What is a wan nian li (Chinese almanac)?

Wan nian li literally means ten-thousand-year calendar: a perpetual almanac that shows, for any given day, the lunar date, the solar term, the day's stem-and-branch pillar, and the traditional notes on what the day suits and what it does not. This page gives all of that for today, and for any date you pick.

How do I read the suitable and avoid lists?

Read them as an opening checklist, not a verdict. The lists come from the day's pillar and its relationship to the current solar term, and they are most useful for choosing between two workable dates — not for cancelling something you have already committed to. When a day is unremarkable, the honest reading is that it is unremarkable.

What are the twelve double-hours used for?

The day divides into twelve two-hour branches, each with its own quality. Practical use is narrow and real: when you have latitude over timing within a day — a call, a signing, a first conversation — the hour table tells you which windows the tradition reads as smoother and which it reads as friction.

What is a solar term and why does it matter?

The twenty-four solar terms divide the year by the sun's position rather than by the moon, which is why they anchor farming, seasonal health notes, and the month pillar in a birth chart. Terms shift by a day or two each year, so the almanac calculates them rather than reading them off a fixed table.

Is the Chinese almanac the same as the lunar calendar?

Not quite. The lunar calendar tracks months by the moon; the almanac layers the solar terms, the sexagenary day pillars, and the traditional day notes on top of it. That is why the almanac can tell you both the lunar date and the day's character, while a plain lunar calendar only tells you the date.

Wan Nian Li calendar

Check today before texting TA, moving money, confessing, negotiating, or signing.

A daily Chinese calendar for lunar date, ganzhi pillars, solar terms, wealth direction, yi/ji prompts, and two-hour rhythm. Use it to spot action windows before sending the message, spending money, confessing, negotiating, moving, signing, or deciding to wait.

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Lunar date

Lunar 12/24

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Day pillar

Geng Shen

Geng Shen · Metal

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Press ⌘D (Mac) or Ctrl+D to bookmark today's page.

Year pillar

Ji Hai

Ji Hai · Zodiac: Pig

Month pillar

Ding Chou

Ding Chou · Xiao Han

Active solar term

Xiao Han

2020-01-05

Next solar term

Da Han

2020-01-20

Tong Shu day record

A more traditional almanac view adds Na Yin, xun-kong, lunar phase, six-day rhythm, clash-sha, directions, and spirit cues. Read it as a compact field note before choosing action.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Geng Shen

Lunar 12/24 · Threshold

Na Yin

Pomegranate Wood

fruitfulness after pressure; protect what is ripening

Xun-kong

Jia-Yin decade

Void branches: Zi / Chou · This ten-day xun begins with Jia-Yin decade; Zi / Chou act as void-branch cues. Treat them as a prompt to check whether a promise has landed in reality.

Six-day rhythm

Taian

steady, broadly usable, and calm enough for agreement

Moon phase

Waning moon

Light is decreasing: sort results, reduce leakage, and return to essentials.

Clash-sha

Clash Yin · Sha South

Clash-sha is a warning bell: when Yin themes appear, slow the move, soften the tone, and avoid forcing a result.

Daily directions

Wealth direction

East

Use the wealth direction as a cue for resources, budgeting, receiving, and value review.

Joy direction

Northwest

Use the joy direction for warmer tone, invitations, and softer relationship repair.

Noble cue

Chou / Wei

Noble branches point to complementary perspectives; they do not guarantee a specific person will appear.

Fetal-spirit cue

courtyard or balcony · Southeast

Fetal-spirit direction is a classical timing reference: keep renovation, noise, and heavy movement gentle around the indicated side.

This page translates Tong Shu categories into practical planning language. For professional date selection such as weddings, renovation, or burial, consult a qualified practitioner.

Auspicious spirits

No-Separation

keep sensitive matters whole and carefully held

Six Harmony

seek one stabilizing ally

Root

Today's mansion draws from Azure Dragon; its working image is "foundation and belonging".

Caution spirits

Heavenly Penalty

risk needs process and written clarity

Clash Yin

When Yin appears in people, timing, or context, slow down before concluding.

Two-hour rhythm

Traditional shichen divides the day into twelve two-hour windows. Use it to plan energy, not to outsource judgment.

