A Guide to the 60 Day Pillars

Picture a tall tree growing straight entering deep waterways at midnight. That meeting, rather than a one-line personality label, opens the Jia-Zi (甲子) Day Pillar.

The Yi-Chou (乙丑) Day Pillar begins with two images: grass and vines bending toward the light and firm earth holding winter's energy. The first supplies motion; the second changes its setting and pace.

Start with a great forest opening spring's gate, then place the sun shining across a wide distance inside it. This scene makes the Bing-Yin (丙寅) Day Pillar easier to read without turning it into a verdict.

The Ding-Mao (丁卯) Day Pillar brings the motion of a lamp that keeps a nearby place lit into the rhythm of a spring garden dense with fresh shoots. Its first question is how those two forces work together.

Ask what a great mountain that does not shift easily would do inside broad earth holding moisture and waiting for change. The answer gives the Wu-Chen (戊辰) Day Pillar a more useful opening than a fixed personality tag.

Two images share the frame of the Ji-Si (己巳) Day Pillar: a field that holds and nurtures seeds and the fast flames of early summer. Begin with their interaction, then look for its limits.

hard metal before it is shaped into a useful tool; the hottest courtyard at high noon. The Geng-Wu (庚午) Day Pillar layers these images so that neither one explains the whole pattern alone.

A single trait leaves out half the Xin-Wei (辛未) Day Pillar. Begin with a finely polished jewel and blade moving through warm earth at summer's end.

The first character of the Ren-Shen (壬申) Day Pillar gives us a river and sea flowing across boundaries; the second gives us hard metal at autumn's threshold. One shows how energy moves, the other where it gathers momentum.

The Gui-You (癸酉) Day Pillar is more than a label for observation and wisdom. Its opening scene appears where rain and dew that soak in and awaken life meets an autumn garden laid with a refined harvest.

Picture a tall tree growing straight entering dry earth at autumn's end holding an ember. That meeting, rather than a one-line personality label, opens the Jia-Xu (甲戌) Day Pillar.

The Yi-Hai (乙亥) Day Pillar begins with two images: grass and vines bending toward the light and the wide sea opening winter. The first supplies motion; the second changes its setting and pace.

Start with deep waterways at midnight, then place the sun shining across a wide distance inside it. This scene makes the Bing-Zi (丙子) Day Pillar easier to read without turning it into a verdict.

The Ding-Chou (丁丑) Day Pillar brings the motion of a lamp that keeps a nearby place lit into the rhythm of firm earth holding winter's energy. Its first question is how those two forces work together.

Ask what a great mountain that does not shift easily would do inside a great forest opening spring's gate. The answer gives the Wu-Yin (戊寅) Day Pillar a more useful opening than a fixed personality tag.

Two images share the frame of the Ji-Mao (己卯) Day Pillar: a field that holds and nurtures seeds and a spring garden dense with fresh shoots. Begin with their interaction, then look for its limits.

hard metal before it is shaped into a useful tool; broad earth holding moisture and waiting for change. The Geng-Chen (庚辰) Day Pillar layers these images so that neither one explains the whole pattern alone.

A single trait leaves out half the Xin-Si (辛巳) Day Pillar. Begin with a finely polished jewel and blade moving through the fast flames of early summer.

The first character of the Ren-Wu (壬午) Day Pillar gives us a river and sea flowing across boundaries; the second gives us the hottest courtyard at high noon. One shows how energy moves, the other where it gathers momentum.

The Gui-Wei (癸未) Day Pillar is more than a label for observation and wisdom. Its opening scene appears where rain and dew that soak in and awaken life meets warm earth at summer's end.

Picture a tall tree growing straight entering hard metal at autumn's threshold. That meeting, rather than a one-line personality label, opens the Jia-Shen (甲申) Day Pillar.

The Yi-You (乙酉) Day Pillar begins with two images: grass and vines bending toward the light and an autumn garden laid with a refined harvest. The first supplies motion; the second changes its setting and pace.

Start with dry earth at autumn's end holding an ember, then place the sun shining across a wide distance inside it. This scene makes the Bing-Xu (丙戌) Day Pillar easier to read without turning it into a verdict.

The Ding-Hai (丁亥) Day Pillar brings the motion of a lamp that keeps a nearby place lit into the rhythm of the wide sea opening winter. Its first question is how those two forces work together.

Ask what a great mountain that does not shift easily would do inside deep waterways at midnight. The answer gives the Wu-Zi (戊子) Day Pillar a more useful opening than a fixed personality tag.

Two images share the frame of the Ji-Chou (己丑) Day Pillar: a field that holds and nurtures seeds and firm earth holding winter's energy. Begin with their interaction, then look for its limits.

hard metal before it is shaped into a useful tool; a great forest opening spring's gate. The Geng-Yin (庚寅) Day Pillar layers these images so that neither one explains the whole pattern alone.

A single trait leaves out half the Xin-Mao (辛卯) Day Pillar. Begin with a finely polished jewel and blade moving through a spring garden dense with fresh shoots.

The first character of the Ren-Chen (壬辰) Day Pillar gives us a river and sea flowing across boundaries; the second gives us broad earth holding moisture and waiting for change. One shows how energy moves, the other where it gathers momentum.

The Gui-Si (癸巳) Day Pillar is more than a label for observation and wisdom. Its opening scene appears where rain and dew that soak in and awaken life meets the fast flames of early summer.

