The Chinese Almanac · Tong Shu · 通书
Pick a day,
by the old calendar.
The Tong Shu has been consulted in China for over a thousand years to choose wedding days, signing days, ground-breaking days, and the right morning to begin a long journey. Tell us the day you have in mind. We'll tell you what the Almanac says about it.
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Want something more personal? Cross-reference your birth chart — the best day for you is rarely the best day for everyone.
What is the Tong Shu (Chinese Almanac)?
The Tong Shu (通書), known in everyday speech as the Chinese Almanac or Yellow Calendar (黄历), is one of the oldest continuously used reference systems in Chinese civilization — consulted for over a thousand years to identify whether a given day is auspicious for a particular activity. Each day in the Chinese calendar carries a unique combination of Heavenly Stem, Earthly Branch, and traditional star classifications that determine its energetic character. The almanac distills this information into two simple lists: 宜 (what the day is suited for) and 忌 (what to avoid). Wedding days, business signings, construction groundbreakings, long journeys, and new beginnings — all have traditionally been scheduled with the Tong Shu in hand.
Auspicious Dates and the Classical System
Chinese date selection is not superstition — it is a structured system that maps the cyclic energy of each day onto the nature of human activities. An auspicious date (吉日) for a wedding is calculated differently from a lucky day for signing a contract or starting construction. Each activity has its own requirements in terms of the day's Stem-Branch combination, the clashing or harmonizing stars, and the seasonal position within the solar term cycle. The Tong Shu encodes centuries of observation into a reference that families, business owners, and architects still consult today. Satellite Feng Shui surfaces this classical knowledge so that any English-speaking user can access the same guidance without needing to read classical Chinese.
Cross-Reference with Your Bazi Birth Chart
The Chinese almanac provides a universal baseline — the same day is read the same way for everyone. For a more personal level of guidance, traditional practitioners cross-reference the almanac with the individual 's Four Pillars of Destiny (Bazi) birth chart. Your Day Master, your favorable elements, and your current major luck cycle all interact with the almanac day in ways that are unique to you. Satellite Feng Shui's bazi reading tool can provide this deeper, personalized layer of Chinese astrology analysis — helping you find not just a good day in general, but the right day for you specifically.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Chinese Almanac (Tong Shu)?▾
The Tong Shu (通书), also called the Yellow Calendar (黄历) or Chinese Almanac, is a traditional Chinese calendar system used for over a thousand years to identify auspicious and inauspicious days. It is based on the interaction of the Ten Heavenly Stems, Twelve Earthly Branches, and traditional star systems to classify each day's suitability for different activities such as weddings, business signings, travel, and construction.
What are auspicious dates in Chinese culture?▾
Auspicious dates (吉日, ji ri) are days classified by the Chinese almanac as favorable for specific activities. Each day carries a unique combination of heavenly and earthly energies that make it more or less suitable for events like weddings, business dealings, moving house, or beginning a journey. The almanac marks both activities that are recommended (宜) and those to avoid (忌) for each day.
How does Satellite Feng Shui's Chinese Almanac tool work?▾
Satellite Feng Shui's Chinese Almanac tool lets you look up any date and see what the traditional Tong Shu says about it — what activities are suitable (宜) and what to avoid (忌) for that particular day. For a more personalized reading that cross-references the almanac day with your personal Bazi birth chart and favorable elements, you can also use our Four Pillars of Destiny reading tool.
Is the Chinese Almanac tool free to use?▾
Yes, Satellite Feng Shui's Chinese Almanac tool is completely free. Enter the date you have in mind and your purpose, and the tool will tell you what the classical almanac recommends. No sign-up or payment required.