What Are the Four Seasons?
The Four Seasons (Sishi) — spring, summer, autumn, and winter — constitute the rhythmic system through which the energy of the Five Elements circulates over time. In Bazi, the Four Seasons are the fundamental basis for judging the waxing and waning of the Five Elements and for Seasonal Adjustment (Tiaohou) of cold and warmth. Different elements command in different seasons, forming a cyclical rhythm of energy.
Correspondence Between the Four Seasons and the Five Elements
| Season | Month Branches | Commanding Element | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Yin, Mao, Chen | Wood | Growth, upward movement, warmth and budding |
| Summer | Si, Wu, Wei | Fire | Heat, diffusion, exuberant outward expression |
| Autumn | Shen, You, Xu | Metal | Contraction, severity, inward consolidation |
| Winter | Hai, Zi, Chou | Water | Cold, concealment, quiet inward restraint |
The Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei months each have an 18-day period at the end of their respective seasons when Earth qi flourishes while also containing residual qi from the preceding season.
The Special Status of Earth Within the Four Seasons
Earth does not independently govern a single season but lodges its prosperity at the end of each of the four seasons (the latter segment of Chen, Wei, Xu, and Chou months), embodying Earth's quality of "centered harmonization and omnipresence." As a result, Earth always maintains a certain force throughout the Four Seasons, unlike the other four elements which undergo more pronounced fluctuations between prosperity and decline.
The Four Seasons and Seasonal Adjustment (Tiaohou)
The Four Seasons form the foundation of the Seasonal Adjustment (Tiaohou) system. For those born in the cold winter months (Hai, Zi, Chou), the chart needs Bing Fire and Wu Earth to warm the chart; for those born in the hot summer months (Si, Wu, Wei), the chart needs Ren Water, Gui Water, and Geng Metal to moisten and moderate dryness. Birth in spring or autumn is relatively temperate, with Seasonal Adjustment needs varying by the specific month.
The Four Seasons and Selecting the Useful God
When determining the Favorable and Unfavorable Gods for the Day Master, one must consider both the Five Elements balance of the chart (Strength-based Useful Gods) and the needs of Four Seasons Seasonal Adjustment (Seasonal Adjustment Useful Gods). The two sometimes align and sometimes conflict, requiring integrated evaluation and trade-offs. For example, a spring Wood Day Master may have Seasonal Support and a strong body, but if born in the early-Yin cold, Seasonal Adjustment still takes priority.