23:00-00:59

Bing Zi

Zi · Water

White Tiger · Caution

quiet review

01:00-02:59

Ding Chou

Chou · Earth

Jade Hall · Auspicious

preparation

03:00-04:59

Wu Yin

Yin · Wood

Heavenly Jail · Caution

initiation

05:00-06:59

Ji Mao

Mao · Wood

Black Tortoise · Caution

conversation

07:00-08:59

Geng Chen

Chen · Earth

Life Steward · Auspicious

organization

09:00-10:59

Xin Si

Si · Fire

Hooked Earth · Ordinary

visibility

11:00-12:59

Ren Wu

Wu · Fire

Azure Dragon · Auspicious

presentation

13:00-14:59

Gui Wei

Wei · Earth

Bright Hall · Auspicious

care

15:00-16:59

Jia Shen

Shen · Metal

Heavenly Penalty · Caution

analysis

17:00-18:59

Yi You

You · Metal

Vermilion Bird · Caution

completion

19:00-20:59

Bing Xu

Xu · Earth

Golden Cabinet · Auspicious

boundary

21:00-22:59

Ding Hai

Hai · Water

Heavenly Virtue · Auspicious

restoration

Festival notes

No major festival note today

24 solar terms

Solar terms anchor the calendar to seasonal change. Exact professional almanacs may use deeper ephemeris rules; this page keeps a practical astronomical approximation.

Xiao Han

2020-01-05

Da Han

2020-01-20

Li Chun

2020-02-04

Yu Shui

2020-02-19

Jing Zhe

2020-03-05

Chun Fen

2020-03-20

Qing Ming

2020-04-04

Gu Yu

2020-04-19

Li Xia

2020-05-05

Xiao Man

2020-05-20

Mang Zhong

2020-06-05

Xia Zhi

2020-06-20

Xiao Shu

2020-07-06

Da Shu

2020-07-22

Li Qiu

2020-08-07

Chu Shu

2020-08-22

Bai Lu

2020-09-07

Qiu Fen

2020-09-22

Han Lu

2020-10-07

Shuang Jiang

2020-10-22

Li Dong

2020-11-06

Xiao Xue

2020-11-21

Da Xue

2020-12-06

Dong Zhi

2020-12-21

Reference anchors

The system follows common public calendar patterns: lunar date, ganzhi, solar terms, 12 day officers, 28 lunar mansions, hour periods, and practical yi/ji language.

Hong Kong Observatory Calendar HKO Stems and Branches Tong Shu Almanac 12 Day Officers Time and Date Chinese Calendar

Stillness Dao is a digital tool for education, entertainment, and self-reflection based on traditional Chinese metaphysics. Readings describe timing patterns and practical signals for guidance only — they are not deterministic, promise no guaranteed outcomes, and are not a substitute for professional financial, medical, or legal advice.

Almanac layers

A thicker day reading combines day officer, lunar mansion, and branch relations before you choose an action.

12 Day Officer

Threshold

risk review, timing checks, sensitive conversations with care

move slowly where consequences are hard to reverse

28 Lunar Mansion

Root

Azure Dragon

foundation and belonging

The 28 mansion is used here as an almanac-style reference layer, adding imagery to the day pillar without turning it into absolute fortune.

Branch relations

Clash with Yin

The day branch opposes Yin. If that branch appears in a person, time, or situation, slow the reaction and check assumptions.

Harmonizes with Si

Si gives a six-harmony cue. Good for finding complementary support, negotiation, and repair.

Hidden friction with Hai

Hai can describe subtle friction. Name small misunderstandings before they become larger.

Day meaning

Geng Shen Day Meaning

Geng Shen places "raw metal: decision, pressure, tools, and necessary cutting" inside "autumn monkey: analysis, tools, travel, and quick adjustment". The point is not fortune first; it is how Metal finds a workable posture inside real conditions.

Heavenly stem image

raw metal: decision, pressure, tools, and necessary cutting

Earthly branch scene

autumn monkey: analysis, tools, travel, and quick adjustment

Questions

What small step today will leave a signal, not only a mood?

Am I growing, sorting, holding, expressing, or avoiding?

If I write one Journal entry tonight, what do I want to be able to review?

Practical use

Replace an abstract wish with one checkable action.

Compare the yi/ji prompts with your actual schedule; do not obey them blindly.

When the clash branch appears in people or timing, delay the first reaction.

Seasonal field

Xiao Han · 2020-01-05

Climate

deep cold, reduced daylight, and the need to protect inner resources

Body

keep warmth, protect joints, and avoid spending recovery energy too freely

Space

reduce dampness, repair small leaks, and keep one warm corner clear

Practice

choose quiet planning, financial review, and sleep repair before ambitious launches

Classical cautions

Peng Zu lines are preserved as cultural memory and translated into modern caution, not fear.

Stem caution

Do not over-tighten the threads. Structure helps only when tension is right.

Branch caution

Before changing bed or rest zones, check support, door line, and safety.

These classical lines are preserved as cultural texture, not literal threat; the page translates them into verifiable modern cautions.

Good for

Edit, decide, sort, archive, set a boundary, or review a contract slowly.

Remove one friction point from your workflow or space.

Use "analysis" as today's rhythm keyword.

Work with the Xiao Han seasonal tone through one adjustment to verify.