Bazi · Four Pillars of Destiny
四柱推命 · THE ZIPING METHOD
Bazi (八字, "Eight Characters") is one of the most sophisticated astrological systems in Chinese metaphysics. It maps the exact year, month, day, and hour of birth into four "pillars" (四柱), each consisting of a Heavenly Stem and an Earthly Branch — yielding eight characters total.
The conceptual foundations emerged during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) from correlative cosmology linking celestial phenomena, temporal cycles, and human affairs. The use of stem-branch pairs for dating can be traced to oracle bone inscriptions from the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE).
The formal systematization using three pillars (year, month, day) is attributed to the Tang Dynasty scholar Li Xuzhong (李虚中) (c. 761–813 CE). The expansion to four pillars — adding the hour of birth — was perfected by the Song Dynasty master Xu Ziping (徐子平) (960–1279 CE). The classic text Yuanhai Ziping (渊海子平), compiled during the Song Dynasty and revised in the Ming Dynasty, remains the foundational manual for practitioners.
HEAVENLY STEMS
Ten celestial forces representing the visible, surface-level energy in your chart
Towering tree. Upright, noble, stubborn. Natural leaders who stand firm.
Vines and flowers. Flexible, diplomatic, graceful. Adapts to surroundings.
Blazing sun. Bold, generous, warm. Commands attention effortlessly.
Candle flame. Gentle warmth, focused, intimate. Illuminates quietly.
Mountain. Stable, immovable, reliable. The rock others depend on.
Fertile soil. Nurturing, receptive, productive. Creates conditions for growth.
Battle axe. Decisive, direct, justice-oriented. Cuts through ambiguity.
Polished gem. Refined, sensitive, detail-oriented. Beauty through precision.
Ocean and rivers. Unstoppable momentum, wisdom. Goes around all obstacles.
Morning dew. Quiet nourishment, intuition, spirituality. Works behind the scenes.
EARTHLY BRANCHES
Twelve terrestrial forces — the structural foundation containing "Hidden Heavenly Stems"
THE TEN GODS
Psychological archetypes derived from the relationship between your Day Master and other chart elements
The "Day Master" (日主) — the Heavenly Stem of your birth day — represents your core self. The Ten Gods describe how every other element in your chart relates to this center.
Element that generates Day Master (same polarity)
Knowledge, education, nurturing, protection. Represents mothers, mentors, and intellectual pursuits.
Element that generates Day Master (diff polarity)
Unconventional knowledge, alternative thinking, sudden inspiration. Can indicate eccentricity or genius.
Same element, same polarity as Day Master
Friendship, competition, independence. Represents peers and rivals who push you to grow.
Same element, diff polarity as Day Master
Aggressive competition, risk-taking, forceful ambition. Can drive entrepreneurship or gambling.
Element generated by Day Master (same polarity)
Creativity, appetite, enjoyment, artistic expression. Brings happiness and childlike wonder.
Element generated by Day Master (diff polarity)
Rebellion, sharp intellect, rule-breaking genius. Challenges authority and creates through destruction of norms.
Element controlled by Day Master (same polarity)
Steady income, frugality, practical management. Represents salary, savings, and stability.
Element controlled by Day Master (diff polarity)
Windfall profits, investments, speculative gains. Represents unexpected income and business ventures.
Element that controls Day Master (same polarity)
Authority, career, discipline, social status. Represents legitimate power and institution building.
Element that controls Day Master (diff polarity)
Aggressive power, military force, revolutionary ambition. The warrior archetype. High risk, high reward.
Source: Wikipedia — Four Pillars of Destiny; Yuanhai Ziping