BaZi glossary
The thirty Na Yin
Na Yin pairs the sixty pillars of the cycle, in order, into thirty named images: 甲子 and 乙丑 are Metal in the Sea, 丙寅 and 丁卯 are Fire in the Furnace, and so on. Each Na Yin belongs to one of the Five Phases, its Na Yin element.
The year pillar's Na Yin is often called one's life Na Yin, traditionally used for general temperament and compatibility matching. It differs from the regular Five Phases used in BaZi analysis and is best read as a symbol. BaZi years change at Lichun, so check whether a birthday falls before it.
All Na Yin
- Metal in the SeaMetal in the Sea (Hai Zhong Jin, 海中金) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is gold resting on the seabed; it belongs to the 甲子 (Jia Zi) and 乙丑 (Yi Chou) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Metal. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Metal in the Sea life.
- Fire in the FurnaceFire in the Furnace (Lu Zhong Huo, 炉中火) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is fire burning in a furnace; it belongs to the 丙寅 (Bing Yin) and 丁卯 (Ding Mao) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Fire. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Fire in the Furnace life.
- Forest WoodForest Wood (Da Lin Mu, 大林木) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is trees of a great forest; it belongs to the 戊辰 (Wu Chen) and 己巳 (Ji Si) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Wood. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Forest Wood life.
- Roadside EarthRoadside Earth (Lu Pang Tu, 路旁土) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is earth along the roadside; it belongs to the 庚午 (Geng Wu) and 辛未 (Xin Wei) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Earth. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Roadside Earth life.
- Sword Edge MetalSword Edge Metal (Jian Feng Jin, 剑锋金) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is the sharp edge of a sword; it belongs to the 壬申 (Ren Shen) and 癸酉 (Gui You) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Metal. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Sword Edge Metal life.
- Mountaintop FireMountaintop Fire (Shan Tou Huo, 山头火) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is fire blazing on a mountaintop; it belongs to the 甲戌 (Jia Xu) and 乙亥 (Yi Hai) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Fire. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Mountaintop Fire life.
- Ravine WaterRavine Water (Jian Xia Shui, 涧下水) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is water running down a mountain ravine; it belongs to the 丙子 (Bing Zi) and 丁丑 (Ding Chou) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Water. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Ravine Water life.
- City Wall EarthCity Wall Earth (Cheng Tou Tu, 城头土) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is rammed earth of a city wall; it belongs to the 戊寅 (Wu Yin) and 己卯 (Ji Mao) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Earth. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a City Wall Earth life.
- White Wax MetalWhite Wax Metal (Bai La Jin, 白蜡金) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is soft, freshly formed metal like white wax; it belongs to the 庚辰 (Geng Chen) and 辛巳 (Xin Si) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Metal. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a White Wax Metal life.
- Willow WoodWillow Wood (Yang Liu Mu, 杨柳木) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is willows swaying in the wind; it belongs to the 壬午 (Ren Wu) and 癸未 (Gui Wei) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Wood. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Willow Wood life.
- Spring WaterSpring Water (Quan Zhong Shui, 泉中水) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is clear water welling up from a spring; it belongs to the 甲申 (Jia Shen) and 乙酉 (Yi You) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Water. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Spring Water life.
- Roof Tile EarthRoof Tile Earth (Wu Shang Tu, 屋上土) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is earth fired into roof tiles; it belongs to the 丙戌 (Bing Xu) and 丁亥 (Ding Hai) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Earth. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Roof Tile Earth life.
- Thunderbolt FireThunderbolt Fire (Pi Li Huo, 霹雳火) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is lightning in a thunderstorm; it belongs to the 戊子 (Wu Zi) and 己丑 (Ji Chou) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Fire. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Thunderbolt Fire life.
- Pine and Cypress WoodPine and Cypress Wood (Song Bai Mu, 松柏木) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is pine and cypress that stay green through winter; it belongs to the 庚寅 (Geng Yin) and 辛卯 (Xin Mao) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Wood. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Pine and Cypress Wood life.
