The ten Heavenly Stems (Tiangan) are fundamental components of Chinese metaphysics, pairing Yin-Yang polarity with the Five Elements.
The ten Heavenly Stems (天干, Tiangan) are one of the two core components of the Chinese sexagenary cycle, alongside the Earthly Branches. Each stem carries a specific Five Elements quality and a Yin or Yang polarity, creating a precise system for describing the energy of any given time period.
| Stem | Chinese | Element | Polarity | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jia | 甲 | Wood | Yang | Tall tree, leadership |
| Yi | 乙 | Wood | Yin | Flower, flexibility |
| Bing | 丙 | Fire | Yang | Sun, brilliance |
| Ding | 丁 | Fire | Yin | Candle, warmth |
| Wu | 戊 | Earth | Yang | Mountain, stability |
| Ji | 己 | Earth | Yin | Garden soil, nurturing |
| Geng | 庚 | Metal | Yang | Sword, decisiveness |
| Xin | 辛 | Metal | Yin | Jewelry, refinement |
| Ren | 壬 | Water | Yang | Ocean, ambition |
| Gui | 癸 | Water | Yin | Rain, sensitivity |
In a Four Pillars chart, the Heavenly Stems occupy the top row of each pillar and represent outward, visible qualities. The Day Stem (Day Master) is especially significant — it represents the self and serves as the reference point for the entire chart analysis. Interactions between stems, such as combinations (he) and clashes (chong), reveal key dynamics in a person's destiny.
The Day Master is the Heavenly Stem of the Day Pillar in a BaZi chart, representing the core self and serving as the central reference for all chart analysis.
The twelve Earthly Branches (Dizhi) form the Chinese zodiac cycle and serve as the lower component of each pillar in a BaZi chart.
The Five Elements theory (Wu Xing) describes how Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water interact through cycles of creation and control in Eastern philosophy.
An ancient Chinese astrological system that uses birth year, month, day, and hour to create a destiny chart revealing personality, talents, and life path.
Yin and Yang is the foundational concept of Eastern philosophy describing how opposite forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world.
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