Bazi (the Four Pillars) is the core framework of Chinese astrology, and its “alphabet” is the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.
The ten Stems
Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui.
Ancient thinkers imaged them as a tree’s life cycle: Jia breaks ground, Yi sprouts branches, Bing-Ding flourish, Wu-Ji stabilize, Geng-Xin withdraw, Ren-Gui close and store. Mapped to elements: Jia-Yi Wood, Bing-Ding Fire, Wu-Ji Earth, Geng-Xin Metal, Ren-Gui Water.
The twelve Branches
Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai.
Branches pair one-to-one with the twelve animals: Zi Rat, Chou Ox, Yin Tiger, Mao Rabbit, Chen Dragon, Si Snake, Wu Horse, Wei Goat, Shen Monkey, You Rooster, Xu Dog, Hai Pig. In time they mark the twelve months and the twelve two-hour periods of a day.
The sexagenary cycle
Stems (10) and Branches (12) have LCM 60 — paired without repetition, they roll through a full circle: Jia-Zi, Yi-Chou, Bing-Yin … up to Gui-Hai. This is the sixty-year cycle used to mark year, month, day and hour.
Try it: enter your birth year in Toolkit → Birth Card to see your animal and the “year pillar” (e.g. 2026 is Bing-Wu / 丙午). The year pillar is only one of four; a full chart also needs month, day and hour pillars.
⚠️ Stems and Branches are an elegant ancient time-keeping system — fun as cultural trivia; using them to “foretell fortune” has no scientific basis.
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