BAZI: the four pillars of destiny

Bazi, or when Chinese astrology meets feng shui. Indeed, Chinese astrology, instead of looking at the position of the stars at the time of birth, as in the West, focuses on analysing the type of Chi that the newborn inhaled for the first time, exactly on the same principle as for the flying stars, where it is considered that the house was connected to the Chi at the time it was put out of water out of air.

Defining the four pillars of one’s destiny (thanks to Chinese calendar), allows one to discover the potentialities of an individual, the periods of one’s life where one’s chances of success will be strongest, one’s strengths and weaknesses, etc. The 4 pillars indicate probabilities and not certainties, as there is obviously free will.

Combining Bazi analysis and feng shui expertise allows to accompany the individual to reach his full potential. Feng shui cannot change anyone’s destiny. It can, however, create the most favourable conditions for success in all areas of life.

The four pillars of destiny

It is a method of calculating and interpreting the 5 elements present at the time of an individual’s birth. There are 4 pillars as one represents the year, another the month, another the day and the last pillar is the time of birth.

The Bazi chart is in the form of 2 tables.
The first chart has 4 columns, the first row shows the heavenly trunks while the second row shows the earthly branches. A third row shows the trunks hidden in the branches.
The second table usually has 9 columns, this is the Pillars of Luck table: each column represents a 10 year life period.

In each cell of these tables is a character, which carries a polarity (yin/yang) and the belonging to an element. It is by analysing the relationships between these different elements that we establish the potential of a person. We like it when the Bazi is balanced, when the relationships between the different elements are harmonious.

exemple theme bazi joey yap
Source : Bazi Le Code de la destinée - Joey Yap

The 10 heavenly stems (Tian Gan)

The theory of the 5 Chinese elements is therefore as fundamental to Bazi as it is to feng shui.

The Chinese use the word “heaven” to refer to time. The 10 celestial trunks show how the Chi evolves over time, how the 5 phases evolve over the year.

For the analysis of the theme, they represent the external perceptions of the person, what he or she shows on the surface in terms of character, personality.

Jia

Yi

Bing

Ding

Wu

Ji

Geng

Xin

Ren

Gui

Bois Yang

Bois Yin

Feu Yang

Feu Yin

Terre Yang

Terre Yin

Metal Yang

Metal Yin

Eau Yang

Eau Yin

The earthly branches (Di Zhi)

The branches are to be related to space, so they represent the movement of Chi in a given place on Earth. The branches are designated by animal names and may contain one or more phases. It is therefore the animal that indicates the element of the branch. They are grouped in seasons.

Zi

Rat

Eau Yang

Hiver

Chou

Bœuf

Terre Yin

Hiver

Yin

Tigre

Bois yang

Printemps

Mao

Lièvre

Bois Yin

Printemps

Chen

Dragon

Terre Yang

Printemps

Si

 

Serpent

Feu Yin

Eté

Wu

 

Cheval

Feu Yang

Eté

Wei

Chèvre

Terre Yin

Eté

Shen

Singe

Metal yang

Automne

You

Coq

Metal Yin

Automne

Xu

Chien

Terre Yang

Automne

Hai

Cochon

Eau Yin

Hiver

For the analysis of the theme, they represent the foundations of the person. They have a stronger chi than the trunks (which show only what is on the surface).

By combining trunks and branches (yang trunks with yang branches, yin trunks with yin branches), we form a cycle of 60 pairs called “the 60 Jia Zi”. From the meeting of a trunk and a branch comes a specific energetic quality which is given by a potentiality (celestial trunk) and a mode of realisation which is given by the earthly branch.

The stems hidden in the branches

They represent the hidden details, the different facets of a person, his fears, his secrets, his aspirations. They play a major role in the study of a bazi theme.

There is one main element and two less important (auxiliary) elements.

   

Principal

Auxiliaire 1

Auxiliaire 2

Zi

Rat

Eau Yang

Gui / Eau Yin

  

Chou

Bœuf

Terre Yin

Ji / Terre Yin

Xin /Metal Yin

Gui / Eau Yin

Yin

Tigre

Bois yang

Jia / Bois Yang

Wu / Terre Yang

Bing / Feu Yang

Mao

Lièvre

Bois Yin

Yi / Bois Yin

  

Chen

Dragon

Terre Yang

Wu / Terre Yang

Gui / Eau Yin

Yi / Bois Yin

Si

Serpent

Feu Yin

Bing / Feu Yang

Geng / Metal yang

Wu / Terre Yang

Wu

Cheval

Feu Yang

Ding / Feu Yin

Ji / Terre Yin

 

Wei

Chèvre

Terre Yin

Ji / Terre Yin

Yi / Bois Yin

Ding / Feu Yin

Shen

Singe

Metal yang

Geng / Metal yang

Wu / Terre Yang

Ren / Eau Yang

You

Coq

Metal Yin

Xin /Metal Yin

  

