The Ten Gods in BaZi
The Ten Gods (十神, Shí Shén) are the heart of BaZi interpretation. Despite the name "gods," they are not deities — they are relationship patterns between the Day Master (the self) and the other stems in the chart. Each Ten God reveals how the Day Master interacts with different types of energy.
The Five Groups
The Ten Gods are organized into five pairs, each with a Yang and Yin expression:
1. Peer (比劫) — Companion & Rob Wealth
| Yang Stem | Yin Stem | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Companion (比肩) | Rob Wealth (劫财) |
| Meaning | Self-reliance, equality | Competition, risk-taking |
Companion represents the self, friends, and peers. It indicates independence, self-sufficiency, and a strong sense of identity.
Rob Wealth represents competitors, rivals, and the drive to acquire. It can indicate ambition and charisma, but also potential conflict over resources.
2. Output (食伤) — Eating God & Hurting Officer
| Yang Stem | Yin Stem | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Eating God (食神) | Hurting Officer (伤官) |
| Meaning | Gentle expression | Sharp, rebellious expression |
Eating God represents creativity, intellect, and refined self-expression. It is nurturing, artistic, and produces wealth naturally.
Hurting Officer represents brilliant, cutting intellect that challenges authority. It can indicate talent and genius, but also a tendency to rebel against convention.
3. Wealth (财) — Direct & Indirect Wealth
| Yang Stem | Yin Stem | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Indirect Wealth (偏财) | Direct Wealth (正财) |
| Meaning | Entrepreneurial wealth | Steady, earned wealth |
Indirect Wealth represents windfall money, investments, and entrepreneurial ventures. It indicates generosity and a risk-taking approach to finances.
Direct Wealth represents earned income, salary, and stable accumulation. It indicates diligence, practicality, and financial discipline.
4. Officer (官杀) — Direct Officer & Seven Killings
| Yang Stem | Yin Stem | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Seven Killings (七杀) | Direct Officer (正官) |
| Meaning | Bold authority | Disciplined authority |
Seven Killings represents power, pressure, and decisive action. It indicates courage and the ability to thrive under adversity, but can also bring conflict and stress.
Direct Officer represents law, order, and legitimate authority. It indicates discipline, responsibility, and respect for hierarchy and tradition.
5. Resource (印) — Direct & Indirect Resource
| Yang Stem | Yin Stem | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Indirect Resource (偏印) | Direct Resource (正印) |
| Meaning | Unconventional knowledge | Traditional knowledge |
Indirect Resource represents intuition, esoteric knowledge, and unconventional thinking. It can indicate philosophical depth but also eccentricity.
Direct Resource represents education, nurturing, and traditional wisdom. It indicates scholarly ability, moral guidance, and a protective, caring nature.
Family Relationships
One of the most practical applications of the Ten Gods is mapping them to family members. The relationships differ based on gender:
For Men
- Companion — You, friends, sisters
- Rob Wealth — Competitors, sisters, daughters-in-law
- Eating God — Maternal grandfather, grandsons
- Hurting Officer — Paternal grandmother, granddaughters
- Indirect Wealth — Father, lovers, girlfriends
- Direct Wealth — Wife, daughters of daughters
- Seven Killings — Sons
- Direct Officer — Daughters
- Indirect Resource — Mother
- Direct Resource — Mother's sisters
For Women
- Companion — You, friends, sisters
- Rob Wealth — Competitors, brothers, father-in-law
- Eating God — Paternal grandmother, daughters
- Hurting Officer — Maternal grandfather, sons
- Indirect Wealth — Father
- Direct Wealth — Mother-in-law
- Seven Killings — Boyfriends, lovers
- Direct Officer — Husband, life partner
- Indirect Resource — Mother's sisters
- Direct Resource — Mother
Using the Ten Gods in Chart Analysis
- Identify the Day Master — This is the self, the reference point for all Ten Gods
- Map each stem — Every other stem in the chart (including hidden stems) generates a Ten God relationship
- Assess strength — Is the Day Master strong or weak? This determines whether each Ten God is favorable or unfavorable
- Look at the Luck Pillars — When different Ten Gods become active in the 10-year luck cycles, different life themes emerge
A strong Day Master benefits from Output, Wealth, and Officer stars (which drain and control excess energy). A weak Day Master benefits from Resource and Peer stars (which support and strengthen).
Tip: The BaZi Pentagram on the reading page displays all Ten Gods in a five-pointed star arrangement around the Day Master, with a gender toggle to view the appropriate family correspondences.