Pablo Picasso's Birth Chart Interpretation: Ba Zi, Zi Wei Dou Shu, and Western Astrology
1881–1973 | Spanish painter and sculptor (1881–1973)
Photo: Argentina. Revista Vea y Lea / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Photo: Argentina. Revista Vea y Lea / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Pablo Picasso (Pablo Picasso, 1881–1973) was born on 10/25/1881 at 23:15 in Spain Málaga. Based on the birth details, the Ba Zi pillars are “辛巳 (Xin Si), 戊戌 (Wu Xu), 壬辰 (Ren Chen), 庚子 (Geng Zi)”; Day Master: 壬 (Ren) Water; strength: Weak Day Master. In Zi Wei Dou Shu, the Life Palace is in 戌 (Xu), with No principal star in the Life Palace (an empty palace); refer to Heavenly Mechanism (Tian Ji), Heavenly Beam (Tian Liang) in the opposite palace for interpretation and Wood bureau 3. In Western astrology, the Sun is in Scorpio, the Moon in Sagittarius, and the Ascendant in Leo. Comparing major life events: In 1900, Visited Paris; that year's Career and social standing score was 90, and the chart signal was auspicious. Below, we compare 10 major events in his life with the charts year by year to see how Eastern divination and Western astrology each interpret them.
Birth Details
Time of Birth
10/25/1881 23:15 (local time)
Place of Birth
Málaga, Spain (latitude 36.73° N, longitude 4.42° W)
Data Source
Open Gauquelin Database（picasso-pablo-1881-10-25）; birth time as recorded on the birth certificate (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Year of Death
1973-04-08
Ba Zi: Four Pillars of Destiny
Year Pillar辛巳Xin Si
Month Pillar戊戌Wu Xu
Day Pillar壬辰Ren Chen
Hour Pillar庚子Geng Zi
The Day Master is 壬 (Ren), of the Water (like flowing water moving flexibly and seeping through) element, with strength assessed as Weak Day Master; the favorable and useful Five Elements are Metal (like metal drawing inward and remaining firm), Water (like flowing water moving flexibly and seeping through).
Zi Wei Dou Shu
The Life Palace is in 戌 (Xu), No principal star (empty palace); traditionally refer to Heavenly Mechanism (Tian Ji), Heavenly Beam (Tian Liang) in the opposite palace (Travel Palace) for interpretation; the Body Palace is in Life, and the Five-Element Bureau is Wood bureau 3. The birth year's Four Transformations: Giant Gate (Ju Men) undergoes Hua Lu (Prosperity Transformation) and enters Career, Sun (Tai Yang) undergoes Hua Quan (Authority Transformation) and enters Career, Arts Star (Wen Qu) undergoes Hua Ke (Recognition Transformation) and enters Travel, Literary Star (Wen Chang) undergoes Hua Ji (Adversity Transformation) and enters Life.
Western Astrology Natal Chart
Ascendant
Leo
Sun
Scorpio, House 4
Moon
Sagittarius, House 5
Mercury
Scorpio, House 4
Venus
Libra, House 3
Mars
Cancer, House 12
Jupiter
Taurus, House 10
Saturn
Taurus, House 10
Houses use the Whole Sign system (the Ascendant's zodiac sign is House 1).
Rising Leo: People with Leo rising give a generous, noticeable first impression; they like being seen and are also willing to help others shine.
Sun in Scorpio, House 4: The Sun represents the core self and the person one aspires to become; this placement is traditionally interpreted as: “With the Sun in the 4th house, your core identity and life will is expressed through home, family roots, emotional security, and your inner foundation. This makes you likely to clear purpose and visible confidence, while your lesson is to remember that being seen does not have to become constant self-proof.”
Moon in Sagittarius, House 5: The Moon represents emotions and an inner sense of security; this placement is traditionally interpreted as: “With the Moon in the 5th house, your emotional instincts and need for safety is expressed through creativity, romance, play, children, and self-expression. This makes you likely to react with sincerity and strong feeling, while your lesson is to separate passing moods from lasting needs.”
