Overview
The Chinese Almanac (黃曆, Huánglì), also known as the Tung Shing (通勝) or Tong Shu (通書), is the world's oldest continuously published almanac, providing daily guidance on auspicious and inauspicious activities based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar, the twelve daily values (十二建除), the twenty-eight lunar mansions (二十八宿), and the system of heavenly deities. For over 4,000 years, it has guided Chinese families in scheduling weddings, business openings, funerals, construction, and virtually every significant life event.
Origin
The Chinese almanac tradition traces its origins to the legendary Yellow Emperor (黃帝) and his court astronomer Da Nao (大撓), who is credited with creating the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches system (天干地支) around 2637 BCE. The formal almanac as a published document emerged during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), when the imperial Bureau of Astronomy (司天監) began producing official almanacs for distribution throughout the empire. The Qing Dynasty saw the almanac reach its most elaborate form, with detailed daily guidance for virtually every human activity.
History
The Chinese almanac has been published continuously for over a thousand years, making it one of the world's longest-running publications. During the imperial era, the production of the official almanac was a state monopoly — unauthorised almanacs were punishable by death. The almanac was distributed to every household in the empire as a public service. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, commercial almanac publishers proliferated in Hong Kong and Taiwan, where the Tung Shing remains a bestselling publication to this day. The Hong Kong Tung Shing, published annually since the 19th century, sells hundreds of thousands of copies each year.
How It Works
The almanac assigns each day a 'twelve value' (十二建除) — one of twelve cyclical qualities ranging from 'Establish' (建) to 'Close' (閉) — that determines the day's overall character. Each day is also assigned a presiding deity (值日神) from a rotating cycle of twelve deities, each with specific domains of auspiciousness and inauspiciousness. The combination of the twelve value, the deity, the day's stem and branch, and the lunar mansion produces a detailed list of activities that are auspicious (宜) or inauspicious (忌) on that particular day.
Good For
Use Cases
Wedding Date Selection
Selecting an auspicious wedding date is one of the most important applications of the Chinese almanac. Families typically consult the almanac months in advance to identify days that are auspicious for weddings (宜嫁娶) and avoid days marked as inauspicious for marriage.
Business Grand Opening
Chinese business owners invariably consult the almanac before scheduling a grand opening or business launch. Days marked as auspicious for 'opening business' (宜開市) are preferred, and the specific hour of the opening is often further refined using Qimen Dunjia or other timing methods.
Construction and Renovation
Before beginning construction or renovation, Chinese families consult the almanac for days auspicious for 'breaking ground' (宜動土) and 'beginning construction' (宜上梁). Ignoring these guidelines is believed to invite structural problems, financial difficulties, or family discord.
Famous Examples
Annual BestsellerThe Hong Kong Tung Shing (通勝), published annually by the Xianggang Tung Shing Publishing Company, is one of Hong Kong's bestselling books year after year. It is consulted by families, businesses, and even government officials for scheduling important events. The 2024 edition sold over 300,000 copies in Hong Kong alone.
9 August 1965Singapore's National Day on 9 August 1965 was not chosen arbitrarily — the date was selected in part for its almanac auspiciousness. The number 9 (九, jiǔ, meaning 'long-lasting') and the specific day's almanac designation made it a propitious choice for the founding of a new nation.
Key Terms
Twelve Values (十二建除)The twelve cyclical daily qualities: Establish (建), Remove (除), Full (滿), Balance (平), Stable (定), Initiate (執), Destruction (破), Danger (危), Success (成), Receive (收), Open (開), Close (閉).Auspicious Activities (宜)Activities that are favoured on a given day, such as marriage, travel, construction, or business opening.Inauspicious Activities (忌)Activities that should be avoided on a given day due to conflicting cosmic energies.Presiding Deity (值日神)The deity that governs a specific day, each with domains of auspiciousness and inauspiciousness that modify the day's overall character.