How to Plot a Four Pillars Chart in Feng Shui

(1)

HOW TO PLOT A FOUR PILLARS CHART

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURES

(COPYRIGHT OF PETER LEUNG and NINA WILSON)

CHART (A)

THE 60 JIA ZI CYCLE from 1924-2034 with MISSING BRANCHES and 12 LIFE STAGES

JIA

(4)

Chang sheng Hai

Jia

1924

Zi

1984

Jia

1934

Xu

1994

Jia

1944

Shen

2004

Jia

1954

Wu

2014

Jia

1964

Chen

2024

Jia

1974

Yin

2034

YI

(5) Chang sheng Wu

Yi

1925

Chou

1985

Yi

1935

Hai

1995

Yi

1945

You

2005

Yi

1955

Wei

2015

Yi

1965

Si

2025

Yi

1975

Mao

2035

BING

(6)

Chang sheng Yin

Bing

1926

Yin

1986

Bing

1936

Zi

1996

Bing

1946

Xu

2006

Bing

1956

Shen

2016

Bing

1966

Wu

2026

Bing

1976

Chen

2036

DING

(7)

Chang sheng You

Ding

1927

Mao

1987

Ding

1937

Chou

1997

Ding

1947

Hai

2007

Ding

1957

You

2017

Ding

1967

Wei

2027

Ding

1977

Si

2037

WU

(8)

Chang sheng Yin

Wu

1928

Chen

1988

Wu

1938

Yin

1998

Wu

1948

Zi

2008

Wu

1958

Xu

2018

Wu

1968

Shen

2028

Wu

1978

Wu

2038

JI

(9)

Chang sheng You

Ji

1929

Si

1989

Ji

1939

Mao

1999

Ji

1949

Chou

2009

Ji

1959

Hai

2019

Ji

1969

You

2029

Ji

1979

Wei

2039

GENG

(0) Chang sheng Si

Geng

1930

Wu

1990

Geng

1940

Chen

2000

Geng

1950

Yin

2010

Geng

1960

Zi

2020

Geng

1970

Xu

2030

Geng

1980

Shen

2040

XIN

(1) Chang sheng Zi

Xin

1931

Wei

1991

Xin

1941

Si

2001

Xin

1951

Mao

2011

Xin

1961

Chou

2021

Xin

1971

Hai

2031

Xin

1981

You

2041

REN

(2)

Chang sheng Shen

Ren

1932

Shen

1992

Ren

1942

Wu

2002

Ren

1952

Chen

2012

Ren

1962

Yin

2022

Ren

1972

Zi

2032

Ren

1982

Xu

2042

GUI

(3)

Chang sheng Mao

Gui

1933

You

1993

Gui

1943

Wei

2003

Gui

1953

Si

2013

Gui

1963

Mao

2023

Gui

1973

Chou

2033

Gui

1983

Hai

2043

MISSING

BRANCHES

_HAI

XU

SHEN

_YOU

_WEI

WU

CHEN

_SI

_MAO

YIN

_CHOU

ZI

1) Missing branches are located with both Day Pillar and Year Pillar only. For example, if the Year or Day Pillar

is JIA ZI, the missing branches will be XU and HAI.

2) Years beginning February 5 appear in blue. Years beginning

February 3

appear in

red

. All years otherwise

unmarked begin February 4.

1) The bracketed number in the first column of CHART (A) is the last digit of any given year.

2) The 12 life stages are: Chang Sheng / Mu Yu / Kuan Tai / Lin Kuan / Ti Wang / Shuai /Ping / Szu / Mu / Chueh / Tai / Yang

For Yang element stems, the 12 life stages are counted forward: Zi – Chou – Yin –Mao, etc.

For Yin element stems, the 12 life stages are counted backward: Zi – Hai – Xu , etc.

Example: JIA – Chang Sheng (Hai) /Mu Yu (Zi) / Kuan Tai (Chou) / Lin Kuan (Yin), and so on.

YI – Chang Sheng (Wu) / Mu Yu (Si) / Kuan Tai (Chen) / Lin Kuan (Mao), and so on.

