Clash days
— days that clash with your zodiac animal or day branch
A clash day is a day when the Earthly Branch of that day's iljin sits directly opposite your day branch (or zodiac animal). It comes around once every 12 days, two or three times a month. For example, if your day branch or zodiac animal is Ja (子, Rat), your clash days include October 11, 2026 (a Muo day) and October 23 (a Gyeong-o day). You don't need to avoid them all — just steer things that need few variables away from them.
In this article 8 topics
- What is a clash day?
- How does a day-branch clash differ from a zodiac clash (direct clash)?
- How often do clash days come?
- Clash days by day branch and zodiac animal, October 2026 – March 2027
- Are some clash days considered bigger than others?
- Should I move plans that fall on a clash day?
- How to get through a clash day well
- FAQ
What is a clash day?
It's a day when the Earthly Branch of that day's iljin sits directly opposite your day branch or zodiac animal. If you arrange the twelve Earthly Branches in a circle like a clock face, you get six pairs facing each other; this is called a clash (chung 沖). For example, for someone whose day branch is Ja (子), days whose iljin branch is O (午) are clash days.
| Pair | As zodiac animals | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Ja↔O (子午) | Rat ↔ Horse | North ↔ South |
| Chuk↔Mi (丑未) | Ox ↔ Sheep | Northeast ↔ Southwest |
| In↔Sin (寅申) | Tiger ↔ Monkey | Northeast ↔ Southwest |
| Myo↔Yu (卯酉) | Rabbit ↔ Rooster | East ↔ West |
| Jin↔Sul (辰戌) | Dragon ↔ Dog | Southeast ↔ Northwest |
| Sa↔Hae (巳亥) | Snake ↔ Pig | Southeast ↔ Northwest |
A clash is closer to “moving” than to “breaking.” It's a pull from opposite sides, so the day is seen as one when plans tend to change or unexpected things tend to come up.
How does a day-branch clash differ from a zodiac clash (direct clash)?
They look at different positions. A zodiac clash is when the iljin clashes with your zodiac animal (the branch of your birth year); in date selection it's called a direct clash (jeongchung 正沖) and is used as a criterion for removing moving and wedding dates. A day-branch clash is when the iljin clashes with your day branch (the branch of your birth day), and it's read as a day when the sphere of life closest to you is in motion.
Which one to look at depends on your purpose. If you follow traditional date selection for things like family events or moving, look at the zodiac clash; if you want to look at your own daily condition and events, look at the day-branch clash. The table below works for both — whether you look it up by your zodiac animal's branch or by your day branch, it's the same row.
How often do clash days come?
Once every 12 days, because the iljin's Earthly Branch completes a full round every 12 days. That's two or three times a month, or around fifteen in half a year. Over the six months from October 2026 to March 2027, each branch comes around 15–16 times.
Once you've found one, the calculation is easy. Add 12 days to a clash day to get the next one.
Clash days by day branch and zodiac animal, October 2026 – March 2027
Just find the row for the branch of your day branch or zodiac animal. All iljin were calculated with Mutal Unnie's Saju engine. You can check your day branch as the second character of your day pillar in the Manseryeok calculator.
| My day branch / zodiac animal | Clashing iljin | Dates, October 2026 – March 2027 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ja (子) Rat · Ja day branch | O days | Oct 11, 23 · Nov 4, 16, 28 · Dec 10, 22 · Jan 3, 15, 27 · Feb 8, 20 · Mar 4, 16, 28 | 15 days (5 on weekends) |
| Chuk (丑) Ox · Chuk day branch | Mi days | Oct 12, 24 · Nov 5, 17, 29 · Dec 11, 23 · Jan 4, 16, 28 · Feb 9, 21 · Mar 5, 17, 29 | 15 days (4 on weekends) |
| In (寅) Tiger · In day branch | Sin days | Oct 1, 13, 25 · Nov 6, 18, 30 · Dec 12, 24 · Jan 5, 17, 29 · Feb 10, 22 · Mar 6, 18, 30 | 16 days (4 on weekends) |
| Myo (卯) Rabbit · Myo day branch | Yu days | Oct 2, 14, 26 · Nov 7, 19 · Dec 1, 13, 25 · Jan 6, 18, 30 · Feb 11, 23 · Mar 7, 19, 31 | 16 days (4 on weekends) |
| Jin (辰) Dragon · Jin day branch | Sul days | Oct 3, 15, 27 · Nov 8, 20 · Dec 2, 14, 26 · Jan 7, 19, 31 · Feb 12, 24 · Mar 8, 20 | 15 days (5 on weekends) |
| Sa (巳) Snake · Sa day branch | Hae days | Oct 4, 16, 28 · Nov 9, 21 · Dec 3, 15, 27 · Jan 8, 20 · Feb 1, 13, 25 · Mar 9, 21 | 15 days (5 on weekends) |
| O (午) Horse · O day branch | Ja days | Oct 5, 17, 29 · Nov 10, 22 · Dec 4, 16, 28 · Jan 9, 21 · Feb 2, 14, 26 · Mar 10, 22 | 15 days (4 on weekends) |
