What Are the Six Combinations, Three Combinations, and Three Conformities of Earthly Branches? Understanding the Invisible Relationship Network in BaZi

Have you ever noticed that a certain character in a BaZi chart seems very weak, yet the person is particularly prominent in that area? Or that two elements that should clash suddenly "make peace" during a certain year of a Luck Cycle? Behind this often lies the mischief of "Earthly Branch Combinations."

In a nutshell: There is an invisible relationship network among the Earthly Branches—Six Combinations (two branches forming an alliance), Three Combinations (three branches forming a bureau), and Three Conformities (three branches from the same direction converging). They reshuffle the original elemental power, causing a character to "change its mind" or a certain energy to suddenly swell. Understanding this network is the key to grasping those "unexpected" twists in BaZi.

The Six Combinations are Zi-Chou, Yin-Hai, Mao-Xu, Chen-You, Si-Shen, and Wu-Wei, totaling six pairs. The Three Combinations are Shen-Zi-Chen (Water), Hai-Mao-Wei (Wood), Yin-Wu-Xu (Fire), and Si-You-Chou (Metal), forming four bureaus. These pairings are not arbitrary; they are based on astronomical principles and the Birth, Prosperity, and Tomb stages of the Five Elements. Below, we use a real chart to help you see through this relationship network.

First, Get to Know Them: What Exactly Is the Difference Between Six Combinations, Three Combinations, and Three Conformities

Many people get overwhelmed when they hear "combinations." Actually, just remember this analogy: The Earthly Branches are like twelve people; combinations are the ways they form alliances. The difference lies in "how many people are involved" and "why they ally."

Six Combinations: Pairs of "Partners"

The Six Combinations mean each of the twelve Earthly Branches has a fixed "other half," forming six pairs. Their origin is related to ancient astronomy—the positions where the moon and sun meet in the sky (conjunction) correspond to these six pairs.

The power of Six Combinations is the gentlest, like two people holding hands—close but not grand in scale.

Three Combinations: "Business Bureaus" of Three People

Three Combinations occur when three Earthly Branches come together to form a powerful single-element force. The logic is a "Birth—Emperor—Tomb" chain: where an element is born, where it is most prosperous, and where it returns to its tomb. When these three positions unite, the energy peaks.

The power of Three Combinations is much greater than Six Combinations, like three people starting a company together—unified in purpose and fully committed. If only two of the three characters are present (e.g., only Shen and Zi without Chen), it is called a "Half Three Combination," with reduced but still effective power.

Three Conformities: "Regional Bureaus" of Hometown Allies

Three Conformities occur when three branches from the same direction converge, producing the strongest force: Yin-Mao-Chen forms Eastern Wood, Si-Wu-Wei forms Southern Fire, Shen-You-Xu forms Western Metal, and Hai-Zi-Chou forms Northern Water. It is like three people from the same hometown gathering together—the qi is purest and strongest.

Remember this mnemonic for power ranking: Three Conformities > Three Combinations > Half Three Combinations > Six Combinations. When multiple appear in a chart, check Three Conformities first, then Three Combinations, and finally Six Combinations.

Real Chart: A Sample Chart with Both "Three Combination + Six Combination"

Just listing tables is too dry. We used shunshi-bazi-core to generate a real sample chart (not a real person, purely for teaching), which happens to contain both a Three Combination and a Six Combination—perfect for analysis.

This is a Bing Fire Day Master male chart, with Earthly Branches "Zi, Chou, Chen, Shen":

First, don't rush to find combinations. Isolate the Earthly Branches: Year Branch Zi, Month Branch Chou, Day Branch Chen, Hour Branch Shen.

First Network: Shen-Zi-Chen Three Combination Water Bureau

Hour Branch "Shen," Year Branch "Zi," and Day Branch "Chen"—these three characters are complete, forming a standard Shen-Zi-Chen Three Combination Water Bureau (Shen is Water's Birth, Zi is Water's Emperor, Chen is Water's Tomb).

What does this mean? For a Bing Fire Day Master, Water represents "Officers" (Executive and Warlord). Originally, the power of Year Branch Zi Water and Hour Branch Shen Metal was scattered. Once the Three Combination forms, it concentrates all the Water energy in the chart into a powerful Officer force. Fire and Water are overcoming each other. This amplified Water, for the Bing Fire Day Master, means increased pressure, responsibility, and rules—in fortune analysis, this is called "Strong Officers."

In other words, this person can hardly be "lazy" in life; the environment will constantly impose rules and constraints, forcing them to take responsibility. This is not something any single character can reveal; it is the result of the "Water energy gathering" after the Three Combination forms.

