Fate Analysis Free Bazi Readings

Bazi Knowledge Hub

A concise learning path for the Four Pillars of Destiny—perfect for curious beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.

Study roadmap

Fundamentals
Stems & Branches
Five Elements
Ten Gods

Bazi fundamentals

What is Bazi?

Bazi—literally “Eight Characters”—records the year, month, day and hour of birth using Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Each pillar (year, month, day, hour) contains one stem and one branch, forming eight symbols that mirror cosmic rhythms at the moment you arrived.

The system belongs to Chinese metaphysics and blends cosmology, timekeeping and yin–yang theory. By studying the interaction of these eight symbols, practitioners infer personality, talents, relationships, wealth potential and timing windows.

The four pillars

  • Year pillar: ancestry, upbringing, early reputation and macro trends.
  • Month pillar: childhood nurture, core temperament, connection to parents and workplace culture.
  • Day pillar: the “self” stem (Day Master) and home life. It acts as the anchor for most interpretations.
  • Hour pillar: ambitions, children, investments and late-life circumstances.

Reading workflow

  1. Identify the Day Master (日元)—the stem sitting on the Day Branch.
  2. Evaluate five-element balance: is the Day Master strong, weak or balanced?
  3. Review how the other stems (called Ten Gods) relate to the Day Master: output, wealth, power, resource or companion stars.
  4. Consider seasonal influence, hidden stems inside branches and special formations.
  5. Overlay ten-year luck pillars (da yun) and annual pillars (liu nian) to read timing.

Heavenly Stems & Earthly Branches

The Ten Heavenly Stems represent yin–yang expressions of the five elements. The Twelve Earthly Branches express seasonal energy, animal signs and hidden stems. Together they form the time matrix for every chart.

Stem Element Polarity Imagery & traits
甲 (Jia) Wood Yang Tall tree, upright, strategic, values integrity.
乙 (Yi) Wood Yin Vines and flowers, flexible, persuasive, observant.
丙 (Bing) Fire Yang Sunlight, generous, charismatic, loves visibility.
丁 (Ding) Fire Yin Candle flame, refined, caring, detail-focused.
戊 (Wu) Earth Yang Mountain, steady, protective, long-term planner.
己 (Ji) Earth Yin Cultivated soil, nurturing, practical, considerate.
庚 (Geng) Metal Yang Iron ore, disciplined, decisive, loves challenge.
辛 (Xin) Metal Yin Precious metal, refined, elegant, values aesthetics.
壬 (Ren) Water Yang Ocean, adventurous, resourceful, broad vision.
癸 (Gui) Water Yin Rain and mist, gentle, intuitive, subtle influence.
Branch Animal Element & polarity Hidden stems Seasonal energy
子 (Zi) Rat Yang Water 癸 Mid-winter, strong Water.
丑 (Chou) Ox Yin Earth 己、癸、辛 Late winter, storage of Water and Metal.
寅 (Yin) Tiger Yang Wood 甲、丙、戊 Spring begins, Wood grows, Fire emerges.
卯 (Mao) Rabbit Yin Wood 乙 Mid-spring, pure Wood energy.
辰 (Chen) Dragon Yang Earth 戊、乙、癸 Transition, stores Wood and Water.
巳 (Si) Snake Yin Fire 丙、戊、庚 Early summer, Fire grows, Metal gestates.
午 (Wu) Horse Yang Fire 丁、己 Peak summer, blazing Fire.
未 (Wei) Goat Yin Earth 己、丁、乙 Late summer, stores Fire and Wood.
申 (Shen) Monkey Yang Metal 庚、壬、戊 Autumn begins, Metal coalesces.
酉 (You) Rooster Yin Metal 辛 Mid-autumn, pure Metal.
戌 (Xu) Dog Yang Earth 戊、辛、丁 Transition, stores Metal and Fire.
亥 (Hai) Pig Yin Water 壬、甲 Early winter, Water thrives, Wood gestates.

Five Elements in practice

Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water describe how qi moves. Every pillar contributes elemental energy; interpreting balance is central to Bazi analysis.

Generating cycle (相生)

  • Wood → Fire: Wood feeds Fire, symbolising creativity fueling passion.
  • Fire → Earth: Fire creates ash, enriching Earth; ideas become tangible.
  • Earth → Metal: Minerals form inside Earth, representing structure.
  • Metal → Water: Metal condenses Water, releasing wisdom and flexibility.
  • Water → Wood: Water nourishes Wood, enabling growth and learning.

Controlling cycle (相克)

  • Wood restrains Earth: Roots stabilise soil, preventing stagnation.
  • Earth restrains Water: Dams shape flow, bringing order.
  • Water restrains Fire: Water cools Fire, taming excess heat.
  • Fire restrains Metal: Fire forges Metal, refining rigidity.
  • Metal restrains Wood: Axes cut Wood, enforcing discipline.

Evaluating balance

Determine the Day Master’s strength by combining seasonal influence, root support (same element stems/branches) and assisting elements. Balanced charts flow naturally; imbalanced charts require strategic adjustments—career choice, environment, colours, diet or mindset—to align with favourable elements (喜神) and avoid overwhelming ones (忌神).

Ten Gods (十神) explained

Each stem in the chart forms a yin–yang relationship with the Day Master. The Ten Gods are archetypes describing how other elements interact with “self”. They guide readings on wealth, power, resource, expression and relationships.

Output stars

  • 食神 (Eating God): creativity, compassion, enjoyment. Supports communication and nurturing roles.
  • 伤官 (Hurting Officer): innovation, critical thinking, desire for freedom. Excess may challenge authority.

Wealth stars

  • 正财 (Direct Wealth): stable income, practical mindset, good organisation.
  • 偏财 (Indirect Wealth): investments, sales flair, opportunity seeking. Requires discipline to avoid impulsiveness.

Power stars

  • 正官 (Direct Officer): responsibility, structure, leadership by rules.
  • 七杀 (Seven Killings): courage, competition, risk appetite. Balanced charts turn it into strategic drive.

Resource stars

  • 正印 (Direct Resource): mentors, support systems, academic leanings, empathy.
  • 偏印 (Indirect Resource): intuition, alternative knowledge, spiritual insight. Overuse may cause indecision.

Companion stars

  • 比肩 (Friend): peers, teamwork, competitiveness. Too much yields stubbornness.
  • 劫财 (Rob Wealth): assertive allies, network leverage, appetite for adventure. Needs wise financial planning.

Useful god (用神) strategy

After judging the Day Master’s strength, select elements that restore balance. A weak Fire Day Master, for instance, benefits from Fire or Wood support; a dominant Metal chart may require Fire to forge discipline or Wood to soften sharpness. Lifestyle adjustments—from career choices to colours and living directions—can embody the useful element.

Putting theory into daily life

Chart interpretation checklist

  • Confirm birth data accuracy (time zone, daylight saving, lunar vs solar calendar).
  • Note seasonal strength—especially month branch.
  • Inspect combinations, clashes, penalties and transformations among branches.
  • Overlay ten-year luck pillars to see when helpful stars arrive or depart.
  • Track annual influences for specific events and decision windows.

Study suggestions

  • Practise on celebrity charts to test archetypes.
  • Keep a journal of annual events to refine timing intuition.
  • Explore allied disciplines: Qi Men Dun Jia, Zi Wei Dou Shu or Feng Shui for context.
  • Balance skepticism with curiosity—verify hypotheses against real-life results.

Remember: Bazi describes potential. Conscious choices, compassionate relationships and diligent effort remain the true architects of destiny.