Chinese Almanac Tong Shu

The Chinese Almanac Tong Shu provides valuable information for finding auspicious dates, along with BaZi and Feng Shui insights.

The Chinese Almanac Tong Shu, also known as Tong Shu or Tong Sheng, is an ancient, highly detailed day-selection manual used in Feng Shui, BaZi, Chinese metaphysics, and traditional life planning.

It is not just a calendar, but a powerful reference guide for:

Choosing auspicious dates and times

Avoiding inauspicious activities

Aligning daily activities with Heaven, Earth, and Humanenergies

The Tong Shu originated from classical Chinese almanacs Tong Shu like the Huang Li, dating back to imperial times. It incorporates astronomy, astrology, numerology, and the Chinese lunar-solar calendar. Today, it's used widely in Feng Shui, BaZi, wedding planning, house moving, renovations, business openings, etc.

Main Contents of a Tong Shu

Here's is what we have above Chinese Almanac Tong Shu:

1. Daily Almanac Pages

- Lists every day in Lunar and Solar Calendars
- Shows the Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch of the day
- Lists Zodiac clashes (e.g., Clash Ox bad for people born in Ox year)
- Provides Auspicious vs. Inauspicious activities

2. Good and Bad Activities

Suit or Avoid - These vary day to day depending on the energies.

3. 12 Day Officers



A detailed guide to the 12 Day Officers - an important system in Chinese Date Selection that assigns a specific energy or "officer" to each day in a repeating 12-day cycle. Discover how to choose auspicious dates using the 12 Day Officers system. Plan weddings, travel, business, and important events with traditional Chinese wisdom. The 12 Day Officers in Chinese Alamanac "Tong Shu" is an entry level date selection technique in both FengShui and BaZi Four Pillars of Destiny applications that is essential for separating generic usable dates from good usable dates. This method is translated into 12 Day Officers or Deities. "Deity" here has no relation to spirit or godly features. There are used in both FengShui applications and BaZi Four Pillars of Destiny analysis. The names of these 12 Day Officers are derived from the 12 types of Qi energy that govern the body of Qi for that particular day.

The concept of the 12 Day Officers is each single day of the month as under the control of an officer. There are together 12 officers, hence it named the 12 Day Officers. This officer is derived from the particular Day Branch in a paticular month's Month Branch. When a particular day's branch is the same as the month's branch, the officer is called "Establish (Jian)". This means an Establish (Jian) will always have the same earthly branch for that particular month.

An the following days are derived from the following sequence.

They are

1. Establish (Jian),

Auspicious Activities - Starting new projects, opening business, signing contracts.
Inauspicious For - Demolition, moving house.

2. Remove (Chu),

Auspicious Activities - Getting rid of unwanted things, cleansing rituals, exorcism.
Inauspicious For - Weddings, opening.

3. Full (Man),

Auspicious Activities - Celebration, marriage, moving house, promotion.
Inauspicious For - Lawsuits, arguments.

4. Balance (Ping),

Auspicious Activities - General use, peaceful activities, small actions.
Inauspicious For - Big decisions, surgery.

5. Stable (Ding),

Auspicious Activities - Marriage, engagement, signing contracts, starting classes.
Inauspicious For - Moving house.

6. Initiate (Zhi),

Auspicious Activities - Long-term tasks, meetings, contracts, investments.
Inauspicious For - Travel, burial.

7. Destruction (Po),

Auspicious Activities - Demolition, letting go, divorce, ending a cycle.
Inauspicious For - Marriage, starting.

8. Danger (Wei),

Auspicious Activities - Spiritual practices, meditation, rituals.
Inauspicious For - Major decisions, marriage.

9. Success (Cheng),

Auspicious Activities - Most auspicious : weddings, business, travel, move, open store.
Inauspicious For - Divorce, destruction.

10.Receive (Shou),

Auspicious Activities - Harvest, collecting money, receiving honors.
Inauspicious For - Lending, giving things away.

11.Open (Kai), and

Auspicious Activities - Opening doors, launching, travel, celebration.
Inauspicious For - Legal matters.

12.Close (Bi).

