The Escort Pattern (引从包承)
The Escort Pattern (引从包承) is a distinguished structure within Bazi patterns, rooted in the sequence of the Sixty Jiazi (六十甲子). It is renowned for its symbolism of "being surrounded and supported from all sides." Unlike a single fixed combination, this pattern is composed of four interrelated concepts: "Lead" (引), "Follow" (从), "Encircle" (包), and "Support" (承). At its heart, the pattern centers on a key pillar in the natal chart—most often the Year Pillar or Day Pillar—which is flanked and protected by other pillars that precede or follow it in the Sixty Jiazi sequence. This arrangement is likened to an emperor on tour, accompanied by a grand ceremonial guard, signifying the highest degree of nobility and auspiciousness.
How to Identify the Pattern
This pattern is determined by selecting a core pillar (typically the Year Pillar or Day Pillar) and examining whether the other pillars’ Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches occupy "escort" positions—either before or after the core pillar in the Sixty Jiazi sequence.
The definitions are as follows:
- Lead (前引): Refers to the stem-branch combinations that come after the core pillar in the Jiazi sequence, acting as guides ahead. The ancients said, "The Lead is best when distant," meaning that a guiding spirit farther from the core pillar is more auspicious.
- Follow (后从): Refers to those that come before the core pillar, acting as followers behind. The saying goes, "The Follow is best when close," indicating that a follower closely trailing the core pillar is most favorable.
- Encircle (包): Indicates two pillars positioned before and after the core pillar (often the Day Pillar), forming an encircling stance. For example, the Month Pillar comes before the Day Pillar, and the Hour Pillar comes after.
- Support (承): In the "encircling" structure, this refers to the stem-branch that comes after the core pillar, providing support and reinforcement.
Key to Forming the Pattern: The Escort Pattern is considered extremely powerful, with classical texts stating that it "fears neither clashes nor disruptions." If the pattern is further accompanied by auspicious stars such as Wealth, Executive, or Horse, its auspiciousness is elevated even more.
Significance of the Pattern
Those whose charts embody the Escort Pattern (引从包承) are destined to receive abundant assistance throughout life, enjoy a solid foundation, and possess strong fortune. This pattern signifies a life journey where the individual is guided by predecessors (Lead), followed by successors (Follow), and protected on all sides (Encircle and Support). Such individuals often display leadership qualities, command the loyalty of others, and advance in their careers as if accompanied by a formidable honor guard—marching forward with confidence and momentum. When this pattern supports the Year Pillar (the Tai Sui), it foretells a smooth and illustrious official career, marked by distinction and honor.
Favorable and Unfavorable Factors
Favorable:
- Auspicious Lead and Follow Pillars: If the pillars serving as Lead, Follow, Encircle, and Support are also the chart owner's favorable elements or auspicious stars (such as the Heavenly Benefactor), it is akin to adding jewels to a crown—signifying supreme nobility.
- Guarding the Tai Sui: The pattern is at its strongest when it protects the Year Pillar (Tai Sui), indicating the person is favored by the times and capable of the highest achievements.
- Complete Structure: If the chart simultaneously forms a complete protective structure with Lead, Follow, Encircle, and Support, the pattern is most stable and the blessings are greatest.
Unfavorable:
- Lead and Follow as Unfavorable Elements: If the pillars serving as protectors are actually the chart owner's unfavorable elements, the pattern turns negative—signifying being surrounded by petty people or harmful associates, leading to lifelong burdens.
- Clashes and Disruptions: Although classical texts claim the pattern is immune to clashes, in practical Bazi analysis, if the core Day Pillar or Year Pillar suffers severe conflict or destruction, the "emperor" is shaken, and even the strongest escort is of little use—the pattern’s auspiciousness is greatly diminished.
- Void Star (空亡): If any of the key Lead, Follow, Encircle, or Support pillars fall into Void Star, the protective effect becomes hollow and superficial, lacking real substance.
