BaZi · 八字 · Four Pillars
BaZi records the year, month, day and hour of a birth as four stem-branch pairs. The year animal is only one layer. A full reading starts with the Day Master, reads the month as seasonal command, and then studies the relationships among the visible stems, hidden stems and earthly branches.
Five elements · 五行
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water describe cycles of generation and control. JadeBazi shows both visible characters and a weighted count that includes hidden stems. That count is an orientation, not a complete judgment of strength or destiny.
Ten gods · 十神
The ten gods name the relationship between the Day Master and another stem: Companion, Output, Wealth, Power or Resource, with yin-yang distinctions. They are functional labels, not literal gods. Their meaning changes with the pillar and the timing.
Solar terms · 节气
BaZi months follow the 24 solar terms rather than lunar-calendar month numbers. Li Chun (立春) sets the traditional year boundary used by the calculator. Birthplace time zone and, when supplied, true solar time affect the local day and hour.
Almanac and date selection · 黄历择日
The almanac planner shows traditional purpose labels, the day officer, spirit, path and clash animal. A date is a cultural planning input. Practical constraints and the people involved should remain part of the decision.
Compare methods carefully
- BaZi: natal chart and timing through stems, branches and elements.
- I Ching: a changing situation framed through hexagrams.
- Qi Men Dun Jia: a time-and-direction method often used for a specific question.
- Zi Wei Dou Shu: a star-palace system with a different chart structure.
- Feng Shui: the relationship between a place, direction, time and occupants.
These methods should not be blended into one unexplained score. Each has its own chart, vocabulary and assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
What is Chinese metaphysics?
Chinese metaphysics is a group of traditional systems for studying time, pattern and change. Common systems include BaZi (Four Pillars), the Chinese almanac, I Ching, Qi Men Dun Jia, Zi Wei Dou Shu and Feng Shui.
What is the foundation of a BaZi chart?
A BaZi chart has four pillars: year, month, day and hour. Each pillar contains a heavenly stem and earthly branch. The Day Master is the heavenly stem of the Day pillar, and the month pillar provides the seasonal context.
Why do different calculators give different results?
They may use different rules for solar terms, time zones, daylight saving time, true solar time, the midnight boundary or luck-cycle direction. A reliable tool should state its method so results can be compared honestly.
Does traditional metaphysics guarantee an outcome?
No. These systems describe traditional patterns and timing for reflection. They do not guarantee events and should not replace medical, legal or financial advice.
BaZi is a traditional Chinese system offered here for self-reflection and entertainment. Readings describe tendencies, not certainties, and are not medical, legal or financial advice.