Ren Water Day Master (壬): the Yang Water stem in BaZi
Last checked · verse from the Di Tian Sui on Chinese Wikisource; tables calculated
壬 (Ren) is the ninth Heavenly Stem, the yang partner of 癸 Gui in water. The Di Tian Sui opens its verse with "Ren water is vast as the ocean", and its annotation describes Ren as the source of Gui water, which is both the hundred rivers and the rain and dew.
Stem
壬 Ren
Element and polarity
Yang Water
Combines with
丁 Ding (Wood)
Clashes with
丙 Bing
The Ren verse in the Di Tian Sui (滴天髓)
Verse traditionally attributed to Jingtu (京圖), with the annotation attributed to Liu Ji (劉基, Ming dynasty); quoted from Chinese Wikisource. The translation is ours.
壬水汪洋，能洩金氣，剛中之德，周流不滯，通根透癸，沖天奔地，化則有情，從則相濟。
Ren water is vast as the ocean; it can drain the qi of metal. Its virtue is firmness in balance; it flows everywhere without stagnating. Rooted below and with Gui showing above, it surges to the sky and rushes over the land. When it transforms, it is affectionate; when it follows, the two help each other.
The verse uses human words (kind, loyal, filial) for how the stems act on one another in a chart; it does not describe people.
What the annotation says
Ren is the source of Gui water: the hundred rivers, and also rain and dew. It drains the metal qi of the west. With 申子辰 and Gui showing, its force cannot be held back. Combined with Ding it transforms into wood, which in turn feeds Ding, so it is called affectionate. Born in summer, it steams the earth of 巳午未 into rain and dew, so even when it follows fire and earth they help each other.
The annotation opens with 「壬乃癸水之源…為百川，亦為雨露」 (the source of Gui water, which is both the hundred rivers and the rain and dew). Summarized in our words from the annotation on the same 天干論 page on Wikisource.
Water in the Huainanzi (淮南子)
The Huainanzi, 天文訓 chapter, lists each direction with its element, season, planet and animal, and ends with the two stems of its days.
北方，水也……執權而治冬。其神為辰星，其獸玄武，其音羽，其日壬癸。
Direction: North · Season: Winter · Planet: Mercury (辰星) · Animal: Black Tortoise (玄武, the Dark Warrior) · Note: yu (羽)
Ten Gods for a Ren Water Day Master
What each of the ten stems is called, seen from this Day Master.
| Stem | Element | Ten God | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| 甲 Jia | Yang Wood | Eating God | 食神 Shi Shen |
| 乙 Yi | Yin Wood | Hurting Officer | 伤官 Shang Guan |
| 丙 Bing | Yang Fire | Indirect Wealth | 偏财 Pian Cai |
| 丁 Ding | Yin Fire | Direct Wealth | 正财 Zheng Cai |
| 戊 Wu | Yang Earth | Seven Killings | 七杀 Qi Sha |
| 己 Ji | Yin Earth | Direct Officer | 正官 Zheng Guan |
| 庚 Geng | Yang Metal | Indirect Resource | 偏印 Pian Yin |
| 辛 Xin | Yin Metal | Direct Resource | 正印 Zheng Yin |
| 壬 Ren | Yang Water | Friend | 比肩 Bi Jian |
| 癸 Gui | Yin Water | Rob Wealth | 劫财 Jie Cai |
Twelve stages of Ren (长生十二宫)
A yang stem runs forward through the branches from its Growth stage.
| Branch | Animal | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 申 Shen | Monkey | 长生 Growth |
| 酉 You | Rooster | 沐浴 Bath |
| 戌 Xu | Dog | 冠带 Cap and Belt |
| 亥 Hai | Pig | 临官 Taking Office |
| 子 Zi | Rat | 帝旺 Prosperity |
| 丑 Chou | Ox | 衰 Decline |
| 寅 Yin | Tiger | 病 Sickness |
| 卯 Mao | Rabbit | 死 Death |
| 辰 Chen | Dragon | 墓 Tomb |
| 巳 Si | Snake | 绝 Extinction |
| 午 Wu | Horse | 胎 Conception |
| 未 Wei | Goat | 养 Nurture |
The six Ren day pillars
Ren pairs only with the yang branches, so it appears in six of the sixty pillars.
| Pillar | No. in the cycle | Na Yin | Void branches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 壬申 Ren Shen | 9 | 剑锋金 Sword Metal | 戌亥 |
| 壬午 Ren Wu | 19 | 杨柳木 Willow Wood | 申酉 |
| 壬辰 Ren Chen | 29 | 长流水 Long River Water | 午未 |
| 壬寅 Ren Yin | 39 | 金箔金 Gold Leaf Metal | 辰巳 |
| 壬子 Ren Zi | 49 | 桑柘木 Mulberry Wood | 寅卯 |
| 壬戌 Ren Xu | 59 | 大海水 Great Sea Water | 子丑 |
Ren is also a hidden stem in 申 Shen and 亥 Hai (as the main stem).
Next Ren days
China Standard Time dates; one day in every ten.
- Oct 25, 2026 · 壬申
- Nov 4, 2026 · 壬午
- Nov 14, 2026 · 壬辰
- Nov 24, 2026 · 壬寅
- Dec 4, 2026 · 壬子
- Dec 14, 2026 · 壬戌
FAQ
How do I find out if my Day Master is Ren Water?
Your Day Master is the stem of your day pillar. Enter your birth date, time and time zone in the BaZi calculator; if the day pillar starts with 壬, your Day Master is Ren.
What is a Ren Water Day Master?
A BaZi chart whose day pillar has 壬 (Ren) as its stem. Ren is the ninth of the ten Heavenly Stems, the yang stem of water. The Di Tian Sui annotation describes it as the source of Gui water, which is both the hundred rivers and the rain and dew (壬乃癸水之源…為百川，亦為雨露).
What is the difference between Ren and Gui?
Both are water. Ren (壬) is the yang stem and Gui (癸) the yin one. The Di Tian Sui annotation describes Ren as the source of Gui water, which is both the hundred rivers and the rain and dew and Gui as pure yin and the weakest stem. Ren combines with Ding and Gui with Wu.
Which stem combines with Ren, and which clashes with it?
Ren combines with 丁 Ding (the 丁壬 combination, associated with Wood). It clashes with 丙 Bing.
How common is a Ren Day Master?
The day stems repeat every ten days without a break, so exactly one day in ten is a Ren day. The next ones are Oct 25, 2026, Nov 4, 2026, Nov 14, 2026 (China Standard Time dates).
Where does Ren sit in the twelve stages?
In the usual twelve-stage table, Ren has its Chang Sheng (Growth) in 申 Shen and its Di Wang (Prosperity) in 子 Zi; as a yang stem it moves forward through the branches.
Other Day Masters
Sources: 滴天髓 (Di Tian Sui), 天干論, on Chinese Wikisource; 淮南子 (Huainanzi), 天文訓, on Chinese Wikisource; Ten God names as in 淵海子平 (Yuan Hai Zi Ping) on Chinese Wikisource. This page describes the traditional system and quotes classical texts; it is not a character reading, a prediction or advice. Terms are given in simplified characters; quotations keep the script of their source. Day pillars: how they are calculated and checked.