Learn BaZi, one concept at a time
Most BaZi confusion comes from skipping the foundations. These six guides cover the vocabulary a chart is actually built from: the Day Master, the Five Elements, the Ten Gods, Luck Pillars, Hidden Stems, and chart structure.
Every guide is written to be read before a chart, not after it. No predictions, no lucky charms — just the structural logic behind the reading.
Start here
Start with the Day Master
Find the one stem that represents you, then learn why its season matters more than its name.
Read guide02Learn the Five Elements
Understand how Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water generate and restrain each other.
Read guide03Read the Ten Gods
See how every other character in the chart relates to your Day Master — and why the names are not moral labels.
Read guideAll guides
Day Master in BaZi: The Stem That Represents You
In BaZi, the Day Master is the Heavenly Stem of the Day Pillar. It represents the self, and every other character in the chart is read in relation to it. This guide explains how to find your Day Master, what each of the ten stems describes, and why the month you were born in changes the reading.
Read the guideFive Elements in BaZi: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water
The Five Elements are the vocabulary BaZi uses to describe change. This guide covers the generating and controlling cycles, how season changes what an element can do, and how to read element balance without falling for the “missing element” myth.
Read the guideTen Gods in BaZi: The Ten Relationships Around the Day Master
The Ten Gods (十神) are the ten possible relationships between another stem and your Day Master. They are derived from two variables — element relation and polarity — and they describe function, not virtue. This guide explains the derivation, the ten profiles, and the mistakes that make readings sound like fortune-telling.
Read the guideLuck Pillars in BaZi: How Life Timing Is Read
Luck Pillars (大运, da yun) are ten-year cycles derived from the month pillar. They do not replace the natal chart; they change which part of it is under pressure or in season. This guide explains the calculation, the reading method, and the reasons calculators disagree.
Read the guideHidden Stems in BaZi: What Each Branch Contains
Hidden Stems (藏干) are the Heavenly Stems stored inside each Earthly Branch. They are the difference between a surface reading and a structural one: they create roots, reveal unseen ten gods, and often decide whether a chart is strong or weak.
Read the guideBaZi Chart Structure (Geju): Reading the Whole Pattern
Chart structure (格局, geju) is the overall pattern that tells you what a BaZi chart is built to do. It comes mainly from the month command, the exposure of its qi, and the strength of the Day Master. This guide covers the main structures and the mistakes that produce misleading readings.
Read the guideRead the concepts, then read your own chart
Generate a chart and ask follow-up questions grounded in its actual structure — Day Master strength, element balance, ten gods, and luck timing.