Origins of Star Calendars (Companion Text)

The Tianbao Calendar states: 'The Monthly Establishment is the spirit of yang establishment. In the direction it governs, for warfare and attack one should face away from it, not confront it. On the day it governs, investiture and administration are suitable, but construction-earthworks and marriage ceremonies are not.' The Calendar Precedent states: 'The first month establishes at Yin, proceeding sequentially through the twelve branches.' Cao Zhenggui says: 'In the territory governed by the Monthly Establishment, one should face away from it in warfare to ride its vigorous qi while attacking the opponent who is in rest and imprisonment.'

Monthly Destruction is the day that clashes with the Monthly Establishment, sharing the same meaning as Year Destruction.

Sang Daomao says: 'Celestial Net and River Chief are inauspicious spirits within the month; on their governed day, all affairs should be avoided.' The Calendar Precedent states: 'In yang-establishment months, three branches ahead of the Monthly Establishment is the Celestial Net, three behind is the River Chief; in yin-establishment months, this is reversed.' Cao Zhenggui says: 'River Chief and Celestial Net are the four-killing positions of the monthly establishment -- specifically the Level and Receive days.' The Dongyuan Classic states: 'Opposition at seven positions is clash; separation by three positions is destruction.'

The Guangsheng Calendar states: 'Monthly Killing is the killing spirit within the month. On its day, avoid entertaining guests, excavation, planting, and acquiring livestock.' The Calendar Precedent states: 'Starting from Chou in the first month, moving retrograde through the four seasons.' We note: Monthly Killing shares the same meaning as Year Killing.

The Guangsheng Calendar states: 'On the branch punished by the Monthly Establishment, avoid deploying troops, nurturing, generating wealth, marriage, and construction.' Month 1: Si; Month 2: Zi; Month 3: Chen; Month 4: Shen; Month 5: Wu; Month 6: Chou; Month 7: Yin; Month 8: You; Month 9: Wei; Month 10: Hai; Month 11: Mao; Month 12: Xu. The Three Punishments: Yin punishes Si, Si punishes Shen, Shen punishes Yin -- Punishment of Ingratitude. Wei punishes Chou, Chou punishes Xu, Xu punishes Wei -- Punishment of Relying on Power. Zi punishes Mao, Mao punishes Zi -- Punishment of Impropriety. Chen, Wu, You, Hai -- Self-Punishment.

Punishment of Ingratitude: Si (fire) depends on Yin (wood) for generation, yet uses its long-life Geng metal to control Yin wood. Shen (metal) depends on Si (fire) for generation, yet uses its long-life Ren water to control Si fire. Yin (wood) depends on Shen's long-life water-earth for its own long life, yet uses the fire it generates to chase Shen metal. The child harming its mother constitutes ingratitude, hence 'punishment.' Punishment of Relying on Power: Chou uses stored metal to chase Wei's stored wood; Wei uses yin-stored water to chase Xu's stored fire. Chu Huagu says: 'Each group is separated by an interval of ten. Ten is the killing number; when accumulated counts reach ten, everything is emptied. The Way of Heaven detests excess; when full, it overturns. This is the origin of the Three Punishments system.'

The Shenshu Classic states: 'Monthly Harm is the branch harmed by the yang establishment. On its governed day, avoid siege warfare, field battles, raising livestock, marriage gatherings, consulting doctors and shamans, and acquiring servants.' The Calendar Precedent states: 'Starting from Si in the first month, moving retrograde through twelve branches.' Six Harms mechanics: Mao and Chen harm each other -- Mao's Yi wood harms Chen's stored earth. Yin and Si harm each other -- Yin's Jia harms Si's Xu earth. Chou and Wu harm each other -- Chou's Gui water harms Wu's Ding fire. Zi and Wei harm each other -- Zi's Xin metal harms Wei's stored wood. Shen and Hai harm each other -- Hai generates wood that harms Shen's earth. You and Xu harm each other -- Xu's stored fire harms You's vigorous metal. We note: the Six Harms mean discord. The Monthly Establishment is the chief of all spirits; clashing with its combination partner constitutes harm. Yin combines with Hai, but Si clashes with it, so Yin and Si harm each other.

Solitary Fire: We note that Solitary Fire is the same as Monthly Harm, also called Roaming Calamity, also called Six Harms. Monthly Emptiness: The Shuyao Calendar states: 'Monthly Emptiness is the void spirit within the month. On its day, avoid opening granaries, disbursing wealth, mobilization and travel, and marriage ceremonies.' Starting from Chou in the first month, moving retrograde through the four seasons. Cao Zhenggui says: 'Monthly Emptiness is the position where the monthly establishment's three-harmony five-element form takes shape. Things have just taken form but their substance is not yet solid, hence called empty. It shares the same position as Monthly Killing.'

Great Depletion: The Shuyao Calendar states: 'The spirit of emptiness and depletion within the month. On its day, avoid managing treasuries, disbursing wealth, and long-distance debt collection.' Starting from Shen in the first month, proceeding sequentially through twelve branches. Cao Zhenggui says: 'Great Depletion is the branch of the monthly establishment's striking clash and dispersal, sharing the same position as Monthly Destruction.' Small Depletion: Also a depletion spirit within the month. On its day, avoid business ventures, planting, receiving wealth, and commerce. It always occupies the position five branches ahead of the Monthly Establishment. Cao Zhenggui says: 'Small Depletion is the branch where the monthly establishment's qi is extinguished -- a subordinate spirit of Great Depletion.'

Great Time: The Shenshu Classic states: 'Great Time represents the image of a general. On its governed day, avoid deploying troops, building houses, and marriage gatherings.' Starting from Mao in the first month, moving retrograde through the four middle-positions. The Huainanzi states: 'Great Time is Xianchi (Salty Pool).' Cao Zhenggui says: 'Great Time is the bathing position of the monthly establishment's three-harmony five-element cycle. When the five elements reach this point, they decline and are extinguished -- the most inauspicious position, hence called Great Inauspicious Time.' Small Time: The Shenshu Classic states: 'Small Time represents the image of a lieutenant. On its day, avoid marriage and opening granaries.' The Huainanzi states: 'Small Time IS the monthly establishment itself.' Marriage is taboo because yang qi solely maintains its vigor; opening granaries is taboo because vigorous qi flows out and is not recovered.