What Is a Chart Structure (格局)?
In classical BaZi, every chart is assigned a primary Structure (格局, Géjú) — a label that identifies which Ten God governs the chart's central dynamic. Knowing your structure answers three practical questions:
- Which God or element is favorable (用神 Yòng Shén)?
- Which is unfavorable (忌神 Jì Shén)?
- How to grade the chart — a high-quality structure predicts success when supported by favorable Luck Pillars.
The classical maxim states: "提綱有用提綱重" — "When the Month Branch (提綱) holds a Useful God, the Month Branch is paramount." Common structures are always established from the Month Branch first; only when the Month Branch fails to yield a useful structure do we look to special or follow structures.
The Two Categories of Chart Structures
Classical texts organize all chart structures into two major groups :
| Category | Chinese | Source | How Determined |
|---|
| Common Structures (八正格) | 八正格 / 正格 | Di Tian Sui , Zi Ping Zhen Quan | Derived from the Month Branch (月令) — the dominant hidden stem reveals the structure |
| Special / Miscellaneous Structures (雜格) | 雜格 / 特殊格 | Yuan Hai Zi Ping , San Ming Tong Hui | When the Month Branch fails; chart energy is dominated by a single external God, or follows a special pattern |
Priority Rule: Always attempt to establish a Common Structure first. Only if the Month Branch cannot produce a viable Useful God — or if the chart's energy overwhelmingly flows toward a specific Ten God — should a Special or Follow Structure be assigned.
Part One: The Eight Common Structures (八正格)
According to Di Tian Sui (滴天髓) and Zi Ping Zhen Quan (子平真詮) , there are exactly eight common structures derivable from the Month Branch. Each corresponds to one of the Ten Gods (excluding the Day Master's own element). The Eight Killings (七殺) and Indirect Officer are often counted as a single entry.
1. Direct Officer Structure (正官格 — Zhèng Guān Gé)
The Direct Officer (正官) is the element that controls the Day Master, of opposite Yin-Yang polarity. When this element emerges from the Month Branch as the dominant hidden stem — or protrudes through the Heavenly Stems — the chart takes this structure.
Month Branch Triggers
The Direct Officer appears when the Month Branch's chief hidden stem is the controlling element of opposite polarity to the Day Master. For example: a Jiǎ 甲 (Yang Wood) Day Master born in Yǒu 酉 (Pure Metal) month — Xīn (Yin Metal) controls Yang Wood → Direct Officer structure.
Favorable Gods (用神)
- Wealth (財星) — Wealth generates the Officer, strengthening it
- Seal (印星) — Seal protects the Day Master from being overwhelmed by the Officer; also shields the Officer from Hurting Officer attacks
- Officer + Seal both complete (官印雙全) — the finest configuration
Unfavorable Gods (忌神)
- Hurting Officer (傷官) — directly clashes with and damages the Officer
- Seven Killings (七殺) — mixing Officer and Killings creates "Officer-Killing confusion (官殺混雜)," an unstable authority dynamic
- Combination of the Officer stem — when the Officer is combined away, it loses its loyalty (貪合忘官)
- Stems entering the Grave (入墓運) — burial weakens the Officer's potency
Life Path & Career
Direct Officer structure people are characterized by righteousness, rule-following, and step-by-step advancement . They excel in government service, institutional roles, management, and academic careers. They benefit from formal credentials and established hierarchies. Marriage (for females) and legitimate authority (for males) are the primary domains governed by this structure.
正官格要點
正官為日主之剋我、異性之星。月令中若正官星透干或為月令主氣，則取正官格。
用神：財星、印星
身強正官格，局內財印並見，彼此不相戰剋，財官印之位置恰當，氣勢流通者，能行吉運時，大都名利兩得，富貴榮華之人。
忌神：傷官、官殺混雜
正官格最忌傷官來剋，亦忌官殺混雜。古人所謂「貪合忘官」——官星被合，其意不純矣！秘訣說：「罷職休官，只為官星逢合。」
Sub-Configurations in Zi Ping Zhen Quan
| Sub-Type | Chinese | Meaning |
|---|
| Officer Engendered by Wealth | 官用財生 | Wealth element present and generates the Officer — the Officer flourishes |
| Officer and Seal Both Complete | 官印雙全 | The ideal: Officer generates Seal, Seal nourishes Day Master — a full virtuous cycle |
| Wealth and Seal Protrude Together | 財印並透 | Both are present but must not clash; positioning is critical |
| Seeing Hurt, Adorn Seal | 遇傷佩印 | Hurting Officer is present but neutralized by the Seal — damage is controlled |
2. Seven Killings Structure (七殺格 — Qī Shā Gé)
The Seven Killings (七殺) , also called Indirect Officer (偏官), is the controlling element of the same Yin-Yang polarity as the Day Master. It is more aggressive and unpredictable than the Direct Officer. When this element dominates the Month Branch, the chart is a Seven Killings Structure.
