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ht Characters: Understanding the Traditional Chinese Astrological System In traditional Chinese culture, the Eight Characters (Ba Zi) system is used to understand a person's destiny based on the date and time of their birth. This system is also known as Four Pillars of Destiny and is widely used in Chinese astrology. The Eight Characters consist of four pairs of characters representing the year, month, day, and hour of one's birth. Each of these characters, or pillars, consists of one Heavenly Stem and one Earthly Branch. The Heavenly Stem represents the element of the year, while the Earthly Branch represents the animal sign of the year. For example, if someone was born in the year of the Rabbit, on the day of the Snake, at the hour of the Ox, their Eight Characters would be: Yang Wood Rabbit, Yin Fire Snake, Yin Water Ox, and Yin Wood Rabbit. Each of these pillars would have a specific meaning according to Chinese astrology. These meanings are related to a person's personality, character, career, relationships, and health. For example, someone born with a Metal element in their Eight Characters is seen as strong-willed, determined, and focused on their goals. This person is likely to pursue a career in business, finance, or law. On the other hand, someone with a Water element in their Eight Characters is seen as adaptable, flexible, and intuitive. This person is likely to pursue a career in the arts, education, or psychology. In addition to providing insight into a person's personality and career, the Eight Characters can also be used to determine the most auspicious times for important events such as weddings, childbirth, and moving house. This is based on the interactions between the different elements and animal signs in a person's Eight Characters. Overall, understanding the Eight Characters is an important part of traditional Chinese culture and can provide valuable insights into a person's destiny. Whether you believe in astrology or not, learning about the Eight Characters can be a fascinating way to explore another aspect of Chinese culture.