module 01 iching concepts
Module 01: The Basic I-Ching Concepts (Chapter 2)
Why I-Ching is the Foundation
In order to learn Bazi (八字) well, it is extremely important to build a strong foundation in the basic I-Ching (易经) concept. Without a strong foundation of I-Ching concepts — including yin-yang theory (阴阳), five elements (五行), ten Chinese numeral system (十天干), twelve Chinese animal zodiacs (十二地支), hidden Chinese numeral system (藏干), ten gods (十神), twelve growth cycle (十二长生), and over one-hundred positive-negative stars (神煞) — it would be difficult to read most birth charts, or any form of Chinese metaphysics (玄学) charts such as Bazi (八字), Qi Men Dun Jia (奇门遁甲), Six Yao (六爻挂), and Zi Wei Dou Shu (紫微斗数).
Key concept: "I will teach you how to fish, rather than fish for you." — Dr. Khim Goh
I-Ching Heaven and Earth Yin-Yang Theory
In line with Fu Xi (伏羲) and the sage Lao Zi (老子), the universe (宇宙) started with nothing. Through the formation of cosmic energy "qi" (气), the globe earth was then broken into yin and yang (阴阳) energy, which later formed the separation of sky (天) and land (地) — known as heaven (天) and earth (地).
- Heaven (天) / Sky (天) = Yang (阳) energy — active, exposed, bright
- Earth (地) / Land (地) = Yin (阴) energy — passive, hidden, dark
This cosmological framework flows directly into the Bazi chart:
- The Chinese numeral system (天干) represents heaven → represents males (father, brother, son, husband, male boss, male colleagues)
- The Chinese animal zodiacs (地支) represents earth → represents females (mother, sister, daughter, wife, female boss, female colleagues)
The Yin-Yang Table (Table 1)
| Yin 阴 | Yang 阳 |
|---|---|
| earth | heaven |
| mother | father |
| female | male |
| night | day |
| dark | bright |
| slow | fast |
| short | tall |
| small | huge |
| hidden | exposed |
| black | white |
| introvert | extrovert |
| dead | alive |
| sad | happy |
| passive | active |
How to Apply Yin-Yang to Birth Charts
A well-balanced Bazi birth chart should contain both yin and yang energy. If not, it may indicate shortfall in the owner's personality, behaviour, or perspective.
Example 1 — All yin birth chart:
- Heaven row: all yin Chinese numerals
- Earth row: all yin zodiacs
- Hidden roots: all yin
Interpretation: The birth owner is a very private, secretive, or introvert person. In I-Ching, yin represents passive, quiet, soft, secretive, introvert, accommodative, patient, avoidant, non-confrontational, and pessimistic.
Example 2 — All yang on surface, mostly yin in hidden roots:
Interpretation: The birth owner appears strong, open, vibrant, positive, active, and masculine, but the hidden roots reveal that his hidden self or true self is not. Accuracy rate is almost 90%.
Key insight from the Chinese numeral system (天干): It represents emotions or matters exposed to the public. The Chinese animal zodiacs (地支) are personal to you.
Heaven (天干) vs. Earth (地支) Sensitivity
- The Chinese numeral system (天干), known as heaven (天), is not afraid of movement — not afraid of countering (相克) or combination (天干合).
- The Chinese animal zodiacs (地支), known as earth (地), are sensitive to countering and combination.
Just like: we are afraid of earthquakes (earth shaking) but not afraid of snowing or raining.
The Ten Chinese Numeral System (十天干)
The Chinese ancestors formed yin-yang energy into the ten Chinese numeral system (1–10 numeral system) to represent heaven, and the twelve Chinese animal zodiacs to represent earth.
Yang Ten Chinese Numeral System
| Number | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Yang | Yang | Yang | Yang | Yang |
| Name | Jia 甲 | Bing 丙 | Wu 戊 | Geng 庚 | Ren 壬 |
| Symbol | 🌴 Tree | ☀️ Sun | ⛰️ Mountain | 🪓 Axe | 🌊 Ocean |
Yin Ten Chinese Numeral System
| Number | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Yin | Yin | Yin | Yin | Yin |
| Name | Yi 乙 | Ding 丁 | Ji 己 | Xin 辛 | Gui 癸 |
| Symbol | 🌿 Flower/Grass | 🕯️ Candle | 🟤 Flat earth | 💍 Ring/Jewel | 🌧️ Rain cloud |
Note: Yang (阳) Chinese numerals are thicker-looking than yin (阴) Chinese numerals. A person with more yang Chinese numeral systems tends to be more stout, broader in size, or more masculine in facial expression and vocal. A person with more yin tends to be more slender and introverted.
