Introduction
Once you know what each zodiac animal means, the next question is almost always about pairs: which signs get along? Chinese zodiac compatibility is not a random list — it follows fixed rules built from the 12 Earthly Branches (地支) that each animal maps to.
This guide walks through the three key relationships — harmonies, unions, and clashes — and explains where the zodiac ends and BaZi compatibility begins.
The Three Harmonies (三合)
The most supportive pattern is the three harmony (三合), where three signs form a natural team. The four groups are:
- Rat · Dragon · Monkey
- Ox · Snake · Rooster
- Tiger · Horse · Dog
- Rabbit · Sheep · Pig
Signs within a group are traditionally seen as mutually supportive — similar in drive and easy to coordinate with. A relationship or partnership among them is read as flowing.
The Six Unions (六合)
A step more intimate than the harmonies are the six unions (六合) — six paired signs said to complement each other:
- Rat & Ox
- Tiger & Pig
- Rabbit & Dog
- Dragon & Rooster
- Snake & Monkey
- Horse & Sheep
Where the three harmonies are a team, the six unions are a pair — one sign's strength meeting the other's gap. They are often described as the best one-to-one matches.
The Six Clashes (六冲)
On the other side are the six clashes (六冲), the pairings most often described as friction-prone:
- Rat ↔ Horse
- Ox ↔ Sheep
- Tiger ↔ Monkey
- Rabbit ↔ Rooster
- Dragon ↔ Dog
- Snake ↔ Pig
A clash does not mean hatred — it points to a difference in pace or style. Two clashing signs can absolutely build a strong bond; the tradition simply flags where the friction is likely to show up, so you can meet it with awareness.
Beyond the Sign: BaZi
The zodiac is only the year branch of a person's chart. A full reading compares both people's entire BaZi charts — year, month, day, and hour. Two people with clashing zodiac signs can have highly supportive month or day branches, and vice versa.
So treat the zodiac as the headline. BaZi is the whole article — and our BaZi compatibility guide is where that deeper comparison lives.
What Compatibility Can — and Cannot — Tell You
It can help you:
- Notice broad tempos and styles a pairing may share or differ on.
- Approach differences with curiosity instead of surprise.
- Open a light, shared language for talking about a relationship.
It cannot decide whether a relationship works, replace communication, or predict outcomes. Use it as a conversation starter, never a scorecard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chinese zodiac compatibility based on?
It is based on the relationships between the 12 Earthly Branches (地支) that the animal signs map to. These relationships — harmonies, unions, and clashes — describe how two signs are traditionally said to interact.
What are the three harmonies (三合)?
The four three-harmony groups are Rat–Dragon–Monkey, Ox–Snake–Rooster, Tiger–Horse–Dog, and Rabbit–Sheep–Pig. Signs within a group are traditionally seen as naturally supportive of one another.
What are the six clashes (六冲)?
The six clash pairs are Rat–Horse, Ox–Sheep, Tiger–Monkey, Rabbit–Rooster, Dragon–Dog, and Snake–Pig. These are the pairings most often described as friction-prone in the tradition.
If my sign clashes with my partner's, is the relationship doomed?
No. The zodiac is one very broad lens. A clash points to a difference in tempo or style worth noticing — not a verdict. Many close relationships cross a clash pairing and do fine with awareness.
Is the zodiac enough to judge a relationship?
On its own, no. The full picture in Chinese astrology comes from BaZi — both birth charts compared. The zodiac is the headline; BaZi is the whole article. See our guide to BaZi compatibility for the deeper layer.
Conclusion
Zodiac compatibility is a centuries-old map of how the 12 signs tend to relate — through harmonies, unions, and clashes. Read it as a friendly sketch of tendencies, set it next to the fuller BaZi picture, and it becomes a tool for understanding rather than a verdict on love.
This article is for entertainment, cultural exploration and self-reflection purposes only. It is not medical, legal, financial, or investment advice.