What is Saju (Four Pillars of Destiny)?
Meaning of Saju (四柱)
Saju refers to the four pillars based on one's year, month, day, and hour of birth. Each pillar is a combination of a Heavenly Stem (天干) and an Earthly Branch (地支), creating a total of eight characters. This is the 'Four Pillars of Destiny' (四柱八字, Saju Palja).
Heavenly Stems (天干) and Earthly Branches (地支)
10 Heavenly Stems: Gap (甲), Eul (乙), Byeong (丙), Jeong (丁), Mu (戊), Gi (己), Gyeong (庚), Sin (辛), Im (壬), Gye (癸)
12 Earthly Branches: Ja (子), Chuk (丑), In (寅), Myo (卯), Jin (辰), Sa (巳), O (午), Mi (未), Sin (申), Yu (酉), Sul (戌), Hae (亥)
The Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches combine sequentially to form the 60 Sexagenary Cycle (甲子), which repeats every 60 years.
Five Elements (五行)
The five fundamental elements of Eastern philosophy:
Wood (木)
Growth, Creativity
Fire (火)
Passion, Vitality
Earth (土)
Stability, Center
Metal (金)
Resolution, Will
Water (水)
Wisdom, Flexibility
Day Master (日干) - The Character That Represents You
The most important element in the Four Pillars is the Heavenly Stem of the Day Pillar, known as the Day Master. The Day Master represents 'you', and your personality, aptitude, and fortune are interpreted through its relationship with the other seven characters.
Chinese Zodiac (12 Animals)
The Earthly Branch of your birth year determines your zodiac animal. The 12 animals cycle every 12 years, from Rat (子) to Pig (亥).
History of Four Pillars Divination
Four Pillars divination (Saju Myeongrihak) has approximately 3,000 years of history as a traditional East Asian discipline. Records of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches date back to the ancient Shang Dynasty of China, and the system evolved into a systematic field of study when it merged with Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory during the Han Dynasty.
Li Xuzhong of the Tang Dynasty established the Three Pillars method analyzing Year, Month, and Day pillars. Later, Xu Ziping of the Song Dynasty added the Hour Pillar to complete the current Four Pillars (Saju Palja) system. Xu Ziping's theories were compiled in 'Yuanhai Ziping,' which remains the foundational text of Four Pillars divination today.
In Korea, Four Pillars studies flourished during the Joseon Dynasty. The Royal Observatory (Gwansanggam) conducted state-level research in divination, applying it to royal marriages, enthronement dates, and other significant decisions. Even in modern times, Saju remains deeply embedded in Korean culture, referenced for naming, wedding date selection, career exploration, and more.
What Your Four Pillars Can Reveal
Analyzing your Four Pillars can provide insights into: your innate personality and temperament, career directions suited to your aptitude, interpersonal relationship patterns and connections, tendencies in accumulating and managing wealth, health areas requiring attention, and fortune trends across major life periods. Of course, the Four Pillars show possibilities and tendencies, not fixed futures. It's best used as a reference tool for understanding your innate nature and making better choices.
The Meaning of Each Pillar
Year Pillar — Roots and Ancestry
Represents your birth year, showing family background and early life fortune (ages 1-20). Your zodiac animal is also determined by the Year Pillar's Earthly Branch. It reflects your social image and how others perceive you.
Month Pillar — Parents and Growth Environment
Represents your birth month, showing parental influence and young adult fortune (ages 20-40). The Month Branch is the strongest energy in the chart, setting the overall tone of the entire Four Pillars.
Day Pillar — Your True Self
Represents your birth day and is the core of your chart. The Day Master (Day Stem) represents you, while the Day Branch is interpreted as your spouse's position. It reveals middle-age fortune (ages 40-60) and your essential personality.
Hour Pillar — Children and Later Years
Represents your birth hour, showing fortune related to children and later life (age 60+). It also reflects inner desires and subconscious drives. Without the Hour Pillar, only 75% of your chart can be analyzed, so knowing your exact birth time is valuable.