Gé Jú (格局): The Architecture of Destiny
Once the basic components are identified, the Ming scholar would determine the Ge Ju (格局)—the "Life Pattern" or structural configuration of the chart. This is analogous to identifying the dominant narrative arc in a person's temporal biography.
Sanming Tonghui catalogs dozens of these patterns, but they generally fall into two broad categories:
A pattern is determined by examining the strength of the Day Master relative to its seasonal context and the forces acting upon it. A Wood Day Master born in Spring is naturally strong (in season); the same Day Master born in Autumn is naturally weak (out of season, controlled by Metal).
The analyst then identifies which supporting or controlling forces are present, and whether they form a coherent system. A well-structured chart shows a balance of generation and control; a poorly structured chart shows one force overwhelming the others.
| Pattern | Chinese | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Zhèng Guān | 正官格 | Legitimate authority dominates—career officials, administrators |
| Zhèng Cái | 正财格 | Stable income dominates—merchants, financiers |
| Shí Shén | 食神格 | Creative expression dominates—artists, performers |
| Shāng Guān | 伤官格 | Rebellious brilliance dominates—innovators, iconoclasts |
| Qī Shā | 七杀格 | Crisis and pressure dominate—military leaders, survivors |