Fundamentals
BaZi (八字)
Literally 'Eight Characters.' The Chinese astrological system that analyzes destiny through four pairs of characters derived from birth year, month, day, and hour.
Four Pillars (四柱)
The four columns of a BaZi chart: Year Pillar (年柱), Month Pillar (月柱), Day Pillar (日柱), and Hour Pillar (時柱). Each pillar contains one Heavenly Stem and one Earthly Branch.
Heavenly Stems (天干)
Ten cosmic energies: Jia (甲), Yi (乙), Bing (丙), Ding (丁), Wu (戊), Ji (己), Geng (庚), Xin (辛), Ren (壬), Gui (癸). Each has an element and polarity (Yin or Yang).
Earthly Branches (地支)
Twelve zodiacal energies: Zi (子), Chou (丑), Yin (寅), Mao (卯), Chen (辰), Si (巳), Wu (午), Wei (未), Shen (申), You (酉), Xu (戌), Hai (亥). Each corresponds to an animal and contains Hidden Stems.
Sexagenary Cycle (六十甲子)
The 60-year cycle formed by combining the 10 Heavenly Stems with the 12 Earthly Branches. The cycle repeats every 60 years, creating unique energy combinations for each year.
Core Concepts
Day Master (日主)
The Heavenly Stem of the Day Pillar. Represents your core self, personality, and identity. The most important character in your BaZi chart.
Five Elements (五行)
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Dynamic energetic forces that interact through cycles of generation (support) and control (restraint).
Yin and Yang (阴阳)
The fundamental duality in Chinese philosophy. Yang is active, outward, and expanding. Yin is receptive, inward, and contracting. Every element has both Yin and Yang forms.
Ten Gods (十神)
Relationships between the Day Master and other elements in the chart: Direct Wealth, Indirect Wealth, Direct Officer, Seven Killings, Eating God, Hurting Officer, Direct Resource, Indirect Resource, Companion, and Rob Wealth.
Timing
Luck Pillars (大运)
Ten-year cycles that show changing cosmic influences on your life. Each Luck Pillar consists of one Heavenly Stem and one Earthly Branch that interact with your natal chart.
Annual Pillar (流年)
The cosmic energy of a specific year. The year's Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch interact with your natal chart and current Luck Pillar, creating specific influences for that year.
Interactions
Six Combinations (六合)
Pairs of Earthly Branches that form alliances: Zi-Chou, Yin-Hai, Mao-Xu, Chen-You, Si-Shen, Wu-Wei. These combinations create harmonious elemental unions.
Three Combinations (三合)
Triads of Earthly Branches that form powerful elemental unions: Monkey-Rat-Dragon (Water), Snake-Rooster-Ox (Metal), Tiger-Horse-Dog (Fire), Pig-Rabbit-Goat (Wood).
Six Clashes (六冲)
Opposing pairs of Earthly Branches that create conflict: Zi-Wu, Chou-Wei, Yin-Shen, Mao-You, Chen-Xu, Si-Hai. Clashes bring sudden changes and challenges.
Penalties (刑)
Harmful interactions between Earthly Branches that create hidden tensions and obstacles. The main penalties are: Ungrateful, Bullying, and Self-punishment.
Advanced
Hidden Stems (藏干)
Additional Heavenly Stems concealed within each Earthly Branch. Every branch contains one to three hidden stems that represent deeper, subconscious aspects of the chart.
Useful God (用神)
The element or Ten God that brings balance and harmony to the chart. Identifying the Useful God is the most important step in practical BaZi analysis.
Favorable Elements (喜用神)
Elements that strengthen, support, or balance the Day Master. These elements bring opportunities and should be nurtured in career, environment, and lifestyle choices.
Unfavorable Elements (忌神)
Elements that weaken, control, or imbalance the Day Master. These elements create challenges and should be managed carefully.
Void (空亡)
Empty branches in the chart where energy is weakened or absent. Voids reduce the power of elements in those positions and can indicate areas of life that feel lacking.
Calculation
Solar Term (节气)
The 24 solar terms that divide the year based on the sun's position. BaZi uses solar terms (not lunar months) to determine the Month Pillar, making it an astronomically precise system.
True Solar Time (真太阳时)
The actual local time based on the sun's position at the birth location, adjusted for longitude. Different from standard clock time, which uses time zones.
Related Systems
Zi Wei Dou Shu (紫微斗数)
Purple Star Astrology — a star-based Chinese metaphysics system that maps over 100 stars into twelve palaces. Complements BaZi with detailed life-area analysis.
Destiny Palace (命宫)
In Zi Wei Dou Shu, the palace that represents your overall destiny, personality, and life path. The most important palace in a Zi Wei chart.
Four Transformations (四化)
In Zi Wei Dou Shu, four special stars (Hua Lu, Hua Quan, Hua Ke, Hua Ji) that transform the energy of the stars they attach to, indicating fortune, authority, recognition, and obstacles.
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