Guide · Almanac
How to Read a Tong Shu
The Tong Shu (通書), known in Cantonese as the Tung Shing (通勝), is the Chinese almanac. For centuries households have used it to choose good days for weddings, moving house, opening a business and much more. Here is how to read a typical daily entry.
Why "Tung Shing"?
The book's proper name is 通書, "the book of everything". In Cantonese, 書 (book) sounds like 輸 (to lose), an unlucky word, so people call it 通勝, where 勝 means "to win". That name survives across Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.
1. The date and the day pillar
Each entry shows the Gregorian date, the lunar date, and the day's stem–branch pair, such as 癸卯 (Guǐ Mǎo, Yin Water Rabbit). The stem gives the day its element, which you can compare with your Day Master.
2. The clashing animal (沖)
Every day "clashes" with the zodiac animal opposite its branch. A Rabbit day clashes with the Rooster, a Horse day with the Rat, and so on. People born in the clashing animal's years are advised to avoid major decisions that day. The almanac usually also lists the age of people affected.
3. The Sha direction (煞)
Each day has a direction to avoid for important actions such as moving furniture or starting renovations. It follows the day's branch: days of the Monkey, Rat and Dragon have their Sha in the South; Tiger, Horse and Dog in the North; Pig, Rabbit and Goat in the West; Snake, Rooster and Ox in the East.
4. Auspicious directions
Almanacs often name the direction of the God of Joy (喜神) and the God of Wealth (財神) for the day. The Joy direction follows the day stem: 甲 and 己 days point Northeast; 乙 and 庚 Northwest; 丙 and 辛 Southwest; 丁 and 壬 South; 戊 and 癸 Southeast. Destiny Kua combines this with your personal Kua directions.
5. The Twelve Day Officers (建除十二神)
Each day is assigned one of twelve "officers" that describe its general character:
| Officer | Name | General meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 建 | Establish | Good for starting, planning, meeting important people |
| 除 | Remove | Good for cleaning, clearing, medical treatment |
| 滿 | Full | Good for celebrations and collecting; avoid legal matters |
| 平 | Balance | Ordinary day; good for repairs and routine |
| 定 | Stable | Good for agreements, engagements, settling in |
| 執 | Initiate | Good for planting, hiring, steady effort |
| 破 | Destruction | Avoid most important events; suited to demolition |
| 危 | Danger | Take care; avoid risky activities and travel |
| 成 | Success | One of the best days for most events |
| 收 | Receive | Good for collecting debts, harvesting, buying |
| 開 | Open | Good for openings, weddings, starting work |
| 閉 | Close | Good for burial, closing accounts; avoid openings |
The officer depends on both the month and the day branch, so it needs the solar month. Destiny Kua does not yet calculate officers, which is why we point you to a printed almanac for event planning.
6. 宜 and 忌: suitable and avoid
The heart of each entry is two lists: 宜 (yí, suitable for) and 忌 (jì, avoid). Common entries include 嫁娶 (weddings), 入宅 (moving in), 開市 (opening a business), 出行 (travel), 動土 (breaking ground) and 安床 (placing a bed). These combine the officer, the day's stars and other factors.
Using the almanac sensibly
For everyday life, the clash, Sha direction and day element are the parts most people use. For big events such as a wedding, a house move or a business opening, many families consult a full almanac or a practitioner. Whatever you use, treat it as a way to plan with care, not a reason for fear.