Pattern (格局) and Yongsin (用神)

Pattern is the basic structural type of your Saju — its "form." Just as people have different constitutions, each Saju has a unique structural type called pattern. Pattern is determined primarily by the month branch. When a stem from the month branch's hidden stems appears in the heavenly stem position, it names the pattern. For example, if the official from the month branch appears, it becomes "official pattern." Knowing your pattern reveals the natural direction of your life, which fields you'll likely excel in, and provides the big picture of Saju interpretation.

Official pattern pursues order and stability. It emphasizes social standing and rules, excelling in systematic organizations like government or large corporations. Eating god pattern governs expression and creativity. With innate talent, there's a blessing of livelihood through art, cooking, teaching, or personal skill. Partial wealth pattern governs business and wealth management. Strong financial acumen, suited for distribution, trade, and investment. Other patterns include true seal, partial seal, injury official, rob wealth, yang blade, and special variations like transformed patterns. The success or failure of a pattern greatly affects life quality.

Yongsin is the element your Saju most needs — the "prescription." Like using the right medicine for constitution in traditional medicine, yongsin optimizes balance in your chart. A chart heavy in fire needs water yongsin; a chart heavy in cold needs fire yongsin. Yongsin isn't simply "missing elements" but rather the element that establishes pattern and optimizes overall balance. When yongsin is well-placed in your natal chart, you have natural luck. When yongsin appears in fortune cycles, opportunity opens. The opposite — elements that harm yongsin — are called inauspicious elements.

Three main methods determine yongsin: Suppression-Supplement: If your day master is too strong, use a suppressing element; if too weak, use a supporting element. Like a strong tree needing an axe or a weak tree needing water. Seasonal Adjustment: Adjusting temperature and moisture. Winter births need fire warmth; summer births need water coolness. Pathway: Acting as mediator between clashing elements. Water can receive metal's qi to generate wood's qi, resolving conflict.

Knowing yongsin helps you make favorable choices: Direction: Wood yongsin favors east, fire favors south, earth favors center, metal favors west, water favors north. Apply to moving, travel, office layout. Color: Wood is green, fire is red, earth is yellow, metal is white, water is black. Use in clothing and décor for psychological support. Career: Careers related to yongsin elements match your aptitude. Fire yongsin suits electrical, IT, media; metal yongsin suits finance, law, machinery. Timing: Fortune cycles bringing yongsin elements are opportunity periods, so timing important decisions with yongsin periods increases success.