BaZi 101: THINK IN PICTURES

In the study of any Chinese Metaphysics subjects, it is common to find terms and names referencing seasons, animals and other natural elements. Though these terms may sound poetic, a majority of it are usually representations of key attributes to a particular term.

Take BaZi (Chinese Astrology), for example. Such terms play a significant role in understanding BaZi better and easier, especially when it comes to interpreting a BaZi Chart. From the fundamentals of BaZi, you learn about the ten Day Masters, which is the first level of BaZi personality analysis. The Day Master denotes a person's innate nature based on his or her Day of Birth.

The ten Day Masters comprise the Yin and Yang aspects of the Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. For every element, there is a Yin and Yang polarity, and thus, giving us ten in total - Jia (Yang) Wood, Yi (Yin) Wood, Bing (Yang) Fire, Ding (Yin) Fire, Wu (Yang) Earth, Ji (Yin) Earth, Geng (Yang) Metal, Xin (Yin) Metal, Ren (Yang) Water and Gui (Yin) Water.

Having to memorize the characteristics of all ten Day Masters seem daunting, doesn't it? But when you know that a Bing Fire Day Master, a Yang polarity, is represented by the Sun, while a Ding Fire of a Yin polarity is represented by a flame from a candle, you can easily visualize each of their traits.

Picture this in your mind: The Sun shining bright, giving warmth to all living things, and that it comes out every day without fail. With that visualization, you can easily decipher a Bing Fire person as warm, passionate and routine-driven.

What about a Ding Fire personality? Picture a candle light that is a small flame as opposed to the magnitude of the Sun, and that it flickers accordingly to the wind. Does this signify a gentle, refined and temperamental persona? You get the picture, right?

This is just one easy way to learn BaZi. Anyone can do it. Even you.

And as the sun goes down on March 26, remember to switch off the lights for an hour or so starting 8.30pm (your local time) to commemorate Earth Hour. Show your support. Together our actions add up.