Lifetime Fortune Line Chart
Dark blue line = overall fortune; gold line = career; alternating darker and lighter background = stages of the Ten-Year Luck Cycle (major periods); dots = major life events (green = positive events, red = setbacks, orange = turning points). Scores use this site's combined Zi Wei Dou Shu and Ba Zi scoring and serve only as a comparison within the culture of fate interpretation.
Major Life Events Compared with Birth Charts
1900 (19 years old): Visited Paris, then the capital of the art world, for the first time.
Ba Zi: Ten-Year Luck Cycle: 丙申 (Bing Shen); yearly cycle: 庚子 (Geng Zi). This year's Career and social standing score is 90 (overall: 70).
Birth-chart indicators: 〔Auspicious〕During Yearly Fortune, Sun (Tai Yang) takes on a beneficial influence (Hua Lu) and enters the natal Career Palace, suggesting happy developments and gains in Career and professional standing.; 〔Auspicious〕When the Day Master 壬 meets the “Peak Prosperity” stage with branch 子 of Yearly Fortune, its influence is at its strongest, symbolizing a peak in achievement..
The birth-chart indicators align with the direction of this event.
1904 (23 years old): Met Fernande Olivier in Paris, and she became his partner.
Ba Zi: Ten-Year Luck Cycle: 乙未 (Yi Wei); yearly cycle: 甲辰 (Jia Chen). This year's Marriage and relationships score is 52 (overall: 63).
Birth-chart indicators: 〔Take note〕During Yearly Fortune, Sun (Tai Yang) takes on the obstructive Hua Ji influence and enters the Spouse Palace of Yearly Fortune, indicating that Marriage and romantic relationships may face obstacles and changes of course.; 〔Take note〕During Yearly Fortune, branch 辰 forms a punishment relationship with day branch 辰, traditionally indicating more friction between partners..
The birth-chart indicators do not fully align with the direction of this event—astrological interpretation offers a cultural perspective for comparison, while personal choices and the circumstances of the times are equally important.
1905 (24 years old): Won the favor of the American art-collecting siblings Leo and Gertrude Stein; his Blue Period ended and his Rose Period began.
Ba Zi: Ten-Year Luck Cycle: 乙未 (Yi Wei); yearly cycle: 乙巳 (Yi Si). This year's Career and social standing score is 76 (overall: 72).
Birth-chart indicators: 〔Take note〕During Yearly Fortune, Hurting Officer (Shang Guan) at Heavenly Stem is said to clash with Direct Officer, suggesting friction with people in authority.; 〔Auspicious〕During Yearly Fortune, Heavenly Mechanism (Tian Ji) takes on a beneficial influence (Hua Lu) and enters the natal Travel Palace, suggesting happy developments and gains in Career and professional standing..
Western Astrology: Jupiter transits Taurus (House 10), coinciding with a “Jupiter return” (approximately every 12 years; traditionally regarded as a starting point for expansion and new opportunities); Saturn transits Pisces (House 8).
The birth-chart indicators align with the direction of this event.
1907 (26 years old): Painted Les Demoiselles d'Avignon and joined art dealer Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler's gallery.
Ba Zi: Ten-Year Luck Cycle: 乙未 (Yi Wei); yearly cycle: 丁未 (Ding Wei). This year's Career and social standing score is 82 (overall: 74).
Birth-chart indicators: 〔Take note〕During Yearly Fortune, Giant Gate (Ju Men) takes on the obstacle-related Hua Ji influence and enters the natal Career Palace, suggesting setbacks or difficulties in Career and professional standing.; 〔Auspicious〕During Yearly Fortune, Heavenly Mechanism (Tian Ji) takes on the recognition-related Hua Ke influence and enters the natal Travel Palace, suggesting a good reputation and smoother progress in Career and professional standing..
