The Ten Gods (十神, Shi Shen) are ten relationship categories used in BaZi. They do not refer to ten deities. Each category describes how another Heavenly Stem relates to the Heavenly Stem of the Day Pillar, known as the Day Master.
The system combines two questions:
- What is the Five Element relationship between the other stem and the Day Master?
- Do the two stems have the same yin-yang polarity or opposite polarity?
That combination produces one of ten names. A complete interpretation then considers where the relationship appears, whether it is supported by the season, and how it interacts with the rest of the chart.
Start with the Day Master
The Day Master is the reference point for all Ten Gods. For example, a Jia Wood (甲) Day Master treats every other stem according to its relationship with Yang Wood.
Before studying the Ten Gods, identify your Day Master and understand the Five Element cycles. The Day Master guide and Five Elements guide provide that foundation.
The Five Relationship Groups
The ten categories are organized into five pairs:
| Relationship to the Day Master | Same polarity | Opposite polarity |
|---|---|---|
| Same element | Friend / Companion (比肩) | Rob Wealth (劫财) |
| Element produced by the Day Master | Eating God (食神) | Hurting Officer (伤官) |
| Element controlled by the Day Master | Indirect Wealth (偏财) | Direct Wealth (正财) |
| Element that controls the Day Master | Seven Killings (七杀) | Direct Officer (正官) |
| Element that produces the Day Master | Indirect Resource (偏印) | Direct Resource (正印) |
Translations vary. Some English schools use terms such as Peer, Output, Wealth, Power, and Resource because those labels communicate the functional relationship more clearly than literal translations.
Friend and Rob Wealth
The Companion group shares the Day Master’s element. It is traditionally associated with peers, identity, autonomy, competition, and cooperation.
- Friend (比肩): Same element and same polarity. Often read through independence, solidarity, and people who operate on similar terms.
- Rob Wealth (劫财): Same element and opposite polarity. Often read through competition, risk-sharing, persuasion, and contested resources.
The name Rob Wealth does not automatically predict financial loss. Context matters: strong peer energy may support teamwork in one chart and create resource competition in another.
Eating God and Hurting Officer
The Output group is the element produced by the Day Master. It represents what a person expresses, creates, teaches, performs, or brings into the world.
- Eating God (食神): Same polarity. Traditionally connected with steady expression, craft, enjoyment, care, and productive routines.
- Hurting Officer (伤官): Opposite polarity. Traditionally connected with critique, originality, performance, and resistance to restrictive authority.
Neither category is inherently good or bad. Output can be valuable when the Day Master has enough support, while excessive output may be described as draining in classical strength analysis.
Direct and Indirect Wealth
The Wealth group is the element controlled by the Day Master. In traditional terminology, it concerns resources, management, responsibility, exchange, and material priorities.
- Indirect Wealth (偏财): Same polarity. Often associated with flexible opportunities, broad networks, entrepreneurship, and resources in motion.
- Direct Wealth (正财): Opposite polarity. Often associated with planned income, stewardship, routine responsibility, and tangible commitments.
Wealth stars are not a guarantee of money. Their usefulness depends on chart strength, season, combinations, and the person’s real circumstances. Read the BaZi wealth guide for a more careful explanation.
Seven Killings and Direct Officer
The Power or Officer group is the element that controls the Day Master. It is traditionally associated with rules, pressure, responsibility, authority, and disciplined action.
- Seven Killings (七杀): Same polarity. Often associated with urgency, competition, courage, and intense external pressure.
- Direct Officer (正官): Opposite polarity. Often associated with structure, duty, reputation, institutions, and formal standards.
The dramatic name Seven Killings should not be read literally. In classical interpretation, controlled and supported pressure may become decisiveness; unmanaged pressure may feel disruptive.
Direct and Indirect Resource
The Resource group is the element that produces the Day Master. It is traditionally associated with learning, support, memory, protection, and the ability to absorb information.
- Indirect Resource (偏印): Same polarity. Often linked with unconventional learning, intuition, specialization, and independent research.
- Direct Resource (正印): Opposite polarity. Often linked with formal education, documentation, mentorship, and dependable support.
Resource is not always beneficial in unlimited amounts. A chart already heavy in support may need expression or movement instead of more accumulation.
Example: Jia Wood Day Master
For a Jia Wood (甲, Yang Wood) Day Master:
- Jia Wood is Friend; Yi Wood is Rob Wealth.
- Bing Fire is Eating God; Ding Fire is Hurting Officer.
- Wu Earth is Indirect Wealth; Ji Earth is Direct Wealth.
- Geng Metal is Seven Killings; Xin Metal is Direct Officer.
- Ren Water is Indirect Resource; Gui Water is Direct Resource.
This example shows the derivation, not a complete reading. The same Ten God can behave differently in the Year, Month, Day, or Hour Pillar and when rooted in hidden stems.
Common Interpretation Mistakes
- Treating the names as literal predictions.
- Counting categories without considering season and chart strength.
- Ignoring hidden stems inside the Earthly Branches.
- Calling one category universally lucky or unlucky.
- Interpreting a Ten God in isolation from combinations, clashes, and useful-element analysis.
- Assuming a birth-year zodiac page can reveal the Ten Gods.
How to Use the Ten Gods Responsibly
Begin with structure: calculate the Four Pillars, identify the Day Master, map the visible and hidden stems, and then classify their relationships. Only after that should traditional meanings be considered.
Our current calculator identifies the Four Pillars and Day Master but does not yet generate a complete Ten Gods analysis. Use it to establish the chart, then consult this guide as an educational reference.
Generate your Four Pillars chart · How to read a BaZi chart · Complete BaZi guide