四柱命理

BaZi Glossary

A bilingual, annotated reference for the terminology of Four Pillars of Destiny

壹 · Category I

基础构件

Foundational Components

四柱八字的基本构成元素——天干、地支、四柱、藏干、纳音等,是命理分析的原子单位。

天干 Heavenly Stems tiān gān
十天干:甲、乙、丙、丁、戊、己、庚、辛、壬、癸。各具阴阳五行属性,为四柱之上字。
The ten Celestial Stems: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui. Each carries a yin-yang and five-element attribute; they form the upper characters of the four pillars.
例 Example 甲 = Wood (yang) · 乙 = Wood (yin) · 丙 = Fire (yang) …
地支 Earthly Branches dì zhī
十二地支:子、丑、寅、卯、辰、巳、午、未、申、酉、戌、亥。对应十二生肖与月份,构成四柱之下字。
The twelve Earthly Branches: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai. Corresponding to the twelve zodiac animals and months; they form the lower characters of the four pillars.
例 Example 子 = Rat (Water) · 午 = Horse (Fire) · 酉 = Rooster (Metal)
四柱 Four Pillars sì zhù
由年柱、月柱、日柱、时柱组成。每柱一干一支,共四柱。日柱天干为"日主"(命主)。
Composed of the Year, Month, Day, and Hour Pillars. Each pillar pairs one Stem with one Branch. The Day Stem is the "Day Master" (the self).
例 Example 年柱 甲子 · 月柱 丙寅 · 日柱 戊辰 · 时柱 庚午
八字 Eight Characters / BaZi bā zì
四柱各有一干一支,共八个字,故称"八字"。亦称"四柱八字"。是推命的核心依据。
Each of the four pillars has one Stem and one Branch — eight characters in total, hence "BaZi" (Eight Characters). Also called "Four Pillars Eight Characters." This is the core basis of destiny analysis.
藏干 Hidden Stems cáng gān
每个地支中暗藏一个或多个天干,称"藏干"或"人元"。分本气、中气、余气三层。
Each Earthly Branch conceals one or more Heavenly Stems, called "Hidden Stems" or "Human Element." They are divided into Primary Qi, Secondary Qi, and Residual Qi layers.
例 Example 寅藏甲(本气)、丙(中气)、戊(余气)
本气 Primary Qi běn qì
地支中主要的五行之气,力量最强。对应地支的本体五行。
The dominant five-element force within an Earthly Branch, possessing the greatest strength. Corresponds to the Branch's intrinsic element.
例 Example 寅之本气为甲(木)· 午之本气为丁(火)
中气 Secondary Qi zhōng qì
地支中次一级的五行力量,介于本气与余气之间。
The second-tier five-element force within an Earthly Branch, intermediate between Primary and Residual Qi.
例 Example 寅之中气为丙(火)
余气 Residual Qi yú qì
地支中残留的五行之气,力量最弱。常为上一季节的余气。
The remnant five-element force within an Earthly Branch, the weakest of the three layers. Often the lingering qi from the preceding season.
例 Example 寅之余气为戊(土)
纳音 Nayin (Melodic Element) nà yīn
以干支组合配六十甲子纳音五行(如"海中金"、"炉中火"等),共三十组,每组两个干支。为古法推命的补充体系。
Each pair of Stem-Branch combinations is assigned one of thirty Melodic Elements (e.g., "Gold in the Sea," "Fire in the Furnace") under the sixty Jiazi cycle. A supplementary system in classical fortune-telling.
例 Example 甲子、乙丑 → 海中金 (Gold in the Sea)
日主 Day Master rì zhǔ
日柱的天干,代表命主本人。八字分析以日主为中心,衡量其余七个字对日主的生克关系。
The Heavenly Stem of the Day Pillar, representing the person whose chart is being read. All analysis revolves around the Day Master, evaluating how the other seven characters produce or overcome it.
命宫 Life Palace mìng gōng
根据出生月、时推算出的地支宫位,代表先天命数,为辅助推断之用。
An Earthly Branch palace calculated from the birth month and hour, representing innate destiny. Used as a supplementary analytical tool.
胎元 Embryo Element tāi yuán
受胎之月的干支,由月柱天干进一、地支进三推得。代表先天之气。
The Stem-Branch of the month of conception, derived by advancing the Month Stem one step and the Branch three steps. Represents prenatal qi.

