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Before exploring the Ten Deities, it's important to address some common misconceptions held by many people, including some practitioners.
Misconception 1 ~ “The strength of elements or the Ten Deities in a Bazi chart is directly proportional to their quantity.“
The statement oversimplifies the complexity of Bazi astrology. We must examine several important factors to fully understand the elements and deities' influence. These include identifying clashes, penalties, combinations, and hidden stems in the charts and analyzing how the elements interact with each other. Furthermore, the positions of the elements or deities in relation to the Day Master and their interplay within the chart's structure significantly affect their strength and impact. It's important to note that the depth of these interactions means two charts with an identical count of a specific element or deity may have very different outcomes.
Misconception 2 ~ The presence of 'Inauspicious' deities (凶神) in the chart indicates the chart is unfavourable.
In Bazi's theory, the ten deities are classified into "auspicious’ deity (吉神) and "inauspicious’ deity (凶神). The "auspicious" deities include Direct Officer (正官), Direct Resource (正印), Direct Wealth (正财), and Implicit Talent (食神). The "inauspicious" deities consist of Seven Killings (七杀), Indirect Resource (偏印), Explicit Talent (伤官), and Rob Wealth (劫财), as well as two neutral deities: Unconventional Wealth (偏财) and Friend (比肩).
At first glance, it may seem that the "auspicious" deities are a blessing, while the "inauspicious" deities are something to be wary of. However, it's important to dive deeper into the societal context of those times to understand the significance of these distinctions.
During the olden days, society valued civilian positions (文职) over military or non-scholastic roles (武职), prioritizing stability and academic achievement. High-ranking officials with stable incomes (俸禄) were highly prestigious. Scholars often spent years studying to secure even a minor role at the imperial court (朝廷). Those with Bazi charts showing a favourable arrangement of 'auspicious’ deities were considered more likely to succeed in these esteemed paths.
Conversely, individuals with 'inauspicious’ deities in their Bazi charts were often seen as destined for unconventional or entrepreneurial careers, such as becoming merchants. This was regarded as the least respected profession in ancient times due to its minimal scholarly requirements and associated significant risks. Merchants required courage to face considerable risks and dangers, as they frequently travelled with large sums of money or bank drafts to purchase goods and were responsible for transporting large amounts of cargo. Moreover, successful merchants needed to think creatively to capitalize on competition, navigate uncertainties, and utilize their resilience to achieve wealth and success.
Ironically, traits linked to 'inauspicious' deities that were once undervalued in the past are now highly valued across various industries. Today, success is not confined to traditional academic paths. While academic achievements are still valued, alternative career paths are now widely recognized. This broader perspective embraces diverse career opportunities and aligns with the Chinese proverb '行行出状元'— success can be found in every profession. Individuals can excel in their chosen field by working diligently and choosing the right career path that aligns with their unique strengths and talents.
In conclusion, there are no 'good' or 'bad' deities, especially in today's context. All deities that benefit us are considered auspicious. True auspiciousness, however, is determined by assessing the entire Bazi chart; even 'inauspicious’ deities can bolster an individual's success when the overall chart configuration is favourable.
Understanding our Bazi charts enables us to gain deeper insights into our personalities and potential. By identifying and nurturing our innate strengths and selecting paths that align with our natural talents, we can navigate our life's journey more effectively and excel in our endeavors.
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Concept of The 5 Elements
The five elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—are fundamental components inherent in everything in the universe. To maintain harmony, it is important to preserve a balanced interaction among these elements. Achieving this equilibrium involves generating and controlling each element as needed to ensure that none dominates or disrupts the balance.
Generating
Wood produces Fire
Fire produces Earth
Earth produces Metal
Metal produces Water
Water produces Wood
Controlling
Wood controls Earth
Earth controls Water
Water controls Fire
Fire controls Metal
Metal controls Wood
Heavenly Stems & Earthly Branches
A Bazi Chart, also known as the Four Pillars and Eight Characters, comprises four pillars: the year, month, day, and hour of an individual's birth. Each pillar consists of the Heavenly Stems located at the top of the chart and the Earthly Branches below, totaling eight characters.
The upper section is the Heavenly Stems, including the Day Master (DM), which reflects a person’s external behavior. Each stem consists of one of ten characters: 甲 (jia), 乙 (yi), 丙 (bing), 丁 (ding), 戊 (wu), 己 (ji), 庚 (geng), 辛 (xin), 壬 (ren), and 癸 (gui). These characters correspond to one of the five elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water—and are classified as either Yin or Yang.
The Earthly Branches include one of the 12 zodiac signs, also differentiated by Yin or Yang attributes. These Branches can contain a single element (纯气) or a blend of a main element （主气）with one or two sub-elements (余气). This intricate composition of the Earthly Branches demonstrates how complex a human’s inner self can be!
The Uniqueness of the Earth Element
Earth plays an important role in sustaining life on our planet. It provides essential resources such as food, water, and air while protecting us from extreme weather conditions. The forests and mountains help purify the air we breathe, and its fertile soil supports the growth of our crops. This ability to sustain various life forms demonstrates Earth's significant importance and nurturing nature. Thus, it is often personified as a mother and commonly known as 'Mother Nature' or 'Mother Earth.'
Similarly, in Bazi astrology, the Earth element also holds great significance. Individuals whose Day Master is the Earth element often exhibit nurturing and protective characteristics. The Earth element is unique as it is present in all four seasons, marking the end of each season and serving as a transitional period to the next. For example, Dragon Earth (辰土) represents the last month of spring.
In my future post, we will discuss the Five Elements, their characteristics, and the hidden stems within the Earthly Branches in more detail.
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