BaZi Terms
The vocabulary of Four Pillars astrology, grouped into symbolic stars, the Ten Gods, the sixty Nayin sounds and the twelve stages of the life cycle.
Symbolic stars
- Tianyi Nobleman
- Tianyi Nobleman (天乙贵人) is the deity of the Ziwei enclosure—supremely honored and the most auspicious star of all. Wherever it goes, malign influences withdraw. It marks a person of…
- Taiji Nobleman
- Taiji Nobleman (太极贵人) takes its meaning from the rise, peak and conclusion of the Five Elements—as Wood (Jia/Yi) is born at Zi and ends at Wu, or Fire (Bing/Ding) emerges at Zhen a…
- Tianyin Nobleman
- Tianyin Nobleman (天印贵人) is taken by checking the branch-palace against the day stem—e.g., for a Jia day the Tianyin lies within Yin, for a Yi day it is Hai, and so on. One who carr…
- Tianfu Nobleman
- Tianfu Nobleman (天福贵人) is the Fortune Star reinforcing the day's nobleman where it is well placed, so one receives patronage and protection. As in the 'Ren riding the dragon's back…
- Tianchu Nobleman
- Tianchu Nobleman (天厨贵人) takes the Eating God meeting Prosperity (Lu): a true Tianchu has the Eating God on the month pillar meeting Lu-food. It marks ample food and clothing; it dr…
- Tiande
- Tiande (天德, Heavenly Virtue) is the palace able to subdue every celestial and earthly malign force, turning ill into good. It marks a life of ease, untouched by punishment or theft…
- Yuede
- Yuede (月德, Monthly Virtue) is taken from the direction the Three Harmonies illuminate, the day where sun and moon meet—Ren, Jia, Bing and Gui being its positions. Like Tiande it is…
- Dexiu
- Dexiu (德秀贵人) forms from the harmonized yin-yang qi stored in the month branch—De (virtue) dispels ill, Xiu (refinement) gives elegance. A chart holding Dexiu unbroken by clash or s…
- Wenchang Nobleman
- Wenchang Nobleman (文昌贵人) is taken from the day stem against the branches—e.g., for a Jia day Wenchang is at Si (snake's mouth), for Yi at Hai (pig's head), for Bing at Xu (dog), fo…
- Wenxing Nobleman
- Wenxing Nobleman (文星贵人) takes a noble branch against the day stem—e.g., for a Jia day Wenxing is Yin (horse), for Yi it is Si (snake), for Bing/Wu it is Shen (monkey). It marks lit…
- Guoyin Nobleman
- Guoyin Nobleman (国印贵人) is taken from the day stem against the branches: Jia meets Xu, Yi meets Hai, Bing meets Chou, Ding meets Yin, Wu meets Chou, Ji meets Yin, Geng meets Chen, X…
- Fuxing Nobleman
- Fuxing Nobleman (福星贵人) takes the storehouse branch of the Three Harmonies on which the Tianyi Nobleman rests—e.g., with nobility at Mao/Si, gaining Chen, since Chen is the storehou…
- Tiande He
- Tiande He (天德合, Union of Heavenly Virtue) is the branch whose stem unites with the position Tiande occupies—e.g., in the first month Tiande is at Ding, and Ding unites with Ren to …
- Yuede He
- Yuede He (月德合, Union of Monthly Virtue) is the branch whose stem unites with the stem Yuede occupies—e.g., in the first month Yuede is at Bing, and Bing unites with Xin. Its virtue…
- The Tianshe Day
- The Tianshe Day (天赦日, Day of Heavenly Pardon) is each season's thriving day of concentrated qi: Wu-yin in spring, Jia-wu in summer, Wu-shen in autumn, Jia-zi in winter. It is the d…
- The Tianxi Spirit
- The Tianxi Spirit (天喜神, Spirit of Heavenly Joy) is taken by season—Wu in spring, Chou in summer, Chen in autumn, Wei in winter. Its sense is joy and celebration: harmonious marriag…
- Tianyi
- Tianyi (天医, Heavenly Physician) is taken by month establishment against the branches: 1st month Mao, 2nd Hai, 3rd Chou, 4th Yin, 5th Mao, 6th Chen, 7th Si, 8th Wu, 9th Wei, 10th Sh…
- The Lu Spirit
- The Lu Spirit (禄神, Prosperity) is the branch where each stem reaches its prime and 'returns to its salary': Jia at Yin, Yi at Mao, Bing at Si, Ding at Wu, Wu at Si, Ji at Wu, Geng …
- Jinyu
- Jinyu (金舆, the Golden Carriage) usually sits two branches ahead of the Lu, in the sense of a nobleman's carriage. It marks a gentle, mild temperament and dignified bearing; a woman…
- The Heavenly Three Marvels
- The Heavenly Three Marvels (天三奇) come in two views: Yi-Bing-Ding (the heavenly marvels, the De stems paired with their branches) and Jia-Wu-Geng (the earthly marvels, lodged at Dou…
- 地三奇
- Jia-Wu-Geng over three consecutive days form the Earthly Three Marvels (地三奇), taking the sense of the essence of yang Wood, yang Earth and yang Metal; it marks a remarkable person,…
- 人三奇
- Xin-Ren-Gui over three consecutive days form the Human Three Marvels (人三奇, also the Water Marvels); the three stems strung together are rare and mark an extraordinary spirit and lo…
- Zheng Xuetang
- Zheng Xuetang (正学堂, the True Academy) takes the Five Elements' position of Long Life as the home academy, finest when the Nayin shares the same elemental qi. It marks devoted study…
