This ancient Chinese astrology system The Four Pillars of Destiny, also known as Bazi 八字, claims to unlock the secrets of your life path using just your birth date and time. Let’s dive into this fascinating world and see what it might reveal about you.

What is Bazi?

Bazi, also known as the Four Pillars of Destiny, is a fundamental concept in Chinese astrology. The term “Bazi 八字” literally means “eight characters” in Chinese, referring to the eight components that make up a person’s birth chart.

This system uses four key time markers – year 年, month 月, day 日, and hour 时 of birth – to create a detailed astrological profile. Each of these “pillars 柱” is represented by two characters: one from the Heavenly Stems 天干 and one from the Earthly Branches 地支.

The Heavenly Stems consist of ten elements 十天干, while the Earthly Branches comprise twelve 十二地支. These combine to form the sexagenary cycle, a 60-year calendar system that’s been used in China for millennia.

Bazi’s core theory comes from two ancient Chinese philosophical concepts: Yin Yang 阴阳 and Wu Xing 五行 (Five Elements).【link】

The Four Pillars

So, what exactly are these four pillars of time markers? They’re the cornerstones of your Bazi chart, each representing a different aspect of your life:

Year Pillar: Your Life’s Backdrop

This is the foundation, the big-picture stuff. It’s like the stage set for your life’s play, giving insights into your family background and the overall vibe of your generation.

Month Pillar: Your Natural Toolkit

Think of this as your inherited talents and resources. It’s what you naturally bring to the table – your innate skills and abilities.

Day Pillar: The Star of the Show – You!

This is all about you – your personality, your core self. It’s the heart of your Bazi chart and gives the lowdown on your character and personal journey.

Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches 天干地支

Each pillar is made up of two parts: a Heavenly Stem and an Earthly Branch. These are represented by Chinese characters, each associated with one of the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) and either Yin or Yang energy.

The Heavenly Stems are like the yang to the Earthly Branches’ yin. Together, they create a complex dance of energies that shape your life’s narrative.

How do I find out my Year Pillar?

Don’t sweat it. There’s a shortcut for converting our familiar Western years into Bazi speak.

For the Heavenly Stem, just look at the last digit of the year. Each number corresponds to a specific stem. As for the Earthly Branch, divide the year by 12 and check out the remainder. That number points to your branch.

Let’s take 1985 for a spin. The last digit is 5, which gives us the stem “Yi”. Now, 1985 divided by 12 leaves a remainder of 5. That matches up with the branch “Chou”. Put them together, and voila – 1985 is the year of Yi Chou.

Year’s Last Digit	Heavenly Stem	English Translation	Divided by 12 Remainder	Earthly Branch	English Translation
4	Jia 甲	Wood 木	4	Zi 子	Rat 鼠
5	Yi 乙	Wood 木	5	Chou 丑	Ox 牛
6	Bing 丙	Fire 火	6	Yin 寅	Tiger 虎
7	Ding 丁	Fire 火	7	Mao 卯	Rabbit 兔
8	Wu 戊	Earth 土	8	Chen 辰	Dragon 龙
9	Ji 己	Earth 土	9	Si 巳	Snake 蛇
0	Geng 庚	Metal 金	10	Wu 午	Horse 马
1	Xin 辛	Metal 金	11	Wei 未	Goat 羊
2	Ren 壬	Water 水	0	Shen 申	Monkey 猴
3	Gui 癸	Water 水	1	You 酉	Rooster 鸡
			2	Xu 戌	Dog 狗
			3	Hai 亥	Pig 猪

How do I find the Month Pillar in bazi?

The lunar calendar assigns Earthly Branches to each month, starting with Yin for January and ending with Chou for December. However, it’s crucial to understand that this is just an approximation. In reality, the Bazi system aligns more closely with the 24 solar terms used in traditional Chinese calendars.

Earthly Branch	Lunar Month	Solar Terms
Yin 寅	Jan.	Lichun 立春 – Jingzhe 惊蛰
Mao 卯	Feb.	Jingzhe 惊蛰 – Qingming 清明
Chen 辰	Mar.	Qingming 清明 – Lixia 立夏
Si 巳	Apr.	Lixia 立夏 – Mangzhong 芒种
Wu 午	May	Mangzhong 芒种 – Xiaoshu 小暑
Wei 未	Jun.	Xiaoshu 小暑 – Liqiu 立秋
Shen 申	Jul.	Liqiu 立秋 – Bailu 白露
You 酉	Aug.	Bailu 白露 – Hanlu 寒露
Xu 戌	Sep.	Hanlu 寒露 – Lidong 立冬
Hai 亥	Oct.	Lidong 立冬 – Daxue 大雪
Zi 子	Nov.	Daxue 大雪 – Xiaohan 小寒
Chou 丑	Dec.	Xiaohan 小寒 – Lichun 立春

a concise breakdown of the day pillar in Bazi

Starting point: Remember the stem and branch of the lunar year’s first day.

The day pillar in Bazi relies on knowing the stem and branch of the lunar year’s first day. From there, calculations account for the Chinese calendar’s structure of “bigger” (30-day) and “lesser” (29-day) months. One complete stem-branch cycle spans 60 days.

This method allows for precise determination of the day pillar within the Bazi system, which would require a Bazi master with proficient knowledge to do it for you.

