Coming from Western astrology to Saju, the mental model shift:

Western — where the planets were when you were born. Saju — the 'energetic signature' of your birth moment, expressed as 8 Chinese characters.

Saju uses Heavenly Stems (10) and Earthly Branches (12) forming 60 cycles. Birth year, month, day, and hour each get one stem + one branch — '4 pillars / 8 characters.'

Biggest practical difference: your day pillar functions like a sun sign in Western. Different day pillars produce strikingly different archetypes.

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