Chang Sheng (Long Life) Mu Yu (Wash & Bathe) Kuan Tai (Wear a Cap – Coming of Age)

Lin Kuan (Prestige Position Attained) Ti Wang (Prosperous as a King – Peak of Power) Shuai (Decline)

(2)

CHART (B)

THE Y AND L VALUE for the Years 1921-2040

YEAR Y L YEAR Y L YEAR Y L YEAR Y L YEAR Y L

1921

0

0 1945

0

6 1969

0

12 1993

0

18 2017

0

24 1922

5

0 1946

5

6 1970

5

12 1994

5

18 2018

5

24 1923

10

0 1947

10

6 1971

10

12 1995

10

18 2019

10

24 1924

15

1 1948

15

7 1972

15

13 1996

15

19 2020

15

25 1925

20

1 1949

20

7 1973

20

13 1997

20

19 2021

20

25 1926

25

1 1950

25

7 1974

25

13 1998

25

19 2022

25

25 1927

30

1 1951

30

7 1975

30

13 1999

30

19 2023

30

25 1928

35

2 1952

35

8 1976

35

14 2000

35

20 2024

35

26 1929

40

2 1953

40

8 1977

40

14 2001

40

20 2025

40

26 1930

45

2 1954

45

8 1978

45

14 2002

45

20 2026

45

26 1931

50

2 1955

50

8 1979

50

14 2003

50

20 2027

50

26 1932

55

3 1956

55

9 1980

55

15 2004

55

21 2028

55

27 1933

60

3 1957

60

9 1981

60

15 2005

60

21 2029

60

27 1934

65

3 1958

65

9 1982

65

15 2006

65

21 2030

65

27 1935

70

3 1959

70

9 1983

70

15 2007

70

21 2031

70

27 1936

75

4 1960

75

10 1984

75

16 2008

75

22 2032

75

28 1937

80

4 1961

80

10 1985

80

16 2009

80

22 2033

80

28 1938

85

4 1962

85

10 1986

85

16 2010

85

22 2034

85

28 1939

90

4 1963

90

10 1987

90

16 2011

90

22 2035

90

28 1940

95

5 1964

95

11 1988

95

17 2012

95

23 2036

95

29 1941

100

5 1965

100

11 1989

100

17 2013

100

23 2037

100

29 1942

105

5 1966

105

11 1990

105

17 2014

105

23 2038

105

29 1943

110

5 1967

110

11 1991

110

17 2015

110

23 2039

110

29 1944

115

6 1968

115

12 1992

115

18 2016

115

24 2040

115

30 CHART (C)

THE M VALUE (Days Preceding Birth Month)

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

0

31

59

90

120

151

181

212

243

273

304

334 CHART (D)

THE CONVERSION TABLE FOR STEMS and BRANCHES

Mod

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12 Stem

Jia

Yi

Bing

Ding

Wu

Ji

Geng

Xin

Ren

Gui

Branch

Zi

Chou

Yin

Mao

Chen

Si

Wu

Wei

Shen

You

Xu

Hai

CHART (E)

The

12 LI JIE

of theChinese Solar Calendar with Jie Durations and Approximate Starting Dates

Month

YIN

MAO CHEN

SI

WU

WEI SHEN

YOU

XU

HAI

ZI

CHOU

Jie

Li

Chun

Jing

Zhe

Qing

Ming

Li

Xia

Mang

Zhong

Xiao

Shu

Li

Qiu

Bai

Lu

Han

Lu

Li

Dong

Da

Xue

Xiao

Han

Total

Days

29 D

18 hr

30 D

6 hr

30 D

18 hr

31 D

4 hr

31 D

10 hr

31 D

10 hr

31 D

2 hr

30 D

16 hr

30 D

2 hr

29 D

16 hr

29 D

12 hr

29 D

12 hr

Start

Feb

4/5

Mar

5/6

Apr

4/5

May

5/6

June

5/6

Jul

7/8

Aug

7/8

Sep

7/8

Oct

8/9

Nov

7/8

Dec

7/8

Jan

5/6

(3)

CHART (F)

5 TIGERS CHASING THE MONTH after the Year Stem

MONTH

YEAR YIN Feb4/5 MAO Mar5/6 CHEN Apr4/5 SI May5/6 WU Jun5/6 WEI Jul7/8 SHEN Aug7/8 YOU Sep7/8 XU Oct8/9 HAI Nov7/8 ZI Dec7/8 CHOU Jan5/6 JIA

JI BING DING WU JI GENG XIN REN GUI JIA YI BING DING

YI

GENG WU JI GENG XIN REN GUI JIA YI BING DING WU JI

BING

XIN GENG XIN REN GUI JIA YI BING DING WU JI GENG XIN

DING

REN REN GUI JIA YI BING DING WU JI GENG XIN REN GUI

WU

GUI JIA YI BING DING WU JI GENG XIN REN GUI JIA YI

Note: This Chart is used for Month Stem Conversion.

