Chinese Almanac Day Spirits Explained
Besides the good-for and avoid lists, a Chinese almanac names two groups of day spirits (shensha, 神煞) for every date: the auspicious spirits on duty, which favour certain activities, and the inauspicious ones, whose matters are best avoided. They are the vocabulary of traditional date selection, and each has a fixed rule and a traditional meaning.
The day spirits on this site follow the month tables of the Xieji Bianfang Shu (協紀辨方書), the Qing imperial manual of date selection. They are looked up from the solar-term month (named by its earthly branch) and the stem-branch of the day. Solar-term months begin at the “jie” terms: the Yin month runs from Lichun to Jingzhe, the Mao month from Jingzhe to Qingming, and so on, so the same spirit falls on different Gregorian dates every year.
Spirits strengthen or cancel each other. Major auspicious spirits such as Heavenly Virtue, Monthly Virtue and Heavenly Pardon are said to weaken bad ones, while heavy inauspicious days such as Month Breaker, Year Breaker and the Four Partings and Endings make most activities unsuitable. The site’s good-for lists and date scores take several key spirits into account, but remain a simplified version.
Year and month spirits that govern directions (Tai Sui, the Three Sha directions and so on) depend on the orientation of a house or grave and are not covered here. Everything below describes cultural tradition, not science.
See today’s spirits in the calendar ›
Auspicious spirits
Heavenly VirtueHeavenly Virtue UnionMonthly VirtueMonthly Virtue UnionHeavenly PardonHeavenly WishMonthly GraceFour Seasonal MinistersSeasonal VirtueHeavenly FavourMingfei (burial day)Mother GranaryBujiang (wedding day)Mingfei Pair (burial day)Five UnionsTriple HarmonyCleansing SpiritMonthly VoidSeasonal YinFive RichesVital EnergyMinister DayHidden VirtueSix UnionsBenefiting DescendantsContinuing GenerationsKing DaySecuring PeaceOfficial DayAuspicious DateFortune and VirtueSix RitesGolden HallPeople DayApproaching DayHeavenly HorseRespect and PeaceUniversal ProtectionPost HorseHeavenly EmpressManifest VirtueHeavenly JoyHeavenly PhysicianSage’s HeartJade MansionGuardian DayReleasing SpiritSeasonal YangHeavenly GranaryHeavenly ShamanFortune RisingShagongZhixingRenzhuan
- Heavenly Virtue 天德
- One of the most valued auspicious spirits, standing for heaven’s beneficence. Its days are traditionally good for almost anything, especially prayers, weddings, moving in, building and burials, and it is said to soften other bad stars on the same day. In the Mao, Wu, You and Zi months it falls on a trigram direction rather than a stem, so those months have no Heavenly Virtue day.
Falls on: Yin month: Ding day; Chen month: Ren day; Si month: Xin day; Wei month: Jia day; Shen month: Gui day; Xu month: Bing day; Hai month: Yi day; Chou month: Geng day - Heavenly Virtue Union 天德合
- The stem that pairs with the Heavenly Virtue stem (Ding pairs with Ren, and so on). Its power is close to Heavenly Virtue itself, favouring prayers, weddings, building, moving in and burials. Like Heavenly Virtue it has no days in the Mao, Wu, You and Zi months.
Falls on: Yin month: Ren day; Chen month: Ding day; Si month: Bing day; Wei month: Ji day; Shen month: Wu day; Xu month: Xin day; Hai month: Geng day; Chou month: Yi day - Monthly Virtue 月德
- Chosen from the triple-harmony group of the month: Bing days in Yin, Wu and Xu months, Ren in Shen, Zi and Chen months, Jia in Hai, Mao and Wei months, Geng in Si, You and Chou months. Together with Heavenly Virtue it forms the “two virtues”, good for prayers, weddings, moving in, building and burials.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Bing day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Jia day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Ren day; Si, You and Chou months: Geng day - Monthly Virtue Union 月德合
- The stem that pairs with the Monthly Virtue stem (Bing–Xin, Ren–Ding, Jia–Ji, Geng–Yi). It works much like Monthly Virtue and suits most activities, particularly prayers, weddings and building work.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Xin day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Ji day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Ding day; Si, You and Chou months: Yi day - Heavenly Pardon 天赦
- Only one day per season: Wu-Yin in spring, Jia-Wu in summer, Wu-Shen in autumn and Jia-Zi in winter. It stands for heaven forgiving faults and is one of the best days of the year, suitable for offerings, prayers, praying for children, weddings and building.
Falls on: Spring: Wu-Yin day; Summer: Jia-Wu day; Autumn: Wu-Shen day; Winter: Jia-Zi day - Heavenly Wish 天願
- One fixed stem-branch per month, such as Yi-Hai in the Yin month and Jia-Xu in the Mao month. It means the day agrees with heaven’s will, and suits offerings, prayers, praying for children, weddings, building and burials.
Falls on: Yin month: Yi-Hai day; Mao month: Jia-Xu day; Chen month: Yi-You day; Si month: Bing-Shen day; Wu month: Ding-Wei day; Wei month: Wu-Wu day; Shen month: Ji-Si day; You month: Geng-Chen day; Xu month: Xin-Mao day; Hai month: Ren-Yin day; Zi month: Gui-Chou day; Chou month: Jia-Zi day - Monthly Grace 月恩
- One stem per month, standing for the month’s favour. Good for prayers, taking up a post, weddings, moving house and building.
Falls on: Yin month: Bing day; Mao month: Ding day; Chen and Xu months: Geng day; Si month: Ji day; Wu month: Wu day; Wei and Chou months: Xin day; Shen month: Ren day; You month: Gui day; Hai month: Yi day; Zi month: Jia day - Four Seasonal Ministers 四相
- The stems produced by the ruling element of the season: Bing and Ding in spring, Wu and Ji in summer, Ren and Gui in autumn, Jia and Yi in winter. They represent rising energy and suit offerings, taking up a post, weddings and building.
Falls on: Spring: Bing and Ding days; Summer: Wu and Ji days; Autumn: Ren and Gui days; Winter: Jia and Yi days - Seasonal Virtue 時德
- The virtue spirit of each season, falling on Wu days in spring, Chen days in summer, Zi days in autumn and Yin days in winter. Good for prayers, taking up a post, banquets and celebrations.
Falls on: Spring: Wu day; Summer: Chen day; Autumn: Zi day; Winter: Yin day - Heavenly Favour 天恩
- Independent of the month: fifteen days of every sixty, namely Jia-Zi to Wu-Chen, Ji-Mao to Gui-Wei and Ji-You to Gui-Chou. It stands for heaven granting favour and suits prayers, taking up a post, weddings, moving and building.
Falls on: Every month: Jia-Zi, Yi-Chou, Bing-Yin, Ding-Mao, Wu-Chen, Ji-Mao, Geng-Chen, Xin-Si, Ren-Wu, Gui-Wei, Ji-You, Geng-Xu, Xin-Hai, Ren-Zi and Gui-Chou days - Mingfei (burial day) 鳴吠
- A favourable day reserved for funeral matters: breaking ground for a grave, exhumation for reburial, burial, and putting on or taking off mourning. It is usually read together with Mingfei Pair.
