Library
Void methods · Calculation

How to Calculate the Six Xun Voids

Calculate xun void by locating a Jiazi within one of six ten-pair groups and returning the two Earthly Branches absent from that xun.

Chinese
六旬空
Pinyin
Liù Xún Kōng
Also known as
Six Decade Voids · 六旬空亡

Editorially reviewed:

Overview

The sixty Jiazi divide into six xun beginning with Jia-Zi, Jia-Xu, Jia-Shen, Jia-Wu, Jia-Chen, and Jia-Yin. Each group contains ten valid stem-branch pairs. Its two unused branches form the xun void pair. Correct calculation requires an exact Jiazi, a fixed sixty-cycle index, and a declared reference pillar.

At a glance

Cycle size
60 Jiazi
Xun count
6 groups
Pairs per xun
10
Void branches
2 per group
Required input
Exact Jiazi
Output
One branch pair

Divide the sexagenary cycle into six ten-pair groups

Starting at each Jia stem, count ten valid Jiazi before the next Jia begins a new xun.

The six starting pairs are fixed, allowing every valid Jiazi to resolve to exactly one xun.

  • Use canonical cycle order.
  • Reject invalid stem-branch pairs.

Return the two branches not used in that group

For the Jia-Zi xun, the sequence ends at Gui-You, leaving Xu and Hai unused. The next xun shifts the omitted pair to Shen and You.

The same method continues until all six xun and their six void pairs are accounted for.

  • Compute from group membership, not folklore.
  • Store both void branches in canonical order.

Apply the result to a declared reference pillar

If the Day Pillar is the reference, calculate its xun first and test relevant natal or timing branches against that void pair.

If another source uses the Year Pillar or multiple anchors, show each result separately rather than merging them.

  • Display the anchor Jiazi beside the void pair.
  • Keep alternative anchor results distinct.

Validate all sixty inputs

A reliable table maps every Jiazi to one xun, gives each xun ten entries, and returns exactly two branches that do not appear in that group.

Calculation correctness establishes the label only. Interpretation still requires pillar context, direct relations, source convention, and counterevidence.

  • Run full-cycle parity tests.
  • Separate deterministic output from symbolic reading.

Sources and editorial basis

  1. 《三命通會》 (Sanming Tonghui)
    《三命通會》卷三「論空亡」列六旬空亡：甲子旬戌亥、甲戌旬申酉、甲申旬午未、甲午旬辰巳、甲辰旬寅卯、甲寅旬子丑A historical compilation covering stems and branches, Ten Gods, Nayin, Shen Sha, and multiple classical pattern systems.
  2. 《五行大義》 (Essential Meanings of the Five Phases)
    《五行大義》六十甲子干支配合次序：每旬十干配十支，完整干支與周期位置是計算輸入A systematic historical synthesis of Five Phases correspondences and relationships.
  3. OpenFate Editorial Methodology
    六旬空亡計算頁驗證六十個有效甲子、六個十項旬組與每組兩個未用地支，並顯示基準柱OpenFate separates deterministic chart calculation, traditional interpretation, and modern editorial explanation.
Was this article helpful?

Search the Wiki