Ten Gods: 5 Stem Relationships × 2 Polarities

Peers · Bǐ jiān · 比肩

Friend

The other stem is the same kind as the Day Master. The name compares equal positions; the Day Master itself is the reference rather than an additional companion in a chart.

Wù 戊 · Yang Earth

Same element, same polarity.

Peers · Jié cái · 劫财

Rob Wealth

The second peer relationship has the same phase but the opposite polarity. It is distinguished from Friend by Yin and Yang, not by a different animal branch.

Jǐ 己 · Yin Earth

Same element, different polarity.

Output · Shí shén · 食神

Eating God

Output follows the generating cycle outward from the Day Master. Eating God is the same-polarity form of that relationship; for Yang Wood, Yang Fire occupies this position.

Gēng 庚 · Yang Metal

Day Master generates the other element, same polarity.

Output · Shāng guān · 伤官

Hurting Officer

This is the opposite-polarity output relationship. For Yang Wood, Yin Fire receives this name. The name identifies the place in the traditional stem system.

Xīn 辛 · Yin Metal

Day Master generates the other element, different polarity.

Wealth · Piān cái · 偏财

Indirect Wealth

Wealth names the element controlled by the Day Master. Its same-polarity form is Indirect Wealth: Yang Wood controls Yang Earth in this position.

Rén 壬 · Yang Water

Day Master controls the other element, same polarity.

Wealth · Zhèng cái · 正财

Direct Wealth

Direct Wealth is the opposite-polarity member of the controlled-element pair. For Yang Wood it is Yin Earth. Changing the Day Master changes which stem receives the name.

Guǐ 癸 · Yin Water

Day Master controls the other element, different polarity.

Officer · Qī shā · 七杀

Seven Killings

Also called Indirect Officer, this is the same-polarity controlling relationship. Yang Metal controls Yang Wood, for example. “Seven Killings” is a traditional category name, not a prediction of violence.

Jiǎ 甲 · Yang Wood

The other element controls the Day Master, same polarity.

Officer · Zhèng guān · 正官

Direct Officer

Direct Officer is the opposite-polarity controlling relationship. With Yang Wood as the reference, Yin Metal occupies this position.

Yǐ 乙 · Yin Wood

The other element controls the Day Master, different polarity.

Resource · Piān yìn · 偏印

Indirect Resource

Resource reads the generating cycle toward the Day Master rather than away from it. Yang Water generates Yang Wood; those matching polarities make it Indirect Resource.

Bǐng 丙 · Yang Fire

The other element generates the Day Master, same polarity.

Resource · Zhèng yìn · 正印

Direct Resource

Direct Resource is the opposite-polarity incoming relationship. Yin Water generates Yang Wood. The same Water stem would receive another name when compared with a different Day Master.

Dīng 丁 · Yin Fire

The other element generates the Day Master, different polarity.

Ten Gods

These are relationships to a Day Master. A stem changes its Ten Gods name when the reference stem changes.

The twelve almanac day gods

These depend on the day branch and solar month branch. They supply Huang Dao and Hei Dao classifications.

Joy, Blessing and Wealth directions

These are compass-direction markers tied to the day’s stem, a separate use of the calendar.