Detailed Analysis of Gan Shen (Stem Spirit)
Gan Shen is a BaZi charting term referring to the Ten God name for each pillar's Heavenly Stem relative to the Day Master (Day Pillar's stem).
Basic Concept
In the Four Pillars, the Day Pillar's stem is "Self" (Day Master). The other three stems have generating/controlling relationships with the Day Master, producing ten different "Spirits" (roles), collectively called the Ten Gods. Labeling these Ten Gods at the stem positions creates the "Stem Spirits."
Derivation Rules
Using the Day Master as reference, compare other stems' elements and polarities:
| Relation | Same Polarity | Opposite Polarity |
|---|---|---|
| Same as Me | Bi Jian | Jie Cai |
| I Generate | Shi Shen | Shang Guan |
| I Control | Pian Cai | Zheng Cai |
| Controls Me | Qi Sha | Zheng Guan |
| Generates Me | Pian Yin | Zheng Yin |
Practical Application
Stem Spirits are the first step in BaZi analysis—quickly understanding the native's fundamental relationships through the Ten Gods of each pillar's stem.