A structured guide from foundations to practice — understand the system that has guided Chinese scholars for over two millennia.
Da Liu Ren may seem complex at first, but its logic is elegant and systematic. Here's how to begin your journey.
Before diving into Da Liu Ren, familiarize yourself with the basic building blocks of Chinese metaphysics: the Ten Heavenly Stems (天干) and Twelve Earthly Branches (地支). These 22 characters form the alphabet of the entire system. Learn the Day Stems & Branches page first.
Wood (木), Fire (火), Earth (土), Metal (金), and Water (水) interact through generating and overcoming cycles. These relationships are the engine of every chart interpretation. Understanding them is essential.
Da Liu Ren uses a dual-plate system: the fixed Earth Plate (地盘) and the rotating Heaven Plate (天盘). The interaction between these plates reveals the cosmic energy of any moment. See Heaven-Earth Plates.
Use the Online Chart Tool to generate a complete Da Liu Ren chart. Start by entering a date and time, then explore each layer: the plates, the Four Lessons, the Three Transmissions, and the Spirit Generals.
Reading historical cases is the fastest way to develop intuition. Browse the Case Studies section to see how master practitioners interpreted charts in real situations.
💡 Tip: You don't need to memorize everything at once. Keep the Glossary open as a reference, and focus on understanding the logic of the system rather than memorizing individual rules.
Da Liu Ren is built on four interconnected pillars. Master each one and you'll understand how the entire system works.
The foundation of every chart. The Earth Plate holds fixed positions of the 12 branches; the Heaven Plate rotates based on the Month General and inquiry time. Their interaction maps the cosmic energy of the moment.
Explore →The Month General (月将) determines how the Heaven Plate is arranged. It follows the Sun's position through the zodiac, changing every solar month. Understanding this is key to accurate chart casting.
Explore →The Day Pillar is the heart of every Da Liu Ren chart. The Heavenly Stem represents you; the Earthly Branch represents your environment. Together they generate the Four Lessons.
Explore →Twelve archetypal Spirit Generals (天将) that color every position in the chart with specific qualities — from noble grace (Gui Ren) to fierce danger (Teng She). They add nuance and depth to interpretation.
Explore →Once you understand the building blocks, learn how they combine into a complete chart.
Derived from the Day Stem and Branch, the Four Lessons reveal the evidence — surface conditions (Yang lessons) and hidden currents (Yin lessons). They form the basis for identifying the root cause of any situation.
The storyline of the chart: Beginning (初传), Middle (中传), and End (末传). They trace how a situation develops from cause to outcome, derived through the克贼 (overcoming) method.
Classifies every branch relative to you (the Day Stem): Parent (support), Sibling (rivalry), Offspring (output), Wealth (pursuit), and Officer (pressure). Tells you which life domain each position speaks to.
Two branches not covered by any Heavenly Stem in the current 10-day cycle. Indicates emptiness, delay, or non-manifestation. A critical factor in determining whether matters will materialize.
The twelve Earthly Branches are the backbone of the entire system.
| Branch | Pinyin | Animal | Element | Direction | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 子 Zǐ | Zǐ | 🐀 Rat | Water | North | Winter |
| 丑 Chǒu | Chǒu | 🐂 Ox | Earth | NE | Winter |
| 寅 Yín | Yín | 🐅 Tiger | Wood | NE | Spring |
| 卯 Mǎo | Mǎo | 🐇 Rabbit | Wood | East | Spring |
| 辰 Chén | Chén | 🐉 Dragon | Earth | SE | Spring |
| 巳 Sì | Sì | 🐍 Snake | Fire | SE | Summer |
| 午 Wǔ | Wǔ | 🐎 Horse | Fire | South | Summer |
| 未 Wèi | Wèi | 🐑 Goat | Earth | SW | Summer |
| 申 Shēn | Shēn | 🐒 Monkey | Metal | SW | Autumn |
| 酉 Yǒu | Yǒu | 🐓 Rooster | Metal | West | Autumn |
| 戌 Xū | Xū | 🐕 Dog | Earth | NW | Autumn |
| 亥 Hài | Hài | 🐖 Pig | Water | NW | Winter |
Understanding the historical and philosophical context enriches your practice.
Da Liu Ren's roots trace back to the Warring States period (475–221 BCE). The earliest references appear in texts like the Wuyue Chunqiu. By the Han Dynasty, it was established as a formal divination system used by court astrologers and scholars.
The system embodies core Chinese philosophical concepts: Yin-Yang duality, the Five Elements cycle, and the idea that Heaven, Earth, and Humanity are interconnected. Time is not abstract — it has character, direction, and influence.
Key historical works include the Da Liu Ren Key (大六壬大全), Liu Ren Gold Mirror (六壬金镜), and Tian Gang Pointing (天罡诀). These texts preserve centuries of accumulated wisdom and case studies.
Da Liu Ren, Qi Men Dun Jia (奇门遁甲), and Tai Yi Shen Shu (太乙神数) form the "Three Arts" (三式). Each serves a different purpose: Tai Yi for state affairs, Qi Men for military strategy, and Da Liu Ren for human affairs and personal guidance.
Use the online tool to generate a complete Da Liu Ren chart with automatic Four Lessons, Three Transmissions, and full analysis.
🔮 Open Chart Tool