The Complete BaZi Reading Process

A professional BaZi reading isn't just looking up a calendar — it follows specific steps.

Step 1: Verify Birth Details

Confirm Gregorian vs. lunar time, exact minutes, and birthplace. Year Pillar starts at Li Chun (Start of Spring), not Chinese New Year. Month Pillar follows solar terms, not lunar months. Hour Pillar uses true solar time.

Step 2: Arrange the Four Pillars

Year Pillar: Gan-Zhi year starting at Li Chun. Month Pillar: solar-term months using the Five Tiger method. Day Pillar: look up the calendar. Hour Pillar: use the Five Rat method with true solar time.

Step 3: Calculate Luck Pillars

From the Month Pillar, forward for Yang-year males / Yin-year females, backward for Yin-year males / Yang-year females. Calculate starting age.

Step 4: Analyze

Assess Day Master strength, find favorable element, read Ten Gods configuration, check clashes and combinations, and map luck pillars.

All four steps are done automatically by our BaZi calculator.
💡 Try it yourself? Use our free BaZi calculator to generate your Four Pillars chart instantly, or explore Chinese baby names.
Related reading: BaZi introduction True solar time BaZi calculator