Concept Dictionary
BaZi & Chinese Metaphysics Dictionary
Look up foundational Chinese metaphysics and BaZi terms, with plain meanings, uses, and common distinctions.
Foundations and Chart
01 · Common Concepts
Yin and Yang
Yin Yang, Yin-Yang
Yin and Yang are traditional names for two relative aspects, such as movement and stillness. Before calling one aspect yin and the other yang, first make clear what is being compared.
02 · Common Concepts
Five Elements
Wu Xing, Wuxing, Five Phases
The Five Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, used in traditional Chinese thought to classify qualities and describe relationships of change.
03 · Common Concepts
Heavenly Stems
Tian Gan, Tiangan, Ten Heavenly Stems
The Heavenly Stems are ten characters traditionally used to mark sequence and time: Jia (甲), Yi (乙), Bing (丙), Ding (丁), Wu (戊), Ji (己), Geng (庚), Xin (辛), Ren (壬), and Gui (癸). In the Four Pillars of BaZi, a Stem is written in the upper position of each pillar.
04 · Common Concepts
Earthly Branches
Di Zhi, Dizhi, Twelve Earthly Branches
The Earthly Branches are twelve characters traditionally used to mark sequence and time: Zi (子), Chou (丑), Yin (寅), Mao (卯), Chen (辰), Si (巳), Wu (午), Wei (未), Shen (申), You (酉), Xu (戌), and Hai (亥). In the Four Pillars of BaZi, a Branch is written in the lower position of each pillar.
05 · BaZi Concepts
Four Pillars
Si Zhu, Sizhu, BaZi, Eight Characters
The Four Pillars are the four Stem–Branch pairs for the year, month, day, and hour. Each pillar contains one Heavenly Stem and one Earthly Branch. Together they contain eight characters, which is why the system is called BaZi, or Eight Characters.
06 · BaZi Concepts
Day Master
Ri Zhu, Rizhu, Day Stem, Ri Yuan
The Day Master is the Heavenly Stem in the upper position of the Day Pillar, also called the Day Stem or Ri Yuan. In BaZi analysis, it usually represents the person whose chart is being examined.
07 · BaZi Concepts
Hidden Stems
Cang Gan, Canggan
Hidden Stems are the Heavenly Stems contained within an Earthly Branch. A Branch can contain more than one Stem.
08 · Common Concepts
Generation and Control
Sheng Ke, Shengke
Generation and Control are two kinds of relationship between the Five Elements. Generation means that one element supports another; control means that one element restrains another.
09 · Common Concepts
Sexagenary Cycle
Liu Shi Jia Zi, Gan-Zhi Cycle
The Sexagenary Cycle is the sequence of sixty Stem–Branch pairs formed by advancing the ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches together. It begins with Jia–Zi (甲–子), ends with Gui–Hai (癸–亥), and then repeats.
10 · Common Concepts
Solar Terms
Jie Qi, Jieqi, 24 Solar Terms
Solar Terms are twenty-four points in the year defined by the Sun’s position. They mark the progress of the seasons, with examples including Spring Commences (Li Chun), Vernal Equinox (Chun Fen), Summer Solstice (Xia Zhi), and Winter Solstice (Dong Zhi).
Ten Gods
01 · BaZi Concepts
Ten Gods
Shi Shen
The Ten Gods are ten names for the relationships between other Heavenly Stems and the Day Master in BaZi. First identify their Five Elements relationship, then use yin-yang polarity to distinguish the specific name.
02 · BaZi Concepts
Companion
Bi Jian
The Companion is one of the Ten Gods. It names the relationship between another Heavenly Stem and the Day Master when they share the same element and yin-yang polarity.
03 · BaZi Concepts
Rob Wealth
Jie Cai
Rob Wealth is the Ten God relationship in which another Heavenly Stem shares the Day Master’s element but has the opposite yin-yang polarity.
04 · BaZi Concepts
Eating God
Shi Shen
The Eating God is the Ten God relationship in which the Day Master generates the other Stem’s element and the two have the same yin-yang polarity.
05 · BaZi Concepts
Hurting Officer
Shang Guan, Shangguan
The Hurting Officer is the Ten God relationship in which the Day Master generates the other Stem’s element and the two have opposite yin-yang polarities.
