A Living Glossary, Expanded

Learn what Wuxing (Five Elements / Five Phases) means, how generation and overcoming cycles work, and how it shows up in Bazi—backed by verifiable sources and quotes.

Learn what Bazi is, how the Four Pillars work, and how to read your Chinese astrology chart—with verifiable sources and practical interpretation frameworks.

Understand what Yin and Yang really means—its classical roots, how it shapes Chinese metaphysics, and how it appears in Bazi, Feng Shui, and divination.

Learn what hexagrams are in I Ching divination—how they are formed, how to read them, and what the 64 hexagrams represent.

Learn what Feng Shui really means—its classical origins, core principles of Qi flow, and how to apply it thoughtfully to your living and working spaces.

Learn what face reading is in Chinese tradition—how facial features are analyzed, what different areas represent, and how to approach this practice thoughtfully.

Learn what palm reading is in Chinese tradition—how palm lines are analyzed, what the major lines mean, and how to approach this practice thoughtfully.

Learn what date selection is in Chinese tradition—how auspicious dates are determined, what factors are considered, and how to apply this thoughtfully.

Learn what the Ten Gods (Shi Shen) are in Bazi—how they define relationships between the Day Master and other elements, and what each god represents.

Learn what the Day Master (Ri Zhu) is in Bazi—why it represents you, how to identify it, and what your Day Master element reveals about your character.

Learn what Luck Pillars (Da Yun) are in Bazi—ten-year cycles that bring different elemental influences to your life, shaping opportunities and challenges.

Learn what the Eight Trigrams (Bagua) are—the three-line symbols that form the foundation of I Ching hexagrams and appear throughout Chinese metaphysics.

Learn what Plum Blossom Numerology (Meihua Yishu) is—a Song Dynasty divination method that converts numbers, time, or observations into hexagrams.

Learn what Qi (Chi) is in Feng Shui—the vital life force that flows through all spaces, and how to optimize its flow for wellbeing and prosperity.

Learn what the Wealth Position (Cai Wei) is in Feng Shui—how to locate it in your space and what to do (and avoid) to activate prosperity energy.

Learn what the Life Line means in palmistry—it reflects vitality and constitution, not literal lifespan. Understand how to read its length, depth, and shape.

Learn what the Chinese Almanac (Huang Li) is—the traditional calendar that records daily do's and don'ts, auspicious activities, and fortune indicators.

Learn about the Four Pillars in Chinese astrology — year, month, day, and hour pillars that form the foundation of Bazi chart reading.

Learn about the Ten Heavenly Stems in Chinese astrology — from Jia Wood to Gui Water, their elements, polarities, and meanings.

Learn about the Twelve Earthly Branches in Chinese astrology — from Zi to Hai, their elements, hidden stems, and the Chinese zodiac connection.

Learn about Qian Chart in Chinese astrology — the male Bazi chart pattern and how Luck Pillars progress.

Learn about Kun Chart in Chinese astrology — the female Bazi chart pattern and how Luck Pillars progress.

Learn about Element Balance in Chinese astrology — how the distribution of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water affects your Bazi chart.

Learn about Useful God in Chinese astrology — the crucial element that balances and optimizes your Bazi chart.

Learn about Favorable Elements in Chinese astrology — the secondary beneficial elements that support the Useful God.

Learn about Unfavorable Elements in Chinese astrology — elements that disrupt balance and oppose the Useful God.

Learn about Annual Cycle in Chinese astrology — how each year brings different elemental influences that interact with your natal chart.

Learn about Start of Luck in Chinese astrology — how to calculate when your Luck Pillar cycles begin based on birth timing.

Learn about Clash in Chinese astrology — when Earthly Branches oppose each other, creating tension, movement, and potential change.

Learn about Combination in Chinese astrology — when stems or branches unite harmoniously, potentially transforming elements.

Learn about Harm in Chinese astrology — the six pairs of branches that create hidden friction, backstabbing, or subtle obstacles.

Understand Penalty (Xing) relationships between Earthly Branches in Bazi, including self-penalty, ungrateful penalty, and bullying penalty types.

Learn about Peach Blossom star in Bazi, indicating charm, romance, and social attractiveness based on Earthly Branch relationships.

Understand Wealth Star in Bazi Ten Gods system, including Direct Wealth and Indirect Wealth, representing money, assets, and material resources.

Learn about Power Star in Bazi Ten Gods system, including Direct Officer and Seven Killings, representing authority, career, and social status.

Understand Resource Star in Bazi Ten Gods system, including Direct Seal and Indirect Seal, representing support, education, and nurturing influences.

Learn about Output Star in Bazi Ten Gods system, including Eating God and Hurting Officer, representing creativity, expression, and productivity.

