Wood
Growth. Like a tree, Wood reaches up and out: Wood people tend to be idealistic, generous and driven to build something that lasts, and they grow restless when boxed in. Season spring, colour green, direction east.
What Is My Chinese Element?
Most answers stop at the last digit of your birth year. Korean saju looks at two elements: the element of your birth year, which colours the era you were born into, and your day master, the element of the day you were born, which saju reads as you. Enter your birth date to see both.
The Five Elements
Wood feeds Fire, Fire makes Earth, Earth bears Metal, Metal carries Water and Water feeds Wood. Each element also has a yang (outward) and a yin (inward) form.
Fire
Warmth and visibility. Fire people tend to be expressive, enthusiastic and quick to inspire others, and they burn out when they give everything at once. Season summer, colour red, direction south.
Earth
Stability. Earth people tend to be steady, practical and the ones others lean on; they value trust and can resist change longer than they need to. Earth holds the turns between seasons, its colour is yellow and its place is the centre.
Metal
Clarity and structure. Metal people tend to be principled, precise and decisive, with a strong sense of right and wrong, and they can be hard on themselves. Season autumn, colour white, direction west.
Water
Wisdom and flow. Water people tend to be perceptive, adaptable and thoughtful, finding a way around obstacles rather than through them, and they can overthink. Season winter, colour black, direction north.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is my Chinese element by birth year?
Use the last digit of the year your zodiac year began: 0 or 1 is Metal, 2 or 3 is Water, 4 or 5 is Wood, 6 or 7 is Fire and 8 or 9 is Earth, with even digits yang and odd digits yin. If you were born before Ipchun, about 4 February, use the year before.
What is a day master in saju?
The day master is the heavenly stem of the day you were born. Saju, the Korean reading of the four pillars of destiny, treats it as you, and reads the rest of your chart by how the other elements feed, drain or challenge it.
Which element describes my personality, my birth year or my day master?
Your day master. The birth-year element is shared by everyone born that year and says more about the era and the image others first see. The day master changes every day, so it is far more personal.
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