贰 · Category II

关系运算

Relational Operations

天干地支之间的生克制化、刑冲合害等关系运算,是八字推断的核心机制。

Generating (Sheng) shēng
五行相生:木生火、火生土、土生金、金生水、水生木。表示滋养、促进关系。
Five-Element generation cycle: Wood feeds Fire, Fire feeds Earth, Earth produces Metal, Metal carries Water, Water nourishes Wood. Signifies nourishment and promotion.
Overcoming (Ke)
五行相克:木克土、土克水、水克火、火克金、金克木。表示制约、控制关系。
Five-Element conquest cycle: Wood breaks Earth, Earth dams Water, Water douses Fire, Fire melts Metal, Metal chops Wood. Signifies restraint and control.
Combination (He)
天干五合与地支六合。合有"化"与"绊"之分,合化成功则变五行,合而不化则互相牵绊。
Includes the Five Heavenly Stem Combinations and Six Earthly Branch Combinations. "Combination" may "transform" (hua) the elements or merely "bind" (ban) them without transformation.
例 Example 天干五合:甲己合土 · 乙庚合金 · 丙辛合水 · 丁壬合木 · 戊癸合火
Clash (Chong) chōng
地支六冲:子午冲、丑未冲、寅申冲、卯酉冲、辰戌冲、巳亥冲。对冲方位,五行相克,主冲突变动。
The Six Earthly Branch Clashes: Zi-Wu, Chou-Wei, Yin-Shen, Mao-You, Chen-Xu, Si-Hai. Opposite positions on the zodiac wheel, with elemental opposition. Indicates conflict and upheaval.
Punishment (Xing) xíng
地支相刑,有三刑(寅巳申/丑未戌/子卯)与自刑(辰辰/午午/酉酉/亥亥)。主刑伤、官讼、病灾。
Earthly Branch Punishments: the Three Punishments (Yin-Si-Shen / Chou-Wei-Xu / Zi-Mao) and Self-Punishments (Chen-Chen / Wu-Wu / You-You / Hai-Hai). Indicates legal trouble, illness, and injury.
Harm (Hai) hài
地支六害:子未害、丑午害、寅巳害、卯辰害、申亥害、酉戌害。主不和、陷害。
Six Earthly Branch Harms: Zi-Wei, Chou-Wu, Yin-Si, Mao-Chen, Shen-Hai, You-Xu. Indicates discord and betrayal.
三合 Three Harmony (San He) sān hé
地支三合局:申子辰合水、亥卯未合木、寅午戌合火、巳酉丑合金。三字齐全则合局成立,力量强大。
Three Harmony Combinations: Shen-Zi-Chen (Water), Hai-Mao-Wei (Wood), Yin-Wu-Xu (Fire), Si-You-Chou (Metal). When all three are present, a powerful combination forms.
三会 Three Convergence (San Hui) sān huì
地支三会方:寅卯辰会东方木、巳午未会南方火、申酉戌会西方金、亥子丑会北方水。三字齐全则会方,力量大于三合。
Directional Convergence: Yin-Mao-Chen (East Wood), Si-Wu-Wei (South Fire), Shen-You-Xu (West Metal), Hai-Zi-Chou (North Water). When all three are present, power exceeds Three Harmony.
Destruction (Po)
地支六破:子酉破、丑辰破、寅亥破、卯午破、巳申破、未戌破。主破坏、损耗。
Six Earthly Branch Destructions: Zi-You, Chou-Chen, Yin-Hai, Mao-Wu, Si-Shen, Wei-Xu. Indicates damage and attrition.
Transformation (Hua) huà
天干合化成功后五行转变。需月令、地支助力方可化。如甲己合化土,需土旺之月令。
When a Stem Combination successfully transforms, the element changes. Requires support from the Month Branch and other Branches. E.g., Jia-Ji transforms to Earth only when Earth is strong in the month.
Restraining (Zhi) zhì
以一五行之力压制另一五行。如七杀(偏官)太旺,用食神制之。
Using one five-element force to suppress another. E.g., when the Seven Killings (Partial Officer) is overly strong, use the Eating God to restrain it.
化(泄) Dissipation (Xie) xiè
通过相生链条化解过旺之力。如官杀太旺用印化之(杀生印、印生身)。
Resolving excessive power through the generation chain. E.g., when Officer/Killing is too strong, use the Seal (resource) to transform it: Killing generates Seal, Seal generates Self.

