Hidden Patrons (夹贵夹禄)
Hidden Patrons (夹贵夹禄) is a classic example of a "covert pattern" in the Bazi (Four Pillars) system, closely related to the principle of Unseen Patrons (拱禄拱贵). The term "夹" (to sandwich) refers to two Earthly Branches in the Four Pillars that, like a pair of tongs, enclose a third, unseen Earthly Branch between them. "贵" (Noble) refers to the Heavenly Benefactor (天乙贵人), while "禄" (Fortune) points to the Maturity position of the Day Master's own element. The essence of this pattern lies in "virtual sandwiching," which subtly draws powerful benefactors or a hidden foundation of fortune to the individual, signifying hidden nobility and support.
How to Identify This Pattern
This pattern is determined by examining the Earthly Branches of the Four Pillars. If two Branches, separated by one position, covertly enclose a "missing" Branch in between—and that missing Branch happens to be the Day Master's Heavenly Benefactor or Maturity (Fortune) Branch—then the chart qualifies for this pattern.
The specifics are as follows:
Hidden Fortune (夹禄, Supporting Wealth):
- Jia (甲) Day Master: Chou (丑) Ox and Mao (卯) Rabbit sandwich Yin (寅) Tiger (the Fortune Branch).
- Yi (乙) Day Master: Yin (寅) Tiger and Chen (辰) Loong sandwich Mao (卯) Rabbit (the Fortune Branch).
- Geng (庚) Day Master: Wei (未) Goat and You (酉) Rooster sandwich Shen (申) Monkey (the Fortune Branch).
- Xin (辛) Day Master: Shen (申) Monkey and Xu (戌) Dog sandwich You (酉) Rooster (the Fortune Branch).
- Ren (壬) Day Master: Xu (戌) Dog and Zi (子) Rat sandwich Hai (亥) Pig (the Fortune Branch).
- Gui (癸) Day Master: Hai (亥) Pig and Chou (丑) Ox sandwich Zi (子) Rat (the Fortune Branch).
- Bing (丙), Wu (戊) Day Masters: Si (巳) Snake and Wei (未) Goat sandwich Wu (午) Horse (for Bing, this is the Blade; for Wu, it is both Blade and Resource).
- Ding (丁), Ji (己) Day Masters: Si (巳) Snake and Wei (未) Goat sandwich Wu (午) Horse (the Fortune Branch).
Hidden Noble (夹贵, Supporting Heavenly Benefactor):
- Jia (甲), Wu (戊), Geng (庚) Day Masters: Zi (子) Rat and Yin (寅) Tiger sandwich Chou (丑) Ox (the Heavenly Benefactor).
- Bing (丙), Ding (丁) Day Masters: Shen (申) Monkey and Xu (戌) Dog sandwich You (酉) Rooster (the Heavenly Benefactor).
- Ren (壬), Gui (癸) Day Masters: Chen (辰) Loong and Wu (午) Horse sandwich Si (巳) Snake (the Heavenly Benefactor).
- (Other combinations follow similar logic.)
Key to Forming the Pattern: The sandwiched "Fortune" or "Noble" Branch must not appear elsewhere in the chart or in any luck cycles. If it does, the pattern is "filled" and loses its auspicious effect, potentially turning inauspicious. Additionally, the two supporting Branches must not fall into Void Star (空亡) or suffer from severe clashes or penalties.
Meaning of the Pattern
Those whose charts feature the Hidden Patrons pattern are said to possess hidden, powerful blessings and support throughout their lives.
- Hidden Fortune: Symbolizes an unseen, solid foundation or backing. Such individuals tend to be steady, resilient, and able to summon inner strength in times of crisis, often turning danger into safety.
- Hidden Noble: Indicates the presence of "invisible" benefactors who offer help from behind the scenes. Opportunities often arise through subtle introductions or recommendations, allowing the person to ascend smoothly and unexpectedly.
People with this pattern often enjoy blessings and achievements that far exceed what is apparent on the surface of their charts—truly individuals with "hidden fortune."
Favorable and Unfavorable Factors
Favorable:
- Virtual Sandwiching: This is the most crucial requirement. The sandwiched "Fortune" or "Noble" Branch must be absent (virtual) to activate the pattern's power.
- Strong Supporting Branches: The two "tongs" (supporting Earthly Branches) must be robust and free from clashes or penalties to maintain a stable structure.
