The Five Elements (Oheng) in Saju, Explained
The Five Elements (오행, Oheng) — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water — are the foundation of Saju astrology, as well as traditional Chinese medicine and Feng Shui. Every character in a Four Pillars chart (each of the four stems and four branches) belongs to one of these five elements.
The elements interact in two classic cycles. In the generating cycle, each element feeds the next: Wood fuels Fire, Fire's ash becomes Earth, Earth is compressed into Metal, Metal collects Water (through condensation), and Water nourishes Wood. In the controlling cycle, each element restrains another: Wood parts Earth (with roots), Earth dams Water, Water extinguishes Fire, Fire melts Metal, and Metal cuts Wood.
A person's "element balance" is simply a count of how many of their eight chart characters fall into each element. Some charts lean heavily toward one or two elements; others are spread more evenly. Traditional readings use this balance, together with the Day Master, to describe personality tendencies and — in deeper analysis — which elements might be worth leaning into or balancing out.
For entertainment and self-reflection purposes only. Not a substitute for professional advice.