Favorable Gods (用神)
- Food God (食神) — The classic solution: "Food God controls the Devil (食神制殺)" — the Food God restrains the raw power of the Seven Killings
- Seal (印星) — "Seven Killings and Seal mutually engendering (殺印相生)" — the Killings generate the Seal, which then nourishes the Day Master; a powerful configuration
- Wealth (財星) — Wealth feeds the Killings, useful when Day Master is strong enough to withstand the pressure
Unfavorable Gods (忌神)
- Mixing with Direct Officer (官殺混雜) — creates confusion of authority
- Hurting Officer attacking Seal — destroys the protective buffer
- Peer/Rob (比劫) when Wealth feeds Killings — Peers consume the Wealth that was feeding Killings, destabilizing the chart
Life Path & Career
Seven Killings people possess tremendous drive, competitive edge, and commanding presence. In positive configurations: military, law enforcement, entrepreneurship, politics, surgery. In negative configurations: prone to legal disputes, dangerous occupations, and volatile relationships. The Chinese saying: "七殺行運復遇，便是徒流之命" — if Seven Killings pile up without control, prison or exile can result.
七殺格要點
七殺亦稱偏官，為剋我、同性之星。月令主氣為七殺者，取七殺格。七殺格最需「制化」，否則凶性難馴。
用神：食神制殺、殺印相生
食神制殺：食神抑制七殺之凶性，使其為我所用，是七殺格最常見的用神配置。
殺印相生：七殺洩氣於印星，印星再生日主，形成良好的氣機流通。
雜氣七殺：七殺藏於墓庫之地，需沖開庫門方能發揮。
3. Direct Wealth Structure (正財格 — Zhèng Cái Gé)
The Direct Wealth (正財) is the element that the Day Master controls, of opposite Yin-Yang polarity. When the Month Branch's dominant hidden stem is this element, it produces the Direct Wealth Structure. This represents steady, earned income — the classic "hard-working wealth" configuration.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Favorable Gods | Officer (Wealth generates Officer — 財旺生官); Food God (engendering Wealth — 財用食生); Seal when Peers threaten (財格佩印); Seven Killings + Seal together (財用殺印) |
| Unfavorable Gods | Peers/Rob (比劫 — steal the Wealth); Hurting Officer mixing without benefit; Seal clashing Wealth (印剋財) |
| Life Theme | Pragmatic, hard-working, reliable financial management; conservative wealth accumulation; honest dealings; strong spousal relationship for males |
| Sub-types (ZPZQ) | 財旺生官, 財用食生, 財格佩印, 財用殺印, 兼用食印, 財用傷官, 財帶七殺 |
4. Indirect Wealth Structure (偏財格 — Piān Cái Gé)
The Indirect Wealth (偏財) is the element that the Day Master controls, of the same Yin-Yang polarity. It represents windfall, speculative wealth, and broader financial dealings — often including the father's fortune (for males) and money from multiple sources. When Indirect Wealth dominates the Month Branch, the chart takes this structure.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Favorable Gods | Officer (Indirect Wealth generates Officer); Food God (generates Indirect Wealth for abundance); Seal (protects against Peer raids) |
| Unfavorable Gods | Peers/Rob (比劫 — extremely dangerous; "competing for the Indirect Wealth" 劫財); Hurting Officer (when unchecked) |
| Life Theme | Entrepreneurial spirit, risk-taking, broad financial networks, generosity, investment acumen; the father-son bond; potential for speculation and gambling tendencies |
| Note | Indirect Wealth people are often socially generous but must guard against Peers depleting their resources through partnerships or family members |
5. Food God Structure (食神格 — Shí Shén Gé)
The Food God (食神) is the element generated by the Day Master, of opposite Yin-Yang polarity. It is one of the most benevolent structures — associated with talent, creativity, enjoyment of life, and the ability to generate wealth. Classical texts praise the Food God: "食神有壽" ("Food God brings longevity").
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Favorable Gods | Wealth (食神生財 — Food God engenders Wealth; the ideal flow); Seven Killings controlled by Food God (食神制殺 — heroic configuration) |
| Unfavorable Gods | Indirect Seal/枭神 (偏印 — the "枭神奪食" disaster: Indirect Seal destroys the Food God; one of the most feared clashes in BaZi); Seven Killings when uncontrolled; Hurting Officer mixing with Food |
| Life Theme | Artistic and culinary talent, creative professions, academia, spiritual pursuits; natural wealth generation through skill; peaceful disposition; longevity; for females, relates to children |
| Special Sub-type | 食就殺印 — when Food God is abandoned and the chart follows Devil and Seal instead; a reversal configuration |
6. Hurting Officer Structure (傷官格 — Shāng Guān Gé)
The Hurting Officer (傷官) is the element generated by the Day Master, of same Yin-Yang polarity. It is one of the most dynamic and complex structures — creative, brilliant, rebellious, and difficult to discipline. The classical warning: "傷官見官，為禍百端" — "Hurting Officer seeing the Officer brings a hundred disasters."
