How Saju Compatibility Is Scored — Stem Combinations, the Spouse Palace & Yongsin

Saju compatibility is an "explainable score": it starts from a base of 50 points, adds and subtracts for the two Day Masters' stem combination, the Day Branch (Spouse Palace) relationship, spouse stars, and Yongsin balance, then adjusts the result by personality type. "Where did our compatibility score actually come from?" Saju compatibility can feel like a black box — but look inside and it's simply a process of adding and subtracting fixed, named factors: Day Master, Day Branch, Yongsin. The Saju compatibility tool runs this calculation for you automatically; this guide walks through how that score is put together, step by step.

At a glance

• Compatibility is read in two layers: Saju (the grain you were born with — innate) and personality type (the self you've shaped — acquired).
• Stage 1, the Saju score, starts from a base of 50 points, then adds and subtracts for Day Master stem combinations, Day Branch ties, spouse stars, and Yongsin balance.
• Stage 2 adjusts by personality type — but critical flags like a Day Branch Clash impose a score cap, so the acquired layer can never paper over everything.
• The result is an explainable score that lays out each factor's contribution as-is.
• It is strictly a reference for entertainment and self-reflection — it does not predict whether a relationship succeeds or fails.

Stage 1: the Saju compatibility score

The Saju compatibility score runs from 0 to 100 and starts at a base of 50 points. From there, the calculation weighs the relationship between the two charts factor by factor, adding bonuses and subtracting penalties. The core factors are laid out below.

A couple can trip Clash, Punishment, Destruction, and Harm all at once. If every penalty stacked without limit, the score would spiral — so the calculation keeps things balanced by counting only the strongest hit per pair or applying a penalty cap.

Day Master stem combinations and Day Branch ties

First, the terms. The Day Branch (Ilji) is the Earthly Branch of the day you were born, commonly called the Spouse Palace. A stem combination (Cheonganhap) happens when the two people's Day Masters combine at the Heavenly Stem level — a sign of strong mutual attraction.

• Day Master stem combination: the two core selves (Day Masters) pull toward each other — a major bonus.
• Day Branch Six Combinations and Three Harmony: when the Spouse Palaces harmonize, day-to-day life together tends to run on an easy grain.
• Day Branch Clash: the Spouse Palaces collide head-on — the single most heavily weighted "critical flag."

Spouse stars and Yongsin balance

A Saju chart contains characters that stand for a spouse. For men, it's the Wealth stars (Direct Wealth and Indirect Wealth); for women, the Officer stars (Direct Officer and Seven Killings) — and when that energy is well in place, points are added.

The other core factor is the Yongsin (useful element) — the Five Element your chart needs most. When your partner naturally supplies the very element you lack, the two charts are read as complementary, and a bonus is added. In other words: a match that fills in what's missing.

Stage 2: the personality-type adjustment

The Saju score isn't the end of it. In Stage 2, the score is adjusted by personality type (the acquired layer). The philosophy is simple — "where the Saju doesn't mesh, personality can compensate, but a critical fault can't be fully covered."

• When the Saju score sits in the middle band (40–79), personality compatibility makes the biggest difference.
• But when a critical flaw like a Day Branch Clash is present, a cap (e.g. 59 points) kicks in, so the acquired layer can never fully cover a major innate fault.

Put another way: even a great personality match won't push the score up without limit — a deep crack in the grain you were born with stays on the ledger.

A score you can explain

The strength of this score is that it shows exactly why you got the number you got. For example:

• Day Master stem combination +20
• Day Branch Six Combinations +15
• Day Branch Clash −20
• Yongsin balance +8
• Shared intuition +12

Lay the contributions out like this, and you can see at a glance where the two of you click and where the differences run. Our free tool shows the total score, the grade, and some of the key factors; the detailed factor-by-factor commentary continues in the paid Saju compatibility reading.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between outer and inner compatibility?

In common usage, outer compatibility matches the two birth-year animal signs (Year Branches) — the surface layer — while inner compatibility goes deeper, to the Day Master, Day Branch, and Yongsin. Since our score weighs Day Master stem combinations, Day Branch ties, and Yongsin balance, it's much closer to inner compatibility.

Does a low compatibility score mean we'll break up?

No. The score does not predict whether a relationship succeeds or fails. Treat it as a reference for understanding your differences and finding better ways to get along.

Is a Day Branch Clash always bad news?

A Day Branch Clash is the most heavily weighted flag, but it isn't a destiny or a final verdict. It's closer to a signal: this is where your differences run largest, so know it early and meet each other partway.

Can personality type make up for the whole Saju score?

In the middle band, personality type makes a real difference. But when a critical flag is present, the cap kicks in — the acquired layer can never fully cover the innate one.

What is a Yongsin?

The Five Element your chart needs most. When your partner supplies that missing energy, the two of you are read as a complementary match, and points are added.

How much can I see for free?

The total score, the grade, and some of the key factors are free to check; the detailed factor-by-factor commentary continues in the paid Saju compatibility reading.

Related Saju guides worth a read

• How to read your Saju chart — the Day Master and Day Branch, the raw material of compatibility
• The Sipsin (Ten Gods), fully explained — how to read the spouse stars (Wealth and Officer stars)
• Reading the Five Element balance in your Saju — what Yongsin balance really means
• The 16 Saju personality types — the personality-type adjustment behind Stage 2

Wrapping up

From Day Master stem combinations to Yongsin balance — if you'd like to understand your differences and find better ways to get along, check your score and the reasoning behind it with Saju compatibility. And remember: the result is not a fixed verdict on your fate, but a reference for entertainment and self-reflection.