Second Network: Zi-Chou Six Combination

In the same chart, Year Branch "Zi" and Month Branch "Chou" are adjacent, forming a Zi-Chou Six Combination (transforming to Earth).

Here's the interesting part: Zi Water is pulled by two networks simultaneously—on one side, the Shen-Zi-Chen Three Combination pulls it toward "Water"; on the other, the Zi-Chou Six Combination pulls it toward "Earth." In practical analysis, adjacent Six Combinations and formed Three Combinations can restrain each other. One must check whether the Heavenly Stem guides the transformation and which element the Month Command supports. In this chart, the Month Command is Chou (Earth is strong in late winter), so Earth's qi is not weak. The Zi-Chou combination to Earth has a substantial effect—for the Bing Fire Day Master, Earth represents "Talents" (Talent and Maverick), indicating creativity, expression, and output.

Thus, the brilliance of this chart lies in: The same Zi Water participates both in the Three Combination that strengthens Officers and in the Six Combination that generates Talents. This pattern of "one character used in multiple ways, two networks interwoven" is the most fascinating and easily overlooked aspect of the Earthly Branch relationship network.

The Key to Combination Transformation: Combining Does Not Always Mean Transforming

This is the most common pitfall for beginners. Earthly Branches combining does not necessarily mean successful transformation. "Combination" means two characters form a bond; "transformation" means they actually change into another element.

For a combination to transform, several conditions usually must be met:

1. The two branches must be adjacent, not separated by another character.
2. The Heavenly Stem must guide the transformation—the resulting element should ideally appear in the Heavenly Stem to receive it.
3. The qi of the Month Command must support it—the transformed element should be nourished by the prevailing qi of the current month.

If they combine but do not transform, it is called "Combination Without Transformation" or "Combination Bondage": the two characters hold each other back, neither able to exert full power, as if their hands are tied. This makes a world of difference when judging whether a Ten God can function.

So when you see a "combination," don't jump to conclusions. Ask further: Did it transform? Who is binding it? This step often marks the dividing line between amateur and beginner level.

Also Know Its Opposite: Six Clashes

After discussing combinations, let's briefly touch on their opposite—Six Clashes. Six Combinations are alliances; Six Clashes are head-on collisions: Zi-Wu, Chou-Wei, Yin-Shen, Mao-You, Chen-Xu, Si-Hai.

Clashes represent upheaval, change, and displacement. A clash in a chart is not necessarily bad—when movement is needed, it can be an opportunity. But if a favorable god or useful god is clashed, caution is needed. Combinations and clashes often alternate in Luck Cycles and Annual Cycles: one year a character is combined and stable, the next year it is clashed open by another character. The ups and downs of fate are often hidden in this interplay of combination and clash.

The complete relationship network of combinations, clashes, punishments, and harms is the true "engine" of BaZi dynamics. The static Four Pillars are just the chessboard; combinations and clashes are the moves.

How to Use: Earthly Branch Combinations Reveal "Relationships" and "Turning Points"

Back to the most practical question: What is the use of knowing this?

• Assess interpersonal relationships and resources: Combinations represent intimacy, alliance, and assistance. If a chart favors combinations and has them, the person is likely likable and has many benefactors. If combinations are unfavorable, they may be hindered or burdened.
• Identify turning points in Luck Cycles and Annual Cycles: Many major life events—promotions, marriages, moves, career changes—occur in years when a key character is combined or clashed open. Earthly Branch combinations are one of the most important tools for analyzing Annual Cycles.
• Determine the true power of Ten Gods: If a Ten God character is combined away or transformed, the matter it represents will "change nature" or "become ineffective." Without considering combinations, simply counting the number of Ten Gods often leads to misjudgment.

The Earthly Branch relationship network is essentially about "how characters interact with each other." BaZi is never just twelve isolated characters; it is a small society where they pull, ally, and clash. Understanding combinations, conformities, and clashes means you truly read the "plot" of a chart, not just the "cast list."

Conclusion: First Generate Your Chart, Then Examine the Network

The Six Combinations, Three Combinations, and Three Conformities of Earthly Branches are ultimately the keys to turning a chart from a "static list" into a "dynamic story." You can memorize the tables, but the real skill lies in applying these rules to your own chart—seeing what alliances and clashes exist among your Zi, Chou, Yin, and Mao.

The fastest way is to generate your own chart, lay out the Earthly Branches, and then slowly check them against the mnemonics above.

(The sample chart in this article was generated by shunshi-bazi-core for teaching purposes only and does not represent any real person's chart.)