TL;DR: The Four Clashing Signs Ty - Ngo - Mao - Dau form two directly opposing pairs: Ty clashes with Ngo, Mao clashes with Dau. This conflict stems from their opposite positions on the Earthly Branch cycle and the generating-overcoming relationships of the five elements, reflecting the yin-yang philosophy of opposition and compensation in the universe.
What is Tứ Hành Xung?
In Eastern culture, especially in Vietnam, China and other countries of shared cultural heritage, the concept of "Tứ Hành Xung" is often mentioned when discussing the compatibility and conflict among the 12 zodiac animals. This term refers to four zodiac animals that stand in a relationship of mutual conflict, pairing off into two clearly opposed pairs.
| Group | Zodiac animals | Conflicting pairs |
|---|---|---|
| First group | Tý, Ngọ, Mão, Dậu | Tý conflicts with Ngọ, Mão conflicts with Dậu |
| Second group | Thìn, Tuất, Sửu, Mùi | Thìn conflicts with Tuất, Sửu conflicts with Mùi |
| Third group | Dần, Thân, Tỵ, Hợi | Dần conflicts with Thân, Tỵ conflicts with Hợi |
Unlike the negative feeling that the word "xung" usually evokes, Tứ Hành Xung is not simply blind dislike or aversion. Folk belief holds that this is an arrangement of creation, in which opposing forces coexist and restrain one another to maintain a state of balance.
Why do Tý, Ngọ, Mão and Dậu conflict with one another?
What does the diametrically opposed position on the Địa Chi circle mean?
The Địa Chi circle consists of 12 zodiac animals arranged clockwise, each animal 30 degrees apart on a 360 degree circle. Looking at this circle, Tý (position 1) sits directly opposite Ngọ (position 7), meaning exactly 6 positions apart, equivalent to 180 degrees. Similarly, Mão (position 4) is opposite Dậu (position 10).
In Eastern philosophy, two objects at diametrically opposed positions on a circle are considered to carry opposing energies. Like day and night, hot and cold, they complement one another while also cancelling one another out. This opposing position is the first geometric foundation that creates the conflict.
What is the rule of mutual destruction in the five elements?
The four zodiac animals in this Tứ Hành Xung group are tied to specific elements:
| Zodiac animal | Element |
|---|---|
| Tý | Thủy (Water) |
| Ngọ | Hỏa (Fire) |
| Mão | Mộc (Wood) |
| Dậu | Kim (Metal) |
In the rule of mutual destruction among the five elements, Thủy destroys Hỏa (water puts out fire) and Kim destroys Mộc (metal cuts through wood). For this reason, Tý (Thủy) and Ngọ (Hỏa) conflict with each other naturally, just as Mão (Mộc) and Dậu (Kim) stand in a relationship of direct mutual destruction.
What is interesting is that these two conflicting pairs are not only opposed in element but also form a tightly structured whole: Thủy (Tý) generates Mộc (Mão), Mộc (Mão) generates Hỏa (Ngọ), and Kim (Dậu) in turn destroys both Mộc and Hỏa. This shows that the workings of the universe are not simply two opposing forces, but a complex network of interactions.
How does âm dương work within each conflicting pair?
According to the principle of âm dương, Tý belongs to Dương Thủy while Ngọ belongs to Âm Hỏa. Mão belongs to Âm Mộc and Dậu belongs to Âm Kim. The combinations between different âm dương factors create layers of deeper meaning.
Tý is Dương Thủy, symbolising a powerful, fast flowing stream, while Ngọ is Âm Hỏa, a smouldering but persistent flame. When water meets fire, it is not simply water putting out fire or fire evaporating water, but a confrontation between two sources of energy of completely opposite nature. Similarly, Mão Âm Mộc (soft grass and plants) and Dậu Âm Kim (sharp metal) show the conflict between suppleness and hardness.
What are the symbols and representative personalities of Tý, Ngọ, Mão and Dậu?
Tý and Ngọ: the battle between intellect and passion
Tý (the Rat) represents intelligence, agility, cleverness and a high capacity for adaptation. People born in the year of the Tý often have sharp minds, know how to seize opportunities and have a talent for navigating every circumstance. They carry the energy of water: flexible, circulating and able to slip into every corner.
Ngọ (the Horse) symbolises openness, enthusiasm, strength and frankness. People born in the year of the Ngọ love freedom, hate being constrained, and are always full of energy and passion. They carry the energy of fire: blazing, shining and powerfully contagious.
When Tý meets Ngọ, the cleverness and calculation of the Tý person can be seen by the Ngọ person as timidity and indecision. Conversely, the directness and impatience of the Ngọ person can be judged by the Tý person as thoughtlessness and rashness. They easily come into disagreement because their approaches to problems are completely opposite: one side cautiously takes each step, the other charges straight ahead.
Mão and Dậu: the opposition between gentleness and principle
Mão (the Cat, or the Rabbit in China) symbolises gentleness, mildness, refinement and a love of peace. People born in the year of the Mão often have an eye for aesthetics, live with sentiment, and know how to create a harmonious space around themselves. They carry the energy of plants: soft, easily bent, yet with enduring vitality.
Dậu (the Rooster) represents principle, punctuality, meticulousness and a certain rigidity. People born in the year of the Dậu tend to place great importance on discipline, precision and a strong sense of responsibility. They carry the energy of metal: sturdy, clear, not easily bent.
Mão and Dậu conflict because the Mão person lives by emotion, ease and flexibility, while the Dậu person upholds principle, rules and punctuality. The Mão person may feel the Dậu person is too dry and mechanical, while the Dậu person considers the Mão person to lack discipline and to be arbitrary.
What are the many-sided perspectives on Tứ Hành Xung?
Why is conflict not always bad?
Many people mistakenly believe that Tứ Hành Xung means two people cannot live together or cooperate. In reality, in folk belief, conflict sometimes creates combined strength. Just as sharpening a knife requires a whetstone, the friction between two opposing personalities can help both to perfect themselves.
The Tý person can learn courage and the willingness to think and act from the Ngọ person. The Ngọ person can learn caution and strategic vision from the Tý person. Similarly, the Mão person can learn discipline from the Dậu person, while the Dậu person can learn flexibility in communication from the Mão person.
How is Tứ Hành Xung applied in life?
In marriage and family, checking ages for conflict before proceeding to marriage is a common custom. However, the elders also had the saying "lấy nhau tránh Tứ hành xung" (when marrying, avoid the Tứ Hành Xung), yet at the same time there is also the belief that if two people truly love and understand each other, they can absolutely overcome differences in their destined elements. In business and cooperation, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the other party based on zodiac characteristics can help divide work more sensibly rather than avoiding one another entirely.
What are the folk ways of resolving Tứ Hành Xung?
According to folk belief, if two people in the Tứ Hành Xung group come together, a number of methods can be used to resolve it, such as:
- Using feng shui items carrying an intermediary element to reduce the conflict, for example a Tý (Thủy) person and a Ngọ (Hỏa) person can use items of the Mộc element because Mộc generates Hỏa and Thủy generates Mộc.
- Choosing an auspicious day, month and hour to carry out important events in order to avoid inauspicious stars affecting one's destiny.
- Asking a feng shui master to advise on how to arrange the living space and a suitable house direction to balance energy.
However, it should be stressed that these methods are for reference, based on folk experience, and have no basis in experimental science. The most important thing remains sincerity, understanding and mutual respect between people.