Western Astrology: Jupiter transits Cancer (House 12); Saturn transits Pisces (House 8).
The birth-chart indicators align with the direction of this event.
1918 (37 years old): Married the ballet dancer Olga Khokhlova.
Ba Zi: Ten-Year Luck Cycle: 甲午 (Jia Wu); yearly cycle: 戊午 (Wu Wu). This year's Marriage and relationships score is 59 (overall: 69).
Birth-chart indicators: 〔Take note〕During Yearly Fortune, Heavenly Mechanism (Tian Ji) takes on the obstructive Hua Ji influence and enters the Spouse Palace of Yearly Fortune, indicating that Marriage and romantic relationships may face obstacles and changes of course.; 〔Auspicious〕At dominant energy of the Earthly Branch during Yearly Fortune, Direct Wealth (Zheng Cai) is revealed as the wife star in a man's chart, traditionally associated with romance and marriage..
Western Astrology: Jupiter transits Gemini (House 11); Saturn transits Leo (House 1).
The birth-chart indicators do not fully align with the direction of this event—astrological interpretation offers a cultural perspective for comparison, while personal choices and the circumstances of the times are equally important.
1937 (56 years old): Created the monumental anti-war painting Guernica.
Ba Zi: Ten-Year Luck Cycle: 壬辰 (Ren Chen); yearly cycle: 丁丑 (Ding Chou). This year's Career and social standing score is 41 (overall: 59).
Birth-chart indicators: 〔Take note〕During Yearly Fortune, Giant Gate (Ju Men) takes on the obstacle-related Hua Ji influence and enters the natal Career Palace, suggesting setbacks or difficulties in Career and professional standing.; 〔Auspicious〕During Yearly Fortune, Heavenly Mechanism (Tian Ji) takes on the recognition-related Hua Ke influence and enters the natal Travel Palace, suggesting a good reputation and smoother progress in Career and professional standing..
The birth-chart indicators do not fully align with the direction of this event—astrological interpretation offers a cultural perspective for comparison, while personal choices and the circumstances of the times are equally important.
1939 (58 years old): The Museum of Modern Art in New York held a major retrospective exhibition of his work.
Ba Zi: Ten-Year Luck Cycle: 壬辰 (Ren Chen); yearly cycle: 己卯 (Ji Mao). This year's Career and social standing score is 62 (overall: 59).
Birth-chart indicators: 〔Auspicious〕In Yearly Fortune, branch 卯 combines with the month branch 戌, suggesting stronger foundations and support for career matters.; 〔Auspicious〕Direct Officer (Zheng Guan) appearing at Heavenly Stem during Yearly Fortune is associated with advancement at work and receiving recognition..
The birth-chart indicators align with the direction of this event.
1941 (60 years old): Legally separated from Olga Khokhlova.
Ba Zi: Ten-Year Luck Cycle: 壬辰 (Ren Chen); yearly cycle: 辛巳 (Xin Si). This year's Marriage and relationships score is 58 (overall: 65).
Birth-chart indicators: 〔Auspicious〕At dominant energy of the Earthly Branch in Yearly Fortune, Indirect Wealth: in a man’s birth chart, the star associated with a wife is clearly revealed; traditionally, this is interpreted as a sign of connections with the opposite sex.; 〔Auspicious〕During Yearly Fortune, the beneficial Hua Lu influence reaches the three connected directions of the natal Spouse Palace, pointing to pleasant events and gains in Marriage and romantic relationships..
Western Astrology: Jupiter transits Gemini (House 11); Saturn transits Taurus (House 10), coinciding with a “Saturn return” (approximately every 29 years; traditionally viewed as a turning point involving tests and maturity).
The birth-chart indicators do not fully align with the direction of this event—astrological interpretation offers a cultural perspective for comparison, while personal choices and the circumstances of the times are equally important.
1953 (72 years old): A portrait of Stalin that he painted was criticized by the French Communist Party.
