BaZi Concepts
What Are Earthly Branch Interactions (Xing Chong Hui He) in BaZi?
Also called: Xing Chong Hui He
Plain Explanation
Earthly Branch Interactions are the relationships called Punishment, Clash, Three Meetings (San Hui), and Combination. Punishments and clashes emphasize tension and change; meetings and combinations emphasize joining and concentrating elemental influence.
Example
Identify the relationship first, then consider its effect. Each row below uses one Branch configuration to distinguish the names. Three Meetings (San Hui) are also called directional or seasonal combinations.
| Relationship | Plain Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Punishments (Xing, 刑) | Tension or disharmony | Zi–Mao (子–卯) punishment |
| Six Clashes (Liu Chong, 六冲) | Opposition, conflict, or change | Zi–Wu (子–午) clash |
| Three Meetings (San Hui, 三会) | Three Branches from the same season gather | Yin–Mao–Chen (寅–卯–辰) meeting of Wood |
| Six Combinations (Liu He, 六合) | A specific pair of Branches combines | Zi–Chou (子–丑) combination |
| Three Harmony Combinations (San He, 三合) | Three Branches combine in a fixed configuration | Shen–Zi–Chen (申–子–辰) combination of Water |
Earthly Branch Interaction Reference Table
| Relationship | Complete Configurations |
|---|---|
| Punishments (Xing, 刑) | Yin–Si–Shen (寅–巳–申); Chou–Xu–Wei (丑–戌–未); Zi–Mao (子–卯) |
| Self-Punishments (Zi Xing, 自刑) | Chen–Chen (辰–辰); Wu–Wu (午–午); You–You (酉–酉); Hai–Hai (亥–亥) |
| Six Clashes (Liu Chong, 六冲) | Zi–Wu (子–午); Chou–Wei (丑–未); Yin–Shen (寅–申); Mao–You (卯–酉); Chen–Xu (辰–戌); Si–Hai (巳–亥) |
| Three Meetings (San Hui, 三会) | Yin–Mao–Chen (寅–卯–辰), Wood; Si–Wu–Wei (巳–午–未), Fire; Shen–You–Xu (申–酉–戌), Metal; Hai–Zi–Chou (亥–子–丑), Water |
| Six Combinations (Liu He, 六合) | Zi–Chou (子–丑); Yin–Hai (寅–亥); Mao–Xu (卯–戌); Chen–You (辰–酉); Si–Shen (巳–申); Wu–Wei (午–未) |
| 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 |
This table lists common configurations. Whether three Branches form an effective grouping, whether a combination transforms, and what effect it has must be judged in the context of the whole chart.
What It Is Used For
Earthly Branch Interactions help you examine which elements are brought together or affected, and whether an existing arrangement changes. Check these relationships both in the natal Four Pillars and when adding 10-Year Cycles or Annual Cycles.
Common Misunderstandings
A Combination Is Not Always Favorable, and a Clash Is Not Always Harmful
Consider whether the affected function needs to be preserved or restrained. A combination may tie up a needed influence, while a clash may change an unwanted one.
Combining Does Not Automatically Mean Transforming
Zi (子) combining with Chou (丑) does not mean their elements automatically change. Transformation also depends on the season, strength, and the surrounding relationships.
The Names Alone Do Not Establish a Fixed Order of Priority
A Branch may participate in a combination and a clash at the same time. Whether one relationship resolves another depends on position and strength; a combination does not always resolve a clash.
Related Concepts
Updated 2026-10-16 · Editorial Policy