四柱命理详解
Four Pillars of Destiny Explained

四柱命理，又称八字命理或子平术，是中国最重要的命运预测体系之一。其哲学根基深植于中国传统宇宙观——天人合一的理念。 这一体系认为，宇宙万物由五行（木、火、土、金、水）的循环运动所驱动。人出生的那一刻，天地间的五行能量构成了一个独特的格局，这个格局如同一张蓝图，映射着此人一生的性格、天赋、际遇与趋势。 四柱的历史可以追溯到唐代李虚中的三柱法。李虚中最初只用年、月、日三柱来推算命运。到了宋代，命理大师徐子平增加了时柱，将体系扩展为四柱八字。徐子平还确立了以日主（日柱天干）为核心来分析命局的方法论，这一创新奠定了现代八字命理的根基。后人将其理论编纂为《渊海子平》，至今仍是八字研究者必读的经典。 四柱之所以叫"八字"，是因为每根柱子由两个汉字组成——上面的天干和下面的地支。四柱共八个字，故得此名。这八个字涵盖了天（天干）与地（地支）的信息，构成了一个微型的宇宙模型。

Four Pillars of Destiny, also known as Bazi or the Ziping Method, is one of China's most important systems for understanding fate. Its philosophical roots are deeply embedded in the traditional Chinese worldview of Tian Ren He Yi — the unity of Heaven and Humanity. This system holds that everything in the universe is driven by the cyclical movement of the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water). At the moment of a person's birth, the elemental energies between heaven and earth form a unique configuration — a blueprint that maps out the person's personality, talents, life events, and overall trajectory. The history of the Four Pillars dates back to Li Xuzhong's three-pillar method during the Tang Dynasty. Li originally used only the Year, Month, and Day pillars to calculate destiny. During the Song Dynasty, the master Xu Ziping added the Hour Pillar, expanding the system to four pillars and eight characters. Xu Ziping also established the methodology of using the Day Master (the Heavenly Stem of the Day Pillar) as the analytical center of the chart — an innovation that laid the foundation for modern Bazi. His theories were compiled into Yuan Hai Zi Ping, which remains required reading for all serious Bazi practitioners. The system is called "Eight Characters" (Ba Zi) because each of the four pillars consists of two Chinese characters — the Heavenly Stem on top and the Earthly Branch below. Four pillars times two characters equals eight characters, hence the name. These eight characters encompass information from Heaven (Stems) and Earth (Branches), forming a miniature model of the cosmos.

四柱按照从右到左的顺序排列为：年柱、月柱、日柱、时柱。每根柱子代表不同的人生领域和时间阶段。 **年柱** 代表祖辈、家族根基与社会形象，对应人生的幼年阶段（0-16岁）。年柱如同一棵大树的根系，反映家族传承的能量。在社交层面，年柱代表一个人给外人的第一印象。年柱的天干为"年干"，地支为"年支"，年支同时也对应十二生肖。 **月柱** 是四柱中最重要的参考维度之一，被称为"事业宫"或"提纲"。月柱代表父母、成长环境与青年运势（17-32岁）。月支（月令）决定了当令的五行——即当前季节中最旺盛的元素，直接影响日主旺衰的判断。在古典命理中有"月令为提纲"之说，意指月令是评估整个命局格局的首要依据。 **日柱** 的天干称为"日主"或"日元"，是整个命盘的核心身份标识——代表命主本人。日主的五行属性（如甲木、丙火、庚金等）定义了一个人最根本的性格底色。日支被称为"夫妻宫"，在传统命理中代表配偶和婚姻质量。日柱对应中年运势（33-48岁）。 **时柱** 代表子女、晚年运势（49岁以后）与内心世界。时柱反映一个人最深层的追求和最终归宿。在实际应用中，时柱也常被视为事业的后半段发展。