Falls on: Every month: Geng-Wu, Ren-Shen, Gui-You, Ren-Wu, Jia-Shen, Yi-You, Jia-Wu, Bing-Shen, Ding-You, Bing-Wu, Ji-You, Geng-Shen and Xin-You days - Mother Granary 母倉
- The branches whose element nourishes the ruling element of the season: Hai and Zi in spring, Yin and Mao in summer, Chen, Xu, Chou and Wei in autumn, Shen and You in winter. Like a granary feeding all things, it favours receiving money, opening stores, raising livestock, weddings and building storehouses.
Falls on: Spring: Hai and Zi days; Summer: Yin and Mao days; Autumn: Chen, Wei, Xu and Chou days; Winter: Shen and You days - Bujiang (wedding day) 不將
- A day designed for weddings, on which the month and the day’s stem-branch do not overpower each other in yin and yang. It is one of the main criteria in choosing a traditional wedding date.
Falls on: Yin month: Bing-Yin, Ding-Mao, Bing-Zi, Ding-Chou, Ji-Mao, Ding-Hai, Ji-Chou, Geng-Yin, Xin-Mao, Ji-Hai, Geng-Zi, Xin-Chou and Xin-Hai days; Mao month: Yi-Chou, Bing-Yin, Yi-Hai, Bing-Zi, Ding-Chou, Bing-Xu, Ding-Hai, Ji-Chou, Geng-Yin, Ji-Hai, Geng-Zi and Geng-Xu days; Chen month: Jia-Zi, Yi-Chou, Jia-Xu, Yi-Hai, Bing-Zi, Ding-Chou, Yi-You, Bing-Xu, Ding-Hai, Ji-Chou, Ding-You, Ji-Hai and Ji-You days; Si month: Jia-Zi, Jia-Xu, Yi-Hai, Bing-Zi, Jia-Shen, Yi-You, Bing-Xu, Ding-Hai, Wu-Zi, Bing-Shen, Ding-You, Wu-Xu and Wu-Shen days; Wu month: Gui-You, Jia-Xu, Yi-Hai, Gui-Wei, Jia-Shen, Yi-You, Bing-Xu, Yi-Wei, Bing-Shen, Wu-Xu, Wu-Shen and Gui-Hai days; Wei month: Ren-Shen, Gui-You, Jia-Xu, Ren-Wu, Gui-Wei, Jia-Shen, Yi-You, Jia-Wu, Yi-Wei, Wu-Xu, Wu-Shen, Wu-Wu and Ren-Xu days; Shen month: Gui-You, Ren-Wu, Gui-Wei, Jia-Shen, Yi-You, Gui-Si, Jia-Wu, Yi-Wei, Yi-Si, Wu-Shen and Wu-Wu days; You month: Wu-Chen, Xin-Wei, Ren-Shen, Xin-Si, Ren-Wu, Gui-Wei, Jia-Shen, Ren-Chen, Gui-Si, Jia-Wu, Jia-Chen, Wu-Shen and Wu-Wu days; Xu month: Wu-Chen, Geng-Wu, Xin-Wei, Geng-Chen, Xin-Si, Ren-Wu, Gui-Wei, Xin-Mao, Ren-Chen, Gui-Si, Gui-Mao and Wu-Wu days; Hai month: Ji-Si, Geng-Wu, Ji-Mao, Geng-Chen, Xin-Si, Ren-Wu, Ji-Chou, Geng-Yin, Xin-Mao, Ren-Chen, Gui-Si, Ren-Yin and Gui-Mao days; Zi month: Ding-Mao, Ji-Si, Ding-Chou, Ji-Mao, Geng-Chen, Xin-Si, Ji-Chou, Geng-Yin, Xin-Mao, Ren-Chen, Xin-Chou, Ren-Yin and Ding-Si days; Chou month: Bing-Yin, Ding-Mao, Bing-Zi, Ding-Chou, Ji-Mao, Geng-Chen, Ji-Chou, Geng-Yin, Xin-Mao, Geng-Zi, Xin-Chou and Bing-Chen days - Mingfei Pair (burial day) 鳴吠對
- The companion set to Mingfei, another group of days considered good for breaking ground, reburial, burial and mourning rites.
Falls on: Every month: Bing-Yin, Ding-Mao, Bing-Zi, Geng-Yin, Xin-Mao, Geng-Zi, Ren-Yin, Gui-Mao, Ren-Zi, Jia-Yin and Yi-Mao days - Five Unions 五合
- Falls on every Yin and Mao day, an image of the sun and moon meeting. Good for banquets, weddings, signing agreements, trading and partnerships.
Falls on: Every month: Yin and Mao days - Triple Harmony 三合
- The day branch forms a triple-harmony group with the month branch, for example a Wu or Xu day in the Yin month. It stands for cooperation and suits weddings, engagements, meeting friends, opening a business and contracts.
Falls on: Yin month: Wu and Xu days; Mao month: Wei and Hai days; Chen month: Shen and Zi days; Si month: You and Chou days; Wu month: Yin and Xu days; Wei month: Mao and Hai days; Shen month: Chen and Zi days; You month: Si and Chou days; Xu month: Yin and Wu days; Hai month: Mao and Wei days; Zi month: Chen and Shen days; Chou month: Si and You days - Cleansing Spirit 除神
- Falls on every Shen and You day and governs clearing away the old. Good for cleaning the house, bathing, rites of removal and seeing a doctor.
Falls on: Every month: Shen and You days - Monthly Void 月空
- The stem opposite Monthly Virtue: Monthly Virtue is Bing in Yin, Wu and Xu months, and Monthly Void is Ren. Good for submitting petitions, Taoist rites and starting construction.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Ren day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Geng day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Bing day; Si, You and Chou months: Jia day - Seasonal Yin 時陰
- The spirit of yin in its season, paired with Seasonal Yang. Good for planning, discussing schemes and visiting relatives.
Falls on: Yin month: Wu day; Mao month: Wei day; Chen month: Shen day; Si month: You day; Wu month: Xu day; Wei month: Hai day; Shen month: Zi day; You month: Chou day; Xu month: Yin day; Hai month: Mao day; Zi month: Chen day; Chou month: Si day - Five Riches 五富
- Associated with abundance and wealth. Good for opening a business, receiving money, building and burials.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Hai day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Yin day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Si day; Si, You and Chou months: Shen day - Vital Energy 生氣
- The day on which the month’s life energy rests. Good for setting up a bed, praying for children, medical treatment, moving and planting; killing animals and felling trees are traditionally avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Zi day; Mao month: Chou day; Chen month: Yin day; Si month: Mao day; Wu month: Chen day; Wei month: Si day; Shen month: Wu day; You month: Wei day; Xu month: Shen day; Hai month: You day; Zi month: Xu day; Chou month: Hai day - Minister Day 相日
- One of five seasonal day names together with King, Official, People and Guardian days. A Minister day suits taking up a post, calling on superiors and meeting friends.
Falls on: Spring: Si day; Summer: Shen day; Autumn: Hai day; Winter: Yin day - Hidden Virtue 陰德
- Associated with quiet merit and giving. Good for offerings, charity, good deeds and religious merit-making.
