Liu He (Six Harmonies): The Branch Combinations

Definition

Liu He (Six Harmonies) are the pairwise combining relationships among the [Earthly Branches](/bazi/glossary/di-zhi), signifying union, closeness, binding, and "transformation." A combination binds branches together and alters their clashing or controlling action.

The Six Harmonies

- **Zi–Chou** (→ Earth); **Yin–Hai** (→ Wood); **Mao–Xu** (→ Fire); - **Chen–You** (→ Metal); **Si–Shen** (→ Water); **Wu–Wei** (the sun-moon union, often non-transforming or → Earth). Whether it actually "transforms" depends on the month command and a transforming agent at the stems — do not assume transformation.

Nature and Use

- A combination binds: a bound branch often "covets union and forgets to clash or control," neutralizing what it would otherwise do. - A successful transformation adds the produced element to the chart, affecting [strength](/bazi/glossary/qiang-ruo); a failed one is "combined but untransformed," merely a binding. - A cycle's branch can combine with a natal one, stirring the structure.

Common Misconceptions

**1: A harmony always transforms.** Most are "combined but untransformed"; transformation needs strict conditions (the month command plus a transforming agent). **2: A combination is always good.** Binding a favorable branch is itself a problem; fortune depends on whether the combined branch is favorable.

Significance in Chart Analysis

With [San He](/bazi/glossary/san-he) and the [Six Clashes](/bazi/glossary/liu-chong), the harmonies form the branch-relationship web that governs how strength is pulled and released. See your chart's combinations with the [free BaZi calculator](/bazi/chart).