In destiny studies (especially Bazi numerology), "Dayun" (Grand Cycles) and "Liunian" (Annual Cycles) are two core concepts that collectively describe the changes in a person's life destiny over time. Understanding their relationship and their impact on the original natal chart (Bazi) is crucial for predicting and analyzing life's fortunes.
I. Dayun (Grand Cycles)
1. Definition and Composition: "Dayun" refers to a person's destiny journey, divided into stages of ten years each. It is calculated from the time of birth, based on the Yin-Yang attributes of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches of the birth year, gender, and the arrangement order of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches of the birth month. There are both forward and reverse calculation methods. Dayun usually changes every ten years, hence it is also known as the "Ten-Year Grand Cycle." Each Dayun pillar consists of one Heavenly Stem and one Earthly Branch, and these two Stem-Branch pairs interact with the Stem-Branch pairs in the original Bazi natal chart, forming new relationships of Five Elements' generation, destruction, control, and transformation.
2. Characteristics and Influence:
- Macro Guidance: Dayun represents the overall trend and dominant forces for a person within a ten-year period. It determines the major direction, main opportunities, and challenges during these ten years. It is like a "chapter" in the grand drama of life, setting the theme for that decade.
- Profound Impact: The energy of Dayun is more profound and stable than that of Liunian. It can deeply influence various aspects of a person's life, such as career, wealth, marriage, health, and interpersonal relationships, bringing structural changes.
- Altering the Auspiciousness/Inauspiciousness of the Natal Chart: The combination of Dayun and the original natal chart (Bazi) changes the balance of the Five Elements' strength and weakness within the natal chart. If the Stem-Branch of the Dayun is a "favorable element/god" (i.e., beneficial to the natal chart), then the fortunes during these ten years will usually be smoother, opportunities will increase, noble benefactors will be easy to find, career will be successful, wealth will be prosperous, and health will be good. Conversely, if the Stem-Branch of the Dayun is an "unfavorable element/god" (i.e., detrimental to the natal chart), then these ten years may be bumpy and difficult, full of challenges, prone to encountering petty people, career setbacks, poor financial luck, or even health damage.
- Phased Characteristics: Everyone experiences several Dayun cycles in their lifetime, and each Dayun has its unique attributes and influences, shaping the ups and downs of a person's destiny.
II. Liunian (Annual Cycles)
1. Definition and Composition: "Liunian" refers to the Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch corresponding to each year. For example, 2024 is the Jia Chen year, so Jia Chen is the Liunian for 2024. Liunian represents the specific luck and events that occur within a single year.
2. Characteristics and Influence:
- Specific Event Focus: Liunian more often reflects specific events and short-term trends that may occur in a particular year. It is like "a specific day" or "a specific scene" in the grand drama of life, representing the concrete plot under the background of the macro Dayun.
- Auxiliary and Triggering: The influence of Liunian itself is not as profound as Dayun, but it often acts as a "trigger" or "specific manifestation" for the effects of Dayun. Only by combining Liunian with Dayun and the original natal chart can one accurately assess the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the year's fortunes and specific events.
- Subtle Adjustments: Even during a decade with a very good Dayun, one might encounter one or two less-than-ideal Liunian, leading to some minor setbacks in that particular year. Conversely, even during a decade with an unfavorable Dayun, one might encounter one or two more favorable Liunian, providing some respite or small achievements in that year.
- Interactive Relationship: The Stem-Branch of Liunian, Dayun, and the original natal chart will engage in complex relationships such as Punishments, Clashes, Combinations, and Harms, thereby triggering or altering the original Five Elements' generation, destruction, control, and transformation, which in turn affects the specific fortunes of that year. For instance, if a Liunian clashes with the wealth star in the natal chart, it may indicate poor financial luck or a risk of financial loss in that year.
III. Influence and Interrelationship of Dayun and Liunian on Life's Fortunes
- Primary and Secondary Relationship: Dayun is the "framework" or "macro-climate," while Liunian is the "flesh and blood" or "micro-climate." Dayun determines the big direction and general tone, while Liunian represents the specific events and details occurring within that tone.
- Example: If a person is in a "career development" Dayun (e.g., a favorable element/god arrives), then over these ten years, they will encounter many career opportunities. A "beneficial for promotion" Liunian, then, might specifically lead to them receiving a promotion. Conversely, if the Dayun is a "career bottleneck period," even if there are slight opportunities in a Liunian, it might be difficult to seize them or achievements might be limited.
- Mutual Interaction:
- Dayun Determines Upper and Lower Limits: The quality of Dayun largely determines the highest achievements a person can reach and the lowest valleys they might encounter within a particular decade.
- Liunian Triggers Specific Events: Liunian, within the framework of Dayun, concretizes and manifests events. A good Dayun, when met with a good Liunian, brings even greater auspiciousness; if it encounters an unfavorable Liunian, there might be some setbacks, but they can usually be overcome. An unfavorable Dayun, when met with an unfavorable Liunian, brings compounded misfortune, potentially leading to serious difficulties; if it encounters a favorable Liunian, one might receive a slight alleviation or small help amidst the difficulties.
- Comprehensive Analysis: Destiny analysis must combine the original natal chart (Bazi), Dayun, and Liunian. The original natal chart is the "talent" and "foundation," Dayun is the "growth environment" and "ten-year theme," and Liunian is the "annual weather" and "specific events." Only by comprehensively considering these three can one make a complete, accurate, and in-depth judgment of a person's fortunes.
- Guidance Significance: Understanding the changes in Dayun and Liunian can help people better understand their life trajectory. When fortunes are favorable, one can be proactive and seize opportunities; when fortunes are unfavorable, one can be cautious and conservative, biding one's time, or avert misfortune through feng shui adjustments, behavioral changes, and other methods. This is not fatalism but provides a tool for self-awareness and strategic planning.
In summary, Dayun and Liunian are important components that form the timeline of life's fortunes. Dayun is the main melody, outlining the ten-year life pattern; Liunian is the variation, enacting the specific plot of each year. Both influence and interact with each other, collectively painting the complex picture of a person's destiny.