Yin-Yang Classification of the Heavenly Stems (天干陰陽)
See which Heavenly Stems are yang or yin, how the alternating sequence works, and why polarity does not determine gender, morality, or fortune.
Overview
The yang stems are Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, and Ren; the yin stems are Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin, and Gui. Polarity alternates through the ten-stem sequence and stays fixed in every chart. It helps distinguish paired modes within the same element, but it does not measure strength, assign gender, or decide whether a stem is favorable.
At a glance
- Yang stems
- Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng, Ren
- Yin stems
- Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin, Gui
- Sequence
- Polarity alternates from Jia through Gui
- Fixed property
- A stem never changes polarity
- Different question
- Polarity is not strength or usefulness
- Sensitive boundary
- Not sex, gender, morality, or temperament
The classification is fixed and auditable
Jia begins the sequence as yang; Yi is yin, and the alternation continues until Gui.
Each Five-Element pair contains one yang and one yin stem, giving five stable pairs rather than a sliding score.
- Use the canonical list.
- Do not infer polarity from appearance or context.
Polarity refines a phase without replacing it
Jia and Yi are both Wood, yet their polarity helps classical texts distinguish modes of expression and relation.
Those images remain subordinate to season, roots, position, and interactions; polarity alone cannot tell which member of a pair is stronger.
- Keep phase and polarity as separate fields.
- Test effective strength independently.
Polarity matters in derived relationships
Ten Gods use both elemental relation and polarity, so same-polarity and opposite-polarity relations receive different names.
Stem combinations also pair specific opposite-polarity stems, but a listed pair does not prove that transformation succeeds.
- Apply the full derivation rule.
- Do not confuse pairing with outcome.
Yin and yang are not demographic labels
A yin-heavy or yang-heavy stem layer cannot identify biological sex, gender identity, orientation, fertility, aggression, passivity, or moral quality.
It also does not justify health, relationship, hiring, or financial decisions. Use direct facts for consequential judgments.
- Avoid sensitive-attribute inference.
- Do not rank one polarity above the other.
Sources and editorial basis
- 《御定星曆考原》卷一《星曆考原》十干陰陽：甲丙戊庚壬為陽，乙丁己辛癸為陰A historical source for stem and branch Yin-Yang, Five Phase, direction, seasonal, and calendrical correspondences.
- 《三命通會》 (Sanming Tonghui)《三命通會》卷一十干論：十干陰陽五行及配對關係A historical compilation covering stems and branches, Ten Gods, Nayin, Shen Sha, and multiple classical pattern systems.
- OpenFate Editorial Methodology天干陰陽頁明示陰陽是分類欄位，不推論性別、人格、道德、強弱或吉凶OpenFate separates deterministic chart calculation, traditional interpretation, and modern editorial explanation.