从零开始学八字（四）：干支知识上篇

Learning BaZi (Eight Characters) from Scratch (Part 4): Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches — Part One

Overall Interpretation

After learning the Five Elements (Wu Xing), the knowledge of destiny analysis (Mingli) needs to be further applied to concrete symbols, finding the "supporting points" that can carry the system of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements—these are the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches (Ganzhi). There are twenty-two characters in total in the Ganzhi system, seemingly simple, but their relationships within the BaZi framework are exceptionally complex, so much so that even slight confusion can easily lead to judgment errors. By clarifying the knowledge of the Ganzhi and learning to analogize and derive images (Qu Xiang) from all things in the world, one can achieve a fairly practical level of fortune-telling accuracy even without temporarily studying advanced techniques like Patterns (Geju) or Divine Stars (Shensha). This chapter focuses on sorting out the basic definitions of the Ganzhi, Yin-Yang, Five Elements, Directions, Na Jia (integration with the Eight Trigrams), four seasons and months, double hours, solar terms, and Hidden Stems within Earthly Branches (Di Zhi Cang Gan), laying the groundwork for the next step on the generation and control cycles (Sheng Ke Zhi Hua) of the Ganzhi.

I. The Origins of the Ganzhi

The origins of the Ganzhi are very ancient, involving various aspects such as ancient astronomical observation, calendar formulation, and philosophical thought, with different accounts. This chapter will not delve into deep textual research; rather, it will focus on the definitions and usages of the Ganzhi themselves.

II. What Are the Ganzhi

• The Heavenly Stems: There are ten in total, also known as the Ten Heavenly Stems
  Jia (甲), Yi (乙), Bing (丙), Ding (丁), Wu (戊), Ji (己), Geng (庚), Xin (辛), Ren (壬), Gui (癸)

• The Earthly Branches: There are twelve in total, also known as the Twelve Earthly Branches
  Zi (子), Chou (丑), Yin (寅), Mao (卯), Chen (辰), Si (巳), Wu (午), Wei (未), Shen (申), You (酉), Xu (戌), Hai (亥)

III. Yin-Yang Attributes of the Ganzhi

Each of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches possesses Yin-Yang attributes. Yang governs movement, firmness, and the external; Yin governs stillness, softness, and the internal. When combining Stems and Branches, the alternation of Yin and Yang generates different modes of interaction.

IV. Five Element Attributes of the Ganzhi

The correspondence between the Five Elements and the Ganzhi provides the abstract Five Elements with concrete symbols. For example, "Wood" can be represented by the Heavenly Stems Jia or Yi, or the Earthly Branches Yin or Mao, while "Fire" corresponds to Bing, Ding, Si, and Wu.

V. Directions of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches

Directions of the Heavenly Stems

• Jia, Yi belong to Wood and represent the East
• Bing, Ding belong to Fire and represent the South
• Wu, Ji belong to Earth and represent the Center
• Geng, Xin belong to Metal and represent the West
• Ren, Gui belong to Water and represent the North

Directions of the Earthly Branches

• Zi: North
• Chou, Yin: Northeast
• Mao: East
• Chen, Si: Southeast
• Wu: South
• Wei, Shen: Southwest
• You: West
• Xu, Hai: Northwest

The direction coverage of the Earthly Branches includes eight directions and is more refined than that of the Heavenly Stems. It is frequently used in Feng Shui, date selection (Ze Ri), and spatial imaging in Mingli.

VI. Ganzhi Na Jia: Correspondence between Ganzhi and the Eight Trigrams

These arrangements link the Ganzhi with the Eight Trigrams (Ba Gua), facilitating the derivation of images and deduction in divination, Feng Shui, and Mingli.

VII. Earthly Branches and the Four Seasons

Each season includes three months, designated by Earthly Branches. For instance, the three months of spring are the Yin, Mao, and Chen months.

VIII. Earthly Branches and the Months

The Earthly Branch months are delimited by solar terms, rather than the first day of the lunar month. For example, the Yin month begins at Li Chun (Beginning of Spring) and ends at Jing Zhe (Awakening of Insects). The zodiac signs are also fixed to the Earthly Branches, forming the correspondence: "Zi-Rat, Chou-Ox, Yin-Tiger, Mao-Rabbit…"

IX. Earthly Branches and Time

A day is divided into twelve double hours, fixedly represented by the Earthly Branches, corresponding one-to-one against the modern 24-hour system.

X. Song of Solar Terms

Spring rain stirs, spring, clear, valley days,
Summer full, mango, summer heat linked,
Autumn dew, autumn cold, frost descends,
Winter snow, snow, winter, minor, major cold.
Each month two solar terms, unchanged, at most one or two days off.
In the first half of the year, it falls on the 6th and 21st; in the second half, the 8th and 23rd.

The 24 Solar Terms form the core basis for delineating the Ganzhi months. Each month contains a "Solar Term" (Jie) and a "Mid Qi" (Zhong Qi) — for example, the Yin month begins with Li Chun as its Jie, with Yu Shui as its Zhong Qi, ending at Jing Zhe.