The four pillars are arranged from right to left: Year, Month, Day, and Hour. Each pillar represents different life domains and phases. **Year Pillar** represents ancestors, family foundation, and social image, corresponding to early life (ages 0-16). The Year Pillar is like the root system of a great tree, reflecting inherited family energy. Socially, it represents the first impression a person makes on others. The Year Pillar's Heavenly Stem is the "Year Stem" and its Earthly Branch is the "Year Branch," which also corresponds to the Chinese zodiac animal. **Month Pillar** is one of the most critical reference dimensions among the four pillars, known as the "Career Palace" (Shi Ye Gong) or "Commander" (Ti Gang). It represents parents, upbringing, and youth fortune (ages 17-32). The Month Branch (Month Decree) determines the dominant seasonal element — the most powerful element in the current season — which directly affects the assessment of Day Master strength. Classical Bazi states that "the Month Decree is the Commander," meaning it is the primary basis for evaluating the entire chart's structure. **Day Pillar's** Heavenly Stem is called the "Day Master" (Ri Zhu or Ri Yuan) and serves as the core identity of the entire chart — representing the person themselves. The Day Master's elemental nature (such as Jia Wood, Bing Fire, Geng Metal) defines one's most fundamental personality. The Day Branch is called the "Spouse Palace" and in traditional Bazi represents one's partner and marriage quality. The Day Pillar corresponds to middle-age fortune (ages 33-48). **Hour Pillar** represents children, late-life fortune (age 49 onwards), and the inner world. It reflects a person's deepest aspirations and ultimate direction. In practice, the Hour Pillar is also often viewed as the latter half of career development.

天干和地支是四柱的基本构件，每个天干和地支都承载着特定的五行能量。 **十天干**分为五对，每对对应一种五行：甲乙（木）、丙丁（火）、戊己（土）、庚辛（金）、壬癸（水）。每对中的第一个为阳干，第二个为阴干。阳干的特质更为外向、主动、刚健；阴干的特质则更为内敛、柔和、灵活。 **十二地支**的五行分布更加复杂，因为每个地支内部都藏有"藏干"——一至三个隐藏的天干。这些藏干代表了地支中蕴含的多层五行能量。例如： - 子（水）：藏干为癸水，单一纯水之气 - 丑（土）：藏干为己土、癸水、辛金——以土为主，含水和金 - 寅（木）：藏干为甲木、丙火、戊土——以木为主，生火藏土 藏干的权重按照《渊海子平》标准分配：单藏干权重1.0；双藏干分别为0.7和0.3；三藏干分别为0.6、0.3和0.1。这一精确的量化体系使得五行力量的计算有据可依。 **五行生克关系**是解读命盘的核心逻辑。相生关系（木→火→土→金→水→木）代表滋养和支持；相克关系（木→土→水→火→金→木）代表控制和制约。命局中的平衡与失衡，都通过这两种关系来体现。

Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches are the fundamental building blocks of the Four Pillars, each carrying specific Five Element energy. **The Ten Heavenly Stems** divide into five pairs, each corresponding to one element: Jia-Yi (Wood), Bing-Ding (Fire), Wu-Ji (Earth), Geng-Xin (Metal), Ren-Gui (Water). The first in each pair is Yang, the second is Yin. Yang stems are more outward, active, and assertive; Yin stems are more inward, gentle, and flexible. **The Twelve Earthly Branches** have a more complex elemental distribution because each contains "Hidden Stems" — one to three concealed Heavenly Stems. These represent the multiple layers of elemental energy within each branch. For example: - Zi (Water): Hidden Stem is Gui Water — pure, singular water energy - Chou (Earth): Hidden Stems are Ji Earth, Gui Water, Xin Metal — primarily Earth, containing Water and Metal - Yin (Wood): Hidden Stems are Jia Wood, Bing Fire, Wu Earth — primarily Wood, generating Fire and storing Earth Hidden Stem weights follow the Yuan Hai Zi Ping standard: single Hidden Stem weighs 1.0; dual Hidden Stems weigh 0.7 and 0.3; triple Hidden Stems weigh 0.6, 0.3, and 0.1. This precise quantitative system makes Five Element strength calculation systematic and evidence-based. **The Five Element productive and controlling cycles** are the core logic of chart interpretation. The productive cycle (Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water → Wood) represents nurturing and support; the controlling cycle (Wood → Earth → Water → Fire → Metal → Wood) represents regulation and restraint. Balance and imbalance in a chart are both expressed through these two relationships.

