15 Scorpio to 15 Sagittarius is Pig month.
15 Sagittarius to 15 Capricorn is Rat month.
15 Capricorn to 15 Aquarius is Ox month.
Just as every 60 years covers the entire cycle of Pillars, so too, every 60 months
and every 60 days cover the entire Pillars cycle as well.
The double-hours of the day are divided in a scheme that should be very famil-
iar to students of acupuncture:
11 P.M.–1 A.M. Rat
1 A.M.–3 A.M.Ox
3 A.M.–5 A.M. Tiger
5 A.M.–7 A.M. Rabbit
7 A.M.–9 A.M. Dragon
9 A.M.–11 A.M. Snake
11 A.M.–1 P.M. Horse
1 P.M.–3 P.M. Sheep
3 P.M.–5 P.M. Monkey
5 P.M.–7 P.M. Rooster
7 P.M.–9 P.M. Dog
9 P.M.–11 P.M. Pig
With 12 double-hours during the day, the entire Pillars cycle runs for five days
(60 double-hours) before returning to the beginning.
A person born on April 7, 1928, at 6:30 P.M. would have the following Four
Pillars:
Hour Day Month Year
Yin Earth Yin Fire Yang Fire Yang Earth
Rooster Ox Dragon Dragon
A person born on December 1, 1983, at 10:14 P.M. would have this chart:
Hour Day Month YearYin Water Yin Water Yin Water Yin Water
Pig Pig Pig Pig
In effect, the year and day pillars function like the axle of a wheel, and the
month and hour pillars function like the spokes. The year/month pillars divide up the
annual rotation, and the day/hour pillars divide up the daily rotation. The annual
rotation is divided up differently than the daily rotation, but they can—still—both
have the same sign or energy.
The Four Pillars system reached maturity during the Sung Dynasty, when the
subject of the chart shifted from the earthly branch of the year to the heavenly stem of
the day. Even today, if you ask the Chinese “what they are,” astrologically, they will
give the animal of the year.
THEASTROLOGYBOOK [257]
Four Pillars Divination