# BaZi hidden stems: what each branch holds

![A black lacquer box with its lid ajar and folded blank slips inside](https://multifate.com/images/guides/bazi/hidden-stems/cover-v1-1536x864.webp)

> BaZi hidden stems are the one to three stems inside each earthly branch. See the full chart, the main, middle and residual order, and how they count.

Canonical page: https://multifate.com/guides/bazi/hidden-stems
Language: English. Content reviewed: 2026-09-23.
Also available in: [中文](https://multifate.com/zh/guides/bazi/hidden-stems/index.md), [日本語](https://multifate.com/ja/guides/bazi/hidden-stems/index.md), [한국어](https://multifate.com/ko/guides/bazi/hidden-stems/index.md)

BaZi hidden stems are the one to three heavenly stems a chart lists under each earthly branch: Yin 寅 holds Jia, Bing and Wu, while Zi 子 holds only Gui. Each list belongs to the branch above it, so a pillar carries more than its two visible characters without turning into extra pillars.

**Key points**

- Each earthly branch carries a fixed list of one to three hidden stems; the calculator lists them in order as main, middle and residual.
- The list belongs to the branch above it; your day master still comes from the visible stem of the day pillar.
- In the element totals a visible stem counts 1, and hidden stems add 0.5, 0.3 and 0.2 in listed order, only for entries that exist.
- Without a birth hour you still see hidden stems for the year, month and day pillars, but no hour row and no element percentages.

## 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.

![One BaZi pillar, Bing over Yin, with the hidden stems Jia, Bing and Wu labeled main, middle and residual](https://multifate.com/images/guides/bazi/figures/pillar-anatomy-en-v1-1200x608.webp)

Follow the arrow from the branch to its hidden stems\. Yin 寅 holds Jia 甲, Bing 丙 and Wu 戊 as main, middle and residual, weighted 0\.5, 0\.3 and 0\.2\. Bing appears twice: once as the visible stem, once inside the branch\.

- **Main** (běn qì 本气): The first stem in a branch's list. Every branch has one, and it adds 0.5 to its element.
- **Middle** (zhōng qì 中气): The second stem, found only in branches with two or three entries. It adds 0.3.
- **Residual** (yú 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.

> **Copy a pillar like this**
>
> Pillar: hour pillar, 丙寅
> Visible stem: 丙 Bing
> Branch: 寅 Yin
> Hidden stems: 甲 · 丙 · 戊

> **Tip** Your day master still comes from the visible stem of the day pillar, even when several stems sit under the day branch. [BaZi day master](https://multifate.com/guides/bazi/day-master)

For the fields around these rows, see [how to read a BaZi chart](https://multifate.com/guides/bazi/how-to-read-your-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.

![BaZi hidden stems for all twelve branches, each list set out as main, middle and residual and colored by element](https://multifate.com/images/guides/bazi/figures/hidden-stems-table-en-v1-1200x608.webp)

Zi 子, Mao 卯 and You 酉 hold a single stem; Wu 午 and Hai 亥 hold two; the other seven hold three\. The color of each stem marks its element\.

| Branch | Hidden stems in displayed order | Elements |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Zi 子 | Gui 癸 | Water |
| Chou 丑 | Ji 己, Gui 癸, Xin 辛 | Earth, Water, Metal |
| Yin 寅 | Jia 甲, Bing 丙, Wu 戊 | Wood, Fire, Earth |
| Mao 卯 | Yi 乙 | Wood |
| Chen 辰 | Wu 戊, Yi 乙, Gui 癸 | Earth, Wood, Water |
| Si 巳 | Bing 丙, Wu 戊, Geng 庚 | Fire, Earth, Metal |
| Wu 午 | Ding 丁, Ji 己 | Fire, Earth |
| Wei 未 | Ji 己, Ding 丁, Yi 乙 | Earth, Fire, Wood |
| Shen 申 | Geng 庚, Ren 壬, Wu 戊 | Metal, Water, Earth |
| You 酉 | Xin 辛 | Metal |
| Xu 戌 | Wu 戊, Xin 辛, Ding 丁 | Earth, Metal, Fire |
| Hai 亥 | Ren 壬, Jia 甲 | Water, Wood |

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.