| Sub-Type (ZPZQ) | Chinese | Interpretation |
|---|
| Hurting Officer Adorned with Seal | 傷官佩印 | Seal controls the Hurting Officer's aggression; talent is channeled constructively |
| Hurting Officer Engendering Wealth | 傷官生財 | Creative output flows into financial reward; excellent for entrepreneurship and arts |
| Hurting Officer Controlling Seven Killings | 傷官駕殺 | Hurting Officer and Seven Killings form a combative duo; powerful but volatile |
| Metal-Water Hurting Officer Uses Officer | 金水傷官用官 | The one exception to the "Hurting Officer fears Officer" rule — Metal Day Masters in Water months may use the Officer |
| Uses Wealth and Seal Together | 兼用財印 | Balanced approach: Hurting Officer generates Wealth, Wealth generates Officer, Seal protects |
| Uses Devil and Seal | 傷官用煞印 | Hurting Officer controls Seven Killings; Seal nourishes Day Master from Killings' energy |
Life Theme: Hurting Officer people are the innovators, rebels, and independent thinkers of BaZi. They resist authority, possess exceptional creative or analytical minds, and often achieve prominence in arts, law, medicine, or cutting-edge fields. When the structure is pure and supported, they produce extraordinary work. When broken, the same energy manifests as lawlessness, instability, or persistent conflict with authority.
7. Direct Seal Structure (正印格 — Zhèng Yìn Gé)
The Direct Seal (正印) is the element that generates the Day Master, of opposite Yin-Yang polarity. It represents nurturing authority, academic achievement, official endorsement, and intellectual depth. When the Month Branch's dominant hidden stem is the Direct Seal, this structure is formed.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Favorable Gods | Officer/Seven Killings (generates Seal, completing the cycle — 印格用官 / 印格用殺); adequate Wealth when Seal is overabundant (印多用財 — Wealth curbs excessive Seal) |
| Unfavorable Gods | Wealth (when Seal is the primary useful God, Wealth destroys it — 財破印); Food God or Hurting Officer (印格帶食傷 — output drains the Seal's nourishing energy); Peers contending for Wealth (weakens Wealth that should be supporting Seal-Officer cycle) |
| Life Theme | Academic excellence, scholarship, writing, law, government, spiritual practice; protective maternal energy; strong instinct for learning and accumulating knowledge; charitable disposition |
8. Indirect Seal Structure (偏印格 — Piān Yìn Gé / 枭神)
The Indirect Seal (偏印) — also called 枭神 (Xiāo Shén, "the Owl Spirit") — is the element that generates the Day Master, of the same Yin-Yang polarity. Unlike the nurturing Direct Seal, the Indirect Seal is eccentric, independent, and potentially isolating. Its most feared action is 枭神奪食 (Xiāo Shén Duó Shí) — "the Owl Spirit seizes the Food God," which destroys the Food God structure and brings sudden reversals of fortune.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Favorable Gods | Financial element (Wealth counters the Indirect Seal's excess); Officer or Seven Killings (generates the Indirect Seal into a productive cycle); Hurting Officer when Indirect Seal is the problem element |
| Unfavorable Gods | Food God (Indirect Seal destroys it — 枭神奪食); excessive Seals creating a "Seal Forest (印多)" that smothers the Day Master's output entirely |
| Life Theme | Unconventional thinking, spiritual or metaphysical pursuits, technical mastery, alternative medicine; a tendency toward isolation and unfinished projects; artistic sensitivity; the "step-parent" relationship; for females, relates to difficulty with children |
| Key Warning | When a Food God structure is present and Indirect Seal appears in Luck Pillars, sudden career reversals or health crises can occur — this is 枭神奪食 in action |
Part Two: Special Structures (特殊格 / 雜格)
Special structures arise when the Month Branch cannot establish a clean Common Structure, or when the chart's total energy overwhelmingly inclines toward a particular pattern. These are divided into Yang Blade and Jian Lu (which technically lack a classical "God" in the Month Branch), and the Follow Structures (從格) , where the Day Master yields entirely to a dominant element.
Yang Blade Structure (陽刃格 — Yáng Rèn Gé)
The Yang Blade (陽刃, Yáng Rèn) — also romanized as Yangblade or羊刃 (Yáng Rèn, "Goat Blade") — occurs when a Yang Day Master is born in the month that represents its "peak strength" (帝旺), where the Peer/Rob element completely fills the Month Branch. The six Yang Day Masters and their Yang Blade months:
| Yang Day Master | Element | Yang Blade Month |
|---|
| 甲 Jiǎ | Yang Wood | 卯 Mǎo (Rabbit) |
| 丙 Bǐng | Yang Fire | 午 Wǔ (Horse) |
| 戊 Wù | Yang Earth | 午 Wǔ (Horse) |
| 庚 Gēng | Yang Metal | 酉 Yǒu (Rooster) |
| 壬 Rén | Yang Water | 子 Zǐ (Rat) |
Yang Blade charts possess tremendous raw power — but like an unsheathed sword, the power must be directed. The three classical sub-uses are:
- 陽刃用殺 (YangRen Uses Seven Killings) — The most common and effective: Seven Killings and Yang Blade check each other, producing "a general who wins battles." This is the configuration behind many military and martial arts leaders.