Learn about Chinese divination methods including I Ching, Plum Blossom, and various casting techniques. Understand the philosophy and practice of seeking guidance.

Understand what Yao lines are in I Ching—the solid Yang and broken Yin lines that form trigrams and hexagrams, carrying meaning through their positions.

Learn what moving lines are in I Ching—lines in transition that transform your hexagram, revealing where change is active in your situation.

Understand the primary hexagram (Ben Gua) in I Ching divination—the original hexagram that represents your current situation before any transformation.

Understand the changed hexagram (Bian Gua) in I Ching divination—the transformed hexagram that shows the outcome or direction of change.

Learn about Liu Yao, the Six Lines divination method—a sophisticated system using hexagram lines with Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches for detailed readings.

Learn the coin casting method for I Ching divination—toss three coins six times to build your hexagram. Simple, accessible, and effective.

Learn the traditional yarrow stalk method for I Ching divination—the original, elaborate ritual using 50 stalks to build a hexagram through sacred mathematics.

Learn the time casting method for I Ching divination—derive your hexagram from the current year, month, day, and hour using Plum Blossom numerology.

Learn the number casting method for I Ching divination—transform any meaningful number into a hexagram using Plum Blossom numerology.

Learn the character casting method for I Ching divination—transform Chinese characters into hexagrams through stroke counting and symbolic interpretation.

Learn the direction casting method for I Ching divination—use compass directions and their trigram associations to generate meaningful hexagrams.

Learn the sound casting method for I Ching divination—transform auditory phenomena like bird calls, knocks, or any counted sounds into meaningful hexagrams.

Understand the Qian trigram—pure Yang energy representing heaven, creativity, strength, and the father principle in Chinese metaphysics.

Understand the Kun trigram—pure Yin energy representing earth, receptivity, nurturing, and the mother principle in Chinese metaphysics.

Learn about Sha Qi in feng shui—what it is, common sources, how to identify it, and practical methods to neutralize or deflect negative energy in your space.

Learn about Sheng Qi in feng shui—the vital, life-giving energy that brings prosperity, health, and vitality. Discover how to attract and cultivate it in your space.

Learn about Ming Tang in feng shui—the vital open space before a building that collects and accumulates beneficial Qi. Understand its importance and how to optimize it.

Learn about Kao Shan (Backing Mountain) in feng shui—the crucial support behind a building that provides stability, protection, and career advancement.

Learn about the Azure Dragon in feng shui—the protective energy on the left side of a building. Understand its role in the Four Guardians model and how to optimize it.

Learn about the White Tiger in feng shui—the protective energy on the right side of a building. Understand its role in the Four Guardians model and how to maintain balance.

Learn about Road Rush in feng shui—one of the most common forms of Sha Qi. Understand why direct roads pointing at buildings are problematic and how to remedy them.

Learn about Sky Cutting Sha in feng shui—the harmful energy created by narrow gaps between tall buildings. Understand why it matters and how to protect against it.

Learn about Bow Back Sha in feng shui—the harmful energy created when a building sits on the outer curve of a road. Understand why it matters and how to remedy it.

Learn about Sharp Corner Sha in feng shui—the harmful energy created by pointed building corners or objects aimed at your space. Understand how to identify and remedy it.

Learn about Wen Chang Wei in feng shui—the academic position that supports learning, examinations, and intellectual pursuits. Discover how to locate and activate it.

Learn about Tao Hua Wei in feng shui—the romance position associated with relationships, marriage prospects, and interpersonal connections. Discover how to locate and activate it.

Learn about Na Qi in feng shui—the crucial concept of how buildings receive and gather beneficial energy. Understand how doors, orientation, and layout affect Qi intake.

Learn about the main door in feng shui—one of the three essential elements of yang (living) feng shui. Understand door direction, positioning, and optimization.

Learn about Xuan Guan in feng shui—the entrance foyer that serves as a buffer zone between outside and inside. Understand its importance and design principles.

Learn how the Five Elements (Wu Xing) apply specifically to feng shui practice—directional correspondences, color applications, and creating elemental balance in spaces.

Learn how Yin Yang principles apply to feng shui—balancing light and dark, active and passive, open and enclosed to create harmonious living spaces.

Learn about the Luopan—the traditional feng shui compass with multiple rings of information. Understand its structure, use, and importance in professional feng shui practice.

Learn about Sitting and Facing direction in feng shui—the fundamental measurement that determines a building's feng shui chart and energy patterns.

Learn about Eight Mansions feng shui—a widely practiced system that divides homes and people into East and West groups with specific auspicious and inauspicious directions.

