Structure
What are Shinsal, and how do you find Peach Blossom, Traveling Horse and Canopy Star?
As of · Edited by Sajunyang · about 2200 characters
One-line answer
Shinsal (神煞) are names given to specific combinations of characters in a chart. They divide into auspicious stars with a good influence (Nobleman Star, Literary Star and others), inauspicious stars that call for care (Yang Blade, White Tiger, Kuigang and others), and stars that indicate a disposition (Peach Blossom, Traveling Horse, Canopy Star). Peach Blossom, Traveling Horse and Canopy Star are determined by the Three Combination group (In-O-Sul, Sin-Ja-Jin, Sa-Yu-Chuk, Hae-Myo-Mi) that the Year Branch or Day Branch belongs to.
How do you find Peach Blossom, Traveling Horse and Canopy Star?
All three are found by the Three Combinations (三合). If the Year Branch or Day Branch is In, O or Sul, Peach Blossom is Myo, Traveling Horse is Sin, and Canopy Star is Sul. For Sin, Ja or Jin: Peach Blossom Yu, Traveling Horse In, Canopy Star Jin. For Sa, Yu or Chuk: Peach Blossom O, Traveling Horse Hae, Canopy Star Chuk. For Hae, Myo or Mi: Peach Blossom Ja, Traveling Horse Sa, Canopy Star Mi. If that character appears in another branch of the chart, you have that Shinsal.
The principle is simple. The Bath position just before the middle character of the Three Combination (the peak branch) is Peach Blossom (the place of adorning and displaying); the character that clashes with the first character of the Three Combination (the birth branch) is Traveling Horse (the place that sets things in motion); and the last character of the Three Combination (the storage branch) is Canopy Star (the place of gathering in and keeping to oneself).
How important are Shinsal?
Shinsal are the seasoning added after the whole skeleton of the chart (Five Elements, Ten Gods, structure) has been read. Having Peach Blossom does not mean being unfaithful; it means 'a charm that makes people approach you first, even in a room of strangers'. Traveling Horse means 'a tendency toward frequent moves, job changes and trips, and difficulty staying in one place'. It is best to avoid readings that pronounce fortune or misfortune from Shinsal alone.
Modern Saju practice also reinterprets the inauspicious stars. Yang Blade is read as decisiveness and drive, White Tiger as the power to charge straight through work others avoid, and Kuigang as the leadership to set things in order in a crisis. Sajunyang's report includes 'how to use it positively' for each Shinsal.
The 9 Shinsal Sajunyang reads
| Shinsal | One-line meaning |
|---|---|
| Nobleman Star (天乙貴人) | The finest auspicious star: someone appears to help you when things get hard |
| Literary Star (文昌貴人) | An auspicious star that excels wherever you are judged by exams, documents and writing |
| Peach Blossom (桃花煞) | The star that makes people approach you first, even in a room of strangers |
| Traveling Horse (驛馬煞) | The star of frequent moves, job changes, business trips and work abroad |
| Canopy Star (華蓋煞) | The star that pulls you into solitary deep work and away from crowded rooms |
| Yang Blade (羊刃煞) | The star that pushes a decision through against all opposition, and fires back the moment it gets angry |
| White Tiger (白虎大煞) | The star that charges straight through hard work others avoid, but picks up small injuries often |
| Kuigang (魁罡煞) | The star that steps up in a crisis to set things in order, and cannot last long under someone else |
| Red Charm (紅艶煞) | A charm that grows the closer people get, suited to work that uses the senses |
FAQ
- Does having Peach Blossom mean a celebrity's chart?
- Peach Blossom means a charm that catches people's eye, so it is considered favorable for entertainment, sales and service careers, but one Peach Blossom does not decide a profession.
- Does having Traveling Horse mean I will live abroad?
- It is only a tendency toward frequent movement. Use the Traveling Horse energy in work that moves, like trade, logistics, travel or diplomacy, and it becomes an advantage.
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This article is reference material summarizing traditional Saju theory and does not replace medical, legal or investment judgment. Our calculation standards are published at About Sajunyang.