Korean Saju Glossary: BaZi Terms in English

Look up Korean Saju and BaZi terms by Korean name, Hanja, and Qiora's standard English, with concise definitions and links to beginner guides.

Short answer: Saju (사주, 四柱) means "Four Pillars." It is the Korean practice built around the same eight birth characters often called BaZi (八字) in Chinese. This glossary gives each Korean term, its Hanja, Qiora's standard English, and a plain-language definition.

Reading Korean material? Check the Korean or Hanja column. Reading Qiora in English? Use the English column. We standardized the labels because the universe still refuses to appoint an international naming committee.

A name is not a verdict. Rob Wealth, Seven Killings, Illness Stage, and Harm may sound dramatic in English. They are technical labels, not predictions of theft, violence, illness, or trouble on their own.

New here? Start with What Is Saju?, Saju vs. BaZi, and Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.

A-Z quick lookup

Looking for one term? Use Ctrl/Cmd+F to search by Korean, Hanja, or English, or open the A-Z index below.

Open the A-Z index

A: Academic Star · Allure Star · Annual Luck Pillar · Arching Combination · Authority Stars · Avoid God

B: Balanced · Bath Stage · Blessing Star · Breaking · Broken Structure

C: Calamity Star · Canopy Star · Cap and Sash Stage · Chart Structure · Companion Stars · Conception Stage

D: Daily Luck Pillar · Day Master · Day Pillar · Death Stage · Decline Stage · Di Sha · Direct Officer · Direct Officer Structure · Direct Resource · Direct Resource Structure · Direct Wealth · Direct Wealth Structure · Directional Combinations

E: Early Rat · Earthly Branches · Eating God · Eating God controls Killings · Eating God Structure · Eight Characters · Elemental Sound · Emperor Stage · Enemy God · Extinction Stage · Extremely Strong Day Master · Extremely Weak Day Master

F: Five Elements · Following Pattern · Friendly God · Functioning Structure

G: General Star · Golden Carriage

H: Half Harmony · Half-Broken Structure · Hall of Learning · Harm · Heavenly Calamity · Heavenly Kitchen · Heavenly Noble · Heavenly Official · Heavenly Stems · Heavenly Virtue · Hidden Patron · Hidden Stems · Hour Pillar · Hurting Officer · Hurting Officer meets Officer · Hurting Officer Structure

I: Idle God · Illness Stage · Indirect Resource · Indirect Resource Structure · Indirect Wealth · Indirect Wealth Structure · Ipchun

K: Killings produce Resource · Kui Gang

L: local civil time · Loneliness Star · Long Life Stage · Luck Pillar

M: Main Qi · Middle Qi · Month Branch · Month Pillar · Monthly Companion Structure · Monthly Luck Pillar · Moon Virtue · Mounted Saddle

N: Nourishment Stage

O: Officer produces Resource · Output produces Wealth · Output Stars

P: Peach Blossom · Peer · Prosperity Stage · Prosperity Structure · Punishment

R: Resentment Star · Residual Qi · Resource · Resource Stars · Rob Wealth · Robbery Star

S: Saju chart · Saju · Self-Punishment · Seven Killings · Seven Killings Structure · Six Clashes · Six Harmonies · Six Harms · Solar Terms · Solitude Star · Spirit Gate · Standard Pattern · Stem combination · Strong Day Master

T: Tai Ji Nobleman · Ten Gods · Three Harmonies · Tomb Stage · Traveling Horse · True Solar Time

U: unknown birth time · Useful God

V: Void

W: Wang Shen · Weak Day Master · Wealth produces Officer · Wealth Stars · White Tiger

Y: Yang Blade · Yang Blade Structure · Year Pillar · Yin and Yang · Yue Sha


Start here

Korean Hanja Qiora English Beginner meaning
사주 四柱 Saju; Four Pillars A chart organized into Year, Month, Day, and Hour Pillars.
팔자 八字 Eight Characters; BaZi The eight Stem-and-Branch characters in the Four Pillars.
명식 命式 Saju chart The calculated chart used for analysis.
일간 日干 Day Master The Day Pillar's Heavenly Stem and the reference point for Ten God relationships.
천간 天干 Heavenly Stems The ten visible Stem symbols used in Pillars.
지지 地支 Earthly Branches The twelve Branch symbols that carry animals, seasons, hours, and Hidden Stems.
음양 陰陽 Yin and Yang Two complementary modes used to distinguish polarity.
오행 五行 Five Elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water as a relationship system.

