Four Pillars of Destiny (BaZi)
The Four Pillars of Destiny — BaZi (八字) in Chinese, Saju (사주) in Korean — converts your birth year, month, day and hour into four “pillars,” each made of one Heavenly Stem and one Earthly Branch, for eight characters in total.
The four pillars, one by one
- Year pillar — your roots, ancestry and the social “era” you carry. Often linked to early life and family background.
- Month pillar — your growth environment, career and parents; the single most weighted pillar for many readers because it sets the seasonal energy.
- Day pillar — the Day Master (your day stem) represents you, while the day branch reflects your spouse and inner self.
- Hour pillar — later life, children, ambitions and what you build toward.
Stems, branches and the Five Elements
- Each pillar pairs a Heavenly Stem and an Earthly Branch. The ten stems and twelve branches all map to the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) in yin or yang form.
- A reading looks at how these elements support or control one another around your Day Master to judge balance, strength and what your chart needs.
FAQ
Is the Four Pillars of Destiny the same as BaZi?
Yes. “Four Pillars of Destiny” is the English name; BaZi (八字) is the Chinese name; Saju (사주) is the Korean name. They describe the same four-pillar, eight-character system.
Do I need my birth time?
The hour pillar needs your birth time. You can still read three pillars without it, but an accurate time gives the full chart, including the hour pillar and more precise luck cycles.
Related
BaZi chartDay MasterFive Elements BaZi
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