What Are the Ten Gods?
Despite the name "Ten Gods" (十神), these are not deities. They are ten relationship patterns that describe how your Day Master interacts with the other stems and branches in your BaZi chart.The Ten Gods are defined relative to your Day Master — the core element that represents you. If you do not know your Day Master yet, calculate your BaZi chart first.
Every element in your chart relates to your Day Master in one of five ways:
- Same element (Companion / Friend)
- Element that generates you (Resource)
- Element you generate (Output)
- Element you control (Wealth)
- Element that controls you (Power)
The Five Relationship Groups
1. Companion (比肩) and Challenger (劫财)
These represent people like you — friends, siblings, peers, and competitors.- Companion (比肩): Same element, same polarity. Loyal friends, steady support, and a sense of belonging. Too much can mean stubbornness or inability to stand out.
- Challenger (劫财): Same element, opposite polarity. Competitive drive, charisma, and the ability to rally people. Too much can mean financial instability or conflict.
2. Resource (正印) and Insight (偏印)
These represent what nourishes you — education, mentors, family support, and inner wisdom.- Support (正印): The element that generates you, same polarity. Stable nourishment — good education, caring mother figure, intellectual depth. Too much can mean over-dependence or laziness.
- Insight (偏印): The element that generates you, opposite polarity. Unconventional knowledge, intuition, and eccentric interests. Too much can mean isolation or scattered focus.
3. Output (食神) and Critic (伤官)
These represent what you produce — creativity, expression, children, and your output to the world.- Expression (食神): The element you generate, same polarity. Natural creativity, enjoyment of life, and talent. A gentle, flowing output. Too much can mean lack of discipline.
- Critic (伤官): The element you generate, opposite polarity. Sharp intellect, rebellion against authority, and the drive to challenge norms. Too much can mean conflict with superiors or instability.
4. Wealth (正财) and Opportunity (偏财)
These represent what you control — money, resources, and material stability.- Stability (正财): The element you control, same polarity. Steady income, practical management, and reliable resources. The "salary" wealth. Too much can mean being overly materialistic.
- Opportunity (偏财): The element you control, opposite polarity. Windfall income, entrepreneurial opportunities, and dynamic wealth. The "investment" wealth. Too much can mean financial volatility.
5. Power (正官) and Pressure (七杀)
These represent what controls you — authority, career, discipline, and external pressure.- Authority (正官): The element that controls you, same polarity. Proper authority, career advancement, and social standing. The "legitimate" power. Too much can mean rigidity or excessive conformity.
- Pressure (七杀): The element that controls you, opposite polarity. Aggressive pressure, crisis management, and the drive to overcome adversity. The "challenger" power. Too much can mean stress or health issues.
How to Read the Ten Gods in Your Chart
When you look at your BaZi chart, each pillar's stem and branch will have a Ten God label. Here's how to interpret them:- Month Pillar Ten Gods are the most influential — they describe your core career and social identity.
- Year Pillar Ten Gods describe your early environment and ancestral influence.
- Day Pillar Ten Gods describe your spouse/partner relationship (the branch) and your inner self (the stem is your Day Master itself).
- Hour Pillar Ten Gods describe your children, late career, and inner aspirations.
Practical Example
If your Day Master is Yang Wood (甲) and your Month Stem is Yin Earth (己):- Earth is the element Wood controls, so this is a Wealth relationship.
- Yang and Yin are opposite polarity, so it's Opportunity (偏财).
- Interpretation: Your career and social identity are tied to entrepreneurial opportunities, dynamic income, and the ability to spot financial openings.