The Mystery of Eight Characters Have you ever heard of the term "Eight Characters" in Chinese astrology? In Chinese, it is called "Bazi," which literally means "eight characters." These characters are based on the four pillars of a person's birth date and time. The pillars represent the year, month, day, and hour of birth, respectively. Each of the four pillars consists of two characters, representing heavenly stems and earthly branches. The heavenly stems are represented by the ten celestial stems, while the earthly branches are represented by the twelve earthly branches. The combination of these characters gives insight into a person's personality, luck, and destiny. For example, someone born in 1990, on May 20th, at 10 AM, will have the following eight characters: Year pillar: Metal Horse Month pillar: Metal Snake Day pillar: Metal Horse Hour pillar: Wood Monkey Based on the attributes of the heavenly stems and earthly branches, a Bazi expert can interpret a person's strengths, weaknesses, career prospects, relationships, and more. However, there are so many factors to consider that it takes years of study and practice to become a qualified Bazi master. Many people believe that Bazi can help them make important life decisions, such as choosing a career path, picking a partner, or deciding when to have a baby. However, Bazi should not be used as the sole decision-making tool, as other factors, such as education, experience, and personal preferences, also play a role. In conclusion, eight characters, or Bazi, is an ancient Chinese astrological system that can provide valuable insight into a person's life. However, it should not be relied upon solely and should be used with caution. Understanding oneself and making wise choices are ultimately up to the individual.