The Twelve Growth Phases
TWELVE GROWTH PHASES · STEM–BRANCH REFERENCE
KEY TAKEAWAYS / TL;DR
- ◈The Twelve Growth Phases label stem–branch relationships in traditional Bazi. Their lifecycle names provide imagery for the movement of a phase.
- ◈Choose a stem and branch before reading the table. This page retains five forward-moving Yang-stem rows, with Wu Earth following Bing Fire; Yin-stem and Earth conventions must be specified separately.
- ◈A phase becomes meaningful when read with the whole chart. Imperial Prosperity, Death, Tomb, and Extinction each describe a different part of the cycle.
THE 12 PHASES
Cháng Shēng (长生) — Birth
The starting point of the sequence, symbolizing emergence and the opening of a new phase.
Mù Yù (沐浴) — Bathing
An image of bathing after birth, describing an early phase of exposure and adjustment.
Guān Dài (冠带) — Capping
An image of donning adult dress and taking form, describing shape, presentation, and readiness.
Lín Guān (临官) — Official Position
An image of taking a position and entering a usable role within the cycle.
Dì Wàng (帝旺) — Imperial Prosperity
The sequence's image of flourishing, with force and visibility concentrated at the peak.
Shuāi (衰) — Decline
An image of withdrawal after flourishing, as the cycle begins to gather and soften.
Bìng (病) — Illness
A phase name that uses weakness as an image for a lower point in the cycle.
Sǐ (死) — Death
A phase name for stillness and transition, read together with roots and the other chart relationships.
Mù (墓) — Tomb
Traditional containment imagery. A Tomb phase, hidden stems, and roots are distinct layers that can be read together.
Jué (绝) — Extinction
An image of a prior stage ending and the cycle preparing to change direction.
Tāi (胎) — Embryo
An image of gestation and a new pattern taking shape.
Yǎng (养) — Nurturing
An image of nurturing and preparation before the sequence returns to Birth.
GROWTH PHASE MAP
Read branches Zi through Hai for five Yang stems, using forward progression and Wu Earth following Bing Fire: Birth is Hai for Jia, Yin for Bing/Wu, Si for Geng, and Shen for Ren. Illness, Death, and Tomb are relationship labels. Yin stems are not shown; do not reuse a Yang row for a Yin stem.
| Stem | Zǐ | Chǒu | Yín | Mǎo | Chén | Sì | Wǔ | Wèi | Shēn | Yǒu | Xū | Hài |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 甲 Wood+ | Bath | Cap | Office | Peak | Decline | Illness | Death | Tomb | Extinct | Embryo | Nurture | Birth |
| 丙 Fire+ | Embryo | Nurture | Birth | Bath | Cap | Office | Peak | Decline | Illness | Death | Tomb | Extinct |
| 戊 Earth+ | Embryo | Nurture | Birth | Bath | Cap | Office | Peak | Decline | Illness | Death | Tomb | Extinct |
| 庚 Metal+ | Death | Tomb | Extinct | Embryo | Nurture | Birth | Bath | Cap | Office | Peak | Decline | Illness |
| 壬 Water+ | Peak | Decline | Illness | Death | Tomb | Extinct | Embryo | Nurture | Birth | Bath | Cap | Office |
APPLICATIONS IN BAZI
Separate lookup from strength
A phase answers which label a stem has at a branch. A whole-chart strength reading also combines the month command, exposed and hidden stems, roots, and interactions.
Tomb phases and storehouses
Ziping Zhenquan's Yin–Yang Life and Death chapter discusses stem–branch phase relationships; its Tomb-and-Clash chapter places storehouse imagery within the wider chart structure.
Luck and annual pillars
Look up the Day Stem against a luck or annual branch, compare the phase labels, and then examine the natal relationships around them.
Sources and convention: Ziping Zhenquan, Yin–Yang Life and Death and Tombs and Clashes. The retained table uses five Yang stems with Wu following Bing.
Life and Death source · Tombs and Clashes source · Tomb and Storage guide