| Mi (未) Sheep · Mi day branch | Chuk days | Oct 6, 18, 30 · Nov 11, 23 · Dec 5, 17, 29 · Jan 10, 22 · Feb 3, 15, 27 · Mar 11, 23 | 15 days (4 on weekends) |
| Sin (申) Monkey · Sin day branch | In days | Oct 7, 19, 31 · Nov 12, 24 · Dec 6, 18, 30 · Jan 11, 23 · Feb 4, 16, 28 · Mar 12, 24 | 15 days (4 on weekends) |
| Yu (酉) Rooster · Yu day branch | Myo days | Oct 8, 20 · Nov 1, 13, 25 · Dec 7, 19, 31 · Jan 12, 24 · Feb 5, 17 · Mar 1, 13, 25 | 15 days (4 on weekends) |
| Sul (戌) Dog · Sul day branch | Jin days | Oct 9, 21 · Nov 2, 14, 26 · Dec 8, 20 · Jan 1, 13, 25 · Feb 6, 18 · Mar 2, 14, 26 | 15 days (4 on weekends) |
| Hae (亥) Pig · Hae day branch | Sa days | Oct 10, 22 · Nov 3, 15, 27 · Dec 9, 21 · Jan 2, 14, 26 · Feb 7, 19 · Mar 3, 15, 27 | 15 days (5 on weekends) |
For example, if you're a Rat, October 11, 2026 (a Muo day) and October 23 (a Gyeong-o day) are the first two, and they continue every 12 days after that. If you need to filter candidates within a set period, as for moving or a wedding, you can leave out the days that clash with your zodiac animal in the Son-eomneun-nal finder.
Are some clash days considered bigger than others?
Yes. A day when the iljin's Heavenly Stem also controls your Day Master while its branch clashes with yours is called cheongeuk-jichung (天剋地沖, “heaven controls, earth clashes”) and is seen as the biggest clash. For example, a Gyeong-o (庚午) day for someone with a Gapja (甲子) day pillar: Gyeong Metal controls Gap Wood, and O clashes with Ja. It comes only once every 60 days, so it's rare.
To look at stem relationships too, you need to know your Day Master. Combinations and clashes between Heavenly Stems follow the same principle as the four pairs — Gap-Gyeong, Eul-Sin, Byeong-Im and Jeong-Gye — covered in Day Master compatibility.
Should I move plans that fall on a clash day?
You don't have to. Clash days come two or three times a month, so if you avoided them all you'd never be able to make plans. When you have a choice, it's enough to put only things that need few variables — like a first meeting, an important contract or a presentation — on a different day. For plans already set, just allow plenty of extra time.
On the other hand, some interpretations hold that things that are about moving anyway, like moving house, changing jobs or traveling, suit the nature of a clash. What to do when you can't make the dates fit is covered in When the moving date doesn't line up.
How to get through a clash day well
- Leave extra travel time — it's a day when unexpected things tend to come up
- Put important things in writing — wires get crossed easily, so leave what you've agreed on in a message
- Sleep on decisions — look at big decisions again the next day before you confirm them
- Pace any physical work — split up demanding schedules
There's just one thing to do today. In the table above, find the next clash day in your day-branch row, mark it on your calendar, and check whether you have any important plans that day.
Add events like interviews or contract signings to Mutal Unnie and it shows a one-line note on that day's rhythm, comparing the day's iljin with your birth chart. You'll also know in advance which events fall on clash days, and if you open Full Care (35 Bok), you'll get an evening-before briefing too.
Put clash days on top of your events
Adding events and the one-line note on each day's rhythm are free; the evening-before briefing is unlocked with Full Care.
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How many clash days are there in a month?
Two or three. The same Earthly Branch comes back every 12 days. Add 12 days to a clash day and you get the next one.
How can I find out my day branch?
Your day branch is the second character of the two in your day pillar. You don't need your birth time. Just enter your birthday in the Manseryeok calculator.
Can I have a wedding or move house on a clash day?
In traditional date selection, days that clash with your zodiac animal (a direct clash) are often removed from the list of candidates. But since this relationship comes around once every 12 days, it's best used to narrow down candidates; it's a weak reason to change a date you've already set.
Should I look at days that clash with my zodiac animal or with my day branch?
It depends on your purpose. For choosing a moving or wedding date, look at your zodiac animal; for your daily rhythm and events, look at your day branch. If your zodiac animal and day branch are the same branch, they point to the same days.