Bone-weight reading calculator

This folk method is often attributed to Yuan Tian Gang of the Tang dynasty, but its author and date are not reliably established. Four symbolic values are added and the total is matched to a four-line Chinese verse about life’s fortunes.

It is separate from the full BaZi method, which considers stems, branches, relationships among the Five Elements and ten-year cycles. Here, the same lunar year, month, day and time always give the same weight. For that wider chart, use the BaZi tool; learn the labels in the stems and branches guide.

This is cultural reference material without statistical or empirical support for predicting a person’s life.

1. Convert the Gregorian date to its lunar year, month and day.
2. Look up the year’s stem–branch pair, lunar month, lunar day and traditional two-hour birth period.
3. Add the four values. Ten qian (錢) equal one liang (兩); these are symbolic units here.
4. Find the verse for that total.

For example, 15 March 1990 at 10:30 corresponds to lunar year Geng Wu (庚午), month 2, day 19, Si (巳) period. The values are 9, 7, 5 and 16 qian: a total of 3 liang 7 qian.

The adopted tables range from 2 liang 1 qian to 7 liang 1 qian. The collection has 52 verses, from 2 liang 1 qian to 7 liang 2 qian; its final verse is outside the possible calculated range.

Different editions use different conventions. This page follows the choices documented in the source comparison.

• The year changes on lunar month 1, day 1. A January or February birth before Lunar New Year belongs to the previous lunar year. BaZi instead changes its year at Start of Spring.
• A leap month is split into two halves. Days 1–15 use the regular month of the same number; days 16 onward use the following month. This site places day 15 in the first half because the compared sources leave it unspecified.
• 23:00–23:59 uses the next date. The date advances before lunar conversion; 00:00–00:59 uses the same date. The full BaZi tool retains the current day pillar after 23:00 under its late-Zi convention. Read about early and late Zi time.

These are the same values used by the calculator. The Chinese pairs in the year table identify the sixty-year stem–branch cycle.

The original Chinese verses are preserved below. English explanations are newly written summaries of what each verse says, not predictions about you. Historical references to status, suffering, lifespan or family relationships reflect the source text’s worldview. They are not evidence about an individual or promises of an outcome.

The circulating versions differ. This edition uses the comparison described above, with obvious typographic errors checked against other sources. It contains 52 entries, including the final total that these tables cannot produce.

1. 2 liang 1 qian

   短命非業謂大空，平生災難事重重，

   凶禍頻臨陷逆境，終世困苦事不成。

   The verse portrays severe hardship, repeated setbacks and difficulty bringing work to fruition.

2. 2 liang 2 qian

   身寒骨冷苦伶仃，此命推來行乞人，

   勞勞碌碌無度日，終年打拱過平生。

   The verse describes loneliness, an uncertain livelihood and constant work while depending on others.

3. 2 liang 3 qian

   此命推來骨格輕，求謀作事事難成，

   妻兒兄弟應難許，別處他鄉作散人。

   The verse depicts difficult undertakings and limited family support, followed by making a life away from home.

4. 2 liang 4 qian

   此命推來福祿無，門庭困苦總難榮，

   六親骨肉皆無靠，流浪他鄉作老翁。

   The verse describes poverty, little help from relatives and continuing to live far from home in later life.

5. 2 liang 5 qian

   此命推來祖業微，門庭營度似稀奇，

   六親骨肉如冰炭，一世勤勞自把持。

   The verse portrays little inherited support, difficulty sustaining a household and relying on one's own work.

6. 2 liang 6 qian

   平生衣祿苦中求，獨自營謀事不休，

   離祖出門宜早計，晚來衣祿自無休。

   The verse describes earning basic necessities through effort and recommends leaving home early to seek a more secure later life.

7. 2 liang 7 qian

   一生作事少商量，難靠祖宗作主張，

   獨馬單槍空做去，早年晚歲總無長。

   The verse portrays facing decisions alone, little family support and difficulty building savings.

8. 2 liang 8 qian

   一生行事似飄蓬，祖宗產業在夢中，

   若不過房改名姓，也當移徙二三通。

   The verse depicts an unsettled life and little inheritance. Its references to adoption and repeated moves reflect older social customs.

9. 2 liang 9 qian

   初年運限未曾亨，縱有功名在後成，

   須過四旬才可立，移居改姓始為良。

   The verse describes slow progress early on, greater stability after forty and a move away from the original home.

10. 3 liang 0 qian

    勞勞碌碌苦中求，東奔西走何日休，

    若使終身勤與儉，老來稍可免憂愁。

    The verse portrays a busy working life and urges thrift as a way to ease worries in old age.

11. 3 liang 1 qian

    忙忙碌碌苦中求，何日雲開見日頭，

    難得祖基家可立，中年衣食漸無憂。

    The verse describes hard work and limited inherited support in early life, followed by gradual stability in middle age.

