In the previous article, we explored the origins of the Ten Heavenly Stems. This time, we turn to their counterpart—the Twelve Earthly Branches. These two systems are interrelated, much like voltage and current in physics. Voltage gives rise to current, and the two interact in complex ways. When the Yin-Yang combinations of the Stems and Branches are matched, they form sixty distinct pairings known as the “Sexagenary Cycle” or Liu Shi Jia Zi (六十甲子). In a sense, these cycles are to metaphysical systems what power is to electricity—a way of quantifying dynamic energy.
But this “energy” isn’t used to power machines. Instead, it is applied in Chinese metaphysics to analyze a person’s destiny and assess the distribution of auspicious and inauspicious energies across different spaces—whether it’s a home, an office, or a production site. Only by fully understanding these principles can one provide truly meaningful guidance in feng shui arrangements, personal adornment, or spatial layout.
The Twelve Earthly Branches are: 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). These form the backbone of the traditional Chinese zodiac—an aspect of Chinese culture familiar even to many in the West. Each Branch corresponds to one of the twelve animals of the zodiac: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
Every person in Chinese culture is born under one of these signs, which is believed to endow certain personality traits. For instance, those born in the year of the Rat are often said to be clever, while those of the Dog are loyal, and those of the Snake are cunning. However, these are generalizations. Every individual’s destiny must be understood holistically, in the context of their full birth chart (BaZi), rather than judged solely by their zodiac animal.
In fact, the Earthly Branches have applications far beyond the zodiac. In true Chinese metaphysics and authentic feng shui, their importance is profound. So where did the Twelve Earthly Branches come from?
The answer lies in the interplay between the Earth and the solar system. As mentioned earlier, the Heavenly Stems represent the celestial influences—energies generated by planetary movement within the solar system, expressed as the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) in Yin-Yang form. The Earthly Branches, in turn, are the terrestrial manifestation of these cosmic energies. In line with the Chinese metaphysical principle “As above, so below,” the movement of planets generates subtle energy fields that express themselves in structured patterns on Earth. These energy patterns are what the ancient sages encoded into the Twelve Earthly Branches.
In essence, the Branches are markers that capture how the energies of the cosmos express themselves on Earth over time. Ancient Chinese philosophers observed the Earth’s cyclical energy changes and represented them using twelve symbolic markers—thus the name “Earthly Branches” (Di Zhi, 地支). These are not random symbols; they encode the behavior of terrestrial qi in regular patterns.
Here’s a simplified breakdown of what each Branch represents in terms of the Five Elements and energy states:
- Zi (子): Water (Yin) at its strongest—deep cold.
- Chou (丑): Earth (wet) declining—mild dampness.
- Yin (寅): Wood (Yang) at its peak—active wind.
- Mao (卯): Wood (Yin) declining—gentle wind.
- Chen (辰): Earth (wet) rising again—moist vitality.
- Si (巳): Fire (Yin) declining—waning heat.
- Wu (午): Fire (Yang) at full strength—blazing warmth.
- Wei (未): Earth (dry) weakening—light aridity.
- Shen (申): Metal (dry) rising—sharp dryness.
- You (酉): Metal (Yin) declining—contracting dryness.
- Xu (戌): Earth (dry) at its peak—barren aridity.
- Hai (亥): Water (Yang) weakening—gentle cold.
This orderly sequence reflects the dynamic transformation of energy on Earth through the cycle of the Five Elements, continually shifting between strength and decline, Yin and Yang.
Understanding the true origin of the Twelve Earthly Branches helps us appreciate their deeper meaning. As we’ve seen, they are more than just symbols for zodiac animals. They are a sophisticated time-space system, rooted in the ancient Chinese understanding of cosmology and natural law. Only by grasping the interplay between the Ten Heavenly Stems, the Twelve Earthly Branches, and the sixty-year cycle they create can one begin to truly enter the gateway of Chinese metaphysical thought—and offer sound guidance to navigate fortune and misfortune in life.