The Ten Gods (十神)
The Ten Gods are the language of interpersonal relationships in BaZi — with the Day Master (日主, "self") as the axis, the other stems and branches are divided into ten roles based on Five-Element generation and control, as well as Yin-Yang polarity.
| Ten God | Relationship to Day Stem | Represents | Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zheng Guan (正官) | Opposite polarity controls me | Husband (for women), superiors, rules | Self-discipline, responsibility, status |
| Qi Sha (七杀) | Same polarity controls me | Pressure, power, petty people | Decisiveness, boldness, sense of crisis |
| Zheng Cai (正财) | Opposite polarity I control | Wife (for men), legitimate wealth | Frugal, practical, stable income |
| Pian Cai (偏财) | Same polarity I control | Father, windfall, business wealth | Generous, adaptable, wealth through connections |
| Zheng Yin (正印) | Opposite polarity generates me | Mother, education, protection | Eager to learn, kind, dependent |
| Pian Yin (偏印) | Same polarity generates me | Unconventional learning, religion | Sensitive, solitary, intuitive |
| Shi Shen (食神) | Opposite polarity I generate | Talent, enjoyment of food, children (for women) | Gentle, expressive, pleasure-seeking |
| Shang Guan (伤官) | Same polarity I generate | Rebellion, skills, expressiveness | Clever and proud, resistant to authority |
| Bi Jian (比肩) | Same polarity, same as me | Siblings, colleagues, competition | Independent, self-respecting, possessive |
| Jie Cai (劫财) | Opposite polarity, same as me | Competition, financial loss, gambler's nature | Bold, impulsive, fighting for wealth |
Usage
- Mixed Zheng Guan and Qi Sha (官杀混杂): career and relationships easily pressured from multiple directions — needs to be clarified
- Shi Shen and Shang Guan generating Wealth (食伤生财): a combination of earning money through talent and skills — common among freelancers and entrepreneurs
- Yin and Bi Jian seizing Wealth (印比夺财): when Yin stars and Bi Jian/Jie Cai are too heavy, wealth gets divided and seized — unable to save money
- Shang Guan meeting Zheng Guan (伤官见官): rebellion clashing with rules — a combination prone to disputes and legal troubles, needs Wealth and Yin to mediate
The relative strength and balance of the Ten Gods matters more than any single Ten God — the same Qi Sha, when the self is strong, is authority; when the self is weak, it is pressure.