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Meaning and Context
The Four Pillars are the core structural unit of Chinese astrology. Each pillar consists of one Heavenly Stem (天干) on top and one Earthly Branch (地支) below, making two characters per pillar and eight characters total.
- Year Pillar (年柱): Represents ancestry, early childhood environment, social context
- Month Pillar (月柱): Represents parents, career environment, seasonal energy
- Day Pillar (日柱): Represents self (Day Master) and spouse
- Hour Pillar (时柱): Represents children, later life, inner thoughts
Classical Roots
From Sanming Tonghui
「人禀天地之气而生，故有年月日时，谓之四柱。」
Plain translation
"Humans are born receiving the qi of heaven and earth, hence there are year, month, day, and hour, called the Four Pillars." This establishes the cosmic origin of the four-pillar framework.
Structure and Relationships
Each pillar represents a different life domain and time scale:
- Year Pillar: 60-year cycle, ancestral influence
- Month Pillar: Seasonal energy, most important for determining Day Master strength
- Day Pillar: The Day Stem is "you" — the reference point for all analysis
- Hour Pillar: Daily cycle, represents expressions and outputs
How It Shows Up in FateFolio
In FateFolio's Bazi tool, your Four Pillars are displayed as a visual chart with color-coded elements. Each pillar shows its Heavenly Stem, Earthly Branch, hidden stems, and elemental nature.
Common Misconceptions
- Thinking only the Year Pillar (Chinese zodiac animal) matters
- Ignoring the Month Pillar's crucial role in determining chart strength
- Not recognizing that the Day Pillar is the center of all interpretation
FAQ
Which pillar is most important?
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The Day Pillar is the most important because the Day Stem represents "you" — all other elements are interpreted in relation to it. However, the Month Pillar determines the seasonal context and strongly affects Day Master strength.