Ancient Chinese Calendar & Astrology

How Do Monthly Establishments Correspond with the Earthly Branches?

In ancient Chinese calendrical tradition, the specific day designated to inaugurate each month was known as the “monthly establishment.” Traditionally, the movement of the Big Dipper’s handle served as the standard for determining seasonal time, which led to a pairing between the twelve Earthly Branches and the twelve lunar months. For example, the eleventh month—during which the winter solstice occurs—is paired with the branch Zi, and that month is hence called the “Month of Establishing Zi.” By similar analogy, the correspondences are as follows:

• The twelfth month establishes Chou;
• The first month establishes Yin;
• The second month establishes Chuo (or Luan);
• The third month establishes Chen;
• The fourth month establishes Si;
• The fifth month establishes Wu;
• The sixth month establishes Wei;
• The seventh month establishes Shen;
• The eighth month establishes Xu;
• The ninth month establishes Xu (note: in some texts this branch may be rendered differently);
• The tenth month establishes Hai.

Thus, as the months cycle in perpetual rotation, the recurring pattern of monthly establishments inextricably forms the basis of the annual cycle.

What Is Meant by “Húntiān Jiǎzǐ”?

The term “Húntiān Jiǎzǐ” refers to the intricate correspondences between the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches on one side, and the Eight Trigrams on the other. During the Han dynasty, the technique known as nà jiǎ systematically paired the Heavenly Stems with the eight trigrams and the Earthly Branches with the six lines (yáo) of the hexagrams. This framework was employed both to explicate the operational principles governing all things and to divine auspicious and inauspicious outcomes for the future.

The specific correspondences are as follows:

• When Qian is in the inner trigram:
  – Zi corresponds to Water;
  – Yin to Wood;
  – Chen to Earth.
• When Qian is in the outer trigram:
  – Wu corresponds to Fire;
  – Shen to Metal;
  – Xu to Earth.
• When Kan is the inner trigram:
  – Yin is Wood;
  – Chen is Earth;
  – Wu is Fire.
• When Kan is the outer trigram:
  – Shen is Metal;
  – Xu is Earth;
  – Zi is Water.
• When Chen serves as the inner trigram:
  – Chen is Earth;
  – Wu is Fire;
  – Shen is Metal.
• When Chen is the outer trigram:
  – Xu is Earth;
  – Zi is Water;
  – Yin is Wood.
• When Zhen is the inner trigram:
  – Zi is Water;
  – Yin is Wood;
  – Chen is Earth.
• When Zhen is the outer trigram:
  – Wu is Fire;
  – Shen is Metal;
  – Xu is Earth.
• When Xun is in the inner trigram:
  – Chou is Earth;
  – Hai is Water;
  – You is Metal.
• When Xun is in the outer trigram:
  – Wei is Earth;
  – Si is Fire;
  – Mao is Wood.
• When Gen (the Mountain trigram) is in the inner position:
  – Mao is Wood;
  – Chou is Earth;
  – Hai is Water.
• When Li is in the outer position:
  – You is Metal;
  – Wei is Earth;
  – Si is Fire.
• When Kun is the inner trigram:
  – Wei is Earth;
  – Si is Fire;
  – Mao is Wood.
• When Kun is the outer trigram:
  – Chou is Earth;
  – Hai is Water;
  – You is Metal.
• When Dui is the inner trigram:
  – Si is Fire;
  – Mao is Wood;
  – Chou is Earth.
• When Dui is the outer trigram:
  – Hai is Water;
  – You is Metal;
  – Wei is Earth.

Furthermore, if one obtains the Gòu hexagram such that its upper three lines form the Qian trigram (i.e. Qian is in the outer position), then the correspondences become:
– Wu is Fire,
– Shen is Metal, and
– Xu is Earth,

yielding six positions in total: Xu (Earth), Shen (Metal), Wu (Fire), You (Metal), Hai (Water), and Chou (Earth). The lower three lines, being the Xun trigram, correspond respectively to Chou (Earth), Hai (Water), and You (Metal). When the hexagram is read from bottom to top, the attributes of the Five Elements ascend accordingly. The remaining hexagrams can be deduced in a similar fashion.

