Clash, Harm & Combination — Relationship Dynamics in BaZi
Clash (冲) moves. Harm (害) complicates. Combination (合) connects. This guide shows how these patterns actually behave in real life — and how to work with them using season, luck pillars, and environment.
Essentials
Clash, harm, and combination are not “good or bad labels.” They are mechanics of movement, friction, and bonding. Whether a pattern helps or hurts depends on strength/season, context, and timing.
- Season first: Month Pillar and overall structure decide capacity. Out‑of‑season charts pay more energy tax.
- Role next: Which star is involved (Output, Wealth, Officer/Power, Resource, Companion) tells you what is moving, chafing, or blending.
- Then timing: A pattern can sit quietly until a Luck Pillar or transit activates it.
Reference tables — pairs & frames
Six Clashes (六冲)
- 子–午 (Zi–Wu) · movement / relocation · Water vs Fire
- 丑–未 (Chou–Wei) · anchors vs re‑arrangement · Earth vs Earth
- 寅–申 (Yin–Shen) · initiative vs systems · Wood vs Metal
- 卯–酉 (Mao–You) · brand vs compliance · Wood vs Metal
- 辰–戌 (Chen–Xu) · scope conflict · Earth vs Earth
- 巳–亥 (Si–Hai) · exposure vs secrecy · Fire vs Water
Six Harms (六害)
- 子–未 (Zi–Wei) · misaligned expectations
- 丑–午 (Chou–Wu) · duty vs speed
- 寅–巳 (Yin–Si) · ambition friction
- 卯–辰 (Mao–Chen) · detail vs momentum
- 申–亥 (Shen–Hai) · trust & secrecy gaps
- 酉–戌 (You–Xu) · standards vs responsibility
Six Combinations (六合)
- 子–丑 (Zi–Chou) · cooperation; can lead to Earth/Metal support
- 寅–亥 (Yin–Hai) · mutual aid; often Wood‑leaning
- 卯–戌 (Mao–Xu) · alliance; Fire potential via season
- 辰–酉 (Chen–You) · execution partnership; Metal tendency
- 巳–申 (Si–Shen) · deal‑making; Water potential
- 午–未 (Wu–Wei) · support network; Fire/Earth stability
Frames
San He (三合 trines): 申–子–辰 = Water · 亥–卯–未 = Wood · 寅–午–戌 = Fire · 巳–酉–丑 = Metal.
San Hui (三会 seasonal): 亥–子–丑 = Winter/Water · 寅–卯–辰 = Spring/Wood · 巳–午–未 = Summer/Fire · 申–酉–戌 = Autumn/Metal.
Clash (冲) — movement, change, relocation
Clash accelerates decisions. It shakes stale structures, pushes moves, and exposes what no longer fits. In relationships, clash can mean distance, changed roles, or an urgent need to renegotiate boundaries. In career, it often signals reorgs, new markets, or a move from planning to execution.
- Helpful when you are stuck and season supports action.
- Costly when capacity is low and decisions are rushed.
- Use it by planning controlled changes: pilot projects, trial separations, staged relocations.
Harm (害) — misalignment, blind spots, soft friction
Harm is subtle pressure. It erodes trust through small misses — miscommunications, scheduling slips, mixed incentives. It’s rarely dramatic at first; the danger is cumulative exhaustion.
- Helpful when it reveals a mismatch you can fix with clearer agreements.
- Costly when ignored for months; resentment compounds.
- Use it by installing rituals: weekly 1:1s, written scopes, shared dashboards. For couples: explicit “how we decide” rules.
Don’t confuse Harm with Punishment (刑) or Break (破). Punishment is corrective tension (often internal or legal/ethical pressure). Break is a snap in continuity (supply chain, commute, routines). Harm is the quiet drip.
Combination (合) — alignment, support, fusion
Combination binds. It’s chemistry, collaboration, and value exchange. Some combinations simply cooperate; others transform elementally if conditions (season, strength, catalyst element) are met.
- Helpful when you need allies, referrals, or co‑creation.
- Costly when it merges you into obligations you can’t carry.
- Use it by writing exit clauses, defining IP/ownership, and timing launches on combination‑friendly days.
Timing — Luck Pillars & 12 Day Officers
Many “relationship events” happen when time completes or activates patterns already in your natal chart.
- Luck Pillars: New stems/branches can trigger dormant clashes, harms, or combinations. Track when the theme enters and exits.
- 12 Day Officers: Use Day Officers to schedule talks and launches. Favor Open, Engage, Success for collaborations; use Remove for endings or refactors.
- Qi Men: For high‑stakes decisions, pick a Qi Men window where Door/Star/Deity support communication and authority.
Environment — Kua & Flying Stars
Your room is part of the relationship. Choose favorable facings with Kua Number and place hard conversations or sales calls in supportive sectors using the Flying Star map. One seat change can reduce clash expression daily.
Examples — Love & Team
Couples
- Clash active: schedule travel or personal goals intentionally to channel movement; agree on check‑ins.
- Harm active: implement a shared decisions doc; default to written plans for 90 days.
- Combination active: co‑create a project with clear roles, revenue split, and an end‑review date.
Teams
- Clash between departments: run time‑boxed sprints with a neutral PM (Resource archetype).
- Harm in handoffs: add checklists + “definition of done”; create a weekly demo ritual.
- Combination across partners: pilot a joint offer; protect brand/IP with a lightweight MSA.
Do’s & Don’ts
- Do read patterns through chart strength and season; don’t label them as fate.
- Do time big conversations with supportive Day Officers/Qi Men; don’t rely on willpower alone.
- Do set written rules (harm), phased changes (clash), and contracts (combination).
FAQ
Does a Clash always mean breakup or moving house?
No. It means movement pressure. Without planning, it can manifest as conflict or abrupt changes. With planning, it becomes a window to relocate, reorg, or re‑commit with better terms.
Can a Combination be “too much of a good thing”?
Yes. Over‑combined charts can lose independence or carry others’ costs. Use contracts and time‑boxed experiments.
Is Harm always negative?
Harm highlights misalignment. If you respond with better agreements and cadence, it becomes a teacher — not a sentence.
Work with the pattern, not against it
Confirm your dynamics, choose timing, and set the room. Repeat across seasons.
