Heavenly Stems & Earthly Branches: TCM Guide

How do the Heavenly Stems interact and combine? The combination of the Heavenly Stems, also known as the “Five Stems Combination,” refers to the way in which each pair of the ten Heavenly Stems merges to form one of the five elements of the Five Phases (Wu Xing). This concept originates from ancient astronomical theories, primarily determined by the positions of the twenty-eight lunar mansions. The relationships between the ten Heavenly Stems can be analyzed through their Yin-Yang attributes, which give rise to the following combinations:

• Jia and Ji combine to generate Earth, known as the “Balanced Union.”
• Yi and Geng combine to generate Metal, known as the “Benevolent Union.”
• Bing and Xin combine to generate Water, known as the “Authoritative Union.”
• Ding and Ren combine to generate Wood, known as the “Hidden Union.”
• Wu and Gui combine to generate Fire, known as the “Heartless Union.”

The theory of the combination of the Heavenly Stems finds extensive application in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). For example, Jia and Ji, which combine to form Earth, correspond to the Wood element (Jia, the gallbladder) and the Earth element (Ji, the stomach and spleen). The stomach plays a critical role in digesting food and delivering nutrients to the spleen. If the stomach’s digestive function is impaired, the spleen will lack the nutrients required for overall health. The gallbladder directly influences the stomach’s ability to digest by secreting digestive enzymes. Thus, the harmonious interaction between the gallbladder and stomach ultimately sustains the spleen’s function. This principle can be summarized as: Jia (gallbladder) and Ji (stomach) combine to promote Earth (spleen’s function). Additionally, there are other such combinations, like Yi and Geng promoting the lung’s Metal function. For brevity, these will not be further elaborated here. In essence, the combination of the Heavenly Stems represents the Yin-Yang interaction between the organs and meridians of the human body.

How do the Heavenly Stems correspond to directions? The Heavenly Stems correspond to the cardinal directions as follows: Jia and Yi belong to Wood, positioned in the East; Bing and Ding belong to Fire, positioned in the South; Geng and Xin belong to Metal, positioned in the West; Ren and Gui belong to Water, positioned in the North; Wu and Ji belong to Earth, positioned in the Center. In practical application, the ten Heavenly Stems are divided into eight directions, each occupying a 45-degree segment of the 360-degree compass. When considering the Earthly Branches, we have: Yin and Mao (Wood), positioned in the East; Si and Wu (Fire), positioned in the South; Shen and You (Metal), positioned in the West; Hai and Zi (Water), positioned in the North; Chen, Wei, Xu, and Chou (Earth), positioned in the Center. These twelve Earthly Branches correspond to twelve directions, with each occupying a 30-degree segment of the 360-degree compass.

What is the relationship between the Heavenly Stems and the organs? The correspondence between the Heavenly Stems and the organs is known as the “Internal Five Elements.” In this system, the Yang Stems correspond to the “fu” (hollow organs), while the Yin Stems correspond to the “zang” (solid organs). The specific correspondences are as follows:

• Jia corresponds to the Gallbladder
• Yi corresponds to the Liver
• Bing corresponds to the Small Intestine
• Ding corresponds to the Heart
• Wu corresponds to the Stomach
• Ji corresponds to the Spleen
• Geng corresponds to the Large Intestine
• Xin corresponds to the Lungs
• Ren corresponds to the Bladder
• Gui corresponds to the Kidneys

A mnemonic for easy recollection is as follows: Jia corresponds to the Gallbladder, Yi to the Liver, Bing to the Small Intestine, Ding to the Heart, Wu to the Stomach, Ji to the Spleen, Geng to the Large Intestine, Xin to the Lungs, Ren to the Bladder, Gui to the Kidneys. The Yang Fire of the San Jiao (Triple Burner) is associated with Bing, while the Yin Fire of the Pericardium is associated with Ding. The Yang Stems correspond to the Yang organs, and the Yin Stems correspond to the Yin organs.

How do the Earthly Branches correspond to the organs? The Earthly Branches correspond to the organs through the meridian system, where the Yang Branches correspond to the Zang (solid organs) and the Yin Branches correspond to the Fu (hollow organs). The specific correspondences are as follows:

• Chou and Wei correspond to the Spleen
• Yin corresponds to the Gallbladder
• Mao corresponds to the Liver
• Chen and Xu correspond to the Stomach
• Si corresponds to the Heart
• Wu corresponds to the Small Intestine
• Shen corresponds to the Large Intestine
• You corresponds to the Lungs
• Hai corresponds to the Kidneys
• Zi corresponds to the Bladder

A mnemonic for remembering the correspondences of the Earthly Branches and organs is as follows: Zi corresponds to the Bladder and the Water Path, Chou to the Spleen, Yin to the Gallbladder, Mao to the Liver, Chen to the Spleen and Chest, Si to the Mouth, Teeth, Throat, and Anus, Wu corresponds to the Fire Spirit and Eyes, Wei to the Stomach, Chest, and Spine, Shen to the Large Intestine and Meridians of the Lungs, You to the Small Intestine and Blood Storage, Xu to the Kidneys, Hai to the Head and Kidneys.

What is the relationship between the Heavenly Stems and the seasons? Each season of the year corresponds to one or more Heavenly Stems. The main relationships are as follows:

• Jia and Yi (Wood) correspond to Spring, which is a season of growth and renewal.
• Bing and Ding (Fire) correspond to Summer, a time of vigor and activity.
• Wu and Ji (Earth) correspond to Late Summer (from early autumn to the autumn equinox), a season of stability and nurturing.
• Geng and Xin (Metal) correspond to Autumn, a time of harvest and decline.
• Ren and Gui (Water) correspond to Winter, a season of rest and conservation.

What is the relationship between the Earthly Branches and the seasons? The seasons can also be associated with specific Earthly Branches based on their elemental attributes. The main relationships are as follows:

• Spring corresponds to the Earthly Branches Yin, Mao, and Chen.
• Summer corresponds to the Earthly Branches Si, Wu, and Wei.
• Autumn corresponds to the Earthly Branches Shen, You, and Xu.
• Winter corresponds to the Earthly Branches Hai, Zi, and Chou.

This cycle complements the celestial stems, creating a comprehensive framework for understanding the natural world.

In conclusion, the celestial stems and terrestrial branches form a rich tapestry that weaves together elements, directions, organs, and seasons. This ancient system offers insights into the balance and harmony that govern both the universe and human health, providing a profound framework for understanding and navigating the complexities of life.