What Are Standard Structures?
Standard Structures (Zheng Ge /), also known as "Inner Structures" (Nei Ge), represent the most mainstream method of chart structure classification in the Bazi system. The method for determining the structure is: name the structure after the Ten God corresponding to the Hidden Stem within the Month Command (Month Branch) that appears in the Heavenly Stems, excluding Peer (Bi Jian) and Rival (Jie Cai) — since Peer/Rival do not independently form structures. There are eight Standard Structures, or ten when including the Establishing Salary Structure (Jian Lu Ge) and the Rival Blade Structure (Jie Ren Ge) — cases where Peer/Rival sit on their Lin Guan or Di Wang positions.
The Eight Standard Structures
| Structure | Month Command Revealed Stem | Core Useful God Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Output God Structure | Output God revealed | Output God controls Seven Killings / Output God generates Wealth |
| Hurting Officer Structure | Hurting Officer revealed | Hurting Officer paired with Seal / Hurting Officer generates Wealth |
| Indirect Wealth Structure | Indirect Wealth revealed | Prosperous Wealth generates Officer / Wealth uses Output |
| Direct Wealth Structure | Direct Wealth revealed | Prosperous Wealth generates Officer / Strong Day Master bears Wealth |
| Seven Killings Structure | Seven Killings revealed | Output God controls Seven Killings / Seven Killings and Seal mutually generate |
| Direct Officer Structure | Direct Officer revealed | Officer and Seal mutually generate / Wealth generates Officer |
| Indirect Seal Structure | Indirect Seal revealed | Wealth controls Owl / Officer and Seal mutually generate |
| Direct Seal Structure | Direct Seal revealed | Officer and Seal mutually generate / Prosperous Seal uses Wealth |
Establishing Salary Structure and Rival Blade Structure
- Establishing Salary Structure (Jian Lu Ge): The Month Branch is the Lin Guan (Approaching Office) position of the Day Master (e.g., Jia Wood Day Master born in Yin month). Peer at Lin Guan indicates a strong Day Master, using Officer/Sha or Output as the Useful God.
- Rival Blade Structure (Jie Ren Ge): The Month Branch is the Di Wang (Imperial Prosperity) position of the Day Master and counted as Rival (Yang Ren / Sheep Blade) (e.g., Jia Wood Day Master born in Mao month). Officer/Sha is used to control the blade.
Basic Rules for Determining Structure
- Month Command Hidden Stem priority: The primary qi Hidden Stem of the Month Command is the most potent; the one that appears in the Heavenly Stems takes priority as the structure.
- Heavenly Stem revelation bonus: When a Hidden Stem appears in the Heavenly Stems, the structure's power is strengthened.
- Multiple gods revealed: If multiple gods from the Month Command Hidden Stems appear, take the strongest one as the structure (or as the Useful God direction).
- When no god is revealed: Use the primary qi Hidden Stem of the Month Command (the commanding Heavenly Stem) as the structure.
Relationship Between Standard and Special Structures
The vast majority of Bazi charts fall within the Standard Structure category. Special Structures (Specialized Prosperity, Following, etc.) are relatively rare and have extremely strict qualifying conditions. In practice, one should first consider Standard Structures, and only consider Special Structures when extreme conditions are met.