Falls on: Yin and Shen months: You day; Mao and You months: Wei day; Chen and Xu months: Si day; Si and Hai months: Mao day; Wu and Zi months: Chou day; Wei and Chou months: Hai day - Six Unions 六合
- The day branch combines with the month branch, for example a Hai day in the Yin month. Good for weddings, engagements, family visits, contracts and opening a business.
Falls on: Yin month: Hai day; Mao month: Xu day; Chen month: You day; Si month: Shen day; Wu month: Wei day; Wei month: Wu day; Shen month: Si day; You month: Chen day; Xu month: Mao day; Hai month: Yin day; Zi month: Chou day; Chou month: Zi day - Benefiting Descendants 益後
- Associated with having descendants. Good for praying for children, weddings, offerings and building.
Falls on: Yin month: Zi day; Mao month: Wu day; Chen month: Chou day; Si month: Wei day; Wu month: Yin day; Wei month: Shen day; Shen month: Mao day; You month: You day; Xu month: Chen day; Hai month: Xu day; Zi month: Si day; Chou month: Hai day - Continuing Generations 續世
- A companion of Benefiting Descendants, standing for the continuation of the family line. Good for praying for children, weddings and offerings.
Falls on: Yin month: Chou day; Mao month: Wei day; Chen month: Yin day; Si month: Shen day; Wu month: Mao day; Wei month: You day; Shen month: Chen day; You month: Xu day; Xu month: Si day; Hai month: Hai day; Zi month: Wu day; Chou month: Zi day - King Day 王日
- One of the five seasonal day names. A King day suits taking office, issuing orders and public business.
Falls on: Spring: Yin day; Summer: Si day; Autumn: Shen day; Winter: Hai day - Securing Peace 要安
- Associated with stability. Good for setting up a bed, weddings, building and anything meant to reassure people.
Falls on: Yin month: Yin day; Mao month: Shen day; Chen month: Mao day; Si month: You day; Wu month: Chen day; Wei month: Xu day; Shen month: Si day; You month: Hai day; Xu month: Wu day; Hai month: Zi day; Zi month: Wei day; Chou month: Chou day - Official Day 官日
- One of the five seasonal day names. An Official day suits starting a new post and meeting officials.
Falls on: Spring: Mao day; Summer: Wu day; Autumn: You day; Winter: Zi day - Auspicious Date 吉期
- Stands for smooth progress. Good for taking up a post, starting construction, moving in and opening a business.
Falls on: Yin month: Mao day; Mao month: Chen day; Chen month: Si day; Si month: Wu day; Wu month: Wei day; Wei month: Shen day; Shen month: You day; You month: Xu day; Xu month: Hai day; Hai month: Zi day; Zi month: Chou day; Chou month: Yin day - Fortune and Virtue 福德
- Good for prayers, petitions, banquets and building.
Falls on: Yin month: Chen day; Mao month: Si day; Chen month: Wu day; Si month: Wei day; Wu month: Shen day; Wei month: You day; Shen month: Xu day; You month: Hai day; Xu month: Zi day; Hai month: Chou day; Zi month: Yin day; Chou month: Mao day - Six Rites 六儀
- Good for ceremonies, taking up a post and formal visits to superiors.
Falls on: Yin month: Chen day; Mao month: Mao day; Chen month: Yin day; Si month: Chou day; Wu month: Zi day; Wei month: Hai day; Shen month: Xu day; You month: You day; Xu month: Shen day; Hai month: Wei day; Zi month: Wu day; Chou month: Si day - Golden Hall 金堂
- Associated with a flourishing household. Good for building, moving in, setting up a bed and weddings.
Falls on: Yin month: Chen day; Mao month: Xu day; Chen month: Si day; Si month: Hai day; Wu month: Wu day; Wei month: Zi day; Shen month: Wei day; You month: Chou day; Xu month: Shen day; Hai month: Yin day; Zi month: You day; Chou month: Mao day - People Day 民日
- One of the five seasonal day names. A People day suits banquets, weddings, betrothal gifts and adding to the household.
Falls on: Spring: Wu day; Summer: You day; Autumn: Zi day; Winter: Mao day - Approaching Day 臨日
- Good for taking office, governing and approaching the authorities with a request.
Falls on: Yin month: Wu day; Mao month: Hai day; Chen month: Shen day; Si month: Chou day; Wu month: Xu day; Wei month: Mao day; Shen month: Zi day; You month: Si day; Xu month: Yin day; Hai month: Wei day; Zi month: Chen day; Chou month: You day - Heavenly Horse 天馬
- Associated with movement and travel. Good for journeys, moving, taking up a post, visits and seeking income.
Falls on: Yin and Shen months: Wu day; Mao and You months: Shen day; Chen and Xu months: Xu day; Si and Hai months: Zi day; Wu and Zi months: Yin day; Wei and Chou months: Chen day - Respect and Peace 敬安
- Stands for courtesy and harmony. Good for offerings, visits, family gatherings and wedding ceremonies.
Falls on: Yin month: Wei day; Mao month: Chou day; Chen month: Shen day; Si month: Yin day; Wu month: You day; Wei month: Mao day; Shen month: Xu day; You month: Chen day; Xu month: Hai day; Hai month: Si day; Zi month: Zi day; Chou month: Wu day - Universal Protection 普護
- Good for offerings, prayers, travel, moving and medical treatment.
Falls on: Yin month: Shen day; Mao month: Yin day; Chen month: You day; Si month: Mao day; Wu month: Xu day; Wei month: Chen day; Shen month: Hai day; You month: Si day; Xu month: Zi day; Hai month: Wu day; Zi month: Chou day; Chou month: Wei day - Post Horse 驛馬
- The branch that clashes with the month’s triple-harmony group, associated with travel and change. Good for journeys, taking up a post, moving house and trading.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Shen day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Si day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Yin day; Si, You and Chou months: Hai day - Heavenly Empress 天后
- Good for medical treatment, healing and prayers.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Shen day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Si day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Yin day; Si, You and Chou months: Hai day - Manifest Virtue 陽德
- The counterpart of Hidden Virtue, standing for open and upright virtue. Good for weddings, opening a business, contracts and banquets.
Falls on: Yin and Shen months: Xu day; Mao and You months: Zi day; Chen and Xu months: Yin day; Si and Hai months: Chen day; Wu and Zi months: Wu day; Wei and Chou months: Shen day - Heavenly Joy 天喜
- Associated with happy events. Good for weddings, engagements, banquets, opening a business and moving in.
Falls on: Yin month: Xu day; Mao month: Hai day; Chen month: Zi day; Si month: Chou day; Wu month: Yin day; Wei month: Mao day; Shen month: Chen day; You month: Si day; Xu month: Wu day; Hai month: Wei day; Zi month: Shen day; Chou month: You day - Heavenly Physician 天醫
- Good for seeing a doctor, acupuncture, taking medicine and treatment.
Falls on: Yin month: Xu day; Mao month: Hai day; Chen month: Zi day; Si month: Chou day; Wu month: Yin day; Wei month: Mao day; Shen month: Chen day; You month: Si day; Xu month: Wu day; Hai month: Wei day; Zi month: Shen day; Chou month: You day - Sage’s Heart 聖心
- Good for offerings, prayers, making vows and religious merit.
