(16) Terrestrial Branches (IV)

By Janet Shin

This week, we will study In (yang wood), Myo (yin wood) and Jin (yang earth) as branches. These three branches will make the trine of wood out of the five elements. As we learned from previous columns, the five elements circulate: wood generates fire, fire generates earth, earth generates metal and metal generates water, etc.

Earth takes part in balancing the other four elements and Jin (yang earth) and balances the energy between wood (In and Myo) and fire (Sa). Sa comes after Jin.

The three branches together make a trine of big energy.

For example:

1. In , Myo, Jin makes a wood trine

2. Sa, O, Mi makes a fire trine

3. Sin, Yu, Sul makes a metal trine

4. Hae, Ja, Chuk makes a water trine.

Let's see how these trines constitute the saju and how they react and influence one's personality and fate.

1. In Wood

(the live place of fire)

Inclusions ― mu earth (7 days), byeong fire (7 days), gap wood (16 days) Birth year ― tiger (1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998) Birth time ― 3 ~ 5 am Month ― February (January in lunar calendar) Property ― yang

The spring does not come until the In month. For the first time, the solid earth starts to thaw and we may see living creatures surface. Looking at the inclusions, byeong fire takes seven days, so it may thaw the frozen earth and the gap wood energy starts to sprout. But it is still the starting point and the energy is not strong enough. Gap wood takes the most part so it has the yang property.

It is early in the morning. It is a pattern that involves planning and education. It is a step forward into secular society, so it involves project and design and activities or business related with babies or clothing.

The people born in the year Gap are outgoing and full of vitality. They have firm faith and drive to achieve their goals. They are born to relatively good families, so if they made adequate effort, they can succeed. They also have high literacy levels. They are eloquent and could have good looks. But if they meddle in other people's affairs without prudence, it may cause some losses. They are sociable and could accumulate some fortune and power.

2. Myo Wood

(the flourishing place of wood)

Inclusions ― gap wood (10 days), eul wood (20 days) Birth year ― rabbit (1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999) Birth time ― 5 ~ 7 am Month ― March (February in lunar calendar) Property ― yin

All creatures are active in Myo month. There is plenty of vitality and the warm energy is all around. Looking at the inclusions, Gap wood from the In month takes 10 days and Eul takes 20. Eul wood takes more days so myo wood has the yin property.

It is the rising sun. Things are revealed with brightness. The relevant occupation includes education and planning where more concrete action is needed. It changes the property of matter. It is about production, food, make-up and clothes. It gathers power to construct something.

People born in the myo year may not be from rich families. They are smart and affable to everybody. They are neat and give good impression to others. But they have difficulty focusing on one thing and may be easily deceived. They are romantic. Although they are unlikely to be hugely successful, they are generally rewarded by the effort the put in.

3. Jin Earth

(the repository place of water)

Inclusions ― eul wood (9 days), gye water (3 days), Mu earth (18 days) Birth year ― dragon (1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000) Birth time ― 7 ~ 9 am Month ― April (May in lunar calendar) Property ― yang

This is a good season for all creatures to grow. It has appropriate moisture and vital energy. It is a wet earth. Looking at the inclusions, the eul wood from myo month still remains. It has more mu earth energy than others so Jin earth is a yang property.

After the sun rises, a bright day starts. People go out to work. It contains many different characteristics. It opens to the bright world with the energy of wood and water. It eradicates bacteria and moves to social science. It is related to planning and publicity activities. The relevant occupations are media and broadcasting.

People born in Jin year never despair of their misfortune. They always maintain confident to go ahead for their future success. Jin (dragon, earth energy) has a strong power so they are either a great success or failure. They may experience peak and valleys in their lives.

The writer is the president of the Heavenly Garden, a saju research center in Korea. She is the author of the book ``Learning Four Pillars." She offers saju courses to those interested. For more information, visit her Web site (https://blog.naver.com/janet_shin) or email her at janetshin@hotmail.com