T>un S^u, 1-17

pp. 6-7 the sections of the Almanac

p.

#

section

6

1

Spring Festival Cow

 

2

years & astrological written characters

 

3

Charts for Finding Personal Fortune

 

4

years according to Chinese & European kalendars

 

5

the 24 Joints

 

6

the 100 ways for writing 2 Auspicious Characters

 

7

Biscuit Poe:m by Liu Po Wen

 

8

Poe:m of the 4 Seasons by the Yellow Emperor

 

9

times of sunrise & of sunset

 

10

Charms of C^an T>ien-s^ih, Catcher of Ghosts

 

11

fortunes of the 28 Lunar Mansions

 

12

fortune-telling by physical sensations

 

13

the 26 Malignant Gates

 

14

auspicious & inauspicious days for various activities

 

15

deity in charge according to one’s age

 

16

Fen-s^ui

 

17

charms to protect the foetus; spirits guarding stages of gestation

 

18

Book of Auspicious and Inauspicious Dreams, by old Mr. C^ou

 

19

weather- & farming-forecasts

 

20

auspicious & inauspicious stars for the year

 

21

Cup-Divination Chart for T>u Ti the earth-god

 

22

coin-praediction

 

23

Chart of Spiritual Value & of Bone-Weight, by master Yuan T>ien Kan

 

24

lucky direction for the day

 

25

T>ien Kan – day-calculation on the hand, for fortune-telling

 

26

tale about Confucius’ talk with praecotious boy child

 

27

etiquette for writing epistles

 

28

pronunciation-guide

7

29

Secret Book of Spirit-Calculation, by C^u-ko

 

30

the 4 different styles of writing

 

31

telegraph-numeration of Chinese written characters

 

32

the 100 Family-Names

 

33

auspicious times for miscellaneous activities

 

34

how to evaluate people by their activities

 

35

how to operate a small business

 

36

Guide to Managing Home, by C^u Tzu

 

37

traditional medical praescriptions

 

38

astrological charts

 

39

eclipses

 

40

physiognomy & palmistry

 

41

Song of Interpreting Personalities

 

42

Method of Calculating Days, by respected master T>un

 

43

Pai C^un C^in – Yin & Yan Calendar-Comparison Table

 

44

charms

 

45

the 60-Day Cycle of Heavenly Stems & Earthly Branches

 

46

Kalendar of Chinese Holidays

 

47

next year

---------------------------------------------------------

pp. 9-12 – 0. praeface

p. 9 the title of this book

"the T>ung Shu – The Book of Myriad Things. (It is often referred to as the T>ung Sing. This is a pun in which the word for ‘book’ – Shu – is replaced by the word for ‘good luck’ – Sing. ...)"

p. 10 deletion of an entire chapter; date of composition of the T>un S^u

As lately as "1984 there was a two-page section on the proper times for planting and harvesting certain crops. In the 1985 edition this has been removed." [Section 19]

"the predictions in Section 7 ... are remarkably accurate up to about the mid-1910s, but ... then become very vague, indicating the approximate date of the main composition of the predictions."

p. 10 annually revised sections of the T>un S^u

"those sections which are altered each year -- ... for instance Sections 3, 5, 16, 24 and most of 46 – are worked out each year by professional astrologers".

p. 12 sections fully translated herein versus sections merely partially translated

"some sections contain full or substantial part translations, for example

Sections 7, 18 and 26.

Other sections contain only those parts in translation which are necessary in order to comprehend the function and use of that section, for example

Sections 3, 27 and 34."

--------------------------------------------------------

pp. 13-40 – 00. introduction

p. 13 the nigh-incompraehensibility of this book, without appended explanations

" ‘It is not used or understood by ordinary people ...; but it is indispensable to the diviner.’ For most Chinese it is a closed book, opened for them by specialists when the need arises".

pp. 18-21 antique editions of kalendar-almanac

p.

edition

18

According to Fen Su (c. 835 Chr.E.), "In all the provinces of Szechwan and Huai-nan, printed calendars are on sale in the markets."

19

According to Marco Polo, "in the city of Kambalu {H^an-balig = Peking} ... They write down their prediction for each year upon certain small squares, which are called Tacuin, and these they sell, for a groat apeice, to all persons who are desirous of peeping into the future."

