FortudayChinese Date Selection (Ze Ri)
How a lucky day is picked in the Chinese almanac, step by step.
- In 2026, 76 days are major unlucky days that date selection removes first.
- Year Breaker: 31 days in 2026.
- Month Breaker: 29 days in 2026.
- Si Li: 4 days in 2026.
- Si Jue: 4 days in 2026.
- Yang Gong taboo: 14 days in 2026.
- Next the day’s branch is checked against the zodiac of everyone involved; a clashing day is dropped.
- The days left are ranked by how many favorable stars and day officers the old books list for the activity.
Pick an activity such as a wedding, a move or a business opening, and this site ranks the days for it from the Chinese almanac. The clash table below shows which zodiac animal each day animal opposes, so you can see why a day is dropped.
Major unlucky days in 2026
| Rule | Days in the year |
|---|---|
| Year Breaker | 31 |
| Month Breaker | 29 |
| Si Li | 4 |
| Si Jue | 4 |
| Yang Gong taboo | 14 |
Which zodiac clashes with which day
| Day animal | Clashes with |
|---|---|
| Rat day | Horse |
| Ox day | Goat |
| Tiger day | Monkey |
| Rabbit day | Rooster |
| Dragon day | Dog |
| Snake day | Pig |
| Horse day | Rat |
| Goat day | Ox |
| Monkey day | Tiger |
| Rooster day | Rabbit |
| Dog day | Dragon |
| Pig day | Snake |
Activities this site picks dates for
| Activity | Almanac terms checked |
|---|---|
| Wedding | weddings |
| engagement | engagement gifts and engagements |
| Moving | moving house and moving into a new home |
| move-in | moving into a new home |
| move-house | moving house |
| bed | setting up a bed |
| Opening | opening a business |
| Contract | signing contracts and deals |
| renovation | breaking ground and repairs |
| travel | travel |
| New car | deals and signing contracts |
| haircut | haircuts |
| worship | making offerings |
| cleaning | cleaning the house |
Questions
What is Chinese date selection (ze ri)?
The practice of choosing a day for a big event, such as a wedding, a move or a business opening, from the almanac.
How are two people’s birth years handled?
Add both birthdays on the activity page. A day is dropped if it clashes with either zodiac.
Why do different sites give different lucky dates?
Almanac editions differ, and masters may also use the Four Pillars of the birth chart. This site uses one public set of rules and shows the reason for every day.
How do I pick a lucky day by the Chinese almanac?
Start with the activity, then check the almanac terms listed for it. This site ranks days by how many favorable stars and day officers the old books list for that activity, and it drops days that clash with your zodiac. It covers 14 activities, including weddings, moving house, opening a business and haircuts.
Is there a free Chinese date selection tool?
Yes, this site is free and needs no sign-up. Choose an activity, add birth years if you want clashes checked, and you get ranked days with the reason shown for each one. Each activity uses its own almanac terms, such as moving house and moving into a new home for a move.
Which zodiac clashes with which day?
Each day animal clashes with the animal opposite it among the 12. Rat day clashes with Horse, Ox with Goat, Tiger with Monkey, Rabbit with Rooster, Dragon with Dog and Snake with Pig. The pairs run both ways, so Horse day clashes with Rat and Pig day with Snake. Tradition says to avoid a day that clashes with your own zodiac animal.
What does a good date mean in the almanac?
In the almanac, a good date is one where the listed stars and day officers favor the activity and no clash applies. A day can suit one activity and not another, so a haircut day may differ from a wedding day. A day that clashes with your zodiac animal is dropped from the list.
Which activities can I pick a date for?
This site picks dates for 14 activities. They include a wedding, an engagement, moving house, moving into a new home, setting up a bed, opening a business, signing contracts, breaking ground and repairs, travel, haircuts and cleaning the house. A new car is checked under deals and signing contracts.