CHART (G)

5 RATS CHASING THE HOUR after the Day Master

HOUR

DM ZI

2300

0059

CHOU

0100

0259

YIN

0300

0459

MAO

0500

0659

CHEN

0700

0859

SI

0900

1059

WU

1100

1259

WEI

1300

1459

SHEN

1500

1659

YOU

1700

1859

XU

1900

2059

HAI

2100

2259

JIA

JI JIA YI BING DING WU JI GENG XIN REN GUI JIA YI YI

GENG BING DING WU JI GENG XIN REN GUI JIA YI BING DING BING

XIN WU JI GENG XIN REN GUI JIA YI BING DING WU JI DING

REN GENG XIN REN GUI JIA YI BING DING WU JI GENG XIN WU

GUI REN GUI JIA YI BING DING WU JI GENG XIN REN GUI

Note: This Chart is used for Hour Pillar, Hour Stem and Hour Branch Conversion.

The following formulas employ modulus arithmetic.

Formula for Day Pillar STEM :

(Y + L + M + Day of Birth) / 10 (remainder converts to Stem)

Formula for Day Pillar BRANCH :

( Y + L + M + Day of Birth) / 12 (remainder converts to Branch)

Note: Subtract 1 for birth dates before February 28 in any Leap Year.

For Y and L values, consult CHART (B).

For M value, consult CHART (C).

For remainder conversion, consult CHART (D)

For birth dates between January 1 and the start of the Chinese solar year (February 4 or 5 – see

CHART A), the prior year should be used ONLY in calculating the Year Pillar and Month Pillar.

For example: January 17, 1945 birth date must use the 1944 Year Pillar Jia Shen. This birth month

is actually the “12

th”

month in the Chinese solar calendar – Chou.

Instructions for Plotting a Four Pillars of Destiny Chart

Example

:

June 20, 1943 6:30 a.m.

Step One: Year Pillar

To determine the Year Pillar, refer to Chart (A). The last digit of 1943 is 3; a year ending with 3

is Gui. Read across the row for Gui to find 1943 under Gui Wei.

(4)

The Year Pillar for 1943 is Gui (Year Stem) Wei (Year Branch).

Step Two: Month Pillar

a) For June 20, refer to Chart (E). The 5

th

month is Wu (June 5/6 to July 7/8).

June 20 is between the Jie Mang Zhong and Jie Xiao Shu, within the month (Wu).

The Month Branch is therefore Wu.

b) Refer to Chart (F). Find the Month branch Wu, follow down the column until it intersects the

row that includes the Year Stem Gui. For Month Branch (Wu) and Year Stem (Gui), Wu is the

stem.

The Month Pillar is Wu (Month Stem) Wu ( Month Branch).

Step Three: Day Pillar

Continuing with the example June 20/1943, 6:30 a.m:

Refer to Chart (B) for Y and L values, Chart (C) for M value.

1943: (Y) = 110, (L) = 5.

June: (M) = 151.

Day of Birth = 20. (20 in June 20)

a) Using Formula for Day Stem: {(Y) + (L) + (M) + (Day of Birth)}/10, take Mod.

Result: (110 + 5 + 151 + 20)/10 = 286/10 = 28 Mod (6). (6) is the Day Stem or Day Master.

Refer to Chart (D) for Stem conversion: (6) = Ji.

b) Using

Formula for Day Branch

{(Y) + (L) + (M) + (Day of Birth)}/12, take Mod.

Result: (110 + 5 + 151 + 20)/12 = 286/12 = 23 Mod (10). (10) is the Day Branch.

Refer to Chart (D), for Branch conversion: (10) = You.

The Day Pillar is Ji (Day Master, Day Stem) You (Day Branch).