20

"Kuo Shou-ching (c. 1290), gathered all the almanacs he could find and produced the first ever attempt at an overall system. This he published under the title A System of Divination -- Sou-shi-shuh."

21

During the Min dynasty, "The collection of almanacs published by Kuo Shou-ching was further expanded and published by Imperial edict with the title Ta-t>ung – Official Almanac."

p. 29 annual installation of printed copy of almanac in home

The "Almanac is ... from its hook by the main door ... hung up by the red cord loop at the top of the book."

p. 30 Metonic Cycle

Like unto the antient Athenians, the Chinese employ a 19-year cycle : "during each nineteen-year cycle, seven years needed an extra month."

pp. 35-36 characteristics of each of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac

p.

animal

characteristics

35

rat

quick-witted

 

ox

long-suffering

36

tigre

keepeth promises

 

rabbit

clever & talented

 

dragon

energetic

 

snake

never letting slip an opportunity

 

horse

harworking

 

ram

quiet, patient, gentle

 

monkey

full of plans

 

chicken

keepeth time well, is punctural

 

hound

praeferreth to follow a leader

 

swine

home-loving

----------------------------------------------------------

p. 30 (in the "Introduction") – sect. 5. the 24 Joints & Breaths of the solar year

"As for the solar year ... it is subdivided into twenty-four two-week periods known collectively as the Twenty-Four Joints and Breaths. They star on the days when the sun is in the 1st or the 15th degree of each of the animal signs ... . Those on the 1st are called ‘principle terms’; those on the 15th ‘divisional terms’.

{cf. also

the Roman Kalendar (of Etruscan provenience) having 24 divisions of the year,

with Kalends on the 1st day of each month, and

Idus (in inscriptions often "Eidus", later "Ides" – from, according to Macrobius : Saturnalia 1:15, Etruscan /iduo/ ‘I divide’) on the middle day of each month.}

This set of twenty-four starts ... on 4 February, with Li Ch>un – the Beginning of Spring".

{The antient Romans also started their Kalendar with the spring season, reckoned as the beginning of March.}

{This Chinese system of 24 divisions of the year is said to have originated with the Hsia [‘Summer’] dynasty http://www.absolutelyfengshui.com/dateselection/hsia-calendar.php -- if so, the Hsia dynasty may be of Indus-Valley origin; cf. the 24 naks.atra-s enumerated in the Brahman.a-s of the Veda}

pp. 197, 199 instances of celebration of some the 24 Joints & Breaths of the solar year are :-

p.

date

name

celebration

197

mid 2nd month

C^in Min (‘Clear Bright’)

to clean the tombs

199

mid 11th month

 

feast for family

 

end 12th,

start 1st

Li C^>un

start farmer’s year

pp. 70-75 – sect. 7. "Biscuit Poe:m", a dialogue between the founder of the Min dynasty and the consultant Liu C^i

p.

poe:m

71

"although your castle is strong and sturdy a swallow can easily fly over it."

72

"The north side will be strongly and bravely defended".

 

"8000 women ghosts trouble the Palace".

 

"The T square hangs on the tree".

 

"Eighteen sons will attack."

73

"People would rather study than fight."

 

"Will there be trouble on Coal Hill ...? ... There is a lucky star which blesses the country for half of six hundred six hundred years."

 

"There will be twenty-three people to protect the eight directions. ... Will the twenty-three he honest ...? ... If the twenty-three are

74

dishonest, then your Ming dynasty is finally over."

 

"There will be 2—8 major wars."

 

"The rain water grass head."

 

"fire and water will fight each other. ... Will the son-in-law attack? ... No. Because water and fire will compromise, there will be peace in the country."

 

"Will Mongolia cease to be? ... Not yet, although people will have a hard time. But the luck of the country is going well."

 

"The fire dragon will cross the river and make it too hard to bear."

75

"The moon’s light will be dimmed during the next period ... . ... But the country will be built up again. ...

 

But beware. For a woman carrying a child will be in charge."

 

"99 catties ... . ... The capital will move."

 

"There is a big hole between the mountains and it holds 108,000. If anyone gets there, they will be alright. If not, the hard luck. ... The people will enjoy peace. ...