Here’s a summary of the 12 Earthly Branches in the Hour Pillar, their elements, associated nature, and implied personalities:

Day Master	Five Elements	Associated with	Implied Personality
Jia [甲]	Yang Wood	Towering foliage	Pros: Upright, straightforward, compassionate, and grounded. Cons: Rigid in beliefs, unyielding
Yi [乙]	Yin Wood	Delicate flora	Pros: Mild-mannered, diplomatic, flexible, and tough. Cons: Overly reliant, easily swayed, clingy
Bing [丙]	Yang Fire	Celestial radiance	Pros: Laid-back, honest, enthusiastic, and big-hearted. Cons: Erratic, hasty, and rash
Ding [丁]	Yin Fire	Flickering illumination	Pros: Detail-oriented, courteous, traditional. Cons: Emotionally volatile, overthinks, guarded
Wu [戊]	Yang Earth	Immovable stone	Pros: Amiable, nostalgic, methodical, and reliable. Cons: Self-satisfied, obstinate, and self-centered
Ji [己]	Yin Earth	Arable terrain	Pros: Sincere, nurturing, solemn, and accommodating. Cons: Overbearing parental instincts, lacks personal conviction
Geng [庚]	Yang Metal	Raw metallics	Pros: Perceptive, tough, resolute, and devoted. Cons: Overly concerned with appearances, inflexible, and negligent
Xin [辛]	Yin Metal	Refined alloys	Pros: Refined and captivating. Cons: Irresolute, materialistic, headstrong
Ren [壬]	Yang Water	Vast aquatic expanses	Pros: Versatile, upbeat, easygoing, resourceful. Cons: Perceived as fickle and unpredictable due to thrill-seeking nature
Gui [癸]	Yin Water	Morning condensation	Pros: Reserved, serene, and composed. Cons: Distrustful, tense, and prone to excessive worry

Finding out Hour pillar in Bazi

The hour pillar in Bazi follows a fixed pattern of heavenly branches, with each two hours assigned a specific branch. The heavenly stem for each hour is determined by the day pillar’s stem and branch.

This system, known as the Twelve Shi Chen 十二时辰, divides the 24-hour day into twelve equal parts, each associated with an Earthly Branch.

Here’s a table representing the hour pillar in the Twelve Shi Chen 十二时辰 system:

Earthly Branch	Time Period 24h
Zi 子	23:00-00:59
Chou 丑	01:00-02:59
Yin 寅	03:00-04:59
Mao 卯	05:00-06:59
Chen 辰	07:00-08:59
Si 巳	09:00-10:59
Wu 午	11:00-12:59
Wei 未	13:00-14:59
Shen 申	15:00-16:59
You 酉	17:00-18:59
Xu 戌	19:00-20:59
Hai 亥	21:00-22:59

Integrating the Pillars

Here’s where it gets interesting. These pillars don’t exist in isolation. They interact with each other, creating a dynamic system. Some elements might strengthen each other, while others clash. This interplay is what makes your Bazi chart uniquely yours.

For example, if your Day Pillar (representing you) is Wood, and your Year Pillar (representing your environment) is Water, that’s generally seen as favorable. Water nourishes Wood, suggesting you’re in an environment that supports your growth.

Now, you might be thinking, “This sounds complex. How do I figure out my own Bazi chart?” Don’t worry, you don’t need to become an expert in Chinese astrology overnight.

Four Pillars of Destiny Calculator

A good four pillars of destiny calculator will ask for your birth date, time, and sometimes location. It then generates your Bazi chart, showing your four pillars with their corresponding Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.

But remember, while these calculators are a great starting point, interpreting a Bazi chart is an art. It takes years of study to fully understand the nuances and interactions within a chart.

Discover Your Chinese Astrology

Bazi is just one part of the rich tapestry of Chinese astrology. It works hand in hand with other systems like the Chinese Zodiac and Feng Shui to provide a comprehensive view of a person’s energy and potential.

Chinese Zodiac Signs

You’re probably familiar with the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. In Bazi, these animals correspond to the Earthly Branches in your chart. Each has its own characteristics and energies that contribute to the overall reading.

For instance, if you’re a “Wood Tiger” (meaning your Day Pillar’s Earthly Branch is Tiger, and the Heavenly Stem is associated with Wood), you might be seen as courageous, charismatic, and full of vitality.

Checkout our comprehensive Chinese zodiac compatibility charts to understand your destiny and love match.

FAQs

What is Chinese Bazi?

Chinese Bazi, also known as the Four Pillars of Destiny, is an ancient astrological system that uses your birth date and time to create a detailed chart of your life’s potential. It’s based on the concept that the universe’s energy at the moment of your birth influences your life path.

How to Read Your Four Pillars of Destiny?

Reading a Four Pillars of Destiny chart involves understanding the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches in each pillar, their associated elements, and how they interact. Here’s a basic approach:

Identify the elements in each pillar
Look at the balance of Yin and Yang
Analyze the relationships between the pillars
Consider the current time’s influence on your chart

Remember, this is a complex system, and in-depth readings usually require the expertise of a Bazi master.

What is the accuracy of Bazi in predicting the future?

Bazi is not a precise future prediction tool. Instead, it serves as a guide to understanding potential life paths and personal tendencies.

How important is accurate birth time for a Bazi reading?

The accuracy of a Bazi reading correlates directly with the precision of the birth time provided. More exact birth times yield more detailed and accurate readings.

Can Bazi analysis improve relationship compatibility?

Bazi can provide insights into potential relationship dynamics, but it’s important to remember that many factors contribute to successful relationships beyond astrological compatibility.

Is there scientific evidence supporting Bazi?

While Bazi lacks scientific validation, many individuals find it to be a valuable tool for personal introspection and self-understanding.

Is it possible to alter one’s Bazi chart?

A person’s Bazi chart remains constant throughout their life. However, individuals have the power to choose how they interpret and apply the insights gained from their chart.

The four pillars of destiny offer a unique lens through which to view your life and potential. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, exploring this ancient system can be a fascinating journey of self-discovery.