Falls on: Yin month: Hai day; Mao month: Si day; Chen month: Zi day; Si month: Wu day; Wu month: Chou day; Wei month: Wei day; Shen month: Yin day; You month: Shen day; Xu month: Mao day; Hai month: You day; Zi month: Chen day; Chou month: Xu day - Jade Mansion 玉宇
- Associated with a peaceful home. Good for building, moving in and moving house.
Falls on: Yin month: Mao day; Mao month: You day; Chen month: Chen day; Si month: Xu day; Wu month: Si day; Wei month: Hai day; Shen month: Wu day; You month: Zi day; Xu month: Wei day; Hai month: Chou day; Zi month: Shen day; Chou month: Yin day - Guardian Day 守日
- One of the five seasonal day names. A Guardian day suits consolidating, repairs and settling family affairs.
Falls on: Spring: Chen day; Summer: Wei day; Autumn: Xu day; Winter: Chou day - Releasing Spirit 解神
- Said to dissolve bad influences and legal troubles. Good for petitions, rites of removal, bathing and medical treatment.
Falls on: Yin and Mao months: Shen day; Chen and Si months: Xu day; Wu and Wei months: Zi day; Shen and You months: Yin day; Xu and Hai months: Chen day; Zi and Chou months: Wu day - Seasonal Yang 時陽
- The spirit of yang in its season, paired with Seasonal Yin. Good for planning, discussing schemes and visiting relatives.
Falls on: Yin month: Zi day; Mao month: Chou day; Chen month: Yin day; Si month: Mao day; Wu month: Chen day; Wei month: Si day; Shen month: Wu day; You month: Wei day; Xu month: Shen day; Hai month: You day; Zi month: Xu day; Chou month: Hai day - Heavenly Granary 天倉
- Good for receiving money, opening stores, raising livestock and building storehouses.
Falls on: Yin month: Yin day; Mao month: Chou day; Chen month: Zi day; Si month: Hai day; Wu month: Xu day; Wei month: You day; Shen month: Shen day; You month: Wei day; Xu month: Wu day; Hai month: Si day; Zi month: Chen day; Chou month: Mao day - Heavenly Shaman 天巫
- Good for offerings, prayers and Taoist rites.
Falls on: Yin month: Chen day; Mao month: Si day; Chen month: Wu day; Si month: Wei day; Wu month: Shen day; Wei month: You day; Shen month: Xu day; You month: Hai day; Xu month: Zi day; Hai month: Chou day; Zi month: Yin day; Chou month: Mao day - Fortune Rising 福生
- Good for prayers, Taoist rites, seeking income and moving in.
Falls on: Yin month: You day; Mao month: Mao day; Chen month: Xu day; Si month: Chen day; Wu month: Hai day; Wei month: Si day; Shen month: Zi day; You month: Wu day; Xu month: Chou day; Hai month: Wei day; Zi month: Yin day; Chou month: Shen day - Shagong 煞貢
- One of the three most valued good days in Dong Gong date selection (Shagong, Zhixing and Renzhuan). Any one of them is said to neutralise most bad stars, so most activities are acceptable.
Falls on: In the first month of each season: Ding-Mao, then every ninth day; middle months start from Bing-Yin; last months from Yi-Chou - Zhixing 直星
- One of the three Dong Gong good days, like Shagong and Renzhuan; said to dissolve bad influences.
Falls on: Starts from Wu-Chen in first months, Ding-Mao in middle months and Bing-Yin in last months, then every ninth day - Renzhuan 人專
- One of the three Dong Gong good days, like Shagong and Zhixing; said to dissolve bad influences.
Falls on: Starts from Xin-Wei in first months, Geng-Wu in middle months and Ji-Si in last months, then every ninth day
Inauspicious spirits
Year BreakerFour PartingsFour EndingsTen Evils, Great DefeatShousi (Receiving Death)Month BreakerFour WastesGoing Without ReturnHomecoming TabooFive EmptinessesFive SeparationsDouble DayRepeat DayBlood BranchHeavenly ThiefEarth TalismanWandering MisfortuneMinor LossDeadlyHekuiRobbery ShaMonth ShaMonth EstablisherGreat TimeGreat DefeatXianchiYanduiZhaoyaoNine PitsNine ScorchesTiangangDeath SpiritMonthly HarmDead EnergyGreat LossMonthly LoathingMonthly HollownessMinor TimeNine VoidsHeavenly MagistrateEarth FireFour StrikesGreat ShaEight ExclusivesCalamity ShaHeavenly FireBlood TabooEarth MansionMonthly PunishmentTouching the Water DragonEarth SackEight WindsFour TaboosFour ExhaustionsFive TombsYin ErrorFour LossesYang ErrorWhite Tiger in the CentreMelting Ice, Crumbling TilesHeaven-Earth Turning ShaYellow SandMinor Red SandThief Day (Dong Gong)Nine Earth GhostsFire StarYang Gong TabooMonthly Taboo
- Year Breaker 歲破
- A day whose branch clashes with the branch of the year, such as a Wu day in a Zi year. It is considered heavier than Month Breaker, and major events are avoided.
- Four Partings 四離
- The day before each equinox and solstice, marking the parting of the seasons. Weddings, travel and opening a business are traditionally avoided.
- Four Endings 四絕
- The day before the start of each season, when the old season ends. Major events are traditionally avoided.
- Ten Evils, Great Defeat 十惡大敗
- Determined by the year stem and month, with no more than four such days a year. Traditionally every activity is avoided, even when good stars are present.
Falls on: Jia and Ji years: Wu-Xu in the Chen month, Gui-Hai in Shen, Bing-Shen in Hai, Ding-Hai in Zi; Yi and Geng years: Ren-Shen in Si, Yi-Si in Xu; Bing and Xin years: Xin-Si in Chen, Geng-Chen in Xu, Jia-Xu in Hai; Wu and Gui years: Ji-Chou in Wei; none in Ding and Ren years - Shousi (Receiving Death) 受死
- One of the best-known unlucky days in Taiwanese almanacs. Most activities are avoided; only hunting, fishing and funeral matters such as encoffining and burial are exempt.
Falls on: Xu day in the Yin month, Chen in Mao, Hai in Chen, Si in Si, Zi in Wu, Wu in Wei, Chou in Shen, Wei in You, Yin in Xu, Shen in Hai, Mao in Zi, You in Chou - Month Breaker 月破
- A day whose branch clashes with the month branch, the same as the “Break” day of the twelve day officers. Major events are traditionally avoided; only demolition and medical treatment are acceptable.
Falls on: Yin month: Shen day; Mao month: You day; Chen month: Xu day; Si month: Hai day; Wu month: Zi day; Wei month: Chou day; Shen month: Yin day; You month: Mao day; Xu month: Chen day; Hai month: Si day; Zi month: Wu day; Chou month: Wei day - Four Wastes 四廢
- Geng-Shen and Xin-You in spring, Ren-Zi and Gui-Hai in summer, Jia-Yin and Yi-Mao in autumn, Bing-Wu and Ding-Si in winter: the stem-branches whose element is weakest in that season. Little is undertaken on these days.
