How
to Read Eight Characters in Chinese Astrology – A Brief Guide Chinese astrology, also known as BaZi or Four Pillars of Destiny, uses a person's birth year, month, day, and hour to derive a set of four characters, each representing one of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. These four characters are commonly called Eight Characters or BaZi, and they are the essential foundation of Chinese fortune-telling and personality analysis. To read Eight Characters, one needs to understand the following: - The Heavenly Stems: There are ten Heavenly Stems, which represent the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) in both their Yin and Yang aspects. The Stem of a person's birth year provides the first character of the Eight Characters. - The Earthly Branches: There are twelve Earthly Branches, which represent the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. The Branch of a person's birth year provides the second character of the Eight Characters. - The Four Pillars: The combination of a person's birth year, month, day, and hour produces four sets of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, which form the Four Pillars of Destiny. Each pillar represents a different aspect of a person's life: the year pillar relates to the family background and heritage, the month pillar relates to the parents and childhood, the day pillar relates to the self and spouse, and the hour pillar relates to the children and later life. To interpret Eight Characters, one needs to consider the following: - The Five Elements: Each of the eight characters has a corresponding element, and the balance of the Five Elements in the BaZi can determine a person's strengths and weaknesses, character traits, and destiny. - The Ten Gods: Each of the ten Heavenly Stems has a specific relationship with the Earthly Branches, which are categorized into ten types of Gods. These Gods can provide insights into a person's career, wealth, health, relationships, and more. - The Luck Cycle: The BaZi can reveal a person's Luck Cycle, which is a ten-year period of ups and downs based on the interactions of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Understanding the Luck Cycle can help a person make strategic decisions and prepare for potential challenges and opportunities. In conclusion, Eight Characters is a complex and comprehensive system that requires expertise and experience to fully utilize. However, by learning the basics and seeking guidance from a professional practitioner, one can gain valuable insights into their personality, potential, and destiny.