Four Pillars Clash with Strength (四冲得位): The Pinnacle of Patterns

In the hall of BaZi patterns, "Four Pillars Clash with Strength" represents an elevated form of the "Four Pure Completeness" pattern. It not only requires the four earthly branches to be a complete set of clashing pairs — such as Tiger (Yin), Monkey (Shen), Snake (Si), and Pig (Hai); Rat (Zi), Horse (Wu), Rabbit (Mao), and Rooster (You); or Dragon (Chen), Dog (Xu), Ox (Chou), and Goat (Wei) — but also demands that each pillar itself be in a state of "self-birth," "self-flourishing," or "self-tomb" according to its Nayin (Sound Element). This means the entire chart not only possesses immense momentum but also has every internal foundation exceptionally solid. This combination of internal and external strength allows the native to calmly manage and even transform the clashing energies between the branches, turning conflict into a foundation for achievement. It is therefore regarded as an extremely precious high-level pattern.

How to Identify This Pattern

This pattern is an advanced version of "Four Pure Completeness." There are two core conditions: First, the four earthly branches must completely include one of the three sets: (1) Yin, Shen, Si, Hai; (2) Zi, Wu, Mao, You; or (3) Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei. Second, these four pillars themselves (typically judged by their Nayin element) must be in a state of "self-birth," "self-flourishing," or "self-tomb."

Specific categories and examples are as follows:

• Four Birth (Four Cardinal) Clash with Strength

  • Branch Combination: Yin, Shen, Si, Hai.
  • Strength Requirement: Each pillar's Nayin element should ideally be in its "Birth" (Chang Sheng) stage.
  • Examples:
    • Jia Shen (Gold in the Sand — Water Nayin, Water's Birth is at Shen)
    • Bing Yin (Fire in the Furnace — Fire Nayin, Fire's Birth is at Yin)
    • Xin Si (White Wax Gold — Metal Nayin, Metal's Birth is at Si)
    • Ji Hai (Wood of the Flatland — Wood Nayin, Wood's Birth is at Hai)

• Four Flourish (Four Center) Clash with Strength

  • Branch Combination: Zi, Wu, Mao, You.
  • Strength Requirement: Each pillar's Nayin element should ideally be in its "Emperor" (Di Wang) stage.
  • Examples:
    • Gui You (Gold of the Sword Edge — Metal Nayin, Metal's Emperor is at You)
    • Wu Wu (Heavenly Fire — Fire Nayin, Fire's Emperor is at Wu)
    • Bing Zi (Water beneath the Stream — Water Nayin, Water's Emperor is at Zi)
    • Xin Mao (Pine and Cypress Wood — Wood Nayin, Wood's Emperor is at Mao)

• Four Tomb (Four Season) Clash with Strength

  • Branch Combination: Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei.
  • Strength Requirement: Each pillar's Nayin element should ideally be in its "Tomb" (Mu) stage.
  • Examples:
    • Yi Chou (Gold in the Sea — Metal Nayin, Metal's Tomb is at Chou)
    • Gui Wei (Willow Wood — Wood Nayin, Wood's Tomb is at Wei)
    • Ren Chen (Ever-flowing Water — Water Nayin, Water's Tomb is at Chen)
    • Jia Xu (Fire on the Mountaintop — Fire Nayin, Fire's Tomb is at Xu)

Core Meaning of the Pattern

Those who enter this pattern are often believed to possess the talent to organize the world and the ambition to stabilize the nation. It perfectly merges the grand scene-controlling ability brought by "Four Pure Completeness" with the solid and stable foundation of each individual pillar. The native not only has the courage and vision to manage complex and contradictory situations but also possesses reliable internal abilities and resources. This symbolizes that the person often comes from an extraordinary background, and their acquired knowledge, abilities, and opportunities are also of the highest order. Such individuals seem to be endowed with the mission and potential to establish new order amidst turmoil and to create great undertakings from conflict. Ancient texts often associate this pattern with the destiny of kings, princes, and high-ranking officials.

Favorable and Unfavorable Aspects

• Favorable Aspects:

  1. Structural Purity: It is most favorable when all four pillars perfectly meet the "strength" requirement, and there are no intense restrictions or conflicts between the Heavenly Stems or between stems and branches. The pattern should be clear and pure.
  2. Complete Five Elements: If, in addition to the four pillars, the Fetal Origin (Tai Yuan) or Life Palace (Ming Gong) can supplement the chart's Five Elements, allowing the energy to flow smoothly without imbalance, the pattern's level is even higher.
  3. Strong Useful God: Although the pattern is grand, it still needs a clear Useful God (Yong Shen) — the core point of force — to guide its energy, making the native's path to achievement more focused and clear.

• Unfavorable Aspects:

  1. Incomplete Combination: This is the biggest taboo. If the four earthly branches are incomplete, or if any one pillar does not meet the "strength" condition, the pattern immediately downgrades and may even degenerate into a common, unfavorable clashing and harming configuration.
  2. Exacerbated Punishments and Clashes: This pattern inherently contains clashing energy. If the Luck Cycle (Da Yun) or Annual Cycle (Liu Nian) brings strong additional Punishments (Xing) or Clashes (Chong), it may break the delicate dynamic balance of the original chart, triggering sudden disasters.
  3. Weak Day Master: If the Day Master (representing the native) is isolated, rootless, and weak amidst such a powerful overall chart energy, it is like a child steering a giant ship. They will not only be unable to control the pattern but will instead be overwhelmed by its momentum.

