What Is the Tong Shu (Chinese Almanac)?
The Tong Shu (通勝, also 通書 or 黃曆) is the Chinese almanac: a day-by-day calendar that gives each date its stem-branch pillar, a day officer, a yellow or black path spirit, activities it suits and ones to avoid, the zodiac sign it clashes, and lucky hours.
| Other names | 通書, 黃曆, 農民曆 (Taiwan), "Chinese almanac" |
|---|---|
| Calendar | Lunisolar: lunar dates plus 24 solar terms |
| Daily cycle | 60-day stem-branch cycle |
| Day officers (建除十二神) | 12, repeating, with a repeat on each jie solar term day |
| Path spirits (十二值神) | 12: six yellow-path, six black-path |
| Hours | 12 two-hour periods, each yellow or black |
Example: Lunar New Year's Day 2027
On Saturday, February 6, 2027 (day 1 of the 1st lunar month, 丁未 year of the Goat), the Chinese almanac (Tong Shu) marks a 丙辰 (Bing Chen) Full (滿) day on the yellow (auspicious) path of the Golden Coffer: good for prayers and wishes, business openings, deals and trading and collecting money, avoid breaking ground, planting and starting a new role. The day clashes the Dog, with the sha direction South. See the full day page.
The twelve day officers
| Officer | Good for | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| 建 Establish | travel, starting a new role, meeting friends and prayers and wishes | breaking ground, opening storage and burials |
| 除 Remove | deep-cleaning, bathing and resets, clearing old matters and prayers and wishes | weddings, business openings and long journeys |
| 滿 Full | prayers and wishes, business openings, deals and trading and collecting money | breaking ground, planting and starting a new role |
| 平 Balance | repairs, tidying and organising and haircuts | business openings, weddings and prayers and wishes |
| 定 Stable | weddings, signing contracts, deals and trading and moving in | legal disputes and travel |
| 執 Initiate | renovation and building work, signing contracts and collecting debts | relocating, business openings and long journeys |
| 破 Destruction | demolition and decluttering and deep-cleaning | weddings, business openings, signing contracts, travel and moving in |
| 危 Danger | prayers and wishes, setting up a bed and staying put and reflecting | climbing heights, long journeys and boat trips |
| 成 Success | business openings, weddings, moving in, signing contracts, travel and deals and trading | legal disputes |
| 收 Receive | collecting money, collecting debts, starting a course and storing and saving | travel, burials and business openings |
| 開 Open | business openings, starting a new role, starting a course, travel, weddings and prayers and wishes | burials and breaking ground |
| 閉 Close | building walls and boundaries, storing and saving and repairs | business openings, travel, weddings and moving in |
The twelve path spirits
| Spirit | English | Path |
|---|---|---|
| 青龍 | Azure Dragon | Yellow (auspicious) |
| 明堂 | Bright Hall | Yellow (auspicious) |
| 天刑 | Heavenly Punishment | Black |
| 朱雀 | Vermilion Bird | Black |
| 金匱 | Golden Coffer | Yellow (auspicious) |
| 天德 | Heavenly Virtue | Yellow (auspicious) |
| 白虎 | White Tiger | Black |
| 玉堂 | Jade Hall | Yellow (auspicious) |
| 天牢 | Heavenly Prison | Black |
| 玄武 | Black Tortoise | Black |
| 司命 | Life Governor | Yellow (auspicious) |
| 勾陳 | Hook | Black |
How askjoss computes it
Day officers, path spirits, lucky hours, lunar mansions and spirit directions follow standard almanac tables, checked against printed almanacs. Our good-for and avoid lists are a simplified table keyed on the officer, with major events removed on black-path days. Printed almanacs weigh many more spirits (天德, 月德, 天赦 and others), so they can differ. Full notes, including every simplification, are on How we calculate.
Common misconceptions
- "A bad day means something bad will happen." The almanac is a planning convention: it suggests which days suit which activities.
- "All almanacs agree." Schools and publishers weigh spirits differently; small differences are normal.
- "The almanac is personal." It is the same for everyone; personal rating needs your chart.
Sources
- 《協紀辨方書》 (1741, compiled for the Qianlong Emperor): the imperial reference for day selection and spirits.
- The Qing 時憲書 (official almanac), on which modern Hong Kong 通勝 layouts are based.
Browse the daily almanac or the 2027 overview.
Related: What is BaZi? · Day Master · Five elements · Da Liu Ren · Qi Men Dun Jia · Zodiac clashes (Tai Sui)
Frequently asked questions
What is the Tong Shu?
The Chinese almanac: a calendar that marks each day's pillar, officer, spirit, suitable and unsuitable activities, clashing sign and lucky hours.
What do yellow and black days mean?
Each day is ruled by one of twelve spirits. Six are yellow-path (auspicious for major events) and six are black-path.
Why does the Tong Shu list a clashing zodiac sign?
Each day's branch sits opposite one of the twelve branches. People born in that sign traditionally avoid scheduling big events on that day.
askjoss presents Chinese metaphysics as cultural tradition and a tool for self-reflection. It is not medical, legal, financial or psychological advice, and no reading can promise an outcome.