Xu

Chien

Terre Yang

Wu / Terre Yang

Ding / Feu Yin

Xin /Metal Yin

Hai

Cochon

Eau Yin

Ren / Eau Yang

Jia / Bois Yang

 

The Day master

In the bazi theme, the celestial trunk found in the pillar of the day is called the Master of the Day. It is of great importance, it is the main reference point of the analysis, it provides the background, the context. This method emphasising the Day Master is called the Ziping Method (from the astrologer Xu Ziping) and dates from the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

The Day Master belongs to one of the 5 elements (this may be different from the element of the number Kua). Its element, compared to the other elements present and to the season, makes it possible to determine if this master of the day is strong or weak.

In spring, wood is prosperous, fire is strong, water is weak, metal is captive and earth is withdrawn.

In summer, fire is prosperous, earth is strong, wood is weak, water is captive and metal is withdrawn.

In autumn, metal is prosperous, water is strong, earth is weak, fire is captive and wood is removed.

In winter, the water is prosperous, the wood is strong, the metal is weak, the earth is captive and the fire is removed.

For example, a person whose day master is Jia or Yi belongs to the wood element. If he was born in spring (earth branch of the month equals Tiger, Hare or Dragon), then his day master is considered strong because he was born in the season when the element of his day master is prosperous. A Day Master Bing or Ding (Fire element) is also strong if the person was born in Spring.

Another example of a person whose Day Master is Geng or Xin (metal). If this person was born in summer (earth branch of the month equal to Snake, Horse or Goat), his Master of the Day will be weak because the metal is withdrawn.

This analysis of the strength of the Master of the Day is part of the first step in studying a bazi chart. Strong or weak means nothing in itself. Just because your Master of the Day is weak does not mean you are off to a bad start in life! There are many other parameters that come into play.

The cycle of stars

There are 5 stars that direct the Pillars.
They are analyzed by following the cycles of production, control and destruction of the 5 elements.

The resource star is the phase that produces the Day Master (DM).
If the DM is fire then wood is the resource star.
It represents support, ability to learn, intuition, knowledge
The production star is the phase generated by the DM.
If the DM is fire then earth is the production star.
It represents talent, success, intelligence, creativity…
The power star is the phase that destroys the DM.
If the DM is fire then water is the power star.
It represents charisma, workload, self control, laws, spouse…
The wealth star is the phase that is destroyed by the DM.
If the DM is fire, then the metal is the wealth star.
It represents material goods, career, income, spouse
The parallel star is the same phase as the DM
If the DM is fire, then fire is the parallel star.
It represents friends and also competitors

Bazi analysis will identify the relationships between the different stars in a diagram. It will also look at the abundance or otherwise of a certain type of star. Depending on this, we will determine which phase is the most favourable, always looking for balance.

For example, if a DM (fire) is strong and contains a lot of resource stars (wood), the latter, because of their number, become inappropriate. The most favourable phase for the bazi theme is then considered to be the wealth (metal) star, as it controls the resource (wood).

A Wood DM born in summer is weak. It needs an element to strengthen it. Fire? No, there is already too much fire. Metal? No, it cuts wood. Water? Yes, it will strengthen the wood.

These analyses are simplified and do not work in all cases, but it is to show you how we reason.

The Pillars of Luck

They help to answer the questions “when” and “how”. When will the individual experience what kind of opportunity? The idea here is that there is a real good time to do a certain type of action. The pillars of luck help to highlight the years that carry the potential for change and transformation.

They are presented in a table with 9 columns: each column represents a 10-year period of life. It is necessary to calculate the so-called “age limit”, which defines the age at which the first column begins and thus the age range of the following columns.

In the example given at the beginning of this article, we see that the first column represents the age of the individual from 0 to 7 years, the second from 7 to 17 years, etc. This is the Chinese age: the Chinese count the 9 months of gestation, so roughly speaking, babies are born at 1 year. If you are 39 years old according to the western calendar, then you are already 40 years old in China!

If we take the example of our Wood MoJ born in summer: we will locate the pillars of luck that contain the Pig or the Rat, i.e. the Water element. The probability of experiencing luck is high during these years.

To conclude

The purpose of this article was to set out the various elements that constitute the starting point for the analysis of a Bazi theme.

You should know that this can go quite far. There are in particular specific combinations of branches (e.g. the 3 harmonies) or trunks (e.g. the combination of benevolence), clashes (oppositional relationship between the branches), etc. which complete the analysis as it goes along.

A “first level” analysis allows you to determine the Master of the Day and your favourable elements. They also give information on the probabilities of success carried by the years to come.
These data make it possible to determine, for professionals, the colours and shapes of the graphic charter and the logo.

thème bazi
Share the good vibrations of Feng Shui :)

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