saju advanced

1

www.fourpillarskorea.com

copyrights © all rights reserved by Janet Shin

Learning

Four Pillars of

destiny Ancient Chinese teaching

For Advanced

2



By Janet Shin

3



Four pillars Advanced

Contents 1. How to read saju and its structure 4-31

2. Harmony 32-37

3. Hidden letters 38-42

4. Root/Seed/Flower/Fruit 43-44

5. Branches 45-49

6. 12 Stages of Life 50-61

7. Gods and Devils 62-64

8. Ten celestial stems and their relationships

-Upper version 65-74

9. Void 75-76

10. Saju and health 77-83

11. Summary 84-86

4



Chapter 1 How to understand Saju structure

To comprehend saju structure is an important step to foresee one‟s sociality,

environment, field of action, wealth and honor or success and failure.

The major philosophy of saju, which came from orient is different from

western philosophy. When ancient people studied the universe and the

situation of human being, they tried to look everything under the concept of

“relationship”.

First of all, we figure out that the day stem denotes the owner of the saju.

The month branch, which means season of the year when a person was born,

rules whole environment of one’s life. According to ancient books, these two

major letters are written as a vassal and a king, respectively.

The month branch is called a king and the day stem is called a vassal.

Western readers often question that why the day stem is not a king as we

defined it as a day master.

There is no doubt that the day master is still a leading character in saju

(destiny). They called the month branch ‘King’ not because it is a leading

character but because it rules one’s fate, while the day master is required to

adapt itself to the environmental change (month branch). And they tried to

infer whether the day master is well compatible with the month branch.

5



Also, when they read the other elements in saju, energy balance and their

relationship were more valued instead of just counting the number of each

element. The energy and the way it reacts and flows within a person are what

saju tells.

Now you also need to understand the concepts of „substance‟ and „applicable

agent‟ in saju.

First of all, the four pillars (8 letters) are „Substance‟ of one‟s life. Among

them the day master is a main substance, and the month branch is an

applicable agent.

Different from the day master and the month branch, if we compare stems

and branches, in general, stems are more like applicable agents, while

branches are substances.

It is not easy to grasp the exact meaning between Substance and Applicable

6



agent, as they change their roles subject to situations. Accordingly it is

confusing to clarify how they make differences. Substance is a mold of saju,

so we call four pillars a substance. Among the 8 letters in saju, the day

master is a main substance.

In a different angle, substance is more like a fixed energy, while applicable

agent is changeable energy. Since we learned that stems are pure and

intangible energy from the heaven, we may translate stems applicable agents,

while branches are mixed energy derived from heaven but more tangible.

The way we read one‟s fate by saju is to clarify the day master as substance,

then comprehend how it works under the environment of the month branch

(applicable agent). – To see whether the day master is compatible with the

month branch.

The 8 letters in saju are substances, which are constructed as more of fixed

energies. Then there arise changes by the generation and restriction

activities among the 5 elements, when the saju meets applicable agents, such

as stem activities, 10 year fortune cycle and coming year‟s fortune.

Based on this understanding, we may be able to define what favorable

elements are and what unfavorable elements are.

There are 8 general classification of saju structure.

1. Structure formed by Expression star in different yin-yang (Defiant god,

which is called Sang gwan)

2. Structure formed by Expression star in same yin-yang (Playing god,

which is called Sik sin)

3. Structure formed by Money star in different yin-yang (Proper money

god, which is called Jeong jae)

4. Structure formed by Money star in same yin-yang (Expediential money

god, which is called Pyeon jae)

7



5. Structure formed by Career star in different yin-yang (Proper career

god, which is called Jeong gwan)

6. Structure formed by Career star in same yin-yang (Expediential career

god, which is called Pyeon gwan)

7. Structure formed by Knowledge star in different yin-yang (Proper

knowledge god, which is called Jeong in)

8. Structure formed by Knowledge star in same yin-yang (Expediential

knowledge god, which is called Pyeon in)

8



We don‟t include the structure formed by Friend stars.

Then how do we determine the structure? First of all, month branch is a

major energy flow of one‟s fate, so we need to figure out the month branch

first.

1. Review the inclusion of the month branch. Among them, if any one

element penetrates through a stem, it determines the structure of saju.

2. If more than one element penetrate through stems, regular energy is

the strongest. And it determines the structure of saju.

3. If any friend stars penetrate through stems, do not count them as

structure of Friend star.

4. If no inclusion from month branch penetrates through stem, just

consider the regular energy. It determines the structure.

5. The structures need to be generated from healthy elements, so

damaged elements cannot make a structure.

6. In case month branch is clashed, it‟s better to consider the other

branches. The strength of branches are, month>time>day>year

When you figure the structure, below aspects need to be reviewed.

1. The structures and favorable elements need to be strong and healthy

as possible. This will enable the day master to achieve certain success

in life path.

2. The favorable elements need to be supported. If they are too strong, it

requires other elements to restrain. The other elements to drain the

energy of the strong element are needed.

3. The unfavorable elements need to be restricted

Below summarized the meanings of the structure,

1. The structure is one‟s environment and field of activity.

2. The useful and applicable agents mean one‟s capability and

competence.

3. The favorable element is something that supports useful agent.

4. The unfavorable element is something that bothers the process and

creates troublesome gossips.

5. If the structure is a body, the applicable useful agent is a mind. If the

structure is a car, the applicable useful agent is a driver who drives the

car. If the structure is a container, the applicable agent is its purpose

9



and where it is used.

6. If the structure is not strong and clear, one‟s occupation, career and

social status in life path are not favorable.

7. It is more welcomed when the favorable determining element for

structure is positioned in month or year stem. When it is not connected

with stem, the structure is not so prestigious.

8. It is better to follow the strong structure or strong useful applicable

agent as possible.

Four lucky star structures – need either supports or drainage

Sik-sin (expression star in same yin/yang)

Money stars (both same and different yin/yang)

Jeong-gwan (career star in different yin/yang)

Jeong-in (knowledge star in different yin/yang)

Four unlucky star structures – need restraints

Sang-gwang (expression star in different yin/yang)

Pyeon-gwan (career star in same in/yang)

10



Pyeon-in (knowledge star in same yin/yang)

Friend stars

Features of each structure

1. The Structure formed by Expression star in different yin-yang (Sang

gwan structure)

When an expression star in month branch is different yin-yang from a day

master, or any one element from inclusion of month branch, penetrated

through stem is expression star of different yin-yang.

The different yin-yang of expression star(sang gwan) hurts career star, so it

is better not to have career star (proper career god-Jeong gwan) in the saju

of this structure.

Successful scenario

1) When knowledge star is able to control „Sang gwan‟.

2) When a day master is strong and proper money star drains the energy

from Sang gwan.

11



3) When there is a strong career star-Pyeon gwan, which is restrained by

Sang gwan.

4) When a day master is weak and also being drained by expression star,

it is required to have a knowledge star accompanied by career star.

The knowledge star will ultimately support the weak day master.

Unsuccessful scenario

1) There are clashes among expression stars

12



2) When there is proper career star but it is restrained by Sang gwan –

defiant god

3) Expression star is well restrained by Knowledge star, but the

knowledge star gets damaged by money star.

4) Weak day master has expression star and it flows to money star. But

the power of expression and money stars are too strong.

13



5) Sang gwan is restraining the Pyeon gwan (Expediential career god) but

knowledge star is also restraining the Sang gwan.

6) The Sang gwan structure is damaged by strong knowledge stars.

7) Weak day master has expression star and flows to money star, but

14



there also is a Pyeon gwan (Expediential career god).

2. The Structure formed by Expression star in same yin-yang (Sik sin

structure)

When a month branch is an expression star (same yin-yang as day

master), or any one element from the inclusion of month branch,

penetrated through stem is an expression star.

Expression star is related with eating, playing and talent. It requires a

money star to circulate the energy through.

Successful scenario

1) When a strong day master has expression star in its structure

accompanied by money star.

2) When a day master has strong career star, and it is restrained by an

expression star.

15



3) When an expression star is too strong, it requires a knowledge star to

balance the power.


1) When expression stars are clashed or penalized

2) When career stars are too strong but an expression star is too weak to

restrain the career star

16



3) When a useful expression star is damaged by knowledge stars

4) When an expression star is paired with others

5) When a day master is not strong

17



3. The Structure formed by Money star in different yin-yang (Jeong jae

structure)

When a money star in month branch is different yin-yang from day master or

any one element from the inclusion of month branch, penetrated through stem

is money star of different yin-yang.

The Jeong jae structure requires strong day master. But there shouldn‟t be

too many different friend stars in saju.

Successful scenario

1) A Strong day master accompanied by strong money star, which in turn

generates career stars.

2) A Strong day master accompanied by weak money star, which is

supported by expression stars.

3) A Strong day master accompanied by a weak money star. There is no

18



expression star then the career star is able to control the strong day

master.

4) A Weak day master accompanied by strong money star, but the weak

day master is supported by a knowledge star. (The money and

knowledge stars need to be positioned separately).


1) When money stars are damaged

19



2) When there are many friend stars for a weak money star

3) When a weak day master has strong money stars and also restrained

by a career star

4) When a money star generates career star, but the career star is

damaged

20



5) When a weak day master has strong expression and money stars

4. The Structure formed by Money star in same yin-yang (Pyeon jae

structure)

It has similar properties and explanations to Jeong jae.

5. The Structure formed by Career star in different yin-yang (Jeong gwan

structure)

When a career star in month branch is different yin-yang from a day master

or any one element from the inclusion of month branch, penetrated through

stem is a career star of different yin-yang. The Jeong gwan structure

requires supports from money stars or drains to knowledge stars, rather than

restriction by Sang gwan.

A Day master is required to be strong in order to be well controlled by Jeong

gwan. It needs to avoid from sang gwan. Healthy Jeong gwan structure makes

a noble and high-ranking official.

21



Successful scenario

1) A Strong day master has a career star generated by money star

2) A day master is weak and accompanied by strong career stars, and it

circulates through knowledge stars to support the day master.

3) This knowledge star should be placed where no money star can

restrict it.

4) When Sang gwan is to damage the career star, the knowledge should

22



be able to control Sang gwan


1) Career stars are damaged or penalized

2) A career star is restrained by Sang gwan

3) Both Jeong gwan and Pyeon gwan are mixed

23



4) A Weak day master accompanied by strong career stars

5) There is a weak career star and no other supportive energy

6) Too many knowledge stars are draining a career star

24



6. The Structure formed by Career star in same yin-yang (Pyeon gwan

structure)

When a career star in month branch is same yin-yang as a day master or any

one element from the inclusion of month branch, penetrated through stem is

career star of same yin-yang. The Pyeon gwan structure requires strong day

master and it needs to be well controlled by expression stars. Sometimes

Pyeon gwan structure shows stronger leadership and initiatives.

Successful scenario

1) A Strong day master accompanied by strong Pyeon gwan

2) A strong Pyeon gwan is controlled by expression stars


1) A Weak day master

25



2) When strong Pyeon gwans do not have expression stars to control

them.

3) When a knowledge star hurts an expression star that is to control

strong Pyeon gwan.

4) When there are strong money stars or strong knowledge stars.

5) When there are strong expression stars

26



6) When career stars are clashed or penalized.

7. The Structure formed by Knowledge star in different yin-yang (Jeong-in

structure)

When a knowledge star in month branch is different yin-yang from day

master or any one element from the inclusion of month branch, penetrated

through stem is a knowledge star of different yin-yang.

The Jeong-in structure should not be damaged by money stars. A Weak day

master can be supported by knowledge stars and if there is a career star, it

will raise status of the day master higher.

