Le Corbusier was one of the most influential modernist architects of the 20th century, whose design philosophy and urban planning had a profound and lasting impact on later generations. This article combines his BaZi (Ba Zi) chart to provide an in-depth analysis of his life trajectory, revealing the close connection between destiny and history.
BaZi Chart
Core Analysis
Le Corbusier's Four Pillars (Si Zhu) are: Ding Hai, Ji You, Jia Chen, Bing Yin. The Day Master (Ri Zhu) is Jia Wood, and the structure (Ge Ju) presents a mixed character combining the Eating God (Shi Shen) generating Wealth with the Hurting Officer (Shang Guan) paired with Resource. The Eating God (Bing Fire) energizes Jia Wood, bringing an intense capacity for creative expression; Indirect Wealth (Pian Cai) and Rob Wealth (Jie Cai) implicitly signify the pursuit of projects and resources in his career, driving practical construction and urban operations.
Across the cycles of his Luck Pillars (Da Yun), his early years in Wu Shen (1897–1906) corresponded to Direct Wealth (Zheng Cai), facilitating the completion of his first villa and formative travels abroad. During his middle years in pillars such as Yi Si and Jia Chen, conflicts between his personality and his team were pronounced, yet these periods also brought major opportunities for large-scale planning. In his later years, the Gui Mao pillar brought support from Resource (Yin), marking a return to theory and the historical recognition of his work.
Trait Analysis
- Creativity: BaZi basis: The chart shows the Eating God (Bing Fire) generating and supporting Jia Wood, reflecting a powerful aesthetic and design expressiveness that drove innovation in his architectural language.
- Influence: BaZi basis: Indirect Wealth working in concert with the Luck Pillars propelled large-scale projects and urban planning, forging a sweeping historical influence.
- Independence: BaZi basis: The Jia Wood Day Master interacting with the Hurting Officer made his personality resolute and strong-minded, unlikely to drift with the tide.
- Controversy: BaZi basis: The coexistence of the Hurting Officer and Rob Wealth made his expression straightforward and liable to encroach upon others' interests, leading to controversy on both social and political levels.
Life Timeline
1905
- Age 18, Career: The emergence of a genius: a debut at the foot of the Alps. Under the guidance of his mentor René Chapallaz, Le Corbusier co-designed and built the Villa Fallet with a classmate, marking the rise of a future architectural superstar.
1907
- Age 20, Personal Life: First explorations of the European continent and the awakening of an artistic soul. Le Corbusier embarked on his first long journey, traveling across Europe and broadening his horizons and inner world.
1908
- Age 21, Career: Seeking the Way in Paris and opening the door to modern architecture. He joined the firm of Auguste Perret as a draftsman, studying modern building materials and structural techniques.
1910
- Age 23, Career: Crossing the seas and unlocking the gateway to modernism. He traveled to Germany to intern at the firm of Peter Behrens, laying the foundation for his modernist architectural thought.
1914
- Age 27, Career: Breaking with the old to establish the cornerstone of modern architecture. He proposed the revolutionary "Dom-Ino" housing structural system, providing a key technical foundation for modern architecture.
1917
- Age 30, Career: A new chapter in Paris: wielding the pen like a sword to define the modern spirit. He moved to Paris and launched his art and design career, establishing himself as a leading thinker of modernism.
1923
- Age 36, Career: A sensational manifesto: publishing Toward an Architecture (Vers une architecture), igniting a modernist wave. He compiled a series of articles previously published in the journal L'Esprit Nouveau into a book, laying the theoretical cornerstone of modern architecture.
1926
- Age 39, Career: Cementing the cornerstone of modern architecture: the emergence of the Five Points of Architecture. He systematically articulated the theory of the "Five Points of Architecture," which became the core design principles of modernist architecture.
1929
- Age 42, Career: A modernist monument: the birth of the Villa Savoye. The Villa Savoye became a landmark work of modernist architecture, securing his status as a master in the history of architecture.
1930
- Age 43, Career: A convergence of ideas and the dawn of a new era in international architecture. As one of the founding members, he participated in the creation of the International Congresses of Modern Architecture (CIAM), promoting international exchange in modern architecture.
1942
- Age 55, Career: Drawing the blueprint: outlining the utopian vision of the "Radiant City." He proposed the "Radiant City" plan, combining high-rise apartment complexes with open green spaces, profoundly influencing postwar global urban planning thought.
Le Corbusier's life was filled with innovation and transformation, and his architectural works and urban planning concepts had a profound impact on later generations. By analyzing his BaZi chart, we can gain a deeper understanding of his life trajectory and the close connection between destiny and history.