Six Harmonies六合

The twelve branches join in six pairs.

子丑寅卯辰巳午未申酉戌亥

六合者，以月建與月將為相合也。

Xie Ji Bian Fang Shu, vol. 1

What it is

San Ming Tong Hui says harmony means yin and yang at peace. Each pair has one yang and one yin branch.

Xie Ji Bian Fang Shu explains where the pairs come from. The month branch turns one way and the sun’s position turns the other, and each meeting makes a pair.

The six pairs

Each pair with the month that forms it.

  1. 子丑十二月建丑，月將在子Month 12 is Chou, and the sun is at Zi.
  2. 寅亥正月建寅，月將在亥Month 1 is Yin, and the sun is at Hai.
  3. 卯戌二月建卯，月將在戌Month 2 is Mao, and the sun is at Xu.
  4. 辰酉三月建辰，月將在酉Month 3 is Chen, and the sun is at You.
  5. 巳申四月建巳，月將在申Month 4 is Si, and the sun is at Shen.
  6. 午未五月建午，月將在未Month 5 is Wu, and the sun is at Wei.

Sources San Ming Tong Hui, vol. 2; Xie Ji Bian Fang Shu, vols. 1 and 3.