Successful scenario

1) It is ok with a weak day master even with career stars

2) When a day master is strong, it requires expression stars to drain the

27



energy

3) If a knowledge structure is too strong, it needs to be restrained by

money stars


1) When a knowledge structure is damaged by money stars

2) When a knowledge structure is clashed or penalized.

3) When a day master is strong enough, which does not require more

28



supports from knowledge stars

8. The Structure formed by Knowledge star in same yin-yang (Pyeon in

structure)

When a knowledge star in month branch is same yin-yang as a day master or

any one element from the inclusion of month branch, penetrated through stem

is knowledge star of same yin-yang. The strong Pyeon-in structure needs to

be restrained by money stars. Even it is ok when the Pyeon-in are clashed or

penalized. But still the Pyeon-in is helpful for a weak day master.

Successful scenario

1) When a strong Pyeon-in is restrained by money stars

2) When a strong day master is accompanied by strong Pyeon-in, it

requires expression stars to drain some energy.

29



3) When a strong day master is accompanied by weak Pyeon-in, and it is

supported by career star.


1) When a weak Pyeon-in is restrained by money star

2) When a strong Pyeon-in supports strong day master

3) When there is no other element to control the strong Pyeon-in.

How we define the class of fate

1. Favorable elements are strong and unfavorable elements are weak

It makes both rich and noble fate

2. Unfavorable elements are strong but there is a useful applicable agent

to control them

One might have some challenges but is able to overcome difficulty.

3. Favorable and unfavorable elements are mixed

30



Ordinary people‟s life

4. Useful applicable agents are weak and unfavorable elements are strong

One may run through lots of diversities in life and cannot overcome

difficulties

The fate paths between rich and noble lives

When saju has a strong day master and strong money stars supported by

expression star, it pursues wealth and it has talents to make money.

When saju has a strong day master and strong career stars, it pursues noble

lives and achieves high position in its career. Like this, saju structure

determines whether one achieves either rich or noble life. (Between money

fortune cycle and career fortune cycle)

The meaning of strong day master – When a day master takes roots in a

branch, we can say the day master is strong.

The agent that determines wealth – A Weak day master may require friend

stars to achieve money fortune. A Strong day master requires expression and

money stars.

The agent that determines nobility – A Weak day master may require

knowledge stars to achieve noble fortune. A Strong day master requires

money and career stars.

How to read successful or unsuccessful fate for each applicable and useful

agents.

1. When a friend star is an applicable useful agent – People are firm,

vigorous and patient. When a day master gets support from friend stars

(ex, partners, friends, siblings) one may achieve fortune.

2. When an expression is an applicable useful agent – People are talented,

smart, artistic and cultured. When a day master meets expression stars,

one may build a stepping stone for success. One becomes intuitive and

makes right decisions.

3. When a money star is an applicable useful agent – People are

creditable and active. They also care others. When a day master meets

money star fortune, it makes great wealth.

4. When a career star is an applicable useful agent – People want to keep

31



their reputation and pursue respectful life. They value fidelity and

show leadership. When a day master meets career star fortune, one is

promoted to a higher position and its leadership is recognized by

others.

5. When a knowledge star is an applicable useful agent – People are wise,

calm and merciful. They keep trying to accumulate honor. When a day

master meets knowledge star fortune, it achieves license, good scores

at school and gains fame.

If saju has an applicable useful agent only in stem, it acquires good fortune

when it meets the element in coming year‟s branch. It is because the energy

needs to connect between stems and branches. If a day master has an

applicable useful agent only in the inclusions of branch, it acquires good

fortune when it meets the element in coming year‟s stem. This is due to the

law of „roots and penetrations‟ between stems and branches. If a day master

has a healthy applicable useful agent both in stems and taking a root in

branches, one may develop better fate constantly.

Ordinary people usually have their favorable and unfavorable elements mixed

in their saju, so we need to evaluate which is stronger or healthier when we

read their life in details.

In case saju has great flow of energy,

1. It needs to follow the strong energy flow.

2. When it meets the strong energy in the coming year‟s fortune, it

achieves good fortune.

32



Chapter 2 Harmony

Reading saju is to analyze the yinyang and 5 elements in saju. After defining a

day master of saju, one may evaluate its relationship with other elements and

read the condition of saju structure. It is a process like decoding the signs

from heaven and earth from one’s birth.

There are 4 heavenly stems and 4 terrestrial branches in one’s saju, which

are read through the yin and yang and the five elements of universe. Human

beings are born imperfect considering the fact that saju has to compose 5

elements. Accordingly there must be both harmonious and disharmonious

relation between the day master and other elements. To read this relationship

is the core technique in practicing saju.

If you are able to evaluate how a day master is related with other elements,

harmoniously or disharmoniously, you are already a master to read others’

fate. It would be a secondary work to figure out favorable or unfavorable

elements, or to find out the applicable useful agent in saju. Also after this

being clarified, there is no confusion about ‘structure’. It is still very difficult

and complicated technique to read and clarify saju structure well, in

practicing saju.

You may be able to find your own ways to read one’s fate, whether it is

grasping the structure or comprehending the harmony, or else.

The major principle to comprehend ‘harmony’ in saju is to find neutralizing

energy. Theoretically, from a day master’s viewpoint, if it’s strong, there

required a restricting element. If it’s weak, there required a supportive

(generating) energy. So when the saju has this neutralizing elements, we may

call it ‘applicable useful agent’.

In summary,

1. Saju requires ‘harmony’ the most

2. It requires neutralizing elements to harmonize the energy relationship.

3. We need to review climate of saju to determine the neutralizing

elements. For example, for a day master born in cold month branches,

it needs to add warmth. On the other hand, for a day master born in hot

33



month branches, it needs to add coldness.

Then, why ‘Harmony’?

In orient, humans are considered a part of nature, so we read their fate by

one’s birth year, month, day and time. And it is of course required to have

harmonized relationship and energy flow with heaven and earth.

Other than the day master or day stem, the rest elements in the saju could

constitute one’s social and human relationship networks under the name of 5

stars or cycles. They are friend, expression, money, career and knowledge

stars according to the 5 elements circulation.

Some people may have their saju with all five elements balanced, while others

not. The fact that saju has only four pillars means human beings are not

perfect as saju can’t satisfy all five elements. A billionaire may not be happy

with his love life or sometimes he is not healthy enough to enjoy his wealth.

Most ordinary people pursue rich life but not all of them achieve what they

want in their lifetime. An intelligent scholar usually falls in frustration for the

lack of social recognition.

People seem to thirst for what they don’t have, instead of being satisfied with

what they have.

The 4 stems and 4 branches in saju are not fossilized. Some letters are

enforced while others are weakened as time goes by. Some letters are

revived when they meet certain energy in coming years while others are

damaged.

The logic in reading our fate by saju cannot be testified through certain

experiments. Yet still exists.

Wood is not just called „wood‟. On the contrary, we have to understand that

wood is generated by water, then it generates fire. Also it restricts earth and

is restricted by metal, as seen by the five elements diagram. They should be

understood by the relationship with others, so when the fire energy is strong,

for example, we consider that wood might be exhausted as the wood energy

is absorbed by the fire and the earth would become fertile by vital fire energy,

and the metal can be damaged as the fire would melt it, and so on.

When ancient people studied the universe and the situation of human beings,

34



they tried to look everything under the concept of “relationship”.

Now we may be able to see how this understanding was applied to saju.

When we read the other elements in saju, energy balance and their

relationship are more valued instead of just counting the number of each

element.

As many of us agree, money is such important factor to determine one’s life

successful or not in modern society. In reading the saju, if you found lots of

money stars in your saju, would you consider that you have big money

fortune and your life is happy?

The answer is no.

There are only four pillars in a saju while you need to fill them with five

elements. So there always is a lacking in our life. Each element has its own

luck and influence to your life, for example, a friend star gives you strength, a

knowledge star gives you wisdom, an expression star talents, a career star

social recognition and power, etc. So having many money stars means you

are lacking the other fortune. And it also suggests that in order to make

money, your energy is exhausted.

The oriental philosophy teaches us to look at the whole picture and

understand the mechanism of relationship.

35



Then, how to judge ?

First, Harmony of the 5 elements

1. If one element sitting on a branch as a regular energy

proper power and it has virtue.

2. If an element comes only from inclusion, whether one or more than two,

not as a regular energy

still weak and it lacks virtue.

3. If an element is sitting on more than two branches as regular energies

excessive power (Excessiveness is not better than lacking, as it is

cumbersome and disturb the other stars.

Second, Harmony of yin-yang

Yin and yang, coldness and warmth, brightness and darkness, etc. determine

the atmosphere of saju.

36



Deepen your study of Harmony

The harmony of saju means it has all five elements properly constituted in

saju. When we define favorable elements and unfavorable elements, the

favorable elements need to be strong and unfavorable elements need to be

weak. But before that, saju needs to have all five elements as possible. As

written above, one regular element may bring proper fortune. If the element

exists in more than two branches, it is called excessive and not favorable. If

the element exists only in inclusions not as a regular energy, it is weak. You

should be able to utilize this principle in practicing saju.

Let‟s see how we can judge with an actual example.

Time Day Month Year Male

Gye Gi Byeong Im

Yu Chuk O In

Metal Earth Fire wood

-wood ; proper

-fire ; proper

-earth ; proper

-metal ; proper

-water ; insufficient

When it comes to the 5 elements harmony, this saju is well balanced. Wood is

a career star and this person has career fortune. Fire is a knowledge star and

he has good fortune with his mother, study and respect. Earth is a friend star

and he has supportive friends and siblings. Metal is an expression star, and

he doesn‟t have difficulty in determining what to do in his life. Water is a

money star, which is weak so he is lacking money fortune or luck of his wife.

Since he still has an appropriate expression star, he is making effort to earn

money, but the outcome is not as much as he endeavors.

Then, what element will be damaged mostly in this saju ?

It is Water, which has least power. There is gye water included in chuk of a

day branch. During his age 31-45, he may have some difficulty whenever

chuk is clashed or penalized. If he had extra water element in other branch

inclusions, the damage could be lessened.

Water element represents money, wife, outcome and health. If he had health

37



problem for himself during this period, his wife would take good care of him.

Actually, his relationship with his wife and his health were good, but he had

financial problems.

In this saju, the most powerful element is Byeong fire. Byeong fire in the

month of o, requires im water to restrain its fire power. It is good that he has

im water in year stem, but im water is too weak to influence byeong.

Let‟s go back to money star (water), which is positioned in the inclusions of

Chuk.

During his age 31-45, he tries to make money. But it couldn‟t be enough.

How about year of gye-mi ? There was actually a clashing between chuk and

mi, so he had financial loss in that year. He may acquire jeong fire from

inclusion of mi, but still the loss of money is unavoidable. Other than this

period(31-45), he may be able to meet girl friend and make money when chuk

is clashed or penalized.

38



Chapter 3 Hidden letters

Hidden letters are the hidden energy in saju. We‟ve learned the meaning of

harmony in saju. But when I practiced saju in the field, I saw so many people

with their saju of all four branch letters were clashed so it seemed like all 5

elements were damaged. If you are not an expert, you would be flustered in

front of this client. Also when you say certain incidents related with clashes,

such as divorce, and if the client answers he/she is not divorced, you would

not be able to find further advice. The secret to explain this situation is

„hidden letters‟. When a certain element is damaged, or not positioned in the

branch, even in the inclusion, the hidden letters can compensate some energy.

In many cases, people have hidden letters to supplement missing or lacking

energy in their saju.

