The yin and yang stems list is short: the yang stems are Jia, Bing, Wu, Geng and Ren, and the yin stems are Yi, Ding, Ji, Xin and Gui. Each of the five elements gets one of each. Below is the full table, then how the pairs compare.
The Yin and Yang Stems List at a Glance
| # | Stem | Character | Pinyin (approx.) | Element | Polarity | Nature image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jia | 甲 | Jiǎ (jyah) | Wood | Yang | Tall tree |
| 2 | Yi | 乙 | Yǐ (ee) | Wood | Yin | Vines, flowers |
| 3 | Bing | 丙 | Bǐng (bing) | Fire | Yang | The sun |
| 4 | Ding | 丁 | Dīng (ding) | Fire | Yin | Candle, lamp |
| 5 | Wu | 戊 | Wù (woo) | Earth | Yang | Mountain |
| 6 | Ji | 己 | Jǐ (jee) | Earth | Yin | Farm soil |
| 7 | Geng | 庚 | Gēng (gung) | Metal | Yang | Axe, ore |
| 8 | Xin | 辛 | Xīn (shin) | Metal | Yin | Jewelry |
| 9 | Ren | 壬 | Rén (ren) | Water | Yang | River, sea |
| 10 | Gui | 癸 | Guǐ (gway) | Water | Yin | Rain, dew |
Note that Ji is yin earth, not yin wood, a label some sites get wrong. BaZi is a cultural tradition used for reflection and entertainment, and the images here are interpretive.
The Odd/Even Rule: How Yin and Yang Are Assigned
Stems in odd positions (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) are yang; stems in even positions (2, 4, 6, 8, 10) are yin. Each element takes two consecutive stems, yang first and then yin.
The Heavenly Stems are ten symbols used in BaZi (Four Pillars of Destiny) to label time and the elements in a chart. Yin and yang here are two complementary modes of one element, not good versus bad. For more background, see our Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches plain guide.
Yin vs. Yang Character: The General Picture
A common interpretation describes yang stems as strong, initiative-taking and extroverted, and yin stems as gentle, receptive and introverted. Treat this as a symbolic reading, not historical fact or a personality test. Keywords vary between sites, and few cite classical texts.
The Five Yin-Yang Pairs Side by Side
The descriptions below are often-used keywords. Other sources may phrase them differently.
Jia vs. Yi: Yang Wood and Yin Wood
Jia, the tall tree, is often described as upright and steady. Yi, vines and flowers, is often described as flexible and adaptable.
Bing vs. Ding: Yang Fire and Yin Fire
Bing is the sun: warm, open, visible to everyone. Ding is a candle or lamp: focused and personal.
Wu vs. Ji: Yang Earth and Yin Earth
Wu is a mountain, often read as solid and dependable. Ji is farm soil, often read as nurturing and practical.
Geng vs. Xin: Yang Metal and Yin Metal
Geng, an axe or raw ore, is often described as direct and decisive. Xin, jewelry, is described as refined and detail-minded.
Ren vs. Gui: Yang Water and Yin Water
Ren is a river or sea: large and moving. Gui is rain or dew: quiet and subtle.
Neither stem in a pair is better. They are two expressions of one element.
How to Find Your Stem (With a Worked Example)
Your birth year's last digit gives a quick year stem: 4 = Jia, 5 = Yi, 6 = Bing, 7 = Ding, 8 = Wu, 9 = Ji, 0 = Geng, 1 = Xin, 2 = Ren, 3 = Gui. An even last digit means yang; odd means yin.
For example, 1976 ends in 6, giving Bing (yang fire). 1977 gives Ding (yin fire).
One caveat: BaZi uses solar-term boundaries, and the year turns at Li Chun, around early February, not January 1. If you were born in January or early February, you may belong to the previous year's stem. The year stem is also only one of four pillars, so use a proper chart calculator for exact pillars.
Why the Day Master Matters More to Most BaZi Readers
The day stem, called the day master, is usually treated as the "self" of the chart. Read what your day master means before focusing on your year stem.
Common Misconceptions About Yin and Yang Stems
- Yin is not weak, negative or unlucky. Yang is not better in a fixed sense.
- Polarity is relative to the element. Yin and yang describe a pair within one element.
- One stem does not define a person. Meaning shifts with the rest of the chart.
- Images are metaphors, not rules. Sources differ.
Stems vs. Earthly Branches and the 60-Year Cycle
There are 10 stems and 12 Earthly Branches. The branches are the 12 zodiac animals. Stems and branches combine into the 60-year cycle. Yang stems pair only with yang branches, and yin stems only with yin branches, which is why 60 combinations occur instead of 120.
Where to Go Next
If you are new, start with what BaZi and the Four Pillars are. If you would like to see all four pillars together, you can explore a Life Blueprint reading, offered for reflection and cultural interest, with no promises about outcomes.
LuckTime readings and guides are for entertainment and self-reflection. They are not medical, financial, legal or psychological advice.