 

Everything will be well and music will play. There will be an Emperor for five hundred years and a holy man will come to sort out all the problems. All will be peaceful. Everyone will have enough money. ... Everyone will be free to enjoy themselves. The luck of the country will go well. All things will be plentiful. At this time there will be a lot of learning. It will be like a monkey splashing, a chicken on a perch or a dog barking ... . The country will have excellent poets ... . ...

 

So the subjects should be loved as though brothers. Train for posterity and for whatever comes."

pp. 76, 78 – sect. 8. The Yellow Emperor’s Poe:m of the 4 Seasons

p.

"Born on the Emperor’s __,"

life-style

76

head

"will get rich, ... gets senior post"

 

hand

"Money enough for a business."

78

shoulder

"Throughout life is wealthy. ... farms."

 

belly

"holding parties and dancing. ... variable fortune"

 

girth

"has gold. ... very modern, ... in the progressive world."

 

knee

"no reward ... , no time to rest, ... terrible bad luck."

 

foot

"It is not suitable for him to live in his ancestor’s house."

variations of times for parts of Emperors body according to the 4 seasons : http://www.absolutelyfengshui.com/astrology/emperor-poem.php

pp. 80-83, 86 – sect. 10. the 10 charms by C^an Tao-Lin at Kian-si

p. 86 places & uses for the 10 charms

#

locale

function

1

bed

to protect bedding

2

on kitchen wall

to protect kitchen implements

3

on wall of animal-stall

to evade sickness

4

on main entrance door

to hinder entry by birds

5

on one’s person

to hinder birds from soiling one’s clothing

6

around the house

to hinder objects from becoming lost

7

inside car or boat

to help it evade accident

8

on main door

to hinder entry by wild animals

9

where clothing is drying

to hinder birds from soiling the clothing

10

on one’s person

to protect one’s self from other persons

pp. 94-95 – sect. 11. legendary soldier-heroes & their fortunes for the 28 lunar mansions, as indicated by their respective animals

p.

#

animal

soldier-hero (Cantonese phonetics)

94

1

Crocodile

Tan Kin

 

2

Dragon

N Hon

 

3

Badger

Kar Fok

 

4

Fox

Kwain Hop

 

5

Hound

Kan Sun

 

6

Wolf

Sun Ran

 

7

Hare

Fon Yi

 

8

Porcupine

C^u Yau

 

9

Rat

C^ai C^uen

 

10

Leopard

Kin Tan

 

11

Griffon

Yik Yin

 

12

Bat

Kin Hun

 

13

Pheasant

Kwin Sun

 

14

Gibbon

C^on Fu

 

15

Chicken

Ma Mou

 

16

Crow

Lan Lun

 

17

Horse

Wu Sin

 

18

Earthworm

Won Leun

 

19

Deer

C^an C^uen

 

20

Monkey

Fu C^uen

95

21

Snake

Do Mo

 

22

Elk

Yin Kau

 

23

Sheep

Won Ban

 

24

Tapir

Yam Kwan

 

25

Swallow

Li C^un

 

26

Ox

Man San

 

27

Tigre

Kai Ton

 

28

Swine

Lan C^un

pp. 98-99, 101 – sect. 12. fortune-telling by 12 physical sensations, for the 12 double-hours (translation for the 1st 3 of the 12 sensations, namely :

"Tic in the Eye", Ringing in the Ears", "Burning Sensation in Your Ear".)

"The titles of the other nine sensations covered are as follows :

burning cheeks;

someone ‘walking over your grave’;

being startled;

sneezing once;

suddenly remembering you have left an article of clothing somewhere;

a pot or kettle boiling over or burning;

smouldering wood falling from the fire;

being startled by a dog;

being startled by a flock of birds."

p.

double-hour

 
   

Tic in the Eye

   

left eye

right eye

98

Tzu

"a nobleman will come to see you."

"you will be invited to a big party (feast)."

 

C^>ou

"something will happen to worry you."

"someone is thinking of you."

 

Yin

"a friend will come from afar."

"a happy event awaits you."

 

Mao

"a special guest will come."

"everything will go well."

 

C^>en

"a close friend will come from afar."

"expect a slight injury."

99

Szu

"you will go to a feast."

"you will have a quarrel or disaster."

 

Wu

"you will eat and drink heartily."

"beware or there will be a disaster."

 

Wei

"you are safe and plans will go well."

"you will have a minor happy event."

 

S^en

"you will lose money."

"you will be thinking of your loved one very much."

