Nayin Five Elements Explained

Discover the meaning and traits behind Nayin, and explore the ancient wisdom of the 60 Jiazi cycle.

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wuxingIcons.Metal

Sea Metal

Jia-ZiYi-Chou

Gold resting on the ocean floor, quietly keeping a low profile.

Metal
1924-1925, 1984-1985, 2044-2045
🔥
wuxingIcons.Fire

Furnace Fire

Bing YinDing Mao

A steady furnace fire, warm and full of drive

Fire
1926-1927, 1986-1987, 2046-2047
🌳
wuxingIcons.Wood

Great Forest Wood

Wu ChenJi Si

A towering tree with deep roots and lush branches

Wood
1928-1929, 1988-1989, 2048-2049...
🛤️
wuxingIcons.Earth

Roadside Earth

Geng WuXin Wei

Steady and nurturing, like the earth along a well-traveled path

Earth
1930-1931, 1990-1991, 2050-2051...
⚔️
wuxingIcons.Metal

Sword Edge Metal

Ren ShenGui You

Like a drawn sword—sharp and unyielding.

Metal
1932-1933, 1992-1993, 2052-2053...
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wuxingIcons.Fire

Mountain Top Fire

Jia XuYi Hai

A blazing fire on the peak, lighting up the horizon.

Fire
1934-1935, 1994-1995, 2054-2055...
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wuxingIcons.Water

Stream Water

Bing ZiDing Chou

A clear mountain spring, pure and transparent.

Water
1936-1937, 1996-1997, 2056-2057...
🏰
wuxingIcons.Earth

City Wall Earth

Wu YinJi Mao

Solid earth atop the walls, sturdy and protective.

Earth
1938-1939, 1998-1999, 2058-2059...
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wuxingIcons.Metal

White Wax Metal

Geng ChenXin Si

Like refined platinum—pure and precious.

Metal
1940-1941, 2000-2001, 2060-2061...
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wuxingIcons.Wood

Willow Wood

Ren WuGui Wei

Flexible willow branches, swaying gently in the wind.

Wood
1942-1943, 2002-2003, 2062-2063...
wuxingIcons.Water

Spring Water

Jia ShenYi You

Water from a spring, flowing endlessly.

Water
1944-1945, 2004-2005, 2064-2065...
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wuxingIcons.Earth

Roof Earth

Bing XuDing Hai

Earth on a rooftop, shielding from wind and rain.

Earth
1946-1947, 2006-2007, 2066-2067...
wuxingIcons.Fire

Lightning Fire

WuziJichou

Lightning-like fire with explosive energy.

Fire
1948-1949, 2008-2009, 2068-2069...
🌲
wuxingIcons.Wood

Pine & Cypress Wood

GengyinXinmao

Sturdy as pine and cypress, evergreen year-round.

Wood
1950-1951, 2010-2011, 2070-2071...
🏞️
wuxingIcons.Water

Ever-Flowing Water

RenchenGuisi

Flows like a river, never stopping.

Water
1952-1953, 2012-2013, 2072-2073...
🏖️
wuxingIcons.Metal

Sand-Buried Gold

JiawuYiwei

Gold hidden in sand, waiting to be uncovered.

Metal
1954-1955, 2014-2015, 2074-2075...
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wuxingIcons.Fire

Mountain-Foot Fire

BingshenDingyou

Warm, steady firelight at the mountain's base

Fire
1956-1957, 2016-2017, 2076-2077...
🌳
wuxingIcons.Wood

Flatland Wood

戊戌己亥

Trees on open ground, growing freely and wide

Wood
1958-1959, 2018-2019, 2078-2079...
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wuxingIcons.Earth

Wall Earth

庚子辛丑

Decorative earth on a wall

Earth
1960-1961, 2020-2021, 2080-2081...
wuxingIcons.Metal

Gold Foil

壬寅癸卯

Paper-thin gold foil, delicate and striking

Metal
1962-1963, 2022-2023, 2082-2083...
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wuxingIcons.Fire

Lantern Fire

甲辰乙巳

Firelight inside a lantern, warm and bright

Fire
1964-1965, 2024-2025, 2084-2085...
🌌
wuxingIcons.Water

Heavenly River Water

丙午丁未

Vast and endless, like the Milky Way.

