How to read Ptolemy's table of Essential Dignities
翻译by www.12sign.cn scf

The first column of the table indicates the signs of the zodiac.
第一列指示着黄道星座


The second column shows the traditional rulers of the signs. It is headed 'house' because ancient terminology referred to the signs that the planets ruled as being their natural 'houses' or 'homes'.
第二列显示星座传统的守护星。标题是house因为古代都是说守护星在自己的房子里面。


Apart from the Sun and Moon, each of the planets rules one sign by diurnal expression_r(D) and one by nocturnal expression_r(N). Hence Mars rules both Aries and Scorpio, but in Aries, its diurnal rulership, its energies are expressed more openly and directly; in Scorpio (its nocturnal rulership), its energies are more introverted and unconsciously driven. Diurnal simply means 'of the nature of the day'; nocturnal, 'of the nature of the night'. The terms 'diurnal and nocturnal' are synonymous with 'masculine and feminine', 'yin and yang', 'extrovert and introvert'. Diurnal energy usually gives a more spontaneous reaction where inner drives are consciously expressed and clearly apparent. Nocturnal energy is usually more reflective and operates at a deeper level of consciousness.
除开太阳和月亮，所有的行星白天晚上都主宰不同的星座，白天D晚上N ，所以火星主宰白羊与天蝎，白天主宰白羊，能量表达比较公开、直接。晚上主宰天蝎座，能量以内蓄的，不知不觉的爆发。日夜区间和“女子气概、男子气概”“阴、阳”“外向、内向”类似。白天能量通常引发自然的反应，而夜间的反应则一般属于比较深层的。


In considering the traditional scheme, note from the illustration at the top of the page how the planetary rulerships fan out in a symmetrical pattern from the union of the Sun and Moon.
最顶上的一排，反应的是行星的主宰方式，除了太阳和月亮同时主宰白天黑夜以外，其他的行星都对称的分布。


The third column shows where each of the planets are exalted. The specific degree of exaltation is included - these degrees are particularly notable although the dignity of exaltation is generally applied to the whole of the sign. Hence Mars is dignified at any position in Capricorn, the sign of its exaltation, but the dignity will be especially apparent in the 28th degree. The traditional exaltations of the nodes are included although I have never really seen these put to good use in judgements.
第三列代表在对应星座耀升的行星，行星旁边的阿拉伯数字代表所在星座的度数，尽管行星在这个星座的任何地方都属于耀升，但是这个度数是值得特别注意的。火星在摩羯属于耀升，但是如果在摩羯28度就更需要重视。传统的交点耀升也包括进来了，虽然我从来都不认为这个有什么用。


The fourth column shows the planetary rulership of the triplicities. You will see that the pattern repeats for the fire triplicity - Aries, Leo and Sagittarius; the earth triplicity - Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn; the air triplicity - Gemini, Libra and Aquarius; and the water triplicity - Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
第四列显示了三宫主（triplicities，：在占星术中，黄道四个组中的每一个都包括三个互相隔为120度的宫,在此意义上也可称作 trigon）的守护星,你可以发现相同相，火相，白羊、狮子和射手，到土相金牛，处女和摩羯，风相双子，天秤，水瓶，水相，巨蟹，天蝎，双鱼，的守护星都是一样的。


In triplicity rulerships the planetary rulers change according to whether the chart is a daytime chart, (which features the Sun above the horizon), or a night-time chart, (where the sun has set). The 'D' and 'N' at the top of the column indicate the rulers by day and night. So if the chart is cast for noon then Saturn acts as the triplicity ruler of all the air signs; at midnight Mercury would be used instead.
三宫主守护星白天黑夜是不同的，（以太阳在地平线上下进行区分）列的顶端D和N代表不同时段的守护星。如果是中午，那么土星是风相星座的守护星，如果是在晚上那么水星是风相星座的守护星。


The fifth column shows the degrees where rulership by term transfers. That is, Jupiter rules the first six degree of Aries, from 0°00' - 5°59'; Venus rules from 6°00' - 13°59 Aries.
第五列显示了星座的区间守护星，木星守护白羊座0度到5度59分，金星守护白羊座6度到13度59分。


