Peng Zu Taboos: Ten Stem and Twelve Branch Sayings
Peng Zu sayings attach one traditional activity taboo to each of the ten stems and twelve branches. A day pillar therefore selects two phrases from the complete register.
| Stem | Traditional phrase | Activity gloss |
|---|---|---|
| 甲 | 甲不开仓财物耗散 | Do not open a storehouse |
| 乙 | 乙不栽植千株不长 | Do not plant |
| 丙 | 丙不修灶必见灾殃 | Do not repair a stove |
| 丁 | 丁不剃头头必生疮 | Do not cut hair |
| 戊 | 戊不受田田主不祥 | Do not accept land |
| 己 | 己不破券二比并亡 | Do not cancel a contract |
| 庚 | 庚不经络织机虚张 | Do not work the loom |
| 辛 | 辛不合酱主人不尝 | Do not mix sauce |
| 壬 | 壬不泱水更难提防 | Do not draw water |
| 癸 | 癸不词讼理弱敌强 | Do not begin litigation |
| Branch | Traditional phrase | Activity gloss |
|---|---|---|
| 子 | 子不问卜自惹祸殃 | Do not consult divination |
| 丑 | 丑不冠带主不还乡 | Do not put on ceremonial headwear |
| 寅 | 寅不祭祀神鬼不尝 | Do not make a ritual offering |
| 卯 | 卯不穿井水泉不香 | Do not dig a well |
| 辰 | 辰不哭泣必主重丧 | Do not weep |
| 巳 | 巳不远行财物伏藏 | Do not travel far |
| 午 | 午不苫盖屋主更张 | Do not cover a roof |
| 未 | 未不服药毒气入肠 | Do not take medicine |
| 申 | 申不安床鬼祟入房 | Do not set up a bed |
| 酉 | 酉不会客醉坐颠狂 | Do not entertain guests |
| 戌 | 戌不吃犬作怪上床 | Do not eat dog meat |
| 亥 | 亥不嫁娶不利新郎 | Do not marry |
Activity glosses follow the traditional Chinese phrases. Open the almanac for the two phrases belonging to a selected date.
Two phrases for a date
The day stem selects the first saying and the day branch the second. Jia Zi, for example, pairs the storehouse saying with the divination saying. The same stem phrase recurs every ten days and the branch phrase every twelve.
Reading the activity gloss
The English gloss identifies the action named in each saying. Compare it with a published almanac’s separate Yi and Ji entries when reading an activity date. The complete Chinese register preserves the traditional wording.