Free Saju (Four Pillars) Analysis: The 8 Characters of Your Life
Saju: Ancient Wisdom in Eight Characters
‘Saju’ refers to the four pillars of the year, month, day, and time of a person’s birth, while ‘Palja’ refers to the eight characters contained within those pillars. Saju analysis, or Myeongri-hak, is not about predicting the future in a mystical sense, but about analyzing the balance of energy (Qi) a person possesses.
Check your unique eight characters below.
page.wizard.step_counter
Key Elements of Saju
- Day Master: The character representing yourself, serving as the central point of analysis.
- Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The balance among these determines your natural inclinations.
- Ten Spirits: Indicators that describe your social relationships, wealth, and career path.
How to View Your Saju
Think of Saju as a “blueprint” rather than a fixed destiny. Just as we carry an umbrella when we know it will rain, understanding your Saju allows you to recognize your strengths and weaknesses to make better choices in life.
What energy defines your day today?
What is Saju (Four Pillars of Destiny)?
Saju (Four Pillars of Destiny (Saju)), also known as Four Pillars of Destiny or BaZi (八字) in Chinese, is an ancient East Asian fortune-telling system used in Korea, China, and Japan.
It analyzes a person’s destiny through four pillars—birth year, month, day, and hour—each represented by two Chinese characters (Heavenly Stem + Earthly Branch), totaling eight characters (八字).
Structure of Four Pillars
[Year] [Month] [Day] [Hour]
[Stem] [Stem] [Stem] [Stem]
[Branch][Branch][Branch][Branch]
Example: 甲子 丙寅 戊午 壬子
Jia-Zi Bing-Yin Wu-Wu Ren-ZiYin-Yang and Five Elements Theory
Yin-Yang (陰陽)
All phenomena result from the interaction of Yin and Yang:
- Yang (陽): Heaven, day, masculine, bright, active
- Yin (陰): Earth, night, feminine, dark, passive
Five Elements (五行)
| Element | Nature | Season | Direction | Color | Emotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood (木) | Growth | Spring | East | Blue/Green | Anger |
| Fire (火) | Expansion | Summer | South | Red | Joy |
| Earth (土) | Stability | Between seasons | Center | Yellow | Thought |
| Metal (金) | Contraction | Autumn | West | White | Sadness |
| Water (水) | Wisdom | Winter | North | Black | Fear |
Generating and Overcoming Cycles
Generating Cycle (相生) - Supporting relationships:
Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water → WoodOvercoming Cycle (相剋) - Controlling relationships:
Wood → Earth → Water → Fire → Metal → WoodTen Heavenly Stems (天干)
| Stem | Element | Yin/Yang | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 甲 (Jia) | Wood | Yang | Large tree |
| 乙 (Yi) | Wood | Yin | Grass, flower |
| 丙 (Bing) | Fire | Yang | Sun |
| 丁 (Ding) | Fire | Yin | Candle |
| 戊 (Wu) | Earth | Yang | Mountain |
| 己 (Ji) | Earth | Yin | Field |
| 庚 (Geng) | Metal | Yang | Iron, ore |
| 辛 (Xin) | Metal | Yin | Jewel |
| 壬 (Ren) | Water | Yang | Ocean |
| 癸 (Gui) | Water | Yin | Rain |
Twelve Earthly Branches (地支)
| Branch | Element | Zodiac | Time | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 子 (Zi) | Water | Rat | 23-01 | North |
| 丑 (Chou) | Earth | Ox | 01-03 | N-NE |
| 寅 (Yin) | Wood | Tiger | 03-05 | E-NE |
| 卯 (Mao) | Wood | Rabbit | 05-07 | East |
| 辰 (Chen) | Earth | Dragon | 07-09 | E-SE |
| 巳 (Si) | Fire | Snake | 09-11 | S-SE |
| 午 (Wu) | Fire | Horse | 11-13 | South |
| 未 (Wei) | Earth | Goat | 13-15 | S-SW |
| 申 (Shen) | Metal | Monkey | 15-17 | W-SW |
| 酉 (You) | Metal | Rooster | 17-19 | West |
| 戌 (Xu) | Earth | Dog | 19-21 | W-NW |
| 亥 (Hai) | Water | Pig | 21-23 | N-NW |
What Saju Reveals
1. Personality & Temperament (Day Stem Analysis)
Day Stem represents “self”—your core identity:
- Jia Wood (甲): Like a tall tree—upright, strong, leadership
- Yi Wood (乙): Like grass—flexible, adaptable, delicate
- Bing Fire (丙): Like the sun—bright, passionate, sociable
- Ding Fire (丁): Like a candle—calm, artistic, refined
- Wu Earth (戊): Like a mountain—reliable, stable, grounded
