What is Saju? A beginner's guide
Saju (사주, 四柱) means “four pillars.” It is the Korean version of an East Asian system, known in Chinese as BaZi, that turns the year, month, day, and hour of your birth into a chart of eight characters. In Korea it is a familiar part of everyday culture: people check it for fun, before big decisions, and at New Year.
The four pillars
Each pillar is a pair of characters: a Heavenly Stem on top and an Earthly Branch underneath. The year pillar reflects your roots and family, the month pillar your environment and career, the day pillar yourself and your closest relationships, and the hour pillar your later life and inner hopes.
Stems, branches, and the 60 cycle
There are ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches. The twelve branches match the zodiac animals. Pairing them in order produces a repeating cycle of sixty combinations, which is used for years, months, days, and hours. Browse the full list on the 60 Ganzhi page.
The Day Master and the Day Pillar
The stem of your day pillar is your Day Master, the center of the chart and a symbol for you. The whole day pillar, called Ilju, is the most personal part of Saju, which is why many Koreans start there. Read about the ten Day Masters or look up your Day Pillar.
The five elements
Every stem and branch belongs to Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water. How these elements support and restrain each other is how Saju describes balance. See the five elements guide.
How is it different from Western astrology?
- Saju uses a calendar of solar terms and a 60-cycle rather than planets and houses.
- Your Western sign depends on one date. Saju also uses your birth hour and your whole date.
- Saju has its own year boundary: the new year begins around February 4, not January 1 or Lunar New Year.
Is it accurate?
Saju is a traditional symbolic system, not science, and it cannot predict your future. Many people enjoy it as a mirror for reflection and conversation. Treat any reading, including ours, as entertainment. We explain our method in How it works.
Ready to see yours? Get your free Saju reading.
For entertainment purposes only. Not a substitute for professional advice.