Master Cheongun from a small hermitage at Sindoan on Gyeryongsan, Chungcheong“Haha, no need to rush. It is just putting eight characters together, and even at eighty-two, I still find joy in learning them.”The Ten Heavenly Stems Carrying the Energy of the Sky
Heavenly Stems are the ten characters representing heavenly energies. They consist of Yang Wood and Yin Wood, Yang Fire and Yin Fire, Yang Earth and Yin Earth, Yang Metal and Yin Metal, and Yang Water and Yin Water.
Yang Wood and Yin Wood carry the energy of Wood, while Yang Fire and Yin Fire carry Fire. Yang Earth and Yin Earth hold Earth, Yang Metal and Yin Metal hold Metal, and Yang Water and Yin Water hold Water, each pair split into Yang and Yin.
The Twelve Earthly Branches Showing Earthly Seasons and Zodiac Animals
Earthly Branches are the twelve characters showing earthly cycles, and they correspond to the twelve Korean zodiac animals we know so well. They are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
The Rat represents Water, and the Ox represents Earth. The Tiger and Rabbit represent Wood, while the Dragon, Goat, and Dog carry Earth. The Snake and Horse represent Fire, the Monkey and Rooster represent Metal, and the Pig carries Water.
The 60 Sexagenary Cycle and Saju Born from Stems and Branches
One Heavenly Stem on top pairs with one Earthly Branch on the bottom. Matching them up in order creates sixty unique pairings, known as the sexagenary cycle.
Writing your birth year, month, day, and hour each with a Stem and a Branch creates four pillars. Because these four pillars hold eight characters in total, we call it saju, your Four Pillars and eight characters.
How to Read Them in Your Birth Chart
Look at the Earthly Branch of your birth year to find your Korean zodiac animal right away. For example, if the bottom character of your birth year is the Rat, you are born in the year of the Rat; if it is the Tiger, you are born in the year of the Tiger.
Check your own birth date to see which energies of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water are held within your eight characters.
FAQ
Where does our everyday zodiac animal belong in saju?
Your zodiac animal corresponds to the Earthly Branch, the bottom character of your birth year. Each of the twelve Earthly Branches has a designated animal.
Why is saju called the eight characters?
It is because each of the four pillars for your birth year, month, day, and hour holds two characters, one Stem and one Branch. Four pillars with two characters each make a total of eight characters.
How do Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches pair up?
The ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches pair up one by one in order. Starting from the Yang Wood Rat, this sequence produces sixty unique pairings in total.
Saju Basics, Other Stories
What Is Saju? The Meaning of the Four Pillars and How to Read Them
What Are Yin-Yang and the Five Elements: The Five Energies at the Root of Saju
What Is the Day Master? The Character That Is You in Saju
What Are the Ten Gods? Your Bonds with People, Money, and Work
The 10-Year Luck Cycle and the Year's Luck: Life's 10-Year Seasons and This Year's WeatherWhat Are Combination and Clash? How Characters Attract and Collide
How to Read Saju: Five Steps to Understand Your Four PillarsStrong vs Weak Day Master: How to Read Your Inner StrengthWhat Is the Useful God? Finding the Element Your Chart Truly Needs
What Is the Peach Blossom Star? The Star of Charm and Popularity
What Is the Traveling Horse Star? The Birth Chart That Thrives on Movement
What Is Samjae? Entering, Staying, and Leaving Samjae Years by Zodiac Sign
What Is the Canopy Star? The Star of Deep Focus
What Is the White Tiger Star? Strong Drive and What to Watch For
What Is Kuei Kang? Four Day Pillars with Natural Leadership
What Is the Nobleman Star? The Precious Helper Who Appears in a Crisis
What Is the Void? The Two Empty Seats in Your Saju
Resentment Pair Star: Zodiac Signs and Compatibility That Turn from Love to BitternessWhat Is the Goat Blade Star? The Real Meaning of an Energy as Sharp as a BladeThe Twelve Life Stages: The Twelve Cycles of Energy
How to Pick a Moving Date: Spirit-Free Days and Your Saju
Wedding Date Selection: The Basics of Picking an Auspicious Day
How to Pick an Opening Date: Finding a Good Day to Open Your DoorsBaby Name Five Elements: How to Name Your Child Based on SajuHow to Find Your Lucky Color: The Right Colors and Directions for Your Saju