Water
1966-1967, 2026-2027, 2086-2087...
🛣️
wuxingIcons.Earth

Great Post Road Earth

戊申己酉

Like a bustling crossroads, open to all paths.

Earth
1968-1969, 2028-2029, 2088-2089...
💎
wuxingIcons.Metal

Ornamental Gold

庚戌辛亥

Like fine jewelry, adding elegance to everyday life.

Metal
1970-1971, 2030-2031, 2090-2091...
🍃
wuxingIcons.Wood

Mulberry Wood

壬子癸丑

Like a sturdy mulberry tree, built for nurturing and creating.

Wood
1972-1973, 2032-2033, 2092-2093...
🏞️
wuxingIcons.Water

Great Stream Water

Jia YinYi Mao

Broad waters, flowing endlessly.

Water
1974-1975, 2034-2035, 2094-2095...
🏜️
wuxingIcons.Earth

Sand Earth

Bing ChenDing Si

Dry, resilient desert earth.

Earth
1976-1977, 2036-2037, 2096-2097...
☀️
wuxingIcons.Fire

Heavenly Fire

Wu WuJi Wei

Celestial fire, shining brilliantly.

Fire
1978-1979, 2038-2039, 2098-2099...
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wuxingIcons.Wood

Pomegranate Wood

Geng ShenXin You

Pomegranate tree, bearing abundant fruit.

Wood
1980-1981, 2040-2041, 2100-2101...
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wuxingIcons.Water

Great Ocean Water

Ren XuGui Hai

Vast like the ocean, embracing everything.

Water
1982-1983, 2042-2043, 2102-2103...
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Nayin & Five Elements Reference