- Ji Earth (己): Like a field—caring, nurturing, inclusive
- Geng Metal (庚): Like iron—strong, determined, resolute
- Xin Metal (辛): Like a jewel—refined, sharp, discerning
- Ren Water (壬): Like an ocean—vast, wise, accommodating
- Gui Water (癸): Like rain—pure, gentle, adaptable
2. Major Life Cycles (大運 Daewoon)
Life unfolds in 10-year cycles:
- Each cycle emphasizes different elements
- Harmony or conflict with birth chart determines fortune
3. Annual Fortune (歲運 Saewoon)
Yearly energy flow:
- Interaction between current year’s stem/branch and birth chart
- Predicts opportunities and challenges
4. Compatibility (宮合 Gunghap)
Analyzing harmony between two people:
- Romantic compatibility
- Business partnership potential
- Friendship dynamics
Practical Applications
Career & Profession Selection
Suitable careers by dominant element:
- Strong Wood: Education, publishing, environmental, healthcare
- Strong Fire: Arts, entertainment, advertising, food service
- Strong Earth: Real estate, construction, agriculture, counseling
- Strong Metal: Finance, law, engineering, military
- Strong Water: IT, distribution, transportation, research
Interpersonal Strategy
Communication style by Day Stem:
- Wood: Direct, logical conversation
- Fire: Emotional, passionate communication
- Earth: Values trust and stability
- Metal: Prefers clarity and precision
- Water: Flexible, deep conversations
Health Management
Vulnerable areas by element:
- Wood: Liver, eyes, nervous system
- Fire: Heart, blood, small intestine
- Earth: Stomach, spleen, muscles
- Metal: Lungs, skin, large intestine
- Water: Kidneys, bladder, ears
Key Terminology
Pattern (格局 Gyeokguk)
Overall structure and quality of the chart:
- Regular Pattern: Balanced chart
- Special Pattern: Unique, imbalanced chart
Useful God (用神 Yongsin)
Key element that balances the chart:
- Supplements lacking elements
- Regulates excessive elements
Favorable God (喜神 Heuisin)
Element that supports the Useful God
Unfavorable God (忌神 Gisin)
Element that harms the chart
Special Stars (神煞 Sinsal)
Specific combinations indicating fortune:
- Auspicious: Noble, Scholar, Virtue stars
- Inauspicious: Travel, White Tiger, Peach Blossom stars
Modern Application
1. Self-Understanding Tool
- Identify personality strengths and weaknesses
- Understand life’s major trends
2. Decision-Making Aid
- Reference for timing important choices
- Explore likely directions
3. Relationship Improvement
- Understand others’ temperaments
- Improve communication styles
4. Personal Development Direction
- Compensate for weaknesses
- Maximize strengths
Important Cautions
Proper Attitude Toward Saju
✅ Good Use:
- Tool for self-reflection
- Exploring possibilities
- Reference for choices
❌ Misuse:
- Blind belief
- Excuse for not trying
- Judging others
Consulting Practitioners
- Verify credentials: Check for recognized certifications
- Beware high fees: Avoid unreasonable costs
- Fortune items: Be cautious of talismans, feng shui items
- Record sessions: Document consultation content
- Compare multiple sources: Don’t rely on just one opinion
Recommended Resources
Books
- “BaZi Essentials” by Joey Yap
- “The Four Pillars of Destiny” by Lillian Too
- “Chinese Astrology: Ancient Secrets for Modern Life” by Shelly Wu
Online Resources
- International Feng Shui Association
- Chinese Metaphysics Research
- East Asian Philosophy Academy
Disclaimer: Four Pillars of Destiny (Saju) is a traditional philosophical system, not scientifically validated. This service is for entertainment and self-reflection purposes. Important life decisions should be based on your own reason and judgment. Ahoxy.com assumes no responsibility for any decisions made based on Saju results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is this information used??
It’s material to help understand and learn the culture..
Related Tools
Try these related tools:
Data Note
Theme and amulet templates are curated starter sets. Expand src/features/saju/data.ts if you need more coverage.