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TL;DR: Tam Bích (Zhen Mu) is an inauspicious star in Xuan Kong Flying Stars, associated with disputes, lawsuits, gossip, and financial losses. However, when combined with favorable stars like Sheng Qi or Tian Yi, or when in its prosperous period, it can bring authority, fame, and unexpected wealth.
What is the Three Green Star? Origin and Position in the Nine Stars
In the Nine Star Flying Star system, each star represents a planet in the Solar System and carries its own colour, five element phase, and meaning. The Three Green Star is named Zhen Wood (the Zhen star), belongs to the Wood element, and carries the colour green (jade green). It is one of the three stars classified in the "inauspicious star" group together with the Two Black (Ju Men, Earth element) and the Five Yellow (Lian Zhen, Earth element), but each star has a different mechanism of influence and a different degree of impact.
In ancient astronomy, the Zhen star is in fact the planet Saturn, but in Chinese mythology it is assigned to the Wood element and the colour green. This "discrepancy" comes from the fact that the Nine Stars are not entirely identical with the physical planets, but are a symbolic system built on the He Tu, the Luo Shu, and the principles of yin yang and the five elements. In the Luo Shu, the number 3 sits in the Zhen palace (the East), belonging to the Wood element, and therefore the Three Green Star is assigned to Wood, representing initiation and growth, but also carrying a forceful, rigid quality that easily gives rise to conflict.
In the Flying Star school, each star, when it flies into a particular palace, produces different effects depending on the element of the palace, the facing direction of the house, the period, and its combination with other stars. The Three Green Star is an inauspicious star, but it does not always bring disaster. Understanding its nature and mechanism of operation is the key to remedying it or drawing out the positive sides it can offer.
What are the characteristics and nature of the Three Green Star?
The five element phase and direction of the Three Green Star
The Three Green Star belongs to the Wood element and is at its strongest in spring. In nature, Wood represents trees and vegetation, growth and sprouting. When Wood is strong, it symbolises vigorous development and an enterprising will. However, Wood also has a "straight" quality, hard to bend, so when it meets an obstacle it easily snaps or erupts into conflict. This explains why the Three Green Star is often linked to events such as quarrels, disputes, lawsuits, and even violence.
In the Bagua, the Zhen palace (the East) corresponds to thunder, to shock, to awakening. The ancients held that thunder can wake all things after their winter sleep, but can also cause fright. Therefore the Three Green Star can both create breakthroughs and cause sudden, unpredictable upheavals.
What is the inauspicious meaning of the Three Green Star?
When the Three Green Star sits in a palace without thriving energy or without support from good stars, it reveals its negative sides:
| Manifestation | Description |
|---|---|
| Disputes and lawsuits | This is the most prominent characteristic of the Three Green Star. It symbolises disharmony and clashes of interest among family members, business partners, or neighbours. Lawsuits and disputes over land or property are often attributed to the influence of this star. |
| Gossip and verbal trouble | The Three Green Star causes rumours, chatter, and unnecessary misunderstandings. People living in a house where the Three Green Star sits in the life palace or the career palace easily run into communication trouble, being slandered by others, or having their reputation smeared. |
| Theft and accidents | Because it belongs to the Wood element and carries a "moving" quality, the Three Green Star can trigger events involving theft or robbery, or sudden accidents such as falls or traffic collisions. |
| Loss of wealth | Although it does not directly cause loss of money like the Two Black or the Five Yellow, the Three Green Star causes financial loss indirectly. Lawsuits, business disputes, or loss of reputation through gossip can lead to losses and missed business opportunities. |
What is the auspicious meaning of the Three Green Star?
The Three Green Star is not always inauspicious. In some cases it can become a star that brings positive things:
| Manifestation | Description |
|---|---|
| Authority and career | When the Three Green Star receives thriving energy (usually when it meets the Life Energy or Heavenly Doctor stars), it symbolises power and advancement at work, especially in fields requiring decisiveness and strength such as the military, the police, the courts, or management. The ancients had a saying: "When the Three Green Star thrives, one holds military authority." |
| Breakthrough and starting a business | The Wood element of the Three Green Star symbolises growth and development. If placed correctly, it can stimulate creativity, helping the householder have breakthrough ideas and the courage to think and act, and from there reap unexpected success in business or in starting a venture. |
| Fame | In some combinations, the Three Green Star combined with literary stars such as the One White (Tan Lang) can create fame, but this fame often comes with a great deal of gossip if it is not well controlled. |
The mechanism of operation and important combinations of the Three Green Star
How does the interaction between periods take place?
In Flying Star Feng Shui, each period (20 years) has a governing star. The Three Green Star is the governing star of Period 3 (1964-1983). In that period the Three Green Star is considered thriving energy, so it brings more positive than negative sides. However, once the period ends, the Three Green Star becomes a declining, retiring star, and its negative sides gradually reveal themselves.
In the current periods (Period 8 and Period 9), the Three Green Star is regarded as a retiring star, meaning it is weakening. When an inauspicious star weakens, it is no longer strong enough to cause major negative effects, but at the same time it cannot bring the good things it brings when thriving. However, if the Three Green Star flies into a palace whose element generates it (such as a Water palace, since Water generates Wood), it can become stronger and cause considerable negative effects.
