Liu Hai (Six Harms): The Branch Harms

Definition

Liu Hai (Six Harms, also "piercing") is a hindering, hidden-loss relationship among the [Earthly Branches](/bazi/glossary/di-zhi), signifying estrangement, misunderstanding, covert damage, and discord. It arises when a would-be combination is broken by a clash — hence "harm." Its action is subtler than the [Six Clashes](/bazi/glossary/liu-chong) or [Three Punishments](/bazi/glossary/san-xing).

The Six Harms

**Zi–Wei, Chou–Wu, Yin–Si, Mao–Chen, Shen–Hai, You–Xu.**

Nature and Use

- Harms signify hidden obstruction and attrition: friction with kin, rifts in cooperation, good intentions misread. - Read whether the harmed branch is favorable; harming a favorable one often shows as "help that's there but can't be used." - Their force is subtle — read with clashes, punishments, and combinations, never from a single harm alone.

Common Misconceptions

**1: A harm is gravely inauspicious.** Harms are mostly subtle hindrances and small losses, usually weaker than clashes or punishments. **2: A harm always strikes relatives.** Their scope is broad — judge by palace and Ten Spirit.

Significance in Chart Analysis

The harms are a finer thread in the branch tension-web, read with whole-chart [strength](/bazi/glossary/qiang-ruo). See your chart's harms with the [free BaZi calculator](/bazi/chart).