Ten-God Image Method: Derivation Before Metaphor
Learn how Ten-God image reading derives each relation, preserves chart owner and position, and uses metaphors as prompts rather than facts.
Overview
Ten-God image method (十神意象法, Shí Shén Yì Xiàng Fǎ) develops thematic associations from the ten relations derived between the Day Master and other stems or hidden stems. Companion, Output, Wealth, Officer, and Resource categories—each with direct and indirect polarity—describe formal generating, controlling, or same-phase relations before they become metaphors for roles, resources, expression, constraints, learning, or exchange. A rigorous reading verifies the Day Master, target element and polarity, owner, pillar, hidden or revealed status, strength, structure, interactions, and timing. It does not literalize “Wealth” as money or spouse, “Officer” as a job or authority, “Resource” as a mother or education, or any category as a fixed personality or event.
At a glance
- Derivation base
- Element and polarity relation to the Day Master
- Five families
- Companion, Output, Wealth, Officer, and Resource
- Context fields
- Owner, pillar, hidden/revealed, force, action, timing
- Use
- Generate bounded thematic questions and comparisons
- Primary risk
- Literal people, jobs, motives, money, or events
- Cannot prove
- Personality, relationship role, conduct, or outcome
Derive the Ten God before interpreting it
Verify the Day Master, target stem or hidden stem, five-phase relation, and polarity. A wrong birth input or hidden-stem table changes the Ten-God category.
Record whose chart is being read and which symbol owns the label. In compatibility work, do not transfer one person’s relation into the other person’s chart.
- Show element and polarity derivation.
- Preserve chart owner and symbol identity.
Add position, capacity, structure, and timing
Check pillar, palace, revealed or hidden status, roots, season, strength, combinations, clashes, structural function, and whether a timing layer activates the relation.
Presence does not equal dominance or outcome. Several occurrences may share one source and should not be counted as independent proof.
- Distinguish presence from effective function.
- Track shared dependencies and timing.
Use thematic ranges instead of literal substitutions
Offer a bounded range of possible themes, then ask which is supported by the chart and observable context. Explain why one association is relevant to the question.
Do not equate Wealth with money or partner, Officer with boss or law, Resource with mother or credential, Output with talent, or Companion with a specific person.
- Treat associations as hypotheses.
- No one-to-one person or event substitution.
Keep symbolic roles from becoming identity claims
Ten-God imagery cannot determine personality type, morality, sexuality, fidelity, occupation, intelligence, health, family conduct, wealth, or legal risk.
Use consent and direct evidence for personal interpretation. Consequential decisions require relevant professional and real-world information.
- No identity or conduct verdict.
- No screening, diagnosis, or guaranteed forecast.
Sources and editorial basis
- 《淵海子平》 (Yuanhai Ziping)《淵海子平》以日主與陰陽生剋建立十神對應，並結合六親、柱位及格局提供十神意象的文本基礎A foundational Ziping reference for branch months, hidden stems, roots, and stem-branch relationships.
- 《子平真詮》 (True Explanations of Ziping)《子平真詮》的月令、格局與喜忌制化材料支持同一十神須依原局功能解讀，不能固定為單一人物、性格或事件A major reference for month-command, structure, and contextual Bazi interpretation.
- OpenFate Editorial Methodology十神意象法頁要求先計算正確十神，再標示位置、旺衰、制化與語境；禁止把意象直接當作真人動機、職業、財富或家庭事實OpenFate separates deterministic chart calculation, traditional interpretation, and modern editorial explanation.