Ten Gods and the Useful God (十神與用神)
Distinguish a derived Ten-God label from a selected Useful God and connect them only through an explicit strength, structure, climate, or circulation method.
Overview
A Ten God classifies how a stem relates to the Day Master; the Useful God is a selected function intended to address a chart problem under a declared method. A stem can therefore carry a Ten-God label and also be selected, rejected, or conditionally used by a strength, structure, climate, circulation, or remedy analysis. The two concepts are related but not interchangeable.
At a glance
- Ten God
- Deterministic relationship classification
- Useful God
- Method-dependent selected function
- Possible methods
- Strength, structure, climate, circulation, remedy
- Capacity check
- Selected function must be able to operate
- Side-effect check
- Benefits and costs across the chart
- Boundary
- Selection is not an outcome guarantee
Classify first and select later
The Ten-God label follows from stem relationships and does not change to match a preferred interpretation.
Useful-God selection begins only after the chart’s problem and method have been defined.
- Preserve the computed label.
- Document the selection method separately.
Name the problem the selected function addresses
Balancing Day-Master capacity, forming a structure, adjusting climate, restoring circulation, and treating an obstruction are different questions.
A Ten God helpful under one question can be neutral or obstructive under another, so methods cannot be merged silently.
- State the target and method.
- Do not claim universal favorability.
Check availability, dosage, and side effects
The selected stem or phase needs sufficient roots, support, reveal, or timing access to perform the proposed role.
Trace what it produces, drains, controls, or exposes so solving one imbalance does not conceal a larger cost.
- Assess operating capacity.
- Publish tradeoffs and counterevidence.
A Useful God is not a prescription or promise
It does not prescribe colors, objects, food, medicine, investments, partners, occupations, or migration.
It cannot guarantee wealth, recovery, marriage, promotion, or safety; real decisions require domain evidence and professional care.
- Reject magical-remedy claims.
- Keep high-stakes advice outside the model.
Sources and editorial basis
- 《子平真詮》 (True Explanations of Ziping)《子平真詮》用神與相神諸論：用神是結構角色，不等同於十神名稱本身A major reference for month-command, structure, and contextual Bazi interpretation.
- 《滴天髓》 (Dripping Heavenly Marrow)《滴天髓》中和、病藥、調候與通關評註：取用方法不同，所需功能亦可能不同A core later text on Bazi balance, seasonal strength, and relational reading.
- OpenFate Editorial Methodology十神與用神頁先完成十神推導，再明示所採用神方法、功能、條件、反證及替代方案OpenFate separates deterministic chart calculation, traditional interpretation, and modern editorial explanation.