- Day Master with Root: If the Day Master itself has a strong root, it can better receive and utilize the hidden blessings brought by this pattern.
Unfavorable:
- Filling the Void: The greatest taboo. If the sandwiched "Fortune" or "Noble" Branch appears in the Four Pillars or in luck cycles, the pattern is "filled," breaking its virtual nature and nullifying its auspiciousness—sometimes even bringing misfortune.
- Clash or Penalty to Supporting Branches: If the two supporting Branches are afflicted by clashes or penalties, the sandwiching force is lost, and the noble energy dissipates.
- Void Star: If either supporting Branch falls into Void Star, its power is weakened, preventing the pattern from forming effectively.
Classical Text Reference
From "San Ming Tong Hui" (《三命通会》):
甲人得卯丑，乙人得寅辰，丙戊人得戊午，丁巳人得巳未，庚人得未酉，辛人得申戊，壬人得戌子，癸人得亥丑，为夹禄乡。有丁己庚而得未，有丙戊乙而得辰，有甲癸而得丑，有辛壬而得戌，为夹禄窠。二者夹禄窠为上，夹禄乡次之。凡禄最喜于墓，谓之库，而又有所藏也，忌空冲。然当生遇库印，为福为寿。岁逢墓印，为灾为凶。丙丁猪鸡，以戌为夹贵。壬癸蛇兔，以辰为夹贵。
印库火财而得壬辰之水，土财而见戊辰之木，谓之库中逢鬼，先成必破。又甲戊庚、乙己丙、丁壬癸，六辛年月日时，顺连四干不断，不必在牛羊鼠猴鸡猪马虎之位，但见辰戌二位，便为天乙，受福纳，主学问该博，文章华藻，科名巍峨，官职清华。库带正印而库墓者为上，库墓而非正印者次之，无印者为下。
又曰：“干神一字而支神相应。”前有贵拥，后有马乘，中有建禄者，是夹禄夹贵也。假令己未人己巳月己未日己巳时，四己干神一字不杂，己贵在申，故曰“前有贵拥”，未有马在巳，故曰“后有马乘”，贵逾三品之命。若丁巳、丁未则正夹禄，辛卯、辛丑则正夹贵，当从落断之。
又曰：“贵禄夹持人少得。”如戊午人得丙午日时，戊禄在巳、夹在后；戊贵在未，夹在前。又如己未年辛未月己未日辛未时，盖己禄在午在后，己贵在申在前，禄与贵人夹扶其身，不须带别支神，乃为贵命。又曰：“前遮后拥人中仙。”乃禄马夹贵在本命前后是也。《理愚歌》曰：“凡欲持纲入帝朝，贵星不与贱星交。将军须是贵杀裹，宰相多因禄马包。”凡贵人格，须要五行中无一位驳杂，往来更生旺有气，带福神于其上，四位贵，却不是贵格。
古歌曰：“好年不如月，好月不如时。尊亲帝座位，前后贵人随。”只如陈国相庚寅、丙戌、辛卯、己丑，虽是大败，却得天乙贵，更本命太岁为年中天子，前歌云“尊亲帝座位”是也。又己丑、庚寅、辛卯相连，谓之“连珠凤凰”，虽无科名，官居相位。又寅带天德，月戌为大煞同。况陈姓属徽音火，在戌合其寅。经云：“本音墓处，天德大杀，同主三台八座之荣。”自余不夹，太岁值禄马同入相。
Explanation:
For a Jia (甲) Day Master, having Mao (卯) Rabbit and Chou (丑) Ox (sandwiching Yin (寅) Tiger, the Fortune Branch); for a Yi (乙) Day Master, Yin (寅) Tiger and Chen (辰) Loong (sandwiching Mao (卯) Rabbit, the Fortune Branch); for Bing (丙) and Wu (戊) Day Masters, Si (巳) Snake and Wei (未) Goat (sandwiching Wu (午) Horse—note: the original text has a minor error regarding Wu (戊)); for Ding (丁) and Ji (己) Day Masters, Si (巳) Snake and Wei (未) Goat (sandwiching Wu (午) Horse, the Fortune Branch); for Geng (庚) Day Master, Wei (未) Goat and You (酉) Rooster (sandwiching Shen (申) Monkey, the Fortune Branch); for Xin (辛) Day Master, Shen (申) Monkey and Xu (戌) Dog (sandwiching You (酉) Rooster, the Fortune Branch); for Ren (壬) Day Master, Xu (戌) Dog and Zi (子) Rat (sandwiching Hai (亥) Pig, the Fortune Branch); for Gui (癸) Day Master, Hai (亥) Pig and Chou (丑) Ox (sandwiching Zi (子) Rat, the Fortune Branch)—these are called "Hidden Fortune in the Village" (夹禄乡). (If considering Wealth and Officer stars) Ding (丁), Ji (己), and Geng (庚) Day Masters sandwiching Wei (未) Goat; Bing (丙), Wu (戊), and Yi (乙) sandwiching Chen (辰) Loong; Jia (甲) and Gui (癸) sandwiching Chou (丑) Ox; Xin (辛) and Ren (壬) sandwiching Xu (戌) Dog—these are called "Hidden Fortune in the Nest" (夹禄窠). Of these, "Hidden Fortune in the Nest" is superior to "Hidden Fortune in the Village." The Wealth Star is most auspicious when it encounters its Burial (墓, the "Vault"), symbolizing storage and accumulation, but it is inauspicious if it falls into Void Star or is broken by clashes. If, at birth, the chart encounters the Vault with Resource, it brings blessings and longevity; if this occurs during luck cycles, it can bring misfortune. For Bing (丙) and Ding (丁) Day Masters, their Noble (Heavenly Benefactor) is in Hai (亥) Pig and You (酉) Rooster; if the chart has Hai or You, and Xu (戌) Dog sandwiches them, this is "Hidden Noble." For Ren (壬) and Gui (癸) Day Masters, their Noble is in Si (巳) Snake and Mao (卯) Rabbit; if the chart has Mao or Si, and Chen (辰) Loong sandwiches them, this is "Hidden Noble."
