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Meaning and Context
Each day in the Chinese calendar is assigned one of 12 "officers" that indicates its general quality. These officers cycle in fixed order, repeating every 12 days.
- Jian (建): Establish — good for starting things
- Chu (除): Remove — good for clearing obstacles
- Man (满): Full — auspicious for celebrations
- Ping (平): Balance — neutral day
- Ding (定): Settle — good for finalizing matters
- Zhi (执): Grasp — good for taking control
- Po (破): Break — generally inauspicious
- Wei (危): Danger — requires caution
- Cheng (成): Success — very auspicious
- Shou (收): Receive — good for collecting
- Kai (开): Open — good for new beginnings
- Bi (闭): Close — good for endings, rest
Classical Roots
From Xieji Bianfang Shu
「十二建除者，日之吉凶之纲也。」
Plain translation
"The Twelve Day Officers are the guiding principle for day auspiciousness." This establishes the system as a primary framework for date quality.
Day Officer Qualities
Traditional categorization of the 12 officers:
- Most auspicious: Cheng (成/Success), Kai (开/Open), Man (满/Full)
- Generally favorable: Jian (建), Chu (除), Ding (定), Zhi (执)
- Neutral: Ping (平), Shou (收), Bi (闭)
- Unfavorable: Po (破/Break), Wei (危/Danger)
How It Shows Up in FateFolio
In FateFolio's Auspicious Dates tool, each day displays its day officer. This is one of the key factors in determining whether a day is suitable for your planned activity.
Common Misconceptions
- Judging solely by day officer — other factors like sha and personal chart also matter
- Thinking Break day is always terrible — it may be suitable for demolition or ending things
- Assuming Success day is perfect for everything — specific activities have specific requirements
FAQ
Can a Break (Po) day ever be good for anything?
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Yes, actually. While Po (Break) days are generally unfavorable for constructive activities like weddings or business openings, they can be suitable for activities involving breaking or demolition — such as tearing down old structures or ending bad habits. Context matters in date selection.