(89) Reading one’s fate through saju (four pillars of destiny)
After a series of example articles, we thought that we would return to the basics and explain what saju is all about. - ED.
By Janet Shin
Saju is often considered an occult theory. Peeking into one's life through the window of saju, readings based on the heavenly and terrestrial signs as dictated from one's birthday, may sound strange to those who don't have previous knowledge of oriental philosophy. Moreover, understanding the concept of this particular oriental theory ― the yin and yang, and the relationship between the five elements ― cannot be explained in short, simple phrases.
Nevertheless, it is still possible to read into the patterns found in history by analyzing historical figures' saju, and can even formulate plausible solutions to current events by using the patterns and logic of the theory.
To begin, there are four ``Heavenly Stems'' and four ``Terrestrial Branches'' that comprise one's saju, which are read through the yin and yang of the ``Five Elements'' of the universe. The stems represent the energies that a person should receive at birth (the ideal distribution), while the branches show what an individual is actually born with (realistic expectations).
From among these eight stems and branches, we can find the most representative sign of character that makes up a person, which is called the ``Day Master.'' The Day Master is always derived by the stem of the birth day, while the month branch dictates the season and environment that the person was born in, which rules his or hers life path overall.
For example, if a person's Day Master is wood, their life and character would vary depending on which month they were born in. A wood Day Master in a season of fire is different from a wood Day Master in a season of metal (to clarify, summer is a fire season, while autumn is a season of metal). When applied logically to nature, the condition of the bark on a tree varies depending on the time of year, which is why a person with a particular Day Master would be different depending on their season of birth. Certain elements and environments are complementary, so a person's core energy will be stronger when paired with its own season.
Other than the Day Master, there are four other ``Stars'' that constitute a person's social and human relationships network, which are each assigned to an element. The five star categories are, in order, ``Day Master,'' ``Expression,'' ``Money,'' ``Career'' and ``Knowledge.'' Because each of the elements is arranged in a cyclical order, the Day Master dictates the elements for each of the following stars.
The fact that saju has only four pillars signifies that human beings are not perfect, because the five elements cannot all be satisfactorily represented. So, a billionaire may not be happy with his love life, or a scholar might fall into despair for lack of social recognition. This explains why people seem to thirst for what they don't have; they are seeking a balance within their saju.
Saju tells of a person's inner self, making it possible to see the outlines of one's past, present and future. However, though we can calculate the chances of an outcome, we cannot predict fate.
Due to this, when saju provides an answer for the future, it is often distrusted. Yet, people continue to search for the key to their inner selves, ultimately choosing subjectively whether the answers they find are true or not. But because people do not look to saju for answers until they have fallen, it can lead to a muddled mindset and approach.
The four stems and four branches are not set in stone. The assigned elements at birth may be reinforced or weakened as time passes, while others are revived or damaged only when confronted with certain energies. Though reading one's fate in saju cannot be tested as a guarantee for any person, it continues to offer certain insights into the lives of many.