BaZi Concepts
What Are Three Harmony Combinations (San He) in BaZi?
Also called: San He, Three Combinations
Plain Explanation
Three Harmony Combinations are four fixed groups of three Earthly Branches, associated with Water, Wood, Fire, and Metal. They are also called San He groups or frames. The Branches must match a specified group; a group name is distinct from judging its formation, transformation, or favorability in a particular chart.
Example
Shen (申), Zi (子), and Chen (辰) form the Water-associated San He group; Hai (亥), Mao (卯), and Wei (未) form the Wood-associated group. After identifying the members, examine the season, strength, and other Stems and Branches. Having all three does not mean the entire chart consists only of that element.
A relationship-identification example, not a complete chart or a prediction.
The four groups and their associated elements
| Relationship | Complete Configurations |
|---|---|
| Three Harmony Combinations (San He, 三合) | Shen–Zi–Chen (申–子–辰), Water; Hai–Mao–Wei (亥–卯–未), Wood; Yin–Wu–Xu (寅–午–戌), Fire; Si–You–Chou (巳–酉–丑), Metal |
The element is the group’s traditional association, not a judgment that transformation has occurred in a particular chart. This table gives no rules for partial groups, implied Branches, or adding a missing Branch.
How to Check
- 1
Check the specified three Branches
Identify whether the Branches belong to the same group and whether the comparison involves natal or cycle positions. If only two are present, do not treat the third as already present.
- 2
Separate the group identity from its effects
Assess the season, strength, and other relationships according to the method being used. The table identifies membership and association; it does not replace judgments of formation, transformation, or favorability.
What It Is Used For
Three Harmony Combinations explain the three-Branch groups and elemental associations mentioned in chart or cycle analysis. Compare their actual members with Six Combinations and Three Meetings rather than treating similar names as interchangeable.
Common Misunderstandings
Three Harmony Combinations are distinct from Three Meetings
This dictionary uses San He for groups such as Shen–Zi–Chen (申–子–辰), and Three Meetings for directional groups such as Yin–Mao–Chen (寅–卯–辰). Both use three Branches, but their members differ.
A missing third Branch is not automatically supplied
San Ming Tong Hui distinguishes incomplete three-Branch groups in its discussion of San He. This entry identifies complete groups without treating a missing Branch as present or expanding into different schools’ rules for partial or implied combinations.
A group name does not make the entire chart one element
The name indicates the group’s association; it does not erase the existing Stems, Branches, or their relationships. Actual strength and favorability require further assessment.
Related Concepts
Updated 2026-10-16 · Editorial Policy