Li Siguang
Li Siguang (1889–1971) was a founding figure of modern Chinese geology, a pioneer in petroleum and uranium prospecting, and a key scientific administrator. Trained abroad and a longtime professor, he combined field insight with institutional leadership, guiding major oil discoveries and advancing seismic prediction methods.
BaZi Chart
Birth Time Verification
Core Analysis
Li Siguang's natal chart centers on 乙日主, a gentle Wood self that thrives when nourished by water and restrained by proper structure. The chart shows a strong presence of 偏印 and supportive Earth/Metal elements alongside significant 七杀/正官 signals, producing a complex interplay between scholarly resourcefulness and disciplined public duty.
In terms of 五行, the 亥 and 戌 support intellectual fluidity while Earth branches (丑、辰) provide practical grounding. The 十神 pattern suggests a mind oriented to research and method (印、食神) but also tasked with management and external responsibility (正官/七杀). This aligns with his dual role as a researcher and national scientific leader.
Major 大运 phases mirror career milestones: early 印运 (癸酉、壬申) favored study and overseas education; the 庚午 正官 decade corresponds to institutional leadership at Peking University and national roles; the 己巳偏财大运 coincides with active petroleum prospecting and practical resource achievements. Overall the chart's 格局 can be described as an integrated 印制杀、官印并举 configuration that fosters academic creativity, institutional authority, and practical discovery.
Traits
Intellectual Depth
High score based on strong 偏印 and 食神 signals: the chart emphasizes research ability and continuous learning, explaining his academic achievements and methodical geological theories.
Leadership & Public Duty
Top rating grounded in pronounced 正官/七杀 influences and supportive 大运 (庚午): these elements show authority, administrative skill, and suitability for national scientific leadership.
Practical Field Acumen
Exceptional practical sense supported by Earth branches (丑、辰、戌) and a 偏财 phase (己巳): this combination underpins his success in resource prospecting and oil/uranium discoveries.
Strategic Foresight
High foresight derived from the interplay of 乙日主 with 偏印 (analysis) and 正官 (application): this pattern yields accurate long-term judgement such as seismic prediction and national resource planning.
Timeline
Journey to Japan: Seeds of Revolutionary Thought Take Root
Government-funded study in Japan; studied at Tokyo Hongwen College and other institutions; began systematically embracing democratic revolutionary ideas and participated in the early preparations of the Tongmenghui; his life trajectory began to be closely tied to the fate of the nation.
Xin Hai Turbulence: Serving the Nation Through Industry, Gaining Fame
Returned to China to join the Xinhai Revolution; served as secretary of the Hubei Tongmenghui branch and as Minister of Industry for the Hubei Military Government; later in Beijing he participated in the overseas return examination, and, with excellent results, was awarded an Engineering Jinshi degree, opening a new chapter in official service.
Educated in Britain, the Geology Gem Shines Across Europe
With notable papers including 'Geology of China', earned a Master of Natural Sciences from the University of Birmingham, marking a milestone in his academic career. Subsequently, he traveled across the European continent to conduct geological surveys, turning theory into practice.
Return after studies, laying the foundation for national geological research
After earning a PhD from the University of Birmingham in the UK, he returned home and immediately led the planning and establishment of the Geological Research Institute of the Central Research Academy, laying a solid organizational and scholarly foundation for his future tenure as director and for advancing China's geological science.
Western Learning Reaches the East, Fame Spreads Across Britain
In 1934, he went to Britain to lecture on 'Chinese Geology,' and published a work of the same title, bringing Chinese geological research to the international stage and greatly enhancing both his own and the nation's scholarly influence.
War-time Southward Migration Nurtures Talent, Pioneering a New Petroleum Era
During the War of Resistance, Li Siguang accompanied the Geological Research Institute of the Central Research Institute as it relocated to Chongqing, and taught at Chongqing University. He overcame difficulties to establish the nation’s first petroleum program, equipping crucial talent for the postwar national energy strategy, linking his scholarly pursuits with the nation's fate.
Return of the Native: Taking the Reins of Geoscience
Secretly returned from Britain, then appointed vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and director of the National Geology Work Planning Committee and Minister of Geology, taking overall responsibility for planning and building New China's geological programs.
Steering the Geoscience Nucleus, Laying the Industry's Foundation
Coordinated the establishment of Beijing Geoscience Institute and served as the PRC’s first Minister of Geology, tasked with training geological talents for the nation and advancing the industry’s development.
Honored as an Academician, Leading the Petroleum Survey Endeavor
Elected as a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and served as the Director of the National Petroleum Survey Committee, advancing the idea of oil discovery through geological structures and guiding nationwide petroleum exploration, reaching a career pinnacle.
Serving the Nation Through Science; the Party Flag Flies High
1958 saw a peak in both science and politics. He was appointed as a foreign fellow of the Soviet Academy of Sciences and as the director of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Atomic Energy Commission, and elected as the founding chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology. In December of the same year, he formally joined the Chinese Communist Party, becoming a core figure in national science and technology strategy and policy-making.
Academic Peak: Honored with an International Award
On May 29, 1959, Li Siguang, for his outstanding contributions to geology, was awarded the Karlbins Foundation Medal by the Soviet Academy of Sciences, marking international recognition of his scholarly achievements by a prestigious institution.
Rising to the Political Core, Endowed with the National Seal
In April 1969, he was elected as a member of the 9th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, taking on important duties at the nation's political core, marking a new height in his political career.
Leading Science and Education; Authority Emerges
In August 1970, appointed head of the State Council's Science and Education Group, coordinating and organizing national science and education affairs; quickly stood out in a key post.
A Great Star Falls, Spirit Endures
On April 29, 1971, Mr. Li Siguang passed away in Beijing at the age of 82. He dedicated his life to geological research and scientific organization, leaving a rich academic and spiritual legacy; his death marks the end of an era.
FAQ
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