Falls on: Spring: Geng-Shen and Xin-You days; Summer: Ren-Zi and Gui-Hai days; Autumn: Jia-Yin and Yi-Mao days; Winter: Bing-Wu and Ding-Si days - Going Without Return 往亡
- Carries the sense of leaving and not coming back. Journeys, taking up a post, weddings, moving and seeking treatment away from home are traditionally avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Yin day; Mao month: Si day; Chen month: Shen day; Si month: Hai day; Wu month: Mao day; Wei month: Wu day; Shen month: You day; You month: Zi day; Xu month: Chen day; Hai month: Wei day; Zi month: Xu day; Chou month: Chou day - Homecoming Taboo 歸忌
- Returning home or moving in on this day is considered unlucky, so homecoming from a journey, moving, moving in and weddings are avoided.
Falls on: Yin, Si, Shen and Hai months: Chou day; Mao, Wu, You and Zi months: Yin day; Chen, Wei, Xu and Chou months: Zi day - Five Emptinesses 五虛
- Associated with emptiness and loss. Opening stores, receiving money and building storehouses are avoided.
Falls on: Spring: Si, You and Chou days; Summer: Chen, Shen and Zi days; Autumn: Mao, Wei and Hai days; Winter: Yin, Wu and Xu days - Five Separations 五離
- Falls on Shen and You days and stands for separation. Weddings, engagements, family gatherings and contracts are avoided.
Falls on: Every month: Shen and You days - Double Day 重日
- Falls on Si and Hai days and suggests repetition. Burials and other funeral matters are avoided so that loss is not repeated, while happy events are thought to be doubled.
Falls on: Every month: Si and Hai days - Repeat Day 復日
- Similar to Double Day, with the sense of “once again”. Burials and funeral matters are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Jia day; Mao month: Yi day; Chen and Xu months: Wu day; Si month: Bing day; Wu month: Ding day; Wei and Chou months: Ji day; Shen month: Geng day; You month: Xin day; Hai month: Ren day; Zi month: Gui day - Blood Branch 血支
- Acupuncture, bloodletting, ear piercing and anything that draws blood are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Chou day; Mao month: Yin day; Chen month: Mao day; Si month: Chen day; Wu month: Si day; Wei month: Wu day; Shen month: Wei day; You month: Shen day; Xu month: You day; Hai month: Xu day; Zi month: Hai day; Chou month: Zi day - Heavenly Thief 天賊
- Associated with theft and loss. Opening stores, travel, building, moving in and opening a business are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Chou day; Mao month: Zi day; Chen month: Hai day; Si month: Xu day; Wu month: You day; Wei month: Shen day; Shen month: Wei day; You month: Wu day; Xu month: Si day; Hai month: Chen day; Zi month: Mao day; Chou month: Yin day - Earth Talisman 土符
- Rules the soil. Breaking ground, digging wells and building walls are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Chou day; Mao month: Si day; Chen month: You day; Si month: Yin day; Wu month: Wu day; Wei month: Xu day; Shen month: Mao day; You month: Wei day; Xu month: Hai day; Hai month: Chen day; Zi month: Shen day; Chou month: Zi day - Wandering Misfortune 遊禍
- Prayers, offerings, medical treatment and taking medicine are avoided.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Si day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Yin day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Hai day; Si, You and Chou months: Shen day - Minor Loss 小耗
- Associated with small losses. Opening a business, trading, receiving money, contracts and building storehouses are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Wei day; Mao month: Shen day; Chen month: You day; Si month: Xu day; Wu month: Hai day; Wei month: Zi day; Shen month: Chou day; You month: Yin day; Xu month: Mao day; Hai month: Chen day; Zi month: Si day; Chou month: Wu day - Deadly 致死
- Associated with danger. Travel, taking up a post and medical treatment are avoided.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: You day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Wu day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Mao day; Si, You and Chou months: Zi day - Hekui 河魁
- Like Tiangang, a malevolent spirit of the month; its day is unfavourable for most things, particularly weddings, offerings and building.
Falls on: Yin month: Hai day; Mao month: Wu day; Chen month: Chou day; Si month: Shen day; Wu month: Mao day; Wei month: Xu day; Shen month: Si day; You month: Zi day; Xu month: Wei day; Hai month: Yin day; Zi month: You day; Chou month: Chen day - Robbery Sha 劫煞
- One of the Three Sha (Robbery, Calamity and Month Sha), associated with robbery. Travel, weddings, building and opening a business are avoided.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Hai day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Shen day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Si day; Si, You and Chou months: Yin day - Month Sha 月煞
- One of the Three Sha. Building, breaking ground, burials and travel are avoided.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Chou day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Xu day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Wei day; Si, You and Chou months: Chen day - Month Establisher 月建
- The day whose branch equals the month branch, the “Establish” day of the twelve day officers. With the month’s energy at its peak, breaking ground, opening stores and burials are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Yin day; Mao month: Mao day; Chen month: Chen day; Si month: Si day; Wu month: Wu day; Wei month: Wei day; Shen month: Shen day; You month: You day; Xu month: Xu day; Hai month: Hai day; Zi month: Zi day; Chou month: Chou day - Great Time 大時
- Shares its day with Great Defeat and Xianchi and marks the low point of the month, so major events are avoided.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Mao day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Zi day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: You day; Si, You and Chou months: Wu day - Great Defeat 大敗
- A synonym of Great Time, associated with failure. Opening a business, travel and weddings are avoided.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Mao day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Zi day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: You day; Si, You and Chou months: Wu day - Xianchi 咸池
- Popularly called the “peach-blossom sha” and shares its day with Great Time. Weddings and betrothal gifts are traditionally avoided.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Mao day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Zi day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: You day; Si, You and Chou months: Wu day - Yandui 厭對
- The day opposite Monthly Loathing; weddings are traditionally avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Chen day; Mao month: Mao day; Chen month: Yin day; Si month: Chou day; Wu month: Zi day; Wei month: Hai day; Shen month: Xu day; You month: You day; Xu month: Shen day; Hai month: Wei day; Zi month: Wu day; Chou month: Si day - Zhaoyao 招搖
- Boat trips and crossing water are avoided; other activities are little affected.
Falls on: Yin month: Chen day; Mao month: Mao day; Chen month: Yin day; Si month: Chou day; Wu month: Zi day; Wei month: Hai day; Shen month: Xu day; You month: You day; Xu month: Shen day; Hai month: Wei day; Zi month: Wu day; Chou month: Si day - Nine Pits 九坎
- Shares its day with Nine Scorches. Boat trips, fishing, planting and casting metal are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Chen day; Mao month: Chou day; Chen month: Xu day; Si month: Wei day; Wu month: Mao day; Wei month: Zi day; Shen month: You day; You month: Wu day; Xu month: Yin day; Hai month: Hai day; Zi month: Shen day; Chou month: Si day - Nine Scorches 九焦
- Associated with withering. Planting, casting metal and repairing walls are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Chen day; Mao month: Chou day; Chen month: Xu day; Si month: Wei day; Wu month: Mao day; Wei month: Zi day; Shen month: You day; You month: Wu day; Xu month: Yin day; Hai month: Hai day; Zi month: Shen day; Chou month: Si day - Tiangang 天罡
- Like Hekui, a malevolent spirit of the month. Weddings and offerings are avoided and little else is undertaken.
