What information is needed before discussing a birth chart?

The Four Pillars usually mean the year, month, day and hour pillars. Each contains one heavenly stem and one earthly branch, giving eight characters, or bazi. A specific conversion needs at least the birth date, local time and place, plus the calendar used, any intercalary month, local time zone and historical daylight-saving rules. It also needs explicit rules for year and month boundaries, the change of day and any use of apparent solar time.

Uncertain times, calendar boundaries or time-zone differences can produce different results and should be acknowledged. This library explains concepts; it does not invent charts, fortunes or auspicious dates from insufficient information. Interpretations within these traditions are not verified predictions of destiny. Medical, investment and legal decisions require real-world evidence and appropriate professional advice.

Introductory cultural reference, not personal fortune-telling, medical or investment advice. Symbolism expresses a wish, not a guaranteed effect.