The Year Pillar of the Same Sex (Bi Jian) refers to the situation where the heavenly stem of the year pillar is of the same sex and the same five elements as the day master. It indicates that the person had companions of the same age during their early years, and there may be siblings in the family. The person tends to be independent and competitive. The Year Pillar of the Same Sex is considered unfavorable, mainly because when Bi Jian is an adverse element, it can lead to the division of family resources, rivalry among peers, or increased pressure in early life. Its impact should be assessed in combination with the overall Eight Characters.
What does "Year Pillar of the Same Sex" mean?
In the study of Chinese astrology, the term "Bi Jian" refers to a heavenly stem that is of the same sex and the same five elements as the day master (e.g., if the day master is Geng metal, then Geng metal in the year pillar is considered Bi Jian). The year pillar represents ancestors, parents, and early life, and its meaning can be interpreted from three aspects.From the perspective of family and early environment, the Year Pillar of the Same Sex often indicates "companionship with peers in early years and the dispersion of family resources." Bi Jian symbolizes siblings or peers, and those with Bi Jian in the year pillar may have siblings, needing to share parental affection and family resources during childhood. If the family conditions are average, this "sharing" could turn into "competition," such as minor conflicts over tuition fees or clothing distribution with siblings. For example, if the day master is Yi Wood, and the year pillar is also Yi Wood, there might be an older sister, and the two often quarrel over small matters but also accompany each other.
From the perspective of personality and behavior, these individuals tend to be "independent, competitive, and driven." Having grown up with peers, they learn early on to "strive," showing a bit of stubbornness and reluctance to easily give up. They want to be the best in studies or games. This trait helps them adapt well in competitive environments later in life, but they may also appear stubborn and struggle with compromise. When Bi Jian coexists with the "Jie Cai" (another astrological element), the competitive nature becomes stronger, requiring caution to avoid damaging interpersonal relationships due to competition.
Why is the Year Pillar of the Same Sex considered unfavorable?
The belief that "the Year Pillar of the Same Sex is unfavorable" stems from the conflict between Bi Jian's "competing and dividing" nature and the year pillar's role as the "foundation." However, this unfortune is not absolute; it only manifests under specific conditions:When Bi Jian is an adverse element and has no control or transformation, the "unfavorable" aspect is most evident. The year pillar represents the family foundation, and Bi Jian being adverse means "the foundation is competed for": family resources (such as inheritance from ancestors or parental attention) are divided among siblings, leading to a more difficult early life or parents being overwhelmed by the care of multiple children, indirectly affecting one's growth. For instance, if the day master is Wu Earth (weak), and the year pillar is also Wu Earth (an adverse element), the family has many siblings, and limited parental income leads to a simple lifestyle and fewer educational opportunities compared to others.
The "competitive" nature of Bi Jian may also lead to early interpersonal conflicts. When Bi Jian in the year pillar is adverse, relationships with siblings may become tense, such as jealousy-driven arguments or falling out after adulthood over property distribution. In school or childhood social circles, they may also encounter "competitors," such as being excluded by classmates or failing to win a class leadership position. This ongoing sense of competition can drain early-life fortune.
However, if Bi Jian is a favorable element, the situation is the opposite. In this case, Bi Jian represents "support from peers," such as siblings who are responsible and capable, helping to share family responsibilities, or receiving care from cousins during childhood, which actually adds support to early life. Therefore, whether the Year Pillar of the Same Sex is favorable or not depends on whether it is a favorable or adverse element, not on Bi Jian itself.
Q: Does the Year Pillar of the Same Sex necessarily mean having siblings?
A: Not necessarily. In modern society, many people are only children. The Year Pillar of the Same Sex may also represent "having close cousins living together during childhood," "being very close to classmates like siblings at school," or "frequently being in a competitive environment during early life (such as classmates with similar academic performance)." The core is "frequent interaction with peers."
Q: How can we alleviate the negative effects if the Year Pillar of the Same Sex is adverse?
A: One can start by "reducing competition and using external forces to resolve it": when interacting with peers, take the initiative to yield, avoiding disputes over trivial matters; seek mediation from elders (such as the "Yin Star") in case of family conflicts, such as involving parents to mediate; choose industries that require teamwork (such as education or public welfare) to weaken the competitive traits through collaboration.
