If the Five Elements represent the fundamental energies in your Bazi chart, the Ten Gods (Shishen) are the psychological archetypes that reveal how you interact with the world. These are not actual deities but rather a sophisticated symbolic system derived from the relationship between your Day Master (the Heavenly Stem of your birth day, representing your core self) and the other elements in your chart. Understanding your Ten Gods distribution unlocks deep insights into your personality, talents, and relationships.

What Are the Ten Gods? How Are They Calculated?

The Ten Gods are determined through two core principles:

  1. Five Element Relationships: Elements that produce me are Resources, elements I produce are Output, elements that control me are Power, elements I control are Wealth, and elements same as me are Companions
  2. Yin-Yang Polarity: Same polarity creates "indirect" Gods, opposite polarity creates "direct" Gods

For example, if your Day Master is Yang Wood (Jia): - Yang Water produces Yang Wood (same polarity) = Indirect Resource - Yin Water produces Yang Wood (opposite polarity) = Direct Resource - Yang Fire is produced by Yang Wood (same polarity) = Eating God - Yin Fire is produced by Yang Wood (opposite polarity) = Hurting Officer

The Five Categories of Ten Gods

The Ten Gods are grouped into five pairs, each representing a core life domain:

1. Companion Stars (Self and Peers)

Keywords: Self-identity, Competition, Cooperation

Companions represent elements identical to your Day Master, reflecting how you see yourself and interact with peers, friends, and competitors.

  • Friend (same polarity): Independence, self-confidence, self-reliance
  • Rob Wealth (opposite polarity): Social skills, competition, networking

Family Relations: Siblings, friends, colleagues

2. Output Stars (Expression and Creativity)

Keywords: Talent expression, Creativity, Communication style

Output stars are elements your Day Master produces, representing how you express yourself outwardly - your talents, ideas, and creative energy.

  • Eating God (same polarity): Gentle expression, artistic talent, life enjoyment
  • Hurting Officer (opposite polarity): Radical innovation, critical thinking, rule-breaking

Family Relations: - For men: Children, subordinates - For women: Children

3. Wealth Stars (Control and Resources)

Keywords: Wealth, Control ability, Practical skills

Wealth stars are elements your Day Master controls, representing resources you can acquire and manage, including money, material goods, and practical matters.

  • Direct Wealth (opposite polarity): Stable income, diligent work, careful budgeting
  • Indirect Wealth (same polarity): Windfall opportunities, investment vision, generosity

Family Relations: - For men: Wife, father - For women: Father

4. Power Stars (Authority and Pressure)

Keywords: Authority, Responsibility, Constraints

Power stars are elements that control your Day Master, representing external pressures, rules, and expectations, as well as your social status and responsibilities.

  • Direct Officer (opposite polarity): Legitimate authority, responsibility, following rules
  • Seven Killings (same polarity): Intense pressure, courage, defying the powerful

Family Relations: - For men: Children, superiors - For women: Husband, superiors

5. Resource Stars (Support and Nourishment)

Keywords: Learning, Support, Spiritual nourishment

Resource stars are elements that produce your Day Master, representing support, protection, and spiritual resources you receive, also relating to learning and thought.

  • Direct Resource (opposite polarity): Traditional knowledge, maternal care, benevolence
  • Indirect Resource (same polarity): Unique thinking, metaphysical interests, unconventional talents

Family Relations: Mother, elders, mentors, benefactors

Detailed Ten Gods Profiles: Meet Your Archetypes

Friend (Bi Jian) - The Independent

Core Traits: Confident, Independent, Persistent

Friend represents elements identical in both element and polarity to your Day Master, symbolizing "another self."

Personality Characteristics: - Strong self-esteem with independent opinions - Prefers self-reliance over depending on others - Determined will, not easily swayed - Values fairness and principles

Strength Areas: Independent business, technical expertise, long-term projects requiring persistence

Potential Challenges: Excessive Friend energy may cause stubbornness and difficulty cooperating; deficiency may lead to lack of confidence and following the crowd

Rob Wealth (Jie Cai) - The Socialite

Core Traits: Outgoing, Competitive, Well-connected

Rob Wealth represents the same element but opposite polarity to your Day Master, symbolizing "partners who compete and cooperate."

Personality Characteristics: - Strong social skills, excellent at networking - Competitive spirit, unwilling to fall behind - Action-oriented, willing to take risks - Generous, though sometimes overspending

Strength Areas: Sales, public relations, teamwork, social industries

Potential Challenges: Excessive Rob Wealth may cause over-competitiveness and difficulty keeping money; deficiency may weaken relationships and competitive edge

Eating God (Shi Shen) - The Artist

Core Traits: Gentle, Creative, Pleasure-seeking

Eating God represents elements your Day Master produces with same polarity, symbolizing "naturally flowing talent."

