LESSON L18 / 26 OF 36
The minor period: one palace a year
Know that the yearly age palace moves one palace a year, starting from the birth year's branch, forward for men and backward for women.
Original app lesson · free on the web
This lesson has been self-reviewed and is awaiting final sign-off. The classical passages have been checked word by word; the plain-language text and the exercises are written by this project.
If a decade only changes every ten years, what do I look at each year?
Fictional birth data · teaching example · not a real person's chart · 2026-10-12
In plain words
The age palace moves one palace a year by nominal age. Its start depends on the birth year's branch: Yin, Wu or Xu years start at Chen; Shen, Zi or Chen at Xu; Si, You or Chou at Wei; Hai, Mao or Wei at Chou. Then men count forward and women backward, whatever the year's yin or yang.
What the text says
The four starting points and the rule that men go forward and women backward both come from Volume 2's rule on the age palace.
Compare with your own chart
Find which palace your age palace is in this year. It is a separate layer from the decade and the year; keep them apart.
An everyday example
Minor-period and yearly layers may point to different cells in the same year. They use different starting rules; do not silently choose the answer you prefer.
Name the minor-period or yearly layer explicitly in your notes.
CHECK YOURSELF
Now, try it yourself.
Answer both questions correctly to complete the lesson. The original explanation appears after each answer.
FIND IT IN THE CHART
Find it on a chart.
Say which palace your age palace is in this year.
Open my chart ↗Classical sources
寅午戌人起辰宮，申子辰人自戌宮，巳酉丑人起未宮，亥卯未人起丑宮。
Those born in Yin, Wu or Xu years start at Chen; Shen, Zi or Chen at Xu; Si, You or Chou at Wei; Hai, Mao or Wei at Chou.
Zi Wei Dou Shu Quan Shu, Volume 2, "Placing the Age Palace"; traditionally attributed in received editions
Classical texts provide cultural context. Everyday examples and exercises are written by this project.
YOUR STUDY / L18