Xu Beihong, a founding figure and educator of modern Chinese fine art, is celebrated for his artistic style blending Chinese and Western traditions and for his profound patriotism. His artistic career is steeped in legend, with every major milestone closely tied to his unique BaZi (Ba Zi) chart.
BaZi Chart
At the core of Xu Beihong's BaZi is a Ding Mao Day Master. His Year Pillar of Yi Wei, Month Pillar of Gui Wei, and Hour Pillar of Jia Chen indicate a partial predominance of Indirect Resource (Pian Yin) and Direct Resource (Zheng Yin). These Resource elements act as his favorable element, generating and supporting the Day Master, which reflects his scholarly cultivation and the advantage of receiving excellent instruction. The Mao Wood nourishes Fire, with the mutual generation of Wood and Fire fostering artistic creativity. The Wei branch contains hidden stems of Ding Fire, Yi Wood, and Ji Earth, forming a complex structure of hidden stems that allowed him to readily absorb both Chinese and Western techniques.
Scholarship and Teaching
With prominent Resource elements in his chart, Indirect Resource and Direct Resource serve as his favorable elements, indicating a strong drive for learning and passing on knowledge. His destiny supported his capacity for teaching and building institutional frameworks. Xu Beihong received rigorous academic training in his early years. After returning from studying abroad, he taught at institutions of higher learning such as Peking University, making immense contributions to the development of fine arts education in China.
Artistic Creativity
The Day Master is nourished by Mao Wood and accompanied by Eating God (Shi Shen) and Hurting Officer (Shang Guan), displaying rich expressive power and a desire to create—qualities highly suited for painting and artistic expression. Xu Beihong excelled in painting, particularly renowned for his galloping horses. His works brim with power and dynamism, embodying his formidable artistic creativity.
Career Momentum
When his Luck Pillars (Da Yun) entered favorable phases such as Geng Chen, Ji Mao, and Wu Yin, he encountered periods of rapid career advancement. This aligns with his destined trajectory of studying abroad successfully and returning home to teach, and his chart reveals an innate ability to seize opportunities. During his studies in Paris, he successfully gained admission to the world-renowned École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, laying a solid foundation for his artistic career.
Romantic Turbulence
The intermingling of Resource and Hurting Officer elements, along with the appearance of Hurting Officer and Seven Killings (Qi Sha), made his personal relationships complex and his emotional life volatile. Astrologically, this disposition readily leads to marital and romantic entanglements. Xu Beihong's love life was indeed complicated; he experienced multiple marriages, and his romantic journey was fraught with ups and downs.
Life Timeline
In 1904, at the age of nine, he formally began studying painting under his father, Xu Dazhang, taking his first lesson in what would become an artistic life. This year fell during his Ren Wu Luck Pillar, where Direct Officer and Direct Resource mutually generated each other. Direct Officer represents learning, mentors, and traditional culture, allowing Xu Beihong to receive his intellectual and technical enlightenment through orthodox, structured channels.
In 1914, his father passed away. In his grief, Xu Beihong borrowed money from relatives and friends to bury his father. This event became a crucial turning point in his life, prompting him to make up his mind to leave his hometown and seek his fortune in Shanghai. This year fell during his Xin Si Luck Pillar representing Indirect Wealth (Pian Cai). The Wealth element was clashed, and the unfavorable element of Resource was strong and vigorous—a classic astrological omen of the father star being damaged and the family's fortune being in turmoil.
In 1915, he made a living in Shanghai by drawing illustrations, creating advertisements, and selling his paintings. His work "Horses" received high praise from the esteemed art world veterans Gao Jianfu and his brother, and his artistic talent began to attract attention. This year fell during the Xin Si Luck Pillar of Indirect Wealth. During this Luck Pillar, the Annual Pillar combined with Wealth, the Eating God and Hurting Officer (Shi Shang) drained the Day Master to manifest brilliance, and symbolic stars like the Lucky Star appeared. The Gao brothers' praise was a direct manifestation of mentors lifting him up and his talent first coming to light.
