Meaning and Context
The Ten Gods (十神, Shí Shén) are ten relationship types that describe how each element in a Bazi chart relates to the Day Master. They transform the abstract Five Elements into a rich vocabulary for understanding life dynamics—career, relationships, resources, creativity, and more.
The relationships are determined by two factors: the Five Element cycle (generating vs. controlling) and Yin-Yang polarity (same vs. opposite). This creates five pairs of gods, each with a more harmonious and a more challenging variant.
- Resource Stars (印星): Elements that produce the Day Master—support, education, nurturing
- Companion Stars (比劫): Same element as Day Master—peers, competition, identity
- Output Stars (食伤): Elements the Day Master produces—creativity, expression, children
- Wealth Stars (财星): Elements the Day Master controls—money, assets, resources
- Power Stars (官杀): Elements that control the Day Master—authority, career, pressure
Classical Roots
The Ten Gods system was formalized during the Song Dynasty in texts like Yuan Hai Zi Ping (渊海子平), which remains a foundational reference for Bazi practitioners.
Structure and Relationships
The Ten Gods are organized into five pairs based on their relationship to the Day Master:
- Direct Seal (正印) & Indirect Seal (偏印): Elements that produce you—support, learning, protection
- Friend (比肩) & Rob Wealth (劫财): Same element as you—peers, siblings, competition
- Eating God (食神) & Hurting Officer (伤官): Elements you produce—creativity, talent, expression
- Direct Wealth (正财) & Indirect Wealth (偏财): Elements you control—earnings, assets, for men: spouse
- Direct Officer (正官) & Seven Killings (七杀): Elements that control you—authority, career, for women: spouse
"Direct" (正) gods share opposite Yin-Yang polarity with the Day Master—generally more harmonious. "Indirect" (偏) gods share the same polarity—often more intense or challenging.
How to Read It
To identify Ten Gods in a chart, follow these steps:
- Identify the Day Master: The Heavenly Stem of your Day Pillar is the reference point
- Determine element relationships: For each other stem/branch, identify its element relationship to Day Master
- Apply Yin-Yang polarity: Same polarity = Indirect variant, Opposite polarity = Direct variant
- Note distribution: Which gods appear frequently? Which are absent? This shapes the chart interpretation.
How It Shows Up in FateFolio
In FateFolio's Bazi tool, the Ten Gods are automatically calculated and displayed:
- Each pillar shows which Ten God it represents relative to your Day Master
- God distribution summary: See which gods are prominent or missing in your chart
- Luck Pillar analysis: Track how incoming gods interact with your natal chart
- Interpretation guidance: Understand what each god suggests about different life areas
Common Misconceptions
Several misunderstandings persist about the Ten Gods:
- Assuming "Direct" is always good and "Indirect" is always bad—context matters
- Taking god names literally (e.g., "Seven Killings" as violent)—they describe energy patterns, not fates
- Ignoring that the same god can manifest differently based on chart context
- Overlooking hidden stems in branches, which also contribute to Ten God dynamics
- Thinking more of a beneficial god is always better—excess of anything creates imbalance
Sources and Quotes
All quotes are linked to accessible sources. Classical text translations may vary by edition.
Quoted excerpts
「十神者，比肩、劫财、食神、伤官、正财、偏财、正官、七杀、正印、偏印也。」
References
- 《渊海子平》原文（中国哲学书电子化计划 CText） · Chinese Text Project
- Chinese Astrology (Britannica) · Encyclopædia Britannica