Saju: Korean Four Pillars of Destiny
Saju is Korean traditional fortune telling based on the Four Pillars of Destiny: the year, month, day and hour of birth. Each pillar contains a heavenly stem and an earthly branch, giving eight characters in total. The broader tradition is also known as BaZi or Four Pillars astrology. Learn the vocabulary, explore your free birth chart and read explanations in your own language.
What a saju chart contains
The chart organizes a birth moment using a traditional calendar system. Its stems and branches are associated with wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The day’s heavenly stem, often called the Day Master, is a reference point for interpreting relationships between the other characters. A chart is more detailed than a yearly zodiac sign: people born in the same zodiac year can have different month, day and hour pillars.
Before using a birth chart tool
Check whether your date is recorded in the solar or lunar calendar and whether a lunar date belongs to a leap month. Birth time and the calendar convention used by a tool can affect the resulting chart. If you do not know your birth time, use the unknown-time option instead of inventing a time. Review the input carefully before comparing readings.
Reading the results
Traditional interpretations discuss patterns and relationships in a chart. They are cultural interpretations rather than a scientific prediction of future events. Read them as a way to explore the tradition and reflect on your experiences. Different schools may interpret the same chart differently.
Learn the basics
Common questions
Is saju the same as a zodiac sign?
No. A yearly zodiac animal refers to one part of the birth year. Saju also includes the month, day and, when known, hour.
Can I use the tool without a birth time?
The Korean tool offers an unknown-time option. A reading without an hour pillar contains less information than a complete four-pillar chart.
Create your free Saju birth chart
The international calculator displays the four pillars and five elements in your selected language. An optional explanatory reading can also use that language. Community content and some other tools retain their original language.