Learn about Xuan Kong feng shui—the sophisticated system that incorporates time factors and Flying Stars to analyze how building energy changes over periods.

Learn about Flying Stars in feng shui—the nine stars that move through the nine palaces, each carrying different energy qualities. Understand their meanings and applications.

Learn about the Nine Palaces in feng shui—the fundamental 3x3 grid used to divide and analyze spaces. Understand how it relates to the Lo Shu square and directional analysis.

Learn how the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) is applied in feng shui—mapping directions, elements, and life aspects to create balanced and harmonious spaces.

Learn about the Life Palace (命宫/印堂) — the most important zone in Chinese face reading, located between the eyebrows.

Learn about the forehead in Chinese face reading — representing early life fortune (ages 15-30), wisdom, and parental relationships.

Learn about eyebrows in Chinese face reading — called the "Longevity Officer," representing sibling relationships, lifespan, and personality.

Learn about eyes in Chinese face reading — called the "Inspection Officer," representing character, wisdom, and middle-age fortune.

Learn about the nose in Chinese face reading — called the "Judgment Officer," representing wealth, career, and middle-age fortune.

Learn about the mouth in Chinese face reading — called the "Output Officer," representing sustenance, speech ability, and later-life fortune.

Learn about the chin in Chinese face reading — called "Di Ge," representing later-life fortune, willpower, and property.

Learn about ears in Chinese face reading — called the "Listening Officer," representing wisdom, youth fortune, and constitutional vitality.

Learn about the Head Line in Chinese palm reading — one of the three major lines, representing thinking style, intelligence, and judgment ability.

Learn about the Heart Line in Chinese palm reading — one of the three major lines, representing emotional expression, love attitudes, and relationships.

Learn about the Fate Line in Chinese palm reading — representing career development, life direction, and destiny patterns.

Learn about the Sun Line in Chinese palm reading — representing success fortune, reputation, and artistic talent.

Learn about the Marriage Line in Chinese palm reading — representing marriage status, romantic experiences, and partner relationships.

Learn about Palm Mounts in Chinese palm reading — the raised fleshy areas representing different energies, traits, and potential.

Learn about "Face Reflects Mind" — the foundational principle of Chinese physiognomy that inner character manifests in outer appearance.

Learn what physiognomy is in Chinese tradition—how facial and body features are analyzed to understand character, fortune, and life patterns.

Learn about the Three Sections (三停) in Chinese face reading—how the face is divided into upper, middle, and lower zones representing different life stages and qualities.

Learn about the Five Features (五官) in Chinese physiognomy—how eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, and ears reveal character traits and life patterns.

Learn about the Twelve Palaces (十二宫) in Chinese physiognomy—how specific facial regions are mapped to different life domains like career, wealth, and relationships.

Learn about auspicious days in Chinese date selection — how favorable dates are determined and what makes a day suitable for important activities.

Learn about inauspicious days in Chinese date selection — what makes a day unfavorable and when to postpone important activities.

Learn about Yi Ji in the Chinese almanac — how the dos (suitable activities) and donts (activities to avoid) are determined for each day.

Learn about the Gan Zhi system — the foundation of Chinese calendrical calculations combining 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches.

Learn how the Ten Heavenly Stems apply to Chinese date selection — understanding stem qualities and their influence on day selection.

Learn how the Twelve Earthly Branches apply to Chinese date selection — understanding branch qualities, clashes, and combinations.

Learn about the Twelve Day Officers — a 12-day cycle in the Chinese almanac that determines the fundamental quality of each day.

Learn about Break Day in the Chinese almanac — one of the twelve day officers, generally considered unfavorable for most activities.

Learn about Monthly Break in Chinese date selection — a highly inauspicious condition when the day branch clashes with the month branch.

Learn about the Three Killings in Chinese date selection — three directional sha that change yearly and should be avoided for important activities.

Learn about Shen Sha in Chinese date selection — the system of auspicious deities and malevolent sha that influence each day's suitability.

Learn about auspicious deities in Chinese date selection — the beneficial celestial influences that make certain days more favorable.

Learn about malevolent sha in Chinese date selection — the negative celestial influences that make certain days less favorable or dangerous.

Learn about the 28 Lunar Mansions in Chinese date selection — ancient star divisions used to determine day quality and suitable activities.

Learn about the 24 Solar Terms in Chinese calendar — the astronomical markers that divide the year and influence date selection calculations.

Learn about Chinese Hours — the traditional 12-part division of the day, each two hours long and associated with an earthly branch.

Learn about the Six Clashes in Chinese date selection — the six pairs of earthly branches that directly oppose each other.

Learn how the Five Elements apply to Chinese date selection — understanding the elemental quality of days and matching them to your needs.