(For example) If the Resource Vault is Fire (Day Master is Earth), and the Wealth Star is Metal, but Ren Chen (壬辰) Water comes to overcome Fire; or if the Wealth Star is Earth (Day Master is Water), but Wu Chen (戊辰) Wood appears to overcome Earth—this is called "Meeting a Ghost in the Vault," which means initial success but eventual downfall. Also, for Jia (甲), Wu (戊), Geng (庚); Yi (乙), Ji (己), Bing (丙); Ding (丁), Ren (壬), Gui (癸); and the six Xin (辛) days, if the Heavenly Stems of year, month, day, and hour are connected in sequence, and the Earthly Branches need not be the specific positions of Chou (丑), Wei (未), Zi (子), Shen (申), You (酉), Hai (亥), Wu (午), or Yin (寅), but as long as Chen (辰) Loong or Xu (戌) Dog are present, these count as Heavenly Benefactors, bringing blessings, indicating broad learning, literary talent, high scholarly achievement, and noble official status. If the Vault Branch also carries Direct Resource and is the Burial of its element, it is top-tier; if it is a Vault but not Direct Resource, it is second-tier; lacking Resource is lowest.
Another saying: "If the Heavenly Stems are the same character and the Earthly Branches correspond," with a Noble in front, a Travel Horse behind, and a Commander (建禄) in the middle, this is Hidden Fortune and Hidden Noble. For example, someone born in a Ji Wei (己未) year, Ji Si (己巳) month, Ji Wei (己未) day, and Ji Si (己巳) hour, with all four Heavenly Stems as Ji (己), unmingled. Ji's Noble is in Shen (申) Monkey ("Noble in front"), Wei's Travel Horse is in Si (巳) Snake ("Horse behind"). Such a chart is of the highest order. If it's Ding Si (丁巳), Ding Wei (丁未), it's a true Hidden Fortune pattern; if it's Xin Mao (辛卯), Xin Chou (辛丑), it's a true Hidden Noble pattern—these are the standards for judgment.
It is also said: "Few people attain the pattern of being sandwiched by Noble and Fortune." For example, a Wu Wu (戊午) year person with Bing Wu (丙午) day and hour—Wu's Fortune is in Si (巳) Snake, sandwiched behind; Wu's Noble is in Wei (未) Goat, sandwiched in front. Or, for someone born in Ji Wei (己未) year, Xin Wei (辛未) month, Ji Wei (己未) day, and Xin Wei (辛未) hour—Ji's Fortune is in Wu (午) Horse, behind; Ji's Noble is in Shen (申) Monkey, in front. With Fortune and Noble supporting the self, no other special stars are needed—this is a noble destiny. Another saying: "With protection in front and support behind, one is a celestial among mortals," referring to having Fortune and Noble sandwiching the self in the chart. The "Li Yu Song" (理愚歌) says: "To hold the reins and enter the imperial court, the Noble Star must not mix with base stars. Generals must be wrapped by Noble Killings (controlled Seven Killings), prime ministers are often surrounded by Fortune and Travel Horse." For a true Noble pattern, the Five Elements must be pure and vital, with the Fortune Star above; if all four Earthly Branches are Noble, it is not necessarily a Noble pattern.
