Structure
What are the Ten Gods, and what does each of the ten mean?
As of · Edited by Sajunyang · about 3100 characters
One-line answer
The Ten Gods (十神) are ten names given to the other characters in a chart according to their element and yin-yang relationship to the Day Master. The same element as me is Friend or Rob Wealth (Companion stars); the element I produce is Eating God or Hurting Officer (Output stars); the element I control is Indirect Wealth or Direct Wealth (Wealth stars); the element that controls me is Seven Killings or Direct Officer (Officer stars); and the element that produces me is Indirect Resource or Direct Resource (Resource stars). Same polarity gives the first of each pair, different polarity the second. They are the basic tool for reading money, career, study and relationships.
How are the Ten Gods determined?
In two steps. First, look at the elemental relationship between the Day Master and the character. The same element is a Companion star; the element the Day Master produces (the next step in the generating cycle) is an Output star; the element the Day Master overcomes is a Wealth star; the element that overcomes the Day Master is an Officer star; and the element that produces the Day Master is a Resource star. Next, look at yin and yang. If the polarity matches the Day Master, it is Friend, Eating God, Indirect Wealth, Seven Killings or Indirect Resource; if it differs, it is Rob Wealth, Hurting Officer, Direct Wealth, Direct Officer or Direct Resource.
For example, when the Day Master is Gap Wood (yang Wood), Byeong Fire (yang Fire) is the element I produce with matching polarity, so it is Eating God; Jeong Fire (yin Fire) is Hurting Officer; Mu Earth (yang Earth) is the element I overcome with matching polarity, so it is Indirect Wealth; Gi Earth is Direct Wealth; Gyeong Metal is Seven Killings; Sin Metal is Direct Officer; Im Water is Indirect Resource; Gye Water is Direct Resource; Gap Wood is Friend; and Eul Wood is Rob Wealth.
What does each of the five groups mean?
Companion stars are the same strength as me: siblings, colleagues and rivals, along with pride and independence. Output stars are what I create: speech, talent, expression, children (for women), and the ability to work. Wealth stars are what I control: money, practical sense, the father, and for men the wife and romantic connections. Officer stars are what controls me: career, honor, discipline, children (for men), and for women the husband and romantic connections. Resource stars are what produces and raises me: the mother, study, certifications, documents and protection.
The 'Direct' (正) ones are the stable, regular side; the 'Indirect' (偏) ones are the side with big swings and a knockout punch. Direct Wealth is salary and Indirect Wealth is business income; Direct Officer is a civil servant or large corporation, Seven Killings is a soldier, police officer or freelancer, and so on.
How do you read a Ten God that is plentiful or missing?
A plentiful Ten God concentrates energy in that area, so its strengths and weaknesses both grow. Many Wealth stars bring a good sense for money but make it easy to lose people over money; many Officer stars bring a strong sense of responsibility but tighten the noose around yourself. A missing Ten God is an area that is empty, where you are either clumsy or, conversely, become obsessed. Having no Wealth star does not mean being poor; it means the sense for counting money develops late.
The 'Ten Gods structure' chapter of the Sajunyang report counts the eight characters and the hidden stems, identifies the most plentiful and the missing Ten Gods, and describes how they show up in money, work and people.
The Ten Gods
| Ten God | Relationship to the Day Master | Keywords | Suited fields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friend (比肩) | Companion stars — the same element as me | More peers and rivals, and decisions made alone | Freelancing·Self-employment·Sports |
| Rob Wealth (劫財) | Companion stars — the same element as me | Winning the competition, or having money taken | Sales·Sports and competitive fields·Investing and trading |
| Eating God (食神) | Output stars — the element I produce | Money earned by craft and skill, and the blessing of good food | Cooking and dining·Education and instruction·Research and development |
| Hurting Officer (傷官) | Output stars — the element I produce | Shaking things up with words and output, and friction with superiors | Broadcasting and entertainment·Writing and journalism·Design and advertising |
| Indirect Wealth (偏財) | Wealth stars — the element I govern | Big-earning, big-spending business and investment money | Business and entrepreneurship·Trade and distribution·Investment and finance |
| Direct Wealth (正財) | Wealth stars — the element I govern | Money that comes in every month, like salary and fixed income | Accounting and finance·Banking and insurance·Civil service |
| Seven Killings (偏官) | Officer stars — the element that governs me | Heavy work and pressure that others avoid | Military and police·Prosecution and law·Medicine |
| Direct Officer (正官) | Officer stars — the element that governs me | Positions decided on paper, like promotions, passing exams and titles | Civil service and administration·Large corporations·Education management |
| Indirect Resource (偏印) | Resource stars — the element that produces me | Specialized credentials, unfamiliar studies, and frequent changes of plan | Research and technology development·IT and programming·Counseling and psychology |
| Direct Resource (正印) | Resource stars — the element that produces me | Help that comes through documents, like exams, contracts and recommendations | Education and academia·Academic research·Public institutions |
FAQ
- Are the Ten Gods and the Ten Stars the same thing?
- Yes. Ten Gods (十神), Ten Stars (十星) and the Six Relations (六親) are different names for the same system.
- In a woman's chart, is the Officer star always the husband?
- That is the traditional interpretation, but today it is read together as 'the environment that governs me', that is, career, discipline and responsibility. The reading about male partners is one branch of that.
Now that you've read it, want to check your own chart?
Just your birth date, instantly. No sign-up, no payment.
Get my free Saju readingGood to read together
- What is the Day Master, and what is the character of each of the 10 Heavenly Stems?
- What are the Five Elements, and why does their balance matter in Saju?
- What are strong and weak Day Masters, and how is the Useful God (complementary element) determined?
- What are the 10-year Luck Pillars, and how is the starting age calculated?
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.