Combined structures, overlay structures and “transforms into”

In Four Pillars of Destiny (BaZi), a chart’s structure is taken from the month branch, and three things can add to it. A month that reveals two stems can give a combined structure; a branch combination can transform what the month gives into another relationship; and an overlay structure, such as a following, transformation or outer structure, can sit on top of the month’s structure without replacing it.

The lesson on taking the structure from the month took one structure from the month branch. Some charts need these three further checks.

Combined structures

The Dragon, Dog, Ox and Goat are months of the mixed energies, each holding more than one stem. The True Interpretation of Ziping (子平真诠; Qing dynasty, 18th century) gives the rule:

一透则一用，兼透则兼用，透而又会，则透与会并用。

Our translation: If one is revealed, use that one; if two are revealed, use both; if one is revealed and another combines, use the revealed and the combined together.

For example, for a Yang Wood Day Master born in a Dragon month, revealed Yang Earth gives Indirect Wealth; revealed Yin Water gives Direct Resource; and the Monkey and Rat combining with the Dragon into Water give Resource. Other months work the same way: a Yin Metal Day Master born in a Tiger month, with Yang Wood and Yang Fire both revealed, has a Direct Wealth structure, with the Direct Officer as its combined structure. Commentary on the True Interpretation of Ziping (子平真诠评注; ROC, 1936) says a combined structure means using both together, not two structures standing separately; within it there is still a main one and a lesser one, decided by what the whole chart welcomes and what the Day Master needs.

Whether the two fit together, the book judges by cooperation. When they go the same way and complete each other, they cooperate: a Yang Wood Day Master born in a Dragon month reveals Yin Water as Resource, and the Monkey and Rat combine with the Dragon into Water, so the Resource structure is clear and unmixed. When they go opposite ways, they do not: a Yang Water Day Master born in a Goat month reveals Yin Earth as the Officer, but the Pig and Rabbit combine with the Goat into a Wood group, which is the Hurting Officer. Cooperation is covered in detail in the lesson on structure quality.

The True Interpretation of Ziping · On How to Use the Mixed Energies; The True Interpretation of Ziping · On Changes in the Useful Element; Commentary on the True Interpretation of Ziping · On Changes in the Useful Element; Commentary on the True Interpretation of Ziping · On How to Use the Mixed Energies

Transforms into

The True Interpretation of Ziping, on changes in the useful element, gives the example of a Yin Fire Day Master born in a Pig month: the Pig is its Direct Officer, but when the branches complete the Rabbit and Goat, it transforms into Resource. The Pig, Rabbit and Goat form a Wood three harmony, Wood generates Yin Fire, and what the month gives transforms from the Direct Officer into Resource. A revealed stem also changes what is taken: a Yin Earth Day Master born in a Monkey month starts as a Hurting Officer structure, since the Monkey holds Yang Metal; but if the stems reveal Yang Water, it is taken as Wealth. This is the rule from the lesson on taking the structure from the month: take the stem that is revealed.

A good transformation turns what the chart did not welcome into what it does, and the structure improves. A Yin Water Day Master born in a Tiger month starts as a Hurting Officer structure; with the Horse and Dog forming a Fire three harmony, the Hurting Officer transforms into Wealth, and with Yang Earth also revealed as the Officer, it is taken as strong Wealth generating the Officer, not as the Hurting Officer meeting the Officer. A poor transformation turns what the chart welcomed into what it does not, and the structure suffers: a Yang Fire Day Master born in a Tiger month starts as a Resource structure, but with the Horse and Dog forming Fire, Resource transforms into Rob Wealth.

Some transformations keep the original structure: a Yang Fire Day Master born in a Tiger month, with the Horse and Dog forming Fire, still counts as a Resource structure if Yang Wood or Yang Water is revealed.

The True Interpretation of Ziping · On Changes in the Useful Element; Commentary on the True Interpretation of Ziping · On Changes in the Useful Element

See also: Branch combinations: six harmony, three harmony, seasonal and bridged combinations

Overlay structures

Some charts, beside the structure taken from the month, also meet the conditions of a following structure, a transformation structure or an outer structure. This series treats these as a layer that sits on top of the month’s structure, called an overlay structure: take the structure from the month first, then see whether an overlay also applies. Meeting an overlay does not mean the chart has no structure. The True Interpretation of Ziping also puts the month first: when the month offers a structure of its own, no outer structure is sought. Each of the three overlay kinds has its own lesson.

The True Interpretation of Ziping · On When to Use Outer Structures; The True Interpretation of Ziping · On Miscellaneous Structures

Try it on your chart

1. See how many of the month branch’s hidden stems are revealed on the stems. If two are, mark them as used together, and sort out which one leads.
2. See whether the month branch forms a three harmony with other branches; if it does, see whether what the month gives transforms into another relationship.
3. Judge whether the transformation is good: did something the chart did not welcome become welcome, or the reverse?
4. After a transformation, see whether a revealed stem keeps the original structure.
5. With the month’s structure written down, see whether the Day Master is very strong or very weak, and whether the day stem combines and transforms; keep these for the three lessons on following, transformation and outer structures.

See also: Chart structure starts from the month

See also: Hidden stems: what each branch holds

See also: Structure quality: clear or turbid, pure or mixed

See also: Following structures

See also: Transformation structures

See also: Outer structures: when the month offers no structure