There are 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches.
Each come with deep embedded meanings that are useful for both feng shui and bazi analysis.
Under the right conditions, stems and branches can combine or clash with other stems and branches when they meet.
Each heavenly stem has 3 interactions with 3 different stems consisting of one combination and two clashes.
Of the two clashes, one is an elemental clash while the other is a directional clash.
Heavenly Stems Combinations And Clashes
Stem | Combination | Clash |
H1 | H6 (Earth) | H5, H7 |
H2 | H7 (Metal) | H6, H8 |
H3 | H8 (Water) | H7, H9 |
H4 | H9 (Wood) | H8, H10 |
H5 | H10 (Fire) | H9, H1 |
H6 | H1 (Earth) | H10, H2 |
H7 | H2 (Metal) | H1, H3 |
H8 | H3 (Water) | H2, H4 |
H9 | H4 (Wood) | H3, H5 |
H10 | H5 (Fire) | H4, H6 |
Legend here
Unlike the combinations and clashes of heavenly stems, combinations and clashes of earthly branches don’t have an observable pattern.
As such, the simplest way to present them is by defining the type of combination or clash.
Earthly Branches Combinations And Clashes
Seasonal Combinations (三会) |
E3+E4+E5 = Spring Wood E6+E7+E8 = Summer Fire E9+E10+E11 = Autumn Metal E12+E1+E2 = Winter Water |
3 Combinations (三合) |
E12+E4+E8 = Wood E3+E7+E11 = Fire E6+E10+E2 = Metal E9+E1+E5 = Water |
3 Punishment Clashes (三刑) |
E3+E6+E9 E2+E8+E11 |
6 Clashes (六冲) |
E1+E7 E2+E8 E3+E9 E4+E10 E5+E11 E6+E12 |
Front Half Combinations (前半合) |
E12+E4 = Wood E3+E7 = Fire E6+E10 = Metal E9+E1 = Water |
Back Half Combinations (后半合) |
E4+E8 = Wood E7+E11 = Fire E10+E2 = Metal E1+E5 = Water |
6 Combinations (六合) |
E1+E2 = Earth E3+E12 = Wood E4+E11 = Fire E5+E10 = Metal E6+E9 – = Water E7+E8 = Fire |
Betrayal Clash (相害) |
E1+E8 E2+E7 E3+E6 E4+E5 E9+E12 E10+E11 |
Half Punishment Clashes (半三刑) |
E3+E6 E6+E9 E9+E3 E2+E11 E8+E2 E11+E8 |
Loss Clashes (相破) |
E1+E10 E3+E12 E2+E5 E4+E7 E6+E9 E8+E11 |
Self Clashes (自刑) |
E5+E5 E7+E7 E10+E10 E12+E12 |
Legend can be found here
Finally, don’t forget that elemental and directional clashes can also occur between stems and branches.
In view of this keep the fundamental concepts of the relationships between the 5 elements in mind.