Lesson 1: BZP 1201REVISED HOW TO READ A BAZI CHART
Revised How To Read A Bazi ChartHow To Read A BaZi Chart?
Introduction
At this juncture, it is important that you are reasonably well-versed with all the fundamentals. These fundamentals include the:
• Heavenly Stems • Earthly Branches
and the relationships between the stems and branches. In addition, if you are not quite comfortable yet with the concept of Yin/Yang, the nuances of the 5 elements, element strength, chart equilibrium, luck cycle as well as the basic pictorial approach, please do review the fundamentals.
Lesson 1: BZP 1201REVISED HOW TO READ A BAZI CHART
If you’re all systems set to go, let’s get to deciphering a BaZi chart!
In this lesson, we take the first step to reading a BaZi chart (do keep in mind that learning BaZi is like peeling an onion; each time you re-look into any BaZi chart, you discover yet another aspect of the person’s life.)
The Components of a BaZi Chart: Pillars, Palaces and Stars
Now, the first step is to understand the components of a BaZi chart.
Lesson 1: BZP 1201REVISED HOW TO READ A BAZI CHART
There are altogether 4 pillars; the year pillar, month pillar, day pillar and hour pillar. Each pillar represents certain aspects of your life eg. relationships, the people in your life and your own personal characteristics—from external characteristics, your responses to challenges and situations, to your innermost thoughts and feelings!
Lesson 1: BZP 1201REVISED HOW TO READ A BAZI CHART
Within the 4 pillars themselves are “Palaces” (Western Astrology refers to Palaces as “Houses”). Each of the palaces governs a relationship or *affinity* with a particular subject matter. The year pillar is also know as the “Grandparents Palace” ie. the palace that governs your affinity with the your grandparents and extended family. The month pillar is the “Parents Palace” and represents your affinity to your parents or superiors/bosses. The day pillar can be divided into two portions. The stem of the day pillar is the “Life Palace” which is referred to as the “Day Master”, and represents YOU. The branch of the day pillar is the “Spouse Palace” and represents your spouse and also your home. The hour pillar is the “Children Palace” and represents your relationship and affinity with your children or others under your care. Each of the palaces basically indicates one’s relationship with the subject matter as represented by the particular palace in question.
Lesson 1: BZP 1201REVISED HOW TO READ A BAZI CHART
As a crucial component in understanding a specific affinity or relationship in one’s life, we have to look at the “stars” which are situated inside the palaces. For example, if your month pillar contains an unfavourable or negative element, then your relationship with what is governed by that pillar, ie. your parents is less than stellar!
For more information on a specific subject matter for example the characteristics of your spouse or child, we have to look at the “stars” which reside inside the relevant pillar, such as the spouse palace or children palace.
Lesson 1: BZP 1201REVISED HOW TO READ A BAZI CHART
In summary, a BaZi chart contains 3 major components: the pillars, palaces and stars. At this juncture, if you are shaking your head, confused at where all the “stars” are flying about, fret not! The “stars” are nothing more than the stems branches and hidden stems contained in the palaces of a BaZi chart.
In future lessons, we will convert the stems and branches into descriptive stars which fall under 2 categories:
• 10 Gods (eg. Eating God, Indirect Wealth, Direct Resource, Rob Wealth etc)
Lesson 1: BZP 1201REVISED HOW TO READ A BAZI CHART
Palace Relationships
A basic BaZi reading entails deciphering and understanding the pillars, palacesand stars. We need to look at how all the components interact with each other. However, as a first step, we need to look into the relationships and interactions between the palaces within a BaZi chart. So before we delve deeper into “stars”, let’s understand the relationships between the palaces, of which there are essentially 2 types:
Lesson 1: BZP 1201REVISED HOW TO READ A BAZI CHART
To keep things simple for now, please assume that the heavenly stems may only interact among themselves and similarly for the earthly branches.
Which of the 2 kinds of relationships is more important? They are both important but the relationships which have a more serious impact on one’s life are the earthly branch relationships. The relationships between the heavenly stems are more on the surface outlook of things akin to the clothes that we wear. This is because the heavenly stems represent the prevailing qi or what is outside. For example, a clash of the heavenly stems may result in a small external injury or only a small problem that’s revealed to the world. As the earthly branches represent what is inside and the actual content on what is involved, a clash, for example, in the earthly branches is more serious, such as major health issues and problems. This is because the earthly branches contain the actual roots of any subject matter. In addition, the earthly branches represent timing aspects (such as seasonal qi) as well. As such, a BaZi reading at this stage usually focuses more on earthly branches’ relationships and as you’ll soon find out in later lessons, the earthly branches’ relationships are quite numerous and are rather complex.
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Lesson 1: BZP 1201REVISED HOW TO READ A BAZI CHART
Heavenly Stem Relationships
There are 2 main relationships of the Heavenly Stems:
• Counter • Combination
The heavenly stem relationships basically represent the apparent and revealed aspects of one’s life and include the events and outcomes that are visible and are know by others. For example, a countering relationship usually indicates an apparent problem in one’s life that is obvious to those around him/her.
Do bear in mind as you progress with your BaZi studies that at every level of your study, you’ll keep adding yet another layer of information to concepts that you’ve already been introduced to at a previous level. We are indeed “peeling the BaZi onion” one layer at a time!
Lesson 1: BZP 1201REVISED HOW TO READ A BAZI CHART
Each type of earthly branch relationship represents a different aspect, feel, and affinity. While a single BaZi natal chart will not contain all the relationships, we will certainly experience all the relationships as life unfolds since there are the Luck Pillars and Annual Pillars that will interact with the natal chart.
• Clash - A clash is basically an antagonistic relationship between 2 earthly branches
• Combination – A combination is a merging of 2 earthly branches, sometimes producing an extra element. The analogy is like a couple getting together to produce a child (although note that a combination does not always mean a marriage nor is a combination always a good thing!)
Lesson 1: BZP 1201REVISED HOW TO READ A BAZI CHART
• Harm – A harm generally entails some sort of betrayal, hurt feelings and causes emotional pain
• Punishment – A punishment is basically a negative repercussion or effect, such as pain or losses due to one’s own actions (or inaction), attitude and behaviour. It is by understanding the kind of punishment that we can take control, avoid or minimize its effect by identifying the cause of the problem.
Lesson 1: BZP 1201REVISED HOW TO READ A BAZI CHART
• Destruction – A destruction is basically a removal or change in some aspect of life and is best represented with the adage “out with the old, in with the new”, even though the “new” may be bad or negative! Self-destructive behaviour is one example of a destruction effect.
At this point, do bear in mind that there is no absolute rule as to which earthly branch relationship is “bad” or “good”. A clash or punishment, though generally unpleasant, may serve to teach us a good lesson, lead us eventually to a positive outcome and make us better people. But of course, not everyone is able to learn from these experiences (which may even destroy him/her).
One key concept of understanding BaZi is to help us understand the forces that affect us and more importantly, what appropriate actions to take (or not to take) in order to improve our lives. As such, the real “cure” to any negative stem or branch relationship is via our own actions. The purpose of understanding BaZi is to comprehend what governs us, what affects us and most of all, what’s RIGHT action to take (avoidance can sometimes be the best action!) to make our lives better.
At this stage you have taken an important first step to reading any BaZi chart, ie. in identifying and understanding the stem and branch relationships between the palaces in the chart. It is crucial to do this prior to delving into the elemental relationships between the stars.
