BaZi Library

Reference

The symbols at a glance

The building blocks of BaZi and Chinese metaphysics, laid out so you can look them up without a textbook.

Ten Heavenly Stems

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StemPinyinElementPolarityQuality
甲 Jiǎ Wood Yang Growth, principle, directness
乙 Yǐ Wood Yin Flexibility, diplomacy, craft
丙 Bǐng Fire Yang Radiance, generosity, visibility
丁 Dīng Fire Yin Focus, insight, quiet warmth
戊 Wù Earth Yang Stability, reliability, protection
己 Jǐ Earth Yin Nurture, practicality, receptivity
庚 Gēng Metal Yang Decision, precision, structure
辛 Xīn Metal Yin Refinement, discernment, polish
壬 Rén Water Yang Strategy, breadth, flow
癸 Guǐ Water Yin Intuition, depth, subtlety

Twelve Earthly Branches

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BranchPinyinAnimalHoursElementQuality
子 Zǐ Rat 23:00–00:59 Yang Water Depth, strategy, intuition
丑 Chǒu Ox 01:00–02:59 Yin Earth Endurance, storage, care
寅 Yín Tiger 03:00–04:59 Yang Wood Initiation, courage, expansion
卯 Mǎo Rabbit 05:00–06:59 Yin Wood Grace, rhythm, growth
辰 Chén Dragon 07:00–08:59 Yang Earth Transformation, weather, change
巳 Sì Snake 09:00–10:59 Yang Fire Focus, heat, readiness
午 Wǔ Horse 11:00–12:59 Yin Fire Peak visibility, warmth, motion
未 Wèi Goat 13:00–14:59 Yin Earth Harvest, care, integration
申 Shēn Monkey 15:00–16:59 Yang Metal Adaptability, skill, analysis
酉 Yǒu Rooster 17:00–18:59 Yin Metal Refinement, clarity, completion
戌 Xū Dog 19:00–20:59 Yang Earth Loyalty, boundary, order
亥 Hài Pig 21:00–22:59 Yin Water Rest, openness, hidden potential

Five Elements

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Generating cycle

  1. Wood feeds FireWood → Fire
  2. Fire creates EarthFire → Earth
  3. Earth bears MetalEarth → Metal
  4. Metal carries WaterMetal → Water
  5. Water nourishes WoodWater → Wood

Controlling cycle

  1. Wood parts EarthWood → Earth
  2. Earth absorbs WaterEarth → Water
  3. Water extinguishes FireWater → Fire
  4. Fire melts MetalFire → Metal
  5. Metal cuts WoodMetal → Wood

Glossary

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BaZi
“Eight Characters”: a chart built from the year, month, day, and hour of birth, each pair made of a Heavenly Stem and an Earthly Branch.
Four Pillars
The four pairs in a BaZi chart: Year, Month, Day, and Hour pillars.
Heavenly Stems
Ten symbols (甲–癸) that carry an element and a polarity. The upper layer of each pillar.
Earthly Branches
Twelve symbols (子–亥) tied to the zodiac animals and two-hour periods. The lower layer of each pillar.
Day Master
The stem of the Day Pillar; the anchor of a BaZi reading, representing the person.
Five Elements
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water — five kinds of movement used across Chinese metaphysics.
Yin & Yang
A language of complementary contrast, rhythm, and balance rather than good versus evil.
Qi
Living movement, vitality, and atmosphere; the felt quality of a moment, body, or space.
Luck Pillars
Ten-year cycles that move from the natal chart and describe the changing timing of a life.
Ten Gods
Relational roles (Resource, Output, Wealth, Officer, Companion) assigned to each symbol relative to the Day Master.
Qimen Dunjia
A timing and strategy system that reads the quality of a specific moment using a nine-palace board.
Bagua
An eight-area map used in Feng Shui to connect a floor plan with life areas.
Solar Terms
Twenty-four seasonal markers in the Chinese calendar that set month pillars and seasonal rhythm.
True Solar Time
Time adjusted for the sun’s position at a birthplace, used by some schools of BaZi.