Calendar and calculation

Korean Hanja Qiora English Beginner meaning
연주 年柱 Year Pillar The Pillar tied to the Saju year, which changes at Ipchun.
월주 月柱 Month Pillar The Pillar determined by the monthly jie (season-node) boundary.
일주 日柱 Day Pillar The Pillar containing the Day Master and Day Branch.
시주 時柱 Hour Pillar The Pillar calculated from birth time; it remains ? when time is unknown.
절기 節氣 Solar Terms The solar markers used for Saju month and year boundaries.
입춘 立春 Ipchun The Beginning of Spring and Qiora's Saju Year boundary.
월지 月支 Month Branch The Branch of the Month Pillar and the main seasonal reference.
민간시 民間時 local civil time The recorded clock time under the relevant time zone and historical DST.
진태양시 眞太陽時 True Solar Time A longitude-based correction that Qiora applies to the Hour Pillar only.
조자시 早子時 Early Rat Qiora's rule that assigns local standard-time 23:00 to the next Day Pillar.
생시 미상 生時未詳 unknown birth time A state in which the public Hour stays ? and Hour-dependent results remain provisional.

Birthplace lets Qiora resolve the historical time zone and DST. When birth time is unknown, Qiora may use 12:00 noon in local civil time internally, with True Solar Time turned off. That noon value is a technical placeholder, not a recorded birth time. If birthplace and time zone were never collected, the fallback's time-zone basis is provisional too.

Two clocks, two jobs: Early Rat changes the Day Pillar at local standard-time 23:00, while True Solar Time changes the Hour Pillar only. Near Ipchun, both Year and Month Pillars may change. Near another monthly jie boundary, only the Month Pillar may change.


Hidden layers and the Ten Gods

Korean Hanja Qiora English Beginner meaning
지장간 地藏干 Hidden Stems Stems contained inside an Earthly Branch.
본기 本氣 Main Qi The Branch's primary Hidden Stem and representative element.
중기 中氣 Middle Qi A secondary Hidden Stem where the Branch inventory supplies one.
여기 餘氣 Residual Qi A carried-over Hidden Stem where the Branch inventory supplies one.
십신 十神 Ten Gods Ten relationship labels calculated from the Day Master.
비견 比肩 Peer The same element and polarity as the Day Master.
겁재 劫財 Rob Wealth The same element with the opposite polarity.
식신 食神 Eating God Output with the same polarity relationship.
상관 傷官 Hurting Officer Output with the opposite polarity relationship.
편재 偏財 Indirect Wealth What the Day Master controls, with matching polarity.
정재 正財 Direct Wealth What the Day Master controls, with opposite polarity.
편관·칠살 偏官·七殺 Seven Killings What controls the Day Master, with matching polarity.
정관 正官 Direct Officer What controls the Day Master, with opposite polarity.
편인 偏印 Indirect Resource What produces the Day Master, with matching polarity.
정인 正印 Direct Resource What produces the Day Master, with opposite polarity.
비겁 比劫 Companion Stars The grouped reference for Peer and Rob Wealth.
식상 食傷 Output Stars The grouped reference for Eating God and Hurting Officer.
재성 財星 Wealth Stars The grouped reference for Direct and Indirect Wealth.
관성 官星 Authority Stars The grouped reference for Direct Officer and Seven Killings.
인성 印星 Resource Stars The grouped reference for Direct and Indirect Resource.

The translations arrive wearing capes, but Rob Wealth, Hurting Officer, and Seven Killings are still relationship labels. They are not accusations or event forecasts. Compare them in The Ten Gods Atlas.