- 陽刃用官 (YangRen Uses Officer) — Officer tames the blade; suitable for government and law. Less powerful than the Killings pairing.
- 陽刃用財 (YangRen Uses Wealth) — Wealth channels the blade's energy toward material accumulation; effective for business, but vulnerable if Peers appear to steal the Wealth.
Life Theme: Yang Blade people are bold, decisive, and physically powerful — often leaders in competitive fields. They carry a "cutting edge" that requires proper channeling. Without Officer or Killings to discipline the blade, Yang Blade people may become reckless or aggressive.
Jian Lu / Month Wealth Structure (建祿格 — Jiàn Lù Gé)
Jian Lu (建祿) occurs when the Day Master's own element occupies the Month Branch in the "Prosperous" (長生 or 祿) phase — specifically, the Month Branch is the Day Master's "Retirement Lu (祿)." There is no Ten God in the Month Branch to serve as a structure god, so the chart must look to the Heavenly Stems or other branches for its Useful God.
The classical framework for Jian Lu and its companion Month Rivalry (月劫格) offers five sub-type uses:
| Sub-Type | Chinese | Strategy |
|---|
| Lu Jie Uses Officer | 祿劫用官 | Officer channels the excess self-strength productively; the most valued configuration |
| Triple Wonder (三奇) | 三奇 | A special arrangement of three specific Heavenly Stems; considered exceptionally auspicious |
| Lu Jie Uses Wealth | 祿劫用財 | Wealth channels the Day Master's energy outward into financial achievement |
| Lu Jie Uses Devil | 祿劫用煞 | Seven Killings disciplines the strong Day Master; martial or competitive success |
| Lu Jie Uses HO/Food | 祿劫用傷食 | Output elements channel the surplus energy into creativity, talent, or skill-based wealth |
Follow Structures (從格 — Cóng Gé)
Follow Structures represent the extreme case where the Day Master is too weak to assert any independent will — the chart's energy is entirely dominated by one or more Ten Gods, and the Day Master must "abandon its own life to follow" (棄命從之). The key requirements:
- The Day Master's own element is completely overwhelmed (no supporting Peers, no Seal, no resources)
- One specific Ten God element dominates the chart — in the Month Branch, Heavenly Stems, and/or formed combinations
- No "rescue" elements appear that could revive the Day Master
True vs. Fake Follow (真從 vs. 假從)
A True Follow (真從) chart: the Day Master has zero roots, no supporting elements, and the dominant element is overwhelming. These produce the most extreme destinies in either direction — extraordinary success when Luck Pillars continue supporting the followed element, or complete collapse if an opposing element enters.
A Fake Follow (假從) chart: the Day Master appears to follow but retains a hidden root or a distant support. These charts are unstable — partially responsive to the followed element's logic, partially governed by the Day Master's own nature. Analyzing fake follow charts requires evaluating which phase dominates in each Luck Pillar.
Follow Wealth Structure (從財格 — Cóng Cái Gé)
When the Day Master is extremely weak and the Wealth element (財星) fills the chart — appearing in multiple stems, branches, or formed through combinations — the chart follows the Wealth element. The Day Master surrenders its own identity to serve the Wealth.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Requirements | Day Master has no roots; no Seal or Peers present; Wealth element dominates stems and branches |
| Favorable Luck | Wealth element (continues the dominant energy); Officer/Seven Killings (Wealth generates Officer — the cycle is productive); Food God and Hurting Officer (generates more Wealth) |
| Unfavorable Luck | Peers and Rivals (compete for the Wealth — catastrophic if Follow Wealth is genuine); Seal (revives the Day Master, breaking the follow); Day Master's own element |
| Life Theme | Material success through complete dedication to financial pursuits; may achieve great wealth but at the cost of personal autonomy; strong spousal (for males) or father-influence dynamic |
Follow Power Structure (從殺格 — Cóng Shā Gé)
Also called 棄命從殺 (Abandoning Life to Follow the Devil) — when the Day Master is utterly overwhelmed by Seven Killings / Officer energy and there is no means of defense, the chart follows the authority element. Classical texts (especially San Ming Tong Hui ) specifically list 棄命從煞 as a named structure.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Requirements | Day Master weak and rootless; Seven Killings and/or Officer dominate; no Food God present to control them; no Peers to support Day Master |
| Favorable Luck | Seven Killings and Officer (the followed element); Wealth (generates the authority element, enhancing it); Indirect Seal (if it feeds the Officer cycle) |
| Unfavorable Luck | Food God and Hurting Officer (control/damage the followed authority element — structural collapse); Peers (revive the Day Master's resistance, breaking the follow) |
| Life Theme | Service under powerful authority; military, government, or hierarchical institutions; extraordinary discipline and endurance; may rise to great heights within structures of power, but is dependent on the institution's continued dominance |
Follow Output/Children Structure (從兒格 — Cóng Ér Gé)
The Follow Children (從兒格) is one of the Follow-Weak (從弱格) structures. The Day Master must be severely weakened, the Month Branch must be positioned at Food God or Hurting Officer, and the output elements must be overwhelmingly dominant throughout the chart — formed through combinations or raw accumulation — with no Seal or Officer appearing to counteract them.
