BaZi glossary · Twelve Life Stages
Termination (绝) in BaZi
The stage of endings and turning points
Short answer
Termination (Jue, 绝) is the tenth of the Twelve Life Stages: the old form fully dissolved, cut off from the past. Traditionally it stands for change, letting go, decisiveness and instability, and also for turning points: Conception comes right after, hence the old saying about finding life at the end of the road (绝处逢生).
At a glance
- Group
- Twelve Life Stages · stage 10
- Life-cycle image
- The old form dissolved, cut off from the past
- Keywords
- change, letting go, decisiveness, instability, turning points
- Strength
- Weakest: strength at its lowest
- Related ideas
- The Yang stems' Termination branches are Yin, Shen, Si and Hai; Conception follows, “life at the end of the road”
How to find the Termination
Count from the Day Master: Yang stems forward from Birth, Yin stems backward. Jia's Birth is Hai, so nine steps forward, Shen, is Jia's Termination; Yi's Birth is Wu, so nine steps backward, You, is Yi's Termination. The table shows the Termination branch for each of the ten Day Masters.
| Day Master | Branch at Termination |
|---|---|
| 甲 Jia · Yang Wood | 申 Shen |
| 乙 Yi · Yin Wood | 酉 You |
| 丙 Bing · Yang Fire | 亥 Hai |
| 丁 Ding · Yin Fire | 子 Zi |
| 戊 Wu · Yang Earth | 亥 Hai |
| 己 Ji · Yin Earth | 子 Zi |
| 庚 Geng · Yang Metal | 寅 Yin |
| 辛 Xin · Yin Metal | 卯 Mao |
| 壬 Ren · Yang Water | 巳 Si |
| 癸 Gui · Yin Water | 午 Wu |
What Termination means traditionally
Termination is the weakest stage and the end of the old cycle: what was is cut off, and what will be has not formed yet. A Day Master sitting on Termination is traditionally described as changeable, decisive and willing to start over, highly adaptable, but also impulsive, with plans that shift often.
Its meaning is the turning point. The Day Master has almost no root here and leans on Seals and Companions; yet because everything resets to zero, new growth becomes possible, which is what “life at the end of the road” means.
How to read it in a chart
- Day branch
- a Day Master sitting on Termination (e.g. Jia Shen, Geng Yin, Yi You, Xin Mao) is traditionally read as decisive and changeable, quick to fall in and out of love, and in need of patience.
- Month branch
- meeting Termination in the month means the birth season least favours the Day Master, which usually leans weak; check carefully for Seals and Companions.
- Year and hour pillars
- Termination there is often read as a phase of many changes, or a major turning point.
- Luck pillars and years
- a Termination period traditionally brings endings and restarts; adapt with the change rather than clinging to the old.
Related ideas
- Life at the end of the road
- Conception and Nurture follow Termination, then Birth again, so the lowest point is followed by a new start.
- Termination and strength
- sitting on Termination, or meeting it in the month, leaves the Day Master almost rootless, so Seals and Companions weigh heavily in the reading.
Common misconceptions
- Termination does not mean a fatal end or losing everything; it is the metaphorical name of a life stage.
- Termination is not necessarily bad; turning points often bring new opportunities.
- The life stages alone cannot tell you the Day Master's strength; read them with the month, the balance of the phases and the structure.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see Termination in my own chart?
Enter your birth details in the free calculator. The life stage row shows your Day Master's stage at each branch, and the self stage row shows each pillar's stem on its own branch. You can also use the table above.
What does “life at the end of the road” mean?
In the life-stage cycle, Termination is the lowest point, and Conception, Nurture and Birth come straight after. The old saying uses it to describe new life arriving once the road seems to end.
What does a Day Master sitting on Termination mean?
Traditionally decisive, changeable and adaptable; if the Day Master is weak, Seals and Companions help. How it plays out depends on the whole chart.
See your Day Master's life stage in every pillar
The free calculator shows the Day Master's life stage in every pillar, and each pillar's self stage.
For cultural learning, self-reflection, and entertainment. AI interpretations may be incomplete or inaccurate and are not professional advice.