THE TEN GODS
Ten Gods are roles, not deities
The Ten Gods name ten possible relationships between another stem and the Day Master. They are best understood as functions such as expression, support, structure and opportunity.
Relationship before label
A role is determined by five-element direction and Yin–Yang polarity. For example, an element generated by the Day Master belongs to the expression family; polarity distinguishes its two forms.
Presence is not destiny
A prominent role is easier to notice in the chart, but it is not automatically good, bad or permanent. Position, season, hidden layers and timing alter how it can appear.
Why we use plain English
Translations such as Structure or Support are navigation aids. The original Chinese term remains visible so readers can verify the traditional source rather than mistaking the English word for a complete definition.