What Is BaZi?
BaZi (八字) literally means “eight characters.” It is a Chinese and Korean system that turns your birth year, month, day and hour into four pillars — eight characters — to describe your nature, strengths and the timing of your life.
Where the “eight characters” come from
- Each of the four pillars (year, month, day, hour) contributes two characters: one Heavenly Stem and one Earthly Branch. Four pillars × two characters = eight.
- Those eight characters all map to the Five Elements, and their interplay is what a reader interprets.
What people use BaZi for
- Understanding personality and natural strengths through the Day Master.
- Timing — luck pillars and yearly cycles for career, wealth and relationships.
- Compatibility between two charts for relationships and marriage.
FAQ
How do you pronounce BaZi?
Roughly “bah-dzuh.” It is the Mandarin reading of 八字, the same characters Koreans read in the term Saju-palja (사주팔자).
Is BaZi hard to learn?
The basics — pillars, stems, branches and the Five Elements — are approachable. Depth comes from how the elements and Ten Gods interact.
Related
Four Pillars of DestinyFive Elements BaZiBaZi chart
한국어: 사주 보기 →