About This Calendar
This calendar has been designed for people to align their schedules, practices, and cultivation with the lunar calendar, as was done in traditional Daoism. Calendar events are listed according to the colors of the various section headings below. Click on any event in the calendar for more information.

Lunar Calendar
Chinese calendars can be lunar or solar based, or a combination of both, so you will find differences in the starting dates for certain years and months. We have included lunar charts as well as a solar calendar calculator for people to find the animal signs for their year of birth, month, day and hour, otherwise known as the Four Pillars.

Use the lunar calendar charts to find the animal signs for your birth year and month. Use the solar calendar calculator to find the animal signs for the day and hour. The signs for the day and hour are the same for lunar and solar calendars. For most people the charts and calculator will show the same animal signs, but we advise checking both so you get the most accurate reading that aligns with the lunar calendar.

Lunar Calendar Conversion Charts
1901–1950
1951–2000
2001–2050

Solar Calendar Calculator

The Sanctuary of Dao Calendar lists the 10 Heavenly Stems in terms of the element each represents:

• Jia (1st stem) is Yang Wood
• Yi (2nd stem) is Yin Wood
• Bing (3rd stem) is Yang Fire
• Ding (4th stem) is Yin Fire
• Wu (5th) is Yang Earth
• Ji (6th) is Yin Earth
• Geng (7th) is Yang Metal
• Xin (8th) is Yin Metal
• Ren (9th) is Yang Water
• Gui (10th) is Yin Water

The 12 Earthly Branches are listed in terms of the corresponding animal:

• Zi is Rat (Yang)
• Chou is Ox (Yin)
• Yin is Tiger (Yang)
• Mao is Rabbit (Yin)
• Chen is Dragon (Yang)
• Si is Snake (Yin)
• Wu is Horse (Yang)
• Wei is Goat (Yin)
• Shen is Monkey (Yang)
• You is Rooster (Yin)
• Xu is Dog (Yang)
• Hai is Pig (Yin)

The Eight Festivals
Throughout the year, China has traditionally celebrated eight major festivals.

Auspicious Days
These days fall on the New Moon (the 1st day of the lunar month) and the Full Moon (the 15th day of each lunar month). These days bring good fortune because the New Moon represents the beginning of things and the full moon represents the illumination and fruition of all things.

Daoist Fasting/Vegetarian Days
There are normally eight days each month when it is most auspicious to either practice fasting or vegetarianism. These days always fall on the 1st, 8th, 14th, 18th, 23rd, 24th, 28th, 29th or 30th days of the lunar calendar (provided the month has 30 days). These days are meant for increasing a person’s merit and virtue.

Daoist Celebration Days
These are birthdays and special veneration days of various immortals, as well as special days in connection with the Sanctuary of Dao. In traditional Daoism, there are numerous days associated with the veneration of immortals. This calendar, however, focuses on those figures who play an important role in the Sanctuary of Dao’s practices and teachings.

Daoist Spirit Reporting Days
These are the days in the year that the transgression recording spirits report on a person’s conduct and deeds (good and bad) to the Heavenly Officials for either rewards or retribution. On the Keng Shen days, the Three Corpse Spirits in a person’s body go directly to the Heavenly Officials and make their reports. The Controller of Destinies/Stove God delivers his reports on the last day of each month, as does the Earth Spirit, and the Three Origin Spirits (which reside over a person’s head). On Keng Shen days, Daoists refrain from sleeping so that the Three Corpse Spirits cannot leave the body to make their reports. Within a lunar year there are six Keng Shen days. The first one falls on the 57th Day after the New Year and the remaining five occur every 60 days thereafter.

Workshop Dates
Throughout the year the Sanctuary of Dao offers a number of workshop/seminars, either through in-house teachers or outside ones.

Meditation Retreats
The Sanctuary of Dao conducts four meditation retreats per year—Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each retreat runs over a weekend.

Public Sessions
These weekly sessions are open to the public for participation in meditation, ceremony, Eight Brocades, and Tai Ji Quan practice.

Classes
The Sanctuary of Dao offers classes on various subjects throughout the year.