TL;DR: The Four Clashing Signs (Tiger, Monkey, Snake, Pig) are four zodiac animals positioned symmetrically on the earthly branch circle, forming two distinct clashing pairs. In folk belief, this clash reflects not only compatibility in business or marriage but also the law of transformation and yin-yang balance in nature.
What is Tứ hành xung?
In the system of the Twelve Earthly Branches (Địa chi) comprising twelve animal signs, the ancients divided them into four groups, each containing four signs that are in opposition to one another, known as Tứ hành xung (the four opposing signs). Those four groups are: Dần - Thân - Tỵ - Hợi, Thìn - Tuất - Sửu - Mùi, and Tý - Ngọ - Mão - Dậu. This article focuses on the Dần - Thân - Tỵ - Hợi group, the one regarded as having the most striking contrast in temperament and direction.
The basis of this opposition lies in the symmetrical positions on the circle of Earthly Branches. Dần and Thân sit directly opposite each other, and so do Tỵ and Hợi. Dần belongs to the Wood element, Thân to Metal; Tỵ belongs to Fire, Hợi to Water. Thus Dần - Thân is a pair where Metal overcomes Wood, while Tỵ - Hợi is a pair where Water overcomes Fire. It is precisely this mutual overcoming among the five elements that creates the conflicting, hard-to-reconcile character among the signs in the group.
| Animal sign | Element |
|---|---|
| Dần | Wood |
| Thân | Metal |
| Tỵ | Fire |
| Hợi | Water |
The folk view of each opposing pair
What does the Dần and Thân pair mean?
Dần (the Tiger) symbolises strength, ferocity, a pioneering spirit and the desire to conquer. People born in the year of the Tiger are usually strong, decisive, fond of big undertakings and unafraid of facing challenges. By contrast, Thân (the Monkey) represents intelligence, agility, cleverness and quick adaptability. People born in the year of the Monkey are usually lively, creative and good at seizing opportunities, though sometimes lacking patience.
The opposition between Dần and Thân shows itself in this: the Tiger uses brute strength to dominate, while the Monkey uses cunning to evade and strike back. At work, a Tiger-year person wants to advance quickly and head-on, while a Monkey-year person prefers the roundabout route, calculating many steps ahead. This easily leads to disagreement over how to approach a problem. In a positive light, however, when combined well, the strength of Dần and the wisdom of Thân can create a formidable combined power, much like the image of a general who needs a strategist.
How do Tỵ and Hợi oppose each other?
Tỵ (the Snake) carries the energy of the Fire element yet conceals calm and mystery. People born in the year of the Snake are usually profound, composed, with keen intuition and a strong ability to analyse situations. They live inwardly, seldom reveal their emotions and tend to keep their distance from others. By contrast, Hợi (the Pig) belongs to the Water element, symbolising gentleness, simplicity, generosity and compassion. People born in the year of the Pig are usually cheerful, approachable, true to their feelings and dislike complexity.
The opposition between Tỵ and Hợi lies in their differing ways of seeing life. The Snake always prizes caution, calculating carefully before acting; the Pig lives by inspiration, simply and trustingly. A Snake-year person may feel a Pig-year person is too naive and insufficiently wary; conversely, a Pig-year person may find a Snake-year person too suspicious and hard to get close to. In terms of the five elements, the Fire of Tỵ and the Water of Hợi are in a relationship of mutual overcoming, which makes misunderstandings easy to arise in the relationship if there is no patience.
What is the law of transformation and balance in nature?
It is worth noting that in Eastern belief, opposition does not carry an entirely negative meaning. The ancients held that all things move according to the law of mutual generation and mutual overcoming. If there were only generation and no overcoming, things would develop beyond control; if there were only overcoming and no generation, all things would stagnate. It is thanks to opposition that the forces in nature are regulated and kept in balance.
Seen from this angle, the Tứ hành xung Dần - Thân - Tỵ - Hợi can be understood as a self-regulating mechanism of creation. The Metal of Thân restrains the Wood of Dần so that the forest is not overgrown; the Water of Hợi quenches the Fire of Tỵ so that energy does not flare up beyond control. This is precisely the philosophy of yin and yang: within every opposing force lies the seed of reconciliation.
Application in life: opposition does not automatically mean incompatibility
In folk culture, Tứ hành xung is often mentioned when choosing ages for business partnerships, marriage or selecting collaborators. Yet the way the ancients viewed it was never rigid. Many schools of Tử Vi (Vietnamese astrology) hold that opposition is only one reference factor, not the sole deciding one. Besides the opposing pair, one must also consider the heavenly stems, the five elements of nạp âm, the palace of destiny and many other factors to reach a comprehensive assessment.
In practice, relationships that contain an element of opposition sometimes create very good mutual support. A Tiger-year person needs a spouse or partner born in the year of the Monkey to curb their impulsiveness and help them see problems from more angles. A Snake-year person can learn from a Pig-year person to be more relaxed and to enjoy life instead of always being tense. In other words, opposition is precisely an opportunity for each person to look back at themselves and develop the qualities they lack.
What is the modern view and advice for harmony?
From a modern perspective, Tứ hành xung should not be seen as a curse or an absolute taboo. It is a product of the ancients' classifying and systematising thought, reflecting a longing to find order in a world full of change. Each person's character is also shaped by many other factors such as living environment, education and personal experience, so one cannot attribute an entire destiny to the animal sign alone.
If you belong to the Dần - Thân - Tỵ - Hợi group and worry about opposition with family, friends or partners, see it as a reminder to build understanding. Every relationship needs respect for differences. Instead of trying to change the other person, learn to adjust your own expectations and find common ground. The ancients had a saying: know yourself, know your opponent, and win a hundred battles out of a hundred. Understanding the nature of opposition is the first step to turning opposition into harmony and incompatibility into compatibility.
Finally, it must be stressed that Tứ hành xung is only a small piece in the larger picture of Eastern astrology and the philosophy of life. A good life does not come from avoiding all opposition, but from self-cultivation, kindness and the ability to respond flexibly to every situation. That is the most profoundly humane message the ancients wished to convey through the concept of Tứ hành xung.
Overview article on the topic: What are the 12 animal signs? Meaning and how to calculate age by Earthly Branch
