Name Studies Basics — Stroke Counts and Five-Element Correspondence

💡 Reading time: ~8 minutes ｜ Series: Hetu Luoshu Numerology Series (Article 14/20)

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Your name is the symbol you use most in your life, and its energy influences your personality and fortune. Hetu-Luoshu name studies uses the Kangxi dictionary stroke counts, mapping them to five-element numerology to analyze names.

Stroke-to-element correspondence (last digit):

• 1, 2 → Wood

• 3, 4 → Fire

• 5, 6 → Earth

• 7, 8 → Metal

• 9, 0 → Water

The Five-Pattern Schema:

1. Heaven Pattern (Tian Ge): surname strokes + 1 (innate luck, cannot be changed)

2. Person Pattern (Ren Ge): surname + first character of given name (main luck, affects whole life)

3. Earth Pattern (Di Ge): sum of two given-name characters (early luck, before age 36)

4. Total Pattern (Zong Ge): all name strokes combined (later luck, after age 36)

5. Outer Pattern (Wai Ge): Total Pattern − Person Pattern + 1 (subsidiary luck, external relationships)

Principles for changing your name

1. Match the Day Master’s useful god in your Bazi, supplying the missing element

2. The pattern numerology should be auspicious; avoid inauspicious numbers

3. The sound should be resonant; avoid homophones with bad meanings

4. The character meaning should be beautiful and have positive associations

5. The writing should be convenient; avoid overly complex characters

The most important principle: use it for it to work! After changing your name, you need to use it actively, so the new name’s energy can take effect.