John Lindsey
06-04-2000, 04:19 PM
<c>Day's Fortune
by Mock Joya (1949</c>
Every day has its fixed fortune. Thus there are lucky days and unlucky days. This superstitious belief that originally came from China with the old lunar calendar still guides the daily life of many Japanese. . There is a day which is believed to be good for holding wedding ceremony. Then there is a day which is avoided by all for holding funerals. Old fashioned people still consult the lunar calendar to decide on what day to go on a journey or open a new-business. They believe that the day's fortune will decide the final result of business transaction or, trips started.
Under what is called Rokuyo (six days) system, there are six different days coming in the order of Sensho, Tomobiki, Sempu, Butumetsu, Taian, and Shakku. January 1 is Sensho, January 2 is Tomobiki, January 3 is Sempu, and so on. Then February starts with Tomobiki, March with Sempu, and so on. It goes on for the first six months and the same order is repeated from July to December.
Thus the first day of July has the same fortune as the first day of January. Of all these six days, Taian is the most lucky day., It is invariably on this day that wedding ceremonies are commonly held. The marriage consummated on this lucky day is insured of success, happiness and prosperity. Then business transaction or anything else done on the day is promised "of success and prosperity. The day is particularly good for opening new shops or entering new occupation. Trips are successful if started on Taian days. Butsumetsu is the most unlucky day for everything, and also Shakku is a very unlucky day. Those two days are avoided as far as possible for doing anything new or important. Things done-on those days are bound to end in failure and sadness. It is commonly believed that it is on the days that people are killed, things are stolen, or other unpleasant misfortunes happen. Tomobiki is a semi-lucky day, but it is also believed that whatever happens or is done on the day is liable to happen again. Thus it is a good day for happy matters, but an evil day for unpleasant things. Particularly it is avoided to hold funerals on Tomobiki days, because it is believed that if a funeral is held on the day, there will be another funeral soon in the same family. Even such persons who do not give any thought to other days of the Rokuyo become quite sensitive about Tomobiki, if unpleasant things happen on the day. Sensho is the day when disputes or legal matters will result in success. It is also a good day to undertake urgent or important affairs. Journeys may also be started on this, day with success and happy ending. Sempu is the opposite of Sensho, and a day very bad. for disputes and legal matters. All avoid making any dispute with others or to start anything important on this day. Some may say that the superstition about the old lunar calendar is dying, but if one notices how many wedding ceremonies are held on Taian days; and how many of the Japanese are willing to hold. funerals on Tomobiki, it will be clearly seen how strong is the hold of the superstition on the people as yet. Particularly among rural folks, the lunar calendar is still the guide of their daily life. Modern calendars do not give. the old Rokuyo days, but older people are always ready to tell the younger generation what fortune the day has for them.
by Mock Joya (1949</c>
Every day has its fixed fortune. Thus there are lucky days and unlucky days. This superstitious belief that originally came from China with the old lunar calendar still guides the daily life of many Japanese. . There is a day which is believed to be good for holding wedding ceremony. Then there is a day which is avoided by all for holding funerals. Old fashioned people still consult the lunar calendar to decide on what day to go on a journey or open a new-business. They believe that the day's fortune will decide the final result of business transaction or, trips started.
Under what is called Rokuyo (six days) system, there are six different days coming in the order of Sensho, Tomobiki, Sempu, Butumetsu, Taian, and Shakku. January 1 is Sensho, January 2 is Tomobiki, January 3 is Sempu, and so on. Then February starts with Tomobiki, March with Sempu, and so on. It goes on for the first six months and the same order is repeated from July to December.
Thus the first day of July has the same fortune as the first day of January. Of all these six days, Taian is the most lucky day., It is invariably on this day that wedding ceremonies are commonly held. The marriage consummated on this lucky day is insured of success, happiness and prosperity. Then business transaction or anything else done on the day is promised "of success and prosperity. The day is particularly good for opening new shops or entering new occupation. Trips are successful if started on Taian days. Butsumetsu is the most unlucky day for everything, and also Shakku is a very unlucky day. Those two days are avoided as far as possible for doing anything new or important. Things done-on those days are bound to end in failure and sadness. It is commonly believed that it is on the days that people are killed, things are stolen, or other unpleasant misfortunes happen. Tomobiki is a semi-lucky day, but it is also believed that whatever happens or is done on the day is liable to happen again. Thus it is a good day for happy matters, but an evil day for unpleasant things. Particularly it is avoided to hold funerals on Tomobiki days, because it is believed that if a funeral is held on the day, there will be another funeral soon in the same family. Even such persons who do not give any thought to other days of the Rokuyo become quite sensitive about Tomobiki, if unpleasant things happen on the day. Sensho is the day when disputes or legal matters will result in success. It is also a good day to undertake urgent or important affairs. Journeys may also be started on this, day with success and happy ending. Sempu is the opposite of Sensho, and a day very bad. for disputes and legal matters. All avoid making any dispute with others or to start anything important on this day. Some may say that the superstition about the old lunar calendar is dying, but if one notices how many wedding ceremonies are held on Taian days; and how many of the Japanese are willing to hold. funerals on Tomobiki, it will be clearly seen how strong is the hold of the superstition on the people as yet. Particularly among rural folks, the lunar calendar is still the guide of their daily life. Modern calendars do not give. the old Rokuyo days, but older people are always ready to tell the younger generation what fortune the day has for them.