The origin of BaZi is attributed to Scholar Li Xuzhong of the Tang Dynasty (A.D 618-907). It was practiced by Xu Ziping in the Song Dynasty (A.D 960-1279). This ancient Chinese Art is derived from the text of the I-Ching or the Book of Oracles used for fortune telling. It is based on the same principles, using the 5 primordial elements for fortune telling. This Chinese system fortune-telling is been in used, consistently, for thousand of years through the winding course of its civilization. It is true to say that BaZi has shaped the cultural practises and philosophy of the Chinese people as much as Confucianism has shaped the character and mind of the people of China and its worldwide Diasporas. In the olden days, the Chinese people seeking to their destinies and fortune travel far and wide to great temples to have their destinies revealed to them by masters of fortune reading. In other words, consulting a fortune-teller is a common practice and very much a part of the Chinese culture.
The Chinese believes that the universe came into being from the 5 primordial elements. Stephen Hawking, the renown physicist, in his essay, 'Is Everything Determined?' subscribes to the view that everything in the universe is governed by the set of rules. From this perspective, the Chinese people have believed in such a worldview since a long time ago. It can be agreed on that the universe must follow a set of rules. Man, being a tiny part of the universe, and comprising of the 5 elements, is also subject to such fixed rules and order.
We therefore believe that human fate and destiny is determined by "the invisible forces of the universal". Until recently most BaZi masters were only Chinese speaking. The emergence of new masters proficient in the English Language has opened up this fascinating system of fortune telling to the entire English-speaking world.
How does it work?
In a nutshell, BaZi analyzes the unique numerals of an individual's birth data and gender then matches them to a matrix of metaphysical knowledge based on the Sun and its elemental influences on him/her. Therein lays the fate and destiny of an individual, in the realms of BaZi.
This method uses the 5 basic elements, e.g., wood, fire, earth, metal and water to represent one's Four Pillars of Destiny. Here is a number of important ideas;The 4 Pillars are allocated into the Year, Month, Day and Hour. Each pillar is represented by an element, as translated from one's birth data. Each pillar consists of the Heavenly Stem and the Earthly Branch. The self-element is represented by the Day pillar of the Heavenly Stem and it is employed as a reference point in its inter-relationships with the other seven elements in the 4 Pillars for reading one's destiny.
This system maps out the 12 stages of the life cycle in a person's life to reveal the strengths of the SELF-element within this framework. This forms the basis for a precise interpretation and an accurate forecast of a person's destiny. BaZi interpretation encompasses the various aspects of one's life and the forecast of his future is also based on influence of the ruling element of his luck pillar, year, month and hour.
On a more serious side, it is important to understand that the accuracy and usefulness of a BaZi reading and interpretation session depends largely on the credibility of the BaZi master himself, his knowledge of the 4 Pillars and the context of its application in relation to topics such as economics and financial trends, socio-political issues, physiology, the ups and downs of work life, the challenges of running a business, etc. In short, his BaZi knowledge and his secular skills together with his lifetime experiences should hone his ability to understand and provide practical advice and to help the seeker.
Finally, BaZi is reputed to be the most accurate fortune-telling system there is. Under BaZi, the probability for two persons having an identical reading is 1 in 12.96 million. And it will take another 240 years to repeat the next cycle to raise another identical case. BaZi is known not only on its accuracy, but also its ease of application in all aspects of one's life. Those who seek the wisdom of BaZi can testify to its accuracy and usefulness.
