BaZi Chart Basics — Calculation and Getting Started

Calculating a BaZi Chart

You can create a BaZi chart from two entry points:

From the Home Page

Fill in the following information:

Date of birth
Time of birth
Place of birth
Gender

You can then save the chart after entering the consultant's first and last name.

From the "My BaZi" Tab

Click on "New Calculation" (on the right), then fill in:

First and last name
Date, time and place of birth
Gender

Additional information can be added:

Email
Current city

This data allows you to personalise the client portal. You can also set the default language for the portal.

Chart Management

The "My BaZi" tab groups all your charts.

Filters are available to facilitate searching:

Creation date
Name
Date of birth

Structure of the 4 Pillars in AcuBazi

The BaZi chart is built from 4 pillars, corresponding to the fundamental temporal dimensions:

Year
Month
Day
Hour

Each pillar represents a specific combination derived from the cycle of Heavenly Stems (天干 tiān gān) and Earthly Branches (地支 dì zhī).

Detailed Composition of a Pillar

Each pillar is structured from top to bottom according to the following elements:

Pillar number — Position in the sexagenary cycle (干支 gān zhī) of 60 combinations
Heavenly Stem (天干 tiān gān) — Represents the main energetic dynamic (Yang/Yin aspect and element)
Earthly Branch (地支 dì zhī) — Anchoring of the pillar, associated with:
- a seasonal dynamic
- Hidden Stems (藏干 cáng gān), which specify internal influences
NaYin (納音 nà yīn) — Symbolic correspondence in 30 categories, used in certain schools to refine analysis
Qi Phase (十二長生 shí èr cháng shēng) — Indicates the stage of development of the Qi of the Heavenly Stem's element within the branch (growth, bathing, formation, beginning, prosperity, decline, etc.)

Global Reading

The combined analysis of the 4 pillars allows you to:

Understand the energetic structure of the chart
Evaluate balances and imbalances
Identify interactions between:
- Stems (天干 tiān gān)
- Branches (地支 dì zhī)
- Hidden Stems (藏干 cáng gān)

👉 This reading forms the basis of all BaZi interpretation, notably for:

Determining the Day Master
Evaluating its strength
Defining the Useful God (用神 yòng shén)

💡 Practical Tip: Recognising Chinese Characters

To facilitate reading Chinese characters in BaZi charts, you can install an extension on your web browser (Firefox, Safari, Chrome) such as:

Perapera Chinese Popup Dictionary
Zhongwen Chinese Popup Dictionary

These tools display the pinyin (拼音 pīn yīn) and with a simple hover over any Chinese text, users can access definitions and phonetic guides, which helps to quickly recognise frequently used terms.

👉 Useful for progressively learning common characters and gaining reading fluency.

Getting Started with the BaZi Chart

In the main tab of the chart, several analysis modules are available:

Luck Pillar (大運 dà yùn)

Click on the "˅" symbol to display the luck cycles.

The Ten Gods (十神 shí shén)

Graphical representation in the form of a pentagram (on the left)
Visual coding:
- ⚫ Black circle: stem
- ⚪ Grey circle: primary hidden stem
- ⚪ White circle: secondary hidden stem

On the right, the Ten Gods are detailed in 5 categories:

Companions
Production
Wealth
Power
Resources

Day Master Strength (日主 rì zhǔ)

Two calculation methods are offered:

Seasonal method — Based on the branch of the birth month
Algorithmic method — Point-based calculation according to interactions between stems and branches

👉 The choice depends on your clinical practice.

Chart Structure and the Useful God (用神 yòng shén)

Chart structure: calculated from the hidden stems of the month branch and the Qi phase.

Useful God: represents the element necessary for the energetic balance of the chart.

⚠️ The calculation of the Useful God is automated, but you can modify it manually. You can choose from the 10 stems the one that best corresponds to what you are seeking to balance.

Any modification impacts:

The personalised recommendations tab
The personalised client portal

A Note on the Logic of the Useful God (用神 yòng shén)

The Useful God (用神 yòng shén) corresponds to the element that allows the energetic dynamic of the BaZi chart to be rebalanced. It is determined primarily based on the strength of the Day Master.

Fundamental Principle

The objective is not to systematically strengthen the chart, but to correct its imbalances.

Scenarios

Strong Day Master — 👉 The system is already in excess → it is appropriate to avoid strengthening it further. ✔️ Priority is given to:

Production elements
Wealth elements
Power elements

Weak Day Master — 👉 The system lacks support. ✔️ Priority is given to:

Companions (比劫 bǐ jié)
Resources (印 yìn)

Point of Vigilance

👉 This logic constitutes a working foundation, but must always be refined according to:

The chart structure
Interactions between stems and branches
Climatic conditions (cold, heat, humidity, etc.)

➡️ The algorithmic calculation proposed by the software is an aid, but adjustment by the practitioner remains essential.

Yin-Yang (陰陽) Balance

Analysis of the energetic balance:

According to gender
Based on the yin/yang distribution of binomials

Climate and Elements

Each stem, branch and third hidden stem (if present) is associated with a climatic factor:

Cold
Heat
Humidity
Dryness
Wind

The Dr. Yao Table

A central tool for clinical practice. It is calculated from the 4 pillars of the BaZi and reflects overall energetic functioning.

🔗 To go further:

Reading the Chart

Left Table: observable functioning → assimilated to the Posterior Heaven (後天 hòu tiān)
Right Table: stems and hidden stems → potential in reserve → assimilated to the Anterior Heaven (先天 xiān tiān)

Temporal Influences

You can integrate seasonal energetic influences based on the BaZi of the year, month, day and hour by clicking on the buttons located below the Dr. Yao chart.

Date

Allows you to add a specific date (e.g. the day of the session, or the day of a particular event to study external influences at that precise moment).

The location is pre-filled with the practice location field in Settings. You can choose a different location if needed.

By clicking on the date, you will also obtain information corresponding to open points in chrono-acupuncture and the puncture contraindications for the day.

By clicking on the corresponding pillar, you can include or exclude:

Year
Month
Day
Hour

👉 Each activated pillar adds 2 red circles (up to 8 for all 4 pillars).

Years

Analysis of the current year
Comparison with previous and following years

👉 Adds 2 red circles (annual pillar).

Months

Analysis of the current month
Comparison with adjacent months

👉 Adds 4 red circles (year + month pillars).

Additional Option

Possibility to add the current luck pillar (大運 dà yùn). Check or uncheck the corresponding box.

👉 Next step: Calendar and Personalised Recommendations.