十神是四柱命理的核心解读语言。以日主为中心，命盘中的每个天干都会根据其五行与日主的关系被归类为十种角色之一。 **生我者为印**——生日主的元素为"印绶"。同阴阳为"偏印"（Indirect Resource），异阴阳为"正印"（Direct Resource）。印代表学习、保护、母亲的关怀，也代表内在的精神力量。 **我生者为食伤**——日主所生的元素为"食伤"。同阴阳为"食神"（Eating God），异阴阳为"伤官"（Hurting Officer）。食伤代表才华、表达、创造力和产出。 **克我者为官杀**——克制日主的元素为"官杀"。同阴阳为"七杀"（Seven Killings），异阴阳为"正官"（Direct Officer）。官杀代表压力、纪律、权威和社会地位。 **我克者为财**——日主所克的元素为"财"。同阴阳为"偏财"（Indirect Wealth），异阴阳为"正财"（Direct Wealth）。财代表收入、资产和对物质的掌控力。 **与我同类为比劫**——与日主同五行的元素为"比劫"。同阴阳为"比肩"（Friend），异阴阳为"劫财"（Rob Wealth）。比劫代表同辈、竞争者、合作伙伴和自我意志。 十神的组合模式揭示了一个人的性格结构、事业风格、人际关系模式和财运走向。例如，食神旺的人天生擅长表达和创意工作；七杀旺的人具有强大的行动力和领导气质。

The Ten Gods are the core interpretive language of Four Pillars analysis. With the Day Master as the center, every Heavenly Stem in the chart is classified into one of ten roles based on its elemental relationship to the Day Master. **What produces me is Resource** — The element that produces the Day Master is "Resource" (Yin). Same polarity is "Indirect Resource" (Pian Yin); different polarity is "Direct Resource" (Zheng Yin). Resource represents learning, protection, maternal care, and inner spiritual strength. **What I produce is Output** — The element produced by the Day Master is "Output" (Shi Shang). Same polarity is "Eating God" (Shi Shen); different polarity is "Hurting Officer" (Shang Guan). Output represents talent, expression, creativity, and productivity. **What controls me is Authority** — The element that controls the Day Master is "Authority" (Guan Sha). Same polarity is "Seven Killings" (Qi Sha); different polarity is "Direct Officer" (Zheng Guan). Authority represents pressure, discipline, power, and social status. **What I control is Wealth** — The element controlled by the Day Master is "Wealth" (Cai). Same polarity is "Indirect Wealth" (Pian Cai); different polarity is "Direct Wealth" (Zheng Cai). Wealth represents income, assets, and material mastery. **What is the same as me is Companion** — Elements sharing the Day Master's element are "Companion" (Bi Jie). Same polarity is "Friend" (Bi Jian); different polarity is "Rob Wealth" (Jie Cai). Companion represents peers, competitors, partners, and willpower. The combination patterns of the Ten Gods reveal a person's personality structure, career style, relationship patterns, and financial tendencies. For example, someone with strong Eating God energy is naturally gifted in expression and creative work, while someone with prominent Seven Killings possesses powerful drive and leadership charisma.

四柱命盘展示的是先天格局，而大运和流年则揭示了命运随时间展开的动态变化。 **大运**是从月柱出发，沿着六十甲子的顺序（顺行或逆行）推演出来的十年运势周期。每步大运持续十年，包含一个天干和一个地支。大运的方向取决于性别和年干的阴阳：男命阳年或女命阴年顺排，男命阴年或女命阳年逆排。 起运年龄的计算方法是：从出生日到下一个（顺行）或上一个（逆行）节气的天数除以3，取整数即为起运岁数。例如，某人出生后9天才到下一个节气，9÷3=3岁起运。 **流年**更为直接——每年都有自己的天干地支（按照六十甲子循环）。当流年的天干地支与命局或大运发生有利的生合关系时，运势趋好；若发生冲克关系，则需注意挑战。 **实际应用举例：** 一个日主为甲木的弱命，用神为水（印绶）。当大运行至壬子运（天干壬水、地支子水），水力大增，正是学业、事业稳步提升的黄金期。反之，如果大运行至庚申运（金旺克木），则可能面临较大压力。 理解大运和流年的互动，是把八字从静态分析提升为动态人生导航的关键。