The principle of hidden letters

1. By 6 branch clashes

Ja-O

Chuk-Mi

In-Sin

Myo-Yu

Jin-Sul

Its principle is based on yin-yang relationship. If a certain energy

reaches its ultimate power, it brings the opposite power.

Ex 1) time day month year

ㅁ gap ㅁ ㅁ

ㅁ in in ㅁ

If two „in‟ letters are placed next to each other, they pull sin metal

energy, which will be placed between month and day branches.


ㅁ gap ㅁ ㅁ

o o ㅁ ㅁ

There are two „o‟ fires in day and time branches and they bring ja

water to place between time and day branch.

39




ㅁ gap ㅁ ㅁ

o o ㅁ ja

If there already exist ja water in saju, two „o‟ fire can not bring ja

water. So there is no hidden letter in this saju.

We may apply this for all 6 branch clashes.

2. By in-between energy

The 12 terrestrial branches are flowing from spring-summer-fall-

winter and then to spring again. They are not just meaning the season

as blocked letters, but circulating. The 10 stems, on the other hand,

they are also moving in heaven but their movement is not in order. The

12 branches keep their sequence in exact timing of a year, of a month

of a day and time, so there is a regularity in their movement. Owing to

this regularity in flow of 12 branches-from ja to hae, if there are any

missing letters between two, this letter is brought in.

Ja Chuk In Myo Jin Sa O Mi Sin Yu Sul Hae


ㅁ gap ㅁ ㅁ

ㅁ ㅁ in ja

There missing a branch letter, chuk between in and ja of month and

year branch.


ㅁ gap ㅁ ㅁ

ㅁ ㅁ hae yu

Sul is brought in between the branch hae and yu.

3. By trine combinations

Seasonal trine Assembly trine

In-Myo-Jin Hae-Myo-Mi Wood trine

Sa-O-Mi In-O-Sul Fire trine

Sin-Yu-Sul Sa-Yu-Chuk Metal trine

Hae-Ja-Chuk Sin-Ja-Jin Water trine

Among three trine letters, if saju has only two letters, the last one

40



letter is brought in.


ㅁ gap ㅁ ㅁ

ㅁ ㅁ ja sin

Among sin-ja-jin water trine, jin is missing in this saju and we need to

read this hidden letter between the period of month and year branches.


ㅁ gap ㅁ ㅁ

ㅁ ㅁ yu sul

In order to make sin-yu-sul metal (fall) trine, sin is brought in between

the month and year branches.


ㅁ gap ㅁ ㅁ

In o ㅁ ㅁ

Sul is brought in to make a fire trine.

4. Ja-sa inducing energy

When saju has ja in time branch (when one was born in time 11pm-

1am), ja water brings sa fire energy. There are some controversies

about this, but as practicing actual saju, I found many cases have ja-sa

inducing energy.

5. Lastly, there is hidden energy brought by numbers indicated by sound

of the 5 elements.- Nap Eum

The 10 heavenly stems are floating and circulating from gap to gye,

while the 12 terrestrial branches are also circulating by certain rules.

This affects the fate of human beings who are living in the universe

and standing on earth. This circulation of stems and 12 branches

makes 60 combinations and each of this 60 combinations has five

elements energy respectively.

There are five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) in the

universe, five mountains (big mountains located in four direction-east,

west, south, north and center) in earth, five organs in human body, and

five protruding (right and left cheekbones, chin, forehead and nose) in

face. So everything in universe is constituted by 5 elements.

41



Although this lesson is not about oriental philosophy itself, let‟s briefly

learn how they figured numbers for universe. Heaven is like beginning,

such as it is a stage of being nothing becomes being something, so it is

one. Then the energy from heaven comes down to earth to make two.

And human being created by heaven and earth is three. This way,

Heaven one, Earth two, and Human three are initiated.

One plus Three makes Four,

Two plus Three makes Five

One plus Two plus Three makes Six.

The way they figured numbers by 5 elements, 10 stems and 12

branches are below.

5

elements

no 5

elements

no 5

elements

no 5

elements

no 5

elements

no

stem Gap

Eul

1 Byeong

Jeong

2 Mu

Gi

3 Gyeong

Sin

4 Im

Gye

5

branch Ja O

Chuk Mi

1 In Sin

Myo Yu

2 Jin Sul

Sa Hae

3 4 5

Nap

eum

Wood Metal Water Fire Earth

As you can find from above chart, the stem and branch combinations,

for example, gap-ja and eul-chuk, has number-one assigned each, so

they sum up(1+1) to make two. Two stands for metal so they make

metal energy. Another example, byeong-in (2+2) makes four, so they

make fire energy. Im-sul makes eight and after it is divided by five, it

becomes three, which is water energy.

Here is a chart of Nap-eum.

Gap

Ja

Eul

Chuk

Byeong

In

Jeong

Myo

Mu

Jin

Gi

Sa

Gyeong

O

Sin

Mi

Im

Sin

Gye

Yu

metal fire wood earth metal

Gap

Sul

Eul

Hae

Byeong

Ja

Jeong

Chuk

Mu

In

Gi

Myo

Gyeong

Jin

Sin

Sa

Im

O

Gye

Mi

fire water earth metal wood

42



Gap

Sin

Eul

Yu

Byeong

Sul

Jeong

Hae

Mu

Ja

Gi

Chuk

Gyeong

In

Sin

Myo

Im

Jin

Gye

Sa

water earth fire wood water

Gap

O

Eul

Mi

Byeong

Sin

Jeong

Yu

Mu

Sul

Gi

Hae

Gyeong

Ja

Sin

Chuk

Im

In

Gye

Myo

metal fire wood earth metal

Gap

Jin

Eul

Sa

Byeong

O

Jeong

Mi

Mu

Sin

Gi

Yu

Gyeong

Sul

Sin

Hae

Im

Ja

Gye

Chuk

fire water earth metal wood

Gap

In

Eul

Myo

Byeong

Jin

Jeong

Sa

Mu

O

Gi

Mi

Gyeong

Sin

Sin

Yu

Im

Sul

Gye

Hae

water earth fire wood water

Further thoughts about hidden letters

The place and space where we live is three dimensional. We do not live in a

flat universe. Saju is derived from one‟s birth year, month, day and time,

even though it looks like two dimensional, when we plot the saju. The way we

read saju is to analyze one‟s time flow to get the hints about how one was

born, lives through and finishes its life.

Although it looks like flat, when it is seen through the perspective of yin and

yang, stems talk about one or two dimensional energy, branches are the

mixed energy of stems, they are more about three dimensional.

Consequently, it is not such preposterous to talk about those hidden letters.

Saju masters should be able to read those hidden energy in saju to tell every

nook and cranny of the life.

43



Chapter 4 Root, Seed, Flower and Fruit

The way a saju master reads fate by saju is to figure each pillar by 15 years.

Someone insist that it should be by 20 years as people live longer nowadays,

but many master still use 15 years time frame because once one reaches 60

years old, the fate should go back to be read by year pillar again then to

month, day and time sequence. It is based on the 60 stem-branch

combinations.

Here are more specifics,

0-15 years old are seen by a year pillar

16-30 years old are seen by a month pillar

31-45 years old are seen by a day pillar

46-60 years old are seen by a time pillar

The center of year pillar is 8 years old

The center of month pillar is 23 years old

The center of day pillar is 38 years old

The center of time pillar is 53 years old

There is a saying in Korea that when people get old, they act like a kid. After

we read fates from time pillar (till 60 years old), the fate goes back to year

pillar.

44



45



Chapter 5 Branches in depth

Three places (Branch groups)

The 12 branches are classified by its activity – starting season, middle season

and ending season. So there are 4 letters from each season to constitute

specific activities.

12 branches / 3 activities (start – middle – end) = 4 letters (or 4 seasons)

Assembly trine

Hae-Myo-Mi Wood trine

In- O- Sul Fire trine

Sa- Yu- Chuk Metal trine

Sin-Ja- Jin Water trine

1. Four live letters (the letters in the beginning of each season) –

In, Sa, Sin, Hae

The word „Live‟ has two meanings

Firstly, it means to start a season.

In the season of spring (in-myo-jin), in means staring of spring,

in summer (sa-o-mi), sa means starting of summer,

in fall (sin-yu-sul), sin means starting of fall,

in winter (hae-ja-chuk), hae means starting of winter.

Secondly, looking them in terms of qi-flow, they have vitality as they should

prepare for a new season.

Then how do we translate them in saju.

They have free thoughts. In general, they understand objects quickly but

easily get tired of them. And because of this characteristic, they do not like

repetitive tasks. When they do dynamic and creative tasks, they are excited

and feel more sense of accomplishment. They are quick in their

communications. If someone restricts their thoughts or actions, they resist or

they show extreme mentality. People with these 4 letters in their saju will

move frequently, and they often want to change their home and office

environment such as changing the furniture layout. In their work, if there is

no satisfactory promotion or any new stimulus, they simply move or quit their

46



jobs. They are free and they dream of changes. They like travelling. If they

move, they move far away. If they move by the clashes of these 4 live letters,

they move by obvious accidents, such as by some family member‟s death,

accidents or divorce, etc. They are all caused by the fierce characteristics of

4 live letters.

2. Four flourish letters(letters in the middle of each season)-

Ja, O, Myo, Yu

Ja is in the middle of winter season (flourish energy of water), O is flourish

energy of fire, yu is flourish energy of metal, and myo is flourish energy of

wood. Also their inclusion letters are simpler than other branches. Like this

they are simple, not complicated. They are realistic and self-oriented. They

have good-postures in their face and body. And they are popular because of

this characteristic.

People who have many flourish letters in their saju are clear in their

expression and usually confident in what they do. But on the other hand, they

are not flexible because they are so firm in their own thoughts. Accordingly,

they are creditable in relationship with others but it is also not easy to

become friends.

3. Four repository letters(letters in the end of each season)-

Jin, Sul, Chuk, Mi

Jin, Sul, Chuk, Mi are the letters to bury things inside the grave. In other

words, they are storing things inside the storage. It is like being in the grave,

so they are stuffy and sometimes make certain energy powerless.

The letters that become powerless by repository letters are as below.

Repository letters Inclusions Powerless stems

Mi Jeong Eul Gi Gap, Gye

Sul Sin, Jeong, Mu Byeong, Eul (Mu)

Chuk Gye, Sin, Gi Gyeong, Jeong, (Gi)

Jin Eul, Gye, Mu Im, Sin

Wood is a season of spring, Next fire is summer, Wood will be buried when it

meets mi (mi is the last month of summer, which is the next month of spring).

And when they apply this, they used yang stem as a criterion.

Like this, the grave places, or four repository letters, bury something at the

end of next season of their own representative season. So they also have

47



some implication of retrospection, reflection, longing for past glories, or a

feeling of knowing the imminent death. So if the saju with more than two of

these letters are philosophical, meditative, reflective and religious. Four

repository letters bury things inside and store them so it‟s hard to know what

their real inner desire is. Once they hide themselves, they do not contact with

anyone and it‟s not easy to get to know what they are doing after that.

If they move, the cause and process are different from others. People with

repository letters in their saju, move far away. If there are clashes or

penalties, they move so frequent. There is no specific cause of move with

repository letters. It is not just for the education of kids or husband‟s

company. It is more caused by helpless situations, such as bankruptcy, or

changed landlord or sudden terminations of contracts, etc.

There are lots of secrets and complicated stories in 4 repository letters.

Usually they are shown by the non-repository letters positioned next.

