1. Four columns, right to left
Korean charts are written in the old right to left order, so the year pillar sits on the far right and the hour pillar on the far left: hour, day, month, year. We keep that layout because it is how a Korean reader expects to see a chart, and we label every column.
The columns move from the widest time unit to the narrowest. The year pillar is shared with everyone born that Saju year. The month pillar is shared by about a twelfth of them. The day pillar changes every day, and the hour pillar every two hours. Traditional readers sometimes link the columns with stages of life and circles of people: the year with roots and family background, the month with parents and the working world, the day with yourself and your partner, the hour with children, later life and private plans.
2. Stems on top, branches below
The top character in each column is a heavenly stem. The bottom one is an earthly branch, the one with the animal. Stems are read as what shows on the surface. Branches are read as roots: the ground a stem stands on, the season, and the hidden stems (지장간 jijanggan) tucked inside each branch.
Under each branch on our chart you will see its hidden stems in small type. They matter because a stem that also appears hidden in a branch is said to have roots, and rooted stems are read as stronger.
3. Find the day master
The stem at the top of the day column, outlined in red on our chart, is the day master (일간 ilgan). It is the character that stands for you. Everything else is read in relation to it. Start with its element and polarity, then read its page: a Gap 甲 day master is a tall tree, a Sin 辛 day master is a cut jewel.
The day branch, directly under it, is called the spouse palace (배우자궁) in traditional readings, the seat closest to you. Together the two characters make your day pillar (일주 ilju), one of sixty, and each has its own page on this site.
4. Count the colors
Each tile is colored by its element, following the five traditional Korean colors (오방색 obangsaek): blue-green wood, red fire, yellow earth, white metal and black water. The element chart counts them. Readers look for what is abundant, what is missing and, most of all, how the elements around the day master support or pressure it.
Two cycles connect the elements. In the generating cycle wood feeds fire, fire makes earth, earth bears metal, metal carries water and water feeds wood. In the controlling cycle wood breaks up earth, earth dams water, water puts out fire, fire melts metal and metal cuts wood. The ring and the star on our element chart show both.
5. Read the ten gods
The small label above each stem and beside each hidden stem is its ten god (십신 sipsin): how that character relates to your day master. Same element is Peer or Rival. What you feed is Maker or Performer. What you control is Venture or Steward. What controls you is Challenger or Order. What feeds you is Outsider mind or Mentor.
A quick way in is to notice which groups show up most. A chart full of Maker and Performer is read as expressive. A chart full of Order and Mentor is read as structured and supported. The ten gods guide explains each one.
6. Look along the luck pillars
Below the chart sits a row of ten year luck pillars (대운 daeun). They step forward or backward from your month pillar and start at an age worked out from your birth date. Each one is read as a season of life with its own element and ten god. The current one is outlined.
Put together, a reading is a conversation between the fixed chart and the moving seasons: this year's pillar, this decade's pillar and even today's pillar, which our daily line reads against your day master.
Questions
Why is the year on the right?
Traditional Korean and Chinese texts were written in columns from right to left, and Saju charts keep that order. Our labels show which column is which.
What if my hour pillar is missing?
Without a birth time the chart has six characters. The day master and most of the reading still work; the hour pillar adds detail.
Which element is best to have?
None. Readers look for balance around the day master, and the same element can help one chart and crowd another.