Following Reform Pattern (Congge Ge)
Metal qi is austere and杀伐 (shafa); resolute and decisive, reforming and transforming.
Geng or Xin Metal Day Master born in Shen or You month, with Shen-You-Xu forming the Western Metal configuration or Si-You-Chou triple Metal combination in the branches. Metal qi is extremely strong in the chart, with no Fire to restrain it.
Pattern Characteristics
Those with the Following Reform pattern have a resolute and decisive character, with strong sense of justice and reform spirit. Like metal itself, hard and sharp, they are suited to law, finance, machinery, surgery, military, auditing, and other industries requiring uprightness and precision. They are calm and rational, valuing rules and principles. In relationships, they are upright and unyielding, though sometimes they lack warmth due to excessive severity.
Formation Conditions
Formation conditions: 1. Geng or Xin Metal Day Master; 2. Born in Shen or You month, with branches forming Metal configuration; 3. Geng or Xin or Wu or Ji revealing in the stems to generate Metal; 4. No Bing or Ding Fire restraining Metal qi. Breaking conditions: 1. Strong Fire appears and restrains Metal qi; 2. Wood is too strong and drains Metal; 3. Much Water drains Metal qi; 4. Metal qi is impure with miscellaneous qi mixed in.
Case Study
For example, a Geng Metal Day Master born in the Shen month, where the earthly branches Shen-You-Xu form the West Metal frame, with Geng Metal revealed in the heavenly stems, without Bing or Ding Fire. People with the Reform-Following pattern are like fine gold and exquisite jade, indicating resolute decisiveness and incorruptible integrity.
How It Reads for Women and Men
For women: A Cong Ge (pure Metal) woman carries sword-grade backbone and reformist fire. She tolerates no stale status quo and switches structures at the root. Military, law, surgery, metals, technical reform — her domains. For men: The Cong Ge man embodies Metal's autumn decisiveness — taking hard cases and rebuilding organizations or technology. Moderate Fire is what forges Metal into a blade: not pure ingot but tempered edge is this structure's essence.
Strong vs. Weak Day Master
With Metal commanding an autumn month and moderate Fire to temper it, the metal becomes a blade — reform power at maximum. Signs of breaking: Wood, Fire, or Earth strong enough to dissolve Metal's dominance ends the pure pattern. Fire-heavy years warrant watching for a chipped edge.