Classical Example
Chart: 丁壬癸丙 / 卯寅卯辰
Day Master Guǐ (癸 Yin Water) is extremely weak. The Heavenly Stem combination 丁壬 transforms to Wood. The Month Branch is Wood (寅 Tiger), and the Branch configuration 寅卯辰 forms the complete East Wood Direction. With Wood dominating as Hurting Officer/Food God output element, the Day Master has no choice but to follow — hence 從兒格.
Favorable Luck
- Food God and Hurting Officer (the followed element — continues dominance)
- Wealth element — when Wealth is also present in the natal chart , Peers/Rivals become favorable because they generate the output which generates Wealth; the energy flows smoothly
Unfavorable Luck
- Seal (destroys the output element — structural catastrophe)
- Officer and Seven Killings (damage the output element by entering a clash dynamic)
- Peers/Rivals — when no Wealth is present — they strengthen the Day Master but the energy cannot flow through (stagnation)
從兒格（古典原文）
從兒格為從弱格之一。此格日干須衰弱無力，月支臨食神、傷官，柱中食傷過旺或合、會成食、傷局，柱中無印緩、官殺出現。
用神為食傷，喜行財星、比劫之運（柱中有財喜比劫，因比劫生食、傷，食、傷又生財，其氣流通也，無財則忌比、劫，因其氣不能流通，反而助日主之力），忌見印綬、官殺。
古典命例：丁壬癸丙 / 卯寅卯辰
日干癸水衰弱已極，天干丁壬又合化成木，月支臨木，支全寅卯辰東方木局，故食、傷勢衆力強，日主無助，只有棄命從之，故從兒格。
Follow Resource Structure (從印格 — Cóng Yìn Gé)
In the Follow Resource (從印格) , the Seal element (印星) overwhelms the chart. The Day Master is weak and has no Wealth to curb the Seal's dominance. Rather than being nourished by the Seal, the Day Master is subsumed into its energy — the entire chart becomes a vehicle for Seal expression.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Requirements | Seal element dominates stems and branches; Day Master has no Peers or roots; no Wealth present to break the Seal's control; Officer or Seven Killings present feeding the Seal cycle is acceptable (even desirable) |
| Favorable Luck | Seal element (the followed element); Officer/Seven Killings (generates Seal, deepening the follow); Peers (when they become the natural expression of the Seal's output) |
| Unfavorable Luck | Wealth element (destroys the Seal — structural collapse); Food God and Hurting Officer (they drain the Day Master's already minimal energy and disrupt the Seal cycle) |
| Life Theme | Total immersion in study, spiritual practice, or intellectual tradition; may become a renowned scholar, monk, or institutionalized authority figure; the person's identity is entirely shaped by their lineage, training, or intellectual heritage |
Transformation Structures (化格 — Huà Gé)
The five Transformation Structures (化格) arise from the Five Heavenly Stem Combinations (天干五合) — when two adjacent Heavenly Stems combine and, under the right conditions, transform into a new element. Transformation is controversial: the Wuxing Pai (五行派) school explicitly rejects transformation (化) and treats combinations as simple neutralizations; classical schools accept it under strict conditions.
Transformation Requirement (化格條件): The combining pair must be in adjacent pillars (Day + Hour or Year + Month stems), the Month Branch must support the transformed element's season, and no "breaking" element should oppose the transformation.
| Combination | Chinese | Transforms To | Structure Name | Supporting Months |
|---|
| 甲 + 己 | 甲己合化土 | Earth (土) | 化土格 (Huà Tǔ Gé) | 辰、戌、丑、未 months |
| 乙 + 庚 | 乙庚合化金 | Metal (金) | 化金格 (Huà Jīn Gé) | 申、酉 months |
| 丙 + 辛 | 丙辛合化水 | Water (水) | 化水格 (Huà Shuǐ Gé) | 亥、子 months |
| 丁 + 壬 | 丁壬合化木 | Wood (木) | 化木格 (Huà Mù Gé) | 寅、卯 months |
| 戊 + 癸 | 戊癸合化火 | Fire (火) | 化火格 (Huà Huǒ Gé) | 巳、午 months |
In a true Transformation Structure, the practitioner analyzes the chart entirely from the perspective of the transformed element — it becomes the Day Master's new identity. Favorable elements are those that nourish or support the transformed element; unfavorable elements are those that attack it. The classical text Di Tian Sui devotes considerable attention to the distinction between true transformation (真化) and fake transformation (假化).
Part Three: Grading Chart Quality (格局高低)
Identifying the structure is only the beginning. Classical masters grade each chart as True Structure (真格) or Broken Structure (破格) , and within True Structures, assess a quality spectrum from ordinary to extraordinary.