Classical Text Excerpt
From "San Ming Tong Hui" (《三命通会》)
居年前曰引，年后曰从。如甲子人以前三辰为引，则丙寅、丁卯为引。以后三辰为从，则壬戌、癸亥为从。引宜远，以丁卯为远。从宜近，以癸亥为近。若甲子生人后得癸亥、前得乙丑，丙寅人后得乙丑，前得丁卯之类。
或曰：甲子人以丁卯为引，然子卯相刑，不若丙寅为食神带禄马。若得壬戌时，则丁与壬合，卯与戌合，暗中有合，则壬戌、癸亥、甲子，缺乙丑以待用。前引神有丙寅、丁卯，一甲中天地气全，前后要看纳音，有无生旺之气，兼诸贵杀助者，大贵。年月日时更在一旬中，尤妙。
引从包承拱太岁，则官历清华；刑害冲破，则一生困苦。如己酉年，癸酉月，戊申日后从，壬子时前引，引远从近，乃大贵人。居朝廷则多出入有人，盖引从动之也。丑乙人见甲子为从，或前遇庚午日乘引，乙与庚合，见己巳乘引，甲与己合，干支有情。余例推。如辛卯人遇壬辰日庚子时，此乃从远引近，不中。又壬辰日壬寅时，拱卯作丁酉正端门格，不以引从论。
《赋》云：“引从不同前后，宜乎审察。”《赋》又云：“官贵引从，位列鸳班。”或官在前，贵在后，或贵在前，官在后，或杀在前，吉在后，包承引从尤贵。如徐阶少师癸亥、壬戌、癸未、壬子，壬戌后从则近，壬子前引则远。又天干俱壬癸，一气互换，亥子为禄，乃真引从包承格也。又杨博少傅，一品十二年考满，己巳、庚午、乙卯、庚辰，庚午前引，庚辰后从，天干乙庚合化，二庚为官引从，方为奇特。若前后二支包承，本命在中。如辛亥人得庚子月戊戌日，子在前为包，戌在后为承，止为包承，亦主清贵福厚。怕空亡、冲破。如孙慎都宪乙亥、丙戌、辛丑、戊子，孟重都宪，乙亥、丁亥、乙丑、丙戌，则十二位包又多一格矣。
古歌曰：“年为天子坐中宫，日时相逢两侍从，辅弼贵星须要识，为官气势最英雄。”
Explanation: (In the sequence of the Sixty Jiazi) those positioned before the Year Pillar are called "Lead," and those after are called "Follow." For example, someone born in the Jia (甲) Zi (子) year would have Bing (丙) Yin (寅) and Ding (丁) Mao (卯) as "Lead" pillars, while Ren (壬) Xu (戌) and Gui (癸) Hai (亥) would be "Follow" pillars. The Lead is best when distant—of Bing Yin and Ding Mao, Ding Mao is farther. The Follow is best when close—of Ren Xu and Gui Hai, Gui Hai is closer. For a Jia Zi year person, if the chart contains Gui Hai as a Follow and Yi (乙) Chou (丑) as a Lead, or for a Bing Yin year person, Yi Chou as a Follow and Ding Mao as a Lead, these are examples.
Another perspective: For a Jia Zi year person, Ding Mao is considered the Lead, but since Zi and Mao clash, Bing Yin is preferable as the Lead, as it represents Talent (Eating God) accompanied by Grace (Horse). If the Hour Pillar is Ren Xu, then Ding combines with Ren, Mao combines with Xu, forming hidden unions. Thus, with Ren Xu, Gui Hai, and Jia Zi, only Yi Chou is missing to complete the set. Bing Yin and Ding Mao are both Leads, and within a Jiazi cycle, Heaven and Earth’s energies are complete. When analyzing the Lead and Follow, check whether the Nayin Five Elements are vital and thriving. If further supported by auspicious stars or a controlled Warlord (Seven Killings), it is a sign of great nobility. If the Year, Month, Day, and Hour Pillars all fall within the same ten-day cycle, it is especially auspicious.
When Lead, Follow, Encircle, and Support all guard the Year Pillar (Tai Sui), the official career will be illustrious and honorable; if the pattern is damaged by clashes or disruptions, the life will be fraught with hardship. For example, in a Ji (己) You (酉) year, Gui (癸) You (酉) month, Wu (戊) Shen (申) day (Wu Shen is the Follow after Ji You), and Ren (壬) Zi (子) hour (Ren Zi is the Lead before Wu Shen)—with a distant Lead and a close Follow, this is a sign of great nobility. In the court, such a person is surrounded by supporters, thanks to the activation of the Lead and Follow. For someone born in a Chou (丑) year with a Yi (乙) day, encountering Jia Zi as the Follow, or encountering Geng (庚) Wu (午) day as the Lead (Yi and Geng combine), or Ji (己) Si (巳) as the Lead (Jia and Ji combine), all these are harmonious combinations. Other Heavenly Stems follow similar logic. For someone born in a Xin (辛) Mao (卯) year, encountering Ren (壬) Chen (辰) day and Geng Zi (庚子) hour, this is a distant Follow and a close Lead—not a valid pattern. Or, for Ren Chen day and Ren Yin hour, with Yin and Chen flanking Mao, this forms the "Ding You Upright Portal Pattern" and is not considered an Escort Pattern.
