Pattern (Ge Ju) Overview (Ge Ju Zong Lun)

In one line: A pattern is the dominant force configuration in your chart — the single most important factor in determining its overall quality and trajectory.

What is a Pattern (Ge Ju)?

A pattern is formed by the strongest, most dominant element in the chart. It defines the chart's core theme — what kind of life, career, and challenges the person will face.

The concept of patterns comes from Zi Ping Zhen Quan (《子平真诠》), where the entire first half of the book is devoted to pattern analysis.

Classification of Patterns

Patterns are divided into three major categories:

1. Proper Patterns (正格)

The standard patterns, derived primarily from the Month Branch:

Direct Officer (Zheng Guan) Pattern (正官格)
Seven Killings (Qi Sha) Pattern (七杀格)
Direct Wealth (Zheng Cai) Pattern (正财格)
Indirect Wealth (Pian Cai) Pattern (偏财格)
Direct Seal (Zheng Yin) Pattern (正印格)
Indirect Seal (Pian Yin) Pattern (偏印格)
Food God (Shi Shen) Pattern (食神格)
Hurting Officer (Shang Guan) Pattern (伤官格)
Friend (Bi Jian) Patterns (建禄格, 月劫格)

2. Transformed Patterns (变格)

When a proper pattern is altered by special stem-branch combinations:

Officer-Killings mixing → transformed pattern
Hurting Officer meeting Officer → transformed pattern
Special combinations that override the Month Branch

3. Following Patterns (Cong Ge)

When the Day Master (Ri Zhu) is extremely weak and rootless:

Yielding to Wealth (从财格)
Yielding to Killings (从杀格)
Yielding to Output (从儿格)
Yielding to Dominant (从旺格)
Yielding to Strong (从强格)

How to Extract the Pattern (Ge Ju)

The primary method: Extract from the Month Branch.

Identify the main qi (本气) of the Month Branch
Determine which Ten God that main qi represents relative to the Day Master
That Ten God defines the pattern

For example:

Day Master = Jia Wood, Month Branch = You (酉, Metal) → Direct Officer Pattern
Day Master = Bing Fire, Month Branch = Hai (亥, Water) → Seven Killings Pattern

If the Month Branch main qi is hidden or blocked, look at the secondary qi or other dominant forces.

Pattern (Ge Ju) Success and Failure

A Successful Pattern (Ge Ju)

The pattern's core element is present and undamaged
There is a useful god that supports the pattern
No clash, punishment, or harmful combination breaks the pattern

A Failed Pattern (Ge Ju)

The pattern's core element is clashed, combined away, or severely weakened
A harmful element attacks the pattern
No remedy exists to restore the pattern

Pattern (Ge Ju) Quality: High and Low

Even among successful patterns, quality varies:

Quality	Conditions
High (贵)	Pattern (Ge Ju) is pure, Useful God (Yong Shen) is clear, favorable elements are strong
Medium (中)	Pattern (Ge Ju) is formed but has minor flaws or mixed elements
Low (贱)	Pattern (Ge Ju) is formed but severely damaged, or useful god is weak

Key principle: A high-quality chart with a failed pattern is still mediocre. A low-born chart with a successful pattern can still achieve greatness.

How to read it in your BaZi chart?

Find your Month Branch and its main qi
Determine the Ten God it represents relative to your Day Master
That Ten God defines your base pattern
Check if the pattern is successfully formed (no clashes, no breaking)
Assess the quality — is the pattern pure and well-supported?

Common Misconceptions

❌ "Patterns are everything" — patterns are the foundation, but the Useful God and luck cycles are equally important. ❌ "Only the Month Branch determines the pattern" — the Month Branch is primary, but special combinations can transform the pattern. ❌ "A failed pattern means a bad life" — it means the chart lacks natural structure, but luck cycles and personal effort can still create success.

📜 Classical source: Zi Ping Zhen Quan (《子平真诠》) — "On Establishing Patterns" (论格局) 🔗 Next: Direct Officer Pattern