The Twelve Chinese Animal Zodiacs (十二地支)
The twelve animal zodiacs represent the twelve earth Chinese animal zodiacs (十二地支). Animals are living beings moving on earth (地), not in heaven (天).
| Name | Chinese | Animal | Element | Yin/Yang | Season | Hour | Concept |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zi | 子 | Rat | Water | Yang | Winter | 11pm–1am | Ocean |
| Chou | 丑 | Ox | Earth | Yin | Transition | 1–3am | Soil/metal storage |
| Yin | 寅 | Tiger | Wood | Yang | Spring | 3–5am | Tree |
| Mao | 卯 | Rabbit | Wood | Yin | Spring | 5–7am | Flower |
| Chen | 辰 | Dragon | Earth | Yang | Transition | 7–9am | Mountain/water storage |
| Si | 巳 | Snake | Fire | Yin | Summer | 9–11am | Candle |
| Wu | 午 | Horse | Fire | Yang | Summer | 11am–1pm | Sun |
| Wei | 未 | Goat | Earth | Yin | Transition | 1–3pm | Soil/wood storage |
| Shen | 申 | Monkey | Metal | Yang | Autumn | 3–5pm | Axe |
| You | 酉 | Rooster | Metal | Yin | Autumn | 5–7pm | Ring |
| Xu | 戌 | Dog | Earth | Yang | Transition | 7–9pm | Mountain/fire storage |
| Hai | 亥 | Pig | Water | Yin | Winter | 9–11pm | Rain |
The Sixty Columns (六十甲子) & Emptiness (空亡)
The Sixty Columns
The sixty columns (六十甲子) pair each of the ten Chinese numeral systems with each of the twelve animal zodiacs. The cycle begins with Jia Zi (甲子) — the first Chinese number (甲) paired with the first animal zodiac (子) — and ends with Gui Hai (癸亥).
Pairing rules:
- A yang Chinese numeral (阳天干) always pairs with a yang animal zodiac (阳地支)
- A yin Chinese numeral (阴天干) always pairs with a yin animal zodiac (阴地支)
Because there are 10 numerals and 12 zodiacs, two animal zodiacs will always be "leftover" without a Chinese numeral to pair with. These leftover two zodiacs are called Emptiness (空亡).
Emptiness (空亡) Table (Table 2)
| Row Start | Emptiness Zodiacs |
|---|---|
| 甲子 (row starting with Jia Zi) | 戌亥 (Dog, Pig) |
| 甲戌 (row starting with Jia Xu) | 申酉 (Monkey, Rooster) |
| 甲申 (row starting with Jia Shen) | 午未 (Horse, Goat) |
| 甲午 (row starting with Jia Wu) | 辰巳 (Dragon, Snake) |
| 甲辰 (row starting with Jia Chen) | 寅卯 (Tiger, Rabbit) |
| 甲寅 (row starting with Jia Yin) | 子丑 (Rat, Ox) |
(To find your Emptiness: look up your Day column in the Sixty Columns table and identify which row it belongs to. The shaded zodiacs at the end of that row are your Emptiness.)
What Does Emptiness (空亡) Mean?
Emptiness means there is insufficient energy in that particular zodiac. Insufficient energy does not mean no energy at all, and is not necessarily bad.
- If you do not like a particular element, and it is Emptiness → good news (the unfavourable element is weakened)
- If you need a particular element, and it is Emptiness → bad news (the favourable element is insufficient)
- If the Emptiness zodiac is a neutral element (earth is neutral) — its effect may not directly affect the birth owner's favourable elements
Practical example:
A birth owner 甲寅 (Jia Yang Wood Tiger) has emptiness on Ox (丑) in the year column. The year column represents his grandmother, mother, relatives, early childhood, mental health (head/face), and female boss. Since the Ox energy is weak:
- His grandmother was dead before he was born
- His mother is not the decision maker in his family
- He lost custody during a divorce fight in his teens
- Not close to relatives; often sleepy-headed during childhood; had pimples and scars on his face
- Had a major leg surgery at age 16; never worked with a female boss
Important note: If both the birth chart owner AND their relative show weak relationship (Emptiness) in BOTH birth charts, they are fated to have a difficult relationship. One chart alone reflecting difficulty does not mean the birth chart "counter kills" the other person.
The Five Elements (五行)
After the formation of the I-Ching yin-yang energy, the globe earth becomes a liveable place for living beings. The I-Ching recorded that water is the first formation for the living because water is a major survival source for all living beings (水能滋养万物). Fire follows because water is cold and without fire to keep the living being warm, it is impossible to survive long. Then wood is needed to keep fire burning. Metal chops the wood. Earth is the most important element because without earth, there is no place to contain water. After burning, fire turns into ashes that go back to earth, and metal is a mineral hidden underneath the earth.
The five elements (五行) include: Metal (金), Water (水), Wood (木), Fire (火), Earth (土).
The interaction among the five elements includes: growth, counter, exhaustion, and excessive.
Growth of The Five Elements (五行相生)
The Growth Cycle:
Metal → Water → Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal
(Earth grows Metal → Metal grows Water → Water grows Wood → Wood grows Fire → Fire grows Earth)
How it works in nature:
- Metal grows Water: When metal melts, it becomes liquid.
- Water grows Wood: For a tree to grow, it needs water to nourish it.
- Wood grows Fire: We need wood to start a fire.