True Structure vs. Broken Structure
Classical Definition of a True Direct Officer Structure
"總合以上之所述歸納正官格之看法如下：日主強而官星弱之時，能得財星來生官，命局內不見①劫財來奪財星，②食傷或比肩來剋合官星，③官殺混雜，④不被刑沖剋害者。或日主弱而官星強之時，能得印星貼近日主，洩化官星，轉生日主，兼制傷官及不見①財星來壞印，②官殺混雜，③食傷及比肩剋合官星，④不被刑沖剋害者。能符合以上之條件者，乃真正官格。再得吉運相助的話，富貴可期矣！"
Translation: To summarize the analysis of the Direct Officer Structure: when the Day Master is strong and the Officer is weak, if Wealth comes to generate the Officer and the chart does not show (1) Peers stealing the Wealth, (2) Food/Hurting Officer clashing the Officer, (3) Officer-Killing confusion, or (4) punishments or clashes damaging the Officer — then this is a True Direct Officer Structure. Conversely, when the Day Master is weak and the Officer is strong, if the Seal comes near the Day Master to drain the Officer and nourish the Day Master, controls the Hurting Officer, and the chart does not show (1) Wealth destroying the Seal, (2) Officer-Killing confusion, (3) Food/HO clashing the Officer, or (4) punishments and clashes — then again, this is a True Direct Officer Structure. Meeting all such conditions, combined with favorable Luck Pillars, brings wealth and honor.
Source: ChartCategories.tex , lines 155–156 (classical BaZi commentary)
When a Structure Breaks (破格)
A structure becomes "broken" when the Useful God is damaged or neutralized. The classical text provides five scenarios for a broken Direct Officer structure (applicable by analogy to all structures):
| # | Scenario (Chinese) | Explanation |
|---|
| ① | 用印而逢財破印 | The structure uses Seal as Useful God, but Wealth appears and destroys the Seal |
| ② | 用財星見劫財 | The structure uses Wealth as Useful God, but Peers appear and steal it |
| ③ | 傷官見官而不見印星制傷 | Hurting Officer is present and attacks the Officer, with no Seal to control the Hurting Officer |
| ④ | 局見七殺而無法去官留殺或去殺留官 | Seven Killings mixes with the Officer (官殺混雜) and the chart cannot cleanly separate them |
| ⑤ | 遇刑沖破害而沒有合會之局來解除 | The Useful God is damaged by clashes or punishments with no combination to resolve them |
A broken structure does not produce a worthless chart — it means the person will have significant obstacles and may not realize their full potential. If favorable Luck Pillars later resolve the broken element, partial success can still be achieved in those periods.
The Role of Luck Pillars in Structure Activation
A chart structure is a blueprint — the Luck Pillars (大運, Dà Yùn) determine when and how that blueprint is built or destroyed. The key principles:
- A weak structure needs Luck Pillars to strengthen its Useful God. A Direct Officer structure with a weak Officer flourishes when Luck Pillars bring Wealth (to generate the Officer) or the Officer element itself.
- A strong structure can be broken by Luck Pillars. A True Direct Officer Structure becomes a Broken Structure the moment a Luck Pillar introduces the Hurting Officer — temporary or permanent damage depending on the duration.
- The classical saying (背祿逐馬): "背祿逐馬，守窮途而悽惶" — "Running away from Lu (the Officer) and chasing the Horse (Wealth), one guards poverty and suffers misery." This describes Direct Officer structure people who encounter Hurting Officer Luck Pillars (背祿) and Peer/Rival pillars that chase away Wealth (逐馬) — prosperity never arrives.
- The Officer Entering the Grave (官星入墓): When a Luck Pillar or annual chart brings the Officer element's "grave branch" (庫地), the Officer's strength is buried. For example: for a Jiǎ Day Master, the Officer is Xīn (Metal). Metal's grave is Chǒu (丑). A Luck Pillar of Chǒu buries the Officer — authority and career stagnate.
The Zi Ping Zhen Quan Principle
Classical Teaching on Structure and Luck
Zi Ping Zhen Quan (子平真詮) — the definitive systematic treatment of the Eight Structures — teaches that the structure itself determines the life theme , while the Luck Pillars determine the timing and degree of its expression . A high-quality structure with poor Luck Pillars produces an unfulfilled talented person; a mediocre structure with excellent Luck Pillars produces a person who achieves more than their natal potential suggests.
The fundamental insight: "格局者，人之框架也；大運者，人之機遇也。" — "The chart structure is a person's framework; the Luck Pillars are their opportunities."
Part Four: Classical 正官格 Analysis (古典原文解析)
The following is an extended classical-style analysis of the Direct Officer Structure in Chinese, drawn from the source corpus. It demonstrates the depth of reasoning applied to a single structure in traditional BaZi commentary, covering both the strong Day Master and weak Day Master scenarios, the "running away from Lu and chasing the Horse" principle, and the five conditions for a broken structure.