NayinFive ElementsStems & BranchesYearsMeaning
🌊Sea Metal
wuxingIcons.Metal
Metal
Jia-Zi、Yi-Chou1924-1925, 1984-1985, 2044-2045Gold resting on the ocean floor, quietly keeping a low profile.
🔥Furnace Fire
wuxingIcons.Fire
Fire
Bing Yin、Ding Mao1926-1927, 1986-1987, 2046-2047A steady furnace fire, warm and full of drive
🌳Great Forest Wood
wuxingIcons.Wood
Wood
Wu Chen、Ji Si1928-1929, 1988-1989, 2048-2049...A towering tree with deep roots and lush branches
🛤️Roadside Earth
wuxingIcons.Earth
Earth
Geng Wu、Xin Wei1930-1931, 1990-1991, 2050-2051...Steady and nurturing, like the earth along a well-traveled path
⚔️Sword Edge Metal
wuxingIcons.Metal
Metal
Ren Shen、Gui You1932-1933, 1992-1993, 2052-2053...Like a drawn sword—sharp and unyielding.
🔥Mountain Top Fire
wuxingIcons.Fire
Fire
Jia Xu、Yi Hai1934-1935, 1994-1995, 2054-2055...A blazing fire on the peak, lighting up the horizon.
💧Stream Water
wuxingIcons.Water
Water
Bing Zi、Ding Chou1936-1937, 1996-1997, 2056-2057...A clear mountain spring, pure and transparent.
🏰City Wall Earth
wuxingIcons.Earth
Earth
Wu Yin、Ji Mao1938-1939, 1998-1999, 2058-2059...Solid earth atop the walls, sturdy and protective.
💍White Wax Metal
wuxingIcons.Metal
Metal
Geng Chen、Xin Si1940-1941, 2000-2001, 2060-2061...Like refined platinum—pure and precious.
🌿Willow Wood
wuxingIcons.Wood
Wood
Ren Wu、Gui Wei1942-1943, 2002-2003, 2062-2063...Flexible willow branches, swaying gently in the wind.
Spring Water
wuxingIcons.Water
Water
Jia Shen、Yi You1944-1945, 2004-2005, 2064-2065...Water from a spring, flowing endlessly.
🏠Roof Earth
wuxingIcons.Earth
Earth
Bing Xu、Ding Hai1946-1947, 2006-2007, 2066-2067...Earth on a rooftop, shielding from wind and rain.
Lightning Fire
wuxingIcons.Fire
Fire
Wuzi、Jichou1948-1949, 2008-2009, 2068-2069...Lightning-like fire with explosive energy.
🌲Pine & Cypress Wood
wuxingIcons.Wood
Wood
Gengyin、Xinmao1950-1951, 2010-2011, 2070-2071...Sturdy as pine and cypress, evergreen year-round.
🏞️Ever-Flowing Water
wuxingIcons.Water
Water
Renchen、Guisi1952-1953, 2012-2013, 2072-2073...Flows like a river, never stopping.
🏖️Sand-Buried Gold
wuxingIcons.Metal
Metal
Jiawu、Yiwei1954-1955, 2014-2015, 2074-2075...Gold hidden in sand, waiting to be uncovered.
🔅Mountain-Foot Fire
wuxingIcons.Fire
Fire
Bingshen、Dingyou1956-1957, 2016-2017, 2076-2077...Warm, steady firelight at the mountain's base
🌳Flatland Wood
wuxingIcons.Wood
Wood
戊戌、己亥1958-1959, 2018-2019, 2078-2079...Trees on open ground, growing freely and wide
🧱Wall Earth
wuxingIcons.Earth
Earth
庚子、辛丑1960-1961, 2020-2021, 2080-2081...Decorative earth on a wall
Gold Foil
wuxingIcons.Metal
Metal
壬寅、癸卯1962-1963, 2022-2023, 2082-2083...Paper-thin gold foil, delicate and striking
🏮Lantern Fire
wuxingIcons.Fire
Fire
甲辰、乙巳1964-1965, 2024-2025, 2084-2085...Firelight inside a lantern, warm and bright
🌌Heavenly River Water
wuxingIcons.Water
Water
丙午、丁未1966-1967, 2026-2027, 2086-2087...Vast and endless, like the Milky Way.
🛣️Great Post Road Earth
wuxingIcons.Earth
Earth
戊申、己酉1968-1969, 2028-2029, 2088-2089...Like a bustling crossroads, open to all paths.
💎Ornamental Gold
wuxingIcons.Metal
Metal
庚戌、辛亥1970-1971, 2030-2031, 2090-2091...Like fine jewelry, adding elegance to everyday life.
🍃Mulberry Wood
wuxingIcons.Wood
Wood
壬子、癸丑1972-1973, 2032-2033, 2092-2093...Like a sturdy mulberry tree, built for nurturing and creating.
🏞️Great Stream Water
wuxingIcons.Water
Water
Jia Yin、Yi Mao1974-1975, 2034-2035, 2094-2095...Broad waters, flowing endlessly.
🏜️Sand Earth
wuxingIcons.Earth
Earth
Bing Chen、Ding Si1976-1977, 2036-2037, 2096-2097...Dry, resilient desert earth.
☀️Heavenly Fire
wuxingIcons.Fire
Fire
Wu Wu、Ji Wei1978-1979, 2038-2039, 2098-2099...Celestial fire, shining brilliantly.
🍎Pomegranate Wood
wuxingIcons.Wood
Wood
Geng Shen、Xin You1980-1981, 2040-2041, 2100-2101...Pomegranate tree, bearing abundant fruit.
🌊Great Ocean Water
wuxingIcons.Water
Water
Ren Xu、Gui Hai1982-1983, 2042-2043, 2102-2103...Vast like the ocean, embracing everything.

Nayin Five Elements: Quick Facts

Explore the origins, principles, and real-world uses of Nayin to uncover ancient wisdom.

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Origins

Nayin theory dates back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Ancient scholars combined the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches with musical scales to gradually build this system.

First documented in the *Records of the Grand Historian: Treatise on Pitchpipes*.
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How It’s Calculated

Following the 60 Jiazi cycle, each pair of stems and branches maps to a single Nayin. Ancient scholars identified these patterns centuries ago.