Notice that the Sun and Moon do not rule any of the terms. Also that the malefic planets, Mars and Saturn rule the final terms of every sign (this principle is fixed from 27 degrees to the end of the sign). The malefics fo not rule any of the middle terms (from 6 degrees - 19 degrees), which are all held by Mercury, Venus or Jupiter.
注意一下，太阳和月亮不是任何区间的守护星，凶星，土星与火星主宰每个星座的最后区间（每个星座的最后三度），凶星不会主宰任何中间的区间（6度－19度），中间的区间都被水星，金星与木星主宰。


The sixth column shows the degrees where rulership by face transfers. That is, Mars rules the first ten degree of Aries, from 0°00' - 9°59'; the Sun rules rules from 10°00' - 19°59 Aries.
第六列显示了通过面（面　Face，星盘上每个星座可分为三个面，每个面为十度。）方式分割的星座的守护星。就是说火星主宰白羊座前十度，从0度到9度59分；太阳主宰白羊座的10度到19度59分。


Notice how the order of planetary rulership over the faces winds across the column in descending order of their proximity to earth; that is - Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon.
注意，守护星的顺序是按照其接近地球的顺序递减排列，（土星－木星－火星－太阳－金星－水星－月亮）由火星从白羊座0度开始按照接近地球的顺序递减排列。


As you read their order down the column, you find the pattern that matches the order of the days of the week - Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn:
当你按照纵行读的时候就会发现，每个纵行是按照一周的顺序排列的
太阳（礼拜天）－月亮（星期一）－火星（星期二）－水星（星期三）－木星（星期四）－金星（星期五）－土星（星期六）。
Sun - Sunday
Moon - Monday
Mars - Tuesday (equivalent Scandinavian god Tyr - O.E.: Tiw)
Mercury - Wednesday(equivalent Scandinavian god Odin - O.E.: Woden)
Jupiter - Thursday (equivalent Scandinavian god Thor)
Venus - Friday (equivalent Scandinavian god Frigg)
Saturn - Saturday


The seventh column shows the signs where the planets experience detriment. These are the signs opposite the ones they rule, so apart from the Sun and Moon, each planet has two signs of detriment just as they have two signs of rulership.
第七列显示了行星在哪个星座相害（detriment）的情况。行星守护星座的正对面星座就是行星的相害星座，所以除了太阳月亮之外，每个行星都有两个相害星座。


The eighth column shows the signs where the planets experience fall. These are opposite the signs of exaltation, so each planet has only one sign of fall, just as they have only one sign of exaltation. Although the debility is applied throughout the sign, the specific degrees mentioned in the list of exaltations carry extra significance, so the 28th degree of Cancer is particularly notable as a degree of debility for Mars, being the sign and degree of its fall.
第八列显示行星在哪个星座落陷（fall）的情况，耀升星座的对面星座就是行星的落陷星座，所以每个行星都只有一个落陷星座。尽管落入落陷星座的行星都是虚弱无力的，但是有特别的度数也在表格中提及了。所以火星在巨蟹座28度特别无力的。


The following sections in this article explain the use of dignities, debilities and reception in chart interpretation. Before moving on, try the exercise below to make sure that you understand how to take dignities and rulerships from Ptolemy's table.
下面的部分说明了dignities, debilities and reception在星盘解释中的应用。在这之前，最好做一些训练，直到能熟练的阅读托勒密的表格为止。


Test your ability to read the table correctly

If you want to check that you can read this table correctly, try the following exercise - a link to the answers is given below.

1) In a day-time chart, Saturn is placed at 15°35' Taurus. List the planets that rule Saturn's position by sign, exaltation, triplicity, term and face. Does Saturn have any essential dignity in this position?

2) In a night-time chart, the Moon is placed at 19°45' Cancer. List the planets that rule the Moon's position by sign, exaltation, triplicity, term and face. Does the Moon have any essential dignity in this position?

3) In which three signs is Venus essentially debilitated?

4) In a night-time chart Mercury is at 26°12 Aries. List the planets that rule Mercury's position by sign, exaltation, triplicity, term and face. Does Mercury have any essential dignity in this position?