Sixty Jiazi Cycle and Na Yin Five Elements: Complete Guide to Chinese Time System and Feng Shui
## What Is the Sixty Jiazi Cycle? The Sixty Jiazi (六十甲子) is the ancient Chinese calendrical system used for recording years, months, days, and hours. It consists of ten Heavenly Stems (天干) and twelve
Sixty Jiazi Cycle and Na Yin Five Elements: A Complete Guide
What Is the Sixty Jiazi Cycle?
The Sixty Jiazi (六十甲子) is the ancient Chinese calendrical system used for recording years, months, days, and hours. It consists of ten Heavenly Stems (天干) and twelve Earthly Branches (地支) combined in a specific sequence. Because 10 and 12 have a least common multiple of 60, there are exactly 60 unique combinations, forming one complete cyclical cycle.
Ten Heavenly Stems (十天干)
Jia (甲), Yi (乙), Bing (丙), Ding (丁), Wu (戊), Ji (己), Geng (庚), Xin (辛), Ren (壬), Gui (癸)
Twelve Earthly Branches (十二地支)
Zi (子), Chou (丑), Yin (寅), Mao (卯), Chen (辰), Si (巳), Wu (午), Wei (未), Shen (申), You (酉), Xu (戌), Hai (亥)
How the Sixty Jiazi Are Formed
Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches are paired in order, with Yang stems matching Yang branches and Yin stems matching Yin branches:
| No. | Jiazi | No. | Jiazi | No. | Jiazi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jia Zi (甲子) | 21 | Jia Shen (甲申) | 41 | Jia Chen (甲辰) |
| 2 | Yi Chou (乙丑) | 22 | Yi You (乙酉) | 42 | Yi Si (乙巳) |
| 3 | Bing Yin (丙寅) | 23 | Bing Xu (丙戌) | 43 | Bing Wu (丙午) |
| 4 | Ding Mao (丁卯) | 24 | Ding Hai (丁亥) | 44 | Ding Wei (丁未) |
| 5 | Wu Chen (戊辰) | 25 | Wu Zi (戊子) | 45 | Wu Shen (戊申) |
| 6 | Ji Si (己巳) | 26 | Ji Chou (己丑) | 46 | Ji You (己酉) |
| 7 | Geng Wu (庚午) | 27 | Geng Yin (庚寅) | 47 | Geng Xu (庚戌) |
| 8 | Xin Wei (辛未) | 28 | Xin Mao (辛卯) | 48 | Xin Hai (辛亥) |
| 9 | Ren Shen (壬申) | 29 | Ren Chen (壬辰) | 49 | Ren Zi (壬子) |
| 10 | Gui You (癸酉) | 30 | Gui Si (癸巳) | 50 | Gui Chou (癸丑) |
| 11 | Jia Xu (甲戌) | 31 | Jia Wu (甲午) | 51 | Jia Yin (甲寅) |
| 12 | Yi Hai (乙亥) | 32 | Yi Wei (乙未) | 52 | Yi Mao (乙卯) |
| 13 | Bing Zi (丙子) | 33 | Bing Shen (丙申) | 53 | Bing Chen (丙辰) |
| 14 | Ding Chou (丁丑) | 34 | Ding You (丁酉) | 54 | Ding Si (丁巳) |
| 15 | Wu Yin (戊寅) | 35 | Wu Xu (戊戌) | 55 | Wu Wu (戊午) |
| 16 | Ji Mao (己卯) | 36 | Ji Hai (己亥) | 56 | Ji Wei (己未) |
| 17 | Geng Chen (庚辰) | 37 | Geng Zi (庚子) | 57 | Geng Shen (庚申) |
| 18 | Xin Si (辛巳) | 38 | Xin Chou (辛丑) | 58 | Xin You (辛酉) |
| 19 | Ren Wu (壬午) | 39 | Ren Yin (壬寅) | 59 | Ren Xu (壬戌) |
| 20 | Gui Wei (癸未) | 40 | Gui Mao (癸卯) | 60 | Gui Hai (癸亥) |
What Are Na Yin Five Elements?
The Na Yin Five Elements (纳音五行) system assigns one of the Five Elements — Metal (金), Wood (木), Water (水), Fire (火), or Earth (土) — to each of the 60 Jiazi pairings. This system is an essential concept in traditional Destiny Studies (命理) and Feng Shui. The calculation follows a specific mnemonic verse and pattern passed down through the centuries.
Cultural Context: Na Yin (literally "Sound Five Elements") represents a deeper layer of elemental classification beyond the basic Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Think of it as the "soul quality" of a time period — while the stems and branches describe surface characteristics, Na Yin reveals the underlying energetic nature that influences your destiny and environment.
