module 05 ten gods
Module 05: The Ten Gods (十神) — Chapter 6
What Are Ten Gods?
The ten gods (十神) are based on the relationship between growth (相生) and countering (相克) among the ten Chinese numeral system (十天干) from the heaven row and hidden roots, putting the birth owner (命主) as the heart of the ten gods' relationship. There are five relationships, coupled with yin and yang (阴阳), evolving into ten kinds of relationships:
- Similar to me (同我) → Bi Jian / Jie Cai
- Grow me (生我) → Zheng Yin / Pian Yin
- I grow (我生) → Shi Shen / Shang Guan
- Counter me (克我) → Zheng Guan / Qi Sha
- I counter (我克) → Zheng Cai / Pian Cai
Key insight: From the author's experience, the most accurate way of reading one's personality is using the ten gods (十神) — not just the ten Chinese numeral system (天干) or Chinese animal zodiacs (地支) alone.
Definition of the Ten Gods
| Relationship | Yang God | Name | Yin God | Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Same as Me | Yang | Bi Jian (比肩) | Yin | Jie Cai (劫财) |
| I Grow | Yang | Shi Shen (食神) | Yin | Shang Guan (伤官) |
| I Counter | Yang | Pian Cai (偏财) | Yin | Zheng Cai (正财) |
| Counter Me | Yang | Qi Sha (七杀) | Yin | Zheng Guan (正官) |
| Grow Me | Yang | Pian Yin (偏印) | Yin | Zheng Yin (正印) |
Note: "Yang" and "Yin" here refer to whether the relationship is same-polarity (yang-to-yang or yin-to-yin = yang god) or different-polarity (yang-to-yin or yin-to-yang = yin god).
Ten Gods Overview Diagram (十神图) — Complete (Page 151)
The diagram shows "Me" (命主) at the centre of a pentagram with five relationship directions. Each direction has two gods (yang and yin).
同我 — Same as Me (Two Gods)
比肩 — Yang Bi Jian
- Man: Brothers
- Woman: Sisters
- Friends
- Customers
劫财 — Yin Jie Cai
- Man: Sisters / Daughter-In-Law
- Woman: Brother / Father-in-law
- Competitors
- Trouble friends
生我 — Grow Me (Two Gods)
偏印 — Yang Pian Yin
- Man: Father-In-Law
- Woman: Mother
- Special Education
- Unhelpful Supporters
- Mental Health
- Depression
正印 — Yin Zheng Yin
- Man: Mother
- Woman: Son-in-law
- Education
- Supporters
- Health
- Property
- Car
- Reputation
我生 — I Grow (Two Gods)
食神 — Yang Shi Shen
- Man: Sperm / Son-in-law
- Woman: Daughter
- Skills / Talents
- Freedom
- Enjoyment / Food / Travel
- Romance
伤官 — Yin Shang Guan
- Man: Sperm / Mother-In-Law
- Woman: Son
- Talents
- Rebellious
我克 — I Counter (Two Gods)
正财 — Yin Zheng Cai
- Man: Wife
- Woman: Father
- Father
- Regular Job / Income
偏财 — Yang Pian Cai
- Man: Father / Mistress
- Woman: Mother-in-law
- Irregular Job / Business
- Bonus / Passive income
- Inheritance
克我 — Counter Me (Two Gods)
正官 — Yin Zheng Guan
- Man: Daughter
- Woman: Husband
- Boss
- Motivation
- Positive Stress
- Authority
- Discipline
- Coaching
七杀 — Yang Qi Sha
- Man: Son
- Woman: Male Lover / Daughter-In-Law
- Problem solving
- Troubles
- Backstabbers
- Negative stress
- Authority
- Fighting
Two Versions of Ten Gods: Mother and Father Representation
Version 1:
- Mother is represented as zheng yin (正印) for male Bazi; pian yin (偏印) is the mother for the female birth chart.
- Father is represented as pian cai (偏财) for male Bazi; zheng cai (正财) is the father for the female birth chart.
Version 2 (Dr. Khim Goh prefers this version):
- In ancient Chinese culture, wife is known as zheng cai (正财), while concubines are pian cai (偏财).
- Mother is zheng yin (正印), while step mother is pian yin (偏印).
- Thus, if yin zheng yin (正印) is the mother, then yang pian cai (偏财) is the father.
How to Read Personality Using the Ten Gods
The most accurate way is to find the strongest ten god at the month season (月令) in the birth chart.
Method: Look at the ten god that sits at the month branch (月令). The strongest ten god at the month season will dominate the birth owner's core personality.
Example: A Geng (庚) metal day master born in Si (巳) snake month — the strongest ten god at the month season is Qi Sha (七杀). Therefore, this birth owner's personality reads as qi sha dominant: fierce, domineering, prestige-seeking, brave, problem-solving, and ambitious.