叁 · Category III

吉凶神煞

Deities, Spirits & Stars

十神体系与神煞星曜,用于判断命局的吉凶格局、性格特征与人生走向。

十神 Ten Gods / Ten Spirits shí shén
以日主为太极点,将其余干支按五行生克与阴阳关系分为十类:比肩、劫财、食神、伤官、偏财、正财、七杀、正官、偏印、正印。
Using the Day Master as reference, the other Stems/Branches are classified into ten categories by five-element relationship and yin-yang polarity: Companion, Rob Wealth, Eating God, Hurting Officer, Indirect Wealth, Direct Wealth, Seven Killings, Direct Officer, Indirect Seal, Direct Seal.
正印 Direct Seal (Zheng Yin) zhèng yìn
生我且异性者。代表母亲、贵人、学业、庇护。主慈爱、保护、学识。
Generates me, opposite polarity. Represents mother, benefactor, education, protection. Signifies kindness, shelter, and scholarship.
偏印 Indirect Seal (Pian Yin) piān yìn
生我且同性者。又称"枭神"(枭印)。主才华偏门、继母、孤独、灵感。
Generates me, same polarity. Also called "Owl God." Signifies unconventional talent, stepmother, solitude, and inspiration.
正官 Direct Officer (Zheng Guan) zhèng guān
克我且异性者。代表丈夫(女命)、上司、法律、名誉。主约束、正统、责任感。
Overcomes me, opposite polarity. Represents husband (for women), superior, law, reputation. Signifies discipline, orthodoxy, and responsibility.
七杀 Seven Killings (Qi Sha) qī shā
克我且同性者。又称"偏官"。主权威、魄力、压力、小人。有制则贵,无制则祸。
Overcomes me, same polarity. Also called "Partial Officer." Signifies authority, boldness, pressure, adversaries. When restrained → noble; unrestrained → calamitous.
正财 Direct Wealth (Zheng Cai) zhèng cái
我克且异性者。代表妻子(男命)、正当收入、稳定之财。
I overcome, opposite polarity. Represents wife (for men), legitimate income, steady wealth.
偏财 Indirect Wealth (Pian Cai) piān cái
我克且同性者。代表父亲、意外之财、横财、商业才能。
I overcome, same polarity. Represents father, windfall, speculative wealth, business acumen.
食神 Eating God (Shi Shen) shí shén
我生且同性者。代表才华、口才、食禄、子嗣(女命)。主温和、享受、艺术。
I generate, same polarity. Represents talent, eloquence, food fortune, children (for women). Signifies gentleness, enjoyment, and artistry.
伤官 Hurting Officer (Shang Guan) shāng guān
我生且异性者。主叛逆、创新、口舌、子嗣(女命)。有才华但不服管。
I generate, opposite polarity. Signifies rebellion, innovation, quarrels, children (for women). Talented but ungovernable.
比肩 Companion (Bi Jian) bǐ jiān
同我且同性者。代表兄弟、朋友、同事、自我意识。主竞争、独立、合作。
Same as me, same polarity. Represents siblings, friends, colleagues, self-awareness. Signifies competition, independence, and cooperation.
劫财 Rob Wealth (Jie Cai) jié cái
同我且异性者。代表争夺、破财、异性朋友、义气。主冲动、好胜。
Same as me, opposite polarity. Represents rivalry, financial loss, cross-gender friends, loyalty. Signifies impulsiveness and competitiveness.
天乙贵人 Heavenly Noble (Tian Yi Gui Ren) tiān yǐ guì rén
最吉之神煞。主逢凶化吉、贵人相助。以日干查地支。
The most auspicious star/spirit. Signifies rescue from danger and help from benefactors. Found by checking Day Stem against Branches.
桃花 Peach Blossom (Tao Hua) táo huā
又名"咸池"。主异性缘、魅力、风流。以年支或日支查。
Also called "Xian Chi" (Pool of Desire). Signifies romantic appeal, charm, and amorous nature. Found by Year or Day Branch.
驿马 Post Horse (Yi Ma) yì mǎ
主奔波、迁移、出行、变动。以日支三合之对冲位查。
Signifies travel, relocation, movement, and change. Found via the clash position of the Day Branch's Three Harmony.
华盖 Canopy Star (Hua Gai) huá gài
主孤独、艺术、宗教、哲学倾向。聪明而清高。
Signifies solitude, artistry, religion, and philosophical inclination. Intelligent yet aloof.
羊刃 Goat Blade (Yang Ren) yáng rèn
日干帝旺之位,极旺之象。主刚烈、暴力、灾伤。需有制方可用。
The position of Day Stem's extreme prosperity. Signifies fierce temper, violence, and injury. Must be controlled to be beneficial.
禄神 Prosperity God (Lu Shen) lù shén
日干临官之位,代表俸禄、福气、财禄。
The Day Stem's "attending officer" position. Represents salary, blessing, and material fortune.
空亡 Void / Empty (Kong Wang) kōng wáng
六甲旬中剩余两地支为"空亡"。逢空则力量减损,吉不吉、凶不凶。
The two remaining Branches not covered in each Six-Stem Decade. "Void" diminishes power — auspicious things lose force, inauspicious things lose bite.

