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Bazi, also known as the “Four Pillars of Destiny,” is a sophisticated form of Chinese astrology that studies the energies inherent in a person’s birth data to forecast their life events, potential, and personality. Rooted in the principles of Chinese cosmology, Bazi uses the intricate interplay of the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) and the Yin-Yang theory to interpret one’s destiny. Each Bazi chart comprises four main pillars: Year, Month, Day, and Hour.
How To Read Bazi Chart Overview
The Four Pillars Explained
Year Pillar: Represents the outermost layer of a person’s life, often signifying ancestry or external influences. It’s the backdrop of one’s life stage.
Month Pillar: Denotes career and work life. It’s also associated with the parents or early age.
Day Pillar: This is the most critical pillar as it represents the individual themself. The day stem, especially, denotes the Day Master, which is the essence of the chart.
Hour Pillar: Relates to one’s children or later life. Also hints at one’s thoughts and dreams.
Elements and Their Interaction
Every pillar in a Bazi chart consists of a Heavenly Stem and an Earthly Branch. These can represent one of the five elements. It’s essential to understand the cycles of these elements:
- Generating Cycle: Wood feeds Fire, Fire creates Earth (ash), Earth produces Metal, Metal carries Water (like a bucket), and Water nourishes Wood.
- Controlling Cycle: Wood parts Earth, Earth absorbs Water, Water extinguishes Fire, Fire melts Metal, and Metal chops Wood.
Understanding these cycles can help interpret the beneficial and harmful relationships between elements in the chart.
Yin and Yang
In Bazi, each element comes in a Yin or Yang form, leading to ten possible Heavenly Stems. Yin and Yang balance the energies. A balanced chart has a good mix of both.
Yin: Represents receptivity, darkness, femininity, and passivity.
Yang: Symbolizes action, brightness, masculinity, and activity.
Twelve Earthly Branches: The Chinese Zodiac
Each Earthly Branch corresponds to an animal sign from the Chinese Zodiac. These Branches can further contain hidden stems, giving a deeper insight into the chart.
- Rat (Zi)
- Ox (Chou)
- Tiger (Yin)
- Rabbit (Mao)
- Dragon (Chen)
- Snake (Si)
- Horse (Wu)
- Goat (Wei)
- Monkey (Shen)
- Rooster (You)
- Dog (Xu)
- Pig (Hai)
Determining the Day Master
The Day Master is the stem of the Day Pillar. By identifying the Day Master, one can understand the main energy driving the individual. It forms the basis for understanding the person’s responses to situations and their general demeanor.
The Strength of the Day Master
Determining whether the Day Master is strong or weak is crucial. A balanced chart ensures a more harmonious life. If there’s an imbalance, it indicates specific challenges or tendencies. The strength is calculated by assessing the supporting and controlling elements in relation to the Day Master.
We have written an article about Bazi Season strength where you can understand deeper on understand the strength of your Day Master (DM).
The Luck Pillars
Luck Pillars are additional columns added to the Bazi chart, representing specific periods in a person’s life. They help in understanding the changing influences over time and can forecast good or bad periods.
Reading Combinations and Clashes
Certain stems and branches combine, while others clash. Recognizing these can provide insight into relationships, possible events, and challenges in a person’s life. For instance, a Horse and Goat in the chart can indicate a combination, while a Rat and Horse might suggest a clash.
Practical Application
When reading a Bazi chart:
- Start with the Day Master and assess its strength.
- Examine the supporting and controlling elements.
- Look for combinations and clashes.
- Factor in the influences of the Luck Pillars.
- Analyze the chart holistically, understanding that every aspect plays a part in shaping destiny.
By mastering these principles, one can delve deeply into the art and science of Bazi astrology, unlocking the secrets of destiny hidden within birth data. Remember, while Bazi provides a roadmap, free will and choices play a significant role in one’s life journey.