Coming of Age (臨官) in the 12 stages of Ba Zi
Coming of Age is the adult in a first real post: capable, and able to stand on their own feet.
On this page
What Coming of Age means
Coming of Age is the adult entering the world and taking up an office and a salary of their own; strength is ample and can act independently. This position is also called the Day Master's Lu, its "salary" seat, so here the Day Master has its own livelihood. It is one of the steadiest stages of the twelve.
Where it falls for each Day Master
Jia Wood in Yin, Yi Wood in Mao, Bing Fire in Si, Ding Fire in Wu, Wu Earth in Si, Ji Earth in Wu, Geng Metal in Shen, Xin Metal in You, Ren Water in Hai, Gui Water in Zi.
Coming of Age on your Day branch
With the Day Master sitting on Coming of Age, tradition calls it a "personal Lu" day. People often describe you as self-reliant and practical, someone who earns a living through their own skill and rarely needs backing. You are dependable, do what you say, and handle pressure fairly well. The thing to watch is trusting yourself so much that you do everything alone, or growing impatient with other people's methods; handing some of it off makes life much lighter.
On the Year, Month and Hour pillars
On the Year pillar, it is often read as a family background that gave you a stable base and an early chance at independence. On the Month pillar, the month itself is the Day Master's Lu, a structure tradition calls Jian Lu; it suits building a place at work through expertise and experience. On the Hour pillar, it is traditionally read as your own income and rhythm in later years, with children who tend to stand on their own.
A tip
On Coming of Age you are used to carrying things yourself. Remember that ability is for using, not for proving you need no one.
FAQ
Why is Coming of Age also called Lu?
In old China, officials drew a salary called lu, so this stage became the Day Master's Lu: Jia's Lu is in Yin, Geng's in Shen, and so on. Some traditions name the stage Jian Lu, meaning the same thing.
Which Day pillars sit on Coming of Age?
Four of the sixty pillars do: Jia Yin, Yi Mao, Geng Shen and Xin You. Stem and branch share the same element, so the Day Master sits right on its own root and its strength is concentrated.
Does Coming of Age always mean a strong Day Master?
Not always. Coming of Age means the Day Master is in good shape in that branch, and on the Day or Month branch it is usually a solid root. But overall strength comes from the whole chart; if most other characters drain or check the Day Master, one Coming of Age may only just hold things steady.
The 12 stages
Ba Zi centres on the Day Master and Ten Gods; Zi Wei Dou Shu on your Life Palace star. Draw your Zi Wei chart to compare.
This is the general reading. On your own chart it shifts with the stars' brightness, the San Fang Si Zheng and the year you are in.
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