How to read your chart
The ten Heavenly Stems
The five elements, each in a yang and a yin form. Your Day Master is the stem of your day pillar.
- 甲 Jia — Yang Wood
- The great tree. Upright and principled, you grow steadily toward the light and naturally become the one others lean on.
- 乙 Yi — Yin Wood
- The flowering vine. Flexible and diplomatic, you connect people and thrive by adapting — quietly tougher than you look.
- 丙 Bing — Yang Fire
- The sun. Warm, open and generous, you light up a room and lead best when you are seen.
- 丁 Ding — Yin Fire
- The candle flame. Sensitive and passionate inside, you guide others one-to-one and shine in a craft you master.
- 戊 Wu — Yang Earth
- The mountain. Steady and trustworthy, you give others a sense of safety; reliability is your superpower.
- 己 Ji — Yin Earth
- The fertile field. Nurturing and practical, you grow people and projects patiently until they bear fruit.
- 庚 Geng — Yang Metal
- Forged steel. Decisive and action-driven, you cut through problems and come alive under pressure.
- 辛 Xin — Yin Metal
- The polished jewel. Refined and perceptive, you have a strong sense of beauty — experience polishes you brighter.
- 壬 Ren — Yang Water
- The ocean. Big-hearted and free-spirited, you move with wisdom and momentum and carry others along.
- 癸 Gui — Yin Water
- Rain and dew. Thoughtful and gentle, you read people deeply and nourish everything you touch.
The twelve Earthly Branches
Each branch matches a zodiac animal, a month, a direction and a two-hour period, and holds hidden stems.
- 子 Zi
- Rat
- 丑 Chou
- Ox
- 寅 Yin
- Tiger
- 卯 Mao
- Rabbit
- 辰 Chen
- Dragon
- 巳 Si
- Snake
- 午 Wu
- Horse
- 未 Wei
- Goat
- 申 Shen
- Monkey
- 酉 You
- Rooster
- 戌 Xu
- Dog
- 亥 Hai
- Pig
The Ten Gods
How every other stem relates to your Day Master: talents, relationships, money and career.
- 比肩 Friend
- A year to stand on your own feet. Independence rises — great for moving at your own pace and teaming up with equals.
- 劫財 Rob Wealth
- A social, fast-moving year. Friends and rivals spur you on; money flows in and out quickly, so spend with intention.
- 食神 Eating God
- A year of joy and self-expression. Hobbies and creative work bear fruit — a perfect time to start sharing your ideas.
- 傷官 Hurting Officer
- A year of sharp talent. Ideas and expression peak; just choose your words with care when you speak your mind.
- 偏財 Indirect Wealth
- Money and connections move when you move. New networks open doors — say yes to opportunities.
- 正財 Direct Wealth
- Steady effort pays off. Income and daily life stabilise; ideal for saving and long-term plans.
- 偏官 Seven Killings
- A year of challenge and change. Bigger responsibilities arrive, and rising to them makes you much stronger — pace yourself.
- 正官 Direct Officer
- A year of recognition. Status and trust grow; doing things properly is rewarded.
- 偏印 Indirect Resource
- A year of insight and study. Great for learning specialised skills — follow your curiosity.
- 印綬 Direct Resource
- A year of learning and support. Mentors appear and studies go well; rest and prepare for the next leap.
The Twelve Life Stages
The strength of your Day Master in each branch, told as the stages of a life.
- 長生 Birth
- 沐浴 Bath
- 冠帯 Youth
- 建禄 Prosperity
- 帝旺 Peak
- 衰 Decline
- 病 Sickness
- 死 Death
- 墓 Tomb
- 絶 Severance
- 胎 Conception
- 養 Nurture
The 14 major stars of Zi Wei Dou Shu
The major stars set the theme of each palace; the stars in your Life palace describe your core character.
- 紫微 Zi Wei
- The Emperor star — dignity, leadership and the capacity to stand at the top.
- 天機 Tian Ji
- The Strategist — quick thinking, planning and adaptability.
- 太陽 Tai Yang
- The Sun — generosity and fairness; luck grows as you serve others.
- 武曲 Wu Qu
- The General of Wealth — decisiveness and strong practical money sense.
- 天同 Tian Tong
- The Child of Fortune — gentle, easy-going and well-liked.
- 廉貞 Lian Zhen
- The Upright — passion with principles; loyal and determined.
- 天府 Tian Fu
- The Treasury — stability and protection of wealth and people.
- 太陰 Tai Yin
- The Moon — refined sensitivity; ties to home, property and beauty.
- 貪狼 Tan Lang
- The Charmer — talent, charisma and many interests.
- 巨門 Ju Men
- The Gate of Words — speech, analysis and teaching.
- 天相 Tian Xiang
- The Minister — mediation, contracts and supportive leadership.
- 天梁 Tian Liang
- The Elder — protection, mentoring and helping those in need.
- 七殺 Qi Sha
- The Warrior — courage and drive to carve your own path.
- 破軍 Po Jun
- The Vanguard — the power to break the old and rebuild anew.
The twelve palaces
The twelve squares of the chart are twelve areas of life.
- 命宮 Life
- 兄弟 Siblings
- 夫妻 Spouse
- 子女 Children
- 財帛 Wealth
- 疾厄 Health
- 遷移 Travel
- 交友 Friends
- 官禄 Career
- 田宅 Property
- 福徳 Spirit
- 父母 Parents
The Four Transformations
Set by your birth-year stem, they change how four stars behave.
- 化禄 Hua Lu
- Prosperity
- 化権 Hua Quan
- Power
- 化科 Hua Ke
- Fame
- 化忌 Hua Ji
- Obstacle
About this tool
BaZi, or the Four Pillars of Destiny, turns the year, month, day and hour of your birth into eight Chinese characters — four Heavenly Stems and four Earthly Branches — and reads your nature and the timing of your life from how their five elements interact. Zi Wei Dou Shu, or Purple Star Astrology, places 14 major stars into 12 palaces that stand for different areas of life.
Calculations use astronomically computed solar terms and were cross-checked against several independent engines. If you choose a city, your local clock time is converted for time zone and historical daylight saving, then to true solar time using longitude and the equation of time. The 23:00 hour is treated as the Zi hour of the same day. Schools differ on a few details.
Birthday horoscopes for all 366 days › · The ten Day Masters › · The Ten Gods › · The 14 major stars › · Zi Wei Dou Shu calculator ›