Step Four: Hour Pillar

For 6:30 a.m. (0630 HR), refer to Chart (G).

0500—0659 is within the Mao Hour. Mao is the Hour Branch.

Find the intersection of the Hour Brach (Mao) with the Day Stem (Ji) to obtain the Hour Stem

(Ding).

The Hour Pillar is Ding (Hour Stem) Mao (Hour Branch).

Summary

The 4 Pillars for June 20, 1943, 6:30 a.m.:

(1) Year Pillar Gui Wei

(2) Month Pillar Wu Wu

(3) Day Pillar Ji You

(4) Hour Pillar Ding Mao

CHART (H)

DEITIES and DAY MASTER

DAY MASTER

JIA

YI

BING

DING

WU

JI

GENG

XIN

REN

GUI

PI CHIEN

Jia

Yi

Bing

Ding

Wu

Ji

Geng

Xin

Ren

Gui

CHIEH TSAI

Yi

Jia

Ding

Bing

Ji

Wu

Xin

Geng

Gui

Ren

SHIH SHEN

Bing

Ding

Wu

Ji

Geng

Xin

Ren

Gui

Jia

Yi

SHANG KUAN

Ding

Bing

Ji

Wu

Xin

Geng

Gui

Ren

Yi

Jia

PIEN TSAI

Wu

Ji

Geng

Xin

Ren

Gui

Jia

Yi

Bing

Ding

CHENG TSAI

Ji

Wu

Xin

Geng

Gui

Ren

Yi

Jia

Ding

Bing

CHI SHA

Geng

Xin

Ren

Gui

Jia

Yi

Bing

Ding

Wu

Ji

CHENG KUAN

Xin

Geng

Gui

Ren

Yi

Jia

Ding

Bing

Ji

Wu

PIEN YIN

Ren

Gui

Jia

Yi

Bing

Ding

Wu

Ji

Geng

Xin

T

E

N

D

E

I

T

I

E

S

(5)

CHART (I)

DEITIES and BRANCHES (HIDDEN STEMS)

