Earthly Branches 地支

The Earthly Branches, also known as the Terrestrial Branches or the 12-cycle, are a fascinating system of symbols used throughout East Asia. Let’s dive into their origins and significance:

1. What Are the Earthly Branches?

   
   

   • The Earthly Branches consist of twelve ordered symbols, each corresponding to a specific position in the cycle. These symbols are indigenous to China and are themselves Chinese characters.

     
     

   • Here are the twelve Earthly Branches:

     
     

     • 子 (Zi) – Rat

     • 丑 (Chou) – Ox

     • 寅 (Yin) – Tiger

     • 卯 (Mao) – Rabbit

     • 辰 (Chen) – Dragon

     • 巳 (Si) – Snake

     • 午 (Wu) – Horse

     • 未 (Wei) – Goat

     • 申 (Shen) – Monkey

     • 酉 (You) – Rooster

     • 戌 (Xu) – Dog

     • 亥 (Hai) – Pig

       
       

2. Origins and Cultural Significance:

   
   

   • The Earthly Branches have a rich history. Their conceptual origins can be traced back to the Shang dynasty (around 1600 to 1046 BCE).

     
     

   • These branches were based on observations of the planet Jupiter’s orbit around the Sun. Specifically, the duration it takes Jupiter to complete one orbit is approximately twelve Earth years1.

     
     

   • Over time, the Earthly Branches became deeply ingrained in various aspects of East Asian culture: