Four Following Types Distinguished: Cong-Wang, Cong-Qiang, Cong-Qi, Cong-Shi
Following patterns are not just strong-following and weak-following — there are finer classifications
Students of following patterns often only know the two broad categories of strong-following and weak-following. But in practical chart reading, following patterns have finer distinctions — Cong-Wang, Cong-Qiang, Cong-Qi, and Cong-Shi. These four differ in formation logic, yongshen direction, and luck cycle preferences. This article systematically distinguishes these four easily confused concepts.
The essential differences among the four following patterns: Cong-Wang follows the Day Master's own momentum; Cong-Qiang follows the Resource/Companion momentum; Cong-Qi follows the transformed qi momentum; Cong-Shi follows the chart's overall strongest force.
1. Cong-Wang Pattern — The Day Master's Own Force Monopolizes the Chart
Cong-Wang is equivalent to the Exclusive Prosperity pattern — the Day Master's five-element type monopolizes the chart. The Day Master is extremely strong, Resource and Companion dominate, and Wealth, Officer, and Output either don't exist or are completely suppressed. Cong-Wang's yongshen follows the momentum — take Resource and Companion to strengthen the Day Master's force, or Output to express elegance. Avoid Officer and Killing restraining the body. Cong-Wang has the highest pattern stability — because the Day Master itself is the chart's strongest force, external forces find it very hard to shake. The difference between Cong-Wang and Cong-Qiang: in Cong-Wang, only one element type of the Day Master has absolute dominance (highest purity); Cong-Qiang allows the Resource star or other body-supporting elements to also have considerable force.
2. Cong-Qiang Pattern — The Day Master Relies on External Forces to Form a Powerful Pattern
Cong-Qiang is somewhat broader than Cong-Wang — the Day Master is strong but does not necessarily monopolize the chart. The Resource star or Companion may occupy important positions in the pattern, and the Day Master together with Resource/Companion forms a powerful pattern force. Typical Cong-Qiang presentation: the Day Master has strong roots but not to the degree of exclusive prosperity; the Resource star or Companion has enormous force in the overall chart. Cong-Qiang's pattern force comes from the 'alliance' of Day Master + Resource/Companion, unlike Cong-Wang where the Day Master stands alone. Yongshen also primarily follows the momentum — but compared to Cong-Wang, Cong-Qiang has slightly higher tolerance for Officer/Killing restraining the body — because Cong-Qiang's force sources are more diverse and don't entirely depend on the Day Master's own monopoly position. In reality, Cong-Qiang's expression is relatively close to the advanced forms of Jian-Lu and Yang-Ren patterns.
3. Cong-Qi Pattern and Cong-Shi Pattern — More Special Following Pattern Types
Cong-Qi relies on transformed qi — the Day Master changes its five-element nature through heavenly stem combinations, and the pattern is rebuilt around the transformed spirit. If after successful transformation the transformed spirit dominates, Cong-Qi is formed — the Day Master follows the transformed spirit's momentum. The prerequisite for diagnosing Cong-Qi is that the transformation must be successful (true transformation); a false transformation's Cong-Qi is unreliable. Cong-Shi follows the chart's overall strongest Ten God — not limited to the Day Master itself or Resource/Companion, but any strongest party in the entire chart. Cong-Shi is the most inclusive — regardless of whether the strongest force is Wealth star, Officer/Killing, Output, or Resource star, the Day Master follows it all. Cong-Shi's yongshen also boils down to following momentum — moving in the direction of the chart's overall strongest force. The diagnostic order for these four: first check Cong-Wang (exclusive prosperity) → then Cong-Qi (transformed qi following) → then Cong-Qiang (Resource/Companion alliance following) → finally Cong-Shi (overall strongest force submission type).
Four-Dimensional Comparison
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Classical Support
Practical Key Points
- Diagnose following pattern type by priority order : Cong-Wang (exclusive prosperity) → Cong-Qi (transformed qi) → Cong-Qiang (Resource/Companion alliance) → Cong-Shi (overall strongest). Following this order makes confusion less likely.
- Cong-Wang and Cong-Qiang's yongshen difference lies in 'taboo tolerance' : Cong-Wang's tolerance for Officer/Killing approaches zero (one restraint may break the pattern). Cong-Qiang, because its force sources are diverse, has slightly higher tolerance for Officer/Killing.
Common Follow-up Questions
Q: How does Cong-Shi differ from other following pattern types?
A:
Cong-Shi is the broadest definition of following patterns — as long as the Day Master follows the chart's overall strongest Ten God, it counts as Cong-Shi. Following Wealth, Following Killing, Following Officer, Cong-Er, and Following Resource can all be classified under the broad category of Cong-Shi. Cong-Shi is a 'genus concept'; the other following patterns are 'species concepts.'