The Ten Gods (Shi Shen): The Ten Core Relationships in BaZi

Definition

The Ten Gods (Shi Shen) are the core language of BaZi analysis: centered on the [Day Master](/bazi/glossary/tian-gan) (the day stem, representing the native), every other stem and branch is classified into ten roles by Five-Element generation/control and same/opposite polarity. To read the Ten Gods is to read what a chart is saying.

Five Groups, Ten Gods

By relationship to the Day Master, in same/opposite-polarity pairs: - **Same as me (Companions):** [Friend](/bazi/glossary/bi-jian) (same), [Rob Wealth](/bazi/glossary/jie-cai) (opposite) — competition, self-support, independence. - **What I generate (Output):** [Eating God](/bazi/glossary/shi-shen) (same), [Hurting Officer](/bazi/glossary/shang-guan) (opposite) — talent, expression, output. - **What I control (Wealth):** [Indirect Wealth](/bazi/glossary/pian-cai) (same), [Direct Wealth](/bazi/glossary/zheng-cai) (opposite) — wealth, desire, practicality. - **What controls me (Officer/Killing):** [Seven Killings](/bazi/glossary/qi-sha) (same), [Direct Officer](/bazi/glossary/zheng-guan) (opposite) — restraint, power, responsibility. - **What generates me (Resource):** [Indirect Resource](/bazi/glossary/pian-yin) (same), [Direct Resource](/bazi/glossary/zheng-yin) (opposite) — shelter, learning, resources.

Auspicious and Inauspicious

Tradition calls Direct Officer, Direct Wealth, Direct Resource, and Eating God the "four auspicious" (used with the grain); Seven Killings, Hurting Officer, Indirect Resource (Owl), and Rob Wealth (Blade) the "four inauspicious" (used against the grain, restrained). But fortune is not absolute — any god is auspicious when it serves the chart, inauspicious when it harms it.

Use

The Ten Gods are the basis for analyzing the [pattern](/bazi/glossary/ge-ju), choosing the [Useful God](/bazi/glossary/yong-shen), and reading relatives and temperament. Each also maps to family (Direct Wealth = wife/father, Direct Officer = husband/superior) and character tendencies.

Significance in Chart Analysis

The Ten Gods are the "grammar" of BaZi, read with [strength](/bazi/glossary/qiang-ruo) and the pattern. See your configuration with the [free BaZi calculator](/bazi/chart) or the [Ten Gods calculator](/bazi/tools/ten-gods), and study it in the [BaZi learning center](/bazi/learn).