The Na Yin Mnemonic Verse
Jia Zi Yi Chou — Gold Hidden in the Sea (海中金),
Bing Yin Ding Mao — Fire Burning in the Furnace (炉中火),
Wu Chen Ji Si — Great Forest Wood (大林木),
Geng Wu Xin Wei — Earth Beside the Road (路旁土),
Ren Shen Gui You — Sword Edge Metal (剑锋金),
Jia Xu Yi Hai — Fire on the Mountain Peak (山头火),
Bing Zi Ding Chou — Water Flowing in the Ravine (涧下水),
Wu Yin Ji Mao — Earth of the City Wall (城头土),
Geng Chen Xin Si — White Wax Metal (白蜡金),
Ren Wu Gui Wei — Willow Wood (杨柳木),
Jia Shen Yi You — Spring Water (泉中水),
Bing Xu Ding Hai — Earth on the Rooftop (屋上土),
Wu Zi Ji Chou — Thunder Fire (霹雳火),
Geng Yin Xin Mao — Pine and Cypress Wood (松柏木),
Ren Chen Gui Si — Long Flowing Water (长流水),
Jia Wu Yi Wei — Sand-Buried Metal (砂中金),
Bing Shen Ding You — Fire at the Mountain Base (山下火),
Wu Xu Ji Hai — Flat Land Wood (平地木),
Geng Zi Xin Chou — Earth of the Wall Surface (壁上土),
Ren Yin Gui Mao — Gold Leaf Metal (金箔金),
Jia Chen Yi Si — Lamp Light Fire (覆灯火),
Bing Wu Ding Wei — River Heaven Water (天河水),
Wu Shen Ji You — Great Post Station Earth (大驿土),
Geng Xu Xin Hai — Hairpin Metal (钗钏金),
Ren Zi Gui Chou — Mulberry Wood (桑柘木),
Jia Yin Yi Mao — Great Stream Water (大溪水),
Bing Chen Ding Si — Sand Earth (沙中土),
Wu Wu Ji Wei — Heavenly Fire (天上火),
Geng Shen Xin You — Pomegranate Wood (石榴木),
Ren Xu Gui Hai — Vast Ocean Water (大海水)。
Na Yin Five Elements Reference Table
| Na Yin Element | Jiazi Combinations |
|---|---|
| Gold Hidden in the Sea (海中金) | Jia Zi, Yi Chou |
| Furnace Fire (炉中火) | Bing Yin, Ding Mao |
| Great Forest Wood (大林木) | Wu Chen, Ji Si |
| Roadside Earth (路旁土) | Geng Wu, Xin Wei |
| Sword Edge Metal (剑锋金) | Ren Shen, Gui You |
| Mountain Peak Fire (山头火) | Jia Xu, Yi Hai |
| Ravine Water (涧下水) | Bing Zi, Ding Chou |
| City Wall Earth (城头土) | Wu Yin, Ji Mao |
| White Wax Metal (白蜡金) | Geng Chen, Xin Si |
| Willow Wood (杨柳木) | Ren Wu, Gui Wei |
| Spring Water (泉中水) | Jia Shen, Yi You |
| Rooftop Earth (屋上土) | Bing Xu, Ding Hai |
| Thunder Fire (霹雳火) | Wu Zi, Ji Chou |
| Pine and Cypress Wood (松柏木) | Geng Yin, Xin Mao |
| Long Flowing Water (长流水) | Ren Chen, Gui Si |
| Sand-Buried Metal (砂中金) | Jia Wu, Yi Wei |
| Mountain Base Fire (山下火) | Bing Shen, Ding You |
| Flat Land Wood (平地木) | Wu Xu, Ji Hai |
| Wall Surface Earth (壁上土) | Geng Zi, Xin Chou |
| Gold Leaf Metal (金箔金) | Ren Yin, Gui Mao |
| Lamp Light Fire (覆灯火) | Jia Chen, Yi Si |
| Heavenly River Water (天河水) | Bing Wu, Ding Wei |
| Post Station Earth (大驿土) | Wu Shen, Ji You |
| Hairpin Metal (钗钏金) | Geng Xu, Xin Hai |
| Mulberry Wood (桑柘木) | Ren Zi, Gui Chou |
| Great Stream Water (大溪水) | Jia Yin, Yi Mao |
| Sand Earth (沙中土) | Bing Chen, Ding Si |
| Heavenly Fire (天上火) | Wu Wu, Ji Wei |
| Pomegranate Wood (石榴木) | Geng Shen, Xin You |
| Vast Ocean Water (大海水) | Ren Xu, Gui Hai |
Practical Applications of Na Yin Five Elements
In BaZi (Eight Characters) Destiny Analysis
- Year Destiny Calculation: Your birth year's Na Yin element reveals your fundamental life destiny pattern
- Elemental Balancing: Na Yin helps identify which Five Elements you need to strengthen or temper in your life
- Marriage Compatibility: Traditional Chinese matchmaking considers the generating and restricting relationships between both partners' Na Yin elements
In Feng Shui Practice
- Auspicious Date Selection: When choosing a wedding, move-in, or renovation date, Feng Shui practitioners verify that the day's Na Yin element harmonizes with the homeowner's birth year element
- Directional Preferences: People born under different Na Yin elements thrive in different living orientations