- Xuetang
- Xuetang (学堂, the Academy) brings rich fortune when it also meets Lu, Officer-Seal, Eating God or the Post-horse; meeting Lu, Horse, Nobleman, Marvel or Virtue makes the qi pure, ma…
- Ciguan
- Ciguan (词馆, the Academy of Letters) takes the Five Elements' position of Office as its true seat, genuine when the Nayin again shares the same elemental qi. It marks one like a Han…
- The General Star
- The General Star (将星) takes the middle branch of a Three-Harmony bureau—e.g., Zi for Shen-Zi-Chen. It marks the bearing of authority, a dignified and decisive nature. It needs ausp…
- Huagai
- Huagai (华盖, the Canopy) takes the storehouse branch of a Three-Harmony bureau—e.g., Chen for Shen-Zi-Chen. It marks a lofty, solitary nature, often inclined to loneliness and discu…
- The Post-horse
- The Post-horse (驿马) is the branch that clashes a Three-Harmony bureau; it marks movement and the joy of promotion and gain—the star of activity and celebration among the Three Fate…
- The Hongluan spirit
- The Hongluan spirit (红鸾) is judged by the day branch, often in combinations around Si-You-Chou-Shen. The old verse lists days like Yi-si, Ding-si, Xin-hai, Wu-shen, Jia-yin and Bin…
- The Hongyan spirit
- The Hongyan spirit (红艳, Red Allure) is taken by the branch the day stem meets; it marks beauty and charm, but is most feared in a woman's chart—indicating emotional turbulence, an …
- Xianchi
- Xianchi (咸池) is the Bathing position of the Five Elements, taking the sense of the sun sinking into obscurity, so it governs lewdness and hidden vice. Thriving, it brings indulgenc…
- Taohua
- Taohua (桃花, Peach Blossom) is the Bathing position of the Five Elements; the San Ming Tong Hui also calls it the Defeat spirit or Peach Blossom spirit: Hai-Mao-Wei at Zi, Si-You-Ch…
- Shilingri
- Shilingri (十灵日, the Ten Numinous Days) takes the day pillars Jia-chen, Yi-hai, Bing-chen, Ding-you, Wu-wu, Geng-xu, Geng-yin, Xin-hai, Ren-yin and Gui-wei. A man with it writes wel…
- Kongwang
- Kongwang (空亡, the Void) is where the ten stems are exhausted—branch without stem, salary without position. Thriving, it actually brings broad-mindedness and unsought blessing; life…
- Jiesha
- Jiesha (劫煞, the Robbery spirit) sits at the Five Elements' point of extinction, plundered from without, governing seizure and loss. The old verse calls its disaster unbearable—guar…
- Wangshen
- Wangshen (亡神, the Loss spirit) sits at the Five Elements' position of Office, lost from within, governing distraction and hidden inner drain. It stands opposite Jiesha—one outer, o…
- Yangren
- Yangren (羊刃, the Blade) is the spirit one position ahead of the Lu, for when prosperity overflows the blade is born—symbolizing excessive strength and an exposed edge. It marks a f…
- The Yang Blade
- The Yang Blade (阳刃) is called a celestial malign star and an earthly fierce killer, one position ahead of the Lu; the five yang stems Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng and Ren have blades, the f…
- Feiren
- Feiren (飞刃, Flying Blade): one position ahead of Lu is the Blade, the clashing position is the Flying Blade—qi at its peak turns fierce and unruly; 'the Flying Blade turns its blad…
- Yuanchen
- Yuanchen (元辰) is the spirit of yin-yang discord, parted and unjoined; for a yang-male or yin-female it takes the position one ahead of the clash, for a yin-male or yang-female one …
- Zaisha
- Zaisha (灾煞, the Calamity spirit) is the fiercest of all, set ahead of Jiesha and clashing the General Star directly, governing sudden bloodshed and violent death. Each element has …
- Liu'e
- Liu'e (六厄, the Six Adversities) is the spirit that strips office, lying at the Five Elements' point of death—one branch ahead of the Horse, two behind the Robbery. It governs a lif…
- Goujiao
- Goujiao (勾绞) are two mutually clashing spirits: for a yang-male or yin-female, three branches ahead is Gou and three behind is Jiao; for a yin-male or yang-female, reversed. They g…
- Guchen
- Guchen (孤辰, the Solitary spirit) is the spirit of yin-yang melancholy, taking the sense of the mother's extinction—e.g., for a Hai-Zi-Chou person, Yin is Guchen. One who carries it…
- Guasu
- Guasu (寡宿, the Widowhood spirit) takes the sense of the spouse's grave—e.g., for a Hai-Zi-Chou person, Xu is Guasu. A woman who carries it dwells alone in widowhood, and a man too …
- Tianluo
- Tianluo (天罗, the Heavenly Net) refers to the Xu-Hai positions, the end of the six yin lines, the obscure terminus of yin and yang, like a person caught in a net. A man who meets it…
- Diwang
- Diwang (地网, the Earthly Net) refers to the Chen-Si positions, the end of the six yang lines, the unclear terminus of yin and yang. A woman who meets it suffers a broken marriage an…
