Exposed versus Hidden Ten-God Combinations (透干與藏支)
Compare Ten-God roles visible in Heavenly Stems with roles stored in Earthly Branches through roots, access, continuity, and activation.
Overview
An exposed Ten-God role appears in a Heavenly Stem and can enter direct stem relations; a hidden role resides in branch hidden stems and may supply roots or latent capacity. Exposed is not automatically stronger, and hidden is not automatically inactive. Month Command, root quality, source, position, branch integrity, transformation, and timing determine which role can actually participate in a combination.
At a glance
- Exposed
- A role appears at the Heavenly-Stem layer
- Hidden
- A role is stored within an Earthly Branch
- Root
- Hidden qi may sustain an exposed stem
- Access
- Exposure enables direct stem relations but may be rootless
- Activation
- Timing can reveal or mobilize hidden roles
- Boundary
- Visible and hidden are not personality labels
Inventory exposed and hidden occurrences separately
List each visible stem and every relevant main, middle, or residual hidden stem.
Map all roles from the same Day Master and avoid counting a root as a second independent actor.
- Separate layers.
- Deduplicate root evidence.
Compare access with continuity
An exposed role may act directly but remain fragile without roots; a hidden role may be durable but unable to reach the target.
Grade both dimensions instead of ranking one layer universally above the other.
- Access is not strength.
- Rooting is not exposure.
Track relations that reveal, redirect, or damage the role
Check combinations, clashes, branch meetings, controls, and timing stems that change availability.
State whether the relation activates a stored role or merely adds another symbol of the same phase.
- Name the mechanism.
- Preserve the chart layer.
Do not project exposure into behavior
A stem role is not proof of an outward personality, and a hidden role is not proof of secrecy, repression, or unconscious motivation.
Psychological and social claims need their own evidence.
- No visibility metaphor as fact.
- No personality diagnosis.
Sources and editorial basis
- 《三命通會》 (Sanming Tonghui)《三命通會》天干透出、地支藏干與月令通根諸論：顯露作用與根源承載不可混為同一證據A historical compilation covering stems and branches, Ten Gods, Nayin, Shen Sha, and multiple classical pattern systems.
- 《滴天髓》 (Dripping Heavenly Marrow)《滴天髓》根源與清濁論：天干須察有無根，地支須察有無透，並比較合沖制化後的通路A core later text on Bazi balance, seasonal strength, and relational reading.
- OpenFate Editorial Methodology透干與藏支組合頁分欄記錄可見性、根氣、持續性和受作用方式，不預設透干必強或藏支必弱OpenFate separates deterministic chart calculation, traditional interpretation, and modern editorial explanation.