For example, Jia-Zi and Yi-Chou correspond to Sea Metal, while Bing-Yin and Ding-Mao map to Furnace Fire.
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Musical Roots

Nayin originated from ancient Chinese music theory. By pairing stems and branches with the five tones and twelve pitch standards, it aligns with the Five Elements to reflect the harmony between nature and humanity.

The ancients believed musical scales revealed the natural rhythms of the universe.
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Symbolism

Each Nayin carries a distinct meaning. Sea Metal symbolizes hidden talent, while Furnace Fire represents warm, steady energy. It uses natural imagery to describe personality and life path.

Using natural imagery to understand personality.
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Modern Applications

Modern psychology sees value in Nayin for understanding personality, planning, and navigating relationships. Many use it to find a path that truly fits them.

Supported by contemporary research.
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Cultural Significance

Nayin and the Five Elements hold deep cultural roots. They reflect ancient wisdom on living in harmony with nature and are a tradition worth preserving.

A cherished part of traditional heritage.

Nayin Mnemonic for the 60 Jiazi Cycle

Jia-Zi & Yi-Chou: Sea Metal, Bing-Yin & Ding-Mao: Furnace Fire,
Wu-Chen & Ji-Si: Great Forest Wood, Geng-Wu & Xin-Wei: Roadside Earth,
Ren-Shen & Gui-You: Sword Edge Metal, Jia-Xu & Yi-Hai: Mountain Top Fire,
Bing-Zi & Ding-Chou: Stream Water, Wu-Yin & Ji-Mao: City Wall Earth,
Geng-Chen & Xin-Si: White Wax Metal, Ren-Wu & Gui-Wei: Willow Wood,
Jia-Shen & Yi-You: Spring Water, Bing-Xu & Ding-Hai: Roof Earth,
Wu-Zi & Ji-Chou: Lightning Fire, Geng-Yin & Xin-Mao: Pine & Cypress Wood,
Ren-Chen & Gui-Si: Long River Water, Jia-Wu & Yi-Wei: Sand Metal,
Bing-Shen & Ding-You: Mountain Foot Fire, Wu-Xu & Ji-Hai: Flatland Wood,
Geng-Zi & Xin-Chou: Wall Earth, Ren-Yin & Gui-Mao: Gold Foil Metal,
Jia-Chen & Yi-Si: Lamp Fire, Bing-Wu & Ding-Wei: Heavenly River Water,
Wu-Shen & Ji-You: Great Post Earth, Geng-Xu & Xin-Hai: Hairpin Metal,
Ren-Zi & Gui-Chou: Mulberry Wood, Jia-Yin & Yi-Mao: Great Stream Water,
Bing-Chen & Ding-Si: Sand Earth, Wu-Wu & Ji-Wei: Heavenly Fire,
Geng-Shen & Xin-You: Pomegranate Wood, Ren-Xu & Gui-Hai: Ocean Water.

About the Chant

This chant covers all 30 Nayin pairs in the 60 Jiazi cycle. Each pair of stems and branches maps to one Nayin, creating a rhythm that’s easy to memorize.

How to Memorize It

The chant follows the 60 Jiazi sequence. Start by learning the Five Elements attributes, then connect them to the Nayin names for faster recall.

Why It’s Useful

Once memorized, you can quickly look up the Nayin for any year. It’s a foundational tool for BaZi analysis.

The complete Nayin chant is a cultural treasure passed down through generations.

Ancient Wisdom

"Jia-Zi & Yi-Chou: Sea Metal, Bing-Yin & Ding-Mao: Furnace Fire, Wu-Chen & Ji-Si: Great Forest Wood, Geng-Wu & Xin-Wei: Roadside Earth..."

— *San Ming Tong Hui*

This chant summarizes Nayin patterns for easy memorization. *San Ming Tong Hui*, a classic Ming Dynasty text by Wan Minying, offers a comprehensive and highly influential guide to Nayin theory.

Discover Your Nayin & Five Elements

Uncover your Nayin profile to better understand your personality and life direction.

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