十神最后两神：比肩与劫财
我终于把八字里的十神最后两个神写完了。
很奇妙，最近遇见了一位郑老师。他在2013年买了我的八字书籍后，便开始研究八字。原来他本身是一位电脑软件专家，后来更花了很多年的时间，研发出一个非常棒的八字排盘软件，这八字排盘软件非常容易使用。
再加上最近也遇到很多网友问我，可不可以教他们如何看八字。但因为时间和精力有限，我都婉转地拒绝了。
在种种机缘巧合之下，我忽然有了一个想法：
如果以后时间允许，我希望可以开一班精简的八字课程，结合我过去所写的八字书籍，以及郑师傅研发的八字排盘软件，用一个比较简单、容易明白的方法，教大家认识自己的八字。
不一定要把自己变成八字师傅，而是希望大家能够通过八字，简单地认识自己、孩子、员工、朋友和家人的性格特点，了解他们的强处和弱点。
知道一个人的优点，就可以把他的优点发挥出来；知道一个人的弱点，也可以尽量避免走一些冤枉路。
如果有兴趣的网友，可以在以下的评论区让我知道。
了解我的朋友都知道，我做事情一向非常随缘，从来不会强求，也不会因为钱财而刻意去做任何事情。
有缘，自然会成。
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比肩和劫财
现在终于来到十神最后两个：比肩和劫财。
比肩和劫财，都是与我的日元属于同一种五行。
例如我的日元是木，那么木就是我的比肩和劫财。
但是，两者最大的分别就在于阴阳：
与我阴阳同性的是比肩，阴阳异性的是劫财。
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比肩
比肩顾名思义，就是跟我同肩、同辈的人。
所以在传统八字里，比肩也可以代表兄弟姐妹、朋友、同辈、同事，以及与自己能力和条件比较接近的人。
而「比」这个字，本身也有比较的意思。
所以，比肩虽然是同肩、同辈，但同时也带有比较与竞争的性质。
就好像你跟朋友或者兄弟姐妹一起玩游戏，大家都是朋友，但是玩到最后，还是会想知道：
到底谁赢？
这就是比肩很有趣的地方。
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比肩格的人通常比较有自己的想法。
他们独立、自主、有主见、有原则，也比较有自己的坚持。
他们不喜欢受到太多规则和限制。
所以，如果你是一位老板，而你的员工是比肩性质很强的人，你给他一个明确的目标以后，反而可以放手让他自己去做。
为什么？
因为比肩强的人，往往比较能够自己思考、自己判断、自己承担。
你如果给他太多框框，他反而发挥不好。
但是如果你告诉他：
「这是我们的目标，你自己想办法完成。」
他可能做得更加好。
因此，比肩性质强的人，往往也很适合个人品牌、自由职业、创业，甚至成为网红或自媒体创作者。
因为他们需要的是一个可以让自己发挥的空间。
他们不喜欢完全依附别人，更喜欢靠自己的能力去完成事情。
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比肩强的人，也往往非常有自尊心和原则。
他们不一定很在意别人怎么看自己。
之前我们讲过正官格的人，通常比较在意规则，也比较在意社会怎么看自己。
但是比肩太旺的人，很多时候想的是：
「这是我的人生，我认为对就去做。」
所以他们不会因为别人不认同，就轻易改变自己的想法。
这也是他们的优点，同时也是他们比较容易出现的问题。
优点是：
有原则、有骨气、不容易随波逐流。
缺点就是：
容易固执、主观、我行我素。
他们一旦认定了一件事情，就会坚持到底。
朋友多的时候，他们也非常讲义气，对朋友很好。
可是与他相处久了，你可能会发现：
「这个人真的很有自己的想法。」
甚至有时候会觉得他太固执。
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比肩强的人通常不喜欢依附别人。
他们比较喜欢靠自己。
所以如果要跟别人合伙做生意，也要特别注意彼此的性格。
因为大家如果都是非常有主见的人，就容易出现：
你有你的想法，我有我的想法。
最后到底听谁的？
所以比肩太旺的人，并不是不能合伙，而是合伙的时候一定要把权责、方向和决定权讲清楚。
否则，朋友变成竞争对手，也是很常见的事情。
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比肩还有一个很特别的地方。
很多比肩强的人，身边其实不缺朋友。
但是他们心里面往往会有一种感觉：
「认识我的人很多，真正了解我的人却很少。」
因为他们表面上看起来很独立、很坚强，好像什么事情都可以自己解决。
可是他们真正内心的想法，却不一定愿意轻易告诉别人。
所以，比肩其实是一个很有意思的十神。
它代表的不只是竞争，更代表一种：
「我靠自己。」
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劫财
接下来就是最后一个十神——劫财。
劫财和比肩一样，都是与日元相同的五行。
但是比肩是同性，劫财则是异性。
所以劫财和比肩其实是「同类」，但是表现出来的方式却不一样。
如果说比肩比较像：
「我自己来。」
那么劫财比较像：
「我们一起来。」
