From eight characters to your Day Master, in plain English
Saju (사주) means "four pillars." Your birth year, month, day, and hour each become a pillar, and each pillar holds two characters — one Heavenly Stem on top and one Earthly Branch below. That is eight characters total, which is why the full name is Saju Palja, "four pillars, eight characters." Reading the chart is a repeatable process, not guesswork. Here is the order experienced readers follow.
The four pillars are read left to right, and each one maps to a phase of life and a set of relationships. Knowing which pillar governs which area lets you place any character in context the moment you spot it.
| Pillar | Life stage | What it reflects |
|---|---|---|
| Year | Early childhood | Ancestry, social environment, family roots |
| Month | Youth and adulthood | Career, parents, upbringing |
| Day | Adulthood (core) | Your core self and close relationships |
| Hour | Later years | Children, inner ambitions, the future |
This is why the Hour pillar needs your exact birth time: without it, you read only three of the four pillars and miss the part of the chart that speaks to your later life and deepest goals.
The Day Master is the Heavenly Stem of your Day pillar, and it is the reference point for the entire chart. It represents your elemental identity — for example, a Yang Wood Day Master is often described as a tall, growing tree, ambitious and reaching upward, while a Yin Water Day Master is described as a gentle, adaptable stream. Once you know your Day Master, every other element stops being abstract: a Fire element near a Wood Day Master means one thing, the same Fire near a Metal Day Master means another. Reading a chart without first fixing the Day Master is like reading a map with no "you are here" marker.
Enter your birth date and time. Cheonmyeongdang generates your eight characters, marks your Day Master, and weighs your Five Elements — no account required.
Open the free Saju readerReading a Saju chart has five steps. First, generate your eight characters from your birth year, month, day, and hour. Second, find your Day Master, the Heavenly Stem of the Day pillar, which represents your core self. Third, count the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) across all eight characters to see which are strong or missing. Fourth, read each of the four pillars for its life area. Fifth, interpret every other element in relation to your Day Master.
The Day Master is the most important character in a Saju chart. It is the Heavenly Stem of your Day pillar and represents your elemental identity and core self. Every other element in the chart, including all four pillars and the Five Elements, is interpreted in relation to your Day Master.
The Year pillar reflects ancestry, social environment, and early childhood. The Month pillar represents career, parents, and upbringing. The Day pillar embodies your core self and close relationships. The Hour pillar speaks to later years, children, and inner ambitions. Each pillar holds one Heavenly Stem and one Earthly Branch.
You can build a partial chart with only your birth date, but the Hour pillar requires your birth time. Without the hour, you lose one of the four pillars and the reading is less complete. Your birth time is often listed on your birth certificate.
K-Saju, "How to Read Your Saju Personality: A Beginner's Guide" · IdolSaju, "What Is Saju? The Complete Beginner's Guide to Korean Four Pillars Astrology" · Sajumuse, "What Is Saju? Beginner's Guide to Korean Four Pillars" · Sajugazer, "How to Read a Saju Chart — Four Pillars Guide."