In the Almanac, "Trading" (交易 - Jiao Yi) usually refers to the act of buying, selling, or exchanging goods or property. It involves not only the common buying and selling of commodities in daily life but also transactions of real estate such as land and houses. In traditional Chinese society, people believed that conducting transactions on certain days would be smoother and more auspicious. Therefore, in the Almanac, the markings of "Suit Trading" (宜交易) or "Avoid Trading" (忌交易) appear particularly important.
In the traditional Chinese Almanac, whether it is suitable to conduct trading activities is judged daily based on the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches (Gan Zhi) and the positions of various deities and demons (Shen Sha), and is clearly marked. If a certain day is marked as "Suit Trading", it means this day is suitable for activities such as buying, selling, and exchanging; conversely, if it is marked as "Avoid Trading", it means such activities should not be conducted on this day to avoid negative impacts.
In ancient times, "Trading" covered various types of commercial activities:
Choosing an auspicious day for trading is mainly based on Feng Shui theory and the understanding of natural laws. The ancients believed that there is a mysterious force in the universe, and by choosing the right timing, one can pursue good fortune and avoid disasters, making the transaction smoother and more profitable. In addition, according to the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory, different days correspond to different Five Elements attributes. Selecting a day that mutually generates with the numerology (Ming Li) of both parties to the transaction can increase the chances of success.
To determine whether a certain day is suitable for trading, one needs to check the Almanac entries for that day. Generally, if the Almanac indicates terms like "Suit Collecting Wealth" (宜纳财), "Suit Opening for Business" (宜开市), or "Suit Signing Contracts and Trading" (宜立券交易), it shows that the day is relatively suitable for commercial activities; conversely, if words like "Avoid Opening a Business" (忌开张) or "Avoid Breaking Ground" (忌动土) appear, it is best to avoid important transactions on this day.
Although modern society no longer completely relies on the Almanac to decide daily affairs, on some special occasions, such as opening celebrations or the signing of major contracts, some people will still choose an auspicious day and time to seek psychological comfort and support. Therefore, understanding the relevant knowledge about trading in the Almanac still has certain practical significance for understanding traditional culture and respecting others' customs.
In conclusion, in traditional Chinese culture, "Trading" is not only an economic behavior but also contains rich cultural connotations and social values. Even today, we can draw nourishment from it to better understand and integrate into a diversified cultural environment.
