(2) Key Words for Studying Saju – 4 pillars

By Janet Shin

Before I start the main topic, I would like to introduce some key words in studying the four pillars. I have categorized them by each group. Please read and familiarize yourself with these words.

We will start with some Chinese characters. Chinese characters are semantic letters that have gradually accumulated the information of meanings over several millennia. The shapes of Chinese characters and their semantic translation influenced part of the four pillars interpretation.

In order to understand the four pillars, we will use 22 Chinese characters, shown below with an English pronunciation guide.

Although there have been concerns about learning four pillars with Chinese characters, do not to worry about it because only 22 Chinese characters will be enough to learn four pillars.

Below is a quick and short summary of the key words. Going forward, you will be able to look inside yourself and find who you are and who are people around you.

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1. Ten Celestial Stems ; Intangible energy in heaven

Following below are the letters characterized for 10 stems:

2. Twelve Terrestrial Branches: Terrestrial outcome influenced by the intangible forces from heaven

3. The 10 celestial stems and 12 terrestrial branches make 60 associations-60 year cycle.

The 60-year cycle is generated by the different combination between stems and branches as seen below. These associations are used to constitute the four pillars, by which we rationalize our fate.

It is very important that we have to deal these letters to understand one's personality, examine the past and predict the future.

4. Five Elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, water

There are two natural relationships among the five elements as below:

Mutual Nourishment (inter-promotion)

Wood → fire → earth → metal → water

Wood promotes fire, fire nourishes earth, earth produces metal, and water comes from metal (rocks).

Mutual restraint (interaction)

Wood → earth → water → fire → metal → wood

Wood restrains earth, earth restrains water, water extinguishes fire, fire melts metal and metal chops wood.

Once you start studying the stems and branches, yin yang, five elements and their interaction well, you will be able to read the fate correctly.

We often regarded yin yang and five elements as something that is not related to our daily life. Now it is something very close to our life, and more people around the world are getting more and more interested in them.

I hope you enjoy the new adventure of learning the four pillars and getting to know about yourself and people around you.