Classical Text

From "Three Lives Comprehensive Guide" (San Ming Tong Hui)

The "Four Pillars Clash with Strength" pattern is slightly different from the "Four Pure Completeness" pattern. It means that for branches Yin, Shen, Si, and Hai (the Four Births), the Nayin element should be self-birthing or mutually birthing; for branches Zi, Wu, Mao, and You (the Four Flourishes), the Nayin element should be self-flourishing; for branches Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei (the Four Tombs), the Nayin element should be self-tombing. Only then is the pattern considered valid. For example, the pillars Jia Shen, Bing Yin, Xin Si, and Ji Hai all have Nayin elements in a self-birthing or self-flourishing state. If the Fetal Origin is Ding Si, the Five Elements are complete, and auspicious stars like the Literary Star (Wen Chang) and Learning Star (Xue Tang) are present, the person can become a marquis. Another example is the pillars Xin Mao, Geng Zi, Gui You, and Wu Wu. This is a case where the Fetal Origin supports the native's destiny, forming a self-flourishing Four Center (Zi, Wu, Mao, You) configuration. Yet another example is the pillars Yi Chou, Gui Wei, Bing Chen, and Ren Chen, with a Fetal Origin of Jia Xu. This forms a Four Tomb (Four Seal) elegant configuration with complete Five Elements, all indicating great nobility.

The book examines the chart of Han Pingyuan (Ren Shen, Xin Hai, Ji Si, Bing Yin). Yang Liangjiang commented: "Shen is the position of Metal, and with the Earth of Kun (the hidden Wu Earth in Shen) to thicken it, Metal's hardness is unsurpassed, hence it takes the image of 'Gold of the Sword Edge.' This Metal is not afraid of ordinary fire, but only Bing Yin fire can control it. Because the pillar Bing Yin has fire in its Heavenly Stem, Earthly Branch, and Nayin, and it sits on Wood (Yin), which generates fire endlessly. Therefore, even a hundred-times refined steel will eventually be melted; this is the natural principle." Usually, the Hour Pillar governs the later years of life, and Han's destiny encounters this (Bing Yin hour). When the Luck Cycle reaches Ding Mao, fire is in its Bathing (Mu Yu) stage, its energy is weak and failing, like ashes that cannot sustain themselves. But if the Annual Cycle again encounters Bing Yin, the fire blazes intensely, turning metal into liquid, appearing strong but being weak inside. When hard metal meets fierce fire, heaven and earth become a great furnace, and all things are like bellows and air. Who can approach? Yet, what it can bear is also immense; it cannot be used without fully exerting its function. When a single Yang is about to sprout, is this not its time?

In summary, a configuration with all Four Births (Yin, Shen, Si, Hai) has the energies of the two opposing elements in fierce battle. Although it can bring immense blessings, it also invites the disasters of impact and clash. Yuan Shao, the Assistant Magistrate of Wujiang, was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations and had outstanding talent. His chart was Xin Si, Bing Shen, Ding Hai, Ren Yin, also containing all Four Births. His Heavenly Stems Ding and Ren combine to form Wood, and Bing and Xin combine to form Water — these are true combinations. His Earthly Branches Si and Shen combine to form Water, and Hai and Yin combine to form Wood. The chart has all six combinations, known as the "Mandarin Duck Virtue Combination" or "Heaven-Earth Virtue Combination." The structure of the four pillars is very clear and distinct, which is different from Han Pingyuan's chart. Fortunately, the combined energies of Water and Wood in Yuan's chart are mutually generating, a point where Han's chart is inferior. This reasoning is sound. (Analyzing Han's chart further) It can also be seen this way: with Ji Earth as the Day Master, the Jia Wood (hidden in Hai) is the Executive (Zheng Guan), and the Bing Fire (on the Hour Stem) is the Mentor (Zheng Yin). The Day Master finds its 'Fortune' (Lu) in the Day Branch Si. Jia Wood is in its Birth stage in the month of Hai. The Year Branch Shen wants to clash with the Hour Branch Yin, but because Shen is both punished and combined by the Day Branch Si (Si Shen Punishment and Combination), and Yin is combined with Hai (Hai Yin Combination), Shen is restrained and cannot clash with Yin. When the Luck Cycle enters the Wood territory of Yin and Mao, the Executive Star (Jia Wood) gains strength, and the person can rise to the position of a high official (Jing Lue). Once the Luck Cycle enters Bing Chen, the Water (from the Chen reservoir) becomes abundant, damaging the Mentor Star (Bing Fire). With no fire to control the Maverick (Shang Guan — Geng Metal hidden in Shen), the person suffers capital punishment in the Ding Mao year, dying at the age of fifty-six. This is another interpretation.