Understanding Earthly Branches: 12 Branches and Their Meanings

If you're new to feng shui, understanding Earthly Branches is essential. These are fundamental concepts used to calculate age, destiny based on Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and more. So, what are Earthly Branches? Learn about the 12 branches and their significance in life and feng shui with Mytour!

What are Earthly Branches?

What are Earthly Branches? According to feng shui literature, Earthly Branches are used to indicate twelve different directions of the sky. They are determined based on the position of the sun throughout a day, dividing it into twenty-four solar terms. Each solar term lasts about fifteen days and is associated with an Earthly Branch. Additionally, Earthly Branches are used to represent the twelve zodiac signs, twelve months of the year, and twelve hours of the day.

What are the 12 Earthly Branches?

So what are the 12 Earthly Branches? The twelve Earthly Branches include: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each Earthly Branch is symbolized by an animal sign and has its own distinct characteristics. The table below lists the features of the twelve Earthly Branches:

Guide to fully divide Earthly Branches in Feng Shui

After understanding what Earthly Branches are, apply Feng Shui to your life and work. You just need to know how to divide Earthly Branches according to different criteria. These criteria include:

Earthly Branches belong to Five Elements

The Five Elements are the five basic elements of the universe: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Each element has a generating or controlling relationship with the other elements. Earthly Branches are classified according to the Five Elements as follows:

• Metal: Thân (Yang), Dậu (Yin)
• Wood: Dần (Yang), Mão (Yin)
• Water: Tý (Yang), Hợi (Yin)
• Fire: Ngọ (Yang), Tỵ (Yin)
• Earth: Thìn (Yang) – Tuất (Yang), Sửu (Yin) – Mùi (Yin).

Earthly Branches belong to Directions

Directions are the compass directions, divided into eight trigrams: Kan (Northwest), Khảm (Northeast), Cấn (East), Chấn (Southeast), Tốn (South), Ly (Southwest), Khôn (West), and Đoài (Northwest). Each trigram has a meaning and a corresponding element. Earthly Branches are classified according to Directions as follows:

• Kan (Northwest): Tuất, Hợi
• Khảm (Northeast): Tý
• Cấn (East): Sửu, Dần
• Chấn (Southeast): Mão
• Tốn (South): Thìn, Tỵ
• Ly (Southwest): Ngọ
• Khôn (West): Thân, Mùi
• Đoài (Northwest): Dậu

Summarizing in 4 directions East – West – South – North:

• East Direction: Dần and Mão.
• West Direction: Thân and Dậu.
• South Direction: Tỵ and Ngọ.
• North Direction: Hợi and Tý.
• Central Area: Thìn, Tuất, Sửu, Mùi.

Earthly Branches Hexagonally Harmonious

Hexagonal harmony consists of six pairs of Earthly Branches in harmonious relationships. When two Earthly Branches in hexagonal harmony meet, they create a generative element. Here are the Earthly Branch pairs in hexagonal harmony and their generative elements:

• Tý – Sửu harmonize with Earth
• Ngọ – Mùi harmonize with Earth
• Thìn – Dậu harmonize with Metal
• Mão – Tuất harmonize with Fire
• Dần – Hợi harmonize with Wood
• Tỵ – Thân harmonize with Water.

Earthly Branches in pairs, triplets

Pairing signifies two Earthly Branches with close relationships, while triplets indicate three Earthly Branches with close relationships. When two or three Earthly Branches in pairs or triplets meet, they generate an element of the same kind. Here are the Earthly Branch pairs and triplets:

Pairing:

• Tý – Sửu: Yang Water – Yin Wood.
• Hợi – Dần: Yin Water – Yang Wood.
• Thìn – Dậu: Yang Fire – Yin Metal.
• Tỵ – Thân: Yin Fire – Yang Metal.
• Ngọ – Mùi: Yang Fire – Yin Metal.
• Mão – Tuất: Yang Water – Yin Wood.

Triplet:

• Thân – Tý – Thìn.
• Dần – Thân – Ngọ.
• Hợi – Mùi – Mão.
• Tỵ – Sửu – Dậu.

