Learn Bazi
Find your way around a Four Pillars chart with plain-English explanations and examples. Start with the Day Master, then learn how the elements and relationships fit together.
Start with these five steps
Learn one idea at a time, then follow it through a complete example chart.
- Meet the Four PillarsSee how a birth date and time become the eight characters of a chart.
- Find the Day MasterLocate the Day Stem: the reference point for the rest of the chart.
- Follow the Five ElementsSee which element generates or controls another, and follow the direction.
- Work out the Ten GodsCombine an element relationship with Yin and Yang to find its name.
- Read one chart, step by stepFollow the same example from its birth details through to the timing layer.
Bazi (八字, “eight characters”) uses four pairs of calendar characters for the Year, Month, Day and Hour of birth. The Day Master is the reference point for reading the other characters. Five Element relationships and Yin–Yang polarity determine the Ten Gods; season, placement and timing provide the context for interpretation.
For the calculation behind a chart, see the true solar time method. You can also compare Bazi and Western astrology, or explore how calendar boundaries apply to the 2027 Fire Goat year and the 2026 Fire Horse year.
Put the guides into practice
Free Chinese calendar and astrology tools
Use the full birth-chart calculator for Four Pillars analysis, the lunar-age tool for traditional Chinese age, or the calendar converter for a date's lunar and almanac context.
What Is Bazi?
9 min readBazi (八字), the Four Pillars of Destiny, is a Chinese system that translates your birth moment into eight characters. Learn what each pillar reveals about you.
True Solar Time in Bazi
15 min readLearn how Bazi true solar time correction combines historical time zones, longitude, and the Equation of Time, with diagrams and a worked example.
Bazi vs Western Astrology
8 min readCompare Bazi and Western astrology: their birth inputs, symbols, logic, and philosophy in a clear side-by-side guide for readers exploring both systems.
How to Read a Bazi Chart
11 min readLearn how to read a Bazi chart step by step: find the Day Master, read season and roots, map the Ten Gods, and add Life Chapters — with a worked example.
Chinese Zodiac Calculator
8 min readEnter your Gregorian birth date to find your Chinese zodiac animal and year element. Uses Lunar New Year, including January and February birthdays.
Year of the Fire Horse 2026
10 min readExplore the Fire Horse 2026 (丙午) through Bazi: twelve-sign themes, elemental patterns, and a practical guide to reading your own transits.
Year of the Goat 2027
12 min readExplore the 2027 Fire Goat year (丁未): Lunar New Year and Lichun dates, Goat/Sheep meaning, twelve-sign themes, and a chart-first Bazi forecast.
BaziCalculator vs Joey Yap
9 min readCompare BaziCalculator.ai with Joey Yap's current BaZi ecosystem: access, terminology, paid options, calculation boundaries, and when each fits.
Day Master
11 min readFind the Day Master in your Bazi chart, picture all ten stems through natural images, and learn why their meaning depends on the season and the whole chart.
The Ten Archetypes
12 min readLearn the five element relationships and yin–yang distinctions behind the Ten Gods, with examples of how to read them in the context of a whole Bazi chart.
Bazi Compatibility
9 min readWhat Bazi compatibility actually measures, what it can't tell you, and how to use it responsibly. A relationship guide, not a verdict.
The Five Elements in Bazi
9 min readLearn how the Five Elements (五行) generate and control one another, shape balance in a Bazi chart, and guide practical interpretation of your own mix.
The Heavenly Stems
10 min readLearn the ten Heavenly Stems (天干), their elements and yin-yang polarity, and what each one reveals in a Bazi chart with a clear guide to every character.
Bazi Da Yun Starting Age Calculation
14 min readCalculate your Bazi Da Yun starting age using direction, the relevant Jie boundary, the interval formula, a worked example, and a transparent receipt.
Why do Bazi calculators give different results?
8 min readLearn why two Bazi calculators can disagree, which inputs and rules to compare, and how to reconcile a chart without guessing.