English · BaZi Glossary
The Twelve Life Stages (十二運星)
The Twelve Life Stages (Chinese 十二運星, shí'èr yùn xīng), also called the Twelve Stages of Growth, describe the strength of a Heavenly Stem as it passes through the twelve Earthly Branches. Borrowing the metaphor of a human life — from conception and birth, through prime and decline, to death, the tomb, and rebirth — they show whether an element's energy is rising, peaking, fading, or dormant at a given point in the chart. In BaZi they are read alongside the Ten Gods to judge how vigorous or weakened a stem is, adding a dimension of timing and vitality to a reading.
- Growth (長生) Birth — fresh potential and a new beginning.
- Bath (沐浴) Bathing the newborn — vulnerability and unsettled energy.
- Coming-of-Age (冠帶) Coming of age — gaining capability and readiness.
- Officialdom (建祿) Taking office — capable, self-sufficient prime adulthood.
- Peak (帝旺) The emperor's prime — maximum strength.
- Decline (衰) Waning — the gentle settling after the peak.
- Illness (病) Sickness — weakened, sensitive energy.
- Death (死) Death — stillness and the end of activity.
- Tomb (墓) The tomb — gathering and storage of energy.
- Void (絶) Cut off — the lowest ebb before renewal.
- Conception (胎) Conception — a new seed begins to form.
- Nurture (養) Nurture — growing in the womb, ready to be born.
FAQ
What is The Twelve Life Stages (十二運星)?
The Twelve Life Stages (Chinese 十二運星, shí'èr yùn xīng), also called the Twelve Stages of Growth, describe the strength of a Heavenly Stem as it passes through the twelve Earthly Branches. Borrowing the metaphor of a human life — from conception and birth, through prime and decline, to death, the tomb, and rebirth — they show whether an element's energy is rising, peaking, fading, or dormant at a given point in the chart. In BaZi they are read alongside the Ten Gods to judge how vigorous or weakened a stem is, adding a dimension of timing and vitality to a reading.
Which BaZi terms are included in The Twelve Life Stages (十二運星)?
Growth (長生), Bath (沐浴), Coming-of-Age (冠帶), Officialdom (建祿), Peak (帝旺), Decline (衰), Illness (病), Death (死)