The Stars of the Four Pillars/Bazi

Direct Officer: The star that controls the Day Master with the opposite polarities, such as Yin Water to Yang Fire. One of the best to have in the Four Pillars, because it minimizes efforts, but be careful about the authority one follows, and never follow blindly.

The procedure is as follows: The Death and Emptiness always refer to the Day Pillar, although they can refer to other Pillars as well. So, find your day Pillar in one of the Streams, from above, and then see if one of the Death or Emptiness Branches are in that stream. That will tell you if there is Death or Emptiness in your BaZi. For example, if one’s Day Pillar is the Wood Dog (1XI), then this is Stream 2. The Death and Emptiness Pillars are then IX and X, or Monkey and Rooster. The meanings are not necessarily bad/difficult: Death and Emptiness mean that the Branch is not able to support the Stem. However, if the Branch is an inimical placement (a Stressful Star) to begin with, then the influence is negated, which helps a person and releases one from its negative effects. The opposite is also true, and the overall effect is like the Pillar with the Death or Emptiness Branch has taken a holiday, as an analogy, and is of no use. As for the individual elements:

From our sample chart: From the top down in this list, Rob Wealth would be any Pillar would have Yang Metal. There is no Rob Wealth in the natal Four Pillars. The Eating God would be Water, which is found in the Hour Pillar. But there is double Yin Metal in the chart, which tends to cancel the Eating God. We find instead the Hour Pillar as the Hurting Officer of the Day Master. There are also two Hurting Officers to the Month Pillar, from the Day and the Year. Indirect Wealth would be a Yin Wood Pillar, which would have to come from a Year or a Luck Pillar. The same would be true for Direct Wealth, which would require a Yang Wood Pillar. Direct Officer would be a Yang Fire Pillar, and again, there are none in this chart. Likewise there is no Killing Pillar. The Day Master is the Direct Resource for the Hour Pillar, which would be an excellent position for parenting. Indirect Resource would be a Yin Water Pillar. The Month Pillar is Direct Wealth for this person, indicating a good family upbringing. The Dragon Pillar is the Death Star for the Day Master, which is good for speaking professions, like sales, press agents, diplomats and so forth. It is a very good placement for promoting one’s creative pursuits. In the Luck Pillar it is a good period for self-promotion. From here we go on to the meanings of the various stars.

The Fortunate Stars

Dragon Virtue: LongDe / 龙德 (Mentor, Promotion) One of the best stars to have in your BaZi. It brings ease and great luck. Meeting mentors and getting promotions. Clashes and combinations may remove the auspiciousness.

Fortune Noble Star: ShiGanLu / LuShen / 禄神 (Thriving, HS Wealth, Prosperity, Fortune Star, Promotion) Derived from the Day Stem. These people act in a more proactive and positive manner. Very energetic in doing things, positive in action, with a comfortable life, a smooth sailing life and positive money flow fro a weak Day Master. If the Day Master is strong this star tends toward carelessness, sloppiness and lack of commitment. If in an Empty Branch it brings financial hardship and losses, either by birth or by Luck Pillar.

Fortune Virtue: This star gives a lifetime of fortune, and fulfilment of every desire. It enhances every auspicious situation. Clashes and combinations will remove the auspiciousness.

General Star: JiangXing / 将星 Derived from the Day Branch. (General, Financier, Gold Safe) People who have the General Star will have outstanding leadership ability and authority. This star dislikes sitting beside or combining with Clash or evil stars! If this happens, the General Star will become a fierce star, and will encourage power combined with wicked and wild behavior, especially if by the Luck Pillars. The star is also a wealth star, and these people will be in charge of finances and sit in official positions.

Golden Carriage: JinYu / 金舆 (Helpful Wife/Husband) People with Golden Carriage will have a happy match with a partner or have a spouse that brings wealth. They will care for their siblings, and can become rich. It gives good relationships. Both men and women look gentle, and have kind words and deeds, leading to a happy life, with strong family bonding. It is a fame and wealth star and can bring high station and reputation.

