What Is Heaven-Earth Virtue Union (天地德合) in BaZi?
Learn the simultaneous stem and branch combination rule, Jia-Zi/Ji-Chou and Wu-Xu/Gui-Mao examples, pillar placement, non-conditions and OpenFate boundaries.
Overview
Heaven-Earth Virtue Union is the workbook’s English name for 天地德合. The source defines it through two complete pillars whose Heavenly Stems form one of the five stem combinations while their Earthly Branches also form a Six Harmony pair. Jia-Zi with Ji-Chou and Wu-Xu with Gui-Mao are explicit examples. A stem combination without the branch harmony, or a branch harmony without the stem combination, does not meet this definition. The text values a union involving the hour most highly, then the day, and especially notes Year-Month or Day-Hour adjacency; these are source priorities rather than measurable life outcomes. This entry also remains distinct from the following “Ruler-Minister Auspicious Meeting,” which adds a same-ten-day-cycle convention. OpenFate shows the underlying combinations but does not issue a virtue or relationship verdict.
At a glance
- Heaven condition
- The two Heavenly Stems combine
- Earth condition
- The two Earthly Branches form Six Harmony
- Example one
- Jia-Zi with Ji-Chou
- Example two
- Wu-Xu with Gui-Mao
- Source priority
- Hour, then day; Year-Month or Day-Hour noted
- Product boundary
- No OpenFate virtue-union verdict
Both the stem pair and branch pair must combine
The “Heaven” layer refers to one valid Heavenly-Stem combination and the “Earth” layer to one valid Six Harmony branch pair between the same two pillars.
The rule uses complete pillars. Matching only one layer, mixing stems from one pair of pillars with branches from another, or relying on a non-Six-Harmony branch relation does not qualify.
- Name the same two complete pillars in both tests.
- Require both a stem combination and Six Harmony.
Pillar placement is source context, not a guaranteed benefit
The text ranks an hour-involved union first and a day-involved union next, then highlights Year-Month and Day-Hour pairings. It also supplies two historical charts as examples.
These priorities do not measure relationship quality, popularity or virtue. Combination, transformation, contention, clash and strength still need their normal independent review.
- Show pillar positions and all competing interactions.
- Keep source preference separate from real-world outcomes.
OpenFate exposes both combinations without creating a moral label
The engine can calculate complete pillars, the five stem combinations, Six Harmonies, contention, distance and other interactions.
There is no Heaven-Earth Virtue Union detector. The article does not alter interactions, strength, reports, compatibility results or saved charts.
- Use existing stem and branch interaction evidence.
- No virtue score, relationship flag or report mutation.
A double combination does not prove virtue, popularity or status
The source links stem union to the hearts of worthy people and branch union to popular support, then promises favorable status. Those are classical metaphors.
Do not infer morality, trustworthiness, social approval, marriage quality, promotion, political support, wealth or safety. Use observable evidence for those judgments.
- No morality, trust or popularity assessment.
- No marriage, status, wealth, political or safety guarantee.
Sources and editorial basis
- 《三命通會》 (Sanming Tonghui)《三命通會》卷六「天地德合」：同一對完整柱天干五合與地支六合雙重條件，甲子己丑、戊戌癸卯明例，以及先時後日、年月日時柱位語境A historical compilation covering stems and branches, Ten Gods, Nayin, Shen Sha, and multiple classical pattern systems.
- OpenFate Editorial Methodology天干與地支兩項必須指向同一對柱，保留合化爭合沖剋強弱並與後條同旬君臣慶會分開；未實作則不判並排除道德誠信人緣婚姻升遷政治財富安全推斷OpenFate separates deterministic chart calculation, traditional interpretation, and modern editorial explanation.