- Shi'e Dabai
- Shi'e Dabai (十恶大败) refers to the ten days Jia-chen, Yi-si and the like, whose Lu falls exactly on the decade's Void—e.g., Jia's Lu is at Yin, but in the Jia-chen decade Yin and Mao…
- Guanfu
- Guanfu (官符) is the spirit of litigation and trouble, governing official disputes, gossip and entanglement in lawsuits. One who meets it readily draws legal trouble and hidden strif…
- Bingfu
- Bingfu (病符) takes the branch one after the Year God; those who violate it often fall ill, and the same holds in the annual luck. It governs illness and calamity, especially feared …
- The Mourning-and-Condolence spirit
- The Mourning-and-Condolence spirit (丧吊煞), also called the Horizontal Barrier spirit, takes the two branches ahead of the natal branch as Sangmen (丧门). It governs mourning dress, gr…
- 吊客
- The Mourning-and-Condolence spirit takes the two branches behind the natal branch as Diaoke (吊客), opposite to Sangmen. It governs condolence visits and illness, alarm and unrest; w…
- Yincha Yangcuo
- Yincha Yangcuo (阴差阳错) covers the twelve day pillars Bing-zi, Ding-chou, Wu-yin, Xin-mao, Ren-chen, Gui-si, Bing-wu, Ding-wei, Wu-shen, Xin-you, Ren-xu and Gui-hai. A woman who meet…
- Bazhuan
- Bazhuan (八专) is the spirit of day stem and branch sharing one qi, the stem and branch overlapping in a single element, overly concentrated. It governs lustful obstinacy: men and wo…
- Jiuchou
- Jiuchou (九丑) is a branch of obstruction, governing an ill appearance or perverse temper; men and women who meet it often face an unfavorable marriage and marital discord. This spir…
- Liuxia
- Liuxia (流霞) is the spirit of bloodshed, governing accidental injury and birth-related blood disorders. A man who meets it should guard against the calamity of blade, water and fire…
- Guluan
- Guluan (孤鸾) is the spirit of marital solitude and harm, governing man harming wife and woman harming husband, separation of spouses or the loss of a spouse in middle life. The old …
- Guaque
- Guaque (寡鹊) is paired with Guluan, governing chiefly a woman harming her husband and keeping widowhood, or spouses long apart. It arises from yin-yang dislocation and discordant st…
- Pima
- Pima (披麻) governs mourning unrest and early loss of parents. Judged together with Sangmen and Diaoke, it marks mourning dress, funeral matters and harm to kin; one who carries it o…
The twelve life stages
- 长生
- First of the twelve houses — like sprouting plants or a newborn child, all things flourish. It marks surging vitality, innocence and upward growth with roots to lean on; clear and …
- 沐浴
- Also called "Failure." Like a newborn bathed clean or a sprout shedding its husk — tender and easily harmed. It signifies turnover and flux, with overtones of washing and romantic …
- 冠带
- Like a youth donning cap and sash as all things grow fair. It marks maturing success, propriety and rising ambition, with care for bearing; an image of learning gathered and a care…
- 临官
- Also called "Establishing Prosperity." Like taking office as all things ripen. It marks mature independence and readiness to shoulder duty, prosperity arriving of itself on firm fo…
- 帝旺
- Like prime adulthood at its peak as all things fully ripen. It marks the strongest momentum and great achievement, able to aid the sovereign; yet at the peak decline nears, so utmo…
- 衰
- Like the turn from peak to decline as forms wither and energy retreats. It marks the shift from strong to weak and limited reach, favoring steady holding over display; reserved and…
- 病
- Like a person falling ill as all things tire. It marks declining function and entangled obstruction, old things challenged; sensitive and thoughtful, best served by recuperation an…
- 死
- Like strength exhausted as all things wither. It marks stillness and the closing of change, an old phase ending as energy awaits its turn; single-minded and still, most averse to f…
- 墓
- Also called "Storehouse." Like returning to the vault as all things succeed and are gathered in. It marks storing and accumulation, latent holding, with an image of stored wealth; …
- 绝
- Also called "Receiving Energy" or "Womb." Like energy spent and cut off, the womb empty. It marks old giving way to new, deliverance near at the extreme, energy weakest yet hiding …
- 胎
- Like conception and the forming of the embryo, new energy latent. It marks gestating opportunity and stirring beginnings, reserved yet full of promise; gentle and contained, with l…
- 养
- Like nurturing in the womb as all things take form awaiting birth. It marks rest and gathering strength, nourishing the root — a hinge between past and future; warm and steady, bes…