Analyzing the Five Elements in Your BaZi Chart: A Step-by-Step Guide to Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses

Many people are curious about which of the five elements might be missing from their destiny and how to address it. In this guide, I'll walk you through a straightforward method for analyzing the five elements in your BaZi chart. Keep in mind, though: just because an element is "missing" doesn't mean you should rush to supplement it—balance is key!

Heavenly Stems: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui

Earthly Branches: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai

To get started, generate your BaZi (Eight Characters) chart (Free BaZi Calculation). It consists of four Heavenly Stems and four Earthly Branches. The first two characters represent the Year Pillar, the next two the Month Pillar, then the Day Pillar, and finally the Hour Pillar.

Scoring the Heavenly Stems: Each stem counts once:

• Jia: Wood, 60 points (if no Wood in the Earthly Branches, Jia counts as only 30 points of Wood)
• Yi: Wood, 60 points (if no Wood in the Earthly Branches, Yi counts as only 30 points of Wood)
• Bing: Fire, 60 points (if no Fire in the Earthly Branches, Bing counts as only 30 points of Fire)
• Ding: Fire, 60 points (if no Fire in the Earthly Branches, Ding counts as only 30 points of Fire)
• Wu: Earth, 60 points (if no Earth in the Earthly Branches, Wu counts as only 30 points of Earth)
• Ji: Earth, 60 points (if no Earth in the Earthly Branches, Ji counts as only 30 points of Earth)
• Geng: Metal, 60 points (if no Metal in the Earthly Branches, Geng counts as only 30 points of Metal)
• Xin: Metal, 60 points (if no Metal in the Earthly Branches, Xin counts as only 30 points of Metal)
• Ren: Water, 60 points (if no Water in the Earthly Branches, Ren counts as only 30 points of Water)
• Gui: Water, 60 points (if no Water in the Earthly Branches, Gui counts as only 30 points of Water)

Scoring the Earthly Branches: Each branch counts once:

• Zi: Contains Water, 100 points
• Chou: Contains Earth 60 points, Water 30 points, Metal 10 points
• Yin: Contains Wood 60 points, Fire 30 points, Earth 10 points
• Mao: Contains Wood, 100 points
• Chen: Contains Earth 60 points, Wood 30 points, Water 10 points
• Si: Contains Fire 60 points, Earth 30 points, Metal 10 points
• Wu: Contains Fire 70 points, Earth 30 points
• Wei: Contains Earth 60 points, Fire 30 points, Wood 10 points
• Shen: Contains Metal 60 points, Water 30 points, Earth 10 points
• You: Contains Metal, 100 points
• Xu: Contains Earth 60 points, Metal 30 points, Fire 10 points
• Hai: Contains Water 70 points, Wood 30 points

When calculating totals, double the scores for the Earthly Branch in the Month Pillar; all others are counted as is. Begin by totaling the Earthly Branches, then add the Heavenly Stems. This will show you the points for each of the five elements in your chart!

Generally speaking, an element scoring between 120 and 200 points is considered balanced and normal. Below 100 points indicates relative weakness, while over 200 points suggests it's overly dominant.

Example Walkthrough

Water: 30 points; Earth: 60 points; Metal: 60 points; Wood: 60 points

(Year Pillar) Gui (Month Pillar) Ji (Day Pillar) Xin (Hour Pillar) Jia

Si Wei Wei Wu

Breakdown: Si contributes Fire 60 points, Earth 30 points, Metal 10 points; Wei (Month) contributes Earth 60 points * 2, Fire 30 points * 2, Wood 10 points * 2; Wei (Day) contributes Earth 60 points, Fire 30 points, Wood 10 points; Wu contributes Fire 70 points, Earth 30 points. Heavenly Stems: Gui (Water, but no Water in branches, so 30 points); Ji (Earth, present in branches, so 60 points); Xin (Metal, present, so 60 points); Jia (Wood, present, so 60 points).

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Lay out your BaZi chart in the standard format, as shown above.

2. Begin with the Earthly Branches and assign points based on their contents. For instance, Si includes Fire (60 points), Earth (30 points), and Metal (10 points). Proceed through each one in sequence.

3. Once the branches are scored, move to the Heavenly Stems. For example, Gui represents Water and typically scores 60 points, but if no Water appears in the branches, it drops to 30 points. Check Ji for Earth—since Earth is present, it gets full 60 points. Continue for the rest.

4. Remember to double all scores from the Month Pillar's Earthly Branch. Apply the multiplier and note the adjusted totals.

5. Add it all up:

• Water totals 30 points
• Fire totals 60 + 30 * 2 + 30 + 70 = 220 points
• Earth totals 30 + 60 * 2 + 60 + 60 + 30 = 300 points (including stems)
• Metal totals 10 + 60 = 70 points
• Wood totals 10 * 2 + 10 + 60 = 90 points

In this example, Earth and Fire are excessively strong (both over 200 points), which could contribute to issues like stomach ulcers. Meanwhile, low Metal might lead to dryness or respiratory problems. Use this analysis to gain insights into your chart's elemental balance and consider remedies thoughtfully.