Chinese horoscope: 4 pillars of destiny (BaZi)
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The four pillars of destiny alone constitute the main key to interpreting the Chinese horoscope. Each pillar is made up of one of the earthly branches and one of the celestial trunks of Chinese astrology.
The 12 terrestrial branches (animal signs of the Chinese zodiac) associated with the 10 celestial trunks (the 5 elements of WuXing in their Yin and Yang form) are part of the founding precepts of Chinese astrology. They are also used in Feng Shui, traditional medicine, gastronomy and martial arts.
In this article, after addressing the meaning of the four pillars of destiny and the origins and functions of the earthly branches and celestial trunks, we offer two tables that will allow you to have a more complete understanding of your Chinese horoscope (birth chart). The first table links the 60 binomials (Chinese zodiac sign and element) of the sexagesimal system, each corresponding to a specific pillar of destiny, itself associated with a poetic and symbolic phrase called imaged destiny. The imaged destiny sums up the main energetic lines of the character expressed by the pillar associated with it. Finally, after an explanation of the concept of confrontation between the annual pillar of birth with another pillar of destiny, we offer you a second table, which lists the binomials in opposition.
Meaning of the 4 pillars of destiny
In Chinese (but also Japanese, Vietnamese and Korean) astrology, the 4 pillars of destiny (四柱 命理 学) or Ba-Zi (八字, the "8 characters" or "8 words") determine the base of a person's destiny, from which it is possible to define the broad outlines of his / her character and future. In reality, the natal chart (生辰 八字, literally "moment of birth of the 8 characters") is a numerological transcription of the state of the sky at the time of the birth of an individual. Thus, everyone's Chinese horoscope can broken down as follows:
- First pillar of destiny: terrestrial branch and celestial trunk of the year of birth (main character traits, personality). The 1st pillar of destiny corresponds to the animal of the zodiac and to the Chinese element of the year of birth, according to the Chinese calendar, commonly called Chinese zodiac sign
- Second pillar of destiny: terrestrial branch and celestial trunk of the month of birth (relationships with family and ancestors)
- Third pillar of destiny: terrestrial branch and celestial trunk of the day of birth (the second chance in life, active from about 30 years old)
- Fourth pillar of destiny: terrestrial branch and celestial trunk of the hour of birth (secret character, also called the traveling companion)

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Origins and functions of terrestrial branches and celestial trunks
The 12 terrestrial branches correspond to the division of the sky into 12 sections, correlated with the duration of the orbit of Jupiter (11.83 years, adjusted to 12 years). This primitive Chinese astrological system, associated with a sexagesimal calendar, was subsequently linked to the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac and to the current lunisolar calendar. Therefore, there are 60 possible combinations of Chinese zodiac signs associated with the 5 elements of Chinese astrology and Feng Shui. Each terrestrial branch corresponds to one of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, just as there are 5 x 2 = 10 celestial trunks corresponding to the 5 elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) in Yin or Yang polarity.
Furthermore, if there are 4 pillars of destiny according to 4 specific time periods of the date of birth (year, month, day, hour), each animal of Chinese astrology having 5 possible forms (for example: Wood Rat, Fire Rat, Earth Rat, Metal Rat, Water Rat), there are therefore 5 pillars of fate to describe each type of Chinese zodiac sign associated in binomial with an element, i.e. 60 pillars of destiny for the 60 binomials (Chinese sign + element), for a total of 604 = 12,960,000 combinations and therefore of possible types of individuals. Note also that each pillar of destiny exists in a Yin form (lunar, dark, introverted, feminine) and a Yang form (solar, luminous, extroverted, masculine).