Picture a tall tree growing straight entering the hottest courtyard at high noon. That meeting, rather than a one-line personality label, opens the Jia-Wu (甲午) Day Pillar.

The Yi-Wei (乙未) Day Pillar begins with two images: grass and vines bending toward the light and warm earth at summer's end. The first supplies motion; the second changes its setting and pace.

Start with hard metal at autumn's threshold, then place the sun shining across a wide distance inside it. This scene makes the Bing-Shen (丙申) Day Pillar easier to read without turning it into a verdict.

The Ding-You (丁酉) Day Pillar brings the motion of a lamp that keeps a nearby place lit into the rhythm of an autumn garden laid with a refined harvest. Its first question is how those two forces work together.

Ask what a great mountain that does not shift easily would do inside dry earth at autumn's end holding an ember. The answer gives the Wu-Xu (戊戌) Day Pillar a more useful opening than a fixed personality tag.

Two images share the frame of the Ji-Hai (己亥) Day Pillar: a field that holds and nurtures seeds and the wide sea opening winter. Begin with their interaction, then look for its limits.

hard metal before it is shaped into a useful tool; deep waterways at midnight. The Geng-Zi (庚子) Day Pillar layers these images so that neither one explains the whole pattern alone.

A single trait leaves out half the Xin-Chou (辛丑) Day Pillar. Begin with a finely polished jewel and blade moving through firm earth holding winter's energy.

The first character of the Ren-Yin (壬寅) Day Pillar gives us a river and sea flowing across boundaries; the second gives us a great forest opening spring's gate. One shows how energy moves, the other where it gathers momentum.

The Gui-Mao (癸卯) Day Pillar is more than a label for observation and wisdom. Its opening scene appears where rain and dew that soak in and awaken life meets a spring garden dense with fresh shoots.

Picture a tall tree growing straight entering broad earth holding moisture and waiting for change. That meeting, rather than a one-line personality label, opens the Jia-Chen (甲辰) Day Pillar.

The Yi-Si (乙巳) Day Pillar begins with two images: grass and vines bending toward the light and the fast flames of early summer. The first supplies motion; the second changes its setting and pace.

Start with the hottest courtyard at high noon, then place the sun shining across a wide distance inside it. This scene makes the Bing-Wu (丙午) Day Pillar easier to read without turning it into a verdict.

The Ding-Wei (丁未) Day Pillar brings the motion of a lamp that keeps a nearby place lit into the rhythm of warm earth at summer's end. Its first question is how those two forces work together.

Ask what a great mountain that does not shift easily would do inside hard metal at autumn's threshold. The answer gives the Wu-Shen (戊申) Day Pillar a more useful opening than a fixed personality tag.

Two images share the frame of the Ji-You (己酉) Day Pillar: a field that holds and nurtures seeds and an autumn garden laid with a refined harvest. Begin with their interaction, then look for its limits.

hard metal before it is shaped into a useful tool; dry earth at autumn's end holding an ember. The Geng-Xu (庚戌) Day Pillar layers these images so that neither one explains the whole pattern alone.

A single trait leaves out half the Xin-Hai (辛亥) Day Pillar. Begin with a finely polished jewel and blade moving through the wide sea opening winter.

The first character of the Ren-Zi (壬子) Day Pillar gives us a river and sea flowing across boundaries; the second gives us deep waterways at midnight. One shows how energy moves, the other where it gathers momentum.

The Gui-Chou (癸丑) Day Pillar is more than a label for observation and wisdom. Its opening scene appears where rain and dew that soak in and awaken life meets firm earth holding winter's energy.

Picture a tall tree growing straight entering a great forest opening spring's gate. That meeting, rather than a one-line personality label, opens the Jia-Yin (甲寅) Day Pillar.

The Yi-Mao (乙卯) Day Pillar begins with two images: grass and vines bending toward the light and a spring garden dense with fresh shoots. The first supplies motion; the second changes its setting and pace.

Start with broad earth holding moisture and waiting for change, then place the sun shining across a wide distance inside it. This scene makes the Bing-Chen (丙辰) Day Pillar easier to read without turning it into a verdict.

The Ding-Si (丁巳) Day Pillar carries two kinds of fire: a steady lamp nearby and the quick flame of early summer. One holds focus; the other speeds perception and judgment.

Ask what a great mountain that does not shift easily would do inside the hottest courtyard at high noon. The answer gives the Wu-Wu (戊午) Day Pillar a more useful opening than a fixed personality tag.

Two images share the frame of the Ji-Wei (己未) Day Pillar: a field that holds and nurtures seeds and warm earth at summer's end. Begin with their interaction, then look for its limits.

The Geng-Shen (庚申) Day Pillar carries metal twice. One cuts away what is unnecessary; the other sorts complexity through skill and judgment.

A single trait leaves out half the Xin-You (辛酉) Day Pillar. Begin with a finely polished jewel and blade moving through an autumn garden laid with a refined harvest.

The first character of the Ren-Xu (壬戌) Day Pillar gives us a river and sea flowing across boundaries; the second gives us dry earth at autumn's end holding an ember. One shows how energy moves, the other where it gathers momentum.

The Gui-Hai (癸亥) Day Pillar is more than a label for observation and wisdom. Its opening scene appears where rain and dew that soak in and awaken life meets the wide sea opening winter.