Secrets of the Yellow-Black Dao Day Selection Method

The Daoist Yellow-Black Dao day selection method states: 1. Azure Dragon is Yellow, 2. Ming Tang is Yellow, 3. Tian Xing is Black, 4. Zhu Que is Black, 5. Jin Kui is Yellow, 6. Tian De is Yellow, 7. Bai Hu is Black, 8. Yu Tang is Yellow, 9. Tian Lao is Black, 10. Xuan Wu is Black, 11. Si Ming is Yellow, 12. Gou Chen is Black. Yellow signifies auspiciousness, while Black signifies inauspiciousness. The original mnemonic is:

Jian corresponds to Azure Dragon, Yong serves as the head, Chu corresponds to Ming Tang with Yellow traveling along.
Man corresponds to Tian Xing, Ping corresponds to Zhu Que, Ding corresponds to Jin Kui seeking auspicious deities.
Zhi corresponds to Tian De aligning with the Yellow Path, Po corresponds to Bai Hu, Wei corresponds to Yu Tang.
Cheng corresponds to Tian Lao guarding firmly, Shou corresponds to Xuan Wu worrying about thieves.
Kai approaches Si Ming as the Yellow Path, Gou Chen corresponds to Bi governing death and flow.
Departing on the Yellow Path is highly auspicious, marching in battle arrays worries about the Black Path.

Generally, for the months of Zi and Wu, start with Shen to initiate the Azure Dragon; for Chou and Wei, start with Xu to initiate the Azure Dragon; for Yin and Shen, start with Zi to initiate the Azure Dragon; for Mao and You, start with Yin to initiate the Azure Dragon; for Chen and Xu, start with Chen to initiate the Azure Dragon; for Si and Hai, start with Wu to initiate the Azure Dragon. The mnemonic in "Qi Men Xian Tian Yao Lun" states: "Zi and Wu, monkeys fight; Chou and Wei, dogs bark first; Shen and Yin, lice are beaten; Mao and You, seek in tiger mouths; Chen and Xu, reside in dragon positions; Si and Hai, approach at horse heads." This is essentially the same Yellow-Black Dao mnemonic.

It may seem difficult to memorize, but in fact, using the Daoist mnemonic: "The road is distant, when will it be accessible? The path is long, when will one return home?" (Dao Yuan Ji Shi Tong Da, Lu Yao He Ri Huan Xiang), rotating these twelve characters, any character ending with the radical '辶' (walk) is a Yellow Path, otherwise it is a Black Path. Similarly, when writing Daoist stele inscriptions or submitting petitions, the number of characters must also satisfy this principle.

Basic requirements for selecting days based on the lunar month:

First and seventh months start with Zi, second and eighth with Yin;
Third and ninth originally start with Chen;
Fourth and tenth months seek Wu;
Fifth and eleventh start from Shen;
Sixth and twelfth months seek Xu.

Besides selecting days, the Yellow-Black Dao can also be used to select hours. Its usage is as follows:

 If one knows the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the current hour, for military expeditions, long journeys, merchants setting sail, marriages, construction, moving, importing, and installing graves, for all matters undertaken, if it coincides with auspicious deities, one does not need to avoid the Tai Sui, Generals, and the 120 deities and malefactors, nor the bad years, months, days, or the Five Elements and Five Stars. Harmony or discord, advantage or disadvantage, or if burial offends Tian Tun and other凶杀 (inauspicious killings), or travel offends Tai Bai and Kong Wang, there are no taboos. Thus it is said: The advantage of the annual year is not as good as the advantage of the month; the advantage of the month is not as good as the advantage of the day; the advantage of the day is not as good as the advantage of the hour.

 Every time, add Tian Gui to the current hour. Then one can see the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness as follows. For example, on Yin and Shen days, start at Zi hour and proceed sequentially to Si hour, which is Tian De. The rest follow this method, adding Tian Gui to each day and proceeding sequentially to encounter the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of the specific hour.

　　On Yin and Shen days, add Zi; on Mao and You days, add Yin,

 On Chen and Xu days, add Chen; on Ji and Hai days, add Wu,

 On Zi and Wu days, add Shen; on Chou and Wei days, add Xu,

　　○ Tian Gui Star. Auspicious for all matters for nobles. Average for commoners. Meeting nobles during travel. Obtaining official positions is certain.

　　○ Ming Fu Star. Highly auspicious for all undertakings. Suitable for meeting dignitaries. Plans will succeed. Joyful and auspicious, harmonious and cooperative.

　　○ Tian Xing Star. Inauspicious for travel. Encountering villains on the road. Greatly avoid litigation. Attracts many legal troubles.

　　○ Tian Song Star. Auspicious for officials and military affairs. Greatly avoid litigation and construction. Inauspicious.

　　○ Yue Xian Star. Auspicious for monks, Daoists, and yin people. Greatly avoid setting sail. Suitable for marriage matters.

　　○ Tian De Star. Highly auspicious for all undertakings. Wishes will be fulfilled. Joyful and auspicious.

　　○ Tian Sha Star. Only suitable for deploying troops, performing rituals, slaughtering, sacrificing to gods, and hunting. Other matters are unfavorable.

　　○ Tian Kai Star. Highly auspicious for all matters. Wishes will be fulfilled. Obtaining windfall gains during travel. Avoid installing graves and building stoves.

　　○ Suo Shen Star. Highly inauspicious for undertakings. Greatly avoid travel. Only suitable for installing graves and digging pits.

　　○ Tian Yu Star. Auspicious for gentlemen following the Way of Heaven. Inauspicious for petty people acting unreasonably. Avoid litigation, fighting, and gambling.

　　○ Ri Xian Star. From Yin to Shen on this day, all matters are auspicious. Using yin energy is discordant.

　　○ Di Yu Star. Undertakings begin but do not finish. Joy first, sorrow later. Unsuitable for travel, construction, or installing graves.