BaZi hidden stems: what each branch holds

What are BaZi hidden stems?

“Hidden” names a traditional lookup, not a secret. Calendar references assign each branch one to three heavenly stems and separates their roles as main, middle and residual. A short row is not missing anything, and a long one has not discovered something about you.

Mainběn qì 本气

The first stem in a branch's list. Every branch has one, and it adds 0.5 to its element.

Middlezhōng qì 中气

The second stem, found only in branches with two or three entries. It adds 0.3.

Residualyú qì 余气

The third stem, found only in branches with three entries. It adds 0.2.

Where the hidden stems row sits in a pillar

Each pillar card in the calculator shows the pillar's name, its two large characters and three labeled rows: Heavenly stem, Earthly branch and Hidden stems. The last row can hold several characters separated by dots. They belong to the branch above them, not to the visible stem or a neighboring pillar.

For the fields around these rows, see how to read a BaZi chart.

Hidden stems chart for all twelve branches

The chart below follows the current Multifate mapping, in the order the calculator displays each list. Compare characters, not spellings: Wu, for example, is both the branch 午 and the stem 戊.

Other tables can differ. Some run from residual to main, some give a branch a different number of stems, and even tables that start with the main stem split on Si 巳: Multifate lists Bing, Wu, Geng, others Bing, Geng, Wu, which swaps the 0.3 and 0.2 between Earth and Metal.

How do hidden stems count in the five elements?

In Multifate's element totals a visible heavenly stem counts 1. The hidden stems add 0.5, 0.3 and 0.2 in their listed order, and only entries that exist are counted, so a two-stem branch adds 0.5 and 0.3. The branch character adds nothing beyond its hidden stems.

• Yin 寅 adds 0.5 Wood, 0.3 Fire and 0.2 Earth.
• Zi 子 adds 0.5 Water, and nothing is filled in for the empty places.
• Wu 午 adds 0.5 Fire and 0.3 Earth.

Hidden stems, ten gods and roots

Knowing which stems sit in a branch leads to a second question: how does each one compare with your day master? Keep the two questions apart.

• Lookup: which stems belong to this branch. The chart above answers it, and the answer is the same in every chart with that branch.
• Relation: the element relationship and matching or opposing yin and yang determine a stem’s ten-god name relative to the day master. Note both the reference stem and the pillar containing the hidden stem.

Roots are another use of the lists. A stem of the day master’s element inside a branch is one clue in assessing strength; season, position and surrounding conditions also matter. The free calculator lists characters without a strength assessment. These symbols do not establish personality, talent or future events.

When a list is missing or differs

Do not copy a hypothetical hour's hidden stems into the confirmed part of your notes to complete the set. When two calculators list different hidden stems, work through it in this order.

1. Check the branch first

   Compare the earthly branch itself before anything listed inside it.

2. If the branch differs, look at the inputs

   The birth details or the calculation conventions may explain it.

3. If the branch matches, compare the method

   Look at each tool's lookup, the order of its list and its weights.

4. Keep the list next to the percentage

   Order changes a weighted total even when the characters match, so a screenshot of the percentage alone cannot explain a difference.

Follow one branch from list to total

1. Choose one pillar

   Any pillar in your result will do.

2. Write down its row

   Note the pillar's label, its earthly branch and the hidden stems in the order shown.

3. Name the elements

   Match each stem to its element and count the entries.

4. Apply the weights

   Give the listed stems 0.5, 0.3 and 0.2 in order, for this row only, before you move on.

5. Keep the receipt

   Save the calculation receipt with your note, especially if time correction affected the pillar.

You do not need to memorize twelve lists first. Telling a pillar's visible stem apart from the stems inside its branch matters more, and the free BaZi calculator prints both for every pillar.