Luck pillars in Ba Zi – your life in ten-year steps
Published on October 22, 2026
Your birth chart is the fixed floor plan. The luck pillars are like the seasons moving over it: every ten years a new pillar begins that brings certain elements and themes to the fore. That is why some periods of life feel easy and others demanding.
How the decades are calculated
The decades follow the month pillar – forwards or backwards, depending on gender and the polarity of the birth year. When the first decade begins depends on the distance from birth to the next solar term; it can be anywhere between the first and the tenth year of life.
What a decade means
If a decade brings elements that are good for you, these years usually run more smoothly. Its role among the ten gods shows the theme: a wealth decade focuses on money and execution, a support decade on learning and backing. If it combines or clashes with your pillars, the corresponding areas of life become active.
Decade, year and month together
It becomes most precise when decade, year and month are considered together. In the Ba Zi tool you see all three as the “current phase” next to your chart and can analyse each period with a click.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my first decade not start at birth?+
Until the first decade, mainly the month pillar is at work. The start follows from the distance to the next solar term.
Is a “difficult” decade bad?+
It is demanding, not bad. These are often the years in which you learn and change the most.
Do I need the time of birth for the decades?+
It makes the starting point more precise but is not strictly necessary.