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Chinese compatibility
How two elements and two year animals interact — for couples, friends or business partners.
Methodology
Compatibility in Chinese tradition (合婚)
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For centuries Chinese families compared the eight characters of a couple before a wedding, a practice called 合婚. We explain what it is based on and present the result without marketing percentages.
Where the tradition comes from
In traditional China the families of bride and groom exchanged cards with birth dates (庚帖), and an astrologer compared them before the marriage was agreed. The goal was not romance but a union in which two characters and fates balance each other. Few people in China today would cancel a wedding over a horoscope, yet you can still hear remarks like “Tiger and Monkey are a tricky pair” in Shenzhen. A similar logic is sometimes applied to business partners.
What the analysis is based on
The first layer is the relationship between the two Day Masters (日主) in the five-element cycles: does one generate the other, control it, or are they the same element? The second layer is the year animals and their classical links. The Six Harmonies (六合) pair signs such as Rat and Ox, the Three Harmonies (三合) join trios such as Monkey, Rat and Dragon, and the Six Clashes (六冲) set opposite signs against each other, such as Rat and Horse. Each link describes a type of dynamic, not a verdict.
Why we never show “93% compatible”
The classical tradition never expressed compatibility as a percentage; that is an invention of entertainment websites. Any number creates an illusion of precision that a symbolic system simply does not have. We calculate both charts with lunar-javascript, identify the element relations and branch links, and then describe where the pair has natural support and where friction is likely. This is more honest and more useful: it gives you things to talk about, not a score.
How to use the result
Read the description as an outside view of how you and your partner approach life. A “clash” in Chinese logic means movement and tension, which often produce strong partnerships. If you work with Chinese partners, this will help you understand why someone might politely ask about your birth year. We do not recommend making relationship decisions based on a horoscope.
Questions
Which Chinese zodiac signs are compatible?+
By the classical rules, the most harmonious are the 六合 pairs (such as Rat and Ox, Tiger and Pig) and the 三合 trios (such as Tiger, Horse and Dog). A full chart also considers the Day Master elements, which can change the picture.
What does it mean if our signs clash?+
The Six Clashes (六冲) are signs opposite each other on the zodiac circle, such as Rat and Horse. Tradition sees active, sometimes conflicting energy in them, not a ban on the relationship.
Why is there no compatibility percentage?+
Because the tradition itself has none; percentages are an invention of entertainment sites. We prefer an honest description of the pair’s dynamic.
Can I check compatibility with a business partner?+
Yes, the mechanics are the same as for couples. In China such factors are sometimes considered when choosing a date for a deal, so understanding the logic helps in negotiations.