Structure
What are strong and weak Day Masters, and how is the Useful God (complementary element) determined?
As of · Edited by Sajunyang · about 2400 characters
One-line answer
A strong (身强) or weak (身弱) Day Master refers to whether the Day Master has much or little power within the chart. It is judged by whether the Month Branch supports the Day Master (seasonal support), whether it has roots in the branches (ground support), and whether there are many characters that help it, the Resource and Companion stars (numerical support). The Useful God (用神) is the element that balances that power: for a strong Day Master it is chosen from the Output, Wealth and Officer stars that drain strength, and for a weak Day Master from the Resource and Companion stars that add it.
How are strong and weak Day Masters judged?
Three things are examined. ① Seasonal support (得令): if the Month Branch shares the Day Master's element or produces it, the Day Master has gained the season's power. The Month Branch carries two to three times the weight of other characters. ② Ground support (得地): if the Day, Year or Hour Branch holds the Day Master's element or a Resource star, the Day Master has roots. ③ Numerical support (得勢): if, counting stems and hidden stems, the Resource and Companion stars outnumber the Output, Wealth and Officer stars, the Day Master has gained strength in numbers.
Gaining all three is a very strong Day Master, two is strong, one is weak, and none is very weak. In between, when it tilts to neither side, it is balanced (中和). Sajunyang calculates this as a score with seasonal weighting and hidden stems included, and displays it in five levels.
Is strong good and weak bad?
No. A strong Day Master has strong independence and drive and suits work pushed through alone, but easily ignores others and runs solo. A weak Day Master is delicate and strong in collaboration, borrowing the power of organizations and partners well, but easily postpones decisions and gets swayed by others. What matters is not strength or weakness itself, but whether the environment and luck that fit that state arrive.
How is the Useful God used?
The Useful God is 'the energy you need'. The periods when the Useful God's element arrives through the Luck Pillars or yearly luck are when things work out, and the colors, directions, numbers, foods and career fields corresponding to the Useful God become the lucky items in your report. Conversely, periods when the element that overcomes the Useful God (the Harmful God) arrives are times for caution. Besides the balancing method (抑扶), there are other standards such as climate (adjusting the season's heat, cold, dryness and dampness) and bridging (connecting a blocked flow); Sajunyang uses balancing as its basis and climate as a supplement.
Five levels of Day Master strength (Sajunyang classification)
| Level | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Very Weak Day Master (極身弱) | a chart that borrows strength from organizations and partners |
| Weak Day Master (身弱) | a delicate chart that shines in collaboration |
| Balanced Day Master (中和) | a chart that leans to no side |
| Strong Day Master (身强) | a chart with strong independence and drive |
| Very Strong Day Master (極身强) | a chart that surges intensely in one direction |
FAQ
- Can there be two Useful Gods?
- Yes. Sajunyang shows the most needed element (first priority) together with the next (second priority), and chooses lucky items based on the first priority.
- Does the Useful God never change over a lifetime?
- The natal chart's Useful God is fixed, but 'the energy needed right now' can change with the Luck Pillar. That is why the reading for each Luck Pillar is viewed alongside it.
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This article is reference material summarizing traditional Saju theory and does not replace medical, legal or investment judgment. Our calculation standards are published at About Sajunyang.