The two cycles
The generating cycle describes support: Wood feeds Fire, Fire creates Earth, Earth bears Metal, Metal enriches Water, and Water nourishes Wood.
The controlling cycle describes restraint: Wood parts Earth, Earth contains Water, Water puts out Fire, Fire melts Metal, and Metal cuts Wood.
Elements, stems, branches, and seasons
| Element | Yang stem | Yin stem | Branches | Peak season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | 甲 Jia | 乙 Yi | 寅 Tiger, 卯 Rabbit | Spring |
| Fire | 丙 Bing | 丁 Ding | 巳 Snake, 午 Horse | Summer |
| Earth | 戊 Wu | 己 Ji | 辰 Dragon, 戌 Dog, 丑 Ox, 未 Goat | Transitions between seasons |
| Metal | 庚 Geng | 辛 Xin | 申 Monkey, 酉 Rooster | Autumn |
| Water | 壬 Ren | 癸 Gui | 亥 Pig, 子 Rat | Winter |
Why counting elements is not enough
Two charts can have the same element count and read very differently. Season has the largest effect: Fire in summer is far stronger than Fire in winter. Hidden stems add influences that a surface count misses, and combinations between branches can shift the balance further.
What a missing element means
A missing element means that element does not appear among the visible characters. It does not by itself indicate a deficiency in your life. It may be present in hidden stems, or arrive through a luck cycle or a particular year.
Check your own balance
The free BaZi calculator shows how the eight visible characters are distributed across the five elements. The chart-reading guide explains what to look at next.