Jianchu Twelve-Spirit System
義例二·建除十二神
The Twelve Jianchu Spirits
建除十二神
General Method of the Jianchu System
建除總法
曆書曰：曆家以建除滿平定執破危成收開閉凡十二日周而復始，觀所值以定吉凶。每月交節則疊兩值日。其法從月建上起建，與斗杓所指相應。如正月建寅，則寅日起建，順行十二辰是也。
The Calendar text states: Calendrists use the twelve-day cycle of Establish (jian), Remove (chu), Full (man), Level (ping), Settle (ding), Seize (zhi), Break (po), Danger (wei), Completion (cheng), Receive (shou), Open (kai), Close (bi) -- cycling endlessly. They observe which spirit governs each day to determine auspiciousness. At each monthly solar-term transition, two spirits overlap on one day. The method: start 'Establish' from the monthly branch (yue jian), corresponding to where the Dipper handle points. In the first month, which builds at Yin, Yin-day starts Establish, proceeding sequentially through the twelve branches.
First Month Jianchu Sequence
正月建除序列
淮南子曰：正月建寅，則寅為建，卯為除，辰為滿，巳為平，午為定，未為執，申為破，酉為危，戌為成，亥為收，子為開，丑為閉。
The Huainanzi states: In the first month, with Yin as the building branch -- Yin is Establish, Mao is Remove, Chen is Full, Si is Level, Wu is Settle, Wei is Seize, Shen is Break, You is Danger, Xu is Completion, Hai is Receive, Zi is Open, Chou is Close.
Auspiciousness Ratings
建除吉凶總評
選擇宗鏡曰：建為歲君，為元神，為吉凶眾神之主帥，可坐不可向。除為四利太陽，小吉。滿為土瘟，小凶，惟宜造倉庫。平為小凶。定為小吉。執為小凶。破為大凶。危為大凶。成為大吉。收為小凶。開為大吉。閉為大凶。
The Xuanze Zongjing states: Establish is the Year Lord, the Primal Spirit, the commander of all auspicious and inauspicious spirits -- suitable to sit facing away, not to face toward. Remove is the Four Advantages Great Sun -- slightly auspicious. Full is the Earth Pestilence -- slightly inauspicious, only suitable for building warehouses. Level is slightly inauspicious. Settle is slightly auspicious. Seize is slightly inauspicious. Break is greatly inauspicious. Danger is greatly inauspicious. Completion is greatly auspicious. Receive is slightly inauspicious. Open is greatly auspicious. Close is greatly inauspicious.
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