The "Fu" (赋) says: "Lead and Follow differ based on their positions before and after; careful examination is required." It also says: "When Executive (Direct Officer) and noble stars form Lead and Follow, one attains high rank among the elite." Sometimes the Executive is in front as the Lead, with a noble star behind as the Follow; or vice versa; or the Warlord (Seven Killings) is in front, with auspicious stars behind. The Encircle and Support structure, combined with Lead and Follow, is especially noble. For example, in the chart of Grand Tutor Xu Jie: Gui (癸) Hai (亥), Ren (壬) Xu (戌), Gui (癸) Wei (未), Ren (壬) Zi (子)—with the Day Pillar Gui Wei as the core, Ren Xu (Month Pillar) as the close Follow, Ren Zi (Hour Pillar) as the distant Lead. All Heavenly Stems are Ren and Gui Water, forming a unified energy, and Hai and Zi are the Day Master’s Grace (Horse), making this a true Escort Pattern. Another example: Grand Tutor Yang Bo, who served twelve years as a top official: Ji (己) Si (巳), Geng (庚) Wu (午), Yi (乙) Mao (卯), Geng (庚) Chen (辰)—Geng Wu (Month Pillar) is the Lead, Geng Chen (Hour Pillar) is the Follow, and the Heavenly Stems Yi and Geng combine, with two Geng Executives forming the Lead and Follow, making this pattern extraordinary.
If the two Earthly Branches before and after form the Encircle and Support structure, with the natal Day Pillar in the center—for example, someone born in Xin (辛) Hai (亥) year, with Geng (庚) Zi (子) month and Wu (戊) Xu (戌) day—Zi (Month Branch) before Xu (Day Branch) is the Encircle, Xu after is the Support (though traditionally, the Year and Hour encircle the Month and Day). This is considered Encircle and Support, also signifying nobility and good fortune. However, the pattern fears Void Star and clashes. For example, in the chart of Grand Censor Sun Shen: Yi (乙) Hai (亥), Bing (丙) Xu (戌), Xin (辛) Chou (丑), Wu (戊) Zi (子); or Grand Censor Meng Zhong: Yi (乙) Hai (亥), Ding (丁) Hai (亥), Yi (乙) Chou (丑), Bing (丙) Xu (戌)—these are examples of the Encircle structure with all twelve branches, forming yet another pattern.
A classical verse states: "The Year Pillar sits as the emperor in the central palace, with the Day and Hour Pillars as loyal attendants on either side. Recognize these noble stars of support, for they bestow the greatest heroic momentum upon those in office."
FAQ
What is the Escort Pattern in Bazi astrology?
The Escort Pattern (引从包承) in Bazi astrology is a specialized chart structure rooted in the Sixty Jiazi sequence. It symbolizes being “surrounded and supported from all sides.” This pattern involves four interrelated concepts: Lead, Follow, Encircle, and Support, usually centered on a core pillar such as the Year Pillar or Day Pillar. The surrounding pillars must occupy specific escort positions in the Jiazi cycle. Charts with the Escort Pattern are believed to grant strong fortune, abundant support, and leadership qualities, signifying auspiciousness and protection throughout life.
How to identify the Escort Pattern in a Bazi chart?
To identify the Escort Pattern in a Bazi chart, start by selecting a core pillar—typically the Year Pillar or Day Pillar. Next, examine if the other pillars’ Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches are positioned immediately before or after the core pillar in the Sixty Jiazi sequence. The Lead comes after, the Follow comes before, and Encircle involves pillars both before and after the core. Support refers to the pillar directly after the core in an encircling structure. Confirm if these positions are filled by favorable elements for the chart owner to ensure the pattern’s auspiciousness.
Why is the Escort Pattern considered auspicious in Bazi readings?
The Escort Pattern is highly auspicious in Bazi readings because it represents an individual being protected, guided, and supported throughout life. This pattern is associated with strong fortune, leadership ability, and a solid foundation for success. Especially when the pattern guards the Year Pillar (Tai Sui), it foretells smooth career advancement, honors, and recognition. Classical texts suggest that the Escort Pattern “fears neither clashes nor disruptions,” making it a symbol of enduring stability and prosperity.
When does the Escort Pattern reach its strongest influence in a natal chart?
The Escort Pattern reaches its strongest influence in a natal chart when it fully protects the Year Pillar, also known as the Tai Sui. This alignment indicates supreme favor by the times and the potential for the highest achievements. The pattern is most powerful when the Lead, Follow, Encircle, and Support pillars are also the chart owner’s favorable elements or auspicious stars, such as Wealth, Executive, or Heavenly Benefactor. A complete and stable escort structure amplifies blessings and career success.
What happens if the Escort Pattern pillars are unfavorable elements?
If the Escort Pattern pillars are unfavorable elements for the chart owner, the pattern loses its auspicious qualities. Instead of providing support and protection, the surrounding pillars may attract petty people or harmful influences, leading to setbacks in career and personal relationships. Incomplete or negative Escort Pattern structures can signify instability and a lack of genuine support, diminishing the potential for leadership and success that the pattern typically represents.