How Are the Heavenly Stems Paired with the He Tu and Luo Shu?

The He Tu and Luo Shu—regarded as the primordial sources of Chinese civilization and often termed the “Cosmic Magic Cube”—exhibit extraordinary numerical arrangements. On the He Tu, a configuration of black and white dots conceals boundless mysteries; on the Luo Shu, the sum of three numbers along each vertical, horizontal, and diagonal line is a constant 15—a truly remarkable numerical phenomenon.

By comparing these numbers with the Five Element attributes associated with the cardinal directions, one can establish a link between the Heavenly Stems and the He-Luo system. In the He Tu, the ten numbers are distributed among the five directions, the five elements, Yin and Yang, as well as the celestial and terrestrial realms. In this schema, it is said that:
– “Heaven’s One engenders Water, and Earth’s Six completes it;”
– “Earth’s Two engenders Fire, and Heaven’s Seven completes it;”
– “Heaven’s Three engenders Wood, and Earth’s Eight completes it;”
– “Earth’s Four engenders Metal, and Heaven’s Nine completes it;”
– “Heaven’s Five engenders Earth, and Earth’s Ten completes it.”

Thus, the number one is associated with the generative quality of Water; two with Fire; three with Wood; four with Metal; and five with Earth. In turn, six, seven, eight, nine, and ten are seen as the completing numbers for Water, Fire, Wood, Metal, and Earth respectively.

Accordingly, the Heavenly Stems are aligned with these numbers based on their directional attributes:
– Ren and Gui, located in the North and governed by Water, pair with the numbers one and six;
– Bing and Ding, situated in the South and governed by Fire, correspond to numbers two and seven;
– Jia and Yi, in the East and associated with Wood, align with numbers three and eight;
– Geng and Xin, in the West and associated with Metal, correspond to numbers four and nine;
– Wu and Ji, occupying the central position and governed by Earth, pair with numbers five and ten.

When matching the Heavenly Stems with the Luo Shu, the same principle based on the Five Element attributes of the directions applies. Specifically:
– Jia and Yi (Wood) correspond to the numbers three and eight;
– Bing and Ding (Fire) to two and seven;
– Geng and Xin (Metal) to four and nine;
– Ren and Gui (Water) to one and six;
– Wu and Ji (Earth) to five.

What Is the Correspondence Between the Earthly Branches and the He Tu and Luo Shu?

When aligning the twelve Earthly Branches with the He Tu, one may classify them as follows:
– Zi, Chou, and Hai belong to Water, are situated in the North, and are paired with the generative number one and the completing number six from the He Tu.
– Si, Wu, and Wei belong to Fire, occupy the South, and correspond to the generative number two and the completing number seven.
– Yin, Mao, and Chen belong to Wood, are located in the East, and align with the generative number three and the completing number eight.
– Shen, You, and Xu are typically associated with Metal, reside in the West, and correspond to the generative number four and the completing number nine. Alternatively, one may regard Shen, You, and Xu as representative of Earth in the central region, thereby pairing them with the generative number five and the completing number ten.

In the pairing of the Earthly Branches with the Luo Shu, the main correspondences are:
– Yin, Mao, and Chen correspond to three and eight;
– Si, Wu, and Wei correspond to two and seven;
– Shen, You, and Xu correspond to four and nine;
– Zi, Chou, and Hai correspond to one and six; and additionally, Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei are also associated with five.

What Is Meant by “Conflict Among the Earthly Branches”?

The term “conflict among the Earthly Branches” refers to the mutual opposition and strife that exists between the twelve branches—often described alternatively as “mutual overcoming” or “mutual harm.” There exist six pairs of opposing branches whose positions are diametrically opposed:

• The northern branch Zi (Water) conflicts with the southern branch Wu (Fire).
• The northeastern branch Chou (Earth) opposes the southwestern branch Wei (Earth).
• The northeastern branch Yin (Wood) is in conflict with the southwestern branch Shen (Metal).
• The eastern branch Mao (Wood) conflicts with the western branch You (Metal).
• The southeastern branch Chen (Earth) opposes the northwestern branch Xu (Earth).
• The southeastern branch Si (Fire) conflicts with the northwestern branch Hai (Water).

