Common Concepts
What Are the Earthly Branches (Di Zhi)?
Also called: Di Zhi, Dizhi, Twelve Earthly Branches
Plain Explanation
The Earthly Branches are twelve characters traditionally used to mark sequence and time: Zi (子), Chou (丑), Yin (寅), Mao (卯), Chen (辰), Si (巳), Wu (午), Wei (未), Shen (申), You (酉), Xu (戌), and Hai (亥). In the Four Pillars of BaZi, a Branch is written in the lower position of each pillar.
Example
Each of the Four Pillars has an Earthly Branch in its lower position. For example, Yin (寅) and Mao (卯) belong to Wood, while Zi (子) and Hai (亥) belong to Water. The element correspondences for all twelve Branches are listed below.
| Name | Element |
|---|---|
| Zi (子) | Water |
| Chou (丑) | Earth |
| Yin (寅) | Wood |
| Mao (卯) | Wood |
| Chen (辰) | Earth |
| Si (巳) | Fire |
| Wu (午) | Fire |
| Wei (未) | Earth |
| Shen (申) | Metal |
| You (酉) | Metal |
| Xu (戌) | Earth |
| Hai (亥) | Water |
What It Is Used For
Earthly Branches pair with Heavenly Stems to record the year, month, day, and hour. In BaZi, the Month Branch provides seasonal context; hidden Stems within the Branches are used to examine rooting and Ten-God relationships. Branches also have interactions such as punishments, clashes, meetings, and combinations.
Common Misunderstandings
Earthly Branches and Heavenly Stems are two different sets of characters
There are twelve Earthly Branches and ten Heavenly Stems. Each BaZi pillar uses one Stem and one Branch.
Related Concepts
Updated 2026-10-16 · Editorial Policy