BaZi Patterns — The Chart's Structural Identity

Pattern (geju) is the chart's structural classification — it shapes the trajectory and temperament of the life.

What "Pattern" Means

格局 — "格" means "structure", "局" means "configuration". Together: structural classification of the chart.

Classical reading divides charts into:

• Standard patterns (8 types) — most charts fall here
• Special patterns — specially-prosperous, follower, transformation — fewer charts, rules INVERT

Different patterns mean different main themes, different yongshen logic, different dayun direction. Identifying the pattern is a key step.

"Month Branch Is the Frame" — Pattern Identification

Ziping's first principle: "Every pattern is taken from the month-branch frame; do not seek pattern from year, hour, or day positions" (Yuan Hai Zi Ping).

Procedure:

1. Examine the month branch's hidden stems (primary, mid, residual)
2. See which hidden stem appears "transparent" in heavenly stems (year/month/day/hour)
3. The relationship between that transparent stem and the Day Master = the Ten God → names the pattern

Example: Day Master 甲 wood, month branch 申. 申 contains 庚, 壬, 戊. If 庚 is transparent → 庚 is Day Master's 七杀 → "Seven Killings Pattern".

Eight Standard Patterns

By the transparent Ten God, eight standard patterns:

• 正官格 Direct Officer
• 七杀格 Seven Killings
• 正财格 Direct Wealth
• 偏财格 Indirect Wealth
• 食神格 Eating God
• 伤官格 Hurting Officer
• 正印格 Direct Resource
• 偏印格 Indirect Resource

Plus 建禄格 (month branch = Day Master's companion) and 阳刃格 (= Day Master's yang blade) — these are "self-strength" structures, technically not Ten God patterns.

Intact vs Broken Patterns

Once the pattern is named, judge whether it's intact (formed correctly) or broken (damaged):

• Intact: pattern star is strong, not clashed, well-configured → high-grade chart
• Broken: pattern star clashed, lost, transformed → grade lowers

A 正官格 intact → stable career, good reputation. Broken → unstable career, legal trouble.

So identifying the pattern is just step one — assessing intact-vs-broken determines its functional value.

Multiple Patterns Possible

A chart can hold multiple patterns simultaneously — if month branch's hidden stems multiply transparent:

• Primary pattern (本气 transparent — strongest)
• Secondary pattern (中气 transparent — moderate)
• Tertiary pattern (余气 transparent — weakest)

Reading must consider interactions: "财官相生" (wealth-officer harmony), "杀印相生" (killer-resource generation), "官杀混杂" (mixed officer-killer), "食伤并见" (output overflow) — each has a named meaning.

Next step

Read about special patterns — specially-prosperous, follower, transformation — why their rules are reversed.