Ba Zi: Ten-Year Luck Cycle: 庚寅 (Geng Yin); yearly cycle: 癸巳 (Gui Si). This year's Career and social standing score is 81 (overall: 52).
Birth-chart indicators: 〔Take note〕The Day Master 壬 reaches the “Extinction” stage (a phase of strength) through branch 巳 of Yearly Fortune, pointing to a sharp turning point or a break in continuity.; 〔Auspicious〕During Yearly Fortune, Army Breaker (Po Jun) takes on the beneficial Hua Lu influence and enters the Career Palace of Yearly Fortune, indicating welcome developments and benefits in Career and professional standing..
The birth-chart indicators do not fully align with the direction of this event—astrological interpretation offers a cultural perspective for comparison, while personal choices and the circumstances of the times are equally important.
1961 (80 years old): Married Jacqueline Roque.
Ba Zi: Ten-Year Luck Cycle: 庚寅 (Geng Yin); yearly cycle: 辛丑 (Xin Chou). This year's Marriage and relationships score is 82 (overall: 74).
Birth-chart indicators: 〔Auspicious〕The stem of the Spouse Palace in Yearly Fortune creates a beneficial Hua Lu influence that enters the Life Palace of Yearly Fortune, suggesting that favorable opportunities in Marriage and romantic relationships may come to you without much prompting.; 〔Auspicious〕During Yearly Fortune, the beneficial Hua Lu influence reaches the three connected directions of the natal Spouse Palace, pointing to pleasant events and gains in Marriage and romantic relationships..
The birth-chart indicators align with the direction of this event.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ba Zi birth chart of Pablo Picasso?
According to the birth time recorded in the Gauquelin database (10/25/1881 23:15, Málaga), the Ba Zi chart comprises the Year Pillar 辛巳 (Xin Si), Month Pillar 戊戌 (Wu Xu), Day Pillar 壬辰 (Ren Chen), and Hour Pillar 庚子 (Geng Zi). The Day Master is 壬 (Ren) Water, assessed as Weak Day Master, with favorable elements Metal, Water.
What is the Life Palace in the Zi Wei Dou Shu chart of Pablo Picasso?
The Life Palace is in the 戌 (Xu) palace, with No principal star in the Life Palace (an empty palace); refer to Heavenly Mechanism (Tian Ji), Heavenly Beam (Tian Liang) in the opposite palace for interpretation; its Five-Element Bureau is Wood bureau 3. The Four Transformations of the birth year are: Giant Gate (Ju Men) undergoes Hua Lu (Prosperity Transformation) and enters Career, Sun (Tai Yang) undergoes Hua Quan (Authority Transformation) and enters Career, Arts Star (Wen Qu) undergoes Hua Ke (Recognition Transformation) and enters Travel, Literary Star (Wen Chang) undergoes Hua Ji (Adversity Transformation) and enters Life.
What are the Sun sign and rising sign of Pablo Picasso?
Sun: Scorpio; Moon: Sagittarius; Ascendant: Leo.
Are these birth-chart interpretations accurate?
This page compares and shares perspectives from traditional divination culture: it places publicly documented life events alongside birth charts to show how traditional systems interpret them. Divination is not prediction, and we make no claims about accuracy rates. In some years, the chart indicators agree with events; in others they do not. We present both outcomes as they are.
Cultural Exchange Notice
The Hundred Years Book of Fate is a cultural-exchange website that uses divination traditions and psychological tests as a medium. This page places publicly documented life events alongside birth charts, illustrating how Eastern divination systems and Western astrology interpret them in their own ways. It is not a prediction, nor does it mean that divination can explain someone's achievements or experiences. Life events are drawn only from public, verifiable sources and do not concern health.
Birth data: Open Gauquelin Database (CC BY-SA 4.0). Biographical data and life events: Wikidata Q5593 (CC0) , Wikipedia. Chart calculations: The Hundred Years Book of Fate engine; lunar calendar dates before 1900 are extended using astronomical calculations. Last updated: 2026-10-30.