DAY MASTER and DEITIES

BRANCH HIDDEN STEMS

JIA

YI

BING

DING

WU

JI

GENG

XIN

REN

GUI

ZI

GUI

( 100 % ) CHENG YIN PIEN YIN CHENG KUAN CHI SHA CHENG TSAI PIEN TSAI SHANG KUAN SHIH SHEN CHIEH TSAI PI CHIEN

JI

( 60 % ) CHENG TSAI PIEN TSAI SHANG KUAN SHIH SHEN CHIEH TSAI PI CHIEN CHENG YIN PIEN YIN CHENG KUAN CHI SHA

GUI

( 30 % ) CHENG YIN PIEN YIN CHENG KUAN CHI SHA CHENG TSAI PIEN TSAI SHANG KUAN SHIH SHEN CHIEH TSAI PI CHIEN

CHOU

XIN

( 10 % ) CHENG KUAN CHI SHA CHENG TSAI PIEN TSAI SHANG KUAN SHIH SHEN CHIEH TSAI PI CHIEN CHENG YIN PIEN YIN

JIA

( 60 % ) PI CHIEN CHIEH TSAI PIEN YIN CHENG YIN CHI SHA CHENG KUAN PIEN TSAI CHENG TSAI SHIH SHEN SHANG KUAN

YIN

BING

( 40 % ) SHIH SHEN SHANG KUAN PI CHIEN CHIEH TSAI PIEN YIN CHENG YIN CHI SHA CHENG KUAN PIEN TSAI CHENG TSAI

MAO

YI

( 100 % ) CHIEH TSAI PI CHIEN CHENG YIN PIEN YIN CHENG KUAN CHI SHA CHENG TSAI PIEN TSAI SHANG KUAN SHIH SHEN

WU

( 60 % ) PIEN TSAI CHENG TSAI SHIH SHEN SHANG KUAN PI CHIEN CHIEH TSAI PIEN YIN CHENG YIN CHI SHA CHENG KUAN

YI

( 30 % ) CHIEH TSAI PI CHIEN CHENG YIN PIEN YIN CHENG KUAN CHI SHA CHENG TSAI PIEN TSAI SHANG KUAN SHIH SHEN

CHEN

GUI

( 10 % ) CHENG YIN PIEN YIN CHENG KUAN CHI SHA CHENG TSAI PIEN TSAI SHANG KUAN SHIH SHEN CHIEH TSAI PI CHIEN

BING

( 60 % ) SHIH SHEN SHANG KUAN PI CHIEN CHIEH TSAI PIEN YIN CHENG YIN CHI SHA CHENG KUAN PIEN TSAI CHENG TSAI

SI

GENG

( 40 % ) CHI SHA CHENG KUAN PIEN TSAI CHENG TSAI SHIH SHEN SHANG KUAN PI CHIEN CHIEH TSAI PIEN YIN CHENG YIN

WU

DING

( 100 % ) SHANG KUAN SHIH SHEN CHIEH TSAI PI CHIEN CHENG YIN PIEN YIN CHENG KUAN CHI SHA CHENG TSAI PIEN TSAI

JI

( 60 % ) CHENG TSAI PIEN TSAI SHANG KUAN SHIH SHEN CHIEH TSAI PI CHIEN CHENG YIN PIEN YIN CHENG KUAN CHI SHA

DING

( 30 % ) SHANG KUAN SHIH SHEN CHIEH TSAI PI CHIEN CHENG YIN PIEN YIN CHENG KUAN CHI SHA CHENG TSAI PIEN TSAI

WEI

YI

( 10 % ) CHIEH TSAI PI CHIEN CHENG YIN PIEN YIN CHENG KUAN CHI SHA CHENG TSAI PIEN TSAI SHANG KUAN SHIH SHEN

GENG

( 60 % ) CHI SHA CHENG KUAN PIEN TSAI CHENG TSAI SHIH SHEN SHANG KUAN PI CHIEN CHIEH TSAI PIEN YIN CHENG YIN

SHEN

REN

( 40 % ) PIEN YIN CHENG YIN CHI SHA CHENG KUAN PIEN TSAI CHENG TSAI SHIH SHEN SHANG KUAN PI CHIEN CHIEH TSAI

YOU

XIN

( 100 % ) CHENG KUAN CHI SHA CHENG TSAI PIEN TSAI SHANG KUAN SHIH SHEN CHIEH TSAI PI CHIEN CHENG YIN PIEN YIN

WU

( 60 % ) PIEN TSAI CHENG TSAI SHIH SHEN SHANG KUAN PI CHIEN CHIEH TSAI PIEN YIN CHENG YIN CHI SHA CHENG KUAN

XIN

( 30 % ) CHENG KUAN CHI SHA CHENG TSAI PIEN TSAI SHANG KUAN SHIH SHEN CHIEH TSAI PI CHIEN CHENG YIN PIEN YIN

XU

DING

( 10 % ) SHANG KUAN SHIH SHEN CHIEH TSAI PI CHIEN CHENG YIN PIEN YIN CHENG KUAN CHI SHA CHENG TSAI PIEN TSAI

REN

( 60 % ) PIEN YIN CHENG YIN CHI SHA CHENG KUAN PIEN TSAI CHENG TSAI SHIH SHEN SHANG KUAN PI CHIEN CHIEH TSAI

HAI

JIA

( 40 % ) PI CHIEN CHIEH TSAI PIEN YIN CHENG YIN CHI SHA CHENG KUAN PIEN TSAI CHENG TSAI SHIH SHEN SHANG KUAN

(6)

CHART (J)

THE FORMAT of a FOUR PILLARS CHART

PILLAR NAME

HOUR PILLAR DAY PILLAR MONTH PILLAR YEAR PILLAR

DEITIES

DEITY of Stem DAY MASTER DEITY of Stem DEITY of Stem

STEMS

(fruits / flowers)

Hour Stem Day Stem Month Stem Year Stem

BRANCH

(roots)

Hour Branch Day Branch Month Branch Year Branch

HIDDEN

STEMS

Hidden Stems in Branch Hidden Stems in Branch Hidden Stems in Branch Hidden Stems in Branch

DEITIES

Deities of Hidden Stems Deities of Hidden Stems Deities of Hidden Stems Deities of Hidden Stems

Refer to

Chart (H)

and

Chart (I)

to plot the deities in the 4-pillar chart as per the

format in

Chart (J)

1. Find the Day Master (Day Pillar Stem) on a completed Four Pillars chart.

2. Refer to Chart H to determine the deities based on the relationship of any stem to the

Day Master. Example: For a JIA DM, refer to the column under Day Master JIA for

the deities in the chart. If another Jia appears anywhere in the chart (stems or hidden

stems in the branches), write PI CHIEN on top of the stems or beneath the branches.

