Calculation method
How to calculate a Xiao Liu Ren reading
This site uses the common mnemonic: "begin the month at Yín (寅), begin the day from the month's position, and begin the hour from the day's position." In this method, the first lunar month is placed at Da An. The calculator takes your device's local date and time and converts the date to the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar.
Remember the six positions
The fixed cycle is Da An, Liu Lian, Su Xi, Chi Kou, Xiao Ji and Kong Wang, then back to Da An.
- Count the month: place the first lunar month at Da An, the second at Liu Lian, and continue through the cycle to the current lunar month.
- Count the day: treat the month's position as the first lunar day and continue through the cycle to the current lunar day.
- Count the hour: treat the day's position as the Zi hour and continue to the current traditional hour. The final position is the result.
Traditional hours
Modern-time equivalents and counting order
| Traditional hour | Modern time | Ordinal |
|---|---|---|
| Zǐ (子) | 23:00–00:59 | 1 |
| Chǒu (丑) | 01:00–02:59 | 2 |
| Yín (寅) | 03:00–04:59 | 3 |
| Mǎo (卯) | 05:00–06:59 | 4 |
| Chén (辰) | 07:00–08:59 | 5 |
| Sì (巳) | 09:00–10:59 | 6 |
| Wǔ (午) | 11:00–12:59 | 7 |
| Wèi (未) | 13:00–14:59 | 8 |
| Shēn (申) | 15:00–16:59 | 9 |
| Yǒu (酉) | 17:00–18:59 | 10 |
| Xū (戌) | 19:00–20:59 | 11 |
| Hài (亥) | 21:00–22:59 | 12 |
The equivalent formula
Number Da An as index 0, Liu Lian as index 1, and continue through
Kong Wang as index 5. The final position can be written as
(lunar month + lunar day + traditional-hour ordinal - 3) mod
6.
This formula is mathematically equivalent to counting the positions on the fingers. The online calculator still shows the month, day and hour as three distinct stages.
Common mistakes
- Using the Gregorian month and date instead of the traditional Chinese calendar.
- Starting the next stage after the current position and counting one extra step.
- Treating 23:00 as the Hai hour when it has already entered the Zi hour.
- Repeating the same question until a preferred result appears.