An old verse says: "A good year is not as good as a good month; a good month is not as good as a good hour. The Day Pillar (the imperial seat) is the core of honor; if the other Pillars before and after have Nobles, it is best." For example, the chart of Minister Chen: Geng Yin (庚寅), Bing Xu (丙戌), Xin Mao (辛卯), Ji Chou (己丑)—though Xin is born in Xu month (a place of defeat), it gains the Heavenly Benefactor (Yin, Wu), and the Year Pillar (Geng Yin) is the "Son of Heaven" for the year, matching the verse about the imperial seat. Also, Ji Chou, Geng Yin, Xin Mao in sequence is called "String of Phoenixes" (连珠凤凰); even without scholarly honors, one can reach high office. Yin carries Heavenly Virtue, and the month Xu is a powerful Sha. The Chen surname's Na Yin is Fire, with Xu and Yin combining. The classics say: "If the Na Yin's Vault coincides with Heavenly Virtue and Great Sha, the person will attain the glory of the Three Terraces and Eight Seats." Even if other combinations do not form the sandwich pattern, as long as the Year Pillar meets Fortune and Travel Horse, one can still achieve high office.
FAQ
What is the Hidden Patrons pattern in Bazi
The Hidden Patrons pattern, also known as 夹贵夹禄, is a rare and auspicious configuration in Bazi (Four Pillars of Destiny) astrology. It involves two Earthly Branches in a birth chart "sandwiching" a third, unseen Branch that represents either the Day Master's Heavenly Benefactor (天乙贵人) or their Fortune Branch (禄). This covert pattern signifies hidden support, unseen benefactors, and a strong foundation of fortune. Charts with Hidden Patrons are believed to bring the person hidden blessings, resilience, and unexpected help throughout life.
How to identify the Hidden Patrons pattern in a Bazi chart
To identify the Hidden Patrons pattern in a Bazi chart, examine the Earthly Branches of the Four Pillars. Look for two Branches that are separated by one position and "sandwich" a missing Branch that matches the Day Master's Fortune or Noble Branch. For the pattern to be valid, this sandwiched Branch should not appear elsewhere in the chart or luck cycles. Also, ensure the two supporting Branches are free from Void Star (空亡), clashes, or penalties. This method helps reveal if a chart possesses this rare, beneficial covert structure.
Why is the Hidden Patrons pattern considered auspicious in Bazi
The Hidden Patrons pattern is considered highly auspicious in Bazi because it brings hidden support, powerful blessings, and unseen benefactors into a person's life. Individuals with this pattern often experience stability, resilience, and the ability to overcome adversity through subtle assistance. Hidden Fortune offers a solid, unseen foundation, while Hidden Noble attracts influential people who help from behind the scenes. This covert pattern can lead to unexpected opportunities, smooth progress, and achievements that surpass initial expectations.
When does the Hidden Patrons pattern lose its effectiveness in a Bazi chart
The Hidden Patrons pattern loses its effectiveness in a Bazi chart if the sandwiched Fortune or Noble Branch appears elsewhere in the Four Pillars or in any luck cycles. If this Branch is present, the pattern is "filled" and no longer brings hidden blessings—it can even become inauspicious. Additionally, if the two supporting Branches are weak, fall into Void Star (空亡), or suffer from strong clashes or penalties, the pattern’s positive influence is diminished or negated.
Where do you look for Hidden Patrons in a Bazi reading
In a Bazi reading, you look for Hidden Patrons by analyzing the Earthly Branches across all four pillars of the chart: Year, Month, Day, and Hour. Check for pairs of Branches that enclose a "missing" Branch—the critical Fortune or Noble Branch for the Day Master—without that Branch appearing elsewhere. This systematic examination of Earthly Branch placements is essential for accurately spotting the Hidden Patrons pattern and assessing its potential impact.