Day Master strength, structure, and Useful God

Korean Hanja Qiora English Beginner meaning
신강 身强 Strong Day Master A Day Master judged well supported in the whole chart.
신약 身弱 Weak Day Master A Day Master judged to have limited support in the whole chart.
중화 中和 Balanced A chart judged relatively balanced rather than strongly tilted.
극신강 極身强 Extremely Strong Day Master An advanced ruling for unusually concentrated Day Master support.
극신약 極身弱 Extremely Weak Day Master An advanced ruling for unusually limited Day Master support.
격국 格局 Chart Structure The chart's organized functional pattern, judged from more than one label.
정격 正格 Standard Pattern A structure following one of the regular pattern families.
종격 從格 Following Pattern A special structure that follows a dominant force under strict conditions.
용신 用神 Useful God The element or function selected as most strategically helpful under the chosen whole-chart method.
희신 喜神 Friendly God A supporting element or function that helps the Useful God.
기신 忌神 Avoid God An advanced label for a function judged unhelpful in a given method.
구신 仇神 Enemy God An advanced technical label, not a deity, enemy, or moral judgment.
한신 閑神 Idle God A relatively neutral or less active function in a given method.

Strong does not automatically beat weak. Useful, Friendly, Avoid, Enemy, and Idle describe a method's evaluation; they are not a supernatural cast list.

Chart patterns

Korean Hanja Qiora English Beginner meaning
정관격 正官格 Direct Officer Structure A Standard Pattern centered on Direct Officer.
칠살격·편관격 七殺格·偏官格 Seven Killings Structure A Standard Pattern centered on Seven Killings.
정인격 正印格 Direct Resource Structure A Standard Pattern centered on Direct Resource.
편인격 偏印格 Indirect Resource Structure A Standard Pattern centered on Indirect Resource.
정재격 正財格 Direct Wealth Structure A Standard Pattern centered on Direct Wealth.
편재격 偏財格 Indirect Wealth Structure A Standard Pattern centered on Indirect Wealth.
식신격 食神格 Eating God Structure A Standard Pattern centered on Eating God.
상관격 傷官格 Hurting Officer Structure A Standard Pattern centered on Hurting Officer.
건록격 建祿格 Prosperity Structure A whole-chart structure based on the Month Branch's Peer-like Prosperity root.
월겁격 月劫格 Monthly Companion Structure A whole-chart structure based on Rob Wealth in the Month Branch.
양인격 陽刃格 Yang Blade Structure A special structure requiring whole-chart confirmation.
성격 成格 Functioning Structure A structure judged able to function coherently.
반패격 半敗格 Half-Broken Structure A structure with meaningful function and meaningful disruption.
파격 破格 Broken Structure A structure whose required conditions are disrupted; it does not mean a broken person or life.

Compound dynamics

Korean Hanja Qiora English Beginner meaning
식상생재 食傷生財 Output produces Wealth Output feeds the Wealth function through the generating cycle.
살인상생 殺印相生 Killings produce Resource Seven Killings feeds Resource in a linked functional pattern.
관인상생 官印相生 Officer produces Resource Officer feeds Resource in a linked functional pattern.
재생관 財生官 Wealth produces Officer Wealth feeds the Officer function.
식신제살 食神制殺 Eating God controls Killings Eating God checks or regulates Seven Killings.
상관견관 傷官見官 Hurting Officer meets Officer (caution) Hurting Officer and Officer meet; the outcome still depends on context.

See Useful God and Friendly God before treating any one structure as automatically favorable.


Interactions

Korean Hanja Qiora English Beginner meaning
Punishment A fixed Branch relationship associated with pressure or entanglement.
Breaking A fixed Branch pair associated with loosening or disruption.
Harm A fixed Branch pair commonly described as indirect obstruction.
자형 自刑 Self-Punishment A repeated Dragon, Horse, Rooster, or Pig pattern.
육합 六合 Six Harmonies Six fixed Branch pairs that connect or bind.
삼합 三合 Three Harmonies Four three-Branch elemental formations.
천간합 天干合 no fixed English title One of five fixed Stem pairs. Qiora names the actual Stems directly, such as "Gap Wood combines with Gi Earth," instead of inventing a formal label.
육충 六沖 Six Clashes Six fixed opposing Earthly Branch pairs.
방합 方合 Directional Combinations Seasonal formations made from three neighboring Branches.
반합 半合 Half Harmony A partial Three Harmony made from two supplied members.
공합 拱合 Arching Combination The growth-plus-storage partial type in Qiora's Three Harmony rules.

