title: Relations between Eastern four pillars theory and Western measures of personality traits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigated the validity of personality classification using four pillars theory, a tradition in China and northeastern Asia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four pillars analyses were performed for 148 adults on the basis of their birth year, month, day, and hour. Participants completed two personality tests, the Korean version of Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised-Short Version (TCI) and the Korean Inventory of Interpersonal Problems; scores were correlated with four pillars classification elements. Mean difference tests (e.g., t-test, ANOVA) were compared with groups classified by four pillars index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant correlations between personality scale scores and total yin/yang number (i.e., the 8 heavenly or earthly stems), and no significant between-groups results for classifications by yin/yang day stem and the five elements. There were significant but weak (r=0.18-0.29) correlations between the five elements and personality scale scores. For the six gods and personality scales, there were significant but weak (r=0.18-0.25) correlations. Features predicted by four pillars theory were most consistent when participants were grouped according to the yin/yang of the day stem and dominance of yin/yang numbers in the eight heavenly or earthly stems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the major criteria of four pillars theory were not independently correlated with personality scale scores, correlations emerged when participants were grouped according to the composite yin/yang variable. Our results suggest the utility of four pillars theory (beyond fortune telling or astrology) for classifying personality traits and making behavioral predictions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling Psychology, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Dr. Yang's Psychiatric Clinic, Seoul, Korea. lamb55@nate.com.
authors.forename: Chang Soon
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002605:Character; D002681:China; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality / Q000145:classification*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D056910:Republic of Korea; D013694:Temperament; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Eastern Asia; Western world; Yin-yang; personality tests
references.citation: Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1993 Dec;50(12):975-90
references.pmid: 8250684
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references.pmid: 2280321