Ten Gods, beginner version
The Ten Gods are ten ways the other elements relate to the Day Master, each like a “role” in your life.
How they are determined
Compare the element and polarity of each stem with the Day Master. There are five element relations, each split in two by same or different polarity, making ten.
| Ten God | Beginner label | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| 比肩 Friend | Companion | Equal to self: independence and loyalty, sometimes stubborn |
| 劫財 Rob Wealth | Rival | Competition and boldness in taking, sharing or fighting over resources |
| 食神 Eating God | Expression | Enjoying life, creative, expressing oneself gently |
| 傷官 Hurting Officer | Sharp Expression | Talent and sharp criticism, dares to break rules |
| 偏財 Indirect Wealth | Dynamic Income | Opportunities, networks, changing income |
| 正財 Direct Wealth | Stable Income | Steady income, careful, practical |
| 七殺 Seven Killings | Challenge | Pressure and drive, dares to face opponents |
| 正官 Direct Officer | Rules | Responsibility, reputation, discipline |
| 偏印 Indirect Resource | Intuition | Unconventional thinking, special interests, likes solitude |
| 正印 Direct Resource | Support | Learning, protection, care |
Grouped into 5 Structures
| Structure | Made up of |
|---|---|
| Companion | Friend, Rob Wealth |
| Output | Eating God, Hurting Officer |
| Wealth | Indirect Wealth, Direct Wealth |
| Authority | Seven Killings, Direct Officer |
| Resource | Indirect Resource, Direct Resource |
How to read it
- See which is strongest and which is thin or absent. A strong one often feels like a prominent trait, a thin one like an area to practice.
- No single Ten God is good or bad. A pair of the same kind (for example Eating God and Hurting Officer) differs only in “style”.
- In the calculator, the Ten Gods are shown as relative percentages, and the largest structure is scored 100%.
Reflection question
Which of the ten roles above do you feel most often present in your life, and which feels unfamiliar?
Original term: 十神 · Shí Shén · Ten Gods (Ten Roles)
Family relations
Traditionally, each Ten God is also linked to a role of people around you. For a male partner reading: Direct Wealth (main) and Indirect Wealth (second or lover). For a female partner reading: Direct Officer (main) and Seven Killings (second or lover).
| Ten God | Reading for men | Reading for women |
|---|---|---|
| 比肩 Friend | Same-sex sibling, equal peer | Same-sex sibling, equal peer |
| 劫財 Rob Wealth | Opposite-sex sibling, rival | Opposite-sex sibling, rival |
| 食神 Eating God | Grandchild (per some schools), self-expression | Daughter |
| 傷官 Hurting Officer | Grandchild (per some schools), sharp expression | Son |
| 偏財 Indirect Wealth | Second partner or lover, father | Father |
| 正財 Direct Wealth | Main partner | Not used for immediate family (differs between schools) |
| 七殺 Seven Killings | Son | Second partner or lover |
| 正官 Direct Officer | Daughter | Main partner |
| 偏印 Indirect Resource | Stepmother or caregiver, an unconventional teacher | Stepmother or caregiver, an unconventional teacher |
| 正印 Direct Resource | Mother | Mother |
A Ten God with the same polarity as the Day Master tends to be linked with same-sex people, and a different one with the opposite sex. Also look at its position: the Year and Month Pillars are linked with parents, the Day Pillar with the partner, the Hour Pillar with children.
How to read it
- Strong or thin: a strong Ten God means the role feels prominent, and a thin one means it is farther away or takes more effort.
- Indirect Wealth is used for two roles at once (father and second partner for men), so context such as pillar position and age decides.
Healthy language
- The chart describes themes, not the existence of particular people. A thin Ten God does not mean someone will have no partner or children.
- This classical framework is built around men and women. For same-sex readers or other identities there is no single consensus, so read it as “roles”.
- Family-role links differ between schools, so do not apply them rigidly.
Reflection question
Which role in the family table feels most present in your life, and which feels distant?
Original term: 六親 · Liù Qīn · Six Relations