![Two pillars counted: Jia over Yin gives Wood 1\.5, Fire 0\.3, Earth 0\.2; Jia over Zi gives Wood 1, Water 0\.5](https://multifate.com/images/guides/bazi/figures/element-weights-en-v1-1200x608.webp)

Follow the arrow from each branch to its hidden stems\. Jia\-Yin 甲寅 totals Wood 1\.5 \(1 \+ 0\.5\), Fire 0\.3 and Earth 0\.2\. Jia\-Zi 甲子 totals Wood 1 and Water 0\.5\.

- 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.

> **Where the reading stops** These are the calculator's arithmetic weights, not measured proportions of a person's abilities or life. The whole-chart denominator and the rounding of percentages have their own guide. [BaZi five elements](https://multifate.com/guides/bazi/five-elements)

## Hidden stems, ten gods and roots

![A small folded paper packet tied with a thin red thread, resting on warm handmade paper](https://multifate.com/images/guides/bazi/scenes/paper-packet-v1-1200x675.webp)

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.

![Twelve branches with Yin, Mao, Chen, Wei and Hai marked as containing a Wood stem, each with its position](https://multifate.com/images/guides/bazi/figures/wood-roots-en-v1-1200x608.webp)

Five branches contain Wood: Jia 甲 in Yin 寅 as main and in Hai 亥 as middle; Yi 乙 in Mao 卯 as main, Chen 辰 as middle and Wei 未 as residual\. The mark shows that Wood is present, not how strong it is\.

## When a list is missing or differs

> **If the birth time is unknown** Without a birth hour, the year, month and day pillars still show their hidden stems, but there is no hour row and no element percentages. [BaZi without a birth time](https://multifate.com/guides/bazi/birth-time-unknown)

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.

> **Worked example: Yin 寅**
>
> Branch: 寅 Yin
> Hidden stems: 甲 · 丙 · 戊
> Elements: Wood · Fire · Earth
> Adds: 0.5 · 0.3 · 0.2

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](https://multifate.com/tools/bazi) prints both for every pillar.

## BaZi hidden stems: common questions

### Why does one branch have one hidden stem and another three?

Each branch has its own list in the table Multifate uses. Zi, Mao and You hold one stem, Wu and Hai hold two, and the other seven hold three. The calculator never fills empty places with extra stems.

### Are hidden stems included in the five element percentages?

Yes. A complete four-pillar result counts 1 for each visible stem and adds the hidden stems at 0.5, 0.3 and 0.2 in listed order, counting only the entries present.

### Which hidden stem is the main one?

In this calculator the first stem listed under a branch is the main one, weighted 0.5. For Yin 寅 that is Jia 甲. Tables that run from residual to main put it last.

### Can I see hidden stems without my birth time?

Yes, for the year, month and day pillars. There is no hour row, and the element totals are left out.

## Sources and scope

- [Multifate BaZi calculator](https://multifate.com/tools/bazi): Reference for the Hidden stems row on each pillar card and the element display. The branch lookup and weighting examples follow the current chart mapping and UI.
- [6tail Tyme: EarthBranch and HideHeavenStem documentation](https://6tail.cn/tyme.html): Lists one to three hidden stems for each branch, with main, middle and residual roles. Its order for Si 巳 (Bing, Geng, Wu) differs from the Multifate list (Bing, Wu, Geng). It does not establish personal predictions.

## Continue with BaZi

- [Try the BaZi tool](https://multifate.com/tools/bazi)
- [BaZi five elements: how the chart totals work](https://multifate.com/guides/bazi/five-elements/index.md)
- [How to read a BaZi chart, step by step](https://multifate.com/guides/bazi/how-to-read-your-bazi-chart/index.md)
- [What is BaZi? Four Pillars of Destiny explained](https://multifate.com/guides/bazi/what-is-bazi/index.md)
- [Common BaZi mistakes when reading a chart](https://multifate.com/guides/bazi/chart-common-mistakes/index.md)
- [BaZi day master: how to find your day stem](https://multifate.com/guides/bazi/day-master/index.md)
- [BaZi without birth time: reading three pillars](https://multifate.com/guides/bazi/birth-time-unknown/index.md)
- [All BaZi articles](https://multifate.com/guides/bazi)
- [Fortune telling guides: BaZi, tarot and more](https://multifate.com/guides/index.md)

These guides describe traditional symbolic frameworks and the current Multifate tools, not verified predictions. The chart tools are free; optional AI questions have separate limits. Check the pricing page for current terms. Interpretations do not replace medical, legal, financial or safety advice.