The birth chart and the Da Yun (10-year cycles) give the "weather" of life in general. But real financial decisions are made on a closer horizon — the scale of a year or a quarter. In the Chinese calendar, every year has its own annual pillar (流年 (liú nián — "the current year"), Liu Nian) — a heavenly stem + an earthly branch. This pillar "visits" your chart and activates some stars while suppressing others. The ability to read annual pillars is the difference between "random fate" and "conscious financial planning."

1 How to read the year's stem + branch

年
Nian · Year
nián · annual pillar · 流年

Every year has a stem (one of the 10 heavenly stems) and a branch (one of the 12 earthly branches). 60 years is a full cycle, after which the combination repeats. For example, 2026 is the year Bing-Wu (丙午), the year of Yang Fire and the Horse. Fire over Fire — the strongest fire pillar of the cycle.

Steps for reading the annual pillar

  1. Determine the year's stem and its Ten God. Compare the year's stem to your Day Master. For example, for a DM of 庚 (Yang Metal), the stem Bing (Yang Fire) = Seven Killings.
  2. Determine the year's branch and its Ten Gods. The branch hides from 1 to 3 stems (with their own Ten Gods).
  3. Check for clashes. Chong (沖), Hai (害), Xing (刑), Po (破) — conflicting interactions between the year's branch and the branches of your chart.
  4. Check for harmonies. He (合), Hui (會), San He (三合 (sān hé — "triple unions")) — supportive combinations.
  5. Assess the overall vector. Which Ten God is activated? Is it Wealth (Cai), Career (Guan), Hurting Officer (rebellion)?
  6. Cross-reference with the Da Yun. The year works within the context of the current 10-year cycle.
The basic logic: the year's stem affects the "upper" level (career, reputation, image), the year's branch affects the "lower" level (real events, relationships, health, money "in the pocket"). A good year is agreement between the upper and lower levels.

2 Which god arrives in the year

The main diagnostic question of the yearly forecast: which of the 10 Gods are activated this year? This gives the year's scenario in one phrase.

A Direct Wealth year (stable money)

A raise, a new stable contract, a salary increase. A good time to buy real estate on a mortgage, to enter long-term financial obligations. For a man — a year of possible marriage or the birth of a daughter.

An Indirect Wealth year (risky money)

A big deal, an unexpected fee, a successful investment. A good time for trading, venture entries, selling a business. Danger: impulsive spending, gambling. For a man — a year of a possible affair.

A Direct Officer year (career)

A promotion, recognition, a new position. Career growth, but income doesn't necessarily grow proportionally. For a woman — a year of possible marriage or relationship stabilization.

A Seven Killings year (pressure)

Crisis, unexpected challenges, legal problems. If the chart has control (Eating God) — a year of combative growth, of overcoming. Without control — a year of losses, conflicts, possible health problems.

A Direct Resource year (study, mentor)

New knowledge, a teacher, support from elders. Good for education, writing a dissertation, developing methodology. Income may temporarily decrease (you're investing in yourself).

An Indirect Resource year (esoterica, the hidden)

Interest in unconventional knowledge, a spiritual path, mysteries. Less publicity, more inner work. Often a year of re-evaluating values.

An Eating God year (creativity)

A creative upswing, the birth of products, aesthetics. Good for launching content projects, restaurants, art. For a woman — a possible birth of a child.

A Hurting Officer year (rebellion)

Breakthrough ideas, conflicts with authority, a break with the old. Good for launching revolutionary products. Danger: quitting a job in an emotional state, divorce, legal conflicts.

A Friend / Rob Wealth year (equals and robbers)

Activity in partnerships, team projects. But also — competition, splitting. Rob Wealth is a year of heightened risk of losing money through people close to you.

A dangerous pattern: if a year activates both Hurting Officer (rebellion) and Officer (authority) at once — this is "傷官 (shāng guān — "the hurting officer")見官" (Hurting Officer meets Officer), a classic danger. Legal conflicts, loss of position, divorce. In such years, avoid lawsuits, serious contracts, important public statements.

3 The year's stem combined with the Day Master

The year's stem sits directly next to your Day Master and forms a special relationship. This relationship sets the tone for the year.

The same stem (你他相同)

A Friend year — "an equal at the shoulder." A strengthening of your energy. Good for launching projects "on your own," for competitive activity. But if the Day Master is already strong, it's overkill — a year of chaotic activity.

Opposite polarity in combination (合)

The year's stem enters into He (合) with your DM. For example, for a DM of 甲, that stem is 己 (Yin Earth). This is a "marriage of stems" — a year of possible unions, agreements, partnerships. The energy "goes into" the combination, which can be good (a new element forms) or bad (you're "bound" by obligations).

Controlling (剋)

The year's stem = Officer or Seven Killings for the DM. Pressure from above, responsibility, possible career growth — or pressure to the point of illness. Depends on support elsewhere in the chart.

Nourishing (生)

The year's stem = Resource for the DM. A year of receiving, learning, support. Money doesn't grow rapidly, but the foundation strengthens.

