BAZI KNOWLEDGE BASE
Six clashes in BaZi: the pairs, activation, dispersion and strength
The six clashes are Zi–Wu, Chou–Wei, Yin–Shen, Mao–You, Chen–Xu and Si–Hai. A report saying that month-branch (the lower symbol in the birth-month column) Mao clashes with year-branch (the lower symbol in the birth-year column) You first identifies a relationship between two positions. A traditional reading then considers roots, support and existing combinations. The clash name alone does not establish a move, a job change or a separation.
The full six-clash table
Place the twelve branches in order around a circle: each clash partner is six positions away. Ordinary elemental control, such as Wood controlling Earth, does not add another branch-clash pair.
| Pair | Hidden stems | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Zi–Wu | Zi: Gui; Wu: Ding, Ji | Water / Fire, with Earth also in Wu |
| Chou–Wei | Chou: Ji, Gui, Xin; Wei: Ji, Ding, Yi | Both Earth, with different mixed contents |
| Yin–Shen | Yin: Jia, Bing, Wu; Shen: Geng, Ren, Wu | Wood / Metal plus Fire, Water and Earth |
| Mao–You | Mao: Yi; You: Xin | One hidden stem each; a direct Wood / Metal comparison |
| Chen–Xu | Chen: Wu, Yi, Gui; Xu: Wu, Xin, Ding | Earth branches; no automatic wealth-store opening |
| Si–Hai | Si: Bing, Wu, Geng; Hai: Ren, Jia | Fire / Water plus Earth, Metal and Wood |
Mao–You: why do spring and autumn matter?
Mao is principally Yi Wood and You Xin Metal. Metal-controls-Wood remains the classification. Spring Wood with roots and little Metal support does not justify declaring Mao defeated from the controlling arrow alone. Autumn Metal with Earth/Metal support presents a different starting point.
Mingli Yueyan’s branch-clash chapter considers season and support on both sides, rejecting a rigid one-way reading in which only Metal or Water can affect Wood or Fire. There is no universal winner score, and month command (the seasonal conditions represented by the birth month) cannot stand in for the other three pillars.
Activation: which branch is contacted in this period?
Suppose a natal day branch (the lower symbol in the birth-day column) is Mao and an arriving year is You. Annual activation of the day branch names the arriving You, natal Mao and yearly layer, then asks which Ten God (one of ten traditional relationship labels defined relative to the birth-day element) Mao’s Yi represents.
For Yi, the hidden Yi is Peer (a traditional role associated with independence and relationships among equals); for Ding, Yi is Indirect Resource (a traditional role associated with specialized learning and unconventional insight). Yi Mao and Ding Mao are both valid day pillars. The same day-branch clash therefore does not describe one identical life story. Traditional spouse-palace interpretation uses the day branch, but the two branch names alone do not establish a breakup.
Dispersion: identify the combination being disrupted
With a Hai–Mao–Wei Wood trine plus You, the clash contacts the central Mao. Calling the trine dispersed requires Mao’s position, You’s support and the remaining contribution of Hai, Wei and any exposed Wood.
Mingli Yueyan specifically distinguishes a clashing symbol inserted next to its target from separated or outer positions. Even under that method, dispersion does not delete the natal members or require a real relationship to break.
A strong branch being stirred is not strength created from nothing
Strengthened by clash is often used when a well-supported branch is stirred by a weaker opponent without being substantially restrained. Establish the original support first; the label cannot itself prove strength.
Mingli Yueyan allows weak opposition to stir a stronger branch while explicitly denying that being stirred alone produces benefit. Further prominence may be unhelpful when that influence is already excessive. Like activation and dispersion, this describes an interpreted function rather than a seventh clash pair.
Opening: why Chen–Xu and Chou–Wei need their contents examined
Opening is often used for storehouses. Although Chen–Xu and Chou–Wei both involve Earth branches, their Wood, Fire, Metal and Water contents differ, as do their Ten Gods. A lock-opening metaphor needs to name exactly what is supposedly made available.
A hidden stem does not wait for a clash to exist. Exposure, roots and group formation also inform the reading. Ziping Zhenquan specifically rejects a blanket rule that stored Wealth (the role family controlled by the birth-day element, often interpreted through resources and practical demands) or Officer (the role family that controls the birth-day element, often interpreted through rules and demands) must be clashed before it can function.
What makes a clash explanation informative?
An informative explanation lets you locate both branches, their positions, natal or timing layers and the support or function being compared. Then check whether the same participant combines elsewhere or belongs to a trine or meeting.
Annual You clashes with natal day-branch Mao is more checkable than this year brings change, but it is still only a starting point. Once the reasoning is clear, real plans and experiences can inform reflection; a label does not replace those facts.