Treatise on Armament Technology

Monthly Killing Days (Continued)

Following the pattern from the previous page, this section lists the specific "Earthly Branch" (zodiac animal) day in each month that is considered a "Monthly Killing" day, generally avoided for important activities.

April: Day of the Horse | May: Day of the Goat | June: Day of the Monkey

July: Day of the Rooster | August: Day of the Dog | September: Day of the Pig

October: Day of the Rat | November: Day of the Ox | December: Day of the Tiger

White Tiger Days

In Chinese cosmology, the White Tiger (Baihu) is the guardian of the West and is associated with metal, autumn, and military strength. While often feared as a "harsh" star, in a military context, its fierce energy can be harnessed for victory.

The four days listed above are named White Tiger Days. They are suitable for deploying troops; the enemy will naturally cease their resistance. These days bring great fortune and profit. The text suggests that the overwhelming "martial" energy of the White Tiger on these specific dates intimidates the opposition into submission.

Six Auspicious Days for Deploying Troops and Establishing Camps

This section refers to the "Twelve Officers" (Jianchu Shier Shen) system, where each day in a twelve-day cycle is assigned a specific "character" or "duty." The author selects six of these as being particularly beneficial for warfare.

The days of Maintenance, Destruction, and Completion are the three days suitable for deploying troops to achieve victory. Maintenance (Zhi), Destruction (Po), and Completion (Cheng) are stages in the cycle of an action; here, even "Destruction" is seen as positive when the goal is to break an enemy's line.

The days of Establishment, Fixation, and Completion are the three days suitable for establishing military camps. Establishment (Jian) and Fixation (Ding) represent stability and foundation-laying, making them ideal for building fortifications or long-term outposts. "Completion" (Cheng) is the only officer that appears in both lists, marking it as a universally positive day for military success.