4. Clashes and Penalties of repository letters

Other than the other letters, such as those in flourish and live places, the

clashes among repository letters do not damage earth elements themselves.

That‟s why people call them „friends conflicts‟

However for those who utilize water element (favorable elements) and when

the water, such as im or gye, takes root in jin earth (inclusion gye), the clash

of jin and sul hurts water.

For example, gye day master uses earth as career star. If the saju has mu

earth, which takes roots in jin earth, then the jin is clashed with sul earth. In

this case, mu earth career star does not hurt by this clash.

However for jeong day master, uses im water as career star, the clash

between jin and sul, hurts its career star, when the im water takes root in jin

earth.

The clashes among four live letters, in, sin, sa, hae, are the most fierce, while

the clashes among four flourish letters, ja, o, myo, yu, are clear cut. There

are either clear winning or clear losing. So if the flourish letters were

favorable elements, the clash will definitely bring bad luck, in the meantime, if

the flourish letters were unfavorable elements, the clash will bring good luck.

In recap, the clashes and/or penalties of repository letters are not always bad,

48



but we should be able to read them in specific five cycles.

Then how do we read saju when these live, flourish, repository letters are

mixed in saju ?

First we read them by each phase of life (root-seed-flower-fruit). If a live

letter placed on year pillar, we may read that one‟s youth (0-15 years old)

was very active, or if it is a knowledge star, one may study abroad, because

one‟s knowledge (studying) involves travelling. If any of repository letters

are placed in the time pillar, one becomes spiritual at the age of 45 years old

and after.

If a repository letter of knowledge star is clashed or penalized, one‟s mother

may marry twice, or one may have more than two mothers, etc. which is

showing complicated family affairs.

If the repository letters are money stars, one resembles one‟s father‟s

personality and other characteristics, while if it is a knowledge star, one

resembles one‟s mother in every perspectives. Usually people have full of

stories in their life such as family affairs that one might want to hide. If the

repository letters are friend stars or the friend star is taking root in the

repository letters and they are clashed or penalized, one might have

complicated stories with one‟s siblings. The repository letters are earth

elements which do not have their own specific characteristic but are more

influenced by adjacent elements.

Time day month year

Gyeong

Hae In Mi Sul

The day master, Gyeong, feels knowledge star (mi) as his money star (in). –

The repository letters are influenced by adjacent element. Also the

knowledge star acts as if his money star and the day master like it. He likes a

woman older than his age, or a woman like his mother, or mother behaves

like his father, etc. His money star is a live letter (in), which means his wife

is very active, also his expression star is a live place (hae), he may act for

himself and he has his own free will in his thoughts and acts, etc.

Parents divorce is more likely to happen with clashes or penalties among live

letters, while their living in happy marriage life is with flourish letters. The

49



flourish letters mean happy and harmonious life, while repository letters

mean complicated life stories.

Although we apply each letter to each phase of life (root, seed, flower and

fruit), major personality is determined by crucial letters in one‟s saju, which

balances and directs one‟s life. A Career star in live letters means that one

has dynamic career path, while in repository letter means one might select

ones career path apart from what he or she studied at school. The fate cycle,

whatever it is, takes long in repository letters.

If knowledge star is in the live letters, one crams at the last minutes, if in

repository letters, one studies only when he or she wants. One can be artistic

or sensitive.

50



Chapter 6 Twelve Stages of Life

During the course of circulation, the phases of Wood, Fire, Metal and Water

progress through twelve distinct stages of alternating prevalence and

feebleness. Any element will experience its highest radiance at Life Stage 4

and 5.

The first Life Stage of Wood occurs in the month of November (Stage 1).

Then it reaches Life Stage 5 in the month of February.

This is the way how we evaluate the strength of stems when they meet 12

branches respectively and by classify them as 12 stages, saju master is able

to evaluate birth, old age, sickness and death – the four phases of life.

The 12 stage of life and its personality, traits and compatible professions

1 Birth Jang

saeng

長生

Happiness, honesty, kindness,

gentleness, good relationships,

energetic, needs care

Others like and respect them.

A quick learner who is intelligent,

lives a long life and has many

opportunities.

Compatible professions – helping or

assisting others

2 Bathes after birth-

Childhood

Mok yok

沐浴

First time one ever washes his hair

Energetic, needs care

Gradual growth and enjoys new

activities. Easily influenced by others

and needs inspiration to develop or

mature.

Compatible profession – requires

stable partners in business and

personal relationships.

3 Youth, Getting dressed Gwan

dae

冠帶

Energetic, needs guidance.

Learning to be an adult, developing,

maturing, desires fame and leadership.

Uses intelligence to succeed.

51



Preparing for success.

Compatible profession – Utilizes

intelligence and verbal skills. For

example, lawyer, accountant, teacher,

sales, business person.

4 Graduation Gun rok

建祿

Becoming an official, Upwardly

mobile, Be given official position

Desires fame, management and

leadership, intelligent, mature, honest

and open-minded. Is an independent,

self-made person, Potential for great

wealth, success and fame.

Compatible profession – Business

owner, executive, leadership or

management

5 Prime (prosperous)

years

Jae wang

帝王

Reaching the peak

Desires fame, ownership and

leadership. Great probability for

wealth and success. Can be

overconfident and questions

everything. Adventurous in a

dangerous way, does not give up

whether right or wrong. This is the

peak, should be cautious of decline

and loss. Needs a good life plan in

order to retain achievement and

resources.

Compatible professions – Best to own

and work at own company.

Eg. The owner and cook of a

restaurant

6 Declining (wane) Shae 衰 Enjoying the past glory

Situation has reached the top and now

turns. A nice person, patient, not a big

planner. Needs a calm, steady life. It

52



passive and doesn‟t challenge

authority. Must be steady and

consistent to accomplish goals.

Compatible professions – A steady, 9-

5 job. Find a position where

responsibilities end when the work

day is completed.

7 Sick, disease Byeong

病

Getting weak

The decline stage but more intense

Compatible profession – Gentle and

peaceful work which is not high-

pressured.

8 Die, Death Sa 死 Body dies

Hastiness, a chronic worrier, creates

a lot of problems and challenges in

relationships. Preferable to marry

later in life. Needs energy to achieve,

as well as exercise and good nutrition

to maintain health.

Compatible profession – Arts or

literature. Not business management.

9 Bury, buried(grave,

tomb)

Myo 墓 In the grave, storing up

Likes to collect things, saves money

well, introverted and enjoys indoors.

Is cautious, quiet and honest. Needs

to be motivated to open up, then can

achieve and be successful. Can be

very lucky with money if open-

minded.

Compatible profession – No particular

profession is more suitable than

another. Must open mind and attitudes

to succeed.

10 Totally vanished, Void Jeol, 絶 Prepares for new life

Emptiness, worry, impatience,

hastiness and doesn‟t finish things. A

53



poor planner who can be susceptible

to being cheated by others. Focus on

being calm, careful and serious or

many problems and obstacles will

surface. Needs support for

achievement.

Compatible profession - Regular

career worker

11 Embryo (formed)

Tae 胎 Beginning of new era

New beginning. Interested in all things

new. Possess a good sense of humor

and enjoys helping people. Good luck

surrounds him or her. Health is weak

when young, but as they age, their

health gets better. Likes to know

details and reasons for things. Is

optimistic about the future.

Compatible profession – A helper or

assistant, especially in the arts.

12 Developing, Raise,

Nourish

Yang 養 New life develops

Needs a lot of energy and strong

support from family, friends and

environment. If he or she perseveres

and works hard, they can be

successful in career and family. They

are honest and social people who are

satisfied with their existing lifestyle.

These 12 stages of life explain the energy flow and its strength in the

relationship of stem and branches but they also imply the eternal cycle of

birth, death and rebirth. The logic behind this is to tell us about nothing is

determined, so if one is experiencing difficulty in certain phase of life, it is

not the final stage and there should not be conclusion in our life. Many people

overcome certain adversity to change their lives after turning points.

1. Birth (Jang saeng or Saeng) – It is a stage when an embryo starts new

life after cutting its umbilical cord from its mother. It becomes perfect

as a self and turns its life from darkness to brightness. So Jang saeng

is seen as a lucky star to show its independency and frontier spirit.

54



2. Bathes after birth (Mok yok or Yok) – Childhood. It is a stage when a

baby is taking bathes to stand on by oneself. It is good as it cleans

ones body to show oneself, but it also means that one has to face the

world when one is not ready yet. While it needs care, it also denotes

some obscene features as it looks like naked.

3. Getting dressed (Gwan dae or Dae) – Youth. It is a stage one is being

educated and get dressed for social activities. It is being cultured and

learns virtue in the society. It has dreams for the bright future and it

shows vivacity, brightness and adventurous attitude.

4. Graduation (Gun rok) – This is a vigorous stage in one‟s life such as

30-40 years age. It works hard and still is energetic for social

activities. It is seen as lucky star as it denotes initiatives, planning for

better life. The personality shown by Gun-rok is self-confidence and

responsibility.

5. Prime (prosperous) years (Jae wang or Wang) – It is a matured stage in

one‟s life. People achieve their dream in 40-50 years age. They see

the fruits from their hard works. It is seen a lucky star and shows

dignity and strength.

6. Declining (Shae) – It means declining stage after one‟s life hits the

climax. It is like the life stage in 50-60 years age. People are getting

old and weakened. It is rather seen unlucky star and it shows

conservativeness and timidity.

7. Disease (Byeong) – It is a stage of people‟s age 70 years or after as

twilight years. It is seen as unlucky star because it implies a painful life.

People get hurts easily with this star mentally and physically as they

are weak.

8. Death (Sa) – It is a stage the body dies after it used up all the energy

given by the nature. It is when the fate-watch stops working. It is seen

unlucky star as money, reputation, health and love, everything is in

vain. Its personality is mild but it easily gives up.

55



9. Bury (Grave – Myo) – It means people go back to the place where they

were born. They take rests for the next life in both body and soul. It

may be seen peaceful but it is a stage of neither this world nor other

world. There is only powerless energy like a ghost. It is seen unlucky.

People with this star take what really matters and do not show their

inner minds.

10. Totally vanished (Jeol) – It is a stage to disconnect from this world and

move to the other world. All the memories of agony and delusion are

cleared after this stage. The soul becomes pure but still the next world

is influenced by this world so it is nervous about everything. It shows

anxiety and loneliness with unrest feeling.

11. Embryo (Tae) – According to the eternal cycle of birth and death, the

pure soul comes back to this world by certain law of universe. It is a

stage when the embryo is implanted in womb. It is seen as lucky star

because the lost soul is finding its body and time. Its personality is

generous.

12. Developing (Yang) – It is a stage for pregnancy. It feels warm and cozy

like mother‟s womb. It shows both expectation and fear for the new

world so it is seen as half lucky and half unlucky. Its personality is

cautious and emotional.

1

Saeng

2

Yok

3

Dae

4

Rok

5

Wang

6

Shae

7

Byeong

8

Sa

9

Myo

10

Jeol

11

Tae

12

Yang

Gap hae ja chuk in myo jin sa o mi sin yu sul

Eul o sa jin myo in chuk ja hae sul yu sin mi

Byeong

Mu

in myo jin sa o mi sin yu sul hae ja chuk

Jeong

Gi

yu sin mi o sa jin myo in chuk ja hae sul

Gyeong sa o mi sin yu sul hae ja chuk in myo jin

Sin ja hae sul yu sin mi o sa jin myo in chuk

Im sin yu sul hae ja chuk in myo jin sa o mi

Gye myo in chuk ja hae sul yu sin mi o sa jin

56



Yang stems circulates in order in their relationship with branches, while yin

stems circulates in retrogression. For example gap wood starts from hae

water as its stage one (birth), when water generates wood, then peaks in myo

(prime years) and vanishes in sin metal. While Eul wood starts stage one

(birth) in o fire then goes in retrogression to reach prime years in „In‟ wood

then vanishes in yu metal. It is because ancient people looked the law of

universe for yin and yang oppositely.

