Goat Strikes Pig and Snake (羊击猪蛇): The Art of Indirect Nobility in Hidden Patterns

In the realm of special patterns within BaZi fortune analysis, the "Goat Strikes Pig and Snake" pattern operates with exquisite subtlety and concealment. Here, "Goat" refers to the Earthly Branch Wei (未), "Pig" to Hai (亥), and "Snake" to Si (巳). The core mechanism is that the birth chart lacks a direct official star (Executive or Warlord). Instead, it relies on multiple Wei (Goat) branches to secretly combine and draw out the Hai (Pig) branch. This virtually induced Hai then remotely clashes with Si (Snake), thereby activating the official star hidden within Si for the Day Master's use. The entire process is interlinked, with nobility obtained invisibly—a true embodiment of strategy in destiny analysis.

How to Verify This Pattern

This pattern requires the Day Pillar to be Xin Wei (辛未) or Gui Wei (癸未). The Earthly Branches in the chart must contain two to three Wei characters, and there must be no official stars or the branches Si and Hai present. The mechanism of "secret combination and remote clash" is used to obtain the official star.

Key points are as follows:

• Day Pillar Condition: The Day Pillar must be Xin Wei or Gui Wei.
• Earthly Branch Accumulation: In addition to the Wei in the Day Branch, the Year, Month, and Hour Pillars should ideally contain one or two more Wei characters to accumulate power and activate the pattern's secret combination mechanism.
• Taboo of Official Stars and Filling: The entire chart's Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches must absolutely not contain Bing Fire (Xin Metal's official star), Wu Earth (Gui Water's official star), or the branches Si and Hai. If any appear, it is called "filling" (填实), which directly destroys the pattern's foundation—this is the primary taboo.
• Key Enhancement Factor: The critical enhancement point is whether the chart contains You (酉) or Chou (丑). These can form a Si-You-Chou (巳酉丑) triad combination with the remotely clashed Si Fire, effectively "locking in the nobility" and making the obtained official star more stable, thereby greatly elevating the pattern's level.

Deeper Meaning of the Pattern

Individuals with the Goat Strikes Pig and Snake pattern typically possess extraordinary strategic thinking and long-term vision. This mode of obtaining nobility through indirect and circuitous means symbolizes that the native does not follow conventional paths but excels at achieving ultimate goals through multi-step, ingenious planning. They often have deep thoughts, act with low profile, and are adept at orchestrating from behind the scenes, using flexibility to overcome rigidity and accomplish great deeds. Those with a pure and unbroken pattern are destined for great nobility, likely holding high office as top-tier strategists or leaders.

Of course, the conditions for this pattern's formation are extremely stringent, and its mechanism is complex, making it easily disrupted. If the pattern is impure, the native may fall into a predicament of having brilliant ideas that are difficult to implement. Additionally, an excessive presence of Wei Earth in the chart may lead to a personality leaning toward introversion and stubbornness, or there may be health issues to watch for.

Key Preferences and Taboos of the Pattern

• Favorable Elements:

  1. You or Chou Locking Nobility: This is the essence of the pattern. The presence of You or Chou in the chart serves as a receiving point, firmly securing the remotely invited official star and transforming intangible nobility into actual authority.
  2. Pattern Purity: The complete absence of official stars (Bing, Wu) and filling elements (Si, Hai) in the chart is the core determinant of the pattern's level.
  3. Robust Day Master: The Day Master (Xin Metal or Gui Water) should receive support from peers (Rob Wealth) in the Heavenly Stems or moderate nurturing from the Mentor or Mystic star (Earth generating Metal, Metal generating Water). This gives the native strength to bear the nobility obtained through such complex operations.

• Unfavorable Elements:

  1. Si or Hai Filling: This is the most severe factor breaking the pattern. If Si or Hai appear in the chart or in the Luck Cycle or Annual Cycle, the mechanism of secret combination and remote clash is immediately destroyed, rendering the pattern invalid.
  2. Exposed Official Star: If the official stars Bing Fire or Wu Earth appear directly in the chart or in the yearly fortune, there is no need for covert acquisition. The pattern ceases to exist, and the chart must be analyzed as a regular one.
  3. Chou-Wei Clash: Although Chou is a favorable element, if it forms a violent clash with multiple Wei in the chart (Chou-Wei clash) without mediation from other branches, it destabilizes the pattern's foundation, leading to an unstable destiny and lowering the pattern's level.

Classical Text Excerpt

From "Three Lives Comprehensive Guide" (《三命通会》)

This pattern applies specifically to the Xin Wei and Gui Wei days. It uses two or three Wei characters to combine and draw out the Hai character, which then rushes out the Bing Fire or Wu Earth hidden in Si, serving as the official star for Xin or Gui. It is excellent if the chart has a You or Chou character to lock in the nobility. It fears filling, clashing, or punishment. Examples: Jia Xu, Xin Wei, Gui Wei, Gui Chou; and Geng Shen, Gui Wei, Xin Wei, Yi Wei. Both charts meet the pattern and bring nobility. A poem says: "The Goat Strikes Pig and Snake pattern is the strongest; the day must be Xin Wei or Gui Wei to be fitting. If the chart also encounters You or Shen characters, locking the salary without harm, one enters the hall of power."

Modern Interpretation: This pattern specifically refers to individuals born on Xin Wei or Gui Wei days. By relying on two to three Wei characters in the chart, they secretly combine (with Mao Wood) to induce Hai Water. This secretly combined Hai then remotely clashes with Si Fire, extracting the hidden Bing Fire (Xin's official) and Wu Earth (Gui's official) as the Day Master's official star. It is best if the chart contains one of You or Chou to lock in this obtained nobility. The greatest taboos are the official star or key branches being "filled" by actual appearance, or encountering punishment or clash. For example, the classical text cites the charts Jia Xu, Xin Wei, Gui Wei, Gui Chou, and Geng Shen, Gui Wei, Xin Wei, Yi Wei, both of which meet this pattern and bring nobility. The poem says: "The Goat Strikes Pig and Snake pattern is the strongest; the day pillar must be Xin Wei or Gui Wei to be fitting. If the chart also encounters You or Shen characters, locking the official salary without harm, one can reach the highest ranks and enter the imperial court."