An Introduction to Bazi

Anyone learning a skill needs a solid foundation, and Bazi fate analysis is no exception. Its fundamentals consist of two parts: basic concepts and foundational knowledge. Any introductory Bazi course should cover both.

How long does it usually take to get started with Bazi? If you can study diligently for an hour every day, you can reach an introductory level in three months. Yet over the years, I’ve met many enthusiasts and found that most never get past the basics. Some have studied on their own for more than five years and still can’t read a chart; some only grow more confused the longer they study.

Why does this happen? One reason, in my view, is a lack of systematic courses. Some enthusiasts buy piles of ancient and modern books on fate analysis, but understand them only vaguely and never develop a clear, practical system for reading charts. The classic works of ancient fate analysis have their value, but they are not suitable as textbooks for beginners. Most books by modern practitioners are little more than advertorials: they promote their authors through numerous supposedly miraculous chart readings. When readers try the methods described in these books on other charts, they find that they work only some of the time, and can’t figure out why. So learning fate analysis by simply reading books in isolation and relying on self-study and personal insight is extremely difficult and can take a very long time. Even after eight or ten years, you may still only have a partial understanding and remain unable to read charts in practice. Another reason is that many people fail to work hard on the fundamentals when they are just starting out.