 

Yu

"a guest is coming."

a guest is coming "from far away."

 

Hsu

"a guest is coming."

"you will go to a big gathering."

 

Hai

"a friend is coming."

"beware trouble in court."

       
   

Ringing in the Ears

   

left ear

right ear

 

Tzu

"your girlfriend or loved one is thinking of you."

"you will lose money."

 

C^>ou

"you will have a quarrel."

"you will have a more serious dispute."

 

Yin

"you will lose some money."

"you will be rushed off your feet."

 

Mao

"you will have a feast."

"a friend will come to visit."

 

C^>en

"you will go on a journey."

"a fiend is on his way."

 

Szu

"a terrible and tragic event will befall you."

"all is well (luck is coming)."

101

Wu

"you will receive a letter from far away."

"a relation will come to visit."

 

Wei

"you will have a drink or feast."

"a friend from far away is coming."

 

S^en

"you will go on a journey."

"you can expect a happy event."

 

Yu

"you will lose money."

"you are in for good luck."

 

Hsu

"you will have a feast."

"a friend is on his way."

 

Hai

"good luck."

"feasting will come your way."

       
   

Burning Sensation in Your Ear

 

Tzu

"A monk or nun will come to meet you to discuss things."

 

C^>ou

"You are in for a happy event of your own and very good fortune."

 

Yin

"You will have a festive gathering will good fortune to follow."

 

Mao

"Someone is coming from afar to meet you about some lucky thing."

 

C^>en

"You are about to have a financial windfall."

 

Szu

"You are about to lose money and whatever you do will be unsuccessful."

 

Wu

"You will have a feast and a happy occasion."

 

Wei

"A friend of yours will seek your help."

 

S^en

"You will go to a happy banquet."

 

Yu

"Someone is coming to discuss marriage with you."

 

Hsu

"You face an argument (quarrel)."

 

Hai

"You face prosecution in court."

{with bodily "tic" as omen, cf. Maori bodily twitching (io) as omen.}

pp. 102, 104, 106 – sect. 13. the 26 Malignant Gates (dangers which face young children) – reckoned by their birth-dates

p.

#

__ Gate

admonition : "Young children __."

104

9

100-Dates

"should avoid playing around gates."

 

10

White-Tigre

"should not be allowed to use or come near knives, scissors or similar sharp implements."

 

11

Fire

are to be kept "away from fire, boiling liquids and other hot things."

106

12

Sky-Hound

are not to be allowed to "get near or hear a dog."

 

13

Bath

are not to be bathed "when they are around a month old."

 

14

4-Poles

"should not be placed on any construction involving poles."

 

15

Thunder-God

"should be kept from hearing thunder, drums or other loud noises.

 

16

Short-Life

"will cry from fear every night while a baby."

 

17

Broken-Bridge

"should avoid crossing bridges, and particularly should not lean over to look at their reflection in the river."

 

18

1000-Dates

are not to be allowed to "climb on anything, not even on someone’s shoulder."

p. 107 – sect. 14. auspicious & inauspicious dates for various activities

"Other topics covered in this section include days for

visiting the tailor,

bed making,

visiting the sick and

trading."

what will befall someone washing the hair on any given day of the month :

day

result

1

short life

2

god fortune

3

great wealth

4

hair-colour disease

5

hair falleth out

6

harm thy face

7

get into trouble with the police

8

long life

9

good marriage

10

promotion

11

bright, clear eyen

12

more bad luck

13

have a son

14

earn money

15

good fortune

16

great bad luck

17

black face

18

be robbed

19

nothing good

20

poor

21

sick

22

good luck and fortune

23

great fortune

24

quarrel

25

damage thine eyen

26

great fortune

27

good time

28

fighting and arguing

29

good news

30

haunted

p. 50 – sect. 16. fen-s^ui table of auspicious & inauspicious directions

10 categories

#

"Direction for __"

1

"incompatible signs"

2

happiness

3

whence assistance will come

4

money

5

good-luck star to bless door

6

long life

7

business

8

danger

9

"evil influence of the Five Ghosts"

10

wherethrough "death will enter your gates"

p. 88 – sect. 17. "gives the deities who guard the child on each day for the first twelve months of {after?} its birth."

Martin Palmer : T’ung Shu : the Ancient Chinese Almanac. Shambhala, Boston, 1986.