正官格古典分析（Classical Commentary）
不論身強或身弱，都喜正印近貼日主或透干，因為正印不僅具有保護日主之能力，且能阻擋食傷星，以使食傷不來剋正官，可是正印若太多時，則會洩正官之氣，減低了正官之功能。故身強正官為用，局內財印並見，但彼此不相戰剋，財官印之位置恰當，氣勢流通者，能行吉運時，大都名利兩得，富貴榮華之人。
身強正官格，命局身強官弱時，要行財官運，才能發展已如前述。若行運不逢財官運的話，依然不能發揮，若又行傷官運或旺身之運，那就更不宜了，恐有種種波折與困厄，有志難伸矣！前文所述「背祿逐馬，守窮途而悽惶」就是行運背逆之意。所謂「背祿」，祿就是正官，正官被傷官所剋叫做背祿，所以行傷官運而剋傷正官謂之背祿。至於「逐馬」，馬者財星之意也。官賴財生，才能富貴，如今行運沒有遇到財運，反而遇到比劫等旺身之運時，則會剋去財星，亦即把財星趕走，使財星無法生助官星，因此叫做逐馬。故正官為用時，一則忌傷官來剋，二者忌行旺身運。
反之，身弱正官格，身弱而官旺之時，則喜行印運及比劫運。尤其是印星運較比劫運為佳，因為官可生印，印又生身之故。當命局官旺身輕時，更不宜見殺星，若再行官殺運的話，恐有官非刑傷之憂，故有「七殺行運復遇，便是徒流之命」之說。命局若官旺用印之時，最忌行財運，因財會壞印，使之無法洩官生日主，逢之恐會有失職或因財生災之憂。
另外，身重官輕之命，亦不可行「官星入墓」之運。（其實不論官強或官弱，均不喜入墓運，只是官旺者為禍較輕而已）所謂「官星入墓」，例如甲為官，行未運，未乃木之墓庫所在，此謂之官星入墓。
看正官有幾個應注意的重點是①既有正官，就不喜七殺來混雜，否則官殺混雜，又不能留官合殺，或去官留殺的話，不論從政或就職，都容易有是非。②忌時歸死絕之地。③忌傷官來剋。④不喜被合。古人所謂「貪合忘官」官星被合，其意不純矣！秘訣說：「罷職休官，只為官星逢合」行運中亦忌合官星之大運或流年，不是被免職也會自己辭職。喜忌篇云：「五行正官忌沖刑剋破之宮」，繼善篇亦說：「登科及第，官星臨無破之宮」等等，都指出官星之不可傷害，方能顯其尊貴。
四大忌神（Four Key Taboos for 正官格）：
- 官殺混雜（Officer and Killings mixed — unable to separate cleanly）
- 死絕之地（Officer element falling in Death or Extinction phase）
- 傷官剋官（Hurting Officer directly clashing the Officer）
- 貪合忘官（Officer stem being combined away — "forgetting duty through combination"）
Broken 正官格 — The Five Scenarios (破格五情)
反之，凡①用印而逢財破印，②用財星見劫財，③傷官見官而不見印星制傷，④局見七殺而無法去官留殺或去殺留官，⑤遇刑沖破害而沒有合會之局來解除，亂官星遭食傷比肩所合，等等情況時，均非真正官格，乃正官之破格，行運能解餘其缺點時，可得一時之福，若行運又逢凶運，則不僅不能榮華富貴，恐怕要困厄潦倒了。
Translation: Conversely, when: (1) the structure uses Seal but Wealth appears and destroys it; (2) the structure uses Wealth but Rivals appear and steal it; (3) Hurting Officer attacks the Officer without a Seal to control it; (4) Seven Killings appear and the chart cannot cleanly preserve Officer or Killings alone; (5) clashes and punishments damage the Officer without combinations to resolve them — none of these constitute a True Direct Officer Structure. They are Broken Structures. If Luck Pillars can resolve the deficiency, partial prosperity may be achieved temporarily; but if Luck Pillars then turn adverse, neither wealth nor honor can be expected, and misery and decline become the outcome.