Gold Safe: These people have outstanding talent, ability and strong financial and management abilities, which commonly leads to leadership and executive positions. Clashes and combinations will remove the auspiciousness.

Heavenly Joy: TianXi / 天喜 Creates a fine and upstanding character with fine features. It is generally very lucky.

Heavenly Noble: TianDeGuiRen / 天德贵人 (Heavenly Virtue Noble, Heaven Nobleman, Heavenly Virtue) Derived from the Month Branch. Implies good family upbringing. Gives encounters with helpful and sympathetic people. It is especially helpful in difficult times, as in when there are clashes otherwise because it brings in help and guidance when needed the most. Instrumental in helping you achieve your goals in life. This is one of the most fortunate stars to have in the BaZi chart. Marks goodness and compassion in character, high morality and aid to the weak.

Learning Hall: XueTang / 学堂 (Professor, Literacy, Precious Educational Hall, Academic Star) Derived from the Day Stem. Gives higher than average intelligence, facility with academic studies, a person who excels at learning, facility with words and an ability to turn difficult situations to one’s advantage. It gives the ability to ‘think outside the box’.

Literary: WenChang / WenXing / 文昌 (Intelligence, Academic, Intellect) Derived from the Day Stem. This is a blessing star, and can turn bad into good. Clever and intelligent, very versatile in thought and actions. Good with words and writing. Pleasant personality. Attention to details and very instrumental.

Red Phoenix: HongLuan / 红鸾 (Red Matchmaker, Celebration, Promotion) Derived from the Year Branch. Men and women with this placement are generally charming and beautiful. It aids in seeking financial benefit, and also helps in attracting auspicious events. If it appears on the Stem it is better. Clashes and combinations will reduce auspiciousness.

The Stressful Stars

Bath: This is another type of Peach Blossom. It is mostly related to relationship disputes.

Blood Edge: XueRen / 血刃 (Bloody Knife, Star of Blood) Derived from the Month Branch, implying family/childhood influences. Branch conflicts exacerbate the troublesome aspects of this star. If there are no clashes, then it is usually dormant unless activated by a clash with a luck pillar. Prone to accidents and injury, bleeding, surgery due to things such as sharp objects: knives, weapons and other such items. This person is more sensitive than usual, and should be careful when handling such objects.

Day Breaker: Life for the Day Breaker personality is very unstable. They do not like restrictions and they feel restless at home. The spouse will have poor health or the relationship will end in divorce or it will result in quarrels between husband and wife; or they will find it difficult to get along with their children, or the children will have poor health.

Deceased God/ Official Charm, also known as the Death Star: WangShen / 亡神 (Death God, Legal Mobster, Death Star, Deceased God, Spirit of Decline) Derived from the Day Branch. This star has a mixed influence, depending on other factors. Well-placed, it is known as Official Charm. If it is so, the person will have power and authority, making them good with strategic planning, with sophisticated plans, a go-getter, but shallow of heart and calculating, petty and impatient. It is also one of the placements that gives a love of ‘wine, women (or men) and song’. If the same chart with an ominous star, its ominous nature is more to the fore, giving frivolous lawsuits, and causing one to lose ground.

Déjà vu: Déjà vu means the duplication of a pillar. Represents pain, depression, or even bankruptcy, as well as personal damage, such as self-harming or addictions. The position of the other Pillar will indicate the direction of the harming causation.

Five Ghosts: WuGui / 五鬼 (Five Ghost Talisman, Backstabbing, Bickering, Five Ghosts of Void and Decline) Derived from the Year Branch. This is a particularly harmful star. It tends to give pitfalls in life, such as lawsuits, litigation, vulnerability to thieves or accidents. These people must be vigilant and careful at all times, speak the truth always and be modest in their behavior and speech.