劫财的人通常比较有行动力，也比较喜欢与人互动、合作、竞争。他不会让你占到他的便宜。
他们反应快、胆量比较大，也比较敢冒险。
很多时候他们不会像比肩一样想了很久才决定，而是看到机会以后就会：
「先做了再说！」
所以劫财很容易出现一种很强的开创精神。
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劫财最大的特点之一，就是朋友、人脉和竞争。
因为劫财也是与自己同类的人，所以在现实生活中，它可以代表朋友、同事、合作伙伴，也可以代表竞争者。
所以劫财强的人，通常不会喜欢一个人孤孤单单地做事情。
他们比较容易认识很多人，也比较懂得利用人脉。
他们有时候一句话、一个想法，就可以找到人一起做。
所以如果你发现一个人很喜欢交朋友、很喜欢认识不同的人，而且看到机会就敢冲，这种性格往往就有比较明显的劫财特质。
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但是，劫财也有一个需要特别注意的地方，就是：
财来财去。
为什么叫「劫财」？
因为财星是我所克的五行，而劫财与我是同类，它跟我一起去面对财。
所以劫财旺的人，赚钱的能力不一定差，反而有时候很敢赚钱、敢投资、敢做生意。
但是问题就在于：
赚得到，也未必守得住。
因为他们喜欢朋友，也容易为了朋友、合作、机会而花钱。
有时候看到一个机会，就很想投资；看到朋友有困难，又想帮忙。
所以劫财旺的人，最重要的不是完全不做，而是要学习：
如何赚钱，更要学习如何守财。因此劫财格的人最好找一个正财格的人来当他的财务经理，他只要把赚到的钱给会守财的正财格（请去翻译我之前有关正财格的文章）的人来帮他守着财。
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比肩和劫财最大的不同，我会这样简单地形容：
比肩：我自己来。
劫财：大家一起来。
比肩比较重视自己的想法、原则和独立性。
劫财则比较重视行动、人脉、机会和竞争。
比肩强的人，往往是一个人也可以做得很好。
劫财强的人，则往往是一群人一起做，力量更大。
所以一个企业里面，如果能够把比肩和劫财用得好，其实也是非常好的组合：
有比肩的人负责坚持方向、独立判断；
有劫财的人负责开拓市场、建立人脉、寻找机会。
这就是十神真正有趣的地方。
没有一个十神是绝对的好，也没有一个十神是绝对的坏。
关键不是你有什么十神，而是这个十神在你的八字里面，是不是用得好。
这也是我这些年来不断研究八字以后，越来越深的一个体会：
八字不是用来给自己贴标签，而是让我们更了解自己。
知道自己的性格以后，懂得发挥自己的长处，也懂得修正自己的弱点。
能够知己，也能够知人。这就是孙子兵法里面的“知己知彼百战不殆“。
这样，八字才真正有它的意义。
The Final Two of the Ten Gods: Friend and Rob Wealth
I have finally completed the last two of the Ten Gods in Bazi: Friend (比肩) and Rob Wealth (劫财).
Interestingly, I recently met a teacher, Mr. Zheng. He purchased my Bazi book back in 2013 and subsequently began studying Bazi himself. As it turned out, he was originally a computer software expert. Over the years, he devoted considerable time to developing an excellent Bazi charting software, which is very user-friendly and easy to operate.
Recently, I have also received many enquiries from readers asking whether I could teach them how to read Bazi. However, due to my limited time and energy, I have had to politely decline.
Through this series of coincidences, I suddenly had an idea.
If my schedule permits in the future, I would like to conduct a short and simplified Bazi course, combining the knowledge from my Bazi books with the Bazi charting software developed by Teacher Zheng. My aim would be to teach Bazi in a simple and easy-to-understand way.
