Zodiac, Elements
& Four Pillars

Each animal sign has a fixed element (its natural element) and a year element (the element of the specific year it was born). The year element modifies the animal's energy significantly — a Wood Rat behaves quite differently from a Water Rat. Elements cycle in order: Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water → Wood. Each element governs two consecutive years in Yin and Yang form.

Compatibility in Chinese astrology is based on four Grand Trines (最佳配对) — groups of three signs that harmonise naturally — and six direct clashes (冲) where opposing signs create tension. There are also Six Combinations (六合) — pairs that complement each other harmoniously.

You have three animal signs, not one. Your Year Animal (outer self, social persona) is what most people know. Your Month Animal (Inner Animal) represents your inner emotional nature. Your Hour Animal (Secret Animal) is your truest, most private self — known only to those closest to you.

The Chinese day is divided into 12 two-hour periods, each governed by an animal sign. Your Hour Animal (Secret Animal) is determined by the local time of birth. These hours also carry elemental and energetic significance used in traditional Chinese medicine and feng shui.

BaZi (八字) — literally "Eight Characters" — is the most comprehensive system of Chinese astrology. Your birth moment is encoded as four pairs of characters: a Heavenly Stem (天干, one of 10) and an Earthly Branch (地支, one of 12) for each of the four pillars. Together they form a 60-combination cycle that maps the full spectrum of human destiny.

Each animal sign carries specific auspicious correspondences — lucky numbers, colours, directions, flowers and gemstones — used in traditional Chinese culture to attract good fortune and avoid inauspicious energies.