What are the four extinction days and four separation days?

Among the traditional 24 solar terms, some days are very special. On these days, the seasons are changing and the fortunes are the most unstable in the year. So what do the four absolute days and the four separation days mean?

What do the four extinction days and four separation days mean?

1. Four Deadly Days

The day before the Beginning of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter among the 24 solar terms is called "Jueri". The Yumen Classic said: "The four absolute days are the four days before the beginning of the year." There are four "absolute days" in a year. As the saying goes, "At the beginning of spring, wood is prosperous and water is exhausted. At the beginning of summer, fire is prosperous and wood is exhausted. At the beginning of autumn, metal is prosperous and earth is exhausted. At the beginning of winter, water is prosperous and metal is exhausted. Therefore, the day before is the day of exhaustion." If the day you choose to get married or engaged is a "bad day", then it is definitely not a good omen, so be sure to check the calendar carefully.

2. Four Separation Days

The day before the vernal equinox, autumnal equinox, summer solstice and winter solstice among the 24 solar terms is called "Li Ri" in numerology. There are four such days in a year, so they are called "Four Separation Days". The Yumen Jing says: "Li is the day before the separation of yin and yang." Equinox refers to the vernal equinox and autumnal equinox, and zhi refers to the summer solstice and winter solstice. The previous day means the day before. The four Li are: the day before the vernal equinox is called Wood Li; the day before the summer solstice is called Fire Li; the day before the autumnal equinox is called Metal Li; and the day before the winter solstice is called Water Li.

Taboos on the Four Separation and Four Absolute Days

1. Don’t use the four dead days for important matters

The four absolute days are when seasons intersect, festivals shift, and yin and yang are in chaos. Visually, it also means the end of the four seasons. The most feared thing when choosing a date is exhaustion, so the four days are unlucky. In addition, from the perspective of choosing auspicious days based on the five elements, the four absolute days also correspond to the days when wood is strong and water is weak, when fire is strong and wood is weak, when metal is strong and earth is weak, and when water is strong and metal is weak. These days are also the times when the five elements are unbalanced, so they are unlucky and considered unlucky. If there is any important event that requires choosing a date, these days must be avoided.

2. Don’t use the four departure days for important matters

The four separation days are the days that divide a season into two. On these days, there is no circulation of the five elements to generate prosperous energy and wealth, so it is very unlucky and generally these days are avoided when choosing auspicious days.

3. On the four days of separation and four days of extinction, you need to be calm and peaceful

People believe that the four absolute days and the four separation days are the days when seasons change. At this time, all living things in the world have to adapt to the changes of seasons. During the change of seasons, our behavior must be in accordance with the laws of nature, and we must regulate our emotions, and it is best to maintain a state of peace of mind and calmness of body. Therefore, it is recorded in ancient books that you must not have sexual intercourse during these days, otherwise it is likely to shorten your life.