Personality Characteristics: - Gentle temperament, tolerant of others - Artistic sensibility and creativity - Appreciates quality of life and enjoyment - Good speaking skills, natural expression - Optimistic outlook, avoids conflict

Strength Areas: Artistic creation, culinary arts, performance, literary writing

Potential Challenges: Excessive Eating God may cause complacency and lack of ambition; deficiency may block expression and limit talent demonstration

Hurting Officer (Shang Guan) - The Innovator

Core Traits: Rebellious, Brilliant, Boundary-breaking

Hurting Officer represents elements your Day Master produces with opposite polarity, symbolizing "creativity that breaks conventions."

Personality Characteristics: - Sharp thinking, exceptional talent - Dissatisfied with status quo, eager to innovate - Sharp-tongued, willing to challenge authority - Perfectionist with critical eye - Emotionally sensitive with mood swings

Strength Areas: Technology innovation, legal advocacy, artistic breakthroughs, freelance work

Potential Challenges: Excessive Hurting Officer may cause arrogance and offending authority figures; deficiency may limit innovation ability and breakthrough courage

Direct Wealth (Zheng Cai) - The Manager

Core Traits: Steady, Practical, Conservative

Direct Wealth represents elements your Day Master controls with opposite polarity, symbolizing "stable wealth earned through effort."

Personality Characteristics: - Conscientious and reliable in work - Strong financial management, good at saving - Practical minded, not overreaching - Honest and trustworthy, values commitments - Regular lifestyle, seeks stability

Strength Areas: Financial management, administrative work, positions requiring patience

Potential Challenges: Excessive Direct Wealth may cause over-conservatism and lack of boldness; deficiency may cause unstable finances and poor money management

Indirect Wealth (Pian Cai) - The Opportunist

Core Traits: Flexible, Generous, Risk-taking

Indirect Wealth represents elements your Day Master controls with same polarity, symbolizing "unexpected wealth opportunities."

Personality Characteristics: - Sharp eye for spotting business opportunities - Generous and free-spending - Excellent interpersonal relationships, wide social network - Informal approach, flexible methods - Enjoys challenges, willing to take investment risks

Strength Areas: Investment, business trading, industries requiring connections

Potential Challenges: Excessive Indirect Wealth may cause speculation and money flowing in and out quickly; deficiency may cause missed opportunities and poor judgment

Direct Officer (Zheng Guan) - The Diplomat

Core Traits: Righteous, Dignified, Rule-following

Direct Officer represents elements that control your Day Master with opposite polarity, symbolizing "legitimate authority and responsibility."

Personality Characteristics: - Upright character, values reputation - Strong sense of responsibility, self-disciplined - Respects rules, follows procedures - Polite and proper in conduct - Seeks stable social position

Strength Areas: Government agencies, management positions, roles requiring credibility

Potential Challenges: Excessive Direct Officer may cause rigidity and lack of flexibility; deficiency may cause lack of discipline and difficulty gaining recognition

Seven Killings (Qi Sha) - The Warrior

Core Traits: Brave, Decisive, Powerful

Seven Killings represents elements that control your Day Master with same polarity, symbolizing "intense pressure and counterforce."

Personality Characteristics: - Exceptional courage, unafraid of power - Quick action, decisive resolution - Extremely strong stress tolerance - Leadership quality, rises in adversity - Intense competitive drive

Strength Areas: Military and police, competitive sports, high-pressure work environments, crisis management

Potential Challenges: Excessive Seven Killings may cause over-aggression and making many enemies; deficiency may cause lack of courage and difficulty handling pressure

Direct Resource (Zheng Yin) - The Mentor

Core Traits: Benevolent, Scholarly, Tolerant

Direct Resource represents elements that produce your Day Master with opposite polarity, symbolizing "motherly care and traditional wisdom."

Personality Characteristics: - Kind-hearted, enjoys helping others - Loves learning, knowledgeable - Tolerant of others, not petty - Values traditional culture and spiritual cultivation - Easily receives help from benefactors

Strength Areas: Education, academic research, consulting, charitable work

Potential Challenges: Excessive Direct Resource may cause over-dependence and lack of independence; deficiency may cause lack of support and learning obstacles

Indirect Resource (Pian Yin) - The Maverick

Core Traits: Unique, Mysterious, Specialized

Indirect Resource represents elements that produce your Day Master with same polarity, symbolizing "unconventional wisdom and special talents."