The Four Pillars chart represents the innate configuration, while Luck Pillars and Annual Fortune reveal how destiny unfolds dynamically over time. **Luck Pillars** (Da Yun) are ten-year fortune cycles derived from the Month Pillar, progressing forward or backward through the sixty Jia Zi cycle. Each Luck Pillar lasts ten years and contains one Heavenly Stem and one Earthly Branch. The direction depends on gender and the Year Stem's polarity: male Yang year or female Yin year progresses forward; male Yin year or female Yang year progresses in reverse. The starting age is calculated by counting the days from birth to the next (forward) or previous (reverse) Solar Term, dividing by three, and rounding to a whole number. For example, if someone is born 9 days before the next Solar Term, 9 ÷ 3 = age 3 start. **Annual Fortune** (Liu Nian) is more straightforward — each year has its own Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch (cycling through the sixty Jia Zi). When the year's Stem and Branch form favorable productive or harmony relationships with the natal chart or current Luck Pillar, fortune improves; when clashes or controlling relationships occur, challenges may arise. **Practical example:** A weak Jia Wood Day Master with Water as Yong Shen (Resource). When the Luck Pillar enters Ren-Zi (Heavenly Stem Ren Water, Earthly Branch Zi Water), water power surges — this is a golden period for academic and career advancement. Conversely, entering a Geng-Shen Luck Pillar (strong Metal controlling Wood) may bring considerable pressure. Understanding the interaction between Luck Pillars and Annual Fortune is the key to transforming Bazi from static analysis into dynamic life navigation.

四柱命理历经千年传承，在现代社会依然焕发着独特的实用价值。 **个人发展**——通过了解自己的日主特质和十神配置，可以更好地认识自身优势和需要提升的领域。这不是宿命论，而是一种自我认知的工具。就像MBTI和星座提供性格参考一样，四柱命理从五行的角度提供了另一个维度的自我理解。 **职业规划**——月柱十神（事业宫）和用神五行共同指向适合的行业方向。例如，食伤旺的人适合内容创作、教育、餐饮等输出型行业；正官旺的人适合公务、法律、管理等需要权威和秩序的领域。 **关系咨询**——通过比较两个人的命盘，可以分析五行的互补性和十神的互动关系，帮助理解关系中的天然和谐与潜在摩擦。 **择日与时机**——结合流年大运分析，可以为重大决策（创业、搬迁、签约等）选择有利的时间窗口。 **健康意识**——五行对应人体五脏系统（木-肝、火-心、土-脾、金-肺、水-肾），五行失衡的部分往往对应需要关注的健康领域。 现代科技让四柱排盘变得触手可及。BaziGua 提供免费的在线八字计算器，结合真太阳时校正和用神分析，帮助你开启探索四柱命理的旅程。

The Four Pillars system has endured for millennia and continues to offer unique practical value in modern society. **Personal Development** — Understanding your Day Master traits and Ten Gods configuration helps you better recognize your strengths and areas for growth. This isn't fatalism but rather a self-awareness tool. Just as MBTI and zodiac signs provide personality references, Four Pillars offers another dimension of self-understanding from the perspective of the Five Elements. **Career Planning** — The Month Pillar's Ten God (Career Palace) and Yong Shen element together point toward suitable industry directions. For example, those with strong Output (Eating God/Hurting Officer) suit content creation, education, and food service — output-oriented industries. Those with strong Direct Officer suit civil service, law, and management — fields requiring authority and order. **Relationship Consulting** — By comparing two people's charts, one can analyze elemental complementarity and Ten Gods interactions, helping understand the natural harmony and potential friction in relationships. **Date Selection and Timing** — Combined with annual fortune and Luck Pillar analysis, favorable time windows can be identified for major decisions like starting a business, relocating, or signing contracts. **Health Awareness** — The Five Elements correspond to the body's organ systems (Wood-liver, Fire-heart, Earth-spleen, Metal-lungs, Water-kidneys). Areas of elemental imbalance often correspond to health areas that deserve attention. Modern technology has made Four Pillars chart calculation accessible to everyone. BaziGua offers a free online Bazi calculator with True Solar Time correction and Yong Shen analysis to help you begin your journey exploring the Four Pillars of Destiny.