Auspicious Activities - Rest, sealing things, closing deals, repairs.
Inauspicious For - Starting, marriage.

General Usage Tips

Success (Cheng) is widely considered the most auspicious for nearly all positive undertakings.

Destruction (Po) is the most inauspicious – best for destruction or endings.

Use Establish, Settle, Success, Open for initiating.

Use Remove, Break, Close for cleansing or ending.

Balance and Danger are neutral, but used with caution.

4. The 28 Constellations

They divide the sky into 28 segments and are deeply embedded in ZeRi, BaZi, and Xuan Kong Feng Shui systems. These 28 Constellations is known as Lunar Mansions or Xiu. Each corresponds to a specific star group, Chinese animal, and element. The Moon passes through one mansion approximately each day, forming a 28-day cycle. Used in Chinese metaphysics to assess the quality of a day—for actions like marriage, moving house, renovations, etc. The 28 Constellations are grouped into Four Celestial Animals Four Xiang namely the

East - Azure Dragon - Wood - Symbolizes spring, growth, and rising energy.

1. Jiao Xiu Horn - Noble, scholarly, auspicious
2. Kang Xiu Neck - Proud, stubborn, aggressive
3. Di Xiu Root - Stable, grounding, constructive
4. Fang Xiu Room - Fertile, domestic, joyful
5. Xin Xiu Heart - Emotional, romantic, spiritual
6. Wei Xiu Tail - Completion, finalization
7. Ji Xiu Winnowing Basket - Talkative, sharp, gossipy

North - Black Tortoise - Water - Symbolizes winter, storage, and stillness.

8. Dou Xiu Dipper - Storage, planning, long-term gain
9. Niu Xiu Ox - Steady, hardworking, passive
10. Nu Xiu Woman - Feminine, modest, reserved
11. Xu Xiu Void - Illusory, emptiness, spiritual
12. Wei Xiu Rooftop Dangerous - high, sharp
13. Shi Xiu House - Shelter, safety, prosperity
14. Bi Xiu Wall- Protective, structured, stable

West - White Tiger - Metal - Symbolizes autumn, metal, and aggression.

15. Kui Xiu Legs - Elegant, expressive, intelligent
16. Lou Xiu Bond - Binding, careful, strict
17. Wei Xiu Stomach - Nourishing, content, indulgent
18. Mao Xiu Hairy Head - Fierce, combative, impulsive
19. Bi Xiu Net - Binding, restricting, organizing
20. Zi Xiu Beak - Articulate, critical, sharp
21. Shen Xiu Orion - Warrior-like, powerful, commanding

South - Vermilion Bird - Fire - Symbolizes summer, fire, and celebration.

22. Jing Xiu Well - Resourceful, life-giving
23. Gui Xiu Ghost - Yin energy, funerals, spiritual
24. Liu Xiu Willow - Flexible, elegant, melancholic
25. Xing Xiu - Star Bright, hopeful, academic
26. Zhang Xiu Net - Expansive, outgoing, success
27. Yi Xiu Wings - Fame, honor, artistic
28. Zhen Xiu Chariot - Movement, travel, transitions

5. Clash Animal

Every day "clashes" with one of the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals. For example, if today is a Tiger day, it clashes with Monkey. People born in the clash sign or performing major tasks on that day should avoid it.

6. Stars and Afflictions

Auspicious Stars like Heavenly Nobleman, Gold Lock, Precious Light, etc.

Inauspicious Stars like White Tiger, Day Harm, Heavenly Punish, Road Emptiness, etc.

Sha : Location-based taboos (e.g., San Sha, Year Breaker, God Of Happiness etc.)

7. "Year Breaker" (Sui Po) and "Month Breaker" (Yue Po)

Refer to days that directly clash with the yearly or monthly energy. These are highly inauspicious and are generally avoided for all major activities like weddings, renovations, opening business and burials.

📌 How to Use in Practice

Check the Tong Shu or Chinese Almanac - It tells you which Officer governs each day.

Match the activity - Choose a day with an Officer that supports your activity.

Double-check other factors - Combine with

- Personal BaZi compatibility (most important)

- 12 Animal Clash

- Heavenly Stems/Earthly Branches

- Lunar Mansions