Saju vs BaZi: the same chart in two languages
Saju and BaZi are the same system under two names. “Saju” (사주) is the Korean term and “BaZi” (八字) is the Chinese term for the Four Pillars of Destiny — the same year, month, day, and hour pillars built from the same Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. If you can read a BaZi chart, you can already read a Saju chart.
If you searched for a BaZi calculator and landed here, you are in the right place. The Fox Scholar reads in the Korean tradition, but the engine underneath is the one you already know — four pillars, two characters each, the same sixty-step cycle.
The differences are real but small: they are differences of language and emphasis, not of mechanics.
The term-by-term map
Almost every BaZi concept has a direct Saju equivalent. The math is identical; only the vocabulary changes.
- Four Pillars = Saju (사주) — literally “four pillars.”
- Day Master = Ilgan (일간) — the Heavenly Stem of your day pillar.
- Ten Gods = Sipseong (십성) — the ten relational roles.
- Five Elements = Ohaeng (오행) — wood, fire, earth, metal, water.
- Heavenly Stems & Earthly Branches = Cheongan & Jiji (천간·지지) — the ten stems and twelve branches.
Where the traditions differ in feel
Korean Saju tends to lean on certain branch interactions and “spirits” (sinsal) — symbolic stars or omens read from the chart — more heavily in everyday readings, and it carries a distinctly Korean cultural texture. Chinese BaZi practice often foregrounds the structure of the chart and luck cycles. But these are accents on the same language — a Day Master is a Day Master in both.
Start from what you know
If you already think in Day Masters and Ten Gods, jump straight to the Four Pillars guide to see the Korean vocabulary in action, or read a full chart told as a story. Either way, your BaZi knowledge transfers directly.
Bring your BaZi knowledge — the Fox Scholar reads it as an illustrated story.
Read my chart as a webtoonFrequently asked questions
Is Saju the same as BaZi?
Yes. Saju is the Korean name and BaZi is the Chinese name for the same Four Pillars of Destiny system, using the same Heavenly Stems, Earthly Branches, and five elements.
Can I use a BaZi calculator for Saju?
Yes. The underlying calculation is identical. The pillars and characters are the same; only the labels and some interpretive emphasis differ.
What is the Day Master called in Saju?
The Day Master is called the Ilgan (일간) in Korean — the Heavenly Stem of your day pillar, and the central reference point of the whole chart.
Why do the two traditions sometimes give different readings?
The mechanics are the same, but Korean and Chinese practice emphasize different interactions and spirits. The chart is identical; the interpretive accent differs.