What is BaZi?
Based on one's birth date and time, the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches of the year, month, day, and hour are obtained. Each pillar consists of two characters, making up a total of eight characters across the four pillars.
The book says, "To understand the principles of the three elements and the myriad laws, first observe the workings of celestial phenomena and divine power, then recognize the harmonious cooperation between heaven and earth, and determine auspiciousness or inauspiciousness through the balance or imbalance of the five qi."
- The Three Elements refer to Tian Yuan (Celestial Element), Di Yuan (Terrestrial Element), and Ren Yuan (Human Element).
- "Di Zai" refers to cosmic phenomena.
- "Shen Gong" refers to the forces of nature.
- "Kun Yuan" refers to life phenomena on Earth.
- "He De" means that life phenomena on Earth align with celestial movements.
- "Ji Jian" refers to the interrelated changes in energy flow.
- "Wu Qi" refers to the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.
- "Pian Quan" refers to the phenomena of gathering and dispersing caused by the ebb and flow of interactions.
- "Ji Xiong" means auspicious (beneficial) or inauspicious (harmful).
Chinese BaZi astrology talks about "Qi," which refers to energy from five different directions known as the Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.