12. 3 liang 2 qian

    初年運蹇事難謀，漸有財源如水流，

    到得中年衣食旺，那時名利一齊收。

    The verse moves from early obstacles to improving income, comfort and recognition in middle age.

13. 3 liang 3 qian

    早年做事事難成，百年勤勞枉費心，

    半世自如流水去，後來運到始得金。

    The verse describes efforts that seem fruitless in the first half of life, with the rewards placed in the later years.

14. 3 liang 4 qian

    此命福氣果如何，僧道門中衣祿多，

    離祖出家方為妙，朝晚拜佛念彌陀。

    The verse presents religious practice and leaving home for a devotional life as a route to material sufficiency. This is the verse's historical outlook.

15. 3 liang 5 qian

    生平福量不周全，祖業根基覺少傳，

    營事生涯宜守舊，時來衣食勝從前。

    The verse describes modest inherited support, favors steady stewardship over rash expansion and places improvement later on.

16. 3 liang 6 qian

    不須勞碌過平生，獨自成家福不輕，

    早有福星常照命，任君行去百般成。

    The verse portrays building a household through one's own efforts with relative ease, using the traditional image of a protective star.

17. 3 liang 7 qian

    此命般般事不成，弟兄少力自孤行，

    雖然祖業須微有，來得明時去不明。

    The verse depicts obstacles, little help from siblings and the need for self-reliance. It contrasts visible income with unnoticed spending.

18. 3 liang 8 qian

    一身骨肉最清高，早入簧門姓氏標，

    待到年將三十六，藍衫脫去換紅袍。

    The verse portrays scholarly distinction and a rise in status around age thirty-six. Its school and official-robes imagery comes from the imperial examination era.

19. 3 liang 9 qian

    此命終身運不通，勞勞作事盡皆空，

    苦心竭力成家計，到得那時在夢中。

    The verse describes extensive effort to establish a home and livelihood, followed by disappointment. This is literary imagery, not an assessment of the reader.

20. 4 liang 0 qian

    平生衣祿是綿長，件件心中自主張，

    前面風霜多受過，後來必定享安康。

    The verse portrays a lasting livelihood and independent decisions, with a difficult early period followed by greater stability.

21. 4 liang 1 qian

    此命推來事不同，為人能幹異凡庸，

    中年還有逍遙福，不比前年運未通。

    The verse describes capability and individuality, early obstacles and a more comfortable middle age.

22. 4 liang 2 qian

    得寬懷處且寬懷，何用雙眉皺不開，

    若使中年命運濟，那時名利一齊來。

    The verse encourages a less troubled outlook and places recognition and material improvement in middle age.

23. 4 liang 3 qian

    為人心性最聰明，作事軒昂近貴人，

    衣祿一生天數定，不須勞碌是豐亨。

    The verse portrays intelligence, generosity of manner and helpful connections, with enough resources for a comfortable life.

24. 4 liang 4 qian

    萬事由天莫苦求，須知福祿賴人修，

    當年財帛難如意，晚景欣然便不憂。

    The verse urges patience and personal cultivation, contrasting financial frustration in youth with peace in later life.

25. 4 liang 5 qian

    名利推來竟若何，前番辛苦後奔波，

    命中難養男與女，骨肉扶持也不多。

    The verse depicts hard work in pursuit of status and income, alongside limited support from relatives and a distant relationship with children.

26. 4 liang 6 qian

    東西南北盡皆通，出姓移居更覺隆，

    衣祿無虧天數定，中年晚景一般同。

    The verse portrays opportunities after moving or leaving one's hometown, sufficient resources and stability from middle to later life.

27. 4 liang 7 qian

    此命推來旺末年，妻榮子貴自怡然，

    平生原有滔滔福，可卜財源若水泉。

    The verse emphasizes later-life prosperity, a flourishing family and continuing resources, expressed through the image of a flowing spring.

28. 4 liang 8 qian

    初年運道未曾亨，若是蹉跎再不興，

    兄弟六親皆無靠，一身事業晚年成。

    The verse describes a difficult start, warns within its story against drifting, and places achievement later in life with little help from relatives.

29. 4 liang 9 qian

    此命推來福不輕，自成自立顯門庭，

    從來富貴人欽敬，使婢差奴過一生。

    The verse portrays building an established household through one's own effort, social respect and access to assistance.

30. 5 liang 0 qian

    為利為名終日勞，中年福祿也多遭，

    老來自有財星照，不比前番目下高。

    The verse describes continual work for income and recognition, an uneven middle period and greater material comfort later.

31. 5 liang 1 qian

    一世榮華事事通，不須勞碌自亨通，

    弟兄叔侄皆如意，家業成時福祿宏。

    The verse portrays ease of progress, supportive relatives and a household that prospers after it becomes established.