Opposing Zodiac Signs

Opposing signs refer to two zodiac signs in conflict with each other. When two opposing zodiac signs meet, they will create a phenomenon of conflicting energy. The opposing zodiac signs are as follows:

• Tý – Dậu
• Ngọ – Mão
• Dần – Hợi
• Thân – Tỵ
• Thìn – Sửu
• Tuất – Mùi.

Opposing Zodiac Signs

Opposing signs are two zodiac signs that dislike each other. When two opposing zodiac signs meet, they will create a phenomenon of negative energy. The opposing zodiac signs are as follows:

• Tý – Mùi
• Sửu – Ngọ
• Dần – Tỵ
• Thìn – Mão
• Thân – Hợi
• Tuất – Dậu.

Six Clashing Zodiac Pairs

Six clashing pairs are six zodiac pairs that have conflicting relationships. When two zodiac signs from a clashing pair meet, they create a phenomenon of obstruction. The six clashing zodiac pairs are as follows:

• Tý – Ngọ
• Sửu – Mùi
• Dần – Thân
• Mão – Dậu
• Thìn – Tuất
• Tỵ – Hợi.

Zodiac Pairs with Partial Compatibility

Zodiac Pairs with Partial Incompatibility

Pairs with partial incompatibility are two zodiac pairs that have a partial incompatible relationship, resulting in conflicting energy. When two zodiac signs from a pair with partial incompatibility meet, they create a negative phenomenon. The zodiac pairs with partial incompatibility are as follows:

Tý – Thìn: Water

Mão – Mùi: Wood

Ngọ – Tuất: Fire

Dậu – Sửu: Metal

Zodiac Pairs with Partial Compatibility

• Horse – Wood: Wood
• Tiger – Horse: Fire
• Monkey – Rat: Water
• Scorpio – Pig: Metal.

Centered Zodiac Relationships

Centered relationships are three zodiac signs that have an affectionate connection with each other but do not belong to the same triad. When the three zodiac signs of a centered relationship meet, they create a warm and friendly atmosphere. The zodiac signs involved in centered relationships are as follows:

Classification of Zodiac Signs Based on Quadruple Elemental Clash

Quadruple elemental clash involves four zodiac signs that have conflicting relationships but belong to the same elemental category. When these four zodiac signs meet, they create a tense and challenging atmosphere. The zodiac signs involved in quadruple elemental clash are as follows:

• Dog – Horse – Snake – Pig.
• Tiger – Rabbit – Ox – Goat.
• Rat – Dragon – Monkey – Rooster.

Exploring Corresponding Zodiac Signs by Hour and Season

Each zodiac sign not only represents a month of the year but also signifies an hour of the day and a season of the year. The table below lists the corresponding zodiac signs by hour and season:

The Meaning of the 12 Zodiac Signs in Feng Shui

What is the significance of zodiac signs? Let's delve into the meaning of the 12 Zodiac signs. The 12 Zodiac signs represent the 12 animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. Zodiac signs are cycles of the Moon that deeply influence the life and death of all beings. Each Zodiac sign holds the following meanings:

• Rat (Tý): Represents the origin of all things, using yang energy to nurture life.
• Ox (Sửu): Symbolizes connection and preservation for strong growth and development.
• Tiger (Dần): Signifies maintenance and transformation for progress and change.
• Cat (Mão): Embodies germination and emergence for the growth of all things.
• Dragon (Thìn): Represents thunder and lightning, which all things need to transform.
• Snake (Tỵ): Signifies strength and integrity.
• Horse (Ngọ): Symbolizes freshness, vitality, and strong upward growth.
• Goat (Mùi): Represents darkness, meaning enveloping yin energy that weakens and stagnates all things.
• Monkey (Thân): Signifies maturity and robustness.
• Rooster (Dậu): Represents aging, indicating that all things have matured and reached old age.
• Dog (Tuất): Indicates the emergence of myriad beings.
• Pig (Hợi): Represents the seed, meaning all things retreat to nurture new sprouts.

After understanding what zodiac signs are, surely you also grasp their significance and importance in life and Feng Shui. Zodiac signs, along with celestial stems, play a crucial role in analyzing and assessing harmony, prosperity, or taboo. To explore more Feng Shui concepts and related knowledge, quickly follow Mytour Blog!