Sajagung Journal
Korean fortune-telling, explained in plain language
Saju (Four Pillars), Zi Wei Dou Shu, Qi Men Dun Jia, the I Ching, Dang-saju, and naming. A clear, grounded guide to what each tradition means and how it is actually read.
Concept· 5 min readDang Saju and Saju Pallja: What Makes These Two Readings Different
Dang Saju and Saju Pallja (Korean Four Pillars astrology) differ from the very way they read your birth date to the time spans they use. Understanding how each system is structured and what it is meant for can give you a much richer, more layered picture of your life's flow.
Concept· 5 min readThe 12 Stars of Dang Saju: How Twelve Stars Shape Your Early, Middle, and Later Years
The 12 stars of Dang Saju (Tang Four Pillars fortune-telling) use twelve stars, including Cheongwi, Cheonaek, and Cheonkwon, to trace the flow of a person's life across early, middle, and later years. This post walks through each star and explains how they are calculated from your birth year's earthly branch.
Practical· 5 min readI Ching Divination: Why You Should Never Ask the Same Question Twice
A look at why repeating a question in I Ching divination (주역점) can muddy the reading. We cover the one-question, one-answer principle, the conditions under which asking again is acceptable, and how to use the nuclear hexagram and inverse hexagram to deepen a reading you already have.
Concept· 5 min readMoving Lines in the I Ching: Reading the Signal from Present Hexagram to Changing Hexagram
What moving lines (dong yao) are in I Ching divination, why old yang and old yin transform, what each of the six line positions means, and how to interpret readings when multiple moving lines appear, explained step by step.
Concept· 5 min readAn Introduction to the 64 Hexagrams: How the Eight Trigrams Unfold into a Map of Change
A step-by-step look at how the eight trigrams combine to form the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching (Zhouyi). Covers the symbolism of the first six hexagrams, the logic of their sequence, and the core concepts you need to begin your study.
Practical· 5 min readGi-mun Dun-gap Directions: How Long Does One Reading Actually Last?
If you've ever chosen a favorable direction using Gi-mun Dun-gap (Korean Mystical Gates astrology) before a job interview, a contract signing, or a move, and weren't sure how many days it stays valid, this guide walks you through everything: from the basics of the two-hour chart cycle all the way to daily and monthly applications.
Concept· 5 min readThe Nine Stars of Qi Men Dun Jia, Explained: From Tian Peng to Tian Ying
A friendly walkthrough of the Nine Stars (Jiu Xing), the core building blocks of Qi Men Dun Jia. We cover the character of each star from Tian Peng to Tian Ying, their favorable and unfavorable tendencies, and how they interact with the Eight Gates.
Concept· 5 min readThe Eight Gates of Gi-mun Dun-gap: Open Doors and Closed Ones
A clear guide to the Eight Gates, the core structure of Gi-mun Dun-gap (Korean cosmic timing and direction system). Covers the three favorable gates (Life, Open, Rest), how to avoid the Death and Injury gates, the Nine Palaces grid, and how to map your movements by reading gates for each time period.
Concept· 5 min readWhat Are the Four Transformations in Zi Wei Dou Shu: Hua Lu, Hua Quan, Hua Ke, and Hua Ji Explained
A clear, step-by-step guide to the Four Transformations (Si Hua), the core transformation system in Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Star astrology): what each of the four transformations means, how they are assigned based on your birth-year Heavenly Stem, and how decade and annual transformations work in a real chart.
Concept· 5 min readZi Wei and Tian Fu: The Two Emperor Stars of Zi Wei Dou Shu
A step-by-step guide to the two central stars of Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Star astrology): what Zi Wei and Tian Fu mean, how they are placed across the twelve houses, how they combine with supporting stars, and what patterns they can create when they enter the life palace.
Concept· 5 min readZi Wei Dou Shu: What Is the Difference Between the Life Palace and the Body Palace?
A clear, step-by-step look at the Life Palace and Body Palace, the two starting points of Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Star astrology). Covers how each palace captures innate character and the tone of later life, from how they are calculated to how they are used in practice.
Concept· 5 min readWhy Ipchun Marks the New Year in Saju: A Complete Guide to the Solar Term Calendar
In Saju (Korean Four Pillars astrology), the new year begins neither on January 1st nor on the Lunar New Year, but at Ipchun. Here is a friendly, thorough look at the twenty-four solar terms and the historical reasons Ipchun became the anchor point for Saju.
Concept· 5 min readWhat Are Yin-Yang and the Five Elements? The Foundations of Korean Four Pillars Astrology
A gentle introduction to the principles of yin and yang, the meaning of the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), and the cycles of generation and control that run through them. If you are new to Saju (Korean Four Pillars astrology), this is the place to start.
Concept· 5 min readSolar Calendar, Lunar Calendar, or Something Else? Getting Your Saju Date Right
If you're unsure whether to enter a solar or lunar birthday when calculating your Saju, this guide walks you through the core principles: the solar-term calendar, the Ipchun cutoff, and how intercalary months are handled.
Concept· 5 min readReading Chart Strength Through the Twelve Energy Stages: From Birth to Extinction
The twelve energy stages (12 Unseong) describe how a heavenly stem's vitality shifts across twelve phases when it meets an earthly branch. This guide walks through each stage, from Jangssaeng to Jeol, and explains how to use them to judge the strength of a Saju (Korean Four Pillars astrology) chart.
Concept· 5 min readCheonheul Gwiin: Finding the Lucky Star Embedded in Your Saju
Cheonheul Gwiin (the Heavenly Noble Helper star in Korean Four Pillars astrology) is determined by your day stem and considered the most auspicious star in a Saju chart. Sajagung walks you through how it softens difficult periods and how to use it when choosing auspicious dates.
Concept· 5 min readWhat Is Gongmang: The Meaning of Empty Spaces in Your Saju Chart
Gongmang refers to the two earthly branches left unpaired in each ten-day cycle of the sixty-stem system. This post walks through where gongmang falls within a Saju (Korean Four Pillars astrology) chart, how it shapes each life area, and how practitioners use it when choosing auspicious dates.