Seven Killings (Qi Sha) Pattern (Ge Ju)

In one line: When the Month Branch's main qi is Seven Killings, the chart forms the Seven Killings Pattern — with control, great nobility; without control, great disaster.

What is it?

The Seven Killings Pattern forms when the main qi of the Month Branch is the element that restrains the Day Master (Ri Zhu) with same polarity.

For example:

• Day Master = Jia Wood (阳木), Month Branch = Shen 申 (Yang Metal) → Seven Killings Pattern
• Day Master = Yi Wood (阴木), Month Branch = You 酉 (Yin Metal) → Seven Killings Pattern

Seven Killings is fierce, decisive, and dangerous — but also carries the potential for great power when properly controlled.

Three Control Methods

The classic saying goes: "When Seven Killings is controlled, it becomes power; uncontrolled, it is disaster." (有杀为权，无杀为害)

1. Seal Transformation (印化杀)

• The Seal transforms Seven Killings' fierce energy into nourishment for the Day Master
• Seven Killings → generates Seal → generates Day Master
• The most elegant solution: turns aggression into wisdom and protection
• Produces strategic thinkers, scholars with authority

2. Food God (Shi Shen) Control (食神制杀)

• The Food God restrains Seven Killings directly
• Like a warrior taming a wild beast
• Produces military leaders, entrepreneurs, competitive strategists
• Requires the Food God to be strong enough — if too weak, it cannot control the Killings

3. Day Master (Ri Zhu) Resistance (身杀两停)

• The Day Master itself is strong enough to withstand Seven Killings
• "Day Master and Killings both strong" — a head-on confrontation
• Produces fearless leaders, pioneers, people who thrive under pressure
• The riskiest method: if luck pillars weaken the Day Master, disaster strikes

Career Orientation

Seven Killings Pattern people are drawn to:

• Military and police — the natural expression of controlled aggression
• Entrepreneurship — risk-taking with decisive action
• Law enforcement and justice — wielding authority
• Competitive sports — channeling aggression
• Crisis management — thriving where others panic

They value power, action, and results over propriety and procedure.

Killings vs. Officer: Key Differences

Formation Conditions

1. Month Branch main qi is Seven Killings — the proper placement
2. A control method must exist — Seal, Food God, or strong Day Master
3. No Officer mixing — Officer-Killings mixing pollutes the pattern
4. The control element must not be damaged — if the Seal or Food God is clashed away, the Killings runs wild

How to read it in your BaZi chart?

1. Check your Month Branch main qi — is it your Seven Killings?
2. Look for a control method: Is there a Seal? An Food God? Is the Day Master strong?
3. Check for Officer-Killings mixing — both present?
4. Assess the control element's strength — can it actually restrain the Killings?
5. Check luck pillars — periods that strengthen the control are favorable

Common Misconceptions

❌ "Seven Killings Pattern is a bad chart" — with proper control, it produces the most powerful charts. Many emperors and generals had this pattern. ❌ "Food God control is always better than Seal transformation" — each method suits different chart conditions. Seal transformation works best when the Day Master is weak; Food God control requires a strong Food God. ❌ "Seven Killings must always be controlled" — in the "Day Master and Killings both strong" case, the Killings is a partner, not an enemy to suppress.

📜 Classical source: Zi Ping Zhen Quan (《子平真诠》) Vol. 3, "On the Seven Killings Pattern" 🔗 Next: Following Patterns (Cong Ge)