Bazi Glossary

Core Concepts

Bazi (八字)bā zì

Literally 'eight characters.' The Chinese system of destiny analysis that converts your birth year, month, day, and hour into eight characters (four pillars × two characters each) drawn from the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Also called the Four Pillars of Destiny.

Four Pillars (四柱)sì zhù

The four columns of a Bazi chart — Year, Month, Day, and Hour. Each pillar contains one Heavenly Stem on top and one Earthly Branch below. Together they encode the elemental state of the universe at your birth moment.

Day Master (日主)rì zhǔ

The top Heavenly Stem of your Day Pillar — the protagonist of the chart and the reference point every other character is read against. Your Day Master's element is the closest thing Bazi has to a Western sun sign.

Life Chapters (大运)dà yùn

Roughly ten-year windows that flow through your life in sequence, each carrying its own two-character pillar and elemental signature. Your natal chart is the hand you were dealt; Life Chapters are the sequence of dealers. Also called Da Yun or Major Luck Pillars.

True Solar Time

Local apparent solar time at the birth location — what a properly constructed and calibrated sundial would indicate. Converting a civil clock record requires the actual historical UTC offset (including daylight-saving rules), birth-city longitude, and the Equation of Time; the result can change the two-hour branch used for the Hour Pillar.

NaYin (纳音)nà yīn

The 'soul resonance' element of a pillar's stem-branch pair. There are 30 NaYin types (e.g. 'Celestial River Water' for 丙午). On this site we render each as a poetic English archetype.

The Five Elements (五行)

Also called Wu Xing. Not substances but five families of energy type, each with its own temperament. They interact through a generating cycle (Wood feeds Fire, Fire creates Earth…) and a controlling cycle (Wood roots into Earth, Earth dams Water…).

Wood (木)

Wood (Mu) represents growth, initiative, and creative vision. People with strong Wood energy are pioneers — expansive thinkers who thrive on new beginnings and personal development.

• Keywords: Growth · Vision · Initiative

Fire (火)

Fire (Huo) is the energy of passion, charisma, and self-expression. Strong Fire brings warmth, leadership presence, and the courage to be seen — it is the element of visibility and enthusiasm.

• Keywords: Passion · Charisma · Expression

Earth (土)

Earth (Tu) embodies stability, nurturing, and reliability. Earth-dominant charts indicate a grounded, trustworthy nature — patient, supportive, and rooted in practical wisdom.

• Keywords: Stability · Nurturing · Reliability

Metal (金)

Metal (Jin) stands for discipline, precision, and clarity of standards. Strong Metal energy gives structure, sharp judgment, and a drive for excellence and refinement.

• Keywords: Discipline · Precision · Clarity

Water (水)

Water (Shui) is the element of wisdom, adaptability, and depth. Water types are introspective and perceptive — fluid communicators who navigate change with quiet strength.

• Keywords: Wisdom · Adaptability · Depth

The Ten Archetypes (十神)

The classical Ten Gods, reframed as modern psychological archetypes. Each describes how a given Heavenly Stem relates to your Day Master.

The Equal (比肩)

You thrive in partnerships and value independence.

• Archetype: Collaborator

The Challenger (劫财)

A fierce competitor who turns obstacles into fuel.

• Archetype: Competitor

The Creative Mind (食神)

Your analytical creativity is your greatest asset.

• Archetype: Creator

The Rebel Visionary (伤官)

You see what others can't — unconventional thinking is a gift.

• Archetype: Innovator

The Opportunity Magnet (偏财)

Money finds you through unexpected channels.

• Archetype: Magnet

The Wealth Builder (正财)

Your path to security is steady, disciplined, and reliable.

• Archetype: Builder

The Warrior Spirit (七杀)

Pressure doesn't break you — it sharpens you.

• Archetype: Warrior

The Authority (正官)

You naturally command respect in structured environments.

• Archetype: Leader

The Intuitive Scholar (偏印)

Your wisdom comes from intuition and unconventional paths.

• Archetype: Mystic

The Nurturing Wisdom (正印)

Knowledge and mentorship flow naturally to you.

• Archetype: Mentor

The Ten Heavenly Stems (天干)

The ten characters formed by splitting each of the five elements into Yang (active) and Yin (receptive) polarities.

甲 · Jiǎ

The great tree — sturdy, ambitious, leadership timber.

• Wood · Yang

乙 · Yǐ

The climbing vine — flexible, adaptable, quietly persistent.

• Wood · Yin

丙 · Bǐng

The blazing sun — radiant, generous, hard to ignore.

• Fire · Yang

丁 · Dīng

The lantern flame — refined warmth, insight, and sensitivity.

• Fire · Yin

戊 · Wù

The mountain — solid, protective, enduringly present.

• Earth · Yang

己 · Jǐ

The fertile soil — nurturing, receptive, cultivates growth.

• Earth · Yin

庚 · Gēng

The axe blade — decisive, unyielding, cuts through complexity.

• Metal · Yang

辛 · Xīn

The jewelry metal — refined, discriminating, values beauty.

• Metal · Yin

壬 · Rén

the great ocean — vast, powerful, endlessly flowing.

• Water · Yang

癸 · Guǐ

The morning dew — gentle, intuitive, penetrates softly.

• Water · Yin

The Twelve Earthly Branches (地支)

The twelve characters tied to the Chinese zodiac animals. Each Branch carries an element and governs a two-hour window of the ancient Chinese day.

子 · Zǐ · Rat

11pm–1am · new beginnings, resourcefulness.

• Water

丑 · Chǒu · Ox

1–3am · diligence, steady endurance.

• Earth

寅 · Yín · Tiger

3–5am · courage, pioneering drive.

• Wood

卯 · Mǎo · Rabbit

5–7am · diplomacy, gentle growth.

• Wood

辰 · Chén · Dragon

7–9am · ambition, transformative power.

• Earth

巳 · Sì · Snake

9–11am · wisdom, strategic depth.

• Fire

午 · Wǔ · Horse

11am–1pm · freedom, expressive energy.

• Fire

未 · Wèi · Goat

1–3pm · empathy, artistic warmth.

• Earth

申 · Shēn · Monkey

3–5pm · cleverness, agile problem-solving.

• Metal

酉 · Yǒu · Rooster

5–7pm · precision, pride, observation.

• Metal

戌 · Xū · Dog

7–9pm · loyalty, protection, duty.

• Earth

亥 · Hài · Pig

9–11pm · generosity, contentment, completion.

• Water

Clashes & Combinations (刑冲合会)

The dynamic relationships between Earthly Branches in your chart. These describe tension, harmony, and transformation between the pillars.

Collision (冲)

Dramatic tension that forces growth through sudden change.

Alignment (合)

Natural harmony — these energies amplify each other.

Friction (刑)

Internal tension that drives deep self-awareness.

Hidden Tension (害)

A subtle undercurrent that can undermine trust if ignored.

Power Triangle (会)

Three energies align into a dominant force — your superpower zone.

Secret Alignment (暗合)

A hidden resonance between two areas — subtle but influential.

Partial Alignment (半合)

A budding harmony — two energies leaning toward alignment, not yet complete.

Grand Alignment (三合)

A complete three-way resonance — a rare, fully formed harmony across your pillars.

Disruption (破)

A surface-level break that clears away what no longer serves you.

Bridge (拱)

A hidden alignment that completes a triangle — quiet but potent support.