combination element — once you see that, the verse needs no rote memorization. Its partner is the Heavenly Virtue Noble (Tian De Gui Ren), found from the month branch by an ancient verse; together they are called the "Heavenly and Monthly Virtues."
The classical record: *Ming Li Tan Yuan* (Exploring the Origins of Destiny) has a dedicated Monthly Virtue entry quoting the *Yuan Hai Zi Ping*: "for Yin, Wu, Xu months it is Bing; for Shen, Zi, Chen months, Ren; for Hai, Mao, Wei months, Jia; for Si, You, Chou months, Geng". The *San Ming Tong Hui*, Book 3, also treats it. The original passage is quoted below.
MoZhu's Symbolic Stars lookup tool marks the Moon Virtue Noble automatically from your birth time, so you can verify your own chart. Like all Symbolic Stars, it is a reference only; reading a chart still starts with the Month Pillar and the Chart Pattern. This page covers the finding rule and its source; it draws no conclusions from the star.
Classical sources
"The *Yuan Hai Zi Ping* says: for Yin, Wu, Xu months it is Bing; for Shen, Zi, Chen months, Ren; for Hai, Mao, Wei months, Jia; for Si, You, Chou months, Geng."
Plain words: Monthly Virtue is found from the month branch: Yin-Wu-Xu → Bing, Shen-Zi-Chen → Ren, Hai-Mao-Wei → Jia, Si-You-Chou → Geng.
Source: *Ming Li Tan Yuan* (Yuan Shushan, Republican era), entry "Monthly Virtue", quoting the *Yuan Hai Zi Ping* — original: 《渊海子平》云：寅午戌月在丙，申子辰月在壬，亥卯未月在甲，巳酉丑月在庚。
*For entertainment purposes only.*