Falls on: Yin month: Si day; Mao month: Zi day; Chen month: Wei day; Si month: Yin day; Wu month: You day; Wei month: Chen day; Shen month: Hai day; You month: Wu day; Xu month: Chou day; Hai month: Shen day; Zi month: Mao day; Chou month: Xu day - Death Spirit 死神
- Medical treatment, taking medicine, setting up a bed and weddings are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Si day; Mao month: Wu day; Chen month: Wei day; Si month: Shen day; Wu month: You day; Wei month: Xu day; Shen month: Hai day; You month: Zi day; Xu month: Chou day; Hai month: Yin day; Zi month: Mao day; Chou month: Chen day - Monthly Harm 月害
- The day branch harms the month branch (one of the six harms). Weddings, family gatherings, contracts and medical treatment are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Si day; Mao month: Chen day; Chen month: Mao day; Si month: Yin day; Wu month: Chou day; Wei month: Zi day; Shen month: Hai day; You month: Xu day; Xu month: You day; Hai month: Shen day; Zi month: Wei day; Chou month: Wu day - Dead Energy 死氣
- The opposite of Vital Energy. Medical treatment, planting and building are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Wu day; Mao month: Wei day; Chen month: Shen day; Si month: You day; Wu month: Xu day; Wei month: Hai day; Shen month: Zi day; You month: Chou day; Xu month: Yin day; Hai month: Mao day; Zi month: Chen day; Chou month: Si day - Great Loss 大耗
- Shares its day with Month Breaker and stands for loss of wealth. Opening a business, receiving money, opening stores and building are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Shen day; Mao month: You day; Chen month: Xu day; Si month: Hai day; Wu month: Zi day; Wei month: Chou day; Shen month: Yin day; You month: Mao day; Xu month: Chen day; Hai month: Si day; Zi month: Wu day; Chou month: Wei day - Monthly Loathing 月厭
- A spirit where yin gathers. Weddings, travel, moving and homecoming from afar are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Xu day; Mao month: You day; Chen month: Shen day; Si month: Wei day; Wu month: Wu day; Wei month: Si day; Shen month: Chen day; You month: Mao day; Xu month: Yin day; Hai month: Chou day; Zi month: Zi day; Chou month: Hai day - Monthly Hollowness 月虛
- Associated with emptiness. Weddings, opening stores and receiving money are avoided.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Chou day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Xu day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Wei day; Si, You and Chou months: Chen day - Minor Time 小時
- Appears together with Month Establisher. Weddings and building are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Yin day; Mao month: Mao day; Chen month: Chen day; Si month: Si day; Wu month: Wu day; Wei month: Wei day; Shen month: Shen day; You month: You day; Xu month: Xu day; Hai month: Hai day; Zi month: Zi day; Chou month: Chou day - Nine Voids 九空
- Opening stores, receiving money, seeking income and travel are avoided.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Chen day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Chou day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Xu day; Si, You and Chou months: Wei day - Heavenly Magistrate 天吏
- Associated with punishment. Taking up a post, travel, lawsuits and medical treatment are avoided.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: You day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: Wu day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Mao day; Si, You and Chou months: Zi day - Earth Fire 地火
- Planting, building and breaking ground are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Xu day; Mao month: You day; Chen month: Shen day; Si month: Wei day; Wu month: Wu day; Wei month: Si day; Shen month: Chen day; You month: Mao day; Xu month: Yin day; Hai month: Chou day; Zi month: Zi day; Chou month: Hai day - Four Strikes 四擊
- Travel, long journeys and military expeditions are avoided.
Falls on: Spring: Xu day; Summer: Chou day; Autumn: Chen day; Winter: Wei day - Great Sha 大煞
- Building, breaking ground and travel are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Xu day; Mao month: Si day; Chen month: Wu day; Si month: Wei day; Wu month: Yin day; Wei month: Mao day; Shen month: Chen day; You month: Hai day; Xu month: Zi day; Hai month: Chou day; Zi month: Shen day; Chou month: You day - Eight Exclusives 八專
- Days whose stem and branch share the same element, so yin and yang are one-sided. Weddings and military expeditions are traditionally avoided.
Falls on: Every month: Ding-Wei, Gui-Chou, Jia-Yin, Ji-Wei and Geng-Shen days - Calamity Sha 災煞
- One of the Three Sha, associated with disasters. Building, breaking ground, travel and medical treatment are avoided.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Zi day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: You day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Wu day; Si, You and Chou months: Mao day - Heavenly Fire 天火
- Associated with fire. Raising the ridge beam, roofing, building a stove and moving in are avoided.
Falls on: Yin, Wu and Xu months: Zi day; Mao, Wei and Hai months: You day; Chen, Shen and Zi months: Wu day; Si, You and Chou months: Mao day - Blood Taboo 血忌
- Acupuncture, bloodletting and slaughtering animals are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Chou day; Mao month: Wei day; Chen month: Yin day; Si month: Shen day; Wu month: Mao day; Wei month: You day; Shen month: Chen day; You month: Xu day; Xu month: Si day; Hai month: Hai day; Zi month: Wu day; Chou month: Zi day - Earth Mansion 土府
- Breaking ground, building walls and digging ponds are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Yin day; Mao month: Mao day; Chen month: Chen day; Si month: Si day; Wu month: Wu day; Wei month: Wei day; Shen month: Shen day; You month: You day; Xu month: Xu day; Hai month: Hai day; Zi month: Zi day; Chou month: Chou day - Monthly Punishment 月刑
- The day branch “punishes” the month branch. Taking up a post, lawsuits and weddings are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Si day; Mao month: Zi day; Chen month: Chen day; Si month: Shen day; Wu month: Wu day; Wei month: Chou day; Shen month: Yin day; You month: You day; Xu month: Wei day; Hai month: Hai day; Zi month: Mao day; Chou month: Xu day - Touching the Water Dragon 觸水龍
- Falls on Bing-Zi, Gui-Chou and Gui-Wei days. Boat trips, crossing water and fishing are avoided.
Falls on: Every month: Bing-Zi, Gui-Wei and Gui-Chou days - Earth Sack 地囊
- Breaking ground, digging wells and construction are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Geng-Wu and Geng-Zi days; Mao month: Yi-Wei and Gui-Chou days; Chen month: Jia-Zi and Ren-Wu days; Si month: Ji-Mao and Ji-You days; Wu month: Jia-Chen and Ren-Xu days; Wei month: Bing-Xu and Bing-Chen days; Shen month: Ding-Hai and Ding-Si days; You month: Bing-Yin and Bing-Shen days; Xu month: Xin-Wei and Xin-Chou days; Hai month: Wu-Yin and Wu-Shen days; Zi month: Xin-Mao and Xin-You days; Chou month: Gui-You and Yi-Mao days - Eight Winds 八風
- Boat trips, going to sea and crossing water are avoided.
Falls on: Spring: Ding-Chou and Ding-Si days; Summer: Jia-Shen and Jia-Chen days; Autumn: Ding-Hai and Ding-Wei days; Winter: Jia-Xu and Jia-Yin days - Four Taboos 四忌
- One fixed stem-branch in each season. Weddings and burials are traditionally avoided.
