Chinese Almanac for Monday, April 20, 2026
On Monday, April 20, 2026 (day 4 of the 3rd lunar month, 丙午 year of the Horse), the Chinese almanac (Tong Shu) marks a 甲子 (Jia Zi) Success (成) day on the black (inauspicious) path of the Heavenly Prison: good for staying put and reflecting and tidying and organising, avoid legal disputes, weddings, business openings, moving in, signing contracts, starting a new role, travel, breaking ground and renovation and building work. The day clashes the Horse, with the sha direction South.
| Date | Monday, April 20, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Lunar date | day 4 of the 3rd lunar month (三月初四), a long (30-day) month |
| Four pillars (day) | Year 丙午 · Month 壬辰 · Day 甲子 |
| Day officer | Success (成) |
| Day spirit | Heavenly Prison (天牢), black path |
| Day spirits | Heavenly Grace (tian en) (天恩), Balanced Pairing (bu jiang) (不將), Year Breaker (sui po) (歲破) |
| Good for | staying put and reflecting and tidying and organising |
| Avoid | legal disputes, weddings, business openings, moving in, signing contracts, starting a new role, travel, breaking ground and renovation and building work |
| Clash | Horse (午), sha South |
| Lucky hours | Zi 23:00–01:00, Chou 01:00–03:00, Mao 05:00–07:00, 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 | Net (bi, 畢) |
| Solar term | Grain Rain (穀雨) begins 09:39 UTC+8 |
What the day is good for
Success days are among the most used for weddings, openings, signings and moving in. 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. The day branch also clashes the year branch (午), a "year-breaker" day that many almanac users skip for big events.
- Good for: staying put and reflecting and tidying and organising
- Avoid: legal disputes, weddings, business openings, moving in, signing contracts, starting a new role, travel, breaking ground and renovation and building work
- Peng Zu taboos: Jia day: do not open the granary, or wealth drains away (甲不開倉財物耗散); Zi day: do not consult a diviner, or you invite trouble (子不問卜自惹禍殃)
Lucky hours on April 20
Yellow-path hours are the traditional lucky hours. The Wu 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 | Lucky hour |
| 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 | Clashes the day; avoid |
| 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 Horse traditionally keep big decisions for another day. Six harmony: the Ox pairs with today’s Zi branch. Three harmony: Dragon and Monkey. Minor friction (punishment or harm): Rabbit and Goat.
Solar term: Grain Rain
The sun reaches Grain Rain (穀雨) today at 09:39 UTC+8. Growth needs water: invest in your skills.
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.