What Are Earthly Branches in Continuous Sequence (地支連茹) in BaZi?
Learn the Yin-Chen-Wu-Shen source example, the three virtual arches, ordering, absent-branch boundary, blockers and OpenFate implementation limits.
Overview
Earthly Branches in Continuous Sequence is the workbook’s English name for 地支連茹. The source equates it with Earthly-Branch Enclosing and Arching (地支夾拱), illustrated by visible Yin, Chen, Wu and Shen branches: Yin-Chen encloses absent Mao, Chen-Wu encloses absent Si and Wu-Shen encloses absent Wei. The visible order matters. Mao, Si and Wei remain virtual relationships and must never be inserted as pillars, hidden stems or strength evidence. The passage gives one worked chart rather than a complete universal table, so other routes must not be invented. OpenFate does not declare this pattern.
At a glance
- Visible sequence
- Yin → Chen → Wu → Shen
- First arch
- Yin and Chen enclose absent Mao
- Second arch
- Chen and Wu enclose absent Si
- Third arch
- Wu and Shen enclose absent Wei
- Data boundary
- Enclosed branches stay absent and virtual
- Product boundary
- No OpenFate Earthly Branch Sequence verdict
The source route uses four visible branches to create three virtual arches
The worked chart is Jia-Yin, Wu-Chen, Bing-Wu, Bing-Shen. Reading the visible branches in pillar order produces three gaps: Mao, Si and Wei.
The entry calls this enclosing and arching rather than a simple run of four consecutive branches. Each visible pair brackets one absent branch.
- Verify Yin-Chen-Wu-Shen in the cited order.
- Show Mao, Si and Wei only as the three enclosed gaps.
Order, absence and damage checks come before interpretation
If a supposedly enclosed branch is already present, it is no longer merely virtual. Clash, punishment, combination, break, harm and Void can also change the cited structure and must be displayed as counterevidence.
The source supplies one full example, not a complete cyclical generator. A responsible page does not infer every other possible alternating branch string without another located rule.
- Confirm every gap is absent in the visible chart.
- Do not generalize beyond the located example without a reviewed source.
OpenFate preserves the real branches and labels virtual relations separately
The engine exposes visible branches, pillar order, hidden stems, Void and branch interactions for verification.
There is no Earthly Branches in Continuous Sequence detector. Mao, Si and Wei are not inserted into pillars, hidden stems, Ten Gods, strength, reports or saved data.
- Keep observed branches and interpretive arches in separate data layers.
- No synthetic branch, score or report mutation.
An elegant sequence does not prove reputation, wealth or life events
The classical verse associates this family of patterns with advantage and reputation. The branch geometry itself cannot verify resources, occupation or outcomes.
Do not promise fame, money, office, education, relationships or timing. Decisions must rely on current facts and appropriate professional guidance.
- No fame, wealth, office or education guarantee.
- No relationship, timing or life-event prediction.
Sources and editorial basis
- 《三命通會》 (Sanming Tonghui)《古今圖書集成》藝術典第608卷「地支夾拱〈即地支連茹〉」：帖干遠命甲寅戊辰丙午丙申，寅辰夾卯、辰午夾巳、午申夾未三段虛拱A historical compilation covering stems and branches, Ten Gods, Nayin, Shen Sha, and multiple classical pattern systems.
- OpenFate Editorial Methodology寅辰午申可見次序、卯巳未缺席與刑沖合破害空亡反證分層，虛支不寫回四柱藏干十神強弱或報告；未實作則不判並排除名聲財富官位學業關係時點事件保證OpenFate separates deterministic chart calculation, traditional interpretation, and modern editorial explanation.