These labels identify technical relationships, not guaranteed events. Need the actual pairs? Open the complete Key Interactions chart.


Timing

Korean Hanja Qiora English Beginner meaning
대운 大運 Luck Pillar A long timing layer commonly organized into periods of about ten years.
세운 歲運 Annual Luck Pillar The Stem and Branch added for a Saju year.
월운 月運 Monthly Luck Pillar The Stem and Branch added for a Saju month.
일진 日辰 Daily Luck Pillar The Stem and Branch used for a particular day.

Timing characters visit the natal chart for a period. They do not move in permanently.


Twelve Phases

Korean Hanja Qiora English Beginner meaning
장생 長生 Long Life Stage The opening stage of the twelve-phase cycle.
목욕 沐浴 Bath Stage An early transition stage in the cycle.
관대 冠帶 Cap and Sash Stage A stage associated with taking form and presentation.
건록 建祿 Prosperity Stage A strong establishment stage, distinct from Prosperity Structure.
제왕 帝旺 Emperor Stage The peak stage of the cycle.
Decline Stage The stage after the peak begins to recede.
Illness Stage A cycle label for reduced momentum, not a medical diagnosis.
Death Stage A cycle label for closure, not a death prediction.
Tomb Stage A storage or containment stage, not a burial prediction.
Extinction Stage A cycle break before renewal, not a literal ending.
Conception Stage A stage of potential beginning.
Nourishment Stage A stage of preparation and support before the cycle restarts.

Special Stars

Special Stars add secondary symbolic clues. They do not take priority over Day Master strength, Chart Structure, Useful God, or the chart's main interactions.

Korean Hanja Qiora English Safe short definition
천을귀인 天乙貴人 Heavenly Noble A support-oriented Noble Star.
문창귀인 文昌貴人 Academic Star A symbolic clue linked with study or expression.
천덕귀인 天德貴人 Heavenly Virtue A traditional support and moderation clue.
월덕귀인 月德貴人 Moon Virtue A traditional support clue derived from the Month context.
태극귀인 太極貴人 Tai Ji Nobleman A traditional Noble Star.
복성귀인 福星貴人 Blessing Star A traditional support-oriented clue.
장성 將星 General Star A symbolic clue associated with command or initiative.
천주귀인 天廚貴人 Heavenly Kitchen A traditional clue associated with provision or enjoyment.
금여귀인 金輿貴人 Golden Carriage A traditional support and comfort clue.
학당귀인 學堂貴人 Hall of Learning A study and learning-oriented clue.
천관귀인 天官貴人 Heavenly Official A traditional official-support clue.
암록귀인 暗祿貴人 Hidden Patron A symbolic clue for less visible support.
도화살 桃花殺 Peach Blossom A social-attraction clue, not a relationship verdict.
역마살 驛馬殺 Traveling Horse A movement and relocation clue.
화개살 華蓋殺 Canopy Star A symbolic clue often associated with inward focus or craft.
양인 羊刃 Yang Blade An intensity clue; not automatically violence.
겁살 劫殺 Robbery Star A traditional pressure clue, not a theft prediction.
홍염살 紅艷殺 Allure Star (distinct from Peach Blossom) An attraction clue kept separate from Peach Blossom.
원진살 怨嗔殺 Resentment Star A traditional friction clue, not proof of resentment.
백호살 白虎殺 White Tiger A traditional caution clue, not an injury diagnosis.
월살 月殺 Yue Sha (Month Sha) A traditional Twelve-Sha label; its name alone does not define the calculation base.
재살 災殺 Calamity Star A caution label, not a guaranteed disaster.
육해살 六害殺 Six Harms A Special Star label distinct from the Branch Harm table.
귀문관살 鬼門關殺 Spirit Gate A traditional symbolic clue, not a mental-health diagnosis.
천살 天煞 Heavenly Calamity A caution label, not a fixed calamity.
망신살 亡神煞 Wang Shen (Self-Undoing) A Twelve-Sha clue preserved with Pinyin, not a diagnosis of self-undoing behavior or public shame.
반안살 攀鞍煞 Mounted Saddle A traditional progression or position clue.
괴강 魁罡 Kui Gang (Dominant Authority) A specialized authority clue preserved with Pinyin.
지살 地煞 Di Sha (Earthly Sha) A movement-related Sha clue preserved with Pinyin.
공망 空亡 Void A symbolic absence or reduced-expression clue.
고진 孤辰 Loneliness Star A solitude clue, not proof of loneliness.
과숙 寡宿 Solitude Star A solitude clue, not a relationship sentence.

