(14) 12 Terrestrial Branches (II)

By Janet Shin

When reading saju, the crucial factor in determining success or failure comes from the 12 terrestrial branches. For this reason, knowing the terrestrial branches is very important. Humans are rather influenced by the condition of the earth than by the heavenly time. The time sequence of nature has an impact on one's fates.

The interaction among the 12 terrestrial branches is infinite so it is not easy to learn. The celestial stems are active, light, and pure while the terrestrial branches are immobile and unclear with mixed energy.

Saju (four pillars - 4 stems and 4 branches) is a combination of stems and branches. It is a connection between celestial and terrestrial times.

If we want to know whether the saju is strong or weak, we start from the condition of celestial stems. Then the stems get the actual power by taking root at terrestrial branches. So we can say the terrestrial branches are the more decisive factor.

For example, Gap (wood) stem may root at In and Myo branches, because In and Myo are wood elements. Like this, Byeong (fire) stem may root at Sa and O branches, etc.

Because the energy of branches is stronger than that of stems, this means Gap (stem wood) is not as strong as In (branch wood). However the power of Gap with the root of In is more powerful than any other.

The 5 elements labeled in the chart 1 are the representative elements. As said, the branches have other hidden energies. In order to understand how stems are rooted into the branches, we need to know what stem energies are in each branch.

The 12 terrestrial branches circulate according to certain regulations, the same as the 10 celestial stems. The regulation comes from what they contain. Each terrestrial branch contains several celestial stems, because a mix of heavenly forces generates terrestrial branches. We need to know how the circulation goes, how the celestial stems construct the terrestrial branches and how it works.

The terrestrial branches are the symbols characterized by the months' circulation. Each month has its distinct characteristics. The characteristics of each month make up the terrestrial branches. This is important because Saju is also called a study of time.

Simply, the regular energy, which is the representative element of each branch, decides whether it is yin or yang.

You may recognize from the chart 2 (branch inclusions) that the energy from last month takes the first part (residue energy) in the coming month. However when the month ends with the gi earth, it doesn't start with gi earth in the coming month but it changes to mu earth. Look at Chuk/In months and Mi/Sin months. It is based on the natural and environmental changes from the long history of nature.

With this basic understanding of the 12 branches and their inclusions, starting from next week, we will review each individual terrestrial branches, their properties and inclusions.

The writer is the president of the Heavenly Garden, a saju research center in Korea. She is the author of the book titled ``Learning Four Pillars." She offers saju learning courses to open for people who are interested.

For more information, visit her Web site (https://blog.naver.com/janet_shin) or email to janetshin@hotmail.com