Complete Compendium of Five-Star and Three-Fate Astrology, Volume 1 (1657) - Page 14

As for the twelve months, the sun rises in Chen the Dragon; Southeast and sets in Shen the Monkey; Southwest; examine this with care.

◯ Song for Calculating the 24 Solar Terms

The 24 Solar Terms (Jieqi) are a traditional Chinese calendar system that reflects changes in nature and climate, guiding farmers and practitioners of divination throughout the year.


Month 1: Start of Spring and Rain Water	Month 4: Start of Summer and Grain Buds	Month 7: Start of Autumn and End of Heat	Month 10: Start of Winter and Minor Snow
Month 2: Awakening of Insects and Spring Equinox	Month 5: Grain in Ear and Summer Solstice	Month 8: White Dew and Autumn Equinox	Month 11: Major Snow and Winter Solstice
Month 3: Bright and Clear and Grain Rain	Month 6: Minor Heat and Major Heat	Month 9: Cold Dew and Frost Descent	Month 12: Minor Cold and Major Cold
	4	7	10

The numerals 4, 7, and 10 at the base of the columns indicate the starting month for those sections.

◯ Determining the Month Based on the Year

This mnemonic, known as the "Five Tiger Mnemonic," helps determine the Heavenly Stem of the first month of any given year. In the Chinese calendar, months are always paired with an Earthly Branch (the first month is always the month of the Tiger, or Yin), but the Heavenly Stem changes every year.

In years beginning with Jia or Ji, Bing starts the lead.
In years beginning with Yi or Geng, Wu is the head.
In years beginning with Bing or Xin, follow from Geng.
In years beginning with Ding or Ren, the sequence flows in order Starting from the Stem 'Ren'..
Where should one seek the start for Wu or Gui years?
Seek it well upon the start of Jia-Yin.

For example, in a Jia or Ji year, start from the Yin branch with the Bing stem and proceed in order. Thus, the first month is designated as Bing-Yin, and the second month is Ding-Mao. Other years follow this same pattern.

◯ Determining the Hour Based on the Day

This section (beginning here) likely introduces the "Five Rat Mnemonic," used to determine the stem-branch of a specific two-hour period based on the stem of the day.