TRIPODTERRAThe Chinese zodiac runs on a 12-year cycle — Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Its compatibility system is one of the oldest parts of Chinese folk culture, and it's still the first thing many families check before a wedding.
How the chart works
Compatibility isn't about "personality tests." It's built on three structural ideas:
六合 (Six Harmonies) — the six strongest pairs, each separated by six positions on the wheel:
- Rat + Ox
- Tiger + Pig
- Rabbit + Dog
- Dragon + Rooster
- Snake + Monkey
- Horse + Goat
六合 pairs are considered naturally complementary — one's strength covers the other's blind spot. In marriage tradition, a 六合 match is the gold standard.
三合 (Three Harmonies) — four groups of three signs that share an element and temperament:
- Rat + Dragon + Monkey (Water group)
- Ox + Snake + Rooster (Metal group)
- Tiger + Horse + Dog (Fire group)
- Rabbit + Goat + Pig (Wood group)
三合 signs make excellent friends, teammates, and long-term partners. Many matchmakers will pair any two signs within a 三合 group as a "good match."
六冲 (Six Clashes) — the pairs directly opposite on the wheel. These aren't doomed relationships; they're "high-friction" ones that tradition says need extra patience:
- Rat ↔ Horse
- Ox ↔ Goat
- Tiger ↔ Monkey
- Rabbit ↔ Rooster
- Dragon ↔ Dog
- Snake ↔ Pig
Using the chart sensibly
Tradition treats these pairings as tendencies, not verdicts. Plenty of 六冲 couples marry happily. What the old system really offers is a conversation starter: where two people might pull in different directions, and what each needs to feel safe.
For a worked example of how two signs actually interact, read our deep dive on Rooster and Dragon compatibility — one of the classic 六合 pairs.
For a deeper look, a full BaZi chart reading weighs your birth year, month, day, and hour — the year sign alone is just the tip of the iceberg. [Try a free chart on TripodTerra] to see how your four pillars interact with your partner's.