Japanese Candlesticks

In the 1700's a Japanese man named Munehisa Homma, a trader in the Osaka rice futures market, developed a method of technical analysis to analyze the price of rice contracts known as candlestick charting. Candlestick charts display the high, low, open, and close for a security each day over a specified period of time, in a format similar to a bar chart, but in a manner that extenuates the relationship between the opening and closing prices. A narrow line (shadow or wick) shows the day's price range. A wider body marks the area between the open and the close, referred to as real body. If the close is above the open, the body is white or green (not filled); if the close is below the open, the body is black or red (filled). Steve Nison is credited with popularizing candlestick charting in the west and is seen as a leading expert on their interpretation.

Bar Chart Vs. Candle Chart

Above: Traditional Bar Chart

Above: Candlestick Chart for the same time period

Homma used Sakata's Five Methods, patterns derived from rules used by local traders from his hometown of Sakata, as the foundation for his Candlestick Charting analysis.

Bullish Reversal Candlestick Patterns

A reversal pattern is one that indicates possible change in trend direction. Market trend must be bearish leading into the bullish reversal formation.

Long White Body, Hammer, Inverted Hammer, Bullish Belt Hold, Engulfing Pattern, Harami, Harami Cross, Piercing Line, Evening Doji Star, Meeting Lines, Three White Soldiers, Morning Star, Morning Doji Star, Abandoned Baby, Tri-Star, Breakaway, Three Inside Up, Three Outside Up, Kicking, Unique Three Rivers Bottom, Three Stars in the South, Concealing Baby Swallow, Stick Sandwich, Homing Pidgeon, Ladder Bottom, Matching Low, Marubozu

Bullish Continuation Candlestick Patterns

Continuation patterns appear in the middle of an existing trend and suggest that the trend will resume once the pattern is complete. 

Separating Lines, Rising Three Methods, Upside Tasuki Gap, Side by Side White Lines, Three Line Strike, Upside Gap Three Methods, On Neck Line, In Neck Line, Marubozu

Bearish Reversal Candlestick Patterns

Long Black Body, Hanging Man, Shooting Star, Belt Hold, Engulfing Pattern, Harami, Harami Cross, Dark Cloud Cover, Doji Star, Meeting Lines, Three Black Crows, Evening Star, Evening Doji Star, Abandoned Baby, Tri-Star, Breakaway, Three Inside Down, Kicking, Ladder Top, Matching High, Upside Gap Two Crows, Upside Gap Three Crows, Deliberation, Advance Block, Two Crows, Three Buddha Top, Three Mountains Top, Tweezer Top, Marubozu

Bearish Continuation Candlestick Patterns

Separating Lines, Falling Three Methods, Downside Tasuki Gap, Side by Side White Lines, Three Line Strike, Downside Gap Three Methods, On Neck Line, In Neck Line, Marubozu

Candlesticks that Reflect Indecision

Spinning Top, Doji, Long Legged Doji, Dragonfly Doji, Gravestone Doji, Four Price Doji

Daily Candlestick Play Instructions

Bullish Harami Candlestick Play Instructions
Bearish Harami Candlestick Play Instructions
3 Black Crows Candlestick Play Instructions
3 Soldiers Candlestick Play Instructions
Long Red Candlestick Play Instructions
Long Green Candlestick Play Instructions
Bullish Thrusting Line Candlestick Play Instructions

Weekly Candlestick Play Instructions

Bullish Harami (Weekly) Candlestick Play Instructions
Bearish Harami (Weekly) Candlestick Play Instructions
3 Black Crows (Weekly) Candlestick Play Instructions
3 White Soldiers (Weekly) Candlestick Play Instructions