Lao She
Lao She (1899–1966), leading Chinese novelist and playwright, famed for Beijing realism and incisive social observation.
BaZi Chart
Birth Time Verification
Core Analysis
Lao She's natal Bazi centers on a 壬日主 (Water Day Master) set against abundant 乙/甲 (Wood) influences—notably the month and hour 乙 and the 寅 branch. This produces a clear 伤官格 tendency where expressive output and literary talent dominate the chart. In Bazi terms the strong 食神/伤官 signals fluent creativity and the capacity to turn inner thought into public expression.
The chart shows complex interactions among 五行 and 十神: there are earth and fire elements (戊、巳、辰) that introduce pressure and constraint often experienced as social responsibility or conflict (manifested historically in career burdens and public roles). The provided 大运 sequence highlights how external cycles matched life phases: the 己巳（正官） decade aligns with creative maturity and major publications, while later 壬申（比肩） years coincide with confrontation and vulnerability. The dynamic of 伤官配印—where creative output is met by supporting印 (resources/recognition) in certain periods—explains both acclaim and later challenges.
Overall, the chart's core 格局 favors a public artist: strong communicative output, social visibility, and episodic tensions. The combination of 伤官 creativity and alternating 正官/比肩 influences explains a trajectory of rising influence, institutional roles, and eventual personal crisis under adverse sociopolitical pressures.
Traits
Creativity
High score based on strong 伤官/食神 presence (乙木 in month and hour, 甲 in 寅) which signals abundant output, imagination and literary talent aligned with real-life achievements.
Public Influence
Marked by interaction of 伤官 with supportive 印綬/正官 in major 大运 decades; this configuration explains prominence, awards and leadership in cultural institutions.
Resilience
Solid resilience from a mixed 五行 structure and recurring supportive 大运 (丁卯、己巳、辛未), enabling recovery and continued productivity despite hardship.
Vulnerability to Conflict
Moderate vulnerability due to later 比肩/劫财 大运 and the clash between 伤官 independence and external 正官 pressures, correlating with periods of political and personal crisis.
Timeline
Orphaned in childhood, life hangs by a thread
During the Eight-Nation Alliance invasion of China, his father Yongshou died bravely defending Zhengyang Gate. The family was looted by Italian soldiers, and the one-and-a-half-year-old Lao She hid under a chest, narrowly escaping.
Graduation with top marks, taking a leadership role on the educational stage
Graduated with excellent scores from Normal School, and was promptly entrusted with a major responsibility, becoming principal of Beijing No.17 Primary and Secondary School, launching his educational career.
Teaching in Tianjin, literary talent emerges
Resigning from his previous post, he went to Tianjin Nankai Middle School as a teacher, and during this period published the short story 'Little Bell', opening a new chapter where education and literary creation run in parallel.
First Steps on the Literary Stage: Zhang's Philosophy Emerges
Serializing his first full-length novel Old Zhang's Philosophy in Novel Monthly marked his official entry into the literary world and the start of his writing career.
Romance Blooming in the Nanyang: Teaching Abroad, Writing Across Cultures
After leaving Britain, he taught at a Chinese school in Singapore for six months. During this period, he wrote the novel Xiao Po's Birthday, set in the Nanyang, full of childlike whimsy and fantasy, depicting a harmonious coexistence among children of different ethnic groups.
Romance Star Activated, A Fortunate Union
Under the auspices of friend Luo Changpei, he married painter Hu Xieqing at Beijing's Dengshikou and, after the wedding, the couple moved to Jinan to settle, beginning a new chapter of family life.
Facing National Crisis, Wielding the Pen as a Weapon to Join the War of Resistance
When the Marco Polo Bridge Incident broke out, in a moment of national peril, he resolutely left his wife and children, traveled south to Wuhan, and helped organize the National Anti-Enemy Association of China’s literary and art circles, dedicating his talents to the era's effort to save the nation.
Crossing the Ocean to Foster Cultural Exchange
At the invitation of the U.S. Department of State, he traveled to the United States with Cao Yu for cultural exchange and lectures, spreading Chinese culture to the other side of the ocean.
Pen Strokes for a New Society: A Play That Shook Beijing
He created and published the drama Dragon's Beard Ditch, reflecting the transformation of the new society in the large communal courtyards; the work deeply depicts the era's changes and won wide acclaim, marking an important milestone in his artistic career.
Ascend to prominence, honored as a National NPC Delegate
Elected as a representative to the first session of the National People's Congress, attended the NPC's first meeting, participated in discussions and spoke on the draft of the Constitution, a milestone in his political career.
Master-Tycoon Takes the Pen; Tea House Turbulence Arises
Began the creation of the immortal three-act drama 'Teahouse', which through the rise and fall of a teahouse deeply portrays the social changes and multitude of lives from the late Qing to the early Republic of China across nearly half a century.
Calamity at the Confucius Temple, Fiery Ordeal
In front of the Dacheng Gate of Beijing's Confucius Temple, the subject was publicly denounced by Red Guards, forced to kneel beside a burning theatrical fire, subjected to a brutal beating, with blood streaming down.
The Final Decision at Taiping Lake
On the morning after suffering persecution, he went alone to the shore of Taiping Lake, sat in contemplation all day, and late that night he drowned himself, dying at age 67.
FAQ
How did the Bazi pattern explain Lao She's creativity?
Which 大运 periods matched his peak achievements?
Why did he face later persecution according to the chart?
Can Bazi indicate both talent and tragedy in one chart?
What practical insights can modern readers take from this analysis?
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