Japyeongjinjeon (子平眞詮) - Essence of Patterns and Yongsin

Shen Xiaozhan compiled Japyeongjinjeon (子平眞詮) during the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong era. The title honors Xu Ziping, the Tang Dynasty Meongri master, while "Zhenchuan" means "true transmission"—the real teachings, not diluted interpretations.

This text revolutionized Saju analysis by centering everything on the month ruler, creating systematic pattern methodology, and defining how Yongsin (vital energy) and favorable/unfavorable spirits work. Modern Meongri studies still rest on this foundation.

1. Pattern (格局) - Your Chart's Blueprint

The pattern is your chart's skeleton—the fundamental structure that shapes everything. Determined by what emerges from the month branch or hides within it.

Eight Normal Patterns

Official, Seven Kills, Proper Seal, Indirect Seal, Proper Wealth, Indirect Wealth, Eating God, Hurting Officer—these eight form the core patterns Japyeongjinjeon decodes.

Special Patterns

Then there are wild cards: Following Pattern, Transformation Pattern, Established Prosperity, Yang Blade, and more exotic formations.

Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul carried an Official Pattern. Official Patterns crave order, systems, hierarchy. Lee built a corporate empire brick by methodical brick—semiconductors, construction, systematized dominance. The pattern matched the man.

Steve Jobs embodied Eating God Pattern. Eating God thrives on creativity and self-expression. Jobs didn't just make tech—he turned it into art, into culture. The pattern predicted the genius.

2. Yongsin (用神) - The Vital Core

Yongsin is what makes your pattern work—the element that establishes and protects it. In Japyeongjinjeon, "pattern Yongsin" determines whether your chart succeeds or fails.

"Yongsin comes from the month ruler; its meaning unfolds through generation, conquest, control, transformation." — Japyeongjinjeon, Chapter on Yongsin

3. Favorable/Unfavorable Spirits (喜忌神)

• Hui-shin (Favorable): Feeds and supports Yongsin. Fortune cycles with favorable spirits bring opportunity and ease.


• Gi-shin (Unfavorable): Attacks or blocks Yongsin. When these dominate fortune cycles, challenges mount.

4. Success and Failure (成敗)

Patterns either complete or collapse:

• Success: Yongsin emerges clearly, support spirits surround it, unfavorable forces stay quiet


• Failure: Yongsin gets clashed, conquered, muddied; unfavorable spirits dominate


• Rescue: Another element swoops in and saves a failing pattern—dramatic reversals happen here

What Makes Japyeongjinjeon Unique

Month Ruler Obsession: Everything begins with the month branch. "The month ruler is Saju's essence; all analysis flows from this starting point."

Pattern Over Power: Success/failure of the pattern matters more than Day Master strength alone.

Supporting Spirit Strategy: When Yongsin can't carry the load alone, supporting spirits step in.

Emergence Principle: What shows in Heavenly Stems outweighs what hides in Earthly Branches.

At Saju Works, Japyeongjinjeon's pattern framework drives 60% of analysis. Curious what pattern defines your chart? Explore it at [Saju Analysis](/saju).