How to Read your BaZi Chart - Introduction

It is important for you to be reasonably well versed with the Fundamentals, the Relationships between the Stems and Branches, the Concept of the Yin and Yang, the Luck Cycle and the pictorially approach to begin the first steps of reading a BaZi Chart.

Heavenly Stems Combinations – The Language of BaZi

Before this lesson, it is advantageous that you learn and memorize the terminology of each of the elements in a BaZi Chart. This will ensure that you understand the essence of the art if BaZi reading.

Heavenly Stems Countering
The Conflicting Relationship

The term Countering is the inimical relationship between 2 Heavenly Stems, which transpire when 2 elements are in oppose to each other. With the Heavenly Stems, the term Clash is not used as the Heavenly Stems are the surface level of QI. Clash is the antagonistic relationships between the Earthly Branches, which are really our deep thinking feeling on the inside.

Earthly Branches – Combination (Part 1)
The 6 Harmony Combinations

Before you begin this lesson on Earthly Branches, do a quick recap on the 12 Animal Signs which represents the Earthly Branches. You will find these from your notes from Lesson 5. Knowing the 12 Animal Sign and their relationship with each other is important as this will form into the three types of Earthly Branches Combinations: The Harmony, Combination, The Directional Combination and The Six Harmony Combination.

Earthly Branches - Combination (Part 2)
The 3 Harmony Combinations & The Directional Combination

As discussed in Part 1 of the Earthly Branches, there are 2 more combinations we will closely examine in Part 2 of this lesson: The 3 Harmony Combinations and The Directional Combinations.

Earthly Branches – Clash

An Earthly Branch represents the timing and is the core rudimentary emotions, thoughts and the representation of internal organs in a person. While with the Heavenly Stem the relationship between 2 elements is called a Counter, but with the Earthly Branch it is called as a Clash.

Earthly Branches – Harms

Harms are more severe in intensity when compared to a clash in the Earthly Branch simply because in a clash you can see the clash coming and hence you can brace yourself for it. A harm however, happens in most unlikely situations where the emotional distress is greater.

Earthly Branch – Punishments

In this lesson you study the more complex relationship between the Earthly Branch. Before embarking on this lesson on Punishments, be sure to run through your previous notes on the Earthly Branch 6 Harmony Combinations, the 3 Harmony Combinations, the Directional Combinations, the Earthly branch 6 Clashes and the Earthly Branch 6 Harms. These are cardinal information you must know before proceeding deeper into your studies of BaZi.

Earthly Branch – Destruction

Destroying the Old, Establishing the New.

Finally we have come to the very last of the 5 Earthly Branch relationships. The Destruction relationship in a BaZi Chart indicates a plausible situation of a damaging action the person has taken which is not of his own will. The situation is forced upon and the person feels backed into a corner.

Application of reading Techniques 101:
Application of the Heavenly Stems & Earthly Branch Relationships

At this level of your BaZi studies, you should be able to relate the Cosmic trinity, the concept of Yin and Yang and the 5 Elements. You have also revealed Heavenly Stems relationships and Earthly Branch relationships. Remember that the Heavenly Stems relationships represents the prevailing Qi and Earthly Branches relationships hidden rudiments of emotions, thoughts and the representation of internal organs. Thus, indicating the Earthly Branch relationships have more serious implications to a person.