冠带 · Coming of Age

guàndài · the third of the twelve life stages 十二长生

冠带 Coming of Age, guàndài, is the third of the twelve life stages in BaZi, 十二长生, the cycle a stem's strength follows through the twelve branches. A 甲 Yang Wood Day Master reaches it in 丑, the Ox, and a 乙 Yin Wood Day Master in 辰, the Dragon.

The twelve life stages trace a stem’s energy through the twelve branches, from birth to rest and back again. Each stem has a stage in every branch, so the same branch can be a high point for one stem and a low one for another.

The third phase: the energy dresses and prepares to take its place.

Where each stem reaches it

• 甲in丑
• 乙in辰
• 丙in辰
• 丁in未
• 戊in辰
• 己in未
• 庚in未
• 辛in戌
• 壬in戌
• 癸in丑

Yang stems move forward through the branches and Yin stems move backward, which is why each stem reaches this stage in a different branch.

Where you meet it

• Under each pillar in the Pro chart view: the stage of your Day Master in that branch.
• On Luck Pillars, where each decade’s branch puts your Day Master at a different stage.

A stage describes strength in one place, not a fate. Names like Death or Tomb are traditional labels for phases of the cycle.