1. Family Symbolism

In Bazi (Four Pillars) analysis, each Zhu (柱, Pillar) represents different family members:

• Year Zhu: Represents ancestors, parents, and extended family.
• Month Zhu: Represents parents and siblings.
• Day Zhu: Represents the spouse, as the Day Branch is known as the Spouse Palace.
• Hour Zhu: Represents children and future generations.

Parents can be indicated in both the Year Zhu and the Month Zhu. The maternal in-laws are often found in the Year Zhu because it represents the extended family. If the influence of the Output Stars (Shangguan or Shishen) appears in connection with the Spouse Palace, it may indicate the mother-in-law. If there is no connection, this influence might refer to the paternal grandmother instead.

The Month Zhu also represents classmates and colleagues, and if the Spouse Palace is located here, it may indicate a spouse who was once a classmate.

• Day Branch represents what is closest to the individual, such as their home and spouse.
• Hour Zhu represents students, juniors, and descendants.

2. Time Symbolism

Each Zhu corresponds to different life stages:

• Year Zhu: Childhood and early years (approximately 1-18 years old).
• Month Zhu: Youth and early adulthood (approximately 18-35 years old).
• Day Zhu: Middle age (approximately 35-55 years old).
• Hour Zhu: Late years and retirement (approximately 55 years and onward).

Additionally, the progression of events in one’s life follows the order from Year Zhu to Hour Zhu. For example, if a person is destined to have three marriages, their sequence would typically be identified from Year Zhu → Month Zhu → Day Zhu → Hour Zhu in chronological order.

3. Spatial Symbolism

The Four Zhu also represent spatial aspects of one’s life:

• Year Zhu: Represents distant places and foreign lands.
• Hour Zhu: Represents gateways and entrances.
• Month Zhu: Represents one’s ancestral home or birthplace.
• Day Zhu: Represents the current residence.

For example, if someone is traveling far from home, their Year Zhu or Hour Zhu will often provide insight into the trip.

4. Age and Relationship Symbolism

Each Zhu also signifies different social relationships:

• Year Zhu: Represents elders, authority figures, and external influences.
• Month Zhu: Represents peers, colleagues, and supervisors.
• Day Zhu: Represents those closest to oneself, such as a spouse or personal environment.
• Hour Zhu: Represents younger generations, students, subordinates, or children.

5. Body Symbolism

Each Zhu corresponds to different parts of the body:

• Year Zhu (farthest from the Day Zhu): Represents legs, feet, and limbs.
• Month Zhu: Represents the torso, spine, shoulders, and back.
• Day Zhu: Represents vital internal organs, such as the heart, brain, and bone marrow.
• Hour Zhu: Represents external features like the head, face, hands, eyes, mouth, nose, ears, and reproductive organs.

6. Object Symbolism

The Four Zhu also indicate different physical objects:

• Year Zhu: Shoes, walking sticks, or items belonging to others.
• Month Zhu: Ancestral properties, family businesses, academic pursuits, and work-related items.
• Day Zhu: Personal belongings such as houses, bedrooms, and private assets.
• Hour Zhu: Vehicles, doors, clothing, accessories (e.g., hats, glasses), cosmetics, and financial transactions.

For example, if analyzing cars, they are typically found in the Hour Zhu, as it represents travel and movement.

7. Emotional Symbolism

The Four Zhu also reflect one’s emotional tendencies and level of influence on others:

• Some individuals are more easily affected by external environments.
• Others have strong personal influence over those around them.

These traits can be interpreted through the arrangement of elements in one’s Four Zhu chart.

8. Internal and External Symbolism

• Heavenly Stems (Tian Gan, 天干) represent external attributes, such as personality traits, outward expressions, and visible characteristics.
• Earthly Branches (Di Zhi, 地支) represent internal attributes, such as inner thoughts, deep emotions, and personal relationships with family members.

For example, someone may appear confident and charismatic on the surface (Heavenly Stem influence) but be deeply introspective and private internally (Earthly Branch influence).