Chinese Almanac for Tuesday, January 20, 2026
On Tuesday, January 20, 2026 (day 2 of the 12th lunar month, 乙巳 year of the Snake), the Chinese almanac (Tong Shu) marks a 甲午 (Jia Wu) Initiate (執) day on the black (inauspicious) path of the Heavenly Prison: good for renovation and building work, collecting debts and collecting money, avoid relocating, business openings and long journeys. The day clashes the Rat, with the sha direction North.
| Date | Tuesday, January 20, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Lunar date | day 2 of the 12th lunar month (臘月初二), a short (29-day) month |
| Four pillars (day) | Year 乙巳 · Month 己丑 · Day 甲午 |
| Day officer | Initiate (執) |
| Day spirit | Heavenly Prison (天牢), black path |
| Day spirits | Mother Granary (mu cang) (母倉) |
| Good for | renovation and building work, collecting debts and collecting money |
| Avoid | relocating, business openings and long journeys |
| Clash | Rat (子), sha North |
| Lucky hours | Chou 01:00–03:00, Mao 05:00–07:00, Wu 11:00–13:00, Shen 15:00–17:00, You 17:00–19:00 |
| Joy / Wealth / Fortune direction | Northeast / Northeast / North |
| Color of the day | green (day stem 甲 is Mu, growth) |
| Lunar mansion | Encampment (shi, 室) |
| Solar term | Major Cold (大寒) begins 09:44 UTC+8 |
What the day is good for
Initiate days favour building, signing and collecting what is owed; relocation is traditionally avoided. Because the day spirit is on the black path, major events such as weddings, openings and moving in are taken off the good-for list.
- Good for: renovation and building work, collecting debts and collecting money
- Avoid: relocating, business openings and long journeys
- Peng Zu taboos: Jia day: do not open the granary, or wealth drains away (甲不開倉財物耗散); Wu day: do not thatch a roof, or the owner must move (午不苫蓋屋主更張)
Lucky hours on January 20
Yellow-path hours are the traditional lucky hours. The Zi hour clashes the day branch and is marked to avoid.
| Hour | Time (UTC+8) | Spirit | Path | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zi 子 | 23:00–01:00 | Golden Coffer 金匱 | Yellow | Clashes the day; avoid |
| Chou 丑 | 01:00–03:00 | Heavenly Virtue 天德 | Yellow | Lucky hour |
| Yin 寅 | 03:00–05:00 | White Tiger 白虎 | Black | |
| Mao 卯 | 05:00–07:00 | Jade Hall 玉堂 | Yellow | Lucky hour |
| Chen 辰 | 07:00–09:00 | Heavenly Prison 天牢 | Black | |
| Si 巳 | 09:00–11:00 | Black Tortoise 玄武 | Black | |
| Wu 午 | 11:00–13:00 | Life Governor 司命 | Yellow | Lucky hour |
| Wei 未 | 13:00–15:00 | Hook 勾陳 | Black | |
| Shen 申 | 15:00–17:00 | Azure Dragon 青龍 | Yellow | Lucky hour |
| You 酉 | 17:00–19:00 | Bright Hall 明堂 | Yellow | Lucky hour |
| Xu 戌 | 19:00–21:00 | Heavenly Punishment 天刑 | Black | |
| Hai 亥 | 21:00–23:00 | Vermilion Bird 朱雀 | Black |
Zodiac signs today
Clash: people born in a year of the Rat traditionally keep big decisions for another day. Six harmony: the Goat pairs with today’s Wu branch. Three harmony: Tiger and Dog. Minor friction (punishment or harm): Ox.
Solar term: Major Cold
The sun reaches Major Cold (大寒) today at 09:44 UTC+8. The coldest stretch. Rest more, plan the year.
Make it personal
The almanac is the same for everyone. Your own lucky color and best two hours depend on your chart: get them free in Daily Joss, or start with your Joss Profile. Planning something specific? Compare time windows with Joss Timing.
How these are computed: methods and what the Tong Shu is. Good-for and avoid lists start from the day officer and are adjusted by the main day spirits of the Xie Ji Bian Fang Shu (協紀辨方書); printed almanacs weigh more spirits and can differ.
Cultural tradition for reflection and planning only. Not medical, legal or financial advice; no date or hour can promise an outcome.