The purpose is not necessarily to turn everyone into a Bazi practitioner. Rather, I hope people can use Bazi to gain a basic understanding of themselves, their children, employees, friends and family members — particularly their personality traits, strengths and weaknesses.
Once we understand a person's strengths, we can help them make better use of those strengths. Once we understand their weaknesses, we can also help them avoid unnecessary difficulties and detours in life.
If there are readers who are interested, please let me know in the comments below.
Those who know me well will know that I have always allowed things to develop naturally. I have never believed in forcing matters, nor do I deliberately do things simply for financial gain.
If there is affinity, things will naturally come together.
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Friend (比肩) and Rob Wealth (劫财)
We have now finally arrived at the last two of the Ten Gods: Friend (比肩) and Rob Wealth (劫财).
Both Friend and Rob Wealth belong to the same Five Element as the Day Master (日元).
For example, if my Day Master is Wood, then Wood represents both my Friend and Rob Wealth.
The major distinction between the two lies in Yin and Yang polarity:
• If the other person's Yin-Yang polarity is the same as the Day Master, it is Friend (比肩).
• If the Yin-Yang polarity is opposite to the Day Master, it is Rob Wealth (劫财).
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Friend (比肩)
The meaning of 比肩 can be understood literally as “standing shoulder to shoulder.”
Therefore, in traditional Bazi theory, Friend can represent siblings, friends, peers, colleagues, and people who are relatively similar to us in ability, status or circumstances.
The Chinese character 比 also carries the meaning of comparison.
Therefore, although Friend represents people who are on an equal level with us, it also contains an element of comparison and competition.
It is rather like playing a game with your friends or siblings. Everyone may be having fun together, but eventually, you still want to know:
Who won?
That is what makes Friend particularly interesting.
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People with a strong Friend influence in their Bazi usually have strong opinions of their own.
They tend to be independent, self-directed, principled and determined. They also tend to dislike excessive rules, restrictions and control.
Therefore, if you are a business owner and have an employee with a strong Friend nature, once you have given that person a clear objective, you may actually be better off giving them the freedom to accomplish it in their own way.
Why?
Because people with strong Friend characteristics are often capable of thinking independently, making their own decisions and taking responsibility for their actions.
If you put too many restrictions around them, they may not perform at their best.
But if you tell them:
“This is our goal. You figure out how to achieve it.”
They may actually perform even better.
For this reason, people with strong Friend characteristics can often be well suited to personal branding, freelancing, entrepreneurship, and even becoming content creators or influencers.
What they need is space to express themselves and make their own decisions.
They generally do not like to depend completely on others. They prefer to accomplish things through their own abilities.
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People with strong Friend characteristics also tend to have a strong sense of self-respect and personal principles.
They may not be overly concerned about how others perceive them.
Earlier, when we discussed the Direct Officer (正官), we mentioned that people with strong Direct Officer characteristics tend to care more about rules, social expectations and how society views them.
A person with very strong Friend characteristics, however, may think:
“This is my life. If I believe something is right, I will do it.”
Therefore, they are not easily persuaded to change their views simply because other people disagree with them.
This is both their strength and their potential weakness.
Their strengths include:
Principled, courageous, independent and not easily influenced by the crowd.
Their weaknesses may include:
Stubbornness, subjectivity and a tendency to do things their own way.
Once they have made up their mind, they may insist on following their decision all the way through.
When they have many friends, they can also be extremely loyal and supportive.
However, after spending a long time with them, you may eventually find yourself thinking:
“This person really has a mind of their own.”
At times, they may even appear overly stubborn.
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People with strong Friend characteristics generally do not like to depend on others.
They prefer to rely on themselves.
Therefore, when going into business partnerships, they need to pay particular attention to each other's personalities.
If both partners are extremely strong-minded, it can easily become:
“You have your ideas, and I have mine.”
And eventually:
“So, whose decision should we follow?”
Therefore, having strong Friend characteristics does not mean that a person cannot enter into partnerships.
Rather, when entering a partnership, roles, responsibilities, direction and decision-making authority should be clearly defined from the beginning.
Otherwise, it is not uncommon for a friend to eventually become a competitor.
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There is another particularly interesting aspect of Friend.
Many people with strong Friend characteristics actually have no shortage of friends.
Yet deep inside, they may sometimes feel:
“Many people know me, but very few truly understand me.”
This is because they often appear independent and strong on the outside, as though they can handle everything by themselves.
However, they may not be willing to reveal their true inner thoughts easily.
