Step 1: Identify Your Day Master
The first thing to look at in any BaZi chart is the Day Master — the Heavenly Stem of your Day Pillar. This is YOU. Everything else in the chart revolves around it.
Look at the middle row of your chart. The top character is your Day Master. It's one of the 10 Heavenly Stems (甲乙丙丁戊己庚辛壬癸), each representing an element and polarity.
Step 2: Count Your Elements
Look at all 8 characters in your chart (4 stems + 4 branches). Count how many of each element appear:
- 🌳 Wood: How many?
- 🔥 Fire: How many?
- 🌍 Earth: How many?
- ⚔️ Metal: How many?
- 💧 Water: How many?
This tells you which energies are strong and which are weak in your natural composition.
Step 3: Determine Strength
Is your Day Master Strong or Weak?
- Strong: Your Day Master's element appears multiple times, or it's supported by generating elements. You have plenty of natural energy.
- Weak: Your Day Master's element appears rarely, and it's challenged by controlling elements. You may need external support.
Step 4: Find Your Favorable Elements
Once you know if you're Strong or Weak:
- Strong Day Master: Your favorable elements are those that drain or control you (keeps you balanced)
- Weak Day Master: Your favorable elements are those that generate or support you (gives you strength)
Step 5: Read the Ten Gods
Each character in your chart has a "Ten God" relationship to your Day Master. These reveal specific life areas:
- Resource stars → Education, support, mother
- Output stars → Creativity, expression, children
- Wealth stars → Money, father, material life
- Officer stars → Career, authority, husband (for women)
- Peer stars → Friends, siblings, competition
Step 6: Check Your Luck Cycles
Your 10-year Luck Cycles (大运) show how your life unfolds over time. Each cycle brings a new element that interacts with your chart. Compare each cycle's element to your Day Master to understand what themes dominate each period of your life.