BaZi

BaZi, also known as the Eight Characters or Four Pillars of Destiny, is a Chinese astrology system used to analyze a person’s destiny and life trends. It is based on the traditional sexagenary cycle, which pairs one of ten heavenly stems with one of twelve earthly branches to form four pillars: Year, Month, Day, and Hour. Each pillar carries a stem and a branch, yielding eight characters in total. The Day Master, the heavenly stem of the Day Pillar, is considered central to the chart and represents the person themselves.

The stems and branches connect to the Five Elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) and their Yin/Yang qualities. Interactions among the elements, including generation, domination, clash, and combinations, shape the chart’s interpretation. Practitioners assess element balance, structural strengths and weaknesses, and how these factors may influence personality, health, wealth, relationships, and life opportunities.

BaZi also looks at timing through life-cycle analysis, including the ten-year luck cycles (Da Yun) and annual influences. These cycles are used to infer periods of opportunity or challenge and to advise on timing for major decisions such as career moves, investments, marriage, or health efforts. While widely practiced, BaZi interpretation varies among schools and practitioners, reflecting the system’s interpretive nature.

In practice, BaZi is part of traditional Chinese astrology and remains popular in many Chinese communities. It is generally presented as guidance rather than a deterministic prediction, with emphasis placed on personal agency and contextual interpretation.