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The Twelve Sinsal
— All Twelve Names in One Place

Saju basics · 2026.08.22 · 7 min read

The scattered names are actually one set

Dohwasal, Yeongmasal, Hwagaesal… they're names people tend to search for one by one, but in fact they belong to a single system called the Twelve Sinsal (sibi-sinsal 十二神殺, twelve symbolic stars). They're twelve names attached in order to the twelve Earthly Branches.

Once you see the overall structure, each individual sinsal becomes much quicker to understand, because you can see why that name sits where it does.

All twelve, in order

The order has a flow. They're arranged as one cycle: being born, growing, reaching a peak, then waning and winding down.

Geopsal (劫殺, Robbery Star)

The position of having something taken. It's seen as the empty state just before a beginning, and read as a sign to take care in protecting what's yours.

Jaesal (災殺, Disaster Star)

Also called Suoksal (囚獄殺, “confinement”). A tone of being shut in and tied down. It suggests a situation where you can't budge, but turned around, it's also a position where you come to focus on one place.

Cheonsal (天殺, Heaven Star)

Things beyond your control, like the will of heaven. It points to variables you can't control. It's sometimes read as your relationship with superiors or large organizations.

Jisal

The position of setting foot on the ground and heading out. A tone of movement and beginnings. It's seen as a gentler version of Yeongmasal.

Yeonsal (年殺)

This is Dohwasal (桃花殺, Peach Blossom Star). The position of charm that draws people in. It's read as popularity and expressiveness, and today it isn't seen only negatively.

Wolsal (月殺, Moon Star)

Also called Gochosal (枯焦殺, “withering”). A tone of drying up and withering. It's seen as a period when progress slows.

Mangsinsal (亡身殺, Exposure Star)

The position of being revealed. It's a tone of hidden things coming out, so it's read as embarrassment, but also as the strength to show yourself honestly.

Jangseongsal

The position of the general. It's where the Twelve Sinsal carry the most force. A tone of taking the lead and pushing forward.

Banansal (攀鞍殺, Saddle Star)

The position of sitting in the saddle. A tone of riding comfortably, so it's read as promotion and position. It's also seen as a position of receiving help.

Yeongmasal

The position of movement: travel, trips, moving house, going abroad. In the old days, wandering was seen as bad, but today it's often seen as a good thing.

Yukhaesal (六害殺, Six Harms Star)

Six kinds of harm. It's seen as a tone of being worn down and scattered. That said, it's also read as a position for handling things quickly.

Hwagaesal

The position under a canopy. A world of your own. It's linked to art, religion, scholarship and research, and seen as a tone that deepens in proportion to solitude.

Lookup table — find your sinsal

The Twelve Sinsal are assigned based on the Three Harmony groups. Find which group your zodiac animal (or day branch) belongs to, then look down the column for the relevant branch.

Don't be scared by the character 'sal (殺)'

The names carry the character sal, meaning 'to kill', so they sound frightening, but here it means something closer to 'energy' or 'influence'. It's not a warning that something bad will happen.

In fact, interpretations have changed over time. Yeongmasal was seen as bad when settling down was a virtue, but today it's read as being active; Dohwasal, too, was once seen as a problem but is now read as charm and expressiveness.

That interpretations of the same characters can change this much means that sinsal don't decide your fate on their own — each era's perspective is layered on top. Knowing this makes them much easier to read.

What to keep in mind when reading sinsal

• Sinsal are a supporting tool in Saju. The structure of your birth chart and the Ten Gods are the main body; sinsal add color.
• Don't judge by count. Things like “three Dohwasal” are sensational, but the basis is weak.
• Filter out interpretations that scare you. Especially if someone is trying to sell you something on the basis of sinsal.

Where to see your sinsal

You can find them yourself with the lookup table, but first you need your eight Saju characters. Open your birth chart in Mutal Unnie and your sinsal and Gongmang are shown alongside the eight characters. The Four Pillars chart table is entirely free.