32. 5 liang 2 qian

    一世榮華事事能，不須勞思自然寧，

    宗族欣然心皆好，家業豐亨自稱心。

    The verse describes a settled life, family harmony and a flourishing household without excessive worry.

33. 5 liang 3 qian

    此格推為氣量真，興家發達在其中，

    一生福祿安排定，卻是人間一富翁。

    The verse portrays a generous, sincere disposition and the ability to build a comfortable household.

34. 5 liang 4 qian

    此命推來厚且清，詩書滿腹看功成，

    豐衣足食自然穩，正是人間有福人。

    The verse describes integrity, learning, visible results from effort and a secure material life.

35. 5 liang 5 qian

    走馬揚鞭爭利名，少年作事費籌論，

    一朝福祿源源至，富貴榮華顯六親。

    The verse portrays early work and careful planning for income and status, followed by resources that benefit the wider family.

36. 5 liang 6 qian

    此格推來禮義通，一身福祿用無窮，

    甜酸苦辣皆嘗過，滾滾財源穩且豐。

    The verse describes courtesy, ample resources and a rich range of life experiences, ending with a stable livelihood.

37. 5 liang 7 qian

    福祿豐盈萬事全，一身榮耀樂天年，

    名揚威震人爭羨，此世逍遙宛似仙。

    The verse portrays abundance, recognition and an untroubled later life in celebratory language.

38. 5 liang 8 qian

    平生衣食自然來，名利雙全富貴偕，

    金榜題名登甲第，紫袍玉帶走金階。

    The verse uses success in the imperial examinations and entering court in purple robes as images of material and public achievement.

39. 5 liang 9 qian

    細推此格妙且清，必定才高禮義通，

    甲第之中應有分，揚鞭走馬顯威榮。

    The verse describes learning, courtesy and examination success as a route to recognition and confidence.

40. 6 liang 0 qian

    一朝金榜快題名，顯祖榮宗大器成，

    衣祿定然原裕足，田園財帛更豐盈。

    The verse portrays distinction that brings honor to the family, alongside already ample property and resources.

41. 6 liang 1 qian

    不作朝中金榜客，定為世上大財翁，

    聰明天賦經書熟，名顯高科自是榮。

    The verse presents learning and examination success, and says prosperity is available even without holding public office.

42. 6 liang 2 qian

    此命生來福不窮，讀書必定顯親宗，

    紫衣金帶為卿相，富貴榮華孰與同。

    The verse describes scholarly success bringing honor to the family and uses high office as its image of exceptional prosperity.

43. 6 liang 3 qian

    命主為官福祿長，得來富貴實非常，

    名題金塔傳金榜，定中高科天下揚。

    The verse portrays a distinguished official career, success in competitive examinations and a widely known reputation.

44. 6 liang 4 qian

    此格威權不可當，紫袍金帶坐高堂，

    榮華富貴誰能及，萬古留名姓氏揚。

    The verse celebrates high office, influence, wealth and a reputation remembered long afterward.

45. 6 liang 5 qian

    細推此命福非輕，富貴榮華孰與爭，

    定國安邦人極品，威聲顯赫震寰瀛。

    The verse describes exceptional status and service to the state, using the traditional ideal of a leading minister.

46. 6 liang 6 qian

    此格人間一福人，堆金積玉滿堂春，

    從來富貴由天定，正笏垂紳謁聖君。

    The verse uses a household full of valuables and an audience with the ruler in official dress as images of high status.

47. 6 liang 7 qian

    此命生來福自宏，田園家業最高隆，

    平生衣祿盈豐足，一世榮華萬事通。

    The verse portrays abundant property, a flourishing household and a consistently comfortable life.

48. 6 liang 8 qian

    富貴由天莫苦求，萬金家計不須謀，

    十年不比前番事，祖業根基千古留。

    The verse describes inherited prosperity, a marked change over ten years and a family foundation that endures. This edition combines lines from more than one source.

49. 6 liang 9 qian

    君是人間衣祿星，一生富貴眾人欽，

    縱然福祿由天定，安享榮華過一生。

    The verse portrays ample resources, social respect and the enjoyment of a comfortable life.

50. 7 liang 0 qian

    此命推來福不輕，不須愁慮苦勞心，

    一生天定衣與祿，富貴榮華主一生。

    The verse describes a life of material sufficiency and prestige without the need for constant worry.

51. 7 liang 1 qian

    此命生成大不同，公侯卿相在其中，

    一生自有逍遙福，富貴榮華極品隆。

    The verse compares its subject to nobles and senior officials, portraying exceptional status and ease.

52. 7 liang 2 qian

    此格世界罕有生，十代積善產此人，

    天上紫微來照命，統治萬民樂太平。

    The verse uses the image of an emperor and ten generations of virtue to portray an extraordinarily rare life. The tables used here cannot produce this total: their maximum is 7 liang 1 qian.