- Fire grows Earth: Fire when extinguished would become ashes and return to earth.
- Earth grows Metal: Underneath the earth, there are many hidden minerals, gems, and stones.
Warning: Too much growth (相生) can also be a problem. For example, too much water growing wood in a birth chart may turn the day birth owner into a dependent person who lacks opinion and independency. In Chinese: "败家子".
Counter of The Five Elements (五行相克)
The Counter Cycle:
Metal counters Wood → Wood counters Earth → Earth counters Water → Water counters Fire → Fire counters Metal
Do not be afraid of counter! Counter (相克) is there to train you to be a stronger and more successful person.
Specific tips for counteracting elements:
| Yang Element | Preferred Counter |
|---|---|
| Jia (甲) yang wood | Needs Geng (庚) yang metal axe. Too many metal axes will kill the tree. |
| Geng (庚) yang metal | Needs Ding (丁) yin fire to shape it. Yang fire (丙) is too strong and will destroy the metal. |
| Bing (丙) yang fire | Needs Ren (壬) yang water. Too much water will diminish the fire. |
| Wu (戊) yang earth | Needs Jia (甲) yang wood to counter. A mountain without trees is just a stone mountain. |
| Ren (壬) yang water | Needs Wu (戊) yang earth to control it, else becomes uncontrollable. |
For yin elements — countering must be done in extreme moderation:
| Yin Element | Counter Rule |
|---|---|
| Yi (乙) yin wood | Cannot be countered by Geng yang metal axe. Use Xin (辛) yin metal scissors in moderation. |
| Ding (丁) yin fire | Wind or water can easily wipe it off. Must be extremely careful. Needs Jia wood for protection. |
| Ji (己) yin earth | Use Yi (乙) yin wood to counter. |
| Xin (辛) yin metal | Requires polishing more than fire. Countering must be in moderation. |
| Gui (癸) yin water | Using Ji (己) yin earth may cause it to evaporate completely. Countering must be in moderation. |
Exhaustion of The Five Elements (五行相泄)
The Exhaustion Cycle (reverse of Growth):
Water exhausts Metal → Wood exhausts Water → Fire exhausts Wood → Earth exhausts Fire → Metal exhausts Earth
Excessive of The Five Elements (五行过旺)
| Excessive Element | Effect |
|---|---|
| Excessive Water (水多木漂) | Wood floats — person becomes dependent, no opinion |
| Excessive Wood (木多火熄) | Fire diminishes — person has difficulty finding employment |
| Excessive Fire (火多土炎) | Earth is burnt — digestive issues; mother suffers |
| Excessive Metal (金多水浊) | Water is polluted — career and life difficulties |
| Excessive Earth (土多金埋) | Metal is buried — career advancement difficulties, hidden sickness, overweight |
The Strength of The Five Elements (五行旺衰)
To determine the strength of any of the five elements in the birth chart, you must know the month season (月令) that the birth owner is born in. The month season (月令) occupies at least 40% (forty percent) of the strength in the birth chart.
Table 3: Strength of Five Elements by Month Season (月令五行旺衰表) — COMPLETE VERSION
| Branch Label | Lunar Month | Season 月令 | Strongest 旺 | Strong 相 | Weak 休 | Weaker 囚 | Weakest 死 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 寅卯 月春木 (Tiger/Rabbit — Spring Wood) | 1st, 2nd | Spring | wood | fire | water | metal | earth |
| 辰土 (Dragon — Transition Earth) | 3rd | Transition | earth | metal | fire | wood | water |
| 巳午 月夏火 (Snake/Horse — Summer Fire) | 4th, 5th | Summer | fire | earth | wood | water | metal |
| 未土 (Goat — Transition Earth) | 6th | Transition | earth | metal | fire | wood | water |
| 申酉 月秋金 (Monkey/Rooster — Autumn Metal) | 7th, 8th | Autumn | metal | water | earth | fire | wood |
| 戌土 (Dog — Transition Earth) | 9th | Transition | earth | metal | fire | wood | water |
| 亥子 月冬水 (Pig/Rat — Winter Water) | 10th, 11th | Winter | water | wood | metal | earth | fire |
| 丑土 (Ox — Transition Earth) | 12th | Transition | earth | metal | fire | wood | water |
Key observations:
- The four transition months (3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th) always follow the same pattern: earth → metal → fire → wood → water.
- Water is always weakest (死) during all four transition months.
- Each season's primary element is strongest in its own season and weakest in the opposing season.
Important principle about the ideal Bazi chart: When choosing optimal conditions, Dr. Khim looks for: (i) yin-yang balance (阴阳平衡), (ii) all five elements present with roots (五行俱全 通根), (iii) smooth growth flow (五行流通), (iv) no combination or clashing of animal zodiacs (十二地支静), (v) appropriate growth cycle (十二长生顺), (vi) smooth ten year luck cycle (大运互补), (vii) more positive ten gods (十神吉), (viii) strong day birth owner.
Next module: Chapter 3 — The Characteristics of the Ten Chinese Numeral System