Yue Po

The Month Branch supplies a seasonal setting; Month Break identifies a line directly clashed by that setting. Traditional interpretation considers impaired support or difficulty sustaining that line’s role. It does not erase the line or classify the whole hexagram as broken. Movement, day influence, support and branch arrival remain relevant.

The Month Branch comes from the solar-term month at casting. Its clashed branch has Month Break: Yin–Shen, Mao–You, Chen–Xu, Si–Hai, Wu–Zi and Wei–Chou; reverse those pairs for the other months. The month changes at the relevant solar term rather than lunar day one.

A Shen-metal line in a Yin month has Month Break. On a Shen day it also matches the day, so record both conditions. In the next Mao month, You becomes the broken branch. Month and Day Break have different calendar references; Secret Movement additionally requires a strong static line.

Constructed document example: select a Shen-metal Parents line in Yin month and mark Month Break. On a Shen day the line also receives day support. If an earth line moves to generate Shen, record that route too; monthly clash and these supports coexist.

In a money question, a broken line that is less directly involved with the Wealth focus has a different place in the reading. Establish which role is broken and what it does in the current question before deciding its significance.