1. Saeng

Year pillar – luck of ancestors

Month pillar – luck of parents and siblings

Day pillar – harmonious marriage life, stable life

Time pillar – children‟s success, happiness in latter life.

2. Yok

Year pillar – lonely childhood, no luck of ancestors

Month pillar – no luck of parents, hardship in youth

Day pillar – troubled marriage life, unstable life

Time pillar – lonely latter life

3. Dae

Year pillar – smart student in childhood

Month pillar – good scores in school examination, early success

Day pillar – harmonious marriage life, wealth and career success

Time pillar – children‟s success, happiness in latter life

4. Rok

Year pillar – early luck, ancestor‟s heritage

Month pillar – parents‟ heritage, career fortune

Day pillar – healthy marriage life, wealth, respect

Time pillar – children‟s success, reputation

5. Wang

Year pillar – ancestor‟s heritage

Month pillar – parents‟ heritage, wealth

Day pillar – happy marriage life, good business

Time pillar – bequest to children, fortunate life

57



Shae

Year pillar – lack of ancestor‟s luck

Month pillar – lack of parents‟ luck, hardship

Day pillar – unhealthy marriage life

Time pillar – lonely latter life

6. Byeong

Year pillar – lack of ancestor‟s luck, unhealthy childhood

Month pillar – lack of parents‟ luck, hardship in youth

Day pillar - troubled marriage life, separation

Time pillar – less relationship with children, sickness

7. Sa

Year pillar – misfortune in ancestor‟s days, no luck in childhood

Month pillar – misfortune in parents‟ days, no luck in youth

Day pillar – separation, sickness, divorce

Time pillar – no luck of children, painful latter life

8. Myo

Year pillar – troubled childhood, misfortune in ancestor‟s days

Month pillar – misfortune in parents‟ days, less help from others

Day pillar – unhappy marriage life, confinement

Time pillar – no luck of children, sorrow, resentment

9. Jeol

Year pillar - troubled childhood, misfortune in ancestor‟s days

Month pillar – misfortune in parents‟ days, less help from others

Day pillar – separation, sickness, divorce

Time pillar – no luck of children, sorrow, resentment

10. Tae

Year pillar – support from ancestors

Month pillar – support from parents, harmonious relationship

Day pillar – good marriage life

Time pillar – luck of children

58



11. Yang

Year pillar – support from ancestors

Month pillar – support from parents

Time pillar – harmonious marriage life

Time pillar – happy family relationship, harmonious latter life

How to read fate by the 12 stages of life

1. From the day master‟s standpoint, year, month, day and time branches

are figured for 12 stages of life respectively.

2. Each pillar is figured for 12 stages of life.

3. From the viewpoint of each stem, 4 branches are figured for 12 stages

of life respectively.

4. All the inclusions in each branch is figured.

While all branches are figured for 12 stages of life, month branch has biggest

influence above all.

When we balance dry, hot or wet, cold condition in saju, there usually

requires byeong fire-warmth and gye water-coldness. Then when we balance

the defects of generation and restriction cycle – when power flow in saju is

not balanced, there requires gap, jeong, mu, gyeong and im.

It is necessary to understand the mechanism of 12 stages of life, as it is a

tool to know the strength and stream of each stem and branch in reading saju.

The critical combinations of stems and branches in terms of 12 stages.

Gap-ja (2.yok) : Ja water is a knowledge star of gap wood. Mother is not

helpful in Gap;s life, knowledge, academic background, licenses are not

satisfactory. Gap may be a devoted son or daughter and need to care for his

or her sick mother.

Gap-o (8.sa) : O fire is an expression star of gap wood. Gap is worried about

what to do. Gap has difficulty in finding future career path. Woman may have

trouble with her children, She becomes unhealthy after child birth. Gap-o in

marriage palace denotes unhappy marriage life.

Death of his or her siblings.

Gap-sin (10.jeol) : Sin metal is a career star for gap wood. Woman does not

59



have a happy marriage. There can be divorce, or even she is not divorced,

she may live separate with her husband. Her husband is not a family man.

Man is infertile. Gap is in trouble with its job.

Eul-sa (2.yok) : Sa fire is an expression star for eul wood. It delivers similar

situation as Gap-o. It is 2-yok instead of 8-sa stage, so there are distorted

results, such as dishonor.

Eul-hae (8.sa) : Hae water is a knowledge star for eul wood. It‟s similar to

gap-ja. Death of his or her siblings

Eul-yu (10.jeol) : Yu metal is a career star for eul wood. It‟s similar to gap-

sin.

Byeong-sin (7.byeong) : Sin metal is a money star for byeong fire. Byeong

has to take care of his sick wife and it denotes unhealthy marriage palace.

Byeong woman has to take care of her sick mother in law.

Byeong-sul (9.myo) : Sul earth is an expression star for byeong fire. Naughty

children for her. Slump in developing one‟s career path. Confinement in one‟s

marriage life.

Jeong-chuk (9.myo) : Chuk earth is an expression star for jeong fire. It is

similar to Byeong-sul.

Mu-sul (9.myo) : Sul earth is a friend star for mu earth. Very stubborn person

who is domineering one‟s relationship with spouse. A strict spouse.

Gi-chuk (9.myo) : Chuk earth is a friend star for gi earth.. It‟s similar to Mu-

sul.

Gyeong-ja (8.sa) : Ja water is an expression star for gyeong metal. A nagger.

A quarrel between husband and wife. Death of his or her siblings

Gyeong-in (10.jeol) : In wood is a money star for gyeong metal. The

relationship with his wife is not harmonized. Misfortune in finance.

60



Sin-sa (8.sa) : Sa fire is a career star for sin metal. Unhappy marriage with

her husband. Remain single. Powerful career fortune but unhappy personal

life. Man is infertile.

Im-jin (9.myo) : Jin earth is a career star for im water. Inactive job.

Confinement. Woman is not happy with her husband.

Ex) female

Time Day Month Year

Sin Gye Im Eul

Yu Sa O Myo

Her husband is mu earth included in sa fire. Sa fire is money star so her

husband may be passive but he has internal stability especially financially. Mu

earth from sa and o fire is strong in its power so he is knowledgeble and

capable husband. Mu-sa is stage 4 and mu-o is stage 5. But there is no stem

penetration so has lack of presence.

Ex) female

Time Day Month Year

Gap Gi ㅁ ㅁ

Ja ㅁ ㅁ ㅁ

If you want to know the status of her husband, we need to see the „12 stages

of life‟ for gap wood. According to 12 stages of life chart, if gap wood is

sitting on hae, ja, chuk, and in, myo, jin(life stages from 1-6), gap‟s vitality is

strengthened in its social and personal activity. Financial situation is also

executed well. While it is on sa o mi and sin yu sul (life stages from 7-12), it

is being weakened. Gap is buried in mi and vanished in sin. While it is raised

in sul, but its presence is still weak. Considering the fact that sin and yu are

career stars for gap, when gap pursues promotion, it may not be a real

promotion in quality but just as a title. If it related with financial aspect, gap‟s

promotion in relationship with sin and yu cannot be beneficial so it is

recommended not to proceed financial investment. Gap‟s status is upward in

connection with stages 1-6(hae, ja, chuk, in, myo, jin) such as opening his

own business but when it turns to stages 7-9 (sa, o, mi), although he still

gains some profits from past investment, he needs to be careful of future

potential losses. This gap husband is ok in its social reputation except for

61



financial profits. If gap husband becomes unemployed during stage 9-11 (mi,

sin, yu) and his activity is limited, he better not to start another business but

to do honorary position just helping his wife.

Ex) female

Time Day Month Year

ㅁ Gi ㅁ ㅁ

ㅁ ㅁ In ㅁ

Husband is in the branch letter, not in the stem.

Stems are spiritual and intangible while branches are reality and facts. In

husband at month branch has reality of his financial and economic ability.

Year of ja – supports in husband (water generates wood) but the power is still

weak. (stages of bathes after birth-2)

Year of chuk – chuk can be a stepping stone for gap wood. It starts to raise

gap.

Years of in, myo, jin – the power of gap is increased during these three years.

Year of sa – In and sa penalty. He may experience certain unexpected

accident and sacrifice.

Year of o – half trine of in-o. In itself is sitting on stage of death (8) so the

power is obviously weakened. Half trine cannot be welcomed at all. If there is

hae in this saju, it may protect gap and also balance the power. Gap may be

able to start new business.

Year of mi – power of gap is shrunken but still may be able to continue his

activity.

Year of sin – live place. He may have shift in his job place or business

travelling. If it was combined with other letters, such as hae, sin will be able

to activate in wood. Otherwise in wood is clashed by sin metal and damaged.

62



Chapter 7 Gods and Devils Gods influence our lives as fortunate stars, while devils as unfortunate stars.

It is generated by ancient saju studies, even before they developed five stars,

clashes, penalties and combinations etc. The theory of Gods and Devils was

even before ancient scholars defined day stem as a day master. At that time,

AD 900‟s, they translated saju with year pillar bases.

Accordingly the theory of Gods and Devils has been deleted for hundreds of

years when saju scholars studied logics of day master and the structure, five

stars and combinations and clashes. This has been reintroduced by modern

saju masters, but not all of them.

Actually there are tons of gods and devils from ancient days, but here I am

going to explain just some of them, which are still showing flash of accuracy

when they are applied in some cases.

1. Devils of white tiger

Gap-jin

Eul-mi

Byeong-sul

Jeong-chuk

Mu-jin

Im-sul

As you can tell by its name, it acts as one of the unfortunate stars. In old days,

many people were killed by the attack of tigers in Asia.

Above 7 stem-branch combinations are called devils of white tiger. They are

effective at all four pillars of year, month, day and time. If there are any of

these letters in saju, we may read „death by accident‟ of the correspond

relatives. If gap is her husband and is sitting on jin (gap-jin), her husband is

killed by car accident, cancer, kidnapping, etc. If gap is her kids, we may also

read unnatural death of her children. If a day pillar is one of above 7 (white

tiger), one‟s personality is quite strong to hurt one‟s spouse. We have to see

the overall saju structure before we determine this misfortune of a person

though.

Ex)

Time Day Month Year

63



ㅁ jeong gap ㅁ

ㅁ ㅁ jin ㅁ

This saju has gap-jin white tiger in month pillar. For jeong day master, gap is

a knowledge star, which denotes mother. When he was asked about his

mother, he answered his mother was still alive although she had been sick for

long time. This can be a translation of gap-jin white tiger, but when more

details were investigated about his life, his mother has many sisters and most

of them died in unnatural accidents. One was killed by fire, the other 2 by

cancer, and one by brain disorder.

2. Extraordinarily strong combination (Gue gang)

Day master

Gyeong Jin

Gyeong Sul

Im Jin

Im Sul

Mu Sul

Among 12 branches, jin and sul are most powerful in their inner strength.

With combinations with jin and sul, the day stems, gyeong, im and mu are

considered for this devils. If one has one of above in day pillar, one is

considered extraordinarily strong and his or her spouse is required to be

strong as well in order to cope with each other. Otherwise, one with these

devils in saju may not continue ones marriage life smoothly partly because

one is too strong, and partly because one is too smart.