Definition of the Ten Gods (Detailed)
Same as Me: Yang (阳) Bi Jian (比肩), Yin (阴) Jie Cai (劫财)
Yang bi jian (比肩) and yin jie cai (劫财) are "birds of the feather flock together" — brothers and sisters. The difference:
- Bi jian (比肩): The helpful similar ones with the birth owner
- Jie cai (劫财): The bad influences for the birth owners
Both bi jian and jie cai counter the wealth god (正财偏财).
Bi Jian (比肩) — Yang "Same as Me"
Bi jian birth owner's personality is friendly and has lots of friends and siblings, but they are stubborn and do not easily apologize for their mistakes. People with abundance of bi jian usually take care of their customers, subordinates, friends and siblings, however they cannot handle their bosses well.
When bi jian is a favourable element and appears in the ten-year luck cycle: the birth owner is determined to achieve financial goals persistently. They are eloquent, possess good communication skills, straightforward, and have strong networks.
When bi jian is an unfavourable element and appears in the ten years luck cycle: the strong birth owner could face loss of money in investments or businesses, from scams, or suffers low luck.
Jie Cai (劫财) — Yin "Same as Me"
Jie cai is good at seizing opportunities, has firm beliefs in doing things, and is not bothered by small favours from others. Jie cai can be self-improvement oriented, hard-working, able to strive for goals, flexible in response, quick-witted, adaptable, individualistic, eloquent.
The disadvantage: individualism is strong, constantly persuading others, too self-righteous, unwilling to admit defeat, does not care about others' feelings, inconsiderate to wife, easily jealous.
A strong jie cai (劫财) likes to be restrained by the counter me god (zheng guan qi sha 官杀) — can turn spendthrift jie cai into good disciplinary fortune.
Jie cai are easily framed by villains and get into lawsuits. Easy to cause business bankruptcy due to involvement of "bad friends."
When jie cai is found in a particular column, it may indicate money troubles in that column. E.g., jie cai in the hour column = children or old age has financial issues.
Jie cai suitable career: Salesman, shareholders, sports, martial artist, soldier, public security, judicial and explorer, wine/food dealer, electromechanical hardware business, insurance.
Jie cai and the father: Jie cai means "robbing the wealth god (财)." Because jie cai counters the wealth god, and the wealth god represents the father, jie cai can harm wealth and restrain the father — when jie cai appears in the luck cycle, it could signify the loss of his father.
I Grow: Yang (阳) Shi Shen (食神), Yin (阴) Shang Guan (伤官)
The birth owner's output — what the birth owner gives to the world.
Shi Shen (食神) — Yang "I Grow"
What shi shen represents:
- Man: Sperm / Son-in-law
- Woman: Daughter
- Skills and talents, freedom, enjoyment, food, travel, romance
Shi shen refers to good fortune, good appetite leading to obesity, romantic and loving person. Produces wealth, magnanimous, self-sufficient, blessed with longevity, knowledge of propriety and righteousness, filial piety to parents.
Shi shen pays attention to the quality of life, has talent for literature, performing arts, singing and dancing. Likes to be free and easy. Sometimes playful and fantasizes too much.
Too many shi shen in the birth chart → they become lazy due to indulgence. Also, too many shi shen tend to become shang guan (伤官) — shrewd, bragging, rebellious, difficult to get along with.
Females with strong shi shen are good wives and mothers — beautiful and lovely. When they meet wealth god in luck cycle, husband becomes prosperous and children are smart and filial.
Shi shen suitable career: Religious, students, artists, musicians, lawyers, economists, actors.
Shang Guan (伤官) — Yin "I Grow"
What shang guan represents:
- Man: Sperm / Mother-In-Law
- Woman: Son
- Talents, rebellious
Shang guan reflects exquisite talent, careful thinking, planning preparation and intelligence. Possesses perceptive ability, rich imagination and creativity, strong desire to surpass others, high self-esteem, and competitive spirit. However, usually blunt, mean, and arrogant with words.
Main intent of shang guan: disobey the control of the rules and regulations and acts against officials or challenges authority.
Shang guan suitable careers: Religion, artist, musician, lawyer, designer, economist.
I Counter: Yang (阳) Pian Cai (偏财), Yin (阴) Zheng Cai (正财)
Pian Cai (偏财) — Yang "I Counter"
What pian cai represents:
- Man: Father / Mistress
- Woman: Mother-in-law
- Irregular job, business, bonus, passive income, inheritance
Pian cai is warm-hearted, generous, sociable, likes to take risks, changes and stimulation. Romantic, casual sexual relations with weak sense of chastity. Likes to be in the limelight.
