What Are Monthly Generals?

The Monthly Generals (月将, yuè jiàng) are twelve celestial figures, each associated with a segment of the ecliptic. They are the engine that drives the Heaven Plate — the Month General in effect at the time of inquiry determines how the entire chart is arranged.

The system is based on the Solar Terms (节气, jié qì), not the lunar calendar. Each Month General governs approximately one solar month, corresponding to the Sun's position through the twelve zodiacal divisions.

The Twelve Month Generals

#GeneralChineseBranchSolar Term StartApprox. Western Date
1Deng Ming登明亥 Hài立春 Lì ChūnFeb 4
2He Ji河魁戌 Xū雨水 Yǔ ShuǐFeb 19
3Consecutive Qi从魁酉 Yǒu惊蛰 Jīng ZhéMar 6
4Transmitting Yin传送申 Shēn春分 Chūn FēnMar 21
5Small Ji小吉未 Wèi清明 Qīng MíngApr 5
6Victory Light胜光午 Wǔ谷雨 Gǔ YǔApr 20
7Great Vastness太乙巳 Sì立夏 Lì XiàMay 6
8Heaven's Conscience天罡辰 Chén小满 Xiǎo MǎnMay 21
9Great Vastness太冲卯 Mǎo芒种 Máng ZhòngJun 6
10Power & Courage功曹寅 Yín夏至 Xià ZhìJun 21
11Great Generality大吉丑 Chǒu小暑 Xiǎo ShǔJul 7
12Divine Later神后子 Zǐ大暑 Dà ShǔJul 23

Important: The Month General changes at the midpoint of each solar term (中气, zhōng qì), not at the beginning. This is a common source of errors. In practice, the transition happens around the dates listed above, but always verify with a reliable Chinese calendar.

How Month Generals Drive the Chart

The Month General determines the Heaven Plate arrangement through this process:

  1. Identify the current Month General based on the solar date of inquiry
  2. Find the inquiry hour's Earth Plate position (the时辰, two-hour period)
  3. Place the Month General's branch on that Earth Plate position
  4. Fill in the remaining branches in natural order, wrapping around the circle

This rotation is what makes every chart unique — even two charts cast on the same day but at different hours will have different Heaven Plate positions.

Why Solar Terms, Not Lunar Months?

This is a crucial distinction. Da Liu Ren uses the solar calendar (节气) for Month Generals, not the lunar calendar (农历). The reason is astronomical:

Common mistake: Many beginners use the lunar calendar month to determine the Month General. This leads to incorrect charts. Always use the solar terms (节气) as your reference.

Practical Example

Suppose you're casting a chart on March 25 at 10:00 AM:

  1. March 25 falls after 春分 (Spring Equinox, ~Mar 21), so the Month General is 传送 (Transmitting Yin), associated with 申 Shēn
  2. 10:00 AM corresponds to the hour of 巳 (Sì), which sits at the SE position on the Earth Plate
  3. Place 申 on the 巳 position of the Earth Plate
  4. The remaining branches follow: 酉→午, 戌→未, 亥→申, 子→酉, etc.

Next Steps

← PreviousHeaven & Earth Plates Next →Day Stems & Branches