The ten main stars (jūdai shusei) and what they mean
The ten main stars (jūdai shusei) are the stars placed in the five positions that form a cross in Sanmeigaku’s body star chart. They sort the relationship between your day stem (you) and each of the other stems, by element and by yin and yang, into ten kinds, and each kind has a star name.
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1.The ten main stars and the five elements
The ten stars come in pairs, two for each element (one yang, one yin). Each element is compared to one of five human instincts.
| Element | Instinct | Yang star | Yin star | In Four Pillars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | Protecting (being yourself) | Kansaku | Sekimon | Hiken, Gōzai |
| Fire | Communicating (expression) | Hōkaku | Chōjo | Shokujin, Shōkan |
| Earth | Attracting (charm, wealth) | Rokuzon | Shiroku | Henzai, Seizai |
| Metal | Attacking (action, duty) | Shaki | Kengyū | Henkan, Seikan |
| Water | Learning (wisdom) | Ryūkō | Gyokudō | Hen’in, Injū |
“Element” here means the relationship as seen from the day stem. A stem of the same element as your day stem gives a Wood star (Kansaku or Sekimon), an element your day stem produces gives a Fire star, and so on. The mechanism is explained in the generating and controlling cycles.
2.The character of the ten stars
- Kansaku (貫索星): the star of independence that keeps its own pace. Stubbornly persistent, it sees through whatever it has decided. Kansaku people →
- Sekimon (石門星): the star of cooperation that forms a circle of friends. It treats everyone as an equal and has a gift for bringing people together. Sekimon people →
- Hōkaku (鳳閣星): the star of easy-going expression. It sees things as they are, with a generous spirit and a sense of humor. Hōkaku people →
- Chōjo (調舒星): the star of fine sensibility. It grows its own world in time alone and is suited to artistic expression. Chōjo people →
- Rokuzon (禄存星): the star of affection that draws people in. Generous, it shines by being useful to others. Rokuzon people →
- Shiroku (司禄星): the star of steady building. It values home and daily life and has a talent for saving. Shiroku people →
- Shaki (車騎星): the star of straight-ahead action. It has the courage and speed to act the moment an idea strikes. Shaki people →
- Kengyū (牽牛星): the star of duty fulfilled. Polite and proper, it earns trust through a correct attitude. Kengyū people →
- Ryūkō (龍高星): the star of adventure into the unknown. Through travel and learning, it comes up with new ideas. Ryūkō people →
- Gyokudō (玉堂星): the star of learning that inherits wisdom. It thinks things through logically and values tradition and old things. Gyokudō people →
3.Where to start reading
The body star chart holds five main stars. Above all, the central star on the chest is said to show a person’s essential nature, so that is where you start. When the same star appears two or more times, its qualities are thought to come out strongly.
These descriptions are examples of general tendencies. A full reading also takes in the stars’ positions and combinations, and their balance with the twelve subordinate stars.
4.Find your own ten main stars
Enter your date of birth in the Sanmeigaku reading (Japanese) to see your five main stars and your central star. For the twelve stars, see the twelve subordinate stars.
Now try a reading for yourself
Free readings related to this article.
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