After constructing the Bazi chart, one is faced with eight symbols of Stems and Branches. How does one interpret the relationships among them? This requires the "Ten Gods" (Shi Shen) system. The Ten Gods are the most important analytical tool in Bazi destiny analysis. They classify the seven characters other than the Day Master into ten types according to their relationship with the Day Master, using specific terminology. Mastering the Ten Gods is equivalent to mastering the professional language of Bazi destiny analysis.

The Ten Gods are: Friend (Bi Jian), Rob Wealth (Jie Cai), Eating God (Shi Shen), Hurting Officer (Shang Guan), Indirect Wealth (Pian Cai), Direct Wealth (Zheng Cai), Seven Killings (Qi Sha), Direct Officer (Zheng Guan), Indirect Resource (Pian Yin), and Direct Resource (Zheng Yin). These ten names may seem complex, but they all follow strict derivation logic. Taking the Day Master as "Self," the Ten God attribute of any other Stem or Branch is determined by its Five Element relationship with Self and whether its Yin-Yang nature is the same as or different from Self.

A character that shares the same Five Element and the same Yin-Yang nature as the Day Master is called "Friend" (Bi Jian). For example, if the Day Master is Jia Wood, encountering another Jia Wood constitutes a Friend. The Friend represents siblings, friends, and colleagues, as well as competition and self-awareness. A character that shares the same Five Element but has a different Yin-Yang nature from the Day Master is called "Rob Wealth" (Jie Cai). For example, if the Day Master is Jia Wood, encountering Yi Wood constitutes Rob Wealth. Rob Wealth also represents siblings and friends but carries the connotation of plundering and rivalry, being more aggressive than the Friend.

Those generated by the Day Master: if different in Yin-Yang nature, it is the "Eating God" (Shi Shen); if the same in Yin-Yang nature, it is the "Hurting Officer" (Shang Guan). For example, if the Day Master Jia Wood generates Fire, Bing Fire is the Eating God and Ding Fire is the Hurting Officer. The Eating God represents the gentle expression of talent, enjoyment of food, and children; the Hurting Officer represents the intense eruption of talent, rebelliousness, and creativity. The Eating God has a gentle personality; the Hurting Officer has a sharp personality. Both are expressions of the Day Master's intelligence.

Those restricted by the Day Master: if different in Yin-Yang nature, it is "Direct Wealth" (Zheng Cai); if the same in Yin-Yang nature, it is "Indirect Wealth" (Pian Cai). For example, if the Day Master Jia Wood restricts Earth, Ji Earth is Direct Wealth and Wu Earth is Indirect Wealth. Direct Wealth represents stable income, wife, and legitimate occupation; Indirect Wealth represents unexpected wealth, father, and business profits. Those with Direct Wealth are cautious in financial management; those with Indirect Wealth are willing to take risks.

Those that restrict the Day Master: if different in Yin-Yang nature, it is "Direct Officer" (Zheng Guan); if the same in Yin-Yang nature, it is "Seven Killings" (Qi Sha). For example, if the Day Master Jia Wood is restricted by Metal, Xin Metal is the Direct Officer and Geng Metal is the Seven Killings. The Direct Officer represents legitimate power, status, and the husband of a female chart; the Seven Killings represents coercive pressure, petty people, military positions, and the paramour of a female chart. The Direct Officer is gentle and affectionate; the Seven Killings is violent and ruthless. However, if the Seven Killings can be properly controlled and transformed, it can instead lead to great achievements.

Those that generate the Day Master: if different in Yin-Yang nature, it is "Direct Resource" (Zheng Yin); if the same in Yin-Yang nature, it is "Indirect Resource" (Pian Yin). For example, if the Day Master Jia Wood is generated by Water, Gui Water is the Direct Resource and Ren Water is the Indirect Resource. The Direct Resource represents mother, academic studies, diplomas, and protection; the Indirect Resource represents stepmother, unconventional skills, loneliness, and sensitivity. The Direct Resource is benevolent and stable; the Indirect Resource is eccentric and changeable.

The distribution and combination of the Ten Gods in the Bazi chart determine a person's personality traits, career inclinations, financial status, marriage quality, and children's fortunes. For example, a person with a clear and pure Direct Officer star that serves as the Useful God tends to be upright and rule-abiding, suitable for development within the system or in management positions. A person with a strong Hurting Officer that acts as a negative element tends to be brilliantly talented but arrogant, easily conflicting with superiors, and more suited to freelance work.