In general, it was considered devil star from the past, but we also need to see

bright side of this star especially in modern society. People with this star are

decisive and daring. And in order to develop better life, this needs to be

utilized well.

3. Gui mun – Two adjacent branch combination

ja yu

chuk o

in mi

myo sin

jin hae

sa sul

64



Saju with gui mun in their branches are hypersensitive and artistic, sometimes

do odd acts and fall in delusion. When gui mun is in day and time branches

and/or day and month branches are stronger in their influence. They may

show delusional jealousy of their spouses, sexually pervert or transgender. It

is not always seen as devils star because in some cases they are very smart

and show interesting achievements in their own fields especially in writing,

painting and music. These days, people with gui mun in their saju appear

confused about their sexuality, brilliant performance or shamanism, etc.

4. God blessed letters

Day master God blessed letters

Gap, Mu, Gyeong Chuk, mi

Eul, Gi Ja, sin

Byeong, Jeong Hae, yu

Sin In, o

Im, Gye Sa, myo

God blessed letters are seen from day master‟s stand point. If gap day master

has chuk or mi in the saju, or Gi day master has sin or ja in the saju, we call

one has god blessed letters. If it is knowledge star, one is raised by a great

mother. If it is an expression star, one has great talents in writing, cooking

and singing, etc. If it is a money star, one may meet beautiful and wise wife.

Like this, god blessed letters make great, rich and noble stars for one‟s life. If

they are placed in year branch, one has fortune from ancestors, these letters

in month branch means parents support, in day branch means wife fortune

and in time branch means successful children.

God blesses letters are required not to be clashed or penaltied.

These are often reviewed when we read marital harmony of bride and groom.

And they may also be utilized when you compare your saju with your social

partners.

65



Chapter 8

Ten celestial stems and their relationships -

Upper version

We have reviewed ten celestial stems and their properties in previous

beginners‟ chapter. Now that we learned ten stars and how the five elements

in stems and branches re-act each other, I am going to talk about the

relationship of ten celestial stems to determine success or failure and good

luck or bad luck in one‟s life.

Before I start, I would like to make it clear that the weather and seasons

mentioned below for each stems are based on the birth month – month branch.

1. 甲 gap

Gap wood in spring needs warmth and sunny shine to grow up. So when gap

wood is with byeong丙 and jeong丁 fire, it is beautiful and smart to

understand knowledge and quick in learning. (The relationship of wood and

fire is that of knowledge and expression star). Gap wood in summer does

not need more byeong丙 and jeong丁 fire. So in this case, it needs gyeong庚

metal to trim off to make it a good timber. If it meets more fire energy, it will

burn the wood down. Gap wood in winter also needs byeong丙 and jeong丁

fire. Earth energy is a good ground for gap wood to root in. So it will be

healthy in its money flow. (Earth is a money star for wood). Gap wood in

autumn with too much metal energy will require jeong丁 fire to leverage the

metal power. (fire restrains metal)

2. 乙 eul

Eul wood requires rather gye癸 water energy to nourish it. And if it meets

byeong丙 fire, it will look beautiful and grow well with sunny shine. Usually

eul wood likes water energy but if there is too much water energy, it makes

the flower float. When there is too much earth energy (too much money star)

it requires a help from gap wood (friend stars) to restrain the earth.

66



3. 丙 byeong

Byeong fire is sun energy, which is strong and it has innate intense heat. It

never perishes by water energy. It doesn’t require the help of wood to

continue its power. However when it is too weak for the earth power to

absorb the byeong energy or water power to restrain fire energy, it requires

gap and eul wood to balance the power. Byeong fire requires im 壬 water to

make the scenery beautiful rather than the energy of gye 癸 water. Gye 癸

water is like cloud and fog to shade the sun shine. It may be helpful when

byeong fire is too hot and strong.

4. 丁 jeong

Jeong is yin fire like a star in the sky or a lamp in earth. It always greets the

help of friend stars. The best help is gap wood to continue the fire energy.

With the help of gap wood, jeong fire has nothing to worry about even in

autumn and winter time. Gap wood is like firewood to keep jeong fire burning.

When jeong fire has too much gap wood, it requires mu earth to balance the

fire. It also greets gyeong metal to restrain and chop gap woods.

5. 戊 mu

Mu earth is courteous and generous. It always welcomes the help of byeong

fire. Without byeong fire, there is no achievement. It usually greets im gye

water as its money stars. But if water energy is too heavy, it requires byeong

fire’s help to balance. When it has too much metal to absorb earth energy, it

requires byeong jeong fire to restrain metal.

6. 己 gi

Gi earth is a good ground for woods and plants to grow. It is in good relation

with gye water to grow creatures, but im water will make gi earth muddy. So

im water is the worst combination with gi. When gi earth is weak for the

water energy, it uses byeong fire to dry. When it is weak for the metal as it

absorbs gi energy, it requires mu friend star’s help. Mu friend star is helpful

to restrain im water as well.

67



7. 庚 gyeong

Gyeong metal is solid and strong. It requires jeong fire’s restrain to make

itself a useful material such as utensil and tool. Im water absorbs byeong

metal energy to make it less strong, which is good. Gyeong and sin metal do

not like too much help of mu gi earth (earth generates metal) as the soil

covers metal and metal can’t show itself to outside.

8. 辛 sin

Sin is afraid of too much earth energy as earth will hide sin’s beauty (sin is

like a gem). It likes water to clean dirt and make the gem beautiful. And

byeong fire also makes it more splendid. Usually sin women with byeong and

im next to day stem are beautiful.

It is afraid of jeong fire as jeong will melt it down (sin is already a gem so it

doesn’t require jeong fire’s restraint while gyeong metal is in need of jeong

fire). Gap wood is never restrained by sin metal so they are not in good

relationship.

9. 壬 im

Im needs to flow. It welcomes the help of gyeong metal and it also like sin

metal as im water makes sin metal beautiful. When there is too much im

energy, it requires mu earth to restrain. It also likes gap eul wood and byeong

fire to make it more beautiful. However it does not like gi earth as it makes

im water turbid. It may mean inappropriate relationship with opposite sex. Im

friend star will make too much water energy.

10. 癸 gye

Gye water is like rain or useful water to grow plants. As itself is weak water,

when it meets mu earth, it loses its property. Gye water’s relation with

byeong fire has two face consequences. When they are in good relation, gye

water enjoys plenty of money throughout its life, but when they are in bad

relation, it won’t be easy to collect money. It’s relation with gi earth is also

vague.

68



The relationship among Stems

◎ – the best, ○ - good △ - bad × - the worst

Gap (甲)

1. Gap-Gap ◎ Abundant like forest, Active and competitive

2. Gap-Eul ◎ Vines growing around the pine tree, Healthy and

supportive.

3. Gap-Byeong ◎ Competent and authoritative

4. Gap-Jeong ◎ Burning firewood. Academic and artistic talents.

5. Gap-Mu △ Lonely tree in a bare mountain. Frequent financial

loss and low stability.

6. Gap-Gi ○ Healthy trees on fertile earth. Rich.

7. Gap-Gyeong ○ Leadership material to be a high position in

government, Faithful.

8. Gap-Sin × Chop into small pieces. Cannot be positioned high.

9. Gap-Im ○ Willow trees along the lake. Popular

10. Gap-Gye ○ Healthy trees in the rain. Respectful person

Eul (乙)

1. Eul-Gap ◎ Vines growing around the pine tree, Supports by

noble men.

2. Eul-Eul △ Weeds, Lacking luck of siblings, Lacking supports

from others.

3. Eul-Byeong ○ Beautiful flowers splendid under the sun shine. Good

wealth.

4. Eul-Jeong △ Burning plains. The talents cannot be recognized.

5. Eul-Mu ○ Beautiful flowers in the vase. Good at dealing the

business.

6. Eul-Gi ◎ Healthy flower on fertile earth, Good at

artiste(entertainment) business.

7. Eul-Gyeong × Violent tiger, Sudden misfortune

8. Eul-Sin × Sharp knife/Scissors cut the flower. Not good at

working in an ordinary company

9. Eul-Im ○ Lotus on the pond, Sudden upward social status

10. Eul-Gye ○ Sociable and progress by the support of others

69



Byeong (丙)

1. Byeong-Gap ◎ Unexpected fortune

2. Byeong-Eul ◎ Supports from others

3. Byeong-Byeong △ Too bright, darker shades, Can‟t show one‟s

ability

4. Byeong-Jeong ◎ Make a favorable impression, Favorable

5. Byeong-Mu ◎ Have an occupation with what he/she likes, Lucky.

6. Byeong-Gi ○ Good at showing one‟s talent, Academic, Religious,

Service business

7. Byeong-Gyeong × Violent, Less popular, Cannot be at high position

8. Byeong-Sin ○ Talents are fully recognized by others. Can secure

oneself.

9. Byeong-Im ○ Faithful and harmonize well with organization

10. Byeong-Gye × Not suit well with career

Jeong(丁)

1. Jeong-Gap ◎ Smart, Quick in understanding, Competitive

2. Jeong-Eul × Cannot burn the wet wood, Difficult to make academic

achievement.

3. Jeong-Byeong ○ Struggle to challenge, Make certain achievement

4. Jeong-Jeong ◎ The fire flared up, Daring

5. Jeong-Mu ○ Good at showing one‟s talents, Big progress and

success

6. Jeong-Gi △ Do not proceed as planned, Unlucky to achieve as

wanted.

7. Jeong-Gyeong ○ Can express one‟s talent well to make great

development and success

8. Jeong-Sin × Trying to melt jewelry, Powerless, Meaningless

9. Jeong-Im ○ Supports from superior and good promotion

10. Jeong-Gye △ Cannot suit well in the organization, Difficult to

promote

Mu (戊)

1. Mu-Gap △ One with no backbone, Hard to success

2. Mu-Eul ○ Supports from superior, Lucky career life

3. Mu-Byeong ○ Slowly succeed to a higher position

4. Mu-Jeong ○ Good at dealing any problems, Capable

70



5. Mu-Mu △ Unrealistic dream,, One without substance, Stubborn,

Not popular

6. Mu-Gi △ Stubborn, Hard to get along with others

7. Mu-Gyeong × Meddle in others‟ affair, No benefits

8. Mu-Sin × Meddle in others‟ affair, No benefits

9. Mu-Im ○ Smart, Intellectual success

10. Mu-Gye × Stingy, Hard to make big success

Gi(己)

1. Gi-Gap × Incapable to overcome adversity, Easy to destroy

one‟s health.

2. Gi-Eul × Cannot complete certain tasks, Unlucky.

3. Gi-Byeong ○ Unexpected supports from others in competition.

4. Gi-Jeong ○ Slowly succeed to achieve great accomplishment.

5. Gi-Mu ○ Socialized, Good personal relationships

6. Gi-Gi △ Retard process, Frequent barriers

7. Gi-Gyeong × Meddle in others‟ affair, No benefits

8. Gi-Sin × Meddle in others‟ affair, No benefits

9. Gi-Im × Bad luck in financial flow and opposite sex

10. Gi-Gye ○ Moisture land, May become rich

Gyeong(庚)

1. Gyeong-Gap × Spoil the material, Lacking internal stability

2. Gyeong-Eul × Violent, Sudden disaster

3. Gyeong-Byeong × Not suitable for career life, Hard to show one‟s

talents

4. Gyeong-Jeong ○ Can show one‟s talents well, Big success and

developments

5. Gyeong-Mu × Lacking others‟ support

6. Gyeong-Gi × Lacking others‟ support

7. Gyeong-Gyeong × Accident, hurt body

8. Gyeong-Sin × Violent, Accident

9. Gyeong-Im ○ Intelligent, Quick in learning, Show one‟s talents well

to make great success.

