The Ten Heavenly Stems 天干
The Heavenly Stems (天干, tiān gān) are ten celestial markers that cycle every ten days. Each carries a specific elemental energy:
| # | Stem | Pinyin | Element | Polarity | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 甲 | Jiǎ | Wood | Yang | Tall tree, leadership, ambition |
| 2 | 乙 | Yǐ | Wood | Yin | Flower, flexibility, grace |
| 3 | 丙 | Bǐng | Fire | Yang | Sun, brilliance, expansion |
| 4 | 丁 | Dīng | Fire | Yin | Candle, focus, warmth |
| 5 | 戊 | Wù | Earth | Yang | Mountain, stability, stubbornness |
| 6 | 己 | Jǐ | Earth | Yin | Garden, nurturing, adaptable |
| 7 | 庚 | Gēng | Metal | Yang | Sword, decisiveness, confrontation |
| 8 | 辛 | Xīn | Metal | Yin | Jewel, refinement, sensitivity |
| 9 | 壬 | Rén | Water | Yang | Ocean, wisdom, movement |
| 10 | 癸 | Guǐ | Water | Yin | Rain, intuition, stillness |
The Twelve Earthly Branches 地支
The Earthly Branches (地支, dì zhī) are twelve markers that form the backbone of the entire system. Each carries elemental, directional, and seasonal qualities:
| # | Branch | Animal | Element | Direction | Season | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 子 Zǐ | 🐀 Rat | Water | North | Winter | 23:00–01:00 |
| 2 | 丑 Chǒu | 🐂 Ox | Earth | NE | Winter | 01:00–03:00 |
| 3 | 寅 Yín | 🐅 Tiger | Wood | NE | Spring | 03:00–05:00 |
| 4 | 卯 Mǎo | 🐇 Rabbit | Wood | East | Spring | 05:00–07:00 |
| 5 | 辰 Chén | 🐉 Dragon | Earth | SE | Spring | 07:00–09:00 |
| 6 | 巳 Sì | 🐍 Snake | Fire | SE | Summer | 09:00–11:00 |
| 7 | 午 Wǔ | 🐎 Horse | Fire | South | Summer | 11:00–13:00 |
| 8 | 未 Wèi | 🐑 Goat | Earth | SW | Summer | 13:00–15:00 |
| 9 | 申 Shēn | 🐒 Monkey | Metal | SW | Autumn | 15:00–17:00 |
| 10 | 酉 Yǒu | 🐓 Rooster | Metal | West | Autumn | 17:00–19:00 |
| 11 | 戌 Xū | 🐕 Dog | Earth | NW | Autumn | 19:00–21:00 |
| 12 | 亥 Hài | 🐖 Pig | Water | NW | Winter | 21:00–23:00 |
The Sexagenary Cycle 六十甲子
The Stems and Branches combine into a 60-day cycle (六十甲子). Since 10 and 12 share a least common multiple of 60, each Stem pairs with each Branch in sequence:
- 甲子 (Jiǎ Zǐ), 乙丑 (Yǐ Chǒu), 丙寅 (Bǐng Yín) … through 60 combinations
- Only same-polarity pairs occur: 甲 (Yang) pairs with 子 (Yang), 丑 (Yin), 寅 (Yang)…
- This means 甲 never pairs with 丑 — the Yin-Yang alignment is always maintained
The Day Pillar in Da Liu Ren: The Day Stem (日干) represents you — the querent. The Day Branch (日支) represents your environment — circumstances, relationships, and the situation around you. Together, they generate the Four Lessons (四课).
Branch Relationships
Branches interact through several important relationships:
Six Harmonies 六合
Pairs that naturally attract and cooperate:
- 子–丑 (Water-Earth), 寅–亥 (Wood-Water), 卯–戌 (Wood-Earth)
- 辰–酉 (Earth-Metal), 巳–申 (Fire-Metal), 午–未 (Fire-Earth)
Six Clashes 六冲
Opposite positions that create tension and change:
- 子–午 (North-South), 丑–未 (Earth-Earth), 寅–申 (Wood-Metal)
- 卯–酉 (Wood-Metal), 辰–戌 (Earth-Earth), 巳–亥 (Fire-Water)
Three Harmonies 三合
Groups of three that form elemental combinations:
- 申子辰 → Water frame
- 寅午戌 → Fire frame
- 巳酉丑 → Metal frame
- 亥卯未 → Wood frame
In the Chart
In the Da Liu Ren chart, the Day Stem and Branch determine:
- Four Lessons — derived by finding where the Day Stem and Branch appear on the Heaven Plate
- Six Relations — every other branch is classified by its relationship to the Day Stem
- Void Palaces — the two branches not covered by any Stem in the current 10-day cycle
Next Steps
- Twelve Divinities — the Spirit Generals that color each position
- Time Calculator — convert any date to the sexagenary cycle
- Cast a Chart — put your knowledge into practice