In 1916, he was admitted to Aurora University in Shanghai to study French, while simultaneously being hired by Zhiming University to teach painting. During this period, he met the renowned scholar Kang Youwei and painted his portrait, initiating his associations with leading academic figures. This year featured the Xin Si Luck Pillar and the Bing Chen Annual Pillar. Direct Officer and Seven Killings mutually generated each other, the Eating God and Hurting Officer manifested brilliance, and the symbolic star Heavenly Official appeared, allowing his talents to be fully deployed.
In 1917, he traveled to Japan to systematically study fine arts. During this time, he had the opportunity to feast his eyes on the ancient Chinese art treasures collected in Japan and met the prominent Sinologist Nakamura Fusetsu. It was his first encounter with a vast number of precious Chinese rubbings that had been lost overseas, laying a vital foundation for his future artistic creation and academic research. This year fell during the Xin Si Luck Pillar of Indirect Wealth. The Annual Pillar brought Friend and Rob Wealth (Jie Cai), while symbolic stars Golden Carriage and Academic Hall appeared. The unfavorable element became rooted in the branches, fueling an intense thirst for knowledge and a strong drive to act.
In 1918, he taught at Peking University. As a brilliant young talent, he advocated integrating Western techniques to revolutionize traditional Chinese painting, sowing the seeds of artistic transformation in the nation's premier institution. This year was the last of his Xin Si Luck Pillar. The Hurting Officer penetrated the Heavenly Stems, the symbolic star Literary Glory appeared, and the Prosperity star presided over the year, earning him the appreciation and patronage of key figures such as Cai Yuanpei.
In 1919, he crossed the ocean to open the doors to an artistic mecca, entering the Xu Liang Painting Academy to systematically study Western sketching, laying a solid foundation for his artistic career. This year, the native entered the Geng Chen Luck Pillar. The Heavenly Stem of Geng Metal acting as Direct Wealth (Zheng Cai) combined with the Yi Wood of the Year Pillar. The arrival of the Wealth element combining with the chart signified the patronage of benefactors and the gathering of resources.
In 1920, he apprenticed himself to a master in Paris, knocking on the doors of the art world. He regularly brought his work for critique and participated in artistic salons. His artistic philosophy and techniques were deeply influenced by realist styles, establishing a firm foundation for his future artistic path. This year occurred during the Geng Chen Luck Pillar of Direct Wealth. The Annual Pillar was Geng Shen; the Heavenly Stems of both the Luck Pillar and the Annual Pillar were Geng Metal as Direct Wealth, which combined with the Yi Wood of the Year Stem, activating the Wealth element.
In 1923, he officially gained admission to the world-renowned École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, entering the studio of François Flameng to systematically study oil painting and sketching. He began an intensive study of Western art's systems of form and structure. This was the year of the Gui Hai Annual Pillar. The Heavenly Stem of Gui Water as Seven Killings penetrated the stems, and the Earthly Branch of Hai Water served as a prosperous ground for Direct Officer and Seven Killings—precisely the time when the energy of Water, his favorable element, was abundantly strong.
In 1937, while in Hong Kong, he repurchased the Tang Dynasty figure painting masterpiece "Eighty-Seven Immortals" from a German woman, regarding it as the greatest treasure of his life. This year occurred during the Ji Mao Luck Pillar of the Eating God, with the Ding Chou Annual Pillar. The Heavenly Stem of the Luck Pillar, Ji Earth as Eating God, penetrated the stems, representing a full release of his desires for artistic expression, aesthetic appreciation, and collecting.
Xu Beihong's life, just as his BaZi chart foretold, was filled with challenges and opportunities. He continuously explored his artistic path, ultimately becoming a founding figure and educator of modern Chinese fine art, and leaving behind a precious artistic legacy for future generations.