Flying Dagger: FeiRen / 飞刃 (Flying Blade, Flying Knife, Star of Blood) Derived from the Day Stem. As the name suggests, this star can result in miscarriages, injuries from criminal behavior, bloodletting, or bankruptcy. It is unique in that it can produce traffic accidents due to behavioral problems.

Funeral Gate: SangMenSha / 丧门 (Funeral Door, Mourning Star) Derived from the Day Branch. It is said that people with this star offend the evil spirits if one attends funerals or visits gravesites. It is detrimental to financial issues when it appears in the year (progressed Pillar or the Year Pillar). When going through the Luck Pillar with this star, one should pay more attention to the health of parents and relatives, taking care of their health if possible. It is activated only if in conflict or harm with Branches.

Goat Blade: YangRen / 羊刃 (Yang Knife, Sword) Derived from the Day Stem. Like the Flying Dagger, this star tends toward wounds, but without the criminal element. It is a star of power. This is a bravery star and is resilient. The personality is impatient, gives emotional entanglements and intensity of actions. It is not a good match for siblings, in that they will constantly be daring each other to do and say things. In careers it tends toward the military, the judiciary, police, surgeons or technical trades, where skill and daring are required. For weak Day Master, good luck and success. For strong Day Master, bad luck, legal problems and poor family relations.

Heaven Dog: Another star of criminal injury, and being accident-prone. It is a star that can produce disfigurement. Be particularly careful when it appears in the Luck Pillars (progressed Pillars). Damage through villainy or disease can arise then.

Hook Edge: GouJiao / 勾绞 (Quarrel, Dispute, Meeting the Law ) Derived from the Year Branch. It is very easy to get into trouble with this star, with a lifetime of gossiping and trouble. People with this placement should think before talking and should mind their own business. Can indicate the occurrence of litigation. If in the Day or Luck Pillar there could be losses and injuries.

Imperial Canopy: HuaGai / 华盖 (Elegant Seal, Loner, Talent, Elegant Cover, Star of Arts) Derived from the Day Branch. This is a star that gives unique ideas, talents, skills, artistry, musical ability, and ability in design and aesthetics. This is a very talented person – smart, philosophical, with an interest in metaphysics, religion, knowledgeable, and producing a psychic nature. These people can live up to their highest potential to reach their goals. With an attitude toward loneliness, they can do without much help from siblings and relatives. Imperial Canopy, Resource or Officer stars in the same Pillar and will indicate a person who is highly respected in society and it gives achievements in official circles. If Imperial Canopy falls into empty placements, it will be good for religious life or a solitary progress. If the Imperial Canopy falls into death placements, Clash or Control, Sickness and Disaster stars, it will be difficult to raise children. In such case as the latter, the life path will not smooth sailing.

Major Squander/Age Clasher: SuiPo / 岁破 (financial losses, destruction) Wasted time and many twists and turns in life. Prevention is the best cure here, as is a careful and steady outlook. It gives a greater chance of monetary loss, loss of inheritance, and generally tends toward anxiety and poor health. There is the possibility of injuries.

Peach Blossom: XianChiTaoHua / 咸池桃花 (Peach Blossom by the Pool, Flower of Romance ) Derived from the Day Branch. Peach Blossom is a mixed influence, good or bad depending on the other influences. It must be judged with reference to the five elements and the good and bad Shensha. If appearing at the Year or Month, it will be categorized as ‘inside Peach Blossom’, which gives blessings within relationships. If appearing at the Day or Hour, it will be categorized as ‘outside Peach Blossom’, which tends toward extramarital affairs. If more than three Beach Blossoms appear at the Branch of either the Rat, the Horse, the Rabbit or the Rooster, it would mean Peach Blossom everywhere! Peach Blossom produces charming men and beautiful women, great popularity, passionate, and sometimes greedy people. However, it also tends to produce people who are more emotionally unstable, with disorderly conduct, and big-time spenders – and very worldly-wise as a result!