Draining (洩)

The year's stem = Hurting Officer or Eating God. A year of expression, of releasing energy into the world. Creative, product-focused. Great for a strong DM. Draining for a weak one.

Controlled by you (我剋)

The year's stem = your Wealth. The most "financial" version — money gravitates toward you. But it requires DM strength to hold onto it.

4 The year's branch combined with the chart's branches

The year's branch enters the physical reality of life and combines with the four branches of the chart: the year branch, month branch, day branch, hour branch. Each combination has its own strength and meaning.

Chong (沖) — clash

Six pairs of earthly branches form direct "clashes": Zi-Wu (子午), Chou-Wei (丑未), Yin-Shen (寅申), Mao-You (卯酉), Chen-Xu (辰戌), Si-Hai (巳亥). If the year's branch clashes with a branch in your chart, this means years of volatility, movement, risk.

He (合) — harmony

Six pairs of "friendship": Zi-Chou, Yin-Hai, Mao-Xu, Chen-You, Si-Shen, Wu-Wei. These branches form unions. In a year with He toward a branch in your chart, allies, partners, romantic encounters arrive. Money comes more easily through collaborations.

San He (三合) — triple union

Four "trios": Shen-Zi-Chen (Water), Yin-Wu-Xu (Fire), Si-You-Chou (Metal), Hai-Mao-Wei (Wood). When a chart has two branches of a trio, and the third arrives in the year, this is a powerful elemental union. If that element is your Useful God, it's a golden year. If it's your Unfavorable God, it's a dangerous year.

Xing (刑) — punishment

Complex configurations in which branches "spoil" each other. For example, Yin-Si-Shen — the "triple punishment of ingratitude," often brings legal or ethical problems.

The key practical logic: a good year = the year's stem is your Wealth or a generator of Wealth, the year's branch is in He or San He with your chart, no Chong with the day. A dangerous year = the year's stem is your Unfavorable God, Chong with the day or month, activation of Rob Wealth.

5 The Year of the Dragon, the Horse, and other animals

Every zodiac sign brings its own element. Knowing your Day Master, you can immediately say which animal year will be "yours."

The Year of the Rat (子, Yang Water)

Activates Water. Good for those whose Useful God is Water or Wood. Dangerous for those whose DM is Fire and Fire is the Useful God (Water extinguishes it).

The Year of the Ox (丑, Yin Earth)

Activates Earth and the hidden Metal and Water. Good for those whose Useful God is Metal, Earth, Water. A strong year for accumulation.

The Year of the Tiger (寅, Yang Wood)

Activates Wood and the hidden Fire and Earth. Good for a Useful God of Fire, Wood. A strong "start of growth."

The Year of the Rabbit (卯, Yin Wood)

Pure Wood. Activates all "wood" themes — education, growth, development. Good for a Useful God of Fire.

The Year of the Dragon (辰, Yang Earth)

Earth + hidden Water and Wood. Considered one of the "noble" signs. Good for a Useful God of Metal, Earth. In San He with the Monkey and Rat, it forms Water.

The Year of the Snake (巳, Yin Fire)

Fire + hidden Metal and Earth. Activates both Fire and (through hidden Geng) Metal. Good for a Useful God of Earth, Metal.

The Year of the Horse (午, Yang Fire)

Pure Fire. The most "fiery" year. Good for a Useful God of Earth, Wood. Dangerous for those whose Useful God is Metal or Water.

The Year of the Goat (未, Yin Earth)

Earth + hidden Fire and Wood. Warm earth. Good for a Useful God of Metal, Earth.

The Year of the Monkey (申, Yang Metal)

Pure Metal + hidden Water and Earth. Good for a Useful God of Water, Wood (Metal chops Wood — years for discipline).

The Year of the Rooster (酉, Yin Metal)

Pure Metal. Good for a Useful God of Water. A year of precision, choice, cutting away the excess.

The Year of the Dog (戌, Yang Earth)

Earth + hidden Fire and Metal. Dry earth. Good for a Useful God of Metal, Earth.

The Year of the Pig (亥, Yang Water)

Pure Water + hidden Wood. Good for a Useful God of Wood, Water. A year for starting cycles.

6 Dangerous years — Chong with your Birth Day

The most dangerous scenario for finances is Chong (a clash) between the year's branch and the branch of your birth day. The Day is "you yourself," and a clash with it literally means "shaking" your life.

Which pairs form a Chong

And mirrored: a Horse day clashes with the Rat, and so on.

What a Chong with the Day brings

Strategy for a year with a Chong against the day: 1) Don't open a new business. 2) Don't make large purchases on credit. 3) Don't sign contracts with long-term liability. 4) Don't divorce impulsively. 5) Take care of your health — scheduled checkups. 6) Don't ignore signals from your body or your partner.

7 Lucky years — your Useful God arrives

The best financial years are those when your Useful God arrives. If your useful element is Fire, and a Fire year arrives (the Horse, the Snake, pillars with Bing/Ding), it's a signal for active action.