See Special Stars for the reading rules and the Special Stars Atlas for the expanded reference.

Yang Blade Structure uses 陽刃格, while the Special Star Yang Blade uses 羊刃 in Qiora's SSOT. Keep the Hanja visible so the two entries do not collapse into one.


Other terms

Korean Hanja Qiora English Beginner meaning
납음 納音 Elemental Sound A traditional classification attached to each sixty-cycle Pillar.
Resource Render as "Resource" (not "Seal" or "Print") for Qiora consistency.

Quick questions

Are Saju and BaZi the same thing?

Yes, they share the Four Pillars and Eight Characters framework. Saju is the Korean name and tradition; BaZi is the widely used Chinese term.

Why do Korean and Chinese romanizations differ?

The same Hanja can have a Korean reading and a Chinese Pinyin reading. When the Roman letters look unrelated, the Hanja is the reliable name tag. Qiora then applies its English SSOT.

Do frightening labels predict frightening events?

No. Rob Wealth, Seven Killings, Death Stage, Punishment, Harm, and Calamity Star all need chart context. None guarantees the literal event suggested by its English name.

Do I need to memorize the Hanja?

No. Treat Hanja as a precise ID card. It is especially handy when Korean readings, Pinyin, or English translations look confusingly similar.

What changes when birth time is unknown?

Qiora's public Hour Pillar remains ?. Hour-dependent Hidden Stems, Ten Gods, interactions, element totals, strength, structure, Useful God, Special Stars, and timing claims remain provisional when affected.

Does every glossary term appear in every Qiora reading?

No. This glossary standardizes names; it does not promise that every Qiora product displays every term. The free chart shows the visible Pillars and selected on-screen details. A copied Basic prompt includes the supplied Eight Characters, Day Master, visible Stem Ten Gods, surface Five-Element and Yin-Yang counts, and the current Annual Luck Pillar, but omits Branch Ten Gods, Hidden Stems, Day Master strength, Chart Structure, Useful God, Special Stars, detected interactions, and Daeun. Premium can include those advanced fields when the reading uses them. If birth time is unknown, the public Hour remains ?, while copied Basic or Premium prompts may contain an estimated noon-derived Hour; anything affected by it is provisional.

Sources and editorial notes
  • All 105 mapped renderings follow projects/Qiora_app/prompts/영어사전.md.
  • Beginner calculation terms follow the completed Qiora webbook and current boundary contract.
  • Legacy deterministic descriptions were replaced with short, non-predictive definitions.
  • Detailed interpretation remains in the linked guides; this page owns public spelling and lookup.

Look up the label, keep the Hanja, then return to the whole chart. Dictionaries are excellent at names and terrible at living your life for you.

Graph view

Saju Reference GardenBirth Time and Calend…Welcome to Korean SajuHeavenly Stems and Ea…How to Use Saju with …The Ten Gods AtlasKey Interactions: A B…The Special Stars Atl…Useful God and Friend…Korean Saju Glossary:…Saju and BaZi share a…