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Meaning and Context
The Shen Sha system categorizes celestial influences that affect each day. These aren't literally gods or demons but represent favorable or unfavorable cosmic configurations calculated from calendar factors.
- Shen (神): Deities, beneficial influences, auspicious stars
- Sha (煞): Killing forces, malevolent influences, inauspicious factors
- Hundreds of different Shen Sha exist in classical texts
- Their presence is calculated from stem-branch combinations
Classical Roots
From Xieji Bianfang Shu
「神煞者，天地之精气所化，主日辰之吉凶。」
Plain translation
"Shen Sha are transformations of heaven and earth's vital essence, governing the auspiciousness of days." They represent cosmic patterns affecting temporal quality.
Common Shen and Sha
Examples of frequently referenced Shen Sha:
- Auspicious: Tianxi (天喜), Tiande (天德), Yuede (月德)
- Inauspicious: Suipo (岁破), Wuguida (五鬼大), Sansha (三煞)
- Activity-specific: Jiehun (嫁娶) sha, Anmen (安门) sha
- Some sha only affect specific activities, not general day quality
How It Shows Up in FateFolio
In FateFolio's date selection tool, the major Shen Sha active on each day are displayed. The system highlights both favorable deities and sha to avoid, helping you make informed decisions.
Common Misconceptions
- Taking Shen Sha literally as spirits — they're systematic calendar calculations
- Thinking any sha makes a day unusable — context and severity matter
- Ignoring that some sha only affect specific activities — a "marriage sha" day might be fine for business
FAQ
Are all sha equally bad?
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No, sha vary significantly in severity and scope. Some like Suipo (Year Break) are considered very serious and affect all activities. Others are minor or only affect specific types of events. Classical texts and experienced practitioners distinguish between major and minor sha.