Red Clouds: LiuXia / 流霞 (Cascading Clouds, Injury, Star of Blood, Shooting Star ) Derived from the Day Master. This is one of the disaster stars and tends toward accident-prone people and sudden, unexpected events. It is also what might be called a ‘bloody star’, in that it tends toward bloody traumas, such as abortion, major surgeries, and miscarriage – sometimes even death.

Red Envy HongYanSha / HongYanTaoHua / 红艳桃花 (Red Chamber, Affair, Beautiful Peach Blossom, Peach Blossom, Passions, Red Peach Blossom) Derived from the Day Stem. Difficulties in controlling the passions, with many intimate relationships. Produces a lovable character, passionate and desirable, romantic and sentimental, handsome looks for man and beautiful women. Affairs are often indicated for people in relationships.

Separate Edge: Life with the Separate Edge star gives pitfalls, frivolous lawsuits or jail time. Experience has shown that life with Separate Edge is not necessarily the main cause of imprisonment or lawsuits. It can mean outstation or overseas assignments. Otherwise, it is hard to get out of difficult circumstances.

Solitary Star and Widow Lodge: GuChen / 孤辰 (Hermit loner, Solitary Time, Loneliness) Derived from the Day Branch. This can give a solitary life, is characteristic of loneliness, and is not good for siblings and relatives. If it receives supporting stars, these can take away the solitary nature. If it is found with death stars, it will not be good. Good fortune is not realized in a timely manner. If the Day Pillar is the Solitary Star, The person will have no affinity with the spouse and children. The Solitary Star at Year Pillar is better for getting a foster parent, because it could harm the biological parent. For a man with the Solitary Star, and with the Direct and Indirect Wealth falling into death star placements, it means that married life is not accommodating. Woman with Widow Lodge, and with Officer and Killing stars falling in death star placements, this also means that married life is not accommodating. Great effort should be put into communication skills with partners and children in such cases.

Six Adversities: A lifetime of difficulties, worries and hardships. If there are fortunate stars to help, they can reverse the effects.

Tomb Storage: This gives introverted and stubborn people, who always like to hide the truth. It also indicates hidden talents. It tends toward an argumentative nature, negative thoughts and emotions and mental disturbances. In health, it tends toward a weak constitution.

Tragic Disaster: The main indicator here is for fire and water disasters. If a fortune star helps, it will become very powerful.

Tragic Robbery: JieSha / 劫煞 (Robbery Sha, Accident, Robbing Devil, Robbery, Robbing Star) Derived from the Day Branch. The name of this start literally means ‘taking power’. It is a star of intrigue and scheming, either by the person if strong or toward the person if from the Luck Pillar. This gives an impatient personality, a lifetime of being the brunt of gossip, bankruptcy and misfortune. It gives problems related to ear, nose, throat and intestinal disease. If it can be used constructively, it will produce a competitive person with the courage to act and serve. If the person is jealous, it indicates sexual violence, vulnerability to unexpected disasters. If found in the Year Pillar or the Luck Pillar, beware of bankruptcy, being framed and hurt by friends, extortion and other such unhappiness.

Travelling Horse: YiMa / 驿马 (Sky Horse, Travel, Post Horse, Horse Star, Horseman) Derived from the Day Branch. The Travelling Horse is a busy, outgoing, emphasis. It acts fiercely. It gives an unstable mindset, but is perfect for self-development abroad, and it gives many changes in career. Suitable for careers such as diplomatic work, foreign affairs, actors, drivers, restauranteurs, writers, tourism, travel workers, and traveling salespeople. It weakens favorable stars because of its instability and exacerbates unfortunate stars.

White Tiger: This is the star of criminal injury. It makes it easier to get into lawsuits and makes a person prone to bodily injury. There can be accidents or even bankruptcy, and there can be traffic accidents. Females with this star produce a staunch and decisive personality.