The Ten Gods also have complex generative and restrictive relationships among themselves. For example, the Eating God can control the Seven Killings; the Hurting Officer can be paired with the Resource; Wealth and Officer can mutually generate. These combinations form the "Chart Pattern" theory of Bazi destiny analysis, serving as an important basis for judging the social level of a person's destiny. In a chart, if the Ten Gods are appropriately matched and flow harmoniously, even a slightly weak Day Master can achieve success; conversely, if the Ten Gods are chaotic and clash ruthlessly, even a strong Day Master may experience a life of twists and turns.

The beauty of the Ten Gods system lies in its transformation of abstract Five Element relationships into concrete life imagery. Through the Ten Gods, we can see not only the trends of a person's destiny but also glimpse the light and shadow deep within their character. It is the bridge connecting the symbols of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches to real life, and it is the core theory that every student of destiny analysis must master.

排定八字之后，面对八个干支符号，如何解读它们之间的关系？这就需要借助"十神"系统。十神是八字命理学中最重要的分析工具，它将八字中除日主之外的七个字，按照其与日主的关系划分为十种类型，分别用特定的术语表示。掌握十神，就等于掌握了八字命理的专业语言。

十神包括：比肩、劫财、食神、伤官、偏财、正财、七杀、正官、偏印、正印。这十个名称看似复杂，其实都有严格的推导逻辑。以日主为"我"，根据其他干支与我的五行生克关系，以及阴阳是否相同，即可确定其十神属性。

与我五行相同且阴阳相同者，称为"比肩"。例如，日主为甲木，再见甲木即为比肩。比肩代表兄弟姐妹、朋友同事，也代表竞争与自我意识。与我五行相同但阴阳不同者，称为"劫财"。例如，日主为甲木，见乙木即为劫财。劫财也代表兄弟姐妹、朋友，但带有争夺、劫掠的意味，比比肩更具攻击性。

我生者，且阴阳不同为"食神"，阴阳相同为"伤官"。例如，日主甲木生火，丙火为食神，丁火为伤官。食神代表才华的温和流露、口福、子女；伤官则代表才华的激烈喷发、叛逆、创造力。食神性格温和，伤官性格尖锐，二者都是日主智慧的体现。

我克者，且阴阳不同为"正财"，阴阳相同为"偏财"。例如，日主甲木克土，己土为正财，戊土为偏财。正财代表稳定的收入、妻子、正当职业；偏财代表意外之财、父亲、经商获利。正财之人谨慎理财，偏财之人敢于冒险。

克我者，且阴阳不同为"正官"，阴阳相同为"七杀"。例如，日主甲木受金克，辛金为正官，庚金为七杀。正官代表正当的权力、地位、女命的丈夫；七杀代表强制的压力、小人、武职、女命的偏夫。正官温和而有情，七杀暴烈而无情，但七杀若能制化得宜，反而能成就大事业。

生我者，且阴阳不同为"正印"，阴阳相同为"偏印"。例如，日主甲木受水生，癸水为正印，壬水为偏印。正印代表母亲、学业、文凭、庇护；偏印代表继母、偏门技艺、孤独、敏感。正印慈祥而稳定，偏印怪异而多变。

十神在八字中的分布和组合，决定了一个人的性格特征、职业倾向、财富状况、婚姻质量、子女缘分等各个方面。例如，八字中正官星清透且为用神的人，往往为人正直、做事规矩，适合在体制内发展；八字中伤官旺而为忌的人，往往才华横溢但恃才傲物，容易与上司发生冲突，适合从事自由职业。

十神之间也存在复杂的生克关系。例如，食神可以制杀，伤官可以配印，财官可以相生。这些组合关系构成了八字命理中的"格局"理论，是判断一个人命运层次高低的重要依据。一个八字中，如果十神搭配得宜、流通有情，即使日主稍弱，也能成就一番事业；反之，如果十神混乱、交战无情，即使日主强旺，也可能一生波折。

十神系统的美妙之处在于，它将抽象的五行生克关系转化为具体的人生意象。通过十神，我们不仅能看到一个人的命运趋势，还能窥见其性格深处的光明与阴影。它是连接天干地支符号与现实人生的桥梁，是每一位命理学习者必须精通的核心理论。