Pian cai are generous — use wisdom to make money and often have unexpected wealth, yet taking money lightly. Those who have pian cai (偏财) but no zheng cai (正财) have little or no regard to the wife. Those who have zheng cai (正财) but no pian cai (偏财) are more harmonious towards the wife.
Key distinction: Zheng cai (正财) is wealth obtained through legitimate business operations, while pian cai (偏财) is wealth obtained through winning lottery, bribes, inheritance, passive income or business.
Pian cai suitable career: Operation, editing, art, sculpture, repairing things, diplomacy, money-related job.
Zheng Cai (正财) — Yin "I Counter"
What zheng cai represents:
- Man: Wife
- Woman: Father
- Regular job, income
Zheng cai is more cautious about money, cherishes it. Pays more attention to reality, family happiness, enjoyment of the senses, takes relationship seriously, places great emphasis on the presence of the spouse, and is not flirtatious. The fortune in life is relatively stable — no drastic ups and downs.
Zheng cai suitable career: Money-related job.
Counter Me: Yang (阳) Qi Sha (七杀), Yin (阴) Zheng Guan (正官)
Qi Sha (七杀) — Yang "Counter Me"
What qi sha represents:
- Man: Son
- Woman: Male Lover / Daughter-In-Law
- Problem solving, troubles, backstabbers, negative stress, authority, fighting
Qi sha represents fierce, domineering, prestige, problem solving, and brave. Strong desire for power, courageous, perseverance, vicious, impatient, and ambitious.
When qi sha is strong, it counters the birth owner — may fall sick. To reduce strong qi sha energy: use shi shen (食神) and/or zheng yin (正印).
In a female birth owner: Qi sha is her lover, or her husband who is many years older or younger. Often marries a very discordant husband reluctantly.
Qi sha has its good side too: Warm to others, sense of justice and chivalrous spirit, strong personality, courage to solve problems. Capable to assume important roles, strong analytical skills, ambitious and entrepreneurial. However, if a person does not have qi sha, they are a Mr/Miss Nice person with no dignity.
Qi sha suitable career: Bosses, teachers, police officers, military attachés, soldiers, reporters.
Zheng Guan (正官) — Yin "Counter Me"
What zheng guan represents:
- Man: Daughter
- Woman: Husband
- Boss, motivation, positive stress, authority, discipline, coaching
In a female birth owner: With only one zheng guan (正官), she will find a good husband or she is a faithful wife. If there are many zheng guan and qi sha in a female birth chart, she will be confused about her romantic life.
Zheng guan suitable career: Superior leaders, officials, company bosses, judges, policemen, teachers.
Zheng guan is controlling, suppressing and restraining the birth owner's undesirable actions. Zheng guan influences the birth owner to behave properly, obey laws, and act with responsibility — great importance to good reputation, authority, and laws.
A weak birth owner with a strong zheng guan suggests the birth owner is timid. When the birth owner is weak and there is no zheng yin pian yin (印) or bi jian jie cai (比劫), the birth owner will toil their entire life for money.
Grow Me: Yang (阳) Pian Yin (偏印), Yin (阴) Zheng Yin (正印)
Pian Yin (偏印) — Yang "Grow Me"
What pian yin represents:
- Man: Father-In-Law
- Woman: Mother (step mother)
- Special education, unhelpful supporters, mental health, depression
Pian yin is commonly known as xiao shen (枭神) — one of the bad ten gods. This is an incorrect concept: if shi shen (食神) does not appear in the Bazi birth chart, then pian yin (偏印) is simply called pian yin. Pian yin is a very unfilial bird — after the mother raises it, it kills the mother in turn.
Pian yin is an act of self-blame — the birth owner accepts unfair treatment reluctantly, causing depression. Includes withdrawal, unwilling to accept, no rights to voice.
The good side of pian yin: mature while young, likes to mix with older friends, high comprehension, strong sensibility, superior creativity, extraordinary thinking, think out of the box. Good at super strange learning techniques, observation, born with special skills.
Pian yin suitable career: Monk, astrologer, scholar, doctor, religion, art, and philosophy.
Zheng Yin (正印) — Yin "Grow Me"
What zheng yin represents:
- Man: Mother
- Woman: Son-in-law
- Education, supporters, health, property, car, reputation
Zheng yin represents kindness, tolerance, forgiveness, gentleness, elegant temperament, trustworthiness, dependence, belief in religion, knowledgeable, takes great care of their reputation. People with strong zheng yin have strong dependency, laziness, and suffer to save "face."
Zheng yin is a grow me god, so it has protection purposes in the birth chart. Too many wealth gods (财) will attack the zheng yin — may signify the mother is in disaster or the birth owner's protection (house, car, education, health) is failing.
Zheng yin suitable career: Secretaries, nurses, teachers, religious experts, artists.
Next module: Chapter 7 — Positive and Negative Stars (神煞) & The Twelve Growth Chart (十二长生)