Introduction to the 12 Earthly Branches

The Earthly Branches (地支) are a set of 12 characters used in ancient Chinese calendar systems and astrology, they also used to represent cycles of time, space, and natural phenomena.

12-EARTHLY-BRANCHES 十二支 {#12-earthly-branches}

Duduan (Independent Judgment) of Cai Yong _wiki states, there are 12 EARTHLY-BRANCHES _wiki

^B0子_NORTH (zǐ)
^B1丑_N30E (chǒu)
^B2寅_E30N (yín)
^B3卯_EAST (mǎo)
^B4辰_E30S (chén)
^B5巳_S30E (sì)
^B6午_SOUTH (wǔ)
^B7未_S30W (wèi)
^B8申_W30S (shēn)
^B9酉_WEST (yǒu)
^BA戌_W30N (xū)
^BB亥_N30W (hài)

12-EARTHLY-BRANCH correspondance with 4-SEASONS {#12-earthly-branches-x-4-seasons}

^B2寅_E30N, ^B3卯_EAST, ^B4辰_E30S correspond to spring ㊍_WOOD
^B5巳_S30E, ^B6午_SOUTH, ^B7未_S30W correspond to summer ㊋_FIRE
^B8申_W30S, ^B9酉_WEST, ^BA戌_W30N correspond to autumn ㊎_METAL
^BB亥_N30W, ^B0子_NORTH, ^B1丑_N30E correspond to winter ㊌_WATER

12-EARTHLY BRANCH correspondance with 2-FORMS {#12-earthly-branches-x-2-forms}

^B0子_NORTH, ^B2寅_E30N, ^B4辰_E30S, ^B6午_SOUTH, ^B8申_W30S, ^BA戌_W30N correspond to ^⊕⚊_YANG
^B1丑_N30E, ^B3卯_EAST, ^B5巳_S30E, ^B7未_S30W, ^B9酉_WEST, ^BB亥_N30W correspond to ^⊖⚋_YIN

TRIO-HARMONY 三合

^B8申_W30S, ^B0子_NORTH and ^B4辰_E30S are TRIO-HARMONY of ㊌_WATER
^BB亥_N30W, ^B3卯_EAST and ^B7未_S30W are TRIO-HARMONY of ㊍_WOOD
^B2寅_E30N, ^B6午_SOUTH and ^BA戌_W30N are TRIO-HARMONY of ㊋_FIRE
^B5巳_S30E, ^B9酉_WEST and ^B1丑_N30E are TRIO-HARMONY of ㊎_METAL

Kaoyuan (Investigation of Origins) _ctext states: TRIO-HARMONY are formed by uniting the stages of ^G0长生_Growth, ^G4帝旺_Prosperity, and ^G8墓_Tomb to create groups.

㊌_WATER is grown in ^B8申_W30S, prospers in ^B0子_NORTH, and is tombed in ^B4辰_E30S, thus, ^B8申_W30S, ^B0子_NORTH and ^B4辰_E30S are TRIO-HARMONY of ㊌_WATER.
㊍_WOOD is grown in ^BB亥_N30W, prospers in ^B3卯_EAST, and is tombed in ^B7未_S30W, thus, ^BB亥_N30W, ^B3卯_EAST and ^B7未_S30W are TRIO-HARMONY of ㊍_WOOD.
㊋_FIRE is grown in ^B2寅_E30N, prospers in ^B6午_SOUTH, and is tombed in ^BA戌_W30N, thus, ^B2寅_E30N, ^B6午_SOUTH and ^BA戌_W30N are TRIO-HARMONY of ㊋_FIRE.
㊎_METAL is grown in ^B5巳_S30E, prospers in ^B9酉_WEST, and is tombed in ^B1丑_N30E, thus, ^B5巳_S30E, ^B9酉_WEST and ^B1丑_N30E are TRIO-HARMONY of ㊎_METAL.

Six DUO-HARMONIES 六合

^B0子_NORTH and ^B1丑_N30E are DUO-HARMONY
^B2寅_E30N and ^BB亥_N30W are DUO-HARMONY
^B3卯_EAST and ^BA戌_W30N are DUO-HARMONY
^B4辰_E30S and ^B9酉_WEST are DUO-HARMONY
^B5巳_S30E and ^B8申_W30S are DUO-HARMONY
^B6午_SOUTH and ^B7未_S30W are DUO-HARMONY

Lihai Ji _ctext states: The Yin-Yang theorists explain the six DUO-HARMONY in the EARTHLY BRANCHES based on the interactions of the Sun and Moon:

When the Sun and Moon meet in ^B0子_AGR, the Dipper shifts to ^B1丑_N30E, when they meet in ^B1丑_CAP, the Dipper shifts to ^B0子_NORTH, ^B0子_NORTH and ^B1丑_N30E are DUO-HARMONY.
When the Sun and Moon meet in ^B2寅_SGR, the Dipper shifts to ^BB亥_N30W, when they meet in ^BB亥_PIS, the Dipper shifts to ^B2寅_E30N, ^B2寅_E30N and ^BB亥_N30W are DUO-HARMONY.
When the Sun and Moon meet in ^B3卯_SCO, the Dipper shifts to ^BA戌_W30N, when they meet in ^BA戌_ARI , the Dipper shifts to ^B3卯_EAST, ^B3卯_EAST and ^BA戌_W30N are DUO-HARMONY.
When the Sun and Moon meet in ^B4辰_LIB, the Dipper shifts to ^B9酉_WEST, when they meet in ^B9酉_TAU, the Dipper shifts to ^B4辰_E30S, ^B4辰_E30S and ^B9酉_WEST are DUO-HARMONY.
When the Sun and Moon meet in ^B5巳_VIR, the Dipper shifts to ^B8申_W30S, when they meet in ^B8申_GEM , the Dipper shifts to ^B5巳_S30E, ^B5巳_S30E and ^B8申_W30S are DUO-HARMONY.
When the Sun and Moon meet in ^B6午_LEO, the Dipper shifts to ^B7未_S30W, when they meet in ^B7未_CNC, the Dipper shifts to ^B6午_SOUTH, ^B6午_SOUTH and ^B7未_S30W are DUO-HARMONY.

Kaoyuan (Investigation of Origins) _ctext states: The SIX-HARMONIES are paired harmony between Lunar Position (Dipper Direction) and Lunar Commander (Zodiac Position)

In the first lunar month, the Lunar Position is ^B2寅_E30N, and the Lunar Commander is ^BB亥_PIS, thus, ^B2寅_E30N and ^BB亥_N30W are DUO-HARMONY.
In the second month, the Lunar Position is ^B3卯_EAST, and the Lunar Commander is ^BA戌_ARI, thus, ^B3卯_EAST and ^BA戌_W30N are DUO-HARMONY.
This pairing pattern is formed by the Lunar Position moving counterclockwise (left rotation) and the Lunar Commander moving clockwise (right rotation), aligning oppositely in position, hence creating the DUO-HARMONY.