Part Five: Miscellaneous Special Structures (雜格選要)
Beyond the Follow and Transformation structures, classical texts record dozens of highly specific "miscellaneous structures" (雜格). Most modern practitioners treat these as historical curiosities, but traditional lineages still reference them. The major source texts list the following:
From Xi Pi Hao Hua (喜批好話) and Yuan Hai Zi Ping (淵海子平)
| Structure | Chinese | Brief Description |
|---|
| Combining Lu Structure | 合祿格 | The Day Master's "Lu" (prosperity star) is combined in from another stem |
| Returning Lu Structure | 歸祿格 | Lu returns to the Hour Pillar; the Day Master's prosperity is hidden in the last pillar |
| Rén Riding Dragon's Back | 壬騎龍背格 | Specific to Rén (壬) Day Masters with Chén (辰) in the Hour Branch |
| Six Yì Rat Nobility | 六乙鼠貴格 | Six Yǐ (乙) Day Masters with a specific Rat-Nobleman configuration |
| Well Lattice Intersection | 井欄叉格 | A specific Metal-Water pattern named for its lattice-like structure |
| Arching Fortune / Arching Nobility | 拱祿格 / 拱貴格 | The fortune or nobility star is "arched over" by surrounding pillars without being directly present |
| Indirect Wealth on Hour Pillar | 時上偏財格 | A single Indirect Wealth star appears only in the Hour Pillar — concentrated financial power |
| Six Yīn Facing Yang | 六陰朝陽格 | Specific to Yin Day Masters with Yang configurations pointing toward the Hour |
From San Ming Tong Hui (三命通會)
| Structure | Chinese | Note |
|---|
| Indirect Officer on Hour Pillar | 時上偏官格 | Seven Killings confined to the Hour Pillar only; high authority potential |
| Abandoning Life to Follow Devil | 棄命從煞 | Same as 從殺格 above; emphasized by SMTH as a named structure |
| Day Noble (日貴) | 日貴格 | Day Pillar stem-branch combination matching classical "noble" pairs |
| Day Virtue (日德) | 日德格 | Day Pillar with specific virtuous stem-branch combinations; benevolent disposition |
| Kuí Gāng (魁罡) | 魁罡格 | Gēng (庚) Day Master in Chén (辰) or Xū (戌); strong, decisive, solitary; "commander's energy" |
| Five-Element Purity Structures | 曲直、炎上、從革、潤下、稼穡 | All five elements represented: Bent-and-Straight (Wood), Flaming Above (Fire), Following Formation (Metal), Nourishing Under (Water), Sowing-and-Harvest (Earth) |
The Five Element Purity Structures (五行純粹格)
These five structures are the most celebrated of the special structures — each represents a chart where one element is so purely concentrated that the Day Master transcends the normal Ten God framework entirely:
| Structure | Chinese | Element | Condition | Theme |
|---|
| Bent and Straight | 曲直格 | Wood | Wood Day Master; chart dominated by Wood; branches form 亥卯未 or 寅卯辰 | Creative growth, flexibility, benevolence; literary and artistic fame |
| Flaming Above | 炎上格 | Fire | Fire Day Master; chart dominated by Fire; branches form 寅午戌 or 巳午未 | Brilliance, fame, passions; leadership through charisma |
| Following Formation | 從革格 | Metal | Metal Day Master; chart dominated by Metal; branches form 巳酉丑 or 申酉戌 | Justice, discipline, transformation; surgical precision; military leadership |
| Nourishing Under | 潤下格 | Water | Water Day Master; chart dominated by Water; branches form 申子辰 or 亥子丑 | Wisdom, adaptability, philosophical depth; mastery of hidden knowledge |
| Sowing and Gathering | 稼穡格 | Earth | Earth Day Master; chart dominated by Earth; branches contain 辰戌丑未 | Stability, accumulation, practical wisdom; real estate and land wealth |
Important: The Five Element Purity structures follow the same "follow" logic — the Day Master yields entirely to the dominant element's rules. Favorable Luck Pillars are those that continue the element's purity; unfavorable Luck Pillars are those that introduce conquering elements. These structures are exceptionally rare — encountering one in a real chart requires careful verification.
Classical Sources (古典文獻)
- Di Tian Sui (滴天髓) — Primary source for chart structure theory; lists the 8 common structures and the 10 special structure categories including Follow and Transformation images
- Zi Ping Zhen Quan (子平真詮) — Systematic treatment of the 8 structures; the most analytically rigorous classical text; source of the sub-type configurations for each structure
- Yuan Hai Zi Ping (淵海子平) — Special structures and miscellaneous structures; source of the arching, combining, and historical curiosity patterns
- San Ming Tong Hui (三命通會) — Additional special structures; source of Day Noble, Day Virtue, Kuí Gāng, and the 棄命從殺 formulation
- Shen Feng Tong Kao (神峰通考) — Alternate structure interpretations and additional miscellaneous patterns not covered in the above texts
School Perspectives on Chart Structures
Not all BaZi schools use 格局 (chart structures) in the same way. The Liuren Academy curriculum presents multiple methodological perspectives:
| School | Stance on 格局 | Key Difference |
|---|
| Zi Ping / Classical (子平派) | Central organizing principle | Chart structure is the foundation of all analysis; Luck Pillars are analyzed relative to the structure's needs |
| Di Tian Sui School (滴天髓派) | Important but secondary to Day Master strength analysis | Emphasizes the balance of the entire chart (中和) over mechanical structure assignment; "True God" analysis |
| Wuxing Pai (五行派) | Explicitly rejected | "格局不真" — "Patterns are not true." Wuxing Pai ignores 格局 entirely, focusing exclusively on Combination, Generation, and Conquest through Yin-Yang polarity. It also rejects strong/weak body analysis (身強身弱) and triple combinations. |
| Mangpai (盲派) | Uses structures pragmatically | Integrates structures with Shen Sha (神煞) and special stars; more eclectic approach |
Academy Note: In the Liuren curriculum, students learn the classical 格局 system as part of the foundational Wuxingpai and Mangpai modules, then encounter the Wuxing Pai critique. Understanding both perspectives sharpens analytical skill and prepares students for the diversity of approaches they will encounter in classical texts and among contemporary practitioners.
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