The Psychology of the Ten Gods (Shipshin): 10 Archetypes of Human Desire
Do Saju terms like Pigyeon, Siksin, and Pyeonjae sound difficult? Let's interpret them as modern psychological desire codes.
Introduction: The Ancient Code of Human Desire
In the study of Four Pillars of Destiny (Saju), the Ten Gods (Shipshin) represent the core engine of human motivation. While the Five Elements describe the "matter" of your Soul, the Ten Gods describe the "Relationships" and "Desires" that drive your actions in the material world.
If we think of Saju as an ancient form of psychology, the Ten Gods are the archetypes—the internal voices that whisper what we want from life, how we view others, and how we handle power, wealth, and creativity. By understanding these ten codes, you gain a map of your own subconscious drive.
1. The Mirror of Self: Bigyeon & Geopjae (The Wood/Self Axis)
These two gods represent your ego, your independence, and your relationship with your peers.
Bigyeon (The Equal/Companion)
- Modern Parallel: Self-esteem, Autonomy, Identity.
- The Voice: "I am me. I stand on my own two feet."
- Dynamics: When Bigyeon is healthy, you possess a strong sense of self and an ability to cooperate without losing your identity. If excessive, it manifests as rigid stubbornness and an inability to follow external advice.
Geopjae (The Robber/Competitor)
- Modern Parallel: Competitive Spirit, Aggression, Ambition.
- The Voice: "I must win. I must be first."
- Dynamics: Geopjae is the energy of fierce competition. It drives you to improve yourself by measuring yourself against others. While it can lead to great success, it also brings internal conflict and a tendency towards sudden financial or emotional losses if not managed.
2. The Creative Spark: Siksin & Sang Gwan (The Creative Axis)
These gods represent your ability to express yourself, your output, and your "output luck"—how you interact with the world to produce something.
Siksin (The Food God/The Artist)
- Modern Parallel: Pure Creation, Flow, Research, Specialized Craft.
- The Voice: "I do this because I love the process."
- Dynamics: Siksin represents childlike curiosity and the joy of deep focus. It is the energy of a scientist in a lab or an artist in a studio. It is a stable, protective force that brings wealth through expertise and dedication.
Sang Gwan (The Hurting Officer/The Reformer)
- Modern Parallel: Critical Thinking, Showmanship, Revolution, Innovation.
- The Voice: "The system is broken. I will fix it and make sure you see me doing it."
- Dynamics: Sang Gwan is brilliant, fast-moving, and often rebellious. It hates being told what to do. It is the energy of the entrepreneur, the satirist, and the genius who thinks outside the box. It brings great fame but also conflict with authority.
3. The Material Reach: Pyeonjae & Jeongjae (The Wealth Axis)
These gods represent your relationship with the material world—how you manage resources, money, and control.
Jeongjae (The Proper Wealth)
- Modern Parallel: Diligence, Meticulousness, Quantitative Management.
- The Voice: "Consistency is the key to security."
- Dynamics: Jeongjae represents stable, earned income—the fruit of hard labor. It is the mind of an accountant or a precise manager. It brings deep stability and a sense of realism, though it can sometimes be overly cautious or stingy.
Pyeonjae (The Deviant Wealth)
- Modern Parallel: Entrepreneurial Vision, Risk-taking, Territorial Expansion.
- The Voice: "Think big. The world is a game of probability."
- Dynamics: Pyeonjae is the energy of 'big money' and fluid assets. It is not interested in a fixed salary; it wants the market. It represents a bold, adventurous spirit that views life as a series of territories to be conquered.
4. The Weight of Responsibility: Pyeongwan & Jeonggwan (The Authority Axis)
These gods represent your relationship with rules, laws, reputation, and those who have power over you.
Jeonggwan (The Proper Official)
- Modern Parallel: Ethics, Duty, Social Norms, Honor.
- The Voice: "Doing the right thing earns respect."
- Dynamics: Jeonggwan represents the law-abiding citizen and the honorable leader. It is the desire to fit into a stable social structure and maintain peace through order. It brings social recognition and a 'safe' career path.
Pyeongwan (The Seven Killings/The Warrior)
- Modern Parallel: Crisis Management, Resilience, Power Hunger, Sacrifice.
- The Voice: "Pressure makes diamonds. I will overcome at any cost."
- Dynamics: Pyeongwan is the energy of the soldier or the high-stress executive. It represents extreme pressure and the discipline required to survive it. It is a double-edged sword: it can bring immense power or crushing stress, depending on the chart's strength.
5. The Internal Compass: Pyeonin & Jeongin (The Intellectual Axis)
These gods represent how you input information, your intuition, your wisdom, and the support you receive from the world.
Jeongin (The Proper Resource/The Mother)
- Modern Parallel: Academic Study, Traditional Wisdom, Unconditional Support.
- The Voice: "I learn to understand. I am supported by the universe."
- Dynamics: Jeongin is the energy of the teacher and the scholar. it brings stability, health, and helpful people (Mentors) into your life. It is a gentle, receiving force that values logic and established knowledge.
Pyeonin (The Deviant Resource/The Owl)
- Modern Parallel: Intuition, Mystery, Deep Psychology, Niche Knowledge.
- The Voice: "There is more to reality than what is taught. I trust my gut."
- Dynamics: Pyeonin is the energy of the outsider or the mystic. It looks beyond the surface. It can lead to loneliness and overthinking, but it also bestows a sharp, penetrating intuition that can see through lies and solve complex, abstract problems.
Conclusion: Balancing the Ten Voices
No one has all Ten Gods functioning equally. Your Saju chart is a unique combination of these voices.
- Are you dominated by Wealth (Pyeonjae/Jeongjae), making you a realist focused on the physical?
- Are you dominated by Creation (Siksin/Sang Gwan), making you a restless innovator?
- Or is your Self (Bigyeon/Geopjae) so strong that you must carve your own path against all odds?
By identifying which "Goddesses" and "Gods" rule your chart, you can stop fighting your nature and start directing your desires toward their most productive expressions. You are a multi-dimensional psychological being; the Ten Gods are simply the ancient map that shows you where the hidden treasures—and the pitfalls—of your soul truly lie.