The opening relational structure of the chart.
The Four Classes organise upper–lower relationships associated with the Day Stem and Day Branch after the Heaven–Earth plate relationship has been established. They frame the matter before the Three Transmissions develop its sequence.
Time establishes the chart; it does not become four duplicated stems.
In common Da Liu Ren construction, the casting time helps establish the relation between the Heaven and Earth plates. The Four Classes are then formed through paired upper–lower relations beginning from the Day Stem’s lodged palace and the Day Branch, with successive upper positions producing the second and fourth classes.
Terminology and detailed procedure may vary across texts and schools. A serious teaching page should therefore state its construction convention instead of presenting a simplified mnemonic as universal doctrine.
Four Classes depend on work completed earlier.
They cannot be derived responsibly from the Day Stem and Hour Stem alone.
Correct day and hour
Confirm calendar conversion, timezone, day rollover, and the convention used by the selected method.
Establish the active general
The 月將 or monthly general is placed according to the construction rule used by the lineage or text.
Align Heaven and Earth
The monthly general and divination hour establish the rotating relation used to find upper spirits.
Locate the Day Stem
The Day Stem is referenced through its lodged palace or conventional branch position before its upper relation is read.
Two classes begin from the Day Stem side. Two begin from the Day Branch side.
This diagram explains the relationship pattern, not every lookup rule or exception required to cast a complete chart.
Day Stem side
Begin from the Day Stem’s lodged position and identify the Heaven-Plate branch above it.
Lower → upperUpper of the first
Use the first class’s upper branch as the next lower position and identify what rests above it.
Successive relationDay Branch side
Begin from the Day Branch and identify the Heaven-Plate branch above that Earth-Plate position.
Lower → upperUpper of the third
Use the third class’s upper branch as the next lower position and identify what rests above it.
Successive relationBuild the structure in a reproducible order.
Keep a visible record of the convention, input data, plate placement, and each lookup so another trained reader can audit the chart.
Fix the inputs
Record question, date, time, location or convention, calendar data, and day/hour pillars.
Set the plates
Place the monthly general over the divination hour according to the stated method.
Locate the stem
Use the conventional lodging position for the Day Stem.
Build stem classes
Find the first upper relation, then the upper relation developed from it.
Build branch classes
Find the upper over the Day Branch, then the upper relation developed from that result.
Read relation and force before narrative.
The classes provide evidence for the opening structure. Their meaning depends on the question, significator, relations, transmission method, generals, season, emptiness, and the rest of the chart.
Who or what is represented?
Identify which side of the structure belongs to the querent, counterparty, object, document, action, or condition.
What acts on what?
Examine generation, control, equality, support, opposition, and the direction of the upper–lower relationship.
Where does initiative sit?
Ask which side carries active pressure, receives action, blocks, supports, leaks, or remains disconnected.
Does it touch the question?
A strong-looking relation is not decisive if it does not connect to the selected significator or matter.
How do transmissions develop it?
The Four Classes frame the opening; the Three Transmissions organise development and should govern the movement narrative.
What qualifies the reading?
Generals, void, season, punishment, clash, combination, tomb, break, and lineage-specific rules may alter expression.
Shortcuts produce confident fantasy charts.
Duplicating Day and Hour Stems
This removes the plate lookup and misstates the basic relational construction of the Four Classes.
Skipping the time base
An incorrect calendar conversion or plate alignment changes every later relation.
Ignoring stem lodging
The Day Stem requires its conventional lodged position; it is not treated identically to a branch sitting directly on the Earth Plate.
Reading classes in isolation
The classes do not replace the Three Transmissions, significator, supporting symbols, conditions, or the precise question.
Mixing lineages silently
If construction or interpretation rules come from different sources, label the synthesis and explain conflicts.
Retrofitting the story
Write the chart and interpretation before the outcome so hindsight cannot redesign the method.
A technical chart is still symbolic interpretation.
Correct construction matters, but it does not convert Da Liu Ren into legal evidence, scientific measurement, or guaranteed prediction.