What Is "Indulge Union, Forget Clash"?
"Indulge Union, Forget Clash" (Tan He Wang Chong) refers to a situation where a Heavenly Stem or Earthly Branch that was originally due to clash with another is simultaneously forming a union relationship with a third Stem-Branch. The attractive force of the union becomes dominant, causing the original clash force to weaken or even disappear -- hence "indulging in the union and forgetting the clash."
Principle
The attractive force of a union between Stems and Branches can, to a certain degree, dissolve the antagonistic force of a clash. When a Stem-Branch simultaneously faces both "union" and "clash" forces, if the union force is stronger, the union becomes dominant and the clash effect weakens.
Typical Examples
Heavenly Stem Indulge Union, Forget Clash
Example: The chart has Jia Wood. An Annual Luck brings Geng Metal (which should produce Jia-Geng clash), but the chart simultaneously has Ji Earth (Jia-Ji union). At this point, Jia Wood indulges in uniting with Ji Earth, and its clashing force against Geng Metal weakens. The damaging effect of Geng Metal's clash is correspondingly reduced.
Earthly Branch Indulge Union, Forget Clash
Example: The chart has Zi Water. An Annual Luck brings Wu Fire (Zi-Wu clash), but the chart simultaneously has Chou Earth (Zi-Chou union). Zi Water indulges in uniting with Chou Earth and forgets its clash with Wu Fire, so the Zi-Wu clash effect weakens.
Practical Significance
- Clash force dissolved by union: When judging whether an Annual Luck or Luck Cycle will trigger a clash effect, one must check for "indulge union, forget clash" conditions. If present, the clash's impact may be greatly reduced.
- Union takes priority over clash: Under normal circumstances, union force is stronger than clash force, but this is not absolute. If the clash force is extremely strong (e.g., Imperial Prosperity clashing a weak Branch), it may still break through the union.
- Chart complexity: "Indulge Union, Forget Clash" reflects the complexity of Stem-Branch relationships in a chart. One cannot simply judge a single clash or union in isolation; the interplay of multiple forces must be comprehensively considered.