Falls on: Spring: Jia-Zi day; Summer: Bing-Zi day; Autumn: Geng-Zi day; Winter: Ren-Zi day - Four Exhaustions 四窮
- One fixed stem-branch in each season. Weddings, opening a business, receiving money and contracts are avoided.
Falls on: Spring: Yi-Hai day; Summer: Ding-Hai day; Autumn: Xin-Hai day; Winter: Gui-Hai day - Five Tombs 五墓
- Named after the element entering its “tomb”. Building, breaking ground and weddings are avoided.
Falls on: Yin and Mao months: Yi-Wei day; Chen, Wei, Xu and Chou months: Wu-Chen day; Si and Wu months: Bing-Xu day; Shen and You months: Xin-Chou day; Hai and Zi months: Ren-Chen day - Yin Error 陰錯
- With Yang Error it forms the proverbial “yin and yang out of place”. Weddings, taking up a post and setting up a bed are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Geng-Xu day; Mao month: Xin-You day; Chen month: Geng-Shen day; Si month: Ding-Wei and Ji-Wei days; Wei month: Ji-Si and Ding-Si days; Shen month: Jia-Chen day; You month: Yi-Mao day; Xu month: Jia-Yin day; Hai month: Gui-Chou day; Chou month: Gui-Hai day - Four Losses 四耗
- One fixed stem-branch in each season. Opening a business, trading, receiving money and opening stores are avoided.
Falls on: Spring: Ren-Zi day; Summer: Yi-Mao day; Autumn: Wu-Wu day; Winter: Xin-You day - Yang Error 陽錯
- With Yin Error it forms the proverbial “yin and yang out of place”. Weddings, taking up a post and setting up a bed are avoided.
Falls on: Yin month: Jia-Yin day; Mao month: Yi-Mao day; Chen month: Jia-Chen day; Si month: Ji-Si and Ding-Si days; Wei month: Ding-Wei and Ji-Wei days; Shen month: Geng-Shen day; You month: Xin-You day; Xu month: Geng-Xu day; Hai month: Gui-Hai day; Chou month: Gui-Chou day - White Tiger in the Centre 白虎入中宮
- Also called “sha entering the centre”, a major bad day in Dong Gong selection. Building, weddings, moving in and openings are avoided, as are hammering and loud noise in the courtyard.
Falls on: Wu-Yin, Ding-Chou, Bing-Xu, Yi-Wei, Jia-Chen, Gui-Chou and Ren-Xu days in any month - Melting Ice, Crumbling Tiles 冰消瓦解
- The name suggests work melting away like ice; raising beams, building, moving in, weddings and openings are avoided.
Falls on: Si day in the Yin month, Zi in Mao, Chou in Chen, Yin in Si, Mao in Wu, Xu in Wei, Hai in Shen, Wu in You, Wei in Xu, Shen in Hai, You in Zi, Chen in Chou - Heaven-Earth Turning Sha 天地轉煞
- A day when the seasonal energy turns; breaking ground and building are especially avoided.
Falls on: Yi-Mao and Xin-Mao in spring, Bing-Wu and Wu-Wu in summer, Xin-You and Gui-You in autumn, Ren-Zi and Bing-Zi in winter - Yellow Sand 黃沙
- In Dong Gong selection the day most to be avoided for setting out on a journey.
Falls on: Wu days in first months of a season, Yin days in middle months, Zi days in last months - Minor Red Sand 小紅沙
- An unlucky day in Dong Gong selection; little is undertaken, weddings especially.
Falls on: Si days in first months of a season, You days in middle months, Chou days in last months - Thief Day (Dong Gong) 董公天賊
- The thief day used in Dong Gong selection, a different system from the Xieji Bianfang Shu “Heavenly Thief” and falling on different days. Raising pillars, moving house, breaking ground and opening stores are avoided.
Falls on: Chen day in the Yin month, You in Mao, Yin in Chen, Wei in Si, Zi in Wu, Si in Wei, Xu in Shen, Mao in You, Shen in Xu, Chou in Hai, Wu in Zi, Hai in Chou - Nine Earth Ghosts 九土鬼
- Taking up a post, travel, building, breaking ground and trading are avoided; many good stars on the same day lessen the effect.
Falls on: Yi-You, Gui-Si, Jia-Wu, Xin-Chou, Ren-Yin, Ji-You, Geng-Xu, Ding-Si and Wu-Wu days in any month - Fire Star 火星
- The almanac Fire Star day; building, roofing, building a stove and making clothes are avoided.
Falls on: Starts from Yi-Chou in first months of a season, Jia-Zi in middle months and Ren-Shen in last months, then every ninth day - Yang Gong Taboo 楊公忌
- Thirteen fixed lunar dates each year, starting on the 13th of the first month and moving about two days earlier each month, traditionally attributed to the Tang geomancer Yang Yunsong. Many people avoid weddings, openings, construction and moving on these days.
- Monthly Taboo 月忌
- The 5th, 14th and 23rd of every lunar month. A folk saying holds that even Laozi would not brew elixirs on these days, so major events are usually avoided.
Yin-yang wedding names
These names come from entries in the Xieji Bianfang Shu month tables concerned with yin-yang pairing. Each occurs on only a few days a year and is mainly avoided when choosing a wedding date.
