Shou, The Longevity Star
Shou, the Longevity Star, is the smiling elder with a peach and a staff. In askjoss it stands for Earth: steadiness, routine and looking after yourself for the long run.
Who has the Shou as their guardian?
Your guardian follows your favorable element (喜用神): the element your BaZi chart needs most to stay in balance, worked out from your birth date, time and place with simplified strength-balance (扶抑) rules. When Earth is your favorable element, the Shou is your guardian and your lucky color is ochre yellow.
Your zodiac animal does not decide it: two people born in the same year can have different guardians.
Earth at a glance
| Stands for | Steadiness and wellbeing |
|---|---|
| Color | ochre yellow |
| Season | the last 18 days of each season |
| Direction | Northeast and Southwest |
| Numbers (He Tu) | 5, 0 |
The Guardian Figure is an 8 cm keepsake of your guardian, 3D-printed to order with an engraved base ($39). It is a companion object for your desk, not a charm that does anything on its own.
Learn more about the elements in The Five Elements.
The other guardians
- Qilin, The Gentle Protector (Wood)
- Wenchang, The Bright Scholar (Fire)
- Pixiu, The Wealth Keeper (Metal)
- Mandarin Ducks, The Faithful Pair (Water)
Guardians are the askjoss storytelling layer on top of real chart math: each one stands for an element. They are not deities, the figures are not blessed or consecrated, and nothing here promises an outcome.