The twelve branches at a glance
The twelve earthly branches (지지, jiji) are the bottom characters of every Saju pillar. They are the familiar zodiac animals, but in Saju they also mark months, two-hour periods and compass directions, and each one carries hidden stems. In your day pillar the branch is the spouse palace.
| Branch | Animal | Element | Season | Hours | Hidden stems |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 子 Ja | Rat | Water | mid-winter (Dec) | 11 pm–1 am | 壬 癸 |
| 丑 Chuk | Ox | Earth | late winter (Jan) | 1–3 am | 癸 辛 己 |
| 寅 In | Tiger | Wood | early spring (Feb) | 3–5 am | 戊 丙 甲 |
| 卯 Myo | Rabbit | Wood | mid-spring (Mar) | 5–7 am | 甲 乙 |
| 辰 Jin | Dragon | Earth | late spring (Apr) | 7–9 am | 乙 癸 戊 |
| 巳 Sa | Snake | Fire | early summer (May) | 9–11 am | 戊 庚 丙 |
| 午 O | Horse | Fire | mid-summer (Jun) | 11 am–1 pm | 丙 己 丁 |
| 未 Mi | Goat | Earth | late summer (Jul) | 1–3 pm | 丁 乙 己 |
| Sin | Monkey | Metal | early autumn (Aug) | 3–5 pm | 戊 壬 庚 |
| Yu | Rooster | Metal | mid-autumn (Sep) | 5–7 pm | 庚 辛 |
| 戌 Sul | Dog | Earth | late autumn (Oct) | 7–9 pm | 辛 丁 戊 |
| 亥 Hae | Pig | Water | early winter (Nov) | 9–11 pm | 戊 甲 壬 |
Hidden stems listed from residual to main qi, following the traditional day-count table.
Three families: starting, cardinal and storage
Starting branches (In, Sa, Sin, Hae) open each season and are linked with movement (Yeokma). Cardinal branches (Ja, Myo, O, Yu) are the pure middle of each season and are linked with charm (Dohwa, peach blossom). Storage branches (Jin, Mi, Sul, Chuk) close each season and keep its energy, linked with reflection and art (Hwagae). These labels are traditional vocabulary, used on every day pillar page.
Each branch as a day branch
子 Ja — the Rat
Ja (子) is midwinter water at midnight: quiet on the surface, alive underneath. As a day branch it gives an inner world that is clever, resourceful and private. Cardinal (“peach-blossom”) branch.
Six-harmony partner: Chuk · clash: O · day pillars: Gap-Ja, Byeong-Ja, Mu-Ja, Gyeong-Ja, Im-Ja.
丑 Chuk — the Ox
Chuk (丑) is frozen winter soil that stores water and metal. As a day branch it adds patience, frugality and a slow, sure way of building things. Storage (“flower-canopy”) branch.
Six-harmony partner: Ja · clash: Mi · day pillars: Eul-Chuk, Jeong-Chuk, Gi-Chuk, Sin-Chuk, Gye-Chuk.
寅 In — the Tiger
In (寅) is the first spring branch, a tiger in a waking forest. As a day branch it adds courage, initiative and a taste for new ground. Starting (“post-horse”) branch.
Six-harmony partner: Hae · clash: Sin · day pillars: Byeong-In, Mu-In, Gyeong-In, Im-In, Gap-In.
卯 Myo — the Rabbit
Myo (卯) is pure spring wood, grass and blossoms. As a day branch it adds charm, sensitivity and a gentle but persistent will. Cardinal (“peach-blossom”) branch.
Six-harmony partner: Sul · clash: Yu · day pillars: Jeong-Myo, Gi-Myo, Sin-Myo, Gye-Myo, Eul-Myo.
辰 Jin — the Dragon
Jin (辰) is damp spring earth that stores water, often linked with the dragon. As a day branch it adds ambition, imagination and a mix of practicality and big dreams. Storage (“flower-canopy”) branch.
Six-harmony partner: Yu · clash: Sul · day pillars: Mu-Jin, Gyeong-Jin, Im-Jin, Gap-Jin, Byeong-Jin.
巳 Sa — the Snake
Sa (巳) is early-summer fire with metal hidden inside. As a day branch it adds quick thinking, strategy and a warm but watchful presence. Starting (“post-horse”) branch.
Six-harmony partner: Sin · clash: Hae · day pillars: Gi-Sa, Sin-Sa, Gye-Sa, Eul-Sa, Jeong-Sa.
午 O — the Horse
O (午) is midday fire, the horse at full gallop. As a day branch it adds passion, sociability and a need for freedom and movement. Cardinal (“peach-blossom”) branch.
Six-harmony partner: Mi · clash: Ja · day pillars: Gyeong-O, Im-O, Gap-O, Byeong-O, Mu-O.
未 Mi — the Goat
Mi (未) is hot, dry summer earth that stores wood. As a day branch it adds gentleness on the outside, stubborn endurance inside and strong family feeling. Storage (“flower-canopy”) branch.
Six-harmony partner: O · clash: Chuk · day pillars: Sin-Mi, Gye-Mi, Eul-Mi, Jeong-Mi, Gi-Mi.
Sin — the Monkey
Sin (申) is early-autumn metal carrying the seed of water. As a day branch it adds versatility, cleverness and a love of activity and travel. Starting (“post-horse”) branch.
Six-harmony partner: Sa · clash: In · day pillars: Im-Sin, Gap-Sin, Byeong-Sin, Mu-Sin, Gyeong-Sin.
Yu — the Rooster
Yu (酉) is pure autumn metal, the harvest blade and the jewel. As a day branch it adds precision, neatness and refined taste. Cardinal (“peach-blossom”) branch.
Six-harmony partner: Jin · clash: Myo · day pillars: Gye-Yu, Eul-Yu, Jeong-Yu, Gi-Yu, Sin-Yu.
戌 Sul — the Dog
Sul (戌) is dry autumn earth that stores fire. As a day branch it adds loyalty, a protective instinct and a serious, sometimes spiritual streak. Storage (“flower-canopy”) branch.
Six-harmony partner: Myo · clash: Jin · day pillars: Gap-Sul, Byeong-Sul, Mu-Sul, Gyeong-Sul, Im-Sul.
亥 Hae — the Pig
Hae (亥) is early-winter water holding the seed of wood. As a day branch it adds generosity, imagination and an easygoing, open heart. Starting (“post-horse”) branch.
Six-harmony partner: In · clash: Sa · day pillars: Eul-Hae, Jeong-Hae, Gi-Hae, Sin-Hae, Gye-Hae.
Harmonies and clashes
Six harmonies (육합): Ja–Chuk, In–Hae, Myo–Sul, Jin–Yu, Sa–Sin, O–Mi. Three harmonies (삼합) form elemental frames: Sin–Ja–Jin (Water), Hae–Myo–Mi (Wood), In–O–Sul (Fire), Sa–Yu–Chuk (Metal). Clashes (충) are opposite branches six places apart: Ja–O, Chuk–Mi, In–Sin, Myo–Yu, Jin–Sul, Sa–Hae.
In 2027 the year branch is Mi (the Goat), so O meets its six-harmony, Hae and Myo join a Wood triad, and Chuk meets a clash. See the 2027 section of each day pillar article.