Chen, Wu, You, Hai Self-Punishment
Di Tian Shui states: “The meaning of ‘punishment’ is not to be taken literally. For instance, Hai punishing Hai, Chen punishing Chen, You punishing You, and Wu punishing Wu are called self-punishment. When an Earthly Branch meets its identical counterpart, they are considered to share the same Qi. How then can they mutually punish?” When an Earthly Branch meets its identical counterpart, sharing the same Qi, it means abundance and strength. If this dominant Qi is a favorable element, it is auspicious; if it is an unfavorable element, it is inauspicious.
The conditions for two Earthly Branches to form self-punishment are the same as for Six Combinations and Half Three Combinations: the two branches must be adjacent, and one of them must have its corresponding Five Element Heavenly Stem prominent.
When two Earthly Branches form self-punishment, if the transformed element is restrained, it is not considered punishment. When two Earthly Branches form self-punishment, those that punish still punish, those that clash still clash, and it is not considered a dispersal. Any Six Combination or Half Three Combination that shares branches with two Earthly Branches forming self-punishment must yield to the self-punishment, unless the punishment and combination form a unified Qi, in which case it does not yield priority.
The conditions for three Earthly Branches to form self-punishment are the same as for Three Combinations and Three Meetings: as long as the three branches meet, and the Heavenly Stems reveal the corresponding Five Element. Any Three Meeting or Three Combination that shares branches with three Earthly Branches forming self-punishment must yield to the self-punishment, unless the punishment and combination form a unified Qi, in which case it does not yield priority.
Self-punishment does not imply ‘elimination’; rather, it is the fact of ‘excessive strength’. In real life, many people interpret self-punishment as elimination or nullification, which is an inaccurate understanding. This is purely unfounded speculation.
Self-punishment means an Earthly Branch encountering its identical counterpart, resulting in the dominant Qi becoming excessively strong. It is only considered punishment if it aims to restrain the next Five Element. Regardless of whether it involves two or three branches forming self-punishment, if this objective is not achieved, it is not considered punishment.
Due to the unique nature of the hidden Heavenly Stems within the Earthly Branches, there are specific differences in the conditions for each group of Earthly Branches forming self-punishment.
Here, it only signifies strong Earth, meaning Fire generates Earth, without a specific objective. If Ren Water or Gui Water appears prominently in the Luck Pillars or Annual Pillars, it is then considered to trigger three-Chen self-punishment. At this time, with three Chen self-punishment, the Yi Wood and Gui Water hidden in Chen Earth both transform into the dominant Qi of Earth, and their strength multiplies, indicating excessive strength. Chen Earth also no longer serves as the root for the miscellaneous Qi of Water and Wood, making Wood powerless to restrain Earth, thereby achieving the objective of Earth becoming excessively strong and restraining Water.
Although the conditions for mutual punishment are met, if the excessively strong Five Element has no element to restrain, it can be seen as strong Fire generating Earth, and is not considered self-punishment. It is only when Geng Metal or Xin Metal appears prominently that it is considered three-Wu self-punishment. The purpose of three-Wu self-punishment is to transform the Earth hidden within Wu Fire into the dominant Qi of Fire through the form of self-punishment, multiplying its strength. This makes Earth rootless and unstable, Fire no longer needs to generate Earth, Earth cannot mediate between Fire and Metal, and Fire directly restrains Metal. This thereby achieves the objective of mutual punishment, and is thus considered punishment.
If Wu-Wu self-punishment occurs, and only Fire and Metal appear prominently together, it is considered Fire restraining Metal, and not self-punishment. When Wu Earth or Ji Earth appears, it is also referred to as triggering Wu-Wu self-punishment.
Similarly, although three-Hai self-punishment also meets the conditions, when Bing Fire or Ding Fire does not appear, it is considered Water generating Wood, and not self-punishment. It is only when Bing or Ding appears prominently in the Heavenly Stems of the chart that it is considered punishment. Because Hai Water is the birth palace for Wood, Hai-Hai self-punishment, through the form of mutual punishment, transforms the hidden Wood in Hai into the dominant Qi of Water, multiplying its strength. This makes Wood float aimlessly and rootless, Water no longer needs to generate Wood, Wood cannot mediate between Water and Fire, thereby achieving the objective of Hai-Hai self-punishment: to restrain Fire.
If Water and Fire both appear prominently in the Heavenly Stems, it is considered Water restraining Fire, and not self-punishment. When Jia Wood or Yi Wood appears prominently in the Luck Pillars and Annual Pillars, it is called a seasonal and annual trigger for Hai-Hai self-punishment.
Both two-You self-punishment and three-You self-punishment aim to restrain Wood. Whether it constitutes punishment or not, Metal is strong. It is only considered punishment when Metal overcomes Wood. Three-You self-punishment also signifies an excessive strength of Metal. In practical application, it indicates information about injuries or disabilities, and also represents Peach Blossom facing punishment.
Example 1:
During the Wu Zi Luck Pillar, the Ding Hai Annual Pillar formed a Fu Yin with the Day Pillar, completely forming three-Hai self-punishment with the birth chart, clashing away Si Fire. The unfavorable god clashed away the favorable god, causing Wood to float on excessive Water. Gui Water Seven Killings became strong and attacked the Day Master. That winter, he was strangled to death at home by his elder brother.
Example 2:
During the Jia Wu Luck Pillar, the Xin You Annual Pillar triggered You-You self-punishment. Chen and You combined to form Metal, and the punishment and combination became one Qi, combining away the weak favorable god in the Earthly Branches. Strong Earth generated Metal, transforming the favorable god into an unfavorable god. Jia Wood received restraint but no generation. That year, the father passed away.
During the Ren Chen Luck Pillar, the Geng Chen Annual Pillar. Three Chen Earth branches met, and Chen-Chen self-punishment was successful, transforming the triple root in the treasury of the Wealth Star into the dominant Qi of Earth. Ren Water Wealth Star became rootless and unstable, unable to mediate for the Seven Killings, thereby transforming the favorable god into an unfavorable god through punishment. Geng Metal and Xin Metal further had Shen Metal and You Metal as strong roots. Earth and Metal formed one Qi, strong Metal could not generate Water, and directly restrained Wood. The Eating God overly restrained the Seven Killings, leading to a divorce that year.
Example 3:
During the Jia Wu Luck Pillar, the Geng Wu Annual Pillar, the Grand Duke (Annual Pillar) triggered three-Wu self-punishment. Yin and Shen clashed, clashing away Shen Metal, and punishing away the triple strong roots of Wu Earth in Wu Fire. This caused Fire to become excessively strong. Fire generated Earth, leading to scorched Earth due to excessive Fire, and directly restrained Metal. The Starving God devoured the Eating God. That year, he lost a child, self-harmed, and suffered financial loss.
Yi Hun: Four Pillars – Chapter 3, Section 4: On Earthly Branches Mutual Harm