| Name | Meaning | Falls on |
|---|---|---|
| Lonely Hour 孤辰 | Wedding taboo | Chen month: Ren-Shen, Wu-Shen and Geng-Shen days; Si month: Xin-Wei, Gui-Wei and Ji-Wei days; Xu month: Bing-Yin, Wu-Yin and Jia-Yin days; Hai month: Yi-Chou and Ding-Chou days |
| Minor Meeting 小會 | Wedding taboo | Mao month: Ji-Mao day; Chen month: Wu-Chen day; Si month: Ji-Si day; Wu month: Wu-Wu day; You month: Ji-You day; Xu month: Wu-Xu day; Hai month: Ji-Hai day; Zi month: Wu-Zi day |
| Major Meeting 大會 | Wedding taboo | Yin month: Jia-Xu day; Wu month: Bing-Wu day; Wei month: Ding-Si day; Shen month: Geng-Chen day; You month: Xin-Mao day; Zi month: Ren-Zi day; Chou month: Gui-Hai day |
| Eight Dragons 八龍 | Wedding taboo (four seasons) | Spring: Jia-Zi and Yi-Hai days |
| Seven Birds 七鳥 | Wedding taboo (four seasons) | Summer: Bing-Zi and Ding-Hai days |
| Nine Tigers 九虎 | Wedding taboo (four seasons) | Autumn: Geng-Zi and Xin-Hai days |
| Six Snakes 六蛇 | Wedding taboo (four seasons) | Winter: Ren-Zi and Gui-Hai days |
| Xinghen 行狠 | Wedding taboo | Chen month: Jia-Shen day; Si month: Yi-Wei day; Xu month: Geng-Yin day; Hai month: Xin-Chou day |
| Liaoli 了戾 | Wedding taboo | Chen month: Bing-Shen day; Si month: Ding-Wei day; Xu month: Ren-Yin day; Hai month: Gui-Chou day |
| Year Thinness 歲薄 | Wedding taboo | Si month: Bing-Wu and Wu-Wu days; Hai month: Wu-Zi and Ren-Zi days |
| Zhuzhen 逐陣 | Wedding taboo | Wei month: Bing-Wu and Wu-Wu days; Chou month: Wu-Zi and Ren-Zi days |
| Triple Yin 三陰 | Wedding taboo | Yin month: Xin-You day; Shen month: Yi-Mao day |
| Yin Clashing Yang 陰道沖陽 | Wedding taboo | Mao month: Ji-You day; You month: Ji-Mao day |
| Yin Position 陰位 | Wedding taboo | Chen month: Geng-Chen day; Xu month: Jia-Xu day |
| Yin-Yang Mutual Break 陰陽交破 | Wedding taboo | Si month: Gui-Hai day; Hai month: Ding-Si day |
| Yin and Yang Both Wrong 陰陽俱錯 | Wedding taboo | Wu month: Bing-Wu day; Zi month: Ren-Zi day |
| Yin-Yang Strike 陰陽擊沖 | Wedding taboo | Wu month: Ren-Zi day; Zi month: Bing-Wu day |
| Single Yin 單陰 | Wedding taboo | Chen month: Wu-Chen day |
| Extinct Yin 絕陰 | Wedding taboo | Si month: Wu-Chen day |
| Pure Yang 純陽 | Wedding taboo | Si month: Ji-Si day |
| Yang Error, Yin Clash 陽錯陰沖 | Wedding taboo | Wei month: Gui-Chou day |
| Lonely Yang 孤陽 | Wedding taboo | Xu month: Wu-Xu day |
| Extinct Yang 絕陽 | Wedding taboo | Hai month: Wu-Xu day |
| Pure Yin 純陰 | Wedding taboo | Hai month: Ji-Hai day |
| Yang Broken, Yin Clash 陽破陰沖 | Wedding taboo | Chou month: Ding-Wei day |
Noble hours (Guiren Dengtian)
The “noble person ascending to heaven” hours are a classic choice in hour selection, and the home page marks them with ★ in each day’s hour table. Two pieces go into them. Each day stem has a Yang and a Yin noble person located at an earthly branch (for Jia days, Wei and Chou). The month general changes at each mid-month solar term: Hai after Yushui, then one branch back at each mid-term, Xu after Chunfen, You after Guyu and so on to Zi after Dahan.
Placing the month general on each double-hour, the hour in which the noble person’s branch arrives at Hai, the “gate of heaven”, is the noble hour. Because the month general follows the solar terms and the noble person follows the day stem, the same stem gives different noble hours in different months. Tradition holds that these hours turn bad luck to good, and they are often used to time weddings, openings and departures; some almanacs prefer the Yang noble by day and the Yin noble by night.
| Day stem | Yang / Yin noble |
|---|---|
| Jia | Wei / Chou |
| Yi | Shen / Zi |
| Bing | You / Hai |
| Ding | Hai / You |
| Wu | Chou / Wei |
| Ji | Zi / Shen |
| Geng | Chou / Wei |
| Xin | Yin / Wu |
| Ren | Mao / Si |
| Gui | Si / Mao |
| Period (month general) | Jia | Yi | Bing | Ding | Wu | Ji | Geng | Xin | Ren | Gui |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| After Yushui → Hai | Mao / You | Yin / Xu | Chou / Hai | Hai / Chou | You / Mao | Xu / Yin | You / Mao | Shen / Chen | Wei / Si | Si / Wei |
| After Chunfen → Xu | Yin / Shen | Chou / You | Zi / Xu | Xu / Zi | Shen / Yin | You / Chou | Shen / Yin | Wei / Mao | Wu / Chen | Chen / Wu |
| After Guyu → You | Chou / Wei | Zi / Shen | Hai / You | You / Hai | Wei / Chou | Shen / Zi | Wei / Chou | Wu / Yin | Si / Mao | Mao / Si |
| After Xiaoman → Shen | Zi / Wu | Hai / Wei | Xu / Shen | Shen / Xu | Wu / Zi | Wei / Hai | Wu / Zi | Si / Chou | Chen / Yin | Yin / Chen |
| After Xiazhi → Wei | Hai / Si | Xu / Wu | You / Wei | Wei / You | Si / Hai | Wu / Xu | Si / Hai | Chen / Zi | Mao / Chou | Chou / Mao |
| After Dashu → Wu | Xu / Chen | You / Si | Shen / Wu | Wu / Shen | Chen / Xu | Si / You | Chen / Xu | Mao / Hai | Yin / Zi | Zi / Yin |
| After Chushu → Si | You / Mao | Shen / Chen | Wei / Si | Si / Wei | Mao / You | Chen / Shen | Mao / You | Yin / Xu | Chou / Hai | Hai / Chou |
| After Qiufen → Chen | Shen / Yin | Wei / Mao | Wu / Chen | Chen / Wu | Yin / Shen | Mao / Wei | Yin / Shen | Chou / You | Zi / Xu | Xu / Zi |
| After Shuangjiang → Mao | Wei / Chou | Wu / Yin | Si / Mao | Mao / Si | Chou / Wei | Yin / Wu | Chou / Wei | Zi / Shen | Hai / You | You / Hai |
| After Xiaoxue → Yin | Wu / Zi | Si / Chou | Chen / Yin | Yin / Chen | Zi / Wu | Chou / Si | Zi / Wu | Hai / Wei | Xu / Shen | Shen / Xu |
| After Dongzhi → Chou | Si / Hai | Chen / Zi | Mao / Chou | Chou / Mao | Hai / Si | Zi / Chen | Hai / Si | Xu / Wu | You / Wei | Wei / You |
| After Dahan → Zi | Chen / Xu | Mao / Hai | Yin / Zi | Zi / Yin | Xu / Chen | Hai / Mao | Xu / Chen | You / Si | Shen / Wu | Wu / Shen |
Each cell shows “Yang noble hour / Yin noble hour”. The month general changes on the day of the mid-month solar term.
Solar-term months
| Month | From – to | Approx. dates |
|---|---|---|
| Yin month | Lichun – Jingzhe | Feb 4 – Mar 5 |
| Mao month | Jingzhe – Qingming | Mar 6 – Apr 4 |
| Chen month | Qingming – Lixia | Apr 5 – May 5 |
| Si month | Lixia – Mangzhong | May 6 – Jun 5 |
| Wu month | Mangzhong – Xiaoshu | Jun 6 – Jul 6 |
| Wei month | Xiaoshu – Liqiu | Jul 7 – Aug 7 |
| Shen month | Liqiu – Bailu | Aug 8 – Sep 7 |
| You month | Bailu – Hanlu | Sep 8 – Oct 7 |
| Xu month | Hanlu – Lidong | Oct 8 – Nov 7 |
| Hai month | Lidong – Daxue | Nov 8 – Dec 6 |
| Zi month | Daxue – Xiaohan | Dec 7 – Jan 5 |
| Chou month | Xiaohan – Lichun | Jan 6 – Feb 3 |
Dates vary by a day or so from year to year.
See also: Almanac terms · 24 Solar Terms · 2026 Chinese almanac