- Color Coordination: Interior design choices can be guided by Na Yin elements to enhance personal luck and harmony
Na Yin Five Elements Quick Reference (Recent Decades)
| Year | Heavenly Stem & Earthly Branch | Na Yin Element |
|---|---|---|
| 1984-1985 | Jia Zi, Yi Chou | Gold Hidden in the Sea |
| 1986-1987 | Bing Yin, Ding Mao | Furnace Fire |
| 1988-1989 | Wu Chen, Ji Si | Great Forest Wood |
| 1990-1991 | Geng Wu, Xin Wei | Roadside Earth |
| 1992-1993 | Ren Shen, Gui You | Sword Edge Metal |
| 1994-1995 | Jia Xu, Yi Hai | Mountain Peak Fire |
| 1996-1997 | Bing Zi, Ding Chou | Ravine Water |
| 1998-1999 | Wu Yin, Ji Mao | City Wall Earth |
| 2000-2001 | Geng Chen, Xin Si | White Wax Metal |
| 2002-2003 | Ren Wu, Gui Wei | Willow Wood |
| 2004-2005 | Jia Shen, Yi You | Spring Water |
| 2006-2007 | Bing Xu, Ding Hai | Rooftop Earth |
| 2008-2009 | Wu Zi, Ji Chou | Thunder Fire |
| 2010-2011 | Geng Yin, Xin Mao | Pine and Cypress Wood |
| 2012-2013 | Ren Chen, Gui Si | Long Flowing Water |
| 2014-2015 | Jia Wu, Yi Wei | Sand-Buried Metal |
| 2016-2017 | Bing Shen, Ding You | Mountain Base Fire |
| 2018-2019 | Wu Xu, Ji Hai | Flat Land Wood |
| 2020-2021 | Geng Zi, Xin Chou | Wall Surface Earth |
| 2022-2023 | Ren Yin, Gui Mao | Gold Leaf Metal |
| 2024-2025 | Jia Chen, Yi Si | Lamp Light Fire |
| 2026-2027 | Bing Wu, Ding Wei | Heavenly River Water |
The Cyclical Nature of Sixty Jiazi in Time
The Sixty Jiazi system is not limited to years — it also tracks months, days, and hours:
- Years: One complete cycle every 60 years (called "One Jiazi")
- Months: One complete cycle every 5 years (60 months)
- Days: One complete cycle every 60 days
- Hours: One complete cycle every 5 days (60 double-hours)
"The Sixty Jiazi cycle turns without end, while Na Yin Five Elements determine fortune and misfortune." ("六十甲子轮回转，纳音五行定吉凶。") Mastering the Sixty Jiazi and Na Yin Five Elements is the essential foundation for understanding the time-based systems of traditional Chinese Destiny Studies and Feng Shui.
How to Use This Knowledge Today
Even without becoming an expert, you can apply Na Yin Five Elements to enhance your daily life:
- Find your Na Yin element: Use the quick reference table above to locate your birth year's element
- Balance your space: If your element is Metal (金), incorporate Metal and Earth objects (since Earth generates Metal); avoid excessive Water elements (since Water drains Metal)
- Choose supportive colors: Select clothing, accessories, and home décor colors that match your Na Yin element for personal harmony
- Time important decisions: Before major life events, consult a Feng Shui practitioner who can cross-reference your Na Yin element with the current year's energy for optimal timing
Quick Tips:
- Born under "Water" elements? (Ravine, Spring, Long Flowing, Heavenly River, Great Stream, or Ocean Water) — consider adding fountains, aquariums, or mirrors to activate your natural luck
- Born under "Fire" elements? (Furnace, Mountain Peak, Thunder, Mountain Base, Lamp, or Heavenly Fire) — candles, warm lighting, and red accents amplify your prosperity energy
- Born under "Earth" or "Metal" elements? — crystals, ceramic pieces, and metallic décor bring stability and wealth energy into your space
Related Articles
- [[../05-命理与运势/33-天干地支详解.md|Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches Explained]]
- [[../05-命理与运势/40-纳音五行详解.md|Na Yin Five Elements in Depth]]
- [[../01-风水入门/05-天干地支与风水.md|Heavenly Stems, Earthly Branches and Feng Shui]]
- [[../02-家居风水/37-植物与风水.md|Plants and Feng Shui: Five Elements Harmony and Wealth Activation Through Greenery]]