Gyeokguk (Patterns) Overview
The pattern (gyeokguk) describes the structural frame of a chart — the shape and scale of the vessel one is born with. The Japyeongjinjeon holds that "the yongsin is sought solely in the monthly command," setting the pattern by which hidden stem of the month branch emerges into the heavenly stems.
When the pattern is clear and the character that protects and completes it (the sangsin) is present, it is "established"; when broken, a "failed" pattern.
1. Proper patterns (正格) — the eight by monthly command
The most fundamental patterns, divided by the Ten God emerging from the month branch.
| Pattern | Core Ten God | Grain (modern reading) |
|---|---|---|
| Proper Officer | Officer | uprightness, responsibility, honor; steady growth in organizations |
| Seven Killings | Indirect Officer | decisiveness, drive, competition; breaks through under pressure |
| Proper Wealth | Wealth | diligence, practicality; builds fruit step by step |
| Indirect Wealth | Indirect Wealth | scale, activity, adventure; reaches for the big stage |
| Eating God | Eating God | mild expression, production; steady talent |
| Hurting Officer | Output | wit, creativity, expression; brilliant but frictional with rules |
| Proper Resource | Resource | learning, inwardness, patronage; depth and virtue |
| Indirect Resource | Indirect Resource | originality, expertise, intuition; a singular view |
| Jiandok / Yangin | Companions | self-reliance, agency, strength; carves its own path |
2. Special patterns — the follower (從) patterns
When the Day Master is very weak or one element overwhelms, the chart follows the dominant flow rather than resisting it.
- Follow-Strong — follows the strong energy; focus and drive.
- Follow-Child (從兒) — follows Output; the natural release of innate talent.
- Follow-Wealth (從財) — follows Wealth; a real-world, money-oriented sense.
- Follow-Killings (從殺) — follows Officer; rises with the great current to achieve greatly.
3. Fusion patterns (化格) — stem-combination transformation
Special structures where the Day Master combines with a heavenly stem and transforms into another element — Gap-Gi to Earth, Eul-Gyeong to Metal, and so on: patterns of harmony where strength and softness merge rather than clash.
4. Reading a pattern in order
1. Check the monthly command → judge the pattern by emergence of hidden stems
2. Is there a character that completes/protects it (sangsin)? → established / failed
3. Set the yongsin for the pattern → identify favorable/unfavorable elements
4. Read the luck cycles where the pattern comes alive
If the pattern is the shape of the vessel, the yongsin is the key that fills it.
Further reading
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An overview of the theory. Check your own pattern and yongsin in My Saju analysis.