A BaZi chart shows eight characters — but inside each Earthly Branch one to three more stems are hidden. We unpack the hidden stems, the root (通根) and what they add to reading a chart.

The Earthly Branches (地支) are the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, and at the same time seasons, hours of the day and the Wu Xing elements. We unpack their meanings, their hidden stems and how to find your own four branches.

BaZi turns your date and time of birth into a chart of eight characters. We explain what the four pillars are made of, who the Day Master is, and read an example chart step by step.

The energy in a BaZi chart is not static — it breathes. Each Heavenly Stem passes through twelve stages: from birth to its prime, decline and rebirth. We unpack the 十二长生 cycle and read the strength of the Day Master.

Wu Xing is the Chinese teaching of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. We look at why these are not the world's "building blocks" but five phases of any change, and how the generating and controlling cycles join them.

The ten Heavenly Stems are the alphabet of BaZi: five elements in two polarities (yin and yang). We unpack the character of each sign through images of nature and explain who the "Day Master" is.

The Ten Gods (十神) are a system of roles in which every element in a chart is described by its relationship to the Day Master: companion, output, wealth, authority or resource. We unpack all ten through simple images and show how to find them in your own chart.