What Are Day Officers?
Day Officers (值日神, zhí rì shén) are 12 energies that rotate in the lunar cycle. Each day of the lunar month is assigned a specific energy — an Officer — that defines the general character of that day. The cycle begins at the start of each lunar month with the Officer of Establish (建, Jian) and continues through the remaining 11 energies to the Officer of Close (闭, Bi). Calculating the Officer for a given day requires knowing the Earthly Branch sign of the day and the current lunar month. Not all days carry equal weight — the Officers of Success and Opening are widely regarded as the best for important initiatives, while Break and Close are avoided for key decisions.
成 Cheng — Officer of Success (Excellent)
The Officer of Success (成, chéng) is one of the two highest-rated days in the Tong Shu almanac. The energy of this day supports all important initiatives: weddings, business openings, signing contracts, purchasing real estate, moving house and travelling. A Success day is particularly auspicious for new projects intended to have lasting, prosperous outcomes. Tradition says that actions taken on a Success day "grow and bear fruit". In practice: if you need just one best day for an important event and are unsure of other parameters, a Success day is always a good choice — provided it is not simultaneously a Year or Month Breaker.
开 Kai — Officer of Opening (Excellent)
The Officer of Opening (开, kāi) shares the title of best Day Officer with Success. The energy of Opening is especially powerful for everything beginning a new phase: opening a business or shop, a first day of school, initiating new relationships, publications, launching campaigns. Kai literally means "to open" — a gate, a door, a window. It is also beneficial for healing, medicine and learning. The difference between Success and Opening is subtle: Success is more "all-purpose"; Opening is particularly potent for new chapters. Both are free from most traditional prohibitions.
定 Ding — Officer of Settle (Good)
The Officer of Settle (定, dìng) represents stabilisation and the establishment of order. It is one of the best days for weddings and engagements — the energy of Settle favours enduring, stable relationships. Excellent for purchasing real estate, signing long-term contracts, laying foundations, and all actions meant to "last and remain fixed". Ding is favourable for study, religious ceremonies and spiritual practice. Avoid on a Settle day actions that require dynamism, expansion or risk — Ding stabilises, it does not propel.
满 Man — Officer of Full (Good)
The Officer of Full (满, mǎn) carries energy of abundance and completion. Excellent for business, trade, gatherings and harvests — literally and metaphorically. A Man day favours all transactions where you want to "fill" something: a warehouse with goods, a bank account with funds, a company with clients. Traditionally unsuitable for moving house (the Full energy is "heavy" and stagnates) and for funerals. In practice: if you are planning a shop opening, a commercial contract signing or a family celebration, the Full Officer is a good choice.
Neutral Officers: Balance, Establish, Receive, Execute
Officer of Balance (平, Ping): calm and harmonious, good for travel, construction and signing moderately important contracts. Officer of Establish (建, Jian): opens each new lunar month, carries inaugural energy — good for prayer and ceremonial planning, but tradition prohibits moving and weddings. Officer of Receive (收, Shou): good for collecting, receiving goods, accounting and archiving — not for ceremonies or new initiatives. Officer of Execute (执, Zhi): day of operations and maintenance — excellent for routine work, unsuitable for grand gestures and celebrations.
Inauspicious Officers: Remove and Danger
Officer of Remove (除, Chu): carries cleansing energy. Can be beneficial in specific situations — healing, therapy, removing blockages, moving away from an old place. Generally avoided for wedding ceremonies, contracts and openings; tradition treats Chu as a day of "departure", which is a bad omen in the context of a wedding. Officer of Danger (危, Wei): one of the most difficult days. Tradition advises avoiding travel, surgical operations, important initiatives and all risk-bearing actions. Wei is good only for meditation, seclusion and contemplation.
破 Po and 闭 Bi — Break and Close (Inauspicious)
Officer of Break (破, pò) is a day of destruction and decay. Avoid weddings, contracts, openings and all initiatives meant to last. The only use case: demolition, tearing down, ending projects you wish to 'break and abandon'. Officer of Close (闭, bì) ends the cycle. Good for rest, reflection and internal work; bad for weddings, openings and construction. Both Po and Bi are marked in red in the classical Tong Shu as days requiring particular caution. When planning any important life event, checking for these two officers is the first step in vetting a candidate date.