How Byeol Calculates

Birth Date → Four Pillars

Your birth year, month, day, and hour are each converted into a Pillar — a pair of one Heavenly Stem (천간, 天干) and one Earthly Branch (지지, 地支). This produces four pillars and eight characters: Saju Palja (사주팔자, 四柱八字).

Heavenly Stems (천간, 天干)

Ten Heavenly Stems cycle through every 10 years: 甲(갑) Wood+, 乙(을) Wood−, 丙(병) Fire+, 丁(정) Fire−, 戊(무) Earth+, 己(기) Earth−, 庚(경) Metal+, 辛(신) Metal−, 壬(임) Water+, 癸(계) Water−. Each stem carries a Five Element type and yin/yang polarity.

Earthly Branches (지지, 地支)

12 Earthly Branches cycle every 12 years, each corresponding to one of the 12 zodiac animals: 子(자) Rat, 丑(축) Ox, 寅(인) Tiger, 卯(묘) Rabbit, 辰(진) Dragon, 巳(사) Snake, 午(오) Horse, 未(미) Goat, 申(신) Monkey, 酉(유) Rooster, 戌(술) Dog, 亥(해) Pig. Each branch also carries a primary Five Element.

Five Elements Analysis (오행, 五行)

All eight characters are mapped to their Five Elements. Byeol counts how many Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water characters appear across all four pillars. The dominant element shapes personality and strengths; missing or weak elements reveal areas of challenge.

Day Master (일간, 日干)

The Heavenly Stem of the Day Pillar is called the Day Master (일간). It is the single most important character in your chart — it represents your core self, true nature, and how you relate to the world. All other pillars are analyzed in relation to the Day Master.

Samjae Calculation (삼재, 三災)

Samjae identifies three consecutive years of caution within each 12-year cycle. Your birth year's zodiac animal determines which three-year window (입삼재, 중삼재, 날삼재) applies. Byeol maps your birth year to the traditional Samjae lookup table to show whether you are currently in a Samjae period.

Talisman Element (부적 원소)

Your personal talisman (부적) is derived from your Day Master element and birth energy balance. The element most needed to restore harmony in your chart determines your guardian type and talisman symbol — following the Five Elements generating cycle (상생, 相生).