Two uses of the same names
Sky regions and calendar labels
A map of the sky
The astronomical mansions organise regions near the Sun’s and Moon’s paths among the stars. Their names belong to the Chinese star tradition, grouped under four directional guardians.
A daily almanac cycle
On this calendar, the 28 mansion names repeat as daily almanac labels. The label is selected from the day cycle; it is not a measurement of the Moon’s current position among the stars.
For the Moon’s changing light, use moon phases →A separate traditional judgement
A mansion’s favourable or unfavourable label is one almanac correspondence. It is separate from the Huang Dao / Hei Dao day-god classification and from the suitable or avoid list for a specific activity.
Compare the activity lists →East · Spring · 青龙
The Azure Dragon
The eastern seven names form the Dragon group. Horn, Neck, Heart and Tail make its body image especially easy to recognise.
Mansion 1 · 1 of 7 in East
角 Horn
Flood dragon · traditionally favourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 17 September 2026 →Mansion 2 · 2 of 7 in East
亢 Neck
Dragon · traditionally unfavourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 18 September 2026 →Mansion 3 · 3 of 7 in East
氐 Root
Raccoon dog · traditionally unfavourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 19 September 2026 →Mansion 4 · 4 of 7 in East
房 Room
Rabbit · traditionally favourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 20 September 2026 →Mansion 5 · 5 of 7 in East
心 Heart
Fox · traditionally unfavourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 21 September 2026 →Mansion 6 · 6 of 7 in East
尾 Tail
Tiger · traditionally favourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 22 September 2026 →Mansion 7 · 7 of 7 in East
箕 Winnowing Basket
Leopard · traditionally favourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 23 September 2026 →North · Winter · 玄武
The Black Tortoise
The northern group belongs to Xuanwu, also translated as Dark Warrior. Its guardian is commonly represented by a tortoise intertwined with a snake.
Mansion 8 · 1 of 7 in North
斗 Dipper
Xiezhi · traditionally favourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 24 September 2026 →Mansion 9 · 2 of 7 in North
牛 Ox
Ox · traditionally unfavourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 25 September 2026 →Mansion 10 · 3 of 7 in North
女 Girl
Bat · traditionally unfavourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 26 September 2026 →Mansion 11 · 4 of 7 in North
虚 Emptiness
Rat · traditionally unfavourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 27 September 2026 →Mansion 12 · 5 of 7 in North
危 Rooftop
Swallow · traditionally unfavourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 28 September 2026 →Mansion 13 · 6 of 7 in North
室 Encampment
Pig · traditionally favourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 29 September 2026 →Mansion 14 · 7 of 7 in North
壁 Wall
Yu beast · traditionally favourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 30 September 2026 →West · Autumn · 白虎
The White Tiger
The western seven belong to the White Tiger. Net, Turtle Beak and Three Stars are the final three mansions in this group.
Mansion 15 · 1 of 7 in West
奎 Legs
Wolf · traditionally unfavourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 1 October 2026 →Mansion 16 · 2 of 7 in West
娄 Bond
Dog · traditionally favourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 2 October 2026 →Mansion 17 · 3 of 7 in West
胃 Stomach
Boar · traditionally favourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 3 October 2026 →Mansion 18 · 4 of 7 in West
昴 Hairy Head
Rooster · traditionally unfavourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 4 October 2026 →Mansion 19 · 5 of 7 in West
毕 Net
Crow · traditionally favourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 5 October 2026 →Mansion 20 · 6 of 7 in West
觜 Turtle Beak
Monkey · traditionally unfavourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 6 October 2026 →Mansion 21 · 7 of 7 in West
参 Three Stars
Ape · traditionally favourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 7 October 2026 →South · Summer · 朱雀
The Vermilion Bird
The southern seven belong to the Vermilion Bird. Well and Ghost open the group; Wings and Chariot close it before the cycle returns to Horn.
Mansion 22 · 1 of 7 in South
井 Well
Wild dog · traditionally favourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 8 October 2026 →Mansion 23 · 2 of 7 in South
鬼 Ghost
Goat · traditionally unfavourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 9 October 2026 →Mansion 24 · 3 of 7 in South
柳 Willow
Roe deer · traditionally unfavourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 12 September 2026 →Mansion 25 · 4 of 7 in South
星 Star
Horse · traditionally unfavourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 13 September 2026 →Mansion 26 · 5 of 7 in South
张 Extended Net
Deer · traditionally favourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 14 September 2026 →Mansion 27 · 6 of 7 in South
翼 Wings
Snake · traditionally unfavourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 15 September 2026 →Mansion 28 · 7 of 7 in South
轸 Chariot
Earthworm · traditionally favourable
The mansion creature is distinct from both the palace guardian and the day’s zodiac animal.
Next on 16 September 2026 →