Personality Characteristics: - Unique thinking, ideas different from others - Interested in metaphysics and mysterious subjects - Excels in specific specialized fields - Dislikes constraints, pursues freedom - Sharp intuition and insight

Strength Areas: Metaphysical studies, alternative arts, technical expertise, independent research

Potential Challenges: Excessive Indirect Resource may cause isolation and extreme thinking; deficiency may cause lack of unique perspectives and following mainstream

How the Ten Gods Interact

A complete Bazi chart typically contains combinations of multiple Ten Gods. The true art of Bazi analysis lies not just in identifying which Gods are present, but in understanding how they interact:

Favorable Combinations: - Eating God Produces Wealth: Creativity transforms into financial success - Officer and Resource Support Each Other: Power and wisdom complement each other - Seven Killings with Resource: Wisdom transforms pressure into opportunity

Combinations Requiring Attention: - Hurting Officer Meets Officer: Talent conflicts with authority - Rob Wealth Competes for Wealth: Competitive pressure and wealth loss - Indirect Resource Overtakes Eating God: Unconventional thinking suppresses talent expression

Understanding the distribution and interaction of Ten Gods in your chart is crucial for self-knowledge and life navigation. AstroBazi analysis tools will help you discover these hidden personality codes and provide guidance for your life choices.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Ten Gods

What are the Ten Gods in Bazi astrology?

The Ten Gods (Shishen) are psychological archetypes in Bazi that describe how different elements interact with your Day Master. They reveal your personality traits, talents, and relationship patterns based on the Five Element relationships and Yin-Yang polarity between elements in your birth chart. Unlike literal deities, they represent symbolic energies that shape your character and life experiences.

How are the Ten Gods calculated in my Bazi chart?

The Ten Gods are calculated based on two core principles:

  1. Five Element Relationships: Elements that produce your Day Master are Resources, elements you produce are Output, elements that control you are Power, elements you control are Wealth, and elements identical to you are Companions.

  2. Yin-Yang Polarity: Same polarity (both Yang or both Yin) creates "indirect" Gods, while opposite polarity creates "direct" Gods.

For example, if your Day Master is Yang Wood (Jia), Yang Water produces it creating Indirect Resource, while Yin Water also produces it creating Direct Resource.

What does each Ten God represent in Bazi?

The Ten Gods are grouped into five categories representing different life domains:

  • Companion Stars (Friend, Rob Wealth): Self-identity, competition, cooperation with peers
  • Output Stars (Eating God, Hurting Officer): Creativity, talent expression, communication style
  • Wealth Stars (Direct Wealth, Indirect Wealth): Financial resources, control abilities, practical matters
  • Power Stars (Direct Officer, Seven Killings): Authority, responsibility, external pressures
  • Resource Stars (Direct Resource, Indirect Resource): Support, learning, spiritual nourishment

Each category contains both a direct and indirect manifestation, creating the complete system of Ten Gods.

How do the Ten Gods affect relationships and family dynamics?

The Ten Gods have specific family and relationship associations that vary by gender:

For Men: - Wealth stars represent wife and father - Power stars represent children and superiors - Output stars represent children and subordinates

For Women: - Power stars represent husband and superiors - Output stars represent children - Wealth stars represent father

For Everyone: - Resource stars represent mother, mentors, and benefactors - Companion stars represent siblings, friends, and colleagues

Understanding these associations helps decode family dynamics and relationship patterns throughout your life.

How can I use Ten Gods analysis for career guidance?

Each Ten God indicates different career strengths and suitable professional paths:

  • Direct Officer: Government agencies, management, roles requiring credibility and authority
  • Seven Killings: Military, police, competitive sports, crisis management, high-pressure environments
  • Eating God: Artistic creation, culinary arts, performance, entertainment, literary writing
  • Hurting Officer: Technology innovation, legal advocacy, artistic breakthroughs, freelance work
  • Direct Wealth: Financial management, administrative work, positions requiring patience and stability
  • Indirect Wealth: Investment, business trading, industries requiring social connections
  • Direct Resource: Education, academic research, consulting, charitable work
  • Indirect Resource: Metaphysical studies, alternative arts, technical expertise, independent research
  • Friend: Independent business, technical specialization, long-term projects requiring persistence
  • Rob Wealth: Sales, public relations, teamwork, social industries

Understanding your dominant Ten Gods and their interactions helps identify career paths that align with your natural strengths and psychological archetypes.