What Are the Earthly Branch Three Unions?
The Earthly Branch Three Unions refer to four groups among the twelve Earthly Branches, where each group of three Branches gathers and transforms into a corresponding Five Element configuration, called a "Three Union" (San He). The Three Unions are among the most powerful union configurations in Earthly Branch combinations.
The Four Great Three Unions
| Three Union | Element | Constituent Branches | Center (Prosperity Position) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shen-Zi-Chen | Water | Shen Metal, Zi Water, Chen Earth | Zi Water (Imperial Prosperity) |
| Yin-Wu-Xu | Fire | Yin Wood, Wu Fire, Xu Earth | Wu Fire (Imperial Prosperity) |
| Hai-Mao-Wei | Wood | Hai Water, Mao Wood, Wei Earth | Mao Wood (Imperial Prosperity) |
| Si-You-Chou | Metal | Si Fire, You Metal, Chou Earth | You Metal (Imperial Prosperity) |
Note: The Three Unions are centered on the three stages of Growth, Imperial Prosperity, and Grave/Storage. For example, Shen (where Ren Water is at Growth), Zi (where Ren Water is at Imperial Prosperity), and Chen (where Ren Water is at Grave/Storage) unite to form the Water configuration.
Conditions for Forming a Three Union
- All three Branches present: All three Branches -- such as Shen-Zi-Chen or Yin-Wu-Xu -- must appear in the chart (including Luck Cycle and Annual Luck).
- The center Branch must exist: The Imperial Prosperity Branch (Zi, Wu, Mao, You) is the core of the Three Union. If the center Branch is absent, the configuration's power is greatly reduced.
- No clash breaking the configuration: If any of the three Branches is clashed (e.g., Zi clashed by Wu), the union is broken and its power is significantly diminished.
Effects of the Three Unions
- Strengthening the Five Element: When a Three Union is established, the corresponding element's power increases greatly and can substantially alter the chart's Five Element structure.
- Chart Structure impact: If the element transformed by the Three Union is the Favorable God, it indicates a noble destiny. If it transforms into the Unfavorable God, one must guard against excessive Unfavorable God strength.
- Filling the Void and activation: When a Luck Cycle or Annual Luck brings the missing Branch to complete a Three Union, it is called "Filling the Void," which can trigger major changes in the chart.
Difference from Three Gatherings (San Hui)
The Three Gatherings (Yin-Mao-Chen, Si-Wu-Wei, etc.) are three Branches of the same season gathering, emphasizing the concentration of same-direction energy. The Three Unions span different seasons, emphasizing the cyclical union-transformation of generating relationships, with more stable and enduring power.