From ancient times, people have been puzzled about the meaning of life, what their purpose is, and what is their destiny. With this, ancient Chinese people invested time in studying, researching, and understanding the meaning of life.
With this, the Chinese gained knowledge about destiny and created BaZi (八子) and zǐ wēi dǒu shù (紫微斗數). That said, for the context of this article, we will only focus on Bazi.
What is Bazi?
Bazi, also known as Four Pillars of Destiny or Chinese astrology, is a method of divination used in Chinese culture to predict a person’s future and determine their character traits. It is based on a person’s birth date, time, and place, and is represented by four pillars, each representing a different aspect of the person’s life: the year, month, day, and hour.
The chart is divided into 10 Stems and 12 Branches, which are based on the Chinese lunar calendar. The 10 Stems represent the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water), and the 12 Branches represent the 12 lunar months.
Bazi is used to determine a person’s auspicious and inauspicious times, as well as their compatibility with others in terms of love, business, and other relationships. It is also used to understand the energy of the Five elements in a person’s life and how they can be balanced and nurtured.
Bazi is not a set fate but rather a guide to understanding one’s strengths and potentials and how to optimize them and avoid potential challenges.
Short History of Bazi
Bazi, also known as Four Pillars of Destiny, has a long history dating back to ancient China. The origins of Bazi can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE), where it was used by scholars and government officials to predict the future and make important decisions.
During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), Bazi became even more popular and was used by both the imperial court and common people. It was during this time that the practice of Bazi began to evolve and become more sophisticated, with the development of advanced techniques for chart interpretation and prediction.
In the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE), Bazi reached its peak of popularity and became an essential tool for making important decisions in politics, business, and personal life. Bazi experts were highly respected and sought after for their advice, and the practice was widely studied and discussed in scholarly circles.
During the Ming (1368-1644 CE) and Qing (1644-1912 CE) dynasties, Bazi continued to be widely used and studied, but it also faced some opposition from Confucian scholars who considered it a superstition. Nevertheless, Bazi remained an important tool for divination and decision-making in Chinese culture.
Today, Bazi is still widely used in China and other Chinese-speaking communities, and it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, with many modern practitioners and experts continuing to study and develop the practice.
The Four Pillars of Destiny
As mentioned above, the Four Pillars of Destiny is based on a person’s birth date, time, and place, and is represented by four pillars, each representing a different aspect of the person’s life:
The Year Pillar:
- This pillar represents the person’s overall character and personality, as well as their innate talents and abilities. It is determined by the person’s birth year, which is represented by one of the 10 Stems (representing the Five Elements) in the Chinese lunar calendar.
The Month Pillar:
- This pillar represents the person’s early life and childhood experiences, as well as their level of education and overall intelligence. It is determined by the person’s birth month, which is represented by one of the 12 Branches (representing the 12 lunar months) in the Chinese lunar calendar.
The Day Pillar:
- This pillar represents the person’s career and public life, as well as their relationships with others. It is determined by the person’s birthday, which is represented by one of the 10 Stems and 12 Branches in the Chinese lunar calendar.
The Hour Pillar:
- This pillar represents the person’s later years and their overall luck and fortune in life. It is determined by the person’s birth hour, which is represented by one of the 12 Branches in the Chinese lunar calendar.
Together, these four pillars provide a comprehensive picture of a person’s character, strengths, weaknesses, and potential, and can be used to predict their future and make important decisions in their life.
Why is it important to know Bazi?
There are a few reasons why it is important to know Bazi:
- Personal insight: Bazi can provide valuable insight into a person’s character, strengths, weaknesses, and potential. This can help individuals understand themselves better, and make important decisions in their life.
- Timing: Bazi can be used to determine auspicious and inauspicious times for various life events, such as weddings, moving houses, starting a business, or even a job interview.
- Relationship: Bazi can be used to determine the compatibility between individuals for love, business, and other relationships.
- Balance: Bazi can be used to understand the energy of the Five elements in a person’s life and how they can be balanced and nurtured.
- Life guidance: Bazi is not a set fate but rather a guide to understanding one’s strengths and potentials and how to optimize them and avoid potential challenges.
- Tradition: Bazi has a long history in Chinese culture and it has been an important tool for divination and decision-making.
- Culture: Bazi is considered an important aspect of Chinese culture, and understanding it can provide a deeper understanding of Chinese tradition and belief.
- Business: Bazi can also be used in business to identify the best timing for starting a new business or making important business decisions.
- Career: Bazi can help individuals identify the most suitable careers and how to optimize their career development.
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Overall, Bazi can provide valuable insights and guidance for various aspects of life, and can help individuals make informed decisions and optimize their potential.
