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Since ancient times, our ancestors have valued consulting dates and times, especially for significant events like weddings, moving homes, or opening businesses. Usually, Zodiac days and hours are considered the best times for major endeavors. So, what exactly are Zodiac days, and how are they calculated? Let's unravel this mystery with Mytour in today's article.
What are Zodiac days and Dark days?
According to ancient astronomy beliefs, the Zodiac is the sun's orbital path throughout the year. The sun moves along the Zodiac towards the east, sequentially passing through 12 constellations, corresponding to 12 hours.
On the sun's journey, gods take turns guarding each hour, including 6 benevolent and 6 malevolent deities. The hour when benevolent deities are on duty is the Zodiac hour; conversely, it is the Dark hour. The day when benevolent deities govern is termed Zodiac day; otherwise, it is a Dark day.
It is believed that on these days, any task will proceed smoothly, prosperously, and favorably. Conversely, on Dark days, it is advisable to steer clear, as unexpected misfortunes and accidents are more likely to occur. This is why our ancestors have always chosen these days to initiate significant endeavors.
Understanding Zodiac Hours and Dark Hours
According to folklore, a day is divided into 12 zodiac hours, each corresponding to one zodiac sign, starting from Rat to Pig, consecutively. Each zodiac sign corresponds to one zodiac hour (2 hours on the clock), starting from the Rat hour (11:00 PM - 1:00 AM).
Among these 12 zodiac hours, there are 6 Zodiac hours and 6 Dark hours. Zodiac hours are considered favorable and suitable for significant activities such as starting construction, moving into a new home, getting married, or traveling. Conversely, Dark hours are deemed inauspicious, and it's advisable to avoid undertaking any major tasks to prevent failure or setbacks.
The Most Common Methods of Calculating Zodiac Days Today
Essentially, there are two main methods to calculate Zodiac days and hours: one is based on tables, and the other involves using the traditional manual calculation method.
Using the Zodiac Day Calculation Table within the Month
Each month of the year has 4 Zodiac days, which are considered auspicious, and 4 Dark days, which are considered inauspicious. The specific days depend on the month and the day (based on zodiac signs) within that month, as illustrated below:
Calculation table for Zodiac and Dark days in each month of a yearThe next step is to calculate Zodiac hours within the day. There's a relatively simple method for calculating hours, extracted from Phan Kế Bính's “Choose an Auspicious Day,” as shown in the table below. According to this, any hour starting with the negative character “D” is considered a Zodiac hour (auspicious hour).
For example:
- If it is the day of Dragon or Monkey, the Zodiac hours are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Snake, Goat, and Dog, while the remaining hours are Dark hours.
- If it is the day of Snake or Pig, the Zodiac hours are Ox, Horse, Tiger, Dog, and Pig.
Using the manual method to calculate today's Zodiac day
In addition to the method mentioned above, our folklore also employs another approach, which is to calculate based on finger segments (according to the lunar calendar). This method is based on the theory of Six Daoist Stars (six signifies the number of stars, lights, in the sky). To perform this calculation, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Use 2 fingers, the index and middle fingers. Each finger has 3 segments, making a total of 6 segments, corresponding to the 6 stars in the Six Daoist Stars theory.
Step 2: Calculate along the clockwise direction, starting from the first segment of the index finger to the end of the third segment of the middle finger. The 6 segments correspond to 6 stars, namely Dai An, Liu Lian, Toc Hy, Xich Khau, Teo Cat, and Khong Vong.
For example, on 1/1/2024, it begins with the Dai An segment, followed by Liu Lian on 2/1, and so on. After counting all 6 segments, return to the first segment, corresponding to the Dai An segment. Apply this method to count all days in the month.
Days falling on the Dai An, Toc Hy, and Teo Cat segments are Zodiac days in the month.
So, this article helps you understand what Zodiac days are and the methods for calculating auspicious days and hours. With this knowledge, you'll know which days and hours are favorable for smoothly executing significant endeavors. If you have any questions on this topic, feel free to leave a comment below.