XI. Hidden Stems within the Earthly Branches (Di Zhi Cang Gan)

Traditional Chinese philosophy emphasizes the unity of Heaven and Humanity (Tian Ren He Yi). The Heavenly Stems represent the Way of Heaven, the Earthly Branches represent the Way of Earth, and the Way of Humanity is hidden within the Earthly Branches, specifically manifested in the Hidden Stems (Cang Gan) within the branches. Different Earthly Branches hold varying numbers of hidden stems: some harbor multiple hidden stems, like Chen, Xu, Chou, Wei; others hold only one, for instance, Zi, Mao, and You.

Mnemonics for Hidden Stems

Zi palace holds Gui water within; Chou holds Gui, Xin metal, and Ji earth together;
Yin palace has Jia wood with Bing and Wu; Mao palace only meets Yi wood;
Chen hides Yi, Wu, and some Gui; Si has Geng metal deep amid Bing and Wu;
Wu palace holds Ding fire and Ji earth; Wei palace holds Yi, Ji, and Ding of the same lineage;
Shen holds Geng metal, Ren water, Wu earth; You palace abounds with Xin metal alone;
Xu palace holds Xin metal, Ding, and Wu; Hai conceals Ren and Jia, its true trace.

Specific Table of Hidden Stems

Hidden Stems within branches act as an important basis for assessing the strength of the Five Elements, generating images, and examining the internal structure during BaZi analysis. For example, Zi only harbors Gui water, making its Qi dedicated and pure; Chen harbors Yi, Wu, and Gui, representing wood, earth, and water, thus its relational structure is more complex.

The next chapter will enter the content of Generation and Control cycles of the Ganzhi.

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🧠 In-Depth Understanding

Core Concepts 💡

The Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches form the core codes used to describe space-time in ancient China. The Heavenly Stems symbolize the “Heavens,” the Earthly Branches symbolize the “Earth,” and the patterns of human activity are mirrored in the hidden stems in the branches, developing a unified model of the Three Realms of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity (San Cai). Laid across dimensions from Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, to directions, seasons, time, and hidden stems, the Ganzhi comprise a symbolic scheme that is as effective at delineating Earth's natural cycles as it is at analogizing changes in human social affairs.

Modern Interpretation 🌟

The Ganzhi should not be viewed as embodying any mystical power. Rather, they are better appreciated as a kind of system of classification and relational network model, distilled through careful observation of nature and calendar-reckoning in ancient China, subsuming time (year, month, day, hour), space (directions), natural attributes (Five Elements), and biological cycles (Four Seasons and Solar Terms) into a unified set of signs, alongside modern correlational fields such as phenology, like the biological chronometrics modeling circadian rhythms and seasonal rhythms —the many parallels found in time biology stand convincingly in common with the seasonal periodicities encoded in the Ganzhi. Studying Ganzhi thus studies a structured “cognitive language,” not superstition.

Practical Value ⚡

With foundational Ganzhi knowledge, one can easily consult lunar-stem solar terms, zodiac correspondences, and double hours, thereby comfortably understanding traditional festivals, health practices, and scheduled routines. For BaZi learners, the Yin-Yang and Five Elements balance, plus stem silhouettes in the branches, remain essential foundations for constructing charts, assessing the Day Master’s strength, retrieving useful Deities, and defining Structures (Geju). I suggest pursuing an experimental methodology of “Presumption — Action — Double-Loop.” Begin by systematically studying their corresponding rules, then verify them in real-life circumstances. In an iterative approach to experience, correction of comprehension emerges naturally; deep intellectual absorption attenuates blind belief or mechanistic application.

Philosophical Thinking 🤔

Embedded within Tian Ren He Yi is a realization that the cosmic scope and patterns governing Nature’s activities stay isomorphic with the tempo of dynamic life functions. Stem codes embedded on in the soul of the deep floors reveal complexity depth, reminiscent of a basic cognition: surfaces do not always embody whole realities; obscurity embodies most currents lying under dynamic polarity (Yang-yin cycles) mutually regress toward tensions achieving balance precepts flexing against mechanically designed static system-of-linear taxonomies. Notably helpful at finding orientation in increasingly contested complex adaptive systemic decision-mapping spatial decision contexts, even suited intrinsically amid problems saturated by error susceptibility, doubt—overhanging issues present across abundant modern contexts.

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📚 Related Knowledge

• Related Concepts

  • Yin-Yang and Five Elements
  • Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches
  • Na Jia and Trigram Directions
  • Twenty-Four Solar Terms
  • Hidden Stems (Cang Gan)
  • Zodiac Culture
  • Three Realms (Heaven, Earth, Humanity)

• Extended Reading

  • San Ming Tong Hui (Comprehensive Insights into the Three Destinies), Volume One: Discussion on the Yin-Yang, Life and Death of Heaven Stems, Discussion on Earth Branches
  • Di Tian Sui: Chapters on the Way of Heaven and the Way of Earth
  • Yuan Hai Zi Ping: Discussion on the Sources of the Stems and Branches
  • Xie Ji Bian Fang Shu: Chapters in that calendar and nodal stem literature relating Ganzhi to almanac and Solar Term calcs

• Modern Research

  • Phenological research on the Twenty-Four Solar Terms and life-rhythm patterns
  • Time-biology studies investigating daily and seasonal biorhythms
  • System-science classification logic and relationship networks — great methodological sources meaningful for comprehensively modeling Ganzhi organization paradigms

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