Chou is the yin-earth branch (hidden Ji, Gui, Xin), the 12th month, 1–3 am — frozen soil storing metal.
Chou is the Metal vault — accumulation and delayed gratification. Its friction points: the Chou–Xu–Wei punishment and Chou–Wu harm; its grace: the Zi–Chou harmony. Chou lives sweet-after-bitter — banking momentum as much as money.