Heavenly Stems Dictionary
The stems are the ten upper characters of the four pillars. The stem of your birth day (the Day Master) is you, and every other character is read by its relation to it.
The heavenly stems (cheongan, 天干) are ten characters: Gap (甲)·Eul (乙)·Byeong (丙)·Jeong (丁)·Mu (戊)·Gi (己)·Gyeong (庚)·Sin (辛)·Im (壬)·Gye (癸). They form the upper characters of saju's four pillars and represent the energy of heaven.
Your birth day's heavenly stem is called the Day Master (ilgan, 日干) and represents “you” in saju. All seven other characters are read through their relationship to the Day Master, using the Ten Gods.
Traits
The ten heavenly stems divide each of the Five Elements into yin and yang — Gap·Eul are Wood, Byeong·Jeong are Fire, Mu·Gi are Earth, Gyeong·Sin are Metal, and Im·Gye are Water. The first stem in each pair is yang, and the second is yin. So even within Wood, Gap Wood is read as a tall, upright tree, while Eul Wood is read as flexible grass and vines.
Heavenly stems can combine or clash. The five Stem Combination pairs are Gap-Gi (Earth)·Eul-Gyeong (Metal)·Byeong-Sin (Water)·Jeong-Im (Wood)·Mu-Gye (Fire), describing stems that attract and bind together. Stem Clashes describe head-on tension between stems of the same yin-yang quality, such as Gap-Gyeong·Eul-Sin·Byeong-Im·Jeong-Gye.
The heavenly stems repeat in the same order every ten years and every ten days. Paired with the twelve earthly branches, they form the 60-pair cycle from Gap-ja·Eul-chuk…Gye-hae. These stem-branch pairs (ganji, 干支) label years·months·days·hours.
Heavenly stems are generally read as outward energy, while earthly branches represent underlying energy. When a heavenly stem hidden within a branch (a hidden stem) also appears among the chart's visible stems (tuchul), its energy is considered more pronounced.
A common misconception
Some say, “Knowing your Day Master tells you everything about your saju”, but it is only a starting point. Even with the same Gap Wood Day Master, your birth month (month branch) and the arrangement of the other characters change your Day Master's strength, chart pattern, and helpful energy. All eight characters need to be read together.
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Heavenly Stems10
- Gap WoodYang Wood (Gap Wood, 甲木) is the first of the ten heavenly stems and the yang (陽) form of Wood, an energy likened to a tall tree rooted deep in the earth and reaching straight toward the sky.
- Eul WoodEul Wood (乙木) is the second of the ten heavenly stems and represents yin (陰) Wood, an energy likened to grasses·flowers·vines that bend in the wind without breaking.
- Byeong FireByeong Fire (丙火) is the third of the ten heavenly stems and represents yang (陽) Fire, an energy likened to the sun shining high in the sky and lighting the world evenly.
- Jeong FireYin Fire (Jeong Fire, 丁火) is the fourth of the ten heavenly stems and the yin (陰) form of Fire, an energy likened to a lamp or candle steadily lighting the space nearby in the dark.
- Mu EarthYang Earth (Mu Earth, 戊土) is the fifth of the ten heavenly stems and the yang (陽) form of Earth, an energy likened to a mountain standing firmly in place or an embankment holding back water.
- Gi EarthGi Earth (己土) is the sixth of the ten heavenly stems and represents yin (陰) Earth, likened to fertile fields and garden soil that embrace and nurture seeds.
- Gyeong MetalGyeong Metal (庚金) is the seventh of the ten heavenly stems and represents yang (陽) Metal, likened to unrefined ore, solid metal, swords, and axes.
- Sin MetalSin Metal (辛金) is the eighth of the ten heavenly stems and represents yin (陰) Metal, likened to polished, shining gems, gold and silver, and sharp needles.
- Im WaterIm Water (壬水) is the ninth of the ten heavenly stems and represents yang (陽) Water, likened to oceans and great rivers that flow endlessly and embrace everything.
- Gye WaterGye Water (癸水) is the last of the ten heavenly stems and represents yin (陰) Water, likened to rain·dew·spring water that quietly nourishes the earth and supports life.
Frequently asked questions
How can I find my Day Master?
Your Day Master is the first character in your birth day's stem-branch pair. It can be calculated from your birth date alone. Seowoon's free “Day Pillar” reading shows both your day stem and day branch.
Is a Stem Combination a good thing?
A combination attracts and binds, so it can suggest harmony or being tied down and unable to play one's role. Its meaning depends on which positions combine and whether the element associated with that combination is helpful to your chart.
How do heavenly stems and earthly branches differ?
The ten heavenly stems represent heaven and outward energy. The twelve earthly branches represent earth and inner energy, along with seasons and time. One stem and one branch form a pillar.