Combinations of the Three Green Star with other stars
The auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the Three Green Star depends greatly on which star it combines with in the same palace. Below are some important combinations:
| Combination | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Three Green meeting Two Black (3-2) | This is considered the worst combination, called "Wood Fighting" (Wood controls Earth). The Two Black is the sickness star, the Three Green is the strife star. When these two stars combine, they create serious health problems (especially illnesses related to the liver, gallbladder, digestive system, and women), and at the same time cause endless disputes and lawsuits in the family. Couples living in this area easily come into conflict, and even divorce. |
| Three Green meeting Five Yellow (3-5) | The Five Yellow is the great inauspicious star, governing disaster, illness, and loss. When the Three Green Star combines with the Five Yellow, the power of both is increased, creating extremely serious events such as fatal accidents, bankruptcy, or prolonged lawsuits that drain money and health. This is the combination most to be avoided in Flying Star Feng Shui. |
| Three Green meeting Seven Red (3-7) | The Seven Red belongs to the Metal element, the Three Green belongs to the Wood element, and Metal controls Wood. This combination is called "Metal and Wood at war", governing injuries and accidents, especially accidents involving metal, knives, or vehicles. It also causes theft, robbery, and legal problems. If someone in the house works in a metal-related trade or in transport, special care is needed. |
| Three Green meeting Nine Purple (3-9) | The Nine Purple belongs to the Fire element, and Wood generates Fire. This combination can bring reputation and fame, but accompanied by much gossip and noise. It can be good for those working in art, entertainment, or media, but not good for those who want a peaceful life. |
| Three Green meeting One White (3-1) | The One White belongs to the Water element, and Water generates Wood. This is a good combination, helping the Three Green Star bring out its positive sides. It can bring intelligence and clear judgement in decisions, help with study and examinations, and strengthen authority. However, if the One White is not the thriving star in that palace, this effect is much reduced. |
| Three Green meeting Six White (3-6) | The Six White belongs to the Metal element, and Metal controls Wood, similar to the combination with the Seven Red but milder in degree. It governs difficulties in career, obstruction from superiors, or problems related to the father or the husband in the family. |
What are the practical applications of the Three Green Star in daily life?
What happens when the Three Green Star sits in important palaces?
| Palace | Influence |
|---|---|
| The Life palace or the Fortune palace | If the Three Green Star flies into the Life palace (the palace of the householder in the house chart), this person tends to have a hot-tempered, blunt character and easily quarrels with others. Life easily meets gossip and lawsuits. However, if that person works in a profession requiring decisiveness, they can turn this weakness into an advantage. |
| The Wealth palace | The Three Green Star sitting in the Wealth palace is not a good sign for finances. Money comes quickly but also goes quickly, and disputes over money and debts are easily met. Investment and business need special caution, avoiding complex legal contracts. |
| The Career palace | At work, the Three Green Star causes fierce competition and conflicts with colleagues or partners. People working in law, the military, or fields requiring competition may find more advantages, but those working in creative or artistic fields will face much pressure. |
How to remedy and control the Three Green Star?
There are many methods to remedy the inauspicious energy of the Three Green Star, depending on its specific position and combination. The general principle is to weaken its Wood element or transform it into useful energy.
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Using the Fire element | Since Wood generates Fire, using items belonging to the Fire element (red, orange, purple, or lamps and candles) can "drain the energy" of the Three Green Star and reduce its strength. However, this method must be used cautiously, because if Fire is too strong it can cause unwanted side effects. |
| Using the Earth element | Since Wood controls Earth, using items belonging to the Earth element (yellow, brown, or objects of stone, ceramic, or porcelain) can wear down the energy of the Three Green Star. This is the most commonly used method to remedy the Three Green Star, especially when it combines with the Two Black or the Five Yellow. |
| Avoiding the Water element | Since Water generates Wood, using items belonging to the Water element (fish tanks, waterfalls, black or sea blue colours) will make the Three Green Star stronger and cause more serious negative effects. Therefore, absolutely avoid placing feng shui items of the Water element in an area where the Three Green Star sits. |
| Using auspicious symbols | Placing items with auspicious meaning such as the pixiu, the three-legged toad, or precious stones with positive energy can help remedy some of the inauspicious energy. However, note that these items only have a supporting effect and cannot entirely replace the five element measures. |
Views and debates on the degree of inauspiciousness of the Three Green Star
Among feng shui practitioners there are differing views on the severity of the Three Green Star. Some hold that the Three Green Star is the most dangerous inauspicious star among the Nine Stars, because it causes direct conflict, affects relationships, and can lead to serious legal consequences. Others hold that the Three Green Star is not as frightening as the Two Black or the Five Yellow, because those stars cause illness and disaster that people find hard to withstand, while the Three Green Star only causes problems that people can handle by resolving disputes and lawsuits.
In reality, the degree of inauspiciousness of the Three Green Star depends greatly on the specific context. A Three Green Star in the Fortune palace may only cause small quarrels in the family, but if it combines with the Five Yellow in the Wealth palace, the consequence can be bankruptcy or major lawsuits. Therefore, accurately assessing the degree of influence of the Three Green Star requires deep knowledge of the entire house chart, as well as the interaction between the stars in each specific period.
