Worked example
Fourth lunar month, twelfth day, Shēn hour
This example demonstrates only how the positions are calculated. It does not offer a prediction about an actual question. The given date is the fourth lunar month, twelfth day, during the Shēn hour.
Count the fourth lunar month from Da An
The first lunar month falls on Da An, the second on Liu Lian, the third on Su Xi and the fourth on Chi Kou. The month therefore falls on Chi Kou.
Count the twelfth lunar day from Chi Kou
Treat Chi Kou as the first lunar day and count inclusively through the six-position cycle. The twelfth day falls on Su Xi.
Count the Shēn hour from Su Xi
Count Zǐ, Chǒu, Yín, Mǎo, Chén, Sì, Wǔ, Wèi and Shēn in sequence. The final position is Xiao Ji.
Check the result with the formula
The fourth month is 4, the twelfth day is 12 and Shēn is the ninth traditional hour:
(4 + 12 + 9 - 3) mod 6 = 4
When Da An is index 0, a remainder of 4 corresponds to Xiao Ji. This matches the finger-counting result.
Ask a specific question
Instead of asking “Will everything go well for me?”, define a specific matter and time frame, such as “Will I receive a response to this week's application on schedule?” Use the result only as a prompt to consider timing, risks and possible next steps; base the actual decision on real-world evidence.