- Long-Flowing WaterLong-Flowing Water (Chang Liu Shui, 长流水) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is a long river that never stops flowing; it belongs to the 壬辰 (Ren Chen) and 癸巳 (Gui Si) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Water. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Long-Flowing Water life.
- Metal in the SandMetal in the Sand (Sha Zhong Jin, 沙中金) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is grains of gold mixed in sand; it belongs to the 甲午 (Jia Wu) and 乙未 (Yi Wei) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Metal. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Metal in the Sand life.
- Fire Below the MountainFire Below the Mountain (Shan Xia Huo, 山下火) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is firelight at the foot of a mountain; it belongs to the 丙申 (Bing Shen) and 丁酉 (Ding You) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Fire. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Fire Below the Mountain life.
- Flatland WoodFlatland Wood (Ping Di Mu, 平地木) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is trees and grass on open plains; it belongs to the 戊戌 (Wu Xu) and 己亥 (Ji Hai) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Wood. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Flatland Wood life.
- Wall EarthWall Earth (Bi Shang Tu, 壁上土) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is earth plastered on a wall; it belongs to the 庚子 (Geng Zi) and 辛丑 (Xin Chou) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Earth. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Wall Earth life.
- Gold Leaf MetalGold Leaf Metal (Jin Bo Jin, 金箔金) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is gold beaten into thin leaf; it belongs to the 壬寅 (Ren Yin) and 癸卯 (Gui Mao) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Metal. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Gold Leaf Metal life.
- Lamp FireLamp Fire (Fu Deng Huo, 覆灯火) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is a flame burning under a lampshade; it belongs to the 甲辰 (Jia Chen) and 乙巳 (Yi Si) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Fire. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Lamp Fire life.
- Heavenly River WaterHeavenly River Water (Tian He Shui, 天河水) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is rain and dew falling from the sky; it belongs to the 丙午 (Bing Wu) and 丁未 (Ding Wei) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Water. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Heavenly River Water life.
- Great Post Road EarthGreat Post Road Earth (Da Yi Tu, 大驿土) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is earth of the great post roads that connect every place; it belongs to the 戊申 (Wu Shen) and 己酉 (Ji You) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Earth. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Great Post Road Earth life.
- Hairpin and Bracelet MetalHairpin and Bracelet Metal (Chai Chuan Jin, 钗钏金) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is gold made into hairpins and bracelets; it belongs to the 庚戌 (Geng Xu) and 辛亥 (Xin Hai) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Metal. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Hairpin and Bracelet Metal life.
- Mulberry WoodMulberry Wood (Sang Zhe Mu, 桑柘木) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is mulberry trees that feed silkworms; it belongs to the 壬子 (Ren Zi) and 癸丑 (Gui Chou) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Wood. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Mulberry Wood life.
- Great Stream WaterGreat Stream Water (Da Xi Shui, 大溪水) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is a big, rushing stream; it belongs to the 甲寅 (Jia Yin) and 乙卯 (Yi Mao) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Water. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Great Stream Water life.
- Sand EarthSand Earth (Sha Zhong Tu, 沙中土) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is sandy soil of riverbanks and sandbars; it belongs to the 丙辰 (Bing Chen) and 丁巳 (Ding Si) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Earth. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Sand Earth life.
- Fire in the SkyFire in the Sky (Tian Shang Huo, 天上火) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is the fire of the sun in the sky; it belongs to the 戊午 (Wu Wu) and 己未 (Ji Wei) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Fire. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Fire in the Sky life.
- Pomegranate WoodPomegranate Wood (Shi Liu Mu, 石榴木) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is a pomegranate tree full of fruit; it belongs to the 庚申 (Geng Shen) and 辛酉 (Xin You) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Wood. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Pomegranate Wood life.
- Ocean WaterOcean Water (Da Hai Shui, 大海水) is one of the thirty Na Yin of the sixty-pillar cycle. Its image is the ocean that takes in every river; it belongs to the 壬戌 (Ren Xu) and 癸亥 (Gui Hai) pillars, and its Na Yin element is Water. People with either as their year pillar are often said to have a Ocean Water life.
The free calculator lists the Na Yin of every pillar and changes the year at Lichun, so your year pillar's Na Yin is always right.