Yin and Yang in Bazi (陰陽)
Learn how yin and yang classify stems and branches, divide Ten God relationships, describe change, and why equal counts are not the definition of balance.
Overview
In Bazi, yin and yang are complementary polarities assigned to every Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch. Polarity helps define valid pairings, Ten God distinctions, direction rules, and relational qualities. Balance does not mean an equal number of yin and yang characters; it means reading polarity within season, phase, strength, position, and transformation.
At a glance
- Stem split
- Five yang stems and five yin stems
- Branch split
- Six yang branches and six yin branches
- Ten God role
- Polarity distinguishes paired relationship names
- Cycle role
- Supports sequencing and direction conventions
- Balance test
- Function and context, not a simple count
- Boundary
- Not biological sex, gender identity, or moral value
Polarity is a fixed symbol attribute
The ten stems alternate yang and yin; the twelve branches also alternate polarity. Valid stem-branch pairs preserve matching parity.
These assignments are deterministic catalog data. Interpretation begins only after the symbols and their positions are known.
- Use the canonical polarity table.
- Validate parity in every Jiazi pair.
Polarity divides each Five-Phase relationship
Generation, control, and same-phase relations create five broad Ten God families. Same or opposite polarity then distinguishes their paired roles.
Polarity changes the relationship name but does not by itself establish strength, usefulness, or real-world expression.
- Establish phase direction first.
- Treat the role as relational evidence.
Equal numbers are not the balance test
Four yin and four yang characters can still produce a highly concentrated or obstructed chart, while an uneven count can function coherently.
Season, roots, phase flow, combinations, clashes, and climate show whether polarities can interact and transform effectively.
- Do not score balance by character count alone.
- Assess function in the complete structure.
Avoid social and biological stereotypes
Traditional yin and yang do not determine a person’s sex, gender identity, sexuality, passivity, dominance, morality, or mental health.
Use polarity only within the declared Bazi rules and keep modern identity claims outside symbolic inference.
- No gender essentialism.
- No personality diagnosis from polarity.
Sources and editorial basis
- Hong Kong Observatory: Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches天干地支陰陽屬性：干支交替的陰陽分類An official modern reference for the canonical stem and branch orders, the sexagenary cycle, and calendrical use.
- 《滴天髓》 (Dripping Heavenly Marrow)《滴天髓》「陰陽順逆之說」：陰陽必須結合五行、季節與強弱A core later text on Bazi balance, seasonal strength, and relational reading.
- OpenFate Editorial Methodology陰陽頁禁止把陰陽標籤寫成性別、道德、健康或固定人格OpenFate separates deterministic chart calculation, traditional interpretation, and modern editorial explanation.