This is the pillar that started this entire quest for the gifts endowed by the 60 Jia Zi. Pillar No. 13, the Bing Zi (丙子) or Fire Rat, the joker of the pack.
The Bing Zi (丙子) or Fire Rat carries the image of a bright sun hidden behind a bank of clouds. The immediate connotation of this imagery is that of someone who is either unaware of their true talents and intelligence or is deliberately hiding these qualities behind a façade. This façade, is usually, humour.
BING ZI (丙子)/ FIRE RAT: OVERVIEW
Before we go any further, the first thing I want you to know is that the Bing Zi (丙子) or Fire Rat pillar is one of the Six Elegant Days. This denotes the Bing Zi (丙子) Day Master as someone who is naturally elegant and intelligent.
But there seems to be a lot of confusion about the Bing Zi pillar. In fact, this was the pillar that sparked off the idea for this series. Allow me a paragraph (or two) to explain.
The Bing Zi is often the butt of many jokes. Lecherous, clueless, nothing good is ever said about this pillar. Yes, the quest became personal because I was convinced that every single pillar brings a unique ‘something-something’ to the table.
This general confusion about the Bing Zi, however, is completely understandable. Because the pillar by itself is confused! It brings together, two conflicting elements – the Bing (丙), the most Yang, and the Gui (癸) the most Yin – into a single pillar! It’s akin to someone with dual personalities. Are they dealing with the shrewd and observant Gui Water (癸)? Or are they dealing with the generous and magnanimous Bing Fire (丙)? Nobody seems to be very sure. So let me break it down for you.
BING ZI (丙子)/ FIRE RAT: STRENGTHS
- Seated on your Gui Water (癸) Officer star, one of the Bing Zi’s stand out characteristics will be loyalty. This star represents your sense of honesty as well as your penetrating wit. It is perceptive and astute. It has the gift of subtle influence.
- But hidden beneath the Gui, a Bing Fire (丙) is still a Bing – consistent, persistent, optimistic, deeply compassionate, vibrant and super-confident. Gifted with big picture thinking, the Bing Zi is an inspired strategist.
Your Gift of Humour
So where does the gift of humour come into play? When both the Bing and Gui are working in tandem. In the Bing Zi itself, the dual qualities of these two elements actually complement each other. A little like the sunlight reflecting off the white clouds on a sunny day. Think of it this way, the penetrating intelligence of the Gui Water (癸) melded with the natural joie-de-vivre of the Bing Fire (丙) results in a Day Master who wields humour as part of your arsenal of talents.
Insanely Suited For Working In The Background
The Bing Zi has a strong inclination to work in the background. Exactly like the sun hiding behind the clouds! At the same time, the Bing Zi Day Master also exhibits a willingness to help everyone around you find success in life.
These two traits, coupled by the Bing Zi’s innate creativity and boundless energy, makes you ideally suited for businesses or professions where you help other people excel and shine. This means that the Bing Zi can excel at roles like being a movie producer, screen writer, talent agent, or yes, at the risk of sounding like I am self-promoting, even a Bazi coach. This is a scenario where the Gui sets the stage for the talent, and the Bing becomes the spotlight.
BING ZI (丙子)/ FIRE RAT: HOW YOU PRESENT
Seated on the Zi Branch (子), a peach blossom star, this is one of the most likable of the six Bing Fire Day Masters. But remember how we spoke about that amazing sense of humour of yours? Unfortunately, it gives you a ‘silly exterior’ that can be both an advantage as well as a disadvantage.
BING ZI (丙子)/ FIRE RAT: VULNERABILITIES TO BE AWARE OF
Your natural instincts to hide your true capacity and work behind the scenes, can be a handicap of sorts. It is so very easy to under-estimate the Bing Zi (丙子) or Fire Rat Day Master. You see, you will tend to use your sense of humour in a self-deprecating way. In a sense, the humour becomes a cloak that makes the Bing Zi non-threatening and almost invisible. In certain situations, this can be an advantage. It allows you to effect change from behind the scenes. But in other situations, it makes it all too easy for others to under-estimate, overlook and dismiss your contributions.
People have often asked me, why would the Bing Zi bother to hide? Here’s what I want you to know. The Bing Zi naturally shuns competition and confrontation. This unrooted Bing craves security above all else. When unencumbered by the nitty-gritty politicking of other people, the Bing Zi can literally fly high and soar above the clouds.
In other words, it’s not that the Bing Zi is unequipped to deal with competition and confrontation. Rather, the Bing Zi would prefer to not get bogged down or derailed by the clamouring of others. Among the 60 pillars, the Bing Zi has big-picture thinking so well developed that you have honed your in-born ability to ignore unwanted details. The phrase ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff’ was probably coined by a Bing Zi, for whom almost everything is categorized under the term ‘small stuff’.
BING ZI, BUT BETTER
The best way for the Bing Zi to turn your goals into reality is to use your ability for big picture thinking by being future-forward and constantly challenging yourself to greater heights. Does this sound too vague? Want a solid suggestion? Sure!
Embrace and develop your innate creativity! The end product of your creativity – be it writing, music, art or strategy – must be visible. Since this Day Master is naturally inclined to stay hidden, then you must allow the end-product of your creativity to shine for you. That is an easy way to allow the Bing Zi to come out from behind the curtain and take a standing ovation every once in a while.
As always, a final caveat. Without the ability to see the full chart, I must stress that the suggestions in this article are broad recommendations based on a single pillar.
While you are here, I just want to let you know that the 2022 Rat Forecast is out: https://thehiddensun.com/2021/10/15/the-rat-in-2022/
Are you a Bing Zi Day Master? Plot your Bazi Chart with this free resource (registration required) https://bazibz.masteryacademy.com/.
CONNECT WITH ME
DM me on my Facebook Page
Check out my YouTube Channel
Email me: [email protected]
Book an Appointment
Photo by Johny Goerend on Unsplash
Permission Statement:
All Bazi terminologies and the Bazi Chart referred here are copyrighted materials belonging to, and are used with permission from Dato Joey Yap and/or Joey Yap Research Group Sdn Bhd.
For more information on services and courses offered by Dato Joey Yap and/or Joey Yap Research Group Sdn Bhd, please visit www.joeyyap.com.
