The twelve Earthly Branches (Dizhi) form the Chinese zodiac cycle and serve as the lower component of each pillar in a BaZi chart.
The twelve Earthly Branches (地支, Dizhi) form the lower component of each pillar in a Four Pillars chart and are widely recognized as the Chinese zodiac animals. Each branch carries a Five Elements quality, a seasonal association, and hidden Heavenly Stems within it.
| Branch | Animal | Element | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zi | Rat | Water | Winter |
| Chou | Ox | Earth | Late Winter |
| Yin | Tiger | Wood | Spring |
| Mao | Rabbit | Wood | Spring |
| Chen | Dragon | Earth | Late Spring |
| Si | Snake | Fire | Summer |
| Wu | Horse | Fire | Summer |
| Wei | Goat | Earth | Late Summer |
| Shen | Monkey | Metal | Autumn |
| You | Rooster | Metal | Autumn |
| Xu | Dog | Earth | Late Autumn |
| Hai | Pig | Water | Winter |
While the Heavenly Stems reveal outward characteristics, the Earthly Branches represent inner qualities and hidden potential. Each branch contains "hidden stems" (藏干) — secondary Heavenly Stems concealed within — which add layers of depth to chart analysis.
The branches interact through combinations (liu he), directional combinations (san he), and clashes (chong). For example, Zi and Wu form a direct clash, while Shen, Zi, and Chen form a Water three-harmony combination. These interactions significantly influence how energy flows in a chart and are essential for predicting timing of life events.
A BaZi chart (Ming Shi) is the foundational destiny map in Four Pillars of Destiny, consisting of eight characters derived from birth date and time.
The Chinese Zodiac is a 12-year cycle of animal signs used across East Asia for personality analysis, compatibility, and fortune telling.
The Five Elements theory (Wu Xing) describes how Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water interact through cycles of creation and control in Eastern philosophy.
An ancient Chinese astrological system that uses birth year, month, day, and hour to create a destiny chart revealing personality, talents, and life path.
The ten Heavenly Stems (Tiangan) are fundamental components of Chinese metaphysics, pairing Yin-Yang polarity with the Five Elements.
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