How to Read the Five-Phase Distribution: And Why This Site Doesn't Tell You 'Strong Self vs. Weak Self'

The Scope of Five-Phase Statistics

When you get a chart, the most straightforward thing to do is count how many of each of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth there are. However, if you count on different websites, you'll often find the numbers don't add up. This isn't because anyone calculated incorrectly, but because the statistical scope used in each place is different.

Some systems count only the four heavenly stems, some only the main qi of the earthly branches, and some count each heavenly stem and earthly branch as one. This site's method is: four heavenly stems, plus all the hidden stems within the four earthly branches, totaling thirteen elements. The main qi of the earthly branch is already included in the hidden stems and is not counted again separately.

For example, if a certain earthly branch has hidden stems 'jia (wood), bing (fire), wu (earth)', these three elements will all be included in the statistics, but the earthly branch's own five-phase element is not added again. This is why the numbers displayed on this site may differ from what you see with other tools.

What Are 'Friendly Faction' and 'Hostile Faction'

When discussing five-phase distribution, you'll often hear the terms 'friendly faction' (tong dang) and 'hostile faction' (yi dang). Their definitions are as follows:

• Friendly Faction: Companion/Rob Wealth (bi jie) (the same five-phase as the Day Master) plus Resource Star (yin xing) (the five-phase that generates the Day Master). The direction of both these roles is to support the Day Master.
• Hostile Faction: Output Star (shi shang) (what the Day Master produces), Wealth Star (cai xing) (what the Day Master overcomes), and Authority/Seven Killings (guan sha) (what overcomes the Day Master). The direction of these three roles is to consume or suppress the Day Master.

After tallying the five-phase distribution, mapping it to the Ten Gods relationship with the Day Master allows you to separate what proportion belongs to the friendly faction and what belongs to the hostile faction. This is an objective statistical result, inherently carrying no judgment in itself.

The Three Bases for Determining 'Strong Self' or 'Weak Self'

Traditionally, the three commonly used bases for judging whether a Day Master is 'strong self' (shen qiang) or 'weak self' (shen ruo) are as follows:

1. Obtaining Command (de ling): Does the five-phase corresponding to the Day Master exist in a state of 'prosperity' (wang) or 'resonance' (xiang) in the month's branch (yue zhi)?
2. Obtaining Root (de di): Does the Day Master's five-phase appear in the hidden stems of any earthly branch in the four pillars? This is what is called 'having a root' (tong gen).
3. Obtaining Momentum (de shi): Is the number of the friendly faction greater than the number of the hostile faction?

Each of these three conditions can be directly observed from the chart. Obtaining command looks at the month branch, obtaining root looks at the hidden stems, and obtaining momentum counts the friendly and hostile factions. This site's five-phase statistical table is designed so you can compare these three bases yourself.

Why This Site Does Not Provide a 'Strong Self / Weak Self' Conclusion

The same chart, given to teachers of different schools, may very well lead to opposite conclusions. Some might say the chart indicates a strong self, others might say a weak self. The difference does not lie in the chart data, but in how each school weights, selects among, and applies detailed rules to the three bases mentioned above.

For example, some schools assign extremely high weight to 'obtaining command', considering the month branch decisive with veto power. Other schools believe a comprehensive consideration of all three is needed. Or, when calculating the friendly and hostile factions, whether all hidden stems are counted equally, or only the main qi is considered—practices vary among schools.

These differences are not errors, but positions held by different schools. This site's task is to provide verifiable numbers from the chart and comparative data on the three bases. As for what these numbers mean within the framework of a specific school, that requires that school's interpretive rules, which this website cannot substitute for.

This site lists the three bases and all the numbers; the judgment is left to you, or to a teacher you trust.