10. Gyeong-Gye × Rusty knife, Meddle in others‟ affair

71



Sin(辛)

1. Sin-Gap △ Useless material, Cut into small pieces, Difficult to

achieve fortune

2. Sin-Eul × Violent, Cut flowers with a sharp knife, Easy to lose

wealth.

3. Sin-Byeong ○ Authority, Graceful

4. Sin-Jeong × Damage jewelry by burning, Powerless

5. Sin-Mu △ Lacking others‟ support, No luck

6. Sin-Gi △ Lacking others‟ support, No luck

7. Sin-Gyeong × Violent, Accident

8. Sin-Sin × Violent, Revenge

9. Sin-Im ○ Show one‟s talents well, Smart and Smooth

10. Sin-Gye × Hard to show one‟s talents, Hard to be recognized.

Im(壬)

1. Im-Gap ○ Diligent, Show one‟s talent well, Lucky

2. Im-Eul ○ Highly recognized by others, Make a success

3. Im-Byeong ○ Lucky in financial fortune

4. Im-Jeong ○ Lucky in financial fortune, Popular

5. Im-Mu ○ Succeed in career life, Good leadership

6. Im-Gi × Bad fortune in finance and spouse

7. Im-Gyeong ◎ Great success by others‟ supports, Creative and good

planning ability

8. Im-Sin ○ Smart, Achieve great academic success

9. Im-Im × Big ocean, failure by excessiveness

10. Im-Gye ◎ Competitive, Smooth in dealing everything

Gye(癸)

1. Gye-Gap ○ Good at showing one‟s talents, Smart, Intelligent

2. Gye-Eul △ Cannot express one‟s talent well,

3. Gye-Byeong △ Hard to hold one‟s fortune

4. Gye-Jeong × Lacking money fortune, Not good at dealing contract

and investment.

5. Gye-Mu ○ Successful in career life, Leadership in one‟s

organization.

6. Gye-Gi ○ Successful in career life, Suitable in big organization.

72



7. Gye-Gyeong × Lacking parents or seniors‟ luck, Make one‟s own

fortune.

8. Gye-Sin × Lacking parents or seniors‟ luck, Make one‟s own

fortune.

9. Gye-Im × Make a rush, Financial loss caused by haste.

10. Gye-Gye × Retard in progress, Frequent barriers

Multiple Stem Relationship

1. Gap+Gap+Gap – Very active and Capable to handle competition

2. Gap+Gye+Gi+Byeong, Eul+Gye+Gi+Byeong – Good at handling

money, Unexpected lucky, Gye and Byeong shouldn‟t be adjacent.

3. Gap+Eul+Mu – Supports from others, Successful in academic and

social status.

4. Gap-Jeong-Mu – Smart and quick in learning. Academic success

5. Gap+Jeong+Jeong – Handle a job swiftly, Take the initiative.

6. Gyeong+Gap+Jeong – Smart, Quick in learning, Competitive

7. Gyeong+Jeong+Mu – Excellent in showing one‟s talent, Great success

8. Im+Gyeong+Jeong – Intelligent, Show one‟s ability well

9. Im+Gap+Byeong, Im+Eul+Byeong – Excellent in human relationship

10. Im+Mu+Byeong – Behave oneself well in the organization

Good and Bad relationship for each stem

1. Eul wood – Im water has extreme influence. Too much Im water may

cause lustful relationship.

2. Jeong fire – Jeong does not have good relationship with Eul wood.

However Gap wood provides useful materials so Jeong fire can

continue burning.

3. Mu earth – Mu makes very intelligent person with relationship Im water.

However unfavorable Im or Gye water makes stinge person. Combined

with Gyeong or Sin metal make a officious person who keeps meddling

in others‟ affair. Mu with Gap is lacking one‟s own opinion.

4. Gi earth – Gi with Byeong fire has good supports from others. It‟s

complicated to judge the relationship with Gap and Eul wood. However

its relationship with Im water usually causes failure in every aspects.

73



5. Gyeong metal – It usually welcomes Jeong fire. It‟s relationship with Im

water needs careful consideration. But when it is with Gye water, it

makes a rusty knife.

Chart - Harmonious relationships with a day stem

Day

stem

-

甲

gap

乙

eul

丙

byeong

丁

jeong

戊

mu

己

gi

庚

gyeong

辛

sin

壬

im

癸

gye

甲

gap

甲

gap

丁

jeong

戊

mu

癸

gye

壬

im

Expres

sion

star

丙

byeong

丁

jeong

丙

byeong

戊

mu

壬

im

壬

im

甲

gap

乙

eul

甲

gap

乙

eul

Money

star

己

gi

戊

mu

己

gi

辛

sin

庚

gyeon

g

壬

im

癸

gye

甲

gap

丙

byeong

丁

丙

byeong

Career

star

庚

gyeong

壬

Im

壬

Im

乙

Eul

甲

gap

乙

eul

丁

jeong

丙

byeong

戊

mu

戊

mu

己

gi

Know-

ledge

star

壬

im

癸

gye

癸

gye

甲

gap

乙

eul

甲

gap

丙

byeong

丁

jeong

丙

byeong

庚

辛

74



Chart – Bad relationships with a day stem

Day stem

-

甲

gap

乙

eul

丙

byeong

丁

jeong

戊

mu

己

gi

庚

gyeong

辛

sin

壬

im

癸

gye

Friend

star

丙

丁

庚

辛

庚

辛

壬癸

Expression

star

丁

己

庚

辛

庚

辛

癸癸辛

Money

star

戊

庚辛壬乙乙丁

Career

star

辛庚

辛

癸癸丙

丁己

Knowledge

star

乙戊

己

己

75



Chapter 9 Void

Void means there is no fruitful result even though one endeavors on

something. Money void means one loses wealth that was acquired once.

Knowledge void means one cannot utilize what one has studied.

On a void day, if one visits a restaurant, the restaurant is closed. So it is

better to avoid doing important tasks on a void day. If the marriage palace is

void, one has lonely marriage life.

1. Void in year branch – One cannot continue ancestor‟s business. It lacks

ancestors and parents‟ fortune.

2. Void in month branch – It lacks luck of siblings

3. Void in day branch – It lacks luck of spouse, Mental and physical

weakness

4. Void in time branch – Less luck of children, Lonely in later years

5. If all four branches are void – It is actually a very noble saju.

6. Void in four flourish letters, Ja, O, Myo, Yu – Smart and intelligent

7. Void in four life letters, In, Sin, Sa, Hae – Smart and practice martial

arts

8. Void in four repository letters, Jin, Sul, Chuk, Mi – Religious

9. If the void letters are combined with another branch – No void effect

10. If the void letters are clashed – No clash impact

11. If the favorable element is void – No luck from the favorable element

12. If the unfavorable element is void – No bad luck impact

13. If a married couple has same void letters, they will share happy

marriage together

14. It‟s better to avoid lawsuit or competition during the void years

15. Same void will make a good partnership, but if the partner has my void

letter, and I have partner‟s void letter, it will cause harmful relationship

each other.

16. It‟s better not to move toward the void direction.

17. It‟s better not to make an appointment on the void day.

76



18. Void letter is reviewed from day master‟s position.

Time stem Day stem Month stem Year stem

Time branch Day branch Month branch Year branch

Children Marriage/Spouse Siblings Parents, Ancestors

Future Personal life

Marriage life

Personal relationship

Social life

Business,

Occupation

Past

*Shaded columns are where the day master can change and gives certain

influence

Void Chart (Day pillar)

甲子

gap

ja

乙丑

eul

chuk

丙寅

byeong

in

丁卯

jeong

myo

戊辰

mu

jin

己巳

gi

sa

庚午

gyeong

o

辛未

sin

mi

壬申

im

sin

癸酉

gye

yu

Void

Sul Hae

甲戌

gap

sul

乙亥

eul

hae

丙子

byeong

ja

丁丑

jeong

chuk

戊寅

mu

in

己卯

gi

myo

庚辰

gyeong

jn

辛巳

sin

sa

壬午

im

o

癸未

gye

mi

Void

Sin Yu

甲申

gap

sin

乙酉

eul

yu

丙戌

byeong

sul

丁亥

jeong

hae

戊子

mu

ja

己丑

gi

chuk

庚寅

gyeong

in

辛卯

sin

myo

壬辰

im

jin

癸巳

gye

sa

Void

O Mi

甲午

gap

o

乙未

eul

mi

丙申

byeong

sin

丁酉

jeong

yu

戊戌

mu

sul

己亥

gi

hae

庚子

gyeong

ja

辛丑

sin

chuk

壬寅

im

in

癸卯

gye

myo

Void

Jin Sa

甲辰

gap

jin

乙巳

eul

sa

丙午

byeong

o

丁未

jeong

mi

戊申

mu

sin

己酉

gi

yu

庚戌

gyeong

sul

辛亥

sin

hae

壬子

im

ja

癸丑

gye

chuk

Void

In Myo

甲寅

gap

in

乙卯

eul

myo

丙辰

byeong

jin

丁巳

jeong

sa

戊午

mu

o

己未

gi

mi

庚申

gyeong

sin

辛酉

sin

yu

壬戌

im

sul

癸亥

gye

hae

Void

Ja Chuk

77



Chapter 10 Saju and Health

Traditional oriental medicine is largely based on the philosophical concept

that the human body is a small universe with yin and yang. It is a set of

complete and sophisticated interconnected systems, and those systems

usually work in balance to maintain the healthy function of the human body.

Different from the Western anatomical concept which divides the physical

body into parts, the Chinese concept is more concerned with function. So

when yin and yang are balanced it is considered a healthy condition. When

the balance of yin and yang is broken, it is considered unhealthy. Owing to

this difference, the oriental medicine has an integrated viewpoint while the

modern Western medicine is analytical. Oriental medicine focuses on the

fundamental but invisible elements, while the Western medicine focuses on

the visual substances. The former starts from the integrated body as a whole

while the latter starts from the cell. Consequently, Oriental medicine is more

like a natural healing while the Western medicine is an artificial curing.

There is no cardinal principle about which way is right.

We are going to review the conceptual similarity between the saju and the

oriental medicine and find a way to link them.

Starting from the philosophical concept of yin and yang and the five elements,

ancient Oriental people developed them to read fate, or the study of the

human body, in the course of learning the universal truth.

Yin and yang theory delivers the concept that all natural beings have two side

aspects, which are opposite but interdependent. They are not absolute but

comparable. They prosper and decline and even transform each other. In this

respect, people interpreted the universe – the heaven, the earth and the

human being. There is yang inside the yin, and there is yin inside the yang.

According to this interpretation, they tried to understand the route fate has

chosen for them and their body’s health : how diseases develop and are cured.

78



If we apply yin and yang to human body, they can be described as below

chart.

The realm of nature

Yang Day

time,

Morning

Summer

Spring

South

East

Heat

Warm

Fire Brightness

Yin Evening

Night

Winter

Autumn

North

West

Cold

Cool

Water Darkness

The realm of human and human body

Yang Men The

Youth

Outside Back Upper

body

The Six

entrails

Qi

Yin Women The Old Inside Abdomen Lower

body

The five

viscera

Blood

*The six entrails (yang) are gall bladder, small intestine, stomach, large

intestine and urinary bladder.

*The five viscera are liver, heart, spleen, lungs and kidneys.

The balance of yin and yang is considered with respect to qi (breath, life

force or spiritual energy), blood, jeong (kidney essence), other bodily fluids,

emotions and the soul or spirit.