肆 · Category IV

时空维度

Temporal & Spatial Dimensions

大运、流年、月令、五行方位等与时间和空间相关的命理概念。

大运 Major Luck Period (Da Yun) dà yùn
每十年一步大运,由月柱顺排或逆排(阳男阴女顺排,阴男阳女逆排)。掌管十年运势走向。
One Major Luck Period spans ten years, arranged forward or backward from the Month Pillar (yang male / yin female → forward; yin male / yang female → backward). Governs the fortune trend of each decade.
流年 Annual Pillar (Liu Nian) liú nián
即当年的干支(太岁),每年一变。流年与命局、大运的交互作用决定当年具体吉凶。
The Stem-Branch of the current year (also called "Tai Sui" / Grand Duke). Changes yearly. Its interaction with the natal chart and Major Luck Period determines that year's specific fortune.
月令 Month Command (Yue Ling) yuè lìng
月柱地支,代表出生月份的时令之气。为判断日主旺衰的最重要依据,称"提纲"。
The Earthly Branch of the Month Pillar, representing the seasonal qi of the birth month. The most critical factor in assessing the Day Master's strength; called the "Outline" (Ti Gang).
旺衰 Prosperity & Decline wàng shuāi
判断日主在月令中的强弱状态。分旺、相、休、囚、死五个等级。为用神选取的前提。
Assessing the Day Master's strength in the Month Command. Five grades: Prosperous (wang), Flourishing (xiang), Resting (xiu), Imprisoned (qiu), Dead (si). The prerequisite for selecting the Useful God.
用神 Useful God (Yong Shen) yòng shén
命局中最需要的五行或十神,用以平衡命局、补偏救弊。是格局分析与取用的核心。
The most needed five-element or Ten God in the chart, used to balance the natal chart and remedy deficiencies. The core of pattern analysis and prescription.
忌神 Harmful God (Ji Shen) jì shén
命局中最忌讳的五行或十神,对日主不利。与用神相对。
The most unfavorable five-element or Ten God in the chart, harmful to the Day Master. Opposite of the Useful God.
喜神 Favorable God (Xi Shen) xǐ shén
对用神有生助作用的五行或十神,次于用神的有利因素。
The five-element or Ten God that supports and generates the Useful God. A secondary favorable factor.
格局 Pattern / Structure (Ge Ju) gé jú
命局的组合模式。常见有正官格、七杀格、正印格、食神格、伤官格、财格等。格局高低决定命之层次。
The overall combination pattern of the chart. Common patterns: Direct Officer, Seven Killings, Direct Seal, Eating God, Hurting Officer, Wealth, etc. The level of the pattern determines the level of destiny.
长生十二宫 Twelve Growth Stages cháng shēng shí èr gōng
天干在地支中的十二种状态:长生、沐浴、冠带、临官、帝旺、衰、病、死、墓、绝、胎、养。描绘五行从生到灭的完整循环。
Twelve states of a Heavenly Stem within Earthly Branches: Birth, Bathing, Coronation, Attending Officer, Peak, Decline, Sickness, Death, Tomb, Extinction, Conception, Nursing. Describes the full life-death cycle of an element.
例 Example 长生→沐浴→冠带→临官→帝旺→衰→病→死→墓→绝→胎→养
五行方位 Five-Element Directions wǔ xíng fāng wèi
五行对应五方:木=东、火=南、土=中、金=西、水=北。为风水与命理的空间基础。
Five Elements correspond to five directions: Wood=East, Fire=South, Earth=Center, Metal=West, Water=North. The spatial foundation for Feng Shui and BaZi.
节气 Solar Terms jié qì
二十四节气。八字月柱以节(非气)为界:立春为寅月之始,惊蛰为卯月之始,以此类推。精确到时辰。
The 24 Solar Terms. BaZi month boundaries are set by "Jie" (major terms, not minor "Qi"): Start of Spring → Yin Month, Awakening of Insects → Mao Month, etc. Precision down to the hour.
起运 Luck Onset (Qi Yun) qǐ yùn
大运开始的年龄。由出生日距下一个(或上一个)节的天数除以三计算。
The age at which the first Major Luck Period begins. Calculated by dividing the days from birth to the next (or previous) major Solar Term by three.