To go further on the subject:
📅 Chinese calendar
🐉 Origins of Chinese Astrology
BaZi calculation chart of the 60 pillars of destiny with their imaged destiny | |||
Binomial N° | 🏛 Pillar of destiny | ☯ Polarity | 🗝️ Imaged destiny |
---|---|---|---|
Pillar | Chinese sign and element | Yin or Yang | Pillar interpretation key |
1 | Wood Rat | Yang | Gold at the bottom of the ocean |
2 | Wood Ox | Yin | Gold at the bottom of the ocean |
3 | Fire Tiger | Yang | Oven fire |
4 | Fire Rabbit | Yin | Oven fire |
5 | Earth Dragon | Yang | The big forest tree |
6 | Earth Snake | Yin | The big forest tree |
7 | Metal Horse | Yang | The earth by the road |
8 | Metal Goat | Yin | The earth by the road |
9 | Water Monkey | Yang | Sword point steel |
10 | Water Rooster | Yin | Sword point steel |
11 | Wood Dog | Yang | Fire at the top of the mountain |
12 | Wood Pig | Yin | Fire at the top of the mountain |
13 | Fire Rat | Yang | Water that penetrates and fertilizes |
14 | Fire Ox | Yin | Water that penetrates and fertilizes |
15 | Earth Tiger | Yang | The earth on the ramparts |
16 | Earth Rabbit | Yin | The earth on the ramparts |
17 | Metal Dragon | Yang | The bronze of the white candlestick |
18 | Metal Snake | Yin | The bronze of the white candlestick |
19 | Water Horse | Yang | Poplar and willow wood |
20 | Water Goat | Yin | Poplar and willow wood |
21 | Wood Monkey | Yang | Water from wells and springs |
22 | Wood Rooster | Yin | Water from wells and springs |
23 | Fire Dog | Yang | Earth on the roof |
24 | Fire Pig | Yin | Earth on the roof |
25 | Earth Rat | Yang | Lightning fire |
26 | Earth Ox | Yin | Lightning fire |
27 | Metal Tiger | Yang | Century-old cedar and pine wood |
28 | Metal Rabbit | Yin | Century-old cedar and pine wood |
29 | Water Dragon | Yang | The water of the long river |
30 | Water Snake | Yin | The water of the long river |
31 | Wood Horse | Yang | Gold in the sand |
32 | Wood Goat | Yin | Gold in the sand |
33 | Fire Monkey | Yang | Fire at the foot of the mountain |
34 | Fire Rooster | Yin | Fire at the foot of the mountain |
35 | Earth Dog | Yang | The wood of the plains |
36 | Earth Pig | Yin | The wood of the plains |
37 | Metal Rat | Yang | Earth on the walls |
38 | Metal Ox | Yin | Earth on the walls |
39 | Water Tiger | Yang | The metal of the mirror |
40 | Water Rabbit | Yin | The metal of the mirror |
41 | Wood Dragon | Yang | Lighthouse fire |
42 | Wood Snake | Yin | Lighthouse fire |
43 | Fire Horse | Yang | The water of the heavenly river |
44 | Fire Goat | Yin | The water of the heavenly river |
45 | Earth Monkey | Yang | The land of the great plains |
46 | Earth Rooster | Yin | The land of the great plains |
47 | Metal Dog | Yang | Gold ornaments and hairpins |
48 | Metal Pig | Yin | Gold ornaments and hairpins |
49 | Water Rat | Yang | Mulberry wood |
50 | Water Ox | Yin | Mulberry wood |
51 | Wood Tiger | Yang | Water from the great spring |
52 | Wood Rabbit | Yin | Water from the great spring |
53 | Fire Dragon | Yang | The earth buried in the sand |
54 | Fire Snake | Yin | The earth buried in the sand |
55 | Earth Horse | Yang | Fire in the sky |
56 | Earth Goat | Yin | Fire in the sky |
57 | Metal Monkey | Yang | Pomegranate wood |
58 | Metal Rooster | Yin | Pomegranate wood |
59 | Water Dog | Yang | The water of the great ocean |
60 | Water Pig | Yin | The water of the great ocean |
Confrontation between 2 pillars of destiny
What happens when a pillar of fate conflicts with the annual pillar?
Among the 4 pillars of destiny of your birth, the annual pillar is the most important. The 3 other pillars are always read from this annual birth pillar, which corresponds to your annual Chinese birth sign. According to the method of astrological interpretation of KarmaWeather, one can determine a conflict situation within a Chinese birth horoscope when one or more pillars of fate are in opposition with the annual pillar of birth.
For example, if you were born during the Year of the Metal Dragon 2000, a conflict situation could arise if one or more of the 3 remaining pillars were occupied by the Fire Dog. Therefore, the area occupied by the antagonistic pillar to the annual Chinese birth sign should be carefully monitored. If it is the second pillar, it will affect the relationships that the native will have with his parents or his ancestors (domestic violence, abandonment, separation, divorce, premature disappearance, etc.). If it is a question of the 3rd pillar of destiny, the dynamics of the second personal chance could be compromised by an unexpected and painful spell (accident, illness, bankruptcy, ruin…). Finally, in the case of an opposition with the pillar of the time of birth, we must expect emotional instability or an inability of the individual to accept and confront his psychological problems.
