Wu Cheng'en, a celebrated writer of the Ming dynasty, is widely regarded as the most likely author of Journey to the West. His life was steeped in legend. From repeated failures in the imperial examinations to his eventual retreat into creative writing, the trajectory of his destiny is intricately intertwined with the principles of BaZi (Ba Zi).
BaZi Chart
Astrological Analysis
Wu Cheng'en's BaZi chart centers on a Wu Earth Day Master (Ri Zhu). With the Chou branch appearing in both the Year Pillar (Nian Zhu) and the Month Pillar (Yue Zhu), and a Xin Hurting Officer (Shang Guan) revealing itself in the Hour Pillar (Shi Zhu), the chart presents a clear pattern of Hurting Officer paired with Resource, alongside a contention between Earth and Metal. This structure signifies a quick literary mind and a gift for expression, yet it also portends a tendency to clash with authority and convention. This dynamic is reflected in his repeated examination failures and his eventual withdrawal from officialdom to pursue his writing.
Creative Power
Astrological basis: The Hurting Officer generates Wealth while being protected by the Resource star, forging immense literary creativity and imagination that ultimately brought forth the masterpiece Journey to the West.
Official Career
Astrological basis: The presence of Hurting Officer meeting Direct Officer (Shang Guan Jian Guan) and the clash between Direct Officer and Seven Killings (Qi Sha) led easily to friction with those in power. Compounded by the progression of his Luck Pillars (Da Yun)—specifically Yi You and Jia Shen—which brought both career pressures and disputes, his path through the examinations and officialdom was fraught with hardship.
Personality and Interpersonal Relations
Astrological basis: A Wu Earth Day Master possesses a strong sense of self-respect and independence. Coupled with the straightforward expression characteristic of the Hurting Officer, his personality was resolute and unyielding, yet prone to conflict. He dealt with others without strictly adhering to formal etiquette.
Late-Life Achievements
Astrological basis: In his later years, he entered the Ren Wu and Xin Si Luck Pillars, where Indirect Wealth (Pian Cai) and the Hurting Officer manifested together. This favored the circulation of his manuscripts and the finalization of his works, reflecting his literary maturation and expanding influence in his twilight years.
Life Timeline
1527: Luck Pillar Bing Xu, Annual Pillar Ding Hai
- A prestigious marriage opened a new chapter in his life. The Heavenly Stem (Tian Gan) of the Annual Pillar, Ding Fire as Direct Officer (Zheng Yin), combined with the Heavenly Stem of the Hour Pillar, Ren Water as Indirect Wealth. Meanwhile, the Earthly Branch (Di Zhi) of the Annual Pillar, Hai Water, formed a hidden combination with the Day Branch, Wu Fire. This signaled integration and elevation within his family through marriage.
1529: Luck Pillar Bing Xu, Annual Pillar Ji Chou
- Enlightenment at Longxi, where his fantastical imagination first blossomed. During the Bing Xu Luck Pillar, with Indirect Resource (Pian Yin) as the dominant energy, symbolic stars (Shen Sha) converged in the Annual Pillar. The Heavenly Nobleman star signaled appreciation from influential figures. The Annual Pillar's Earthly Branch, Chou, resonated directly with the Month Pillar in a Fu Yin pattern, activating the Canopy star in the Month Pillar. This was highly favorable for accumulating knowledge and sparking inspiration within an academic environment.
1532: Luck Pillar Bing Xu, Annual Pillar Ren Chen
- Traveling vast distances to break down the walls in his mind. The Bing Xu Luck Pillar and the Ren Chen Annual Pillar formed a Heavenly clash and Earthly clash, breaking the Grand Duke (Tai Sui). This shattered the stubbornness and isolation brought about by an excess of Friend and Rob Wealth (Bi Jian and Jie Cai) in his chart, compelling him to step out of his study and experience the broader world.
1534: Luck Pillar Bing Xu, Annual Pillar Jia Wu
- Further setbacks in the examination halls; the road to official success remained distant. The Jia Wood Seven Killings revealed itself in the Heavenly Stem of the Annual Pillar, which should have acted as a favorable element (Yong Shen). However, the appearance of both the Yi Wood Direct Officer in the Year Pillar's Heavenly Stem and the Jia Wood Seven Killings in the Annual Pillar resulted in mixed Officer and Killings (Guan Sha Hun Za). This indicated frequent reversals and a lack of clarity in his goals.