In addition to these positional oppositions, the hidden stems contained within the branches can also generate conflicting relationships. For example, in the Zi–Wu conflict, the hidden water element (Gui) in Zi contends with the hidden fire element (Ding) in Wu, while the earth element (Ji) in Wu also overcomes the water in Zi. Similarly, in the Chou–Wei conflict, the metal (Xin) and water (Gui) in Chou clash with the wood (Yi) and fire (Ding) concealed in Wei; the earth (Ji) and fire (Ding) in Wei likewise counter the water (Gui) and metal (Xin) in Chou. In the Yin–Shen conflict, the fire (Bing) in Yin opposes the metal (Geng) in Shen, while the water (Ren) in Shen also conflicts with the fire (Bing) in Yin. In the Mao–You conflict, the metal (Xin) in You overcomes the wood (Yi) in Mao. Finally, in the Si–Hai conflict, the earth (Wu) in Si contends with the water (Ren) in Hai, while the wood (Jia) and water (Ren) in Hai likewise counter the earth (Wu) and fire (Bing) in Si.

In summary, the six primary conflicts among the Earthly Branches are:
– Zi–Wu,
– Chou–Wei,
– Yin–Shen,
– Mao–You,
– Chen–Xu, and
– Si–Hai.

The traditional texts also ascribe particular outcomes to these six conflicts. For instance:

• The Zi–Wu conflict portends tumultuous travel, contentious romantic relations, unexpected changes, and miscalculations in action.
• The Mao–You conflict suggests separation, a change of residence, secret associations, and licentious or adulterous behavior.
• The Yin–Shen conflict is said to invite malign influences, marital discord, a life of ceaseless struggle, and a predilection for mercantile ventures.
• The Si–Hai conflict implies reversals of fortune—where considerable effort may yield scant reward—and tends to result in mental exhaustion and legal disputes.
• The Chou–Wei conflict indicates sibling discord, thwarted ambitions, and numerous setbacks, often accompanied by an undue reliance on religious piety.
• The Chen–Xu conflict foretells ambiguous fortunes, betrayal by subordinates, frequent professional upheavals, and an inclination toward inauspicious influences.

What Are the Various Types of “Punitive Relationships” Among the Earthly Branches?

In addition to conflicts, the relationships among the Earthly Branches sometimes involve forms of punitive interaction—a kind of mutual harm or even self-inflicted penalty. These punitive relationships are classified into three types: single punishment, double punishment, and self-punishment.

• Double Punishment: This occurs specifically between Zi and Mao and is characterized as “punishment without propriety.”
• Single Punishment: This type is observed in the interactions among Yin–Si, Si–Shen, and Shen–Yin, and is described as “punishment by reliance on power.”
• Self-Punishment: Exemplified in the conflicts among Chou–Xu, Xu–Wei, and the inherent self-conflict in Hai, this is sometimes also related to the interactions involving Chen, Wu, and You, and is deemed “punishment without benevolence.”

An ancient treatise, Sānchē Yī Lǎn (“Overview of the Three Chariots”), elaborates on these punitive dynamics among the branches. It explains that:

• In the case of Zi and Mao, where Zi represents Water and Mao Wood—since water can nurture wood—the roles are reversed, resulting in a filial-maternal conflict that is considered “without propriety.”
• The grouping of Yin, Si, and Shen is described as relying on power, since each position is imbued with qualities of longevity or official support, thereby engaging in a punitive contest of strength.
• The combination of Chou, Xu, and Wei—all belonging to the Earth element and naturally harmonious as siblings—when forced into conflict, reflects a state of “without benevolence.”
• Finally, the interactions among Chen, Wu, You, and Hai are seen as a form of self-punishment, where mutual retribution occurs within the group without any external factor compounding the conflict.

In essence, these detailed classifications—comprising the conflicts between Zi–Wu, Chou–Wei, Yin–Shen, Mao–You, Chen–Xu, and Si–Hai—constitute the so-called “six clashes” among the Earthly Branches.