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BaZi Fundamentals.
Core vocabulary for reading any chart — structural intelligence about how you command, where you weaken, and what the field supports. Not fortune-telling.
Day Master
The Day stem (日主) is your command identity. Everything else is read relative to it.
- Strong — carries pressure, initiates; risk overextension
- Weak — wins through allies and timing; risk burnout in head-on fights
- Balanced — flexible; success depends on phase, not force
Five Elements
木
Wood
Momentum, initiation
火
Fire
Visibility, speed
土
Earth
Stability, ground
金
Metal
Precision, structure
水
Water
Adaptation, flow
Production: Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water → Wood. Control: Wood → Earth → Water → Fire → Metal → Wood.
Excess = overused strength. Deficiency = gap to cover by skill, partner, or timing.
Animal Branches
Twelve branch animals (地支) modify terrain — not horoscope personality. Month branch sets seasonal context.
| Branch | Animal | Element | Tactical read |
|---|---|---|---|
| 子 Zǐ | Rat | Water | Covert movement, intel |
| 丑 Chǒu | Ox | Earth | Endurance, holding ground |
| 寅 Yín | Tiger | Wood | Bold entry, shock initiative |
| 卯 Mǎo | Rabbit | Wood | Indirect approach, diplomacy |
| 辰 Chén | Dragon | Earth | Reserves, transformation |
| 巳 Sì | Snake | Fire | Patience, concealed strike |
| 午 Wǔ | Horse | Fire | Speed, open confrontation |
| 未 Wèi | Goat | Earth | Alliance, negotiation ground |
| 申 Shēn | Monkey | Metal | Pivots, adaptability |
| 酉 Yǒu | Rooster | Metal | Precision, audit |
| 戌 Xū | Dog | Earth | Defense, gatekeeping |
| 亥 Hài | Pig | Water | Depth, long-horizon position |
Ten Gods
Ten Gods (十神) classify stems relative to your Day Master — functions, not moral labels.
| Ten God | Han | Tactical function |
|---|---|---|
| Friend | 比肩 | Peer support — also rivalry for same ground |
| Rob Wealth | 劫财 | Competition for resources, aggressive allies |
| Indirect Resource | 偏印 | Unconventional support, niche expertise |
| Direct Resource | 正印 | Stable backing, credentials, recovery |
| Eating God | 食神 | Sustainable output, morale |
| Hurting Officer | 伤官 | Disruption, sharp speech — visibility risk |
| Indirect Wealth | 偏财 | Opportunistic gains, fast capital |
| Direct Wealth | 正财 | Stable income, owned assets |
| Seven Killings | 七杀 | Extreme pressure, crisis command |
| Direct Officer | 正官 | Structure, rank, legitimate authority |
Useful & Unfavorable Elements
Useful elements (用神) reinforce; unfavorable (忌神) amplify imbalance under pressure — neither is inherently bad.
- Weak Day Master — favor producing/matching elements; reduce controlling/draining ones
- Strong Day Master — favor output and wealth; too much reinforcement creates rigidity
- Season — month branch sets temperature; useful elements shift with season and phase
Structural Rules
- Seasonal strength — elements gain/lose power by birth month
- Rooting — stems with branch support act with follow-through
- Combinations & clashes — merges bind; clashes force movement
- Hidden stems — branches contain sub-elements
- Luck phases — 10-year pillars shift the field
- Relative reading — every symbol read against Day Master strength and current phase
Next: Read Your Chart · BaZiWar Principles