The negative effects of a confrontation between the binomial (animal and Chinese element) of the year of birth and one of the binomials of the other 3 pillars of life can be reinforced by an excess or deficiency of one of the 5 Chinese elements, within the natal chart (Chinese horoscope). Indeed, in addition to the element (celestial trunk) associated with each of the 4 pillars of an individual's destiny, let us remember that each Chinese sign (terrestrial branch) can itself be reduced to the sum of the elements it contains. This is why each day of the Chinese calendar can be symbolized by a charter of the 5 elements of WuXing, which can be used both for the astrological interpretation of the day for the attention of the 12 signs of Chinese astrology and of native chart of birth for babies born on this day.
According to the precepts of the traditional Chinese horoscope, the choice of the baby's first name makes it possible to counter the pernicious effect of energy imbalances, in addition to the protective effect that it can have to neutralize the possible confrontation between two opposite pillars. Indeed, according to the holistic precepts of WuXing, the energy components of each element (their essence) are found in their symbolic associations (for example, for the Fire element: the color red, red peppers or tomatoes, the first names whose etymology means fire, light or the sun).
BaZi table of pillars in conflict with the 60 annual pillars of destiny | ||
Binomial N° | 🏛 1st pillar of destiny | ⚠️ Conflict with the 2nd, 3rd or 4th pillar |
---|---|---|
1st pillar | Year of birth | Month, day or time of birth |
1 | Wood Rat | Metal Horse |
2 | Wood Ox | Metal Goat |
3 | Fire Tiger | Water Monkey |
4 | Fire Rabbit | Water Rooster |
5 | Earth Dragon | Wood Dog |
6 | Earth Snake | Wood Pig |
7 | Metal Horse | Fire Rat |
8 | Metal Goat | Fire Ox |
9 | Water Monkey | Earth Tiger |
10 | Water Rooster | Earth Rabbit |
11 | Wood Dog | Metal Dragon |
12 | Wood Pig | Metal Snake |
13 | Fire Rat | Water Horse |
14 | Fire Ox | Water Goat |
15 | Earth Tiger | Wood Monkey |
16 | Earth Rabbit | Wood Rooster |
17 | Metal Dragon | Fire Dog |
18 | Metal Snake | Fire Pig |
19 | Water Horse | Earth Rat |
20 | Water Goat | Earth Ox |
21 | Wood Monkey | Metal Tiger |
22 | Wood Rooster | Metal Rabbit |
23 | Fire Dog | Water Dragon |
24 | Fire Pig | Water Snake |
25 | Earth Rat | Wood Horse |
26 | Earth Ox | Wood Goat |
27 | Metal Tiger | Fire Monkey |
28 | Metal Rabbit | Fire Rooster |
29 | Water Dragon | Earth Dog |
30 | Water Snake | Earth Pig |
31 | Wood Horse | Metal Rat |
32 | Wood Goat | Metal Ox |
33 | Fire Monkey | Water Tiger |
34 | Fire Rooster | Water Rabbit |
35 | Earth Dog | Wood Dragon |
36 | Earth Pig | Wood Snake |
37 | Metal Rat | Fire Horse |
38 | Metal Ox | Fire Goat |
39 | Water Tiger | Earth Monkey |
40 | Water Rabbit | Earth Rooster |
41 | Wood Dragon | Metal Dog |
42 | Wood Snake | Metal Pig |
43 | Fire Horse | Water Rat |
44 | Fire Goat | Water Ox |
45 | Earth Monkey | Wood Tiger |
46 | Earth Rooster | Wood Rabbit |
47 | Metal Dog | Fire Dragon |
48 | Metal Pig | Fire Snake |
49 | Water Rat | Earth Horse |
50 | Water Ox | Earth Goat |
51 | Wood Tiger | Metal Monkey |
52 | Wood Rabbit | Metal Rooster |
53 | Fire Dragon | Water Dog |
54 | Fire Snake | Water Pig |
55 | Earth Horse | Wood Rat |
56 | Earth Goat | Wood Ox |
57 | Metal Monkey | Fire Tiger |
58 | Metal Rooster | Fire Rabbit |
59 | Water Dog | Earth Dragon |
60 | Water Pig | Earth Snake |