Distribution of the Twelve Earthly Branches in Geography

Original Text

子为墨池。子在正北方，属水，色象墨，故有墨池之象。凡命逢子年生者，时喜见癸亥，谓之水归大海，又谓之双鱼游墨，必为文章士矣。

午为烽堠。午正位于南，属火、土，其色赤黄，名其曰烽堠者，此也；又午为马，烽堠乃戎马兵火之处所也。午生人时利见辰，真龙出则凡马空矣，谓之马化龙驹。

卯为琼林。卯系乙木，居位正东，于时为仲春，万物生焉，色若琅之青，故曰琼林。卯年遇巳未时者，是为兔入月宫之象，主大贵。

酉为寺钟。酉属金，位近戍亥，戍亥者，天门也，钟，金属也，寺钟敲则响彻天门；又酉居正西，寺则西方佛界也。酉见寅吉，谓之钟鸣谷应。

寅为广谷。寅乃艮方，艮为山，戊土长生于是而广谷之义著矣。然寅宫有虎，寅生人而时戊辰者，谓之虎啸而谷风生，威震万里。

申为名都。坤为地，其体无疆，非名都不足以喻之。申，坤也，都者；帝王所居；申宫壬水生，又与艮山对，是水绕山环也。凡命爱申年亥时，乃地天交泰。

巳为大驿。大驿者，人烟凑集，道路通达之地。巳中有丙火戊土，是其象也，又巳前有午马，故曰大驿。巳生喜得辰时，蛇化轻龙，于格为千里龙驹。

亥为悬河。天河之水，奔流不回，故曰悬河，亥即天门，又属水，非悬河之象乎？亥年建生，日时见寅、辰二字，是乃水拱雷门。

辰为草泽。夫泽，水所钟也，辰在东方之次，为水库，故为草为泽；辰逢壬戍、癸亥即龙归大海格。

戌为烧原。戌月在九秋，草木尽萎，田家焚烧而耕，又戌属土，是以称名烧原，故戌与辰地皆贵人所不临也。戌生逢卯，号曰春入烧痕。

丑为柳岸。丑中有水有金，岸者，土也，所以止水也，故谓柳岸。丑人时见己未，乃月照柳梢，极为上格。

未为花园。花园属之未，不属之卯，何也？卯乃木旺，自成林麓；未乃木库，如人筑墙垣以护百花也，以百花言未中有杂气耳；未年人双飞格，最妙，如辛未见戊戍，两干不杂是也。

Interpretation

The "Zi" represents the Ink Pool. "Zi" is in the due north direction, corresponding to water in the Five - Elements theory, and its color is like ink, so it has the image of an ink pool. For those born in the year of "Zi", it is auspicious if their birth time is the "Guihai" period. This is called "water flowing back to the vast sea", and also known as "two fish swimming in the ink". Such people are bound to become scholars proficient in literature.

Noon corresponds to beacons. At exactly noon, the sun is in the south, which belongs to the elements of fire and earth, and its color is reddish - yellow. That's why it is named "beacon". Also, noon corresponds to the horse, and beacons are places related to military affairs and warfare. For those born at noon, it is beneficial to encounter the year or time corresponding to the dragon. When the real dragon appears, ordinary horses become insignificant. This is called a horse transforming into a dragon - foal.

The year of the Rabbit is called the Jade Forest. The Rabbit corresponds to the element of Yin Wood and is located in the due east. In the time sequence, it represents the mid - spring when all things come into being. Its color is like the green of fine jade, so it is named the Jade Forest. For those born in the year of the Rabbit and at the time of Snake or Goat, it is an omen of a rabbit entering the Moon Palace, indicating great nobility.

You (the tenth of the Twelve Earthly Branches) represents the temple bell. You belongs to the element of metal and is close to Xu and Hai. Xu and Hai represent the Heavenly Gate. A bell is made of metal. When the temple bell rings, its sound can reach the Heavenly Gate. Moreover, You is located in the exact west, and temples are associated with the Western Buddhist realm. It is auspicious when You meets Yin, which is called "the bell rings and the valley echoes".

The Yin earthly branch represents broad valleys. Yin corresponds to the Gen direction. Gen represents mountains, and the Earth element (Wu Earth) is considered to be in its "birth" state here, thus clearly signifying the meaning of broad valleys. However, there is a tiger in the Yin palace. For those born in the Yin year and having the Wu Chen hour, it is said that when the tiger roars, the wind in the valley rises, and its might shakes the world for ten thousand li.

Shen is regarded as a famous metropolis. Kun represents the earth, whose expanse is boundless. Only a famous metropolis can aptly describe it. Shen corresponds to Kun. A metropolis is the place where emperors reside. In the Shen palace, the Ren water is generated, and it is opposite to the Gen mountain, presenting a scene of water winding around the mountain. For those with Shen in the birth - year and Hai in the birth - hour in their fates, it indicates the harmonious interaction between heaven and earth.

The earthly branch "Si" represents the Great Post Road. The Great Post Road is a place where people gather and roads are well - connected. There are the elements of Bing Fire and Wu Earth in "Si", which symbolize such a place. Moreover, there is "Wu" (represented by the Horse) ahead of "Si", so it is called the Great Post Road. If one is born in the "Si" period and it is auspicious to have the "Chen" time. It is like a snake transforming into a light dragon. In the astrological pattern, it is regarded as a noble horse that can travel a thousand miles.

The earthly branch Hai represents a cascading river. The water of the Milky Way rushes forward without turning back, so it is called a cascading river. Hai is the celestial gate and also belongs to the element of water. Isn't it like the image of a cascading river? For those born in the year of Hai, if the characters Yin and Chen appear in the hour and day columns, it means that water surrounds the Thunder Gate.

Chen represents marshlands. A marsh is a place where water accumulates. Chen is in the eastern position and is regarded as a reservoir for water, so it symbolizes grass and marsh. When Chen meets Renxu and Guihai, it forms the pattern of "the dragon returning to the vast sea".

Xū represents burning the fields. The Xū month is in the ninth autumn month. All the plants wither. Farmers burn the fields for cultivation. Also, Xū belongs to earth, so it is named "burning the fields". Therefore, both the Xū and Chén locations are not visited by noble people. When one is born in the Xū period and encounters the Mǎo period, it is called "spring entering the burnt marks".

Chou represents the willow bank. In Chou, there are water and metal. The bank is made of earth, which can stop the flow of water, so it is called the willow bank. When a person born in the Chou period sees Jiwei in the hour pillar, it is like the moon shining on the willow branches, which is an extremely superior configuration.

It refers to the position of "Wei" in the context of a garden. Why does the garden belong to "Wei" rather than "Mao"? In the system of the twelve earthly branches, "Mao" represents the peak of the wood element and naturally forms forests and mountains; "Wei" is like a storehouse for the wood element. It is as if people build walls to protect all kinds of flowers. In terms of all the flowers, there are mixed qi in "Wei". For those born in the year of "Wei", the "Double - Flying Pattern" is the most auspicious. For example, when there is "Xin" and "Wei" along with "Wu" and "Xu", it means that the two heavenly stems are not mixed.