If Yi appears in the chart, it will be CHIEH TSAI, and so on.

3. Chart (I) provides a ready reference for the hidden stems in each branch, as well as

the deity relationship to each possible Day Master.

Sample

Four Pillars of Destiny Chart with

Four Pillars of Destiny

Chart (J)

Format

June 20, 1943 at 6:30 a.m.

Hour Pillar

Day Pillar

Month Pillar

Year Pillar

Pien Yin

Day Master

Chieh Tsai

Pien Tsai

Ding

Ji

Wu

Gui

Mao

You

Wu

Wei

Yi

Xin

Ding

Ji

Ding

Yi

Chi Sha

Shih Shen

Pien Yin

Pi Chien

Pien Yin

Chi Sha

(7)

The Symbolgies and Associations of the Pillars, Stems and Branches

Year Pillar: Ancestors.

Year Stem: Male ancestor, grand father

Year Branch: Female ancestor, grand mother

Month Pillar: Parent, siblings

Month stem: Father (brother)

Month Branch: Mother (sister)

Day Stem: Self (DAY MASTER)

Day Branch: Spouse (husband or wife)

Hour Pillar: Children

Hour Stem: Son

Hour Branch: Daughter

Combinations

The Ten Heavenly Stems

The Five Stem Combinations

S1 Jia yang wood Jia & Ji = Earth

S2 Yi yin wood Yi & Geng = Metal

S3 Bing yang fire Bing & Xin = Water

S4 Ding yin fire Ding & Ren = Wood

S5 Wu yang earth Wu & Gui = Fire

S6 Ji yin earth

S7 Geng yang metal

S8 Xin yin metal

S9 Ren yang water

S10 Gui yin water

Note that the stem combinations are comprised of both a yin and a yang element, paired

in a domination cycle with the yang element as the dominator. The combinations also

occur 5 places apart (example: Jia and Ji are S1 and S6, Yi and Geng are S2 and S7 and

so on). These same pairings can be found in Charts (F) and (G), so it is clear they drive

the cycles of the Five Tigers and the Five Rats.

(8)

The Branch Combinations

The 12 Earthly Branches

Number Branch Polarity Element Zodiac Sign

B1 Zi yang water Rat

B2 Chou yin earth Ox

B3 Yin yang wood Tiger

B4 Mao yin wood Rabbit

B5 Chen yang earth Dragon

B6 Si yin fire Snake

B7 Wu yang fire Horse

B8 Wei yin earth Sheep

B9 Shen yang metal Monkey

B10 You yin metal Rooster

B11 Xu yang earth Dog

B12 Hai yin water Pig

The Six Branch Combinations

Zi & Chou = Earth

Yin & Hai = Wood

Mao & Xu = Fire

Chen & You = Metal

Si & Shen = Water

Wu & Wei = Fire

The Three Unities Combinations

Shen & Zi & Chen = Water

Hai & Mao & Wei = Wood

Yin & Wu & Xu = Fire

Si & You & Chou = Metal

The ½ Combinations

The above Three Unities combinations can form ½ combinations as follows (note the

center element is the same as the resulting element, and thus must be a part of the

combination):

Shen & Zi, or Zi & Chen = Water

Hai & Mao, or Mao & Wei = Wood

Yin & Wu, or Wu & Xu = Fire

Si & You, or You & Chou = Metal

(9)

The Three Meetings, or Directional Branch Combinations

Yin & Mao & Chen = Eastern Wood

Si & Wu & Wei = Southern Fire

Shen & You & Xu = Western Metal

Hai & Zi & Chou = Northern Water

Note: The “directional” combinations require all three branches to be present – there are

no 1/2 combinations with these associations.

All branch combinations are considered YIN, or ROOTS.

Stem and Branch Combinations and Transformations

Refer to the two individual documents on this subject (soon to be available in the shared