06 · BaZi Concepts
Indirect Resource
Pian Yin
Indirect Resource is the Ten God relationship in which another Stem’s element generates and supports the Day Master’s element and the two have the same yin-yang polarity.
07 · BaZi Concepts
Direct Resource
Zheng Yin
Direct Resource is the Ten God relationship in which another Stem’s element generates and supports the Day Master’s element and the two have opposite yin-yang polarities.
08 · BaZi Concepts
Indirect Wealth
Pian Cai
Indirect Wealth is the Ten God relationship in which the Day Master controls the other Stem’s element and the two have the same yin-yang polarity.
09 · BaZi Concepts
Direct Wealth
Zheng Cai
Direct Wealth is the Ten God relationship in which the Day Master controls the other Stem’s element and the two have opposite yin-yang polarities.
10 · BaZi Concepts
Seven Killings
Qi Sha
Seven Killings is the Ten God relationship in which another Stem’s element controls the Day Master’s element and the two have the same yin-yang polarity.
11 · BaZi Concepts
Direct Officer
Zheng Guan
The Direct Officer is the Ten God relationship in which another Stem’s element controls the Day Master’s element and the two have opposite yin-yang polarities.
Strength and Season
01 · BaZi Concepts
Month Command
Yue Ling, Yueling
The Month Command is the seasonal context at birth represented by the Month Branch in BaZi.
02 · BaZi Concepts
Wang Shuai and Qiang Ruo
Wang Shuai Yu Qiang Ruo
Wang Shuai and Qiang Ruo are traditional terms used in BaZi to describe the strength of an element or the Day Master. This entry considers two aspects separately: whether the season supports it, and whether its overall strength is sufficient.
03 · BaZi Concepts
Rooting
Tong Gen, Tonggen
Rooting means that a Heavenly Stem finds qi of the same element within an Earthly Branch. The Stem is then said to have a root.
04 · BaZi Concepts
Twelve Stages
Shi Er Chang Sheng
The Twelve Stages are traditional labels for a Heavenly Stem’s state at different Earthly Branch positions. Their names use metaphors of birth, growth, decline, and development before birth.
Time and Chart Labels
01 · BaZi Concepts
10-Year Cycle
Da Yun, Dayun
A 10-Year Cycle is a period in BaZi represented by a Stem–Branch pair, with a new period beginning every ten years.
02 · BaZi Concepts
Annual Cycle
Liu Nian, Liunian
An Annual Cycle is the Stem–Branch pair of the year being examined in a BaZi analysis. It changes each year.
03 · BaZi Concepts
10-Year Cycle Start
Qi Yun, Qiyun
The 10-Year Cycle Start is the time when the first 10-Year Cycle begins. It is often described as the time elapsed since birth.
04 · BaZi Concepts
Void/Emptiness
Kong Wang, Xun Kong
Void/Emptiness (also called Xun Kong) refers to the two Earthly Branches that are left without a Heavenly Stem in a group of ten Stem–Branch pairs.
05 · BaZi Concepts
Nayin
Na Yin
Nayin assigns an additional Five Element name to a complete pair in the sexagenary cycle. For example, Jia–Zi (甲–子) and Yi–Chou (乙–丑) are both called Metal in the Sea. This classification is distinct from the elements of the individual Stem and Branch.
Patterns and Use
01 · BaZi Concepts
Useful God
Yong Shen
The Useful God is an element or Ten God given particular attention in a BaZi analysis. It may be a function the analysis seeks to use, or the center of a chart-pattern analysis. Its precise meaning depends on the method.
02 · BaZi Concepts
Shun Yong and Ni Yong
Shun Yong Ni Yong
Shun Yong and Ni Yong are two ways of arranging relationships in BaZi chart-pattern analysis. Shun Yong supports and protects the Ten God being used; Ni Yong restrains or redirects its effect to serve the chart’s needs.
Stem and Branch Relations
01 · BaZi Concepts
Five Heavenly Stem Combinations
Tian Gan Wu He
The Five Heavenly Stem Combinations are five fixed pairs among the ten Heavenly Stems.
02 · BaZi Concepts
Earthly Branch Interactions
Xing Chong Hui He
Earthly Branch Interactions are the relationships called Punishment, Clash, Three Meetings (San Hui), and Combination. Punishments and clashes emphasize tension and change; meetings and combinations emphasize joining and concentrating elemental influence.