Liu He Combinations are also often referred to as the 6 combinations or 6 Harmony. Like the San He and San Hui combinations, they can show up in two ways.
- Inside the BaZi chart itself (an Internal Combination)
- or later on during a Luck Pillar or a specific year (an External Combination).
Sometimes these combinations seem to change into a different element, or produce an additional element.
The following are the Liu He combinations:
- Zi + Chou = Earth
- Yin + Hai = Wood
- Mao + Xu = Fire
- Chen + You = Metal
- Si + Shen = Water
- Wu + Wei = Fire
In Bazi this process is called He Hua (合化). The English words “transform” or “produce” don’t capture the full nuance, so treat them as rough equivalents rather than literal translations.
At its core, a combination is the joining of two Earthly Branches. When they pair under the right conditions, their union can manifest as another element, altering the chart’s balance.
Zi + Chou = Earth
The Rat–Ox pairing tends to signal steadiness and dependability. With Earth’s calm influence, someone with this alignment usually feels secure, confident, and able to rely on themselves and others. If the combination is poorly placed, though, that sense of stability can flip into anxiety—feeling unsettled, fearful, or unwilling to take chances.
Yin + Hai = Wood
This combination is associated with growth and resourcefulness. People with this earthly branch pairing tend to be very interested in self-improvement. And would often find opportunities and adventures for self-growth. They also tend to be packed with ideas of how to use little inputs to produce big outputs.
Mao + Xu = Fire
Fire stands for performance, elegance and the power to sway others. When a Rabbit–Dog pairing supports Fire, the person gains influence, earns respect and can lead with charm and authority. If the alignment is unfavorable, though, those strengths collapse: respect and influence fade, persuasion becomes difficult, and the person’s reputation may suffer.
Chen + You = Metal
This combination is related to righteousness. Being able to tell between right and wrong. Ethics and principles. When the resulting element, Metal, is unfavorable to the bazi, then it can nudge the individual towards behavior and actions that are generally considered “wrong”.
Si + Shen = Water
This pairing points to sharp thinking and the knack for turning movement, travel, and communication into practical gains. With Water’s intelligence active, the person often profits from journeys, meetings, and fresh ideas. If the Snake–Monkey alignment is weak, however, those same activities can become squandered effort—time and resources spent on travel or networking that yield little or no return.
Wu + Wei = Fire
Think of the Sun and Moon as two life drivers: the Sun for outward earning power and visibility, the Moon for planning, insight and communication. When the Horse–Goat pairing is favorable, it combines entrepreneurial drive with clear foresight — the person can spot opportunities and plan wisely. If the alignment is weak, however, they struggle with strategy and forward thinking, making it hard to prepare effectively for the future.