Learn Bazi, with the sources
Each guide explains one idea in plain English and quotes the classical texts — 滴天髓, 淵海子平, 三命通會 — in the original Chinese with a link so you can check the line yourself.
What is Bazi?The Four Pillars in plain EnglishThe ten heavenly stems (天干)The ten stems 天干 and the Di Tian Sui versesThe twelve earthly branches (地支)The twelve branches 地支, months, hours and animalsThe five elements (五行) in BaziWood, fire, earth, metal, water and their cyclesThe Day Master (日主)The stem that represents youThe ten gods (十神)How every stem relates to the Day MasterHidden stems (藏干)The stems stored inside each branchLuck pillars (大运)Ten-year cycles and how the start age is foundThe useful god (用神)What a chart needs: 用神 in the classicsTrue solar time (真太阳时)Why clock time is not the time in BaziSolar terms and the Bazi calendarWhy the Bazi year starts at Li ChunNa Yin (纳音): the melodic elementsThe 30 “sound” elements of the 60 pillarsThe twelve life stages (十二长生)Growth to tomb: 长生十二宫Combinations and clashesStem combinations, three harmonies, six combinations, clashesHow to read a Bazi chart, step by stepA step-by-step classical methodLi Chun (立春) dates and times, 1900–2100Start-of-spring date and time for every year 1900–2100Jia Wood Day Master (甲)Yang Wood (甲) — verse, traits, ten godsYi Wood Day Master (乙)Yin Wood (乙) — verse, traits, ten godsBing Fire Day Master (丙)Yang Fire (丙) — verse, traits, ten godsDing Fire Day Master (丁)Yin Fire (丁) — verse, traits, ten godsWu Earth Day Master (戊)Yang Earth (戊) — verse, traits, ten godsJi Earth Day Master (己)Yin Earth (己) — verse, traits, ten godsGeng Metal Day Master (庚)Yang Metal (庚) — verse, traits, ten godsXin Metal Day Master (辛)Yin Metal (辛) — verse, traits, ten godsRen Water Day Master (壬)Yang Water (壬) — verse, traits, ten godsGui Water Day Master (癸)Yin Water (癸) — verse, traits, ten gods