What Is the Following Structure?
The Following Structure (Cong Ge) is an important branch of Special Structures (Wai Ge) in Bazi. It refers to charts where the Day Master is extremely weak, without Root Connection or Nourishment (no Resource/Seal and no Peer), while one or more Five Elements in the chart are overwhelmingly powerful. The Day Master is powerless to resist and can only "follow" the dominant deity. The key diagnostic criterion is: Does the Day Master have a root? Does it receive Nourishment? If the Day Master has even the slightest hidden root or a Resource/Seal generating it, the following condition does not apply.
Core Principle of the Following Structure
The Following Structure goes with the dominant flow — following the trend brings good fortune, going against it brings misfortune. The chart holder's luck cycles must follow the direction of the dominant deity — whatever Five Element that deity belongs to determines what is favorable. If a luck cycle moves toward supporting the Day Master (nourishing the Day Master), it instead breaks the structure, indicating dramatic ups and downs.
Four Types of Following Structures
| Following Type | Dominant Deity | Formation Conditions | Favorable Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Following Wealth | Wealth star(s) extreme | No Officer, no Seal, no Peer; Wealth forms momentum | Wealth, Authority, Output |
| Following Authority | Seven Killings extreme | No Officer, no Seal, no Peer; Killings form momentum | Killings, Wealth, Output |
| Following Output | Output/Expression extreme | No Officer, no Seal, no Peer; Output forms momentum | Output, Wealth |
| Following Power | Multiple mixed deities | Multiple elements each have momentum; Day Master has no root, follows overall flow | Depends on dominant deities |
Differences Between Standard and Following Structures
| Feature | Standard Structure | Following Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Day Master State | Has root, has energy | No root, no Nourishment |
| Useful God Direction | Support weak, restrain strong | Follow the dominant flow |
| Favorable Elements | Nourish Day Master or restrain/drain dominant | Nourish dominant, restrain Day Master |
| Structure-breaking | Useful God clashed/controlled | Day Master gains root or Nourishment |
Judging a Following Structure requires extreme caution — if the Day Master has even the faintest root or receives any Resource/Seal nourishment, the chart should be analyzed as a Standard Structure (e.g., "excessive wealth with weak Day Master" or "overwhelming Killings with weak Day Master"), with completely opposite favorable directions.
Important Notes
Practical determination of Following Structures is one of the most challenging areas in Destiny Analysis. A chart may appear extremely weak, but if the Hidden Stems in the Branches contain a weak root, or there is a distant Seal providing Nourishment, it is not a Following Structure but a Standard Structure. Annual or Luck Cycle support for the Day Master may also cause the original Following Structure to temporarily break during that decade. For detailed tomb entry and nourishment conditions for each Branch, please refer to the individual Following Structure articles.