Half Combination (半合)
Understand how two branches from a Three-Harmony group form a half combination, which pairs carry clearer direction, and what evidence remains missing.
Overview
Half Combination (半合) uses two branches from one Three-Harmony group rather than the complete trio. A birth branch joined to the cardinal branch or the cardinal branch joined to the storage branch often shows a directional phase tendency, but it lacks the full group. Season, the cardinal branch, roots, exposure, distance, clashes, and competing relations determine whether the tendency becomes operational.
At a glance
- Structure
- Two branches from one Three-Harmony group
- Cardinal branch
- Often provides the clearest phase direction
- Missing evidence
- The third member of the complete trine
- Support
- Season, roots, exposure, and continuity
- Blockers
- Clash, distance, and stronger competing relations
- Boundary
- Partial grouping is not automatic transformation
Verify shared Three-Harmony membership
Confirm that both branches belong to the same Water, Wood, Fire, or Metal trine.
Name whether the pair contains the cardinal branch, because not every two-member structure carries equal direction.
- Identify the parent trine.
- Record the missing member.
Test whether the phase has practical support
A matching Month Command, roots, or exposed stems can strengthen the phase suggested by the pair.
Without those supports, the pair may remain a limited affinity rather than reorganize the chart.
- Look beyond the pair.
- Separate affinity from conversion.
Audit clashes and competing structures
Either branch may simultaneously join a harmony, meeting, clash, punishment, harm, or break.
Compare proximity and structural support instead of assuming the half combination wins by name.
- List every active relation.
- Explain the evidence priority.
Do not complete the missing branch by imagination
A missing third branch may arrive in a timing layer, but it does not belong to the natal chart before that period.
半合 alone cannot prove partnership, attraction, success, health, or an event.
- Keep timing additions temporary.
- Avoid social and event literalization.
Sources and editorial basis
- 《三命通會》 (Sanming Tonghui)卷二地支三合：生旺墓三支及兩支半合A historical compilation covering stems and branches, Ten Gods, Nayin, Shen Sha, and multiple classical pattern systems.
- 《淵海子平》 (Yuanhai Ziping)三合局諸論：中神、墓庫與兩支成局邊界A foundational Ziping reference for branch months, hidden stems, roots, and stem-branch relationships.