What to do in a favorable year

Signals of a "golden year"

  1. The year's stem = your Wealth or a generator of Wealth.
  2. The year's branch = San He supporting the Useful God in the chart.
  3. No Chong with the day.
  4. The Da Yun also supports it.
  5. The birth season is activated.

If all five signals align, it's a "pearl year" of your life, which happens once every 10-20 years. Use it to the fullest.

Wealthy people don't work harder than everyone else — they learn their year and double their effort at the right moment. In an unfavorable year, they rest and read.

8 The months within the year

Even in a bad year there are "its own" good months. And in a good year — two or three dangerous ones. Reading by month is micro-timing.

The logic of monthly reading

Each month has its own pillar (stem + branch). Its interaction with the annual pillar and with your chart colors the month. Special attention goes to months in which:

Months for different tasks

A practical use: draw up a yearly calendar and mark the "green" months (the Useful God is active) and the "red" ones (the Unfavorable God is active). Act in the green ones, observe in the red ones.

9 How to plan events

The canonical practice is "择日", date selection. This means important events (a wedding, opening a business, moving, a surgery) are planned for a specific day favorable to your chart. The principle: a good intention + good timing = a many-times-amplified result.

Which events are worth planning

The basic method for choosing a date

  1. Determine the type of event and its "element" (for example, business = Wealth, a wedding = Harmony).
  2. Find your Useful God.
  3. In the calendar, choose a day whose stem + branch contain your Useful God.
  4. Check that the day is not a Chong against your birth day.
  5. Choose an hour within that day that also harmonizes with your chart.

This is a simplified logic; a full date-selection analysis accounts for 12 factors and is usually done by a master. On bazi.cards, we calculate optimal dates for major events for premium clients.

10 An example — 2026 for different Day Masters

2026 is the year Bing-Wu (丙午), Yang Fire and the Horse. Fire over Fire — double fire energy. Let's look at how this year works for each Day Master.

DM 甲 (Yang Wood)

Bing = Eating God (creative expression). Wu = Hurting Officer. Strong "release" of energy. A year for launching content, media projects, teaching. If the Day Master is strong — an excellent year. If weak — a year of depletion. Finances — through creative products, not office work.

DM 乙 (Yin Wood)

Bing = Hurting Officer. Wu = Eating God. Similar, but gentler. A year of subtle expression, diplomacy, elegant projects. Good for design, fashion, art, psychology.

DM 丙 (Yang Fire)

Bing = Friend. Wu = Rob Wealth. A year of competition, partnerships, teamwork. Danger: losing money through people close to you. A good year for expanding the team, but a bad one for joint investments with friends.

DM 丁 (Yin Fire)

Bing = Rob Wealth. Wu = Friend. The same scenario, but from the other side: you're in the role of "the equal," often feeling rivalry. Watch out for public conflicts.

DM 戊 (Yang Earth)

Bing = Indirect Resource. Wu = Direct Resource. A strong Resource year: study, a mentor, subtle knowledge. Income may temporarily decrease (you're investing in yourself), but the foundation for future years strengthens. Good for R&D, academic projects.

DM 己 (Yin Earth)

Bing = Direct Resource. Wu = Indirect Resource. A deep study year. Especially good for metaphysics, psychology, esoterica, an academic career.

DM 庚 (Yang Metal)

Bing = Seven Killings. Wu = Direct Officer. A year of pressure, responsibility, career challenges. If there's an Eating God in the chart — a year of combative growth. Without control — a year of heavy strain on health, especially the lungs. Finances — through career advancement, not speculation.

DM 辛 (Yin Metal)

Bing = Direct Officer. Wu = Seven Killings. A year of official career growth, a new position, institutional recognition. Good for career-builders and those who want to "get legitimized" within the system.

DM 壬 (Yang Water)

Bing = Indirect Wealth. Wu = Direct Wealth. A money year. Activation of all forms of wealth. Good for major deals, selling a business, investment entries. Danger: overestimating your capacity, excessive spending.

DM 癸 (Yin Water)

Bing = Direct Wealth. Wu = Indirect Wealth. The most financially rewarding year among all Day Masters in 2026. Activation of both stable and risky wealth. Good for everything: business, investments, sales, expansion. Just don't forget about the Day Master — if it's weak, everything will slip away.

壬
Ren
Money
癸
Gui
Money
甲
Jia
Creativity
庚
Geng
Pressure
丙
Bing
Competition

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A yearly forecast in BaZi isn't a "year horoscope" in the Western sense, not "you'll get lucky in love" or "be careful on Tuesday." It's an exact map of how your structure interacts with cosmic time. Every year leaves a mark on your life, and you either go through it consciously (using "green" months for important decisions and "red" ones for rest), or randomly (jumping into something at the wrong time and losing money).

The great merchants of old China kept "year masters" at their side — people who calculated which month to open a new shop, which day to lay the keel of a ship, which year to expand. This wasn't magic, it was a strategy for aligning action with time. In our era, this skill is more accessible than ever: a free chart calculation, a yearly forecast, date selection — all of it is on bazi.cards. Your job is not to miss your "golden years" and not to hand your money to the "dark" ones.