Chinese metaphysics contains many systems, and newcomers often meet them one at a time, which makes the whole field feel larger and more confusing than it is. A map helps: the major systems share a small set of foundations, and each one applies those foundations to a different question. BaZi describes structure and timing, Qimen Dunjia describes decisions and moments, Feng Shui describes spaces, and daily guidance describes rhythm and practice. This article maps the major systems, building on the overview in What Is Chinese Metaphysics?.

The Shared Foundations

All the major systems rest on the same foundations: yin and yang, the five elements, the ten heavenly stems, the twelve earthly branches, and the cycles of the Chinese calendar. These concepts appear again and again, which means progress in one system transfers to the others. If you understand the five elements, you can already follow much of the vocabulary in every other system. The foundations are introduced in Yin and Yang in Plain English, Understanding the Ten Heavenly Stems, and Understanding the Twelve Earthly Branches.

The shared vocabulary is also why studying one system deeply is more efficient than sampling all of them shallowly: the deep study of one teaches the foundations that lift the others.

BaZi: Structure and Timing

BaZi, the Four Pillars, reads a person's chart from birth data and describes the balance of elements, the ten gods, and the timing cycles that follow. It answers questions about tendencies, strengths, and life periods: what kind of work fits, what patterns repeat, and which windows support which plans. Its timing system, the luck cycles, makes it the natural system for life planning. The core is described in What Is BaZi?, and its limits in What a BaZi Chart Can and Cannot Tell You.

Qimen Dunjia: Decisions and Moments

Qimen Dunjia builds a chart for a specific moment and uses it to evaluate a decision: whether to act, when to act, and which options the window supports. It is the system of timing and choice, most useful when you are comparing options or deciding between acting and waiting. Its doors, stars, and palaces describe the character of the moment rather than the character of a person. The introduction is in What Is Qimen Dunjia? A Grounded Introduction, and the comparison with BaZi in Qimen vs BaZi: Timing vs Structure.

Feng Shui, Daily Guidance, and Reports

Feng Shui reads the energy of spaces: layout, orientation, light, airflow, and the placement of objects, and it answers questions about how a place supports its activities. Its basics are in What Is Feng Shui?. Daily guidance works at the scale of days and weeks, applying the calendar and seasonal rhythms to planning, rest, and practice, with the overview in What Is Daily Guidance in Chinese Metaphysics?. The reading services on this site draw on these systems to answer personal questions, and their products are compared in BaZi Report vs Qimen Brief.

How the Systems Work Together

The list shows the division of labor. The systems are not competing versions of the same thing; they are different lenses on the same foundations, and the map makes each lens easier to choose. The combined view is described in How the Major Chinese Metaphysics Systems Fit Together.

A Reading Path Through the Map

For a beginner, a sensible path starts with the shared foundations: learn the five elements, yin and yang, and the stems and branches, and the rest of the map becomes readable. Then choose one system as the anchor, usually the one that matches your primary question. If you care about life structure and timing, anchor on BaZi; if you care about decisions and moments, anchor on Qimen; if you care about spaces, anchor on Feng Shui. Study the anchor until you can follow a real reading, then use the shared foundations to open the other systems. The same path is described in How to Study Chinese Metaphysics Without Superstition, which emphasizes foundations before depth.

Most people find that the second system is much easier than the first, because the vocabulary transfers. That is the payoff of the map: it turns a confusing field into a connected structure with a clear starting point.

Using the Map to Choose a Reading

The map also helps you choose a reading service. If you want to understand your tendencies and life periods, a BaZi report is the matching product; if you want timing input for a specific decision, a Qimen brief fits better; if you want to review a space, a Feng Shui consultation is the right call. The products are compared in BaZi Report vs Qimen Brief, and the same comparison logic applies to every service. Choosing the matching system is half of getting a useful reading, because the best system for your question is the one designed for it.

When you book a reading, ask which system the reader will use and why. A reader who can explain the choice understands the map; a reader who cannot may be applying one system to every question. The map gives you the vocabulary to ask, and the answer tells you a lot about the quality of the service.

FAQ

Do I need to learn all the systems?

No. Start with one that matches your questions, and let the shared foundations make the others easier later.

Which system should I start with?

Choose by question: BaZi for life structure and timing, Qimen for decisions, Feng Shui for spaces, or daily guidance for rhythm.

Are the systems contradictory?

They can emphasize different layers, but they share foundations and are usually compatible when read carefully.

How long does it take to learn one system?

Expect months for a working foundation and years for real judgment, regardless of the system you choose.