The physiological function of a human body is maintained by the cooperative

relationship with the oppositional or organic activities of yin and yang. The

cause and result of physiological activities are endless metabolism of

substances.

According to qi theory, all the function of human body is subject to the

activity of „qi‟, and the source of qi is breathing and ingestion.

The normal condition of body is the coordinative maintenance of substances

and functions in human body and their cooperative yin and yang relationships.

We are to review further about the human health in association with five

elements and how they are read by saju of one‟s birth year, month, day and

79



time.

Ancient people considered five elements that constitute the universe ; wood,

fire, earth, metal and water. Then these five elements were also applied to

human body. Although it is translated to ‘element’ in western term, it should

not be understood as ‘block of matter’. They exist, act or react, and circulate

within yin yang boundary. So it is more like ‘changing states of being’.

Wood is like seeds sprouting from the ground, or the branches of a tree

stretching out to grow. So it implies the energy of rising, expanding and

growing. The sour flavor has wood energy and it goes to liver, gall bladder,

tendon and nerve system.

Fire is like flowers whose energy is exploding and pounding with its peak of

growth. The bitter flavor has fire energy and it goes to heart, small intestine

and blood system.

Earth is the energy of crossing to balance other elements. It‟s the center of

the body. The sweet flavor goes to spleen, stomach, flesh and digestive

system

Metal is like fruits or nuts solidified and ripened by its growth. The spicy

flavor goes to lung, large intestine, skin and respiratory system.

Water is bearing all fruits to prepare for next spring. The salty flavor goes to

kidney, urinary bladder, bone and excretory system.

In order to understand the mechanism, let‟s see how the diseases or

disorders are defined in oriental perspective.

The disorders are the reflection of conflictions between vital energy and

malady. The vital energy is to fight against malady to protect human body. If

the body is full of vital energy and when it is in normal function, the malady

cannot attack human body. On the other hand, the mal energy invades the

human body when the vital energy is not strong enough to resist.

Then, the causes of disorders, mal energy in other words, are divided into

two, the internal and external causes.

Externally, the nature has six environmental energies ; wind, cold, hot, wet,

dry and heat. They are related with seasons and they enter through the nose,

mouth and skin into the body. Wind is usually connected with spring as a

season, cold with winter, hot with summer, wet with rainy season, dry with

autumn and heat is over-heated hot and can be connected with all season.

However these six energies can be connected with any seasons subject to

80



situation.

Then, internally, the disorders can also be generated by the emotions and

there are seven emotional expressions to cause diseases ; happy, anger,

worry, thinking, sad, fear and shock.

Below is the chart of five elements with their relevant organs and others.

5 elements Wood Fire Earth Metal Water

Celestial

stem

gap, eul byeong,

jeong

mu gi gyeong, sin im, gye

Yang

branch

Tiger-In Horse-O Dragon-Jin,

Dog-Sul

Monkey-Sin Rat-Ja

Yin branch Rabbit-

Myo

Snake-Sa Cow-Chuk

Mi-Sheep

Chicken-Yu Hae-Pig

Color Green(blue) Red Brown(yellow) White Black

Season Spring Summer Transitional

season

Fall Winter

Direction East South Center West North

Flavor Sour Bitter Sweet Spicy Salty

Yin organs Liver Heart Spleen Lungs Kidneys

Yang

organs

Gall

bladder

Small

intestine

Stomach Large

intestine

Urinary

bladder

System Nervous Circulatory Digestive Respiratory Excretory

Body Nerve Blood Muscle Skin Bone

Face Eyes Tongue Mouth Nose Ears

Emotion Anger Happy Worry Sad Fear

Energy Wind Hot Wet Dry Cold

Numbers 3,8 2,7 5,10 4,9 1,6

Although more can be added, these six environmental energies and seven

emotions are based on the five elements of wood (wind, anger), fire (hot,

happy), earth (wet, worry), metal (dry, sad) and water (cold, fear) from their

properties respectively.

While some definitions about disorders and their external and internal causes

are written here, the specialized prescriptions still need to come from the

oriental medicine doctors‟ expertise as if those of feng shui advices are to

come from feng shui masters.

81



Although oriental medicine has well summarized how yinyang and five

elements influence one‟s health, here I would like to relate saju with one‟s

health aspects in brief. Again the body condition requires well balanced five

elements in one‟s saju. The clashed elements (or penaltied elements) will

cause disease according to the relations of each organ and elements (refer to

chapter 6).

Wood energy without water nourishment will cause diseases in blood vascular

system. Earth energy without fire‟s support is wet, then it will have difficulty

in its stomach and the person is lack of energy in overall. If the saju is too

cold (metal and water energy), it will have consumption disease, and if the

saju is too hot, it will have problem in its gall bladder. A tumor is caused by

the clashes between fire and metal branches. When the saju does not have

metal and water energy or those are clashed by others, it will have weak

kidney. When there is a conflict between water and earth energy and wood

energy restrain earth too much, it will have problem in digestive system.

Although there are a lot to describe about the diseases, we may be able to

summarize the key phrases as below.

First of all saju needs to be harmonized between hot and cold, and between

wet and dry. It determines not only the fortune of fate, such as rich or poor,

noble or humble life, but also the health and the basic living condition.

1. Byeong fire and Gye water are the major elements to determine the

climate of one‟s saju.

2. The stems are influencing hot or cold climates and the branches are

influencing dry or wet climates

3. We may also utilize both stems and branches to balance the

atmosphere regardless of their boundaries.

82



Each stem has different role even in the same elements. For example, Byeong

fire and Jeong fire play different roles. Byeong fire contributes to climates

more fundamentally.

Stem Coldness Gye water

Warmth Byeong fire

Branches Dryness In 寅, O 午, Sul 戌, Sa 巳, Mi 未

Wetness Sin 申, Ja 子, Jin 辰, Hae 亥, Chuk 丑

Wood – Tendon, Mind, Stroke

Fire – Congelation, Circulation problem,

Earth – Skin, itching, boil, tumor

Metal – Hairs, Emotional disorder

Water – Blood, Consumption

1) If saju is too dry without any water element or wet earth, it causes sputum

and fever disease.

2) If saju uses metal as a favorable energy, but the metal is weak without root

and damaged by wood or fire, one has weak lungs. Consumption and

sputum.

3) If saju has strong earth energy, which is not controlled by wood, one has

83



stomach problem.

4) If unfavorable element is only positioned in stem without taking root in

branches, it is easy to cure diseases.

5) Wood day master may have sputum problem when there is excessive fire

energy. High possibility of blood circulation problem and kidney disease.

Consumption.

6) Strong wood may hurt earth energy to cause stomach disease, digestion

problem

7) If a person‟s saju has water energy (hae, ja) and fire energy (sa, o)

conflicting each other, we may infer possible heart disease or mental

disorder of this person. While ja-o clash is usually interpreted as mental

disorder, the sa-hae clash is interpreted as heart disease including stroke

and high blood pressure. It is because of the fact that ja and o are the

letters from flourishing place and sa and hae are the letters from life place.

8) People who have saju with in-sin clash (wood and metal), have higher

possibility of car accident, articular neuralgia and usual headaches. Both in

and sin are from live place with „in‟ stands for nervous system and

stretching energy of wood.

9) If one element out of two is extremely hurt by the clash, we usually focus

on the weak element. However, even in case of ja-o clash, if the fire

element is overly dominant, it is ja water not o-fire that is hurt, although

„o‟ fire is restrained by „ja‟ water. For example, „ja‟ water branch is

clashed by „o‟ fire from both side, this person would have more chance of

kidney and urinary bladder disease than that of heart disease.

84



Chapter 11 Summary – Mastery of Saju

1. The saju with only one or two elements

The saju in the associations of wood and fire (only two elements) or metal

and water are not good. Saju, basically requires balanced five elements.

Then if it is only wood and fire, it is too dry and hot. And if it is only metal

and water, it is too cold and wet. When it is only with fire and earth, it will

be difficult to have children for various reasons - diseases and poor.

2. Saju and personality

Although it may be hard for the beginners to deduce causes and results of

one‟s fate by saju-8 letters, it is not so complicated to understand the

person‟s character by saju. In general, if the saju has all five elements and

they are well balanced, the person is mild and has nice personality. However,

if one or two elements in one‟s saju overweighed, one can be emotional and

lack of flexibility. This person is easy to anger, especially when its saju has

fire and water confronting each other. Fire is originally courteous but when

it meets metal and water energy, it becomes violent or easy to anger. In

overall, the person who has strong metal and water energy is very flexible.

3. Money star determines the length of life.

When the expression star meets money star, it will absorb day stem‟s

energy a lot. It means luck in its money fortune but it is only when the day

stem is strong. When the money star (when it is in bad relation with day

stem) of coming year combines a day stem or when the stem element of

coming year combines money star in one‟s saju, the person may end its life.

Of course we must see the big picture before we talk about the length of life,

but we need to know the fact that money star controls the life.

4. The knowledge star that is in good relation with a day stem will make great

achievement in scholarship. When there is a good knowledge star especially

in month stem, the person will study hard and achieve good scores in school.

Also this person will have a great support of its mother.

The best relationship is gap wood and byeong jeong fire, and gyeong metal

and im water. This person is very smart to absorb and understand new

85



knowledge well.

5. What makes a person noble

It is when a day stem has a career star in harmonious relationship and it acts

a good role for the day master. For example, when a career star restrains a

day master well or when a day master is in need of a knowledge star but the

knowledge star is not healthy enough, a career star nourishes the

knowledge star well. This person will be able to work in a good company

and be promoted to a high position.

Especially the combination of gyeong metal and jeong fire or gap wood and

gyeong metal put the person in a high level position with authority.

6. About the luck of spouse and children

When we call one a respectable person, it means one uses knowledge star

as favorable element. It doesn‟t mean that one has knowledge star at the

month branch. However, for this man, who uses knowledge star as favorable

element, if there is money star next to knowledge star, one does have an

unlucky wife.

In regards to career star, it is not favorable to have career star at day

branch for the expression structure, because career and express stars are

conflict each other.

However, if the day master is metal and has water in the month branch to

make expression structure, it is good to have fire energy (career star) in

Day stem

-

甲

gap

乙

eul

丙

byeong

丁

jeong

戊

mu

己

gi

庚

gyeong

辛

sin

壬

im

癸

gye

knowledge

star

壬

im

癸

gye

癸

sin

甲

gap

乙

eul

甲

gap

丙

byeong

丁

jeong

丙

byeong

戊

mu

庚

gyeong

辛

sin

Day stem

-

甲

gap

庚

gyeong

Career

star

庚

gyeong

丁

jeong

86



day branch. It is because the fire may soothe the cold atmosphere of the

person.

Usually sang-gwan (expression star in different yin/yang) in day branch is

not considered as lucky star, but for the money structure and the career

structure of same yin/yang (pyeong-gwan), sang-gwan is welcomed.

If any favorable element is sitting on the day branch (marriage palace), we

may evaluate that the person will have lucky spouse.

Children are denoted by career star for men, and by expression star for

women. It is same way to determine whether the children stars are lucky or

not as we do with spouse stars. The proper career star usually compatible

with money star and the expediential career star (pyeon-gwan) with

expression star.

When a saju has career stars that are not harmonious with a day stem, but

its expression star restrains the career stars well, this person has powerful

charisma.

87



saju advanced

Documents

expediential career god

god blessed letters

acquires good fortune

proper career god

bring ja water

coming years fortune

jin white tiger

requires expression stars