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Dizhi "Chou" (地支「丑」)​

Basic Explanation​

  • Yin-Yang and Five Elements: Chou belongs to yin earth (wet earth), characterized by coldness and stagnation, storing the yin and cold qi of the metal treasury.
  • Monthly Position: Corresponds to the twelfth lunar month (Minor Cold month), located slightly east of north, with a Five Elements number of 5/10.
  • Zodiac Correspondence: Represents the Ox in the twelve zodiac animals.
  • Hidden Stems Characteristics: Internally stores Ji earth (己土), Xin metal (辛金), and Gui water (癸水), with functions of storage and transformation.
  • Special Relationships:
    • Six Conflicts: Chou and Wei are in conflict.
    • Six Harmonies: Zi and Chou are in harmony.
    • Three Combinations: Si, You, and Chou form the metal trine.
    • Three Meetings: Hai, Zi, and Chou meet in the northern water.

Imagery and Meaning​

Natural Imagery​

  • Weather: Freezing rain/ice pellets/overcast skies/returning damp weather
  • Geography:
    • Landforms: Permafrost/marsh/mines/basements
    • Architecture: Bank vaults/religious sites/prisons/cold storage
  • Flora and Fauna:
    • Animals: Cattle/reptiles (turtles and tortoises)
    • Plants: Tuber crops (potatoes/yams)/moss

Cultural Imagery​

  • Character Traits:
    • Positive: Land managers/financial professionals/practitioners
    • Negative: Prisoners/black market traders/mediums
  • Career Symbolism: Agriculture/finance/religion/geological exploration/funeral industry
  • Object Symbolism:
    • Storage Items: Safes/granaries/urns
    • Binding Items: Shackles/ropes/seals

Physical Imagery​

  • Corresponding Body Parts: Spleen and stomach/abdominal cavity/lymphatic system
  • Health Risks: Spleen and stomach coldness/cysts and stones/depression
  • Body Type Characteristics:
    • Prosperous: Sturdy and robust/smooth skin
    • Weak: Bloated and hunched/cracked skin

Spiritual Imagery​

  • Positive Traits: Resilient and pragmatic/reliable and secretive/financial acumen
  • Negative Traits: Stubborn and gloomy/vengeful/hoarding tendency
  • Metaphysical Extension: Symbolizes material foundation/karma and causality/underworld matters

Special Symbolism​

  • Colors: Dark black/earthy yellow
  • Seasonal Characteristics: Extreme yin turning to yang (winter solstice extreme cold giving birth to yang)
  • Hexagram Correspondence: Gen hexagram (symbolizing stillness/accumulation/conclusion)