Literary Prosperity文昌 · Wen Chang
A star of learning. Tradition links it with study, exams and writing.
- Element
- metal
- Group
- Both Dippers
文昌屬金，南北斗司科甲，乃文魁之首。
Wen Chang belongs to metal. Across both Dippers it governs the examinations, first of the literary stars.
Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu, vol. 2
守身命主人幽閑儒雅，清秀魁梧，博文廣記。
In the Life palace it makes a person quiet and scholarly, fine in looks, widely read and with a strong memory.
Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu, vol. 1
In plain words
Wen Chang is the star of exams and books. In the old world that meant passing the examinations and taking office, and today it is read as study and writing. The book says that even harsh stars cannot push this person very low.
Sources Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu, vols. 1 and 2, from an online transcription, not yet checked against a printed edition. The plain text is ours, and it leaves out the book’s harshest lines about death and about women.