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Six branch combinations explained: all pairs, transformation and Wu–Wei variants
The six branch combinations are Zi–Chou, Yin–Hai, Mao–Xu, Chen–You, Si–Shen and Wu–Wei. They describe connections among the lower-row branches, whose original elements, hidden stems (the additional element symbols traditionally assigned inside each lower chart symbol), seasons and other relationships remain relevant. Seeing Zi–Chou combines toward Earth establishes a designated pair first; interpreting the whole pair as Earth is a further methodological claim. Each pair below receives an explanation beyond the word harmonious.
Find the pair before choosing a transformation convention
Sanming Tonghui lists the pairs; the cited Yuanhai Ziping transcription also assigns transformed directions. These texts do not form one universal software-conversion formula, particularly for Wu–Wei.
| Pair | Original principal elements | Direction in the cited transcription |
|---|---|---|
| Zi–Chou | Water / Earth | Earth |
| Yin–Hai | Wood / Water | Wood |
| Mao–Xu | Wood / Earth | Fire |
| Chen–You | Earth / Metal | Metal |
| Si–Shen | Fire / Metal | Water |
| Wu–Wei | Fire / Earth | Fire; compare Earth and other wordings below |
Zi–Chou: why keep the Water in a Water–Earth pair?
Zi contains Gui; Chou contains Ji, Gui and Xin. An Earth interpretation still needs to account for both Water sources and Chou’s Xin Metal. They do not disappear because Earth appears in a heading.
In a winter setting with prominent Water and limited Earth support, the pair alone does not show Earth dominance. Zi may also meet a Wu clash and Chou a Wei clash, affecting different participants.
Yin–Hai: why does a Wood direction still involve Fire and Earth?
Yin contains Jia, Bing and Wu; Hai contains Ren and Jia. Hai’s Water and the Jia in both branches help explain a Wood-support discussion, while Yin’s Bing Fire and Wu Earth remain original contents.
With Mao and Wei, Hai can join the Wood trine; with Mao and Chen, Yin can join the spring meeting. Yin–Hai also appears in the six-break list. Explain each relationship within the chosen method rather than letting the Wood label conceal the others.
Mao–Xu: does the Fire label mean a storehouse has opened?
Mao contains Yi; Xu contains Wu, Xin and Ding. Wood generating Fire and Ding inside Xu provide identifiable contents for a Fire discussion. Combination, stronger Fire support and the interpretation of a storehouse remain different claims.
Mao meeting You, Xu meeting Chen, or Xu joining Yin–Wu–Xu each needs its actual positions explained. Opens the storehouse cannot replace those details or establish that money arrives.
Chen–You: does a Metal reading erase Chen’s Water and Wood?
Chen contains Wu, Yi and Gui; You contains Xin. Earth generating Metal is relevant, but Chen is not pure Earth and still carries Wood and Water. Autumn command and other Metal support can clarify a Metal interpretation without automatically converting every content.
Chen may also join Shen–Zi–Chen or the spring meeting; You may join Si–You–Chou. Compare actual membership and context without manufacturing an extra unit of a branch’s strength under every label.
Si–Shen: how can combination, punishment and break coexist?
Si contains Bing, Wu and Geng; Shen contains Geng, Ren and Wu. The pair belongs to the six combinations, while some methods also discuss Yin–Si–Shen punishment and the six breaks. Specify whether two punishment members suffice or all three are required before interpreting several labels together.
A Water interpretation needs Water support explained; Ren hidden in Shen does not erase Si Fire. Si–Hai and Yin–Shen clashes, or participation in Water or Metal trines, may also affect which relationship matters most.
Does Wu–Wei combine toward Earth or Fire?
Readers encounter both Wu–Wei toward Earth and Wu–Wei toward Fire. The cited Yuanhai Ziping transcription says Fire and describes Wu as Tai Yang and Wei as Tai Yin; other texts retain only the Tai Yang/Tai Yin wording. One transcription cannot establish a universal rule for every method.
Wu contains Ding and Ji; Wei contains Ji, Ding and Yi, so both Fire and Earth are present. Wu–Wei also belongs to the summer Si–Wu–Wei meeting. Distinguish a chosen combination-transformation convention from Fire generating Earth or summer Fire gathering.
The common ground here is the designated pair. A particular direction needs its source and conditions; the words combines into Earth alone do not explain why another report says Fire.
What separates matching, binding and transformation?
Finding two branches confirms the pair. Interpreting its function adds positions, natal month command (the seasonal conditions represented by the birth month), roots and other relationships. Binding needs the constrained original function named. Transformation adds the chosen rule, target-element support and treatment of the original branches.
Texts differ in emphasis, not merely in a small numerical threshold: some focus on the connection, others discuss transformation. A universal in-season plus exposed-stem equals success formula would be misleading. Timing can supply new support without rewriting the natal month command.
How can an arriving Xu affect natal Chen–You?
Three relationships can be identified: Chen–You combination, Chen–Xu clash and You–Xu harm. Do not add further branches absent from this illustration. Then examine Chen and You’s positions and support and explain what annual Xu changes.
The clash breaks the combination is a further interpretation, not an automatic result of matching two tables. Nor does it directly establish divorce, moving home or a cancelled agreement; the initial observation is shared participation in different relationships.
Can branch combinations use the five-stem-combination table?
No. Jia–Ji and the other five combinations pair stems; Zi–Chou and the other six pair branches, with their hidden contents and larger groups. Chen–You toward Metal does not by itself mean a Direct Officer has been combined away by a stem. Ten Gods still need the actual Day Master and stem reference.
Comparing two zodiac animals supplies only the year branches of two charts. The table identifies a traditional relationship without summarizing the people’s communication, trust or shared life.
References
- Sanming Tonghui, volume 2: combinations, trines and stem–branch relationships (original text)
- Yuanhai Ziping, volume 1: the cited transcription and its six-combination table
- Yuanhai Ziping: hidden stems, Ten Gods and generation/control (original text)
- Mingli Yueyan, volume 3: stem clashes, trines and directional groups (original text layer)
- Yuanhai Ziping combination passage: Tai Yang/Tai Yin wording for comparison