This is why Friend is such an interesting Ten God.
It does not merely represent competition.
At a deeper level, it represents an attitude of:
“I can rely on myself.”
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Rob Wealth (劫财)
Now we come to the final Ten God — Rob Wealth (劫财).
Like Friend, Rob Wealth also belongs to the same Five Element as the Day Master.
The difference is that Friend has the same Yin-Yang polarity, while Rob Wealth has the opposite Yin-Yang polarity.
Therefore, Friend and Rob Wealth are essentially the same type of energy, but they express themselves differently.
If Friend can be described as:
“I will do it myself.”
Then Rob Wealth is more like:
“Let's do it together.”
People with strong Rob Wealth characteristics tend to be action-oriented. They enjoy interacting with people, working with others and competing.
They are also less likely to allow others to take advantage of them.
They can be quick to react, relatively bold and willing to take risks.
Whereas a strong Friend personality may sometimes spend considerable time thinking before making a decision, Rob Wealth tends to see an opportunity and think:
“Let's do it first and figure it out later!”
This is why Rob Wealth can be associated with a strong pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit.
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One of the most distinctive characteristics of Rob Wealth is its relationship with friends, networks and competition.
Because Rob Wealth belongs to the same category of energy as the Day Master, it can represent friends, colleagues, business partners and competitors in real-life circumstances.
Therefore, people with strong Rob Wealth characteristics generally do not enjoy working completely alone.
They are more likely to know many people and understand how to build and utilise their networks.
Sometimes, with just one conversation or one idea, they can find people willing to work with them.
So, if you meet someone who loves making friends, enjoys meeting different people and is willing to seize an opportunity as soon as it appears, that person may display a strong Rob Wealth nature.
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However, there is one particular aspect of Rob Wealth that deserves attention:
Money comes and goes.
Why is it called “Rob Wealth”?
In Bazi theory, Wealth (财星) represents the Five Element that the Day Master controls. Rob Wealth belongs to the same category as the Day Master and therefore competes with or shares the same relationship with Wealth.
People with strong Rob Wealth are not necessarily poor at making money.
In fact, they can sometimes be very bold when it comes to making money, investing and doing business.
The challenge is:
They may be able to make money, but that does not necessarily mean they can keep it.
Because they enjoy friendships and relationships, they may spend money on friends, business partnerships and opportunities.
Sometimes they see an investment opportunity and immediately want to invest. At other times, a friend may be experiencing difficulties, and they feel compelled to help.
Therefore, for someone with strong Rob Wealth characteristics, the lesson is not simply to stop taking action.
More importantly, they need to learn:
How to make money — and, equally importantly, how to preserve it.
For this reason, a person with a strong Rob Wealth structure may benefit from having someone with strong Direct Wealth (正财) characteristics manage their finances.
In other words, they focus on generating opportunities and making money, while a person with strong Direct Wealth qualities can help manage, organise and preserve the wealth that has been accumulated.
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Friend vs. Rob Wealth
If I were to explain the biggest difference between Friend and Rob Wealth in the simplest possible way, I would describe it like this:
Friend: “I will do it myself.”
Rob Wealth: “Let's do it together.”
Friend places greater emphasis on personal ideas, principles and independence.
Rob Wealth places greater emphasis on action, networking, opportunities and competition.
A person with strong Friend characteristics can often accomplish things very well on their own.
A person with strong Rob Wealth characteristics may accomplish much more when working together with a group.
Therefore, within a business, Friend and Rob Wealth can actually form a very good combination when their strengths are used properly.
Those with strong Friend characteristics can be responsible for maintaining direction, independent judgement and consistency.
Those with strong Rob Wealth characteristics can focus on market development, networking, collaboration and identifying opportunities.
This is what makes the Ten Gods so fascinating.
There is no Ten God that is absolutely good, and there is no Ten God that is absolutely bad.
The key is not simply which Ten Gods you have, but rather how that particular Ten God functions within your Bazi chart.
This is one of the deepest insights I have gained after studying Bazi for so many years:
Bazi is not meant to label ourselves. It is meant to help us understand ourselves better.
Once we understand our personality, we can learn to maximise our strengths while also correcting or managing our weaknesses.
When we are able to understand ourselves and understand others, we achieve what Sun Tzu described in The Art of War:
“Know yourself and know your opponent, and you will not be defeated in a hundred battles.”
That, to me, is where the true value and meaning of Bazi lies.
