The Ten Gods (십신) in Korean Saju, Explained Simply
Open any saju chart and you will see labels like “Eating God” or “Seven Killings” under the characters. These are the Ten Gods (십신, sipsin) — not gods at all, but ten kinds of relationship between each character in your chart and you, your Day Master. Here is how they work.
What the Ten Gods Are
Every character in a saju chart has an element and a polarity, yin or yang. The Ten Gods describe how each one relates to your Day Master: is it the same element as you, something you produce, something you control, something that controls you, or something that produces you? Then polarity splits each of those five into two.
So the Ten Gods are a vocabulary for the roles in your life — peers, self-expression, resources, pressure and support — read from your own birth chart.
The Five Families
Companions — the same element as you: Friend (비견) when the polarity matches, Rob Wealth (겁재) when it differs.
Output — the element you produce: Eating God (식신) and Hurting Officer (상관).
Wealth — the element you control: Indirect Wealth (편재) and Direct Wealth (정재).
Officer — the element that controls you: Seven Killings (편관) and Direct Officer (정관).
Resource — the element that produces you: Indirect Resource (편인) and Direct Resource (정인). In each family, the matching-polarity god is the “indirect” or bolder one and the opposite-polarity god is the “direct” or steadier one.
See your own chart
Your four pillars, Day Master, element balance and the Ten God of each stem — from your birth date, with or without a birth time.
Companions and Output
Friend: independence and fair partnership; the watch-out is going it alone. Rob Wealth: drive to win and sociability; the watch-out is impulsive spending and rivalry.
Eating God: ease, creativity and enjoying your skill; the watch-out is getting too comfortable. Hurting Officer: wit, talent and a reformer's voice; the watch-out is sharp words and fighting the rules.
Wealth, Officer and Resource
Indirect Wealth: business sense and spotting opportunity. Direct Wealth: diligence, reliability and saving.
Seven Killings: charisma and resolve under pressure. Direct Officer: principle, reputation and order.
Indirect Resource: intuition and unconventional learning. Direct Resource: learning, kindness and support from mentors.
None of them is good or bad on its own — each has a bright side and a watch-out, and what matters is the balance in your whole chart.
Reading Them in Your Own Chart
Look at which Ten Gods appear most, which are missing, and where they sit — a god in your month pillar colors your working life, one in your day branch sits in your “spouse palace.” Your ten-year luck cycles each bring a Ten God theme too, which is why some decades feel like building and others like proving yourself.
Your free chart labels the Ten God of each heavenly stem in your pillars, so you can see your own mix in a minute.
See your own chart
Your four pillars, Day Master, element balance and the Ten God of each stem — from your birth date, with or without a birth time.
Questions people ask
What are the Ten Gods in saju?
Ten relationship types between each character in your chart and your Day Master, based on element (same, produced, controlled, controlling, producing) and polarity.
Is Seven Killings bad?
No. Its bright side is charisma and resolve under pressure; its watch-out is stress and pushing too hard. Every Ten God has both sides.
What is the difference between direct and indirect?
In each family, the god with the same polarity as your Day Master is called indirect (bolder, less conventional) and the one with the opposite polarity is direct (steadier, more conventional).
How do I find my Ten Gods?
Enter your birthday for a free chart: each heavenly stem is labeled with its Ten God relative to your Day Master.
More guides
Read your whole chart
Your day pillar is one of eight characters. See all four pillars, your five elements and your 2027 — the first chapters are free.