1537: Luck Pillar Yi You, Annual Pillar Ding You
- Another examination failure, as the Hurting Officer meeting Direct Officer revealed its sharp edge. During the Yi You Luck Pillar and Ding You Annual Pillar, the Yi Wood Direct Officer appeared in the Heavenly Stem of the Luck Pillar. While typically a sign of noble status, the Xin Metal Hurting Officer in his Hour Pillar inherently clashed with the Yi Wood Direct Officer in his Year Pillar. The Earthly Branch of the Annual Pillar, You Metal, further amplified the power of the Hurting Officer.
1542: Luck Pillar Yi You, Annual Pillar Ren Yin
- The first draft of a monumental tale of gods and demons was completed, honing his edge over a decade. In the Yi You Luck Pillar and Ren Yin Annual Pillar, the Yi Wood Direct Officer appeared in the Heavenly Stem of the Luck Pillar, serving as a favorable element for his chart. This represented career opportunities and official recognition. In the Ren Yin Annual Pillar, the Ren Water Indirect Wealth in the Heavenly Stem nourished the Yi Wood Direct Officer of the Luck Pillar.
1549: Luck Pillar Jia Shen, Annual Pillar Ji You
- Advanced his studies at the Imperial Academy, elevating his talents to new heights. During the Jia Shen Seven Killings Luck Pillar, the Jia Wood in the Heavenly Stem acted as a favorable element that originally promised career breakthroughs. However, the Ji Earth Rob Wealth revealed itself in the Annual Pillar's Heavenly Stem and combined with the Jia Wood of the Luck Pillar, transforming into Earth as an unfavorable element (Ji Shen) through the Jia-Ji combination.
1550: Luck Pillar Jia Shen, Annual Pillar Geng Xu
- Entered the capital as a tribute student, but his official career failed to unfold. In the Jia Shen Luck Pillar, the Seven Killings (Jia Wood) revealed itself in the Heavenly Stem, representing career opportunities and pressures. As a favorable element, it carried the potential for a breakthrough. Yet, in the Geng Xu Annual Pillar, the Geng Metal Eating God (Shi Shen) in the Heavenly Stem clashed with and suppressed the Jia Wood Seven Killings of the Luck Pillar.
1556: Luck Pillar Jia Shen, Annual Pillar Bing Chen
- His official career from humble origins began, spreading his wings in Changxing. During the Jia Shen Seven Killings Luck Pillar, Seven Killings represented career, office, and pressure. The Jia Wood in the Heavenly Stem of the Luck Pillar acted as a moderating favorable element, capable of loosening the abundant Earth and manifesting noble status. This defined the overarching environment for his career breakthroughs over this decade.
1558: Luck Pillar Gui Wei, Annual Pillar Wu Wu
- His reputation tarnished in officialdom, he angrily retreated into seclusion. In the Gui Wei Luck Pillar, the Earthly Branch Wei clashed with Chou—the Month Command (Yue Ling) of his Month Pillar. Known as clashing the Month Command, this destabilized the very foundation of his life, making sudden, drastic changes in his career and living environment inevitable.
1567: Luck Pillar Ren Wu, Annual Pillar Ding Mao
- His literary brilliance shone forth, leaving his name carved in stone. He was in the Ren Wu Indirect Wealth Luck Pillar, but the Ding Mao Annual Pillar exerted a more direct influence on his chart. The Ding Fire in the Annual Pillar's Heavenly Stem acted as a Direct Resource, combining with the Ren Water (Indirect Wealth) in his Hour Pillar's Heavenly Stem. This created an image of "Wealth combining with Resource."
1573: Luck Pillar Ren Wu, Annual Pillar Gui You
- His pen struck awe into gods and demons; Journey to the West was ultimately canonized. During the Ren Wu Luck Pillar and Gui You Annual Pillar, he finalized the manuscript for Journey to the West. This monumental work, which seamlessly blended fantastical tales of deities and demons with the myriad facets of human society, was polished over many years before finally reaching its definitive form.
Wu Cheng'en's life, just as his BaZi chart foretold, was filled with twists, turns, and legendary moments. The collision between his immense talent and his destiny paints a portrait of a literary giant brimming with wisdom and courage.