Guides

The Six Branch Combinations (地支六合) pair each Earthly Branch with its opposite across the zodiac wheel: Zi-Chou into Earth, Yin-Hai into Wood, Mao-Xu into Fire, Chen-You into Metal, Si-Shen into Water, Wu-Wei into Fire/Sun. This guide explains the six named unions, the three conditions for transformation, and when combination binds versus when it changes the element.

The Three Harmony Frames (地支三合) form when three branches align across the zodiac to produce a complete element: Shen-Zi-Chen into Water, Hai-Mao-Wei into Wood, Yin-Wu-Xu into Fire, Si-You-Chou into Metal. This guide covers the Long Birth (长生) → Emperor Peak (帝旺) → Grave Storage (墓库) chain, half-frames (半合), and the critical distinction between sanhe and sanhui.

Chen Earth is the fifth earthly branch — spring dragon hiding 戊乙癸, the only branch that is simultaneously wet earth, water reservoir, and carrier of wood's remaining qi. This guide covers Chen's identity as the 水库 (water storage), the explosive 辰戌冲 (water vault vs fire vault clash), the 申子辰三合水局, and how Chen's changefulness shapes flexibility, strategy, and destiny in Bazi.

Mao Wood is the fourth earthly branch — a yin branch hiding pure 乙 wood. This guide covers Mao as the 四正桃花 (Four-Cardinal Peach Blossom), its帝旺 position as wood's peak, the transformative 卯戌合 merger into fire, the marriage-crisis 卯酉冲 clash, and how Mao shapes grace, diplomacy, and destiny in Bazi.

Si Fire is the sixth earthly branch — the Snake, first month of summer, hiding 丙戊庚 (fire + earth + metal), the only branch that carries metal inside fire. This guide covers Si's unique fire-to-metal transformation via 巳酉丑三合金, the dangerous 寅巳刑 (ungrateful punishment), the love-hate 巳申合, and how Si shapes strategic patience, hidden power, and destiny in Bazi.

Wu Fire is the seventh earthly branch — peak summer, the Horse, fire's 帝旺, the most direct of the twelve. This guide covers Wu's pure fire nature hiding 丁己, the violent 子午冲 (water vs fire), the returning 午未合 (fire returns to earth), the strangling 丑午害, the self-harming 午午自刑, and why Wu desperately needs 壬 water — not to extinguish, but to reflect.

Yin Wood is the third earthly branch — a yang branch that hides three stems: 甲 wood, 丙 fire, and 戊 earth. This guide covers Yin's triple-layered energy chain (wood→fire→earth), its role as Jia Wood's 禄 and Bing-Wu's 长生, the powerful 寅亥合 merger with Hai, the life-reshaping 寅申冲 clash, and how Yin shapes leadership, initiative, and destiny in Bazi.

Chou Earth is the second earthly branch — frozen December mud that hides己癸辛, making it the only branch to carry earth, water, and metal simultaneously. This guide covers Chou's identity as the金属库 (metal storage), the critical wet-earth vs dry-earth distinction, its desperate need for丙fire, and how Chou shapes patience, storage, and destiny in Bazi.

Gui Water is the yin water of the Ten Stems — dew, spring rain, underground streams. The weakest-looking stem, yet the most penetrating. This guide covers Gui's hidden strength, why it fears neither fire nor earth, the special Wu-Gui merger into fire, its need for Bing fire to warm and Jia wood to channel, and how Gui Water Day Masters achieve through infiltration rather than force.

Ren Water is the yang water of the Ten Stems — rivers, floods, oceans, the Milky Way. This guide covers Ren's relentless-flow nature, its need for earth banks and metal source, the critical 日照江河 image with Bing Fire, monthly seasonal adjustments, and how Ren Water Day Masters channel their boundless momentum into career, adventure, and lasting impact.

Zi Water is the first earthly branch — a yang branch hiding pure 癸 yin water. This guide covers Zi's 'Heaven generates one — water' philosophy, its paradox of yang branch + yin water, its critical partnership with Chou Earth (子丑合), its explosive clash with Wu Fire (子午冲), and how Zi shapes intelligence, adaptability, and destiny in Bazi.

Bing Fire is the yang fire of the Ten Stems — the sun, not a candle. This guide explores Bing's nature, its critical relationship with壬water (the river that reflects the sun), monthly seasonal adjustments, and how Bing Fire Day Masters navigate career, leadership, and relationships through radiance rather than force.

Ding Fire is the yin fire — the lamp, the candle, the star. Unlike the sun (Bing), Ding burns selectively, precisely, and for as long as it has fuel. This guide explains Ding's need for Jia Wood as fuel, its relationship with Geng Metal, and how Ding Day Masters achieve through focus rather than radiance.

Geng Metal is the yang metal — the axe, the raw ore, the autumn moon. Core nature: 刚健带煞 (toughness with a killer edge). This guide explains Geng's need for丁fire to forge it and癸water to quench it, how Geng defeats Jia Wood but loses to Yi Wood, and the full seasonal forging map for Geng Day Masters.

Hai Water is the twelfth earthly branch — a yang water that hides 壬甲, making it the 甲木长生 (Jia Wood's long birth) and the final branch of the cycle. This guide covers Hai's identity as the water that incubates wood, its 'heavenly river' nature, the 寅亥合木 combination, the 巳亥冲 clash between thought and reality, and the 亥卯未三合木 bureau. Hai is the lucky one — the water that does not drown what it carries.

Ji Earth is the yin earth — the garden soil, the field, the cloud. Unlike Wu Earth (the mountain), Ji's value is generative: it grows crops, absorbs water, nurtures roots. This guide explains Ji's need for丙fire to warm its dampness and癸water to stay moist, plus the full seasonal adjustment map and how Ji people thrive as the zodiac's ultimate supporters.

Jia Wood represents the giant tree, the beam, the leader. This guide covers Jia's yin-yang nature, the critical distinction between living and dead wood, monthly seasonal adjustments, and how Jia Wood shapes personality, career, and destiny in Bazi.

Shen Metal is the ninth earthly branch — a yang metal that hides 庚壬戊, making it the birthplace of water (水之长生). This guide covers Shen's role as the forge that melts metal into rivers, its paradox of hard metal birthing soft water, the complex 巳申合, the violent 寅申冲, and the 申子辰三合水 alliance. Shen is not just metal. It is the pump that primes the water cycle.

The Five Stem Combinations (天干五合) are the merging rules of the Ten Heavenly Stems: Jia-Ji into Earth, Yi-Geng into Metal, Bing-Xin into Water, Ding-Ren into Wood, Wu-Gui into Fire. This guide traces their origin in the River Chart (河图), explains the four conditions for successful transformation, and covers stem-self combinations (干支自合) as practical extensions.

Wei Earth is the eighth earthly branch — a yin earth that hides 己丁乙, making it the 木库 (wood storage) and also the hottest earth of midsummer. This guide covers Wei's role as the garden that nurtures trees, its desperate thirst for water, the 午未合 that feeds fire, the explosive 丑未冲, and the 亥卯未三合木 wood alliance. Wei is dry earth with internal fire — the Goat that burns from within.