BARIToday's Lunar Date

What's your Korean element?

In Korean saju, the day you were born carries one of five elements. Enter your birthday to find yours, and your Korean zodiac animal. Free, no sign-up.

DAY PILLAR · 일주
ZODIAC ANIMAL · 띠
ELEMENT · 오행

Born between 11 PM and midnight? In saju the day begins at 11 PM, so your element may be the next day's.

See your full four pillars and PathYour year, month, day and hour pillars, your five-element balance and one of twelve Paths. Free in a minute.

What is your Korean element?

Korean saju (사주), also called the four pillars of destiny, describes your birth moment with four pairs of characters: one each for the year, month, day and hour. Each character belongs to one of five elements, called ohaeng (오행).

The most personal of the eight is the top character of your day pillar. Saju readers call it the day master, or ilgan (일간). It stands for you. That is the element this calculator shows.

Wood 木Growth, learning, beginnings. Spring.
Fire 火Warmth, expression, energy. Summer.
Earth 土Steadiness, care, the center.
Metal 金Clarity, standards, refinement. Autumn.
Water 水Calm, wisdom, rest. Winter.

Yang and yin

Each element appears in two forms. Yang Wood is a tall tree, yin Wood a flowering vine. Yang Fire is the sun, yin Fire a candle. Yang Earth is a mountain, yin Earth a garden field. Yang Metal is a blade or raw ore, yin Metal a jewel. Yang Water is the ocean, yin Water the rain.

Why is my zodiac animal different?

Korean saju starts the year at Ipchun (입춘), the beginning of spring around February 4, not on January 1 or Lunar New Year. If you were born in January or early February, your animal belongs to the year before.

Readings on BARI are for fun and self-reflection, told through the Korean myth of Princess Bari. They are not predictions or advice.