What Is the Tong Shu? The Ancient Chinese Almanac of Timing

I'm Bronwyn Ayla, L.Ac. — a licensed acupuncturist and Reiki Master Teacher who has trained over 1,000 practitioners since 1998.

The Tong Shu is an ancient Chinese almanac that divides the year into two-week periods called qi nodes, and further into days, hours, and even minutes. It indicates appropriate and inappropriate times for a wide range of activities — from plantings and weddings to travel, feng shui adjustments, digging a well, initiating austerities, domestic arguments, funerals, difficult physical labor, new ventures, repairing tombs, and purchasing property. The basic idea is that when we follow the guidance of the stars, seasons, and nature's cycles, we are in accordance with universal qi, and we maintain health and longevity.

Where the Tong Shu Comes From

Much of my understanding of the Tong Shu comes from my studies and friendship with Liu Ming, a Taoist teacher, philosopher, and practitioner who heavily influenced my understanding of health and wellness. He taught the missing pieces of what health actually is in the body and in our lives. Commonly, we are taught about health through pathologies — what it is to actually be a healthy, thriving human being in this world is skipped.

Liu Ming held strong to the idea that the study of Asian contemplative traditions such as Chinese medicine "is not simply a means to achieve expertise — it is committing to a life-long path of self-cultivation. In Asian traditions, education is not only a method of gaining knowledge, but also of developing empathy and a way to artfully express that empathy in the world."

Part of being healthy, in his teaching and in mine, is living in accordance with the cycles around us and taking our cues from nature.

What Are Qi Nodes?

The Tong Shu divides the year into qi nodes — two-week periods that mark shifts in the quality and direction of natural energy. These are not arbitrary divisions. They reflect observable changes in light, temperature, and the movement of the seasons.

There are four major pivot points in the year: the solstices and equinoxes. Between them fall four cross-quarter points. Together, these eight points — plus the finer two-week divisions of the Tong Shu — create a detailed map of the year's energetic terrain.

Why Does Timing Matter for Health?

The Tong Shu is not simply a scheduling tool. It reflects a foundational principle: we are part of nature. Cold, heat, and wind affect us. We are not separate from the forces that govern the universe. Resisting natural forces, seasonal harmony, and physical laws creates disease.

When we follow the guidance of the stars, seasons, and nature's cycles, we are in accordance with universal qi, and we maintain health and longevity. When we override those cycles — working against the season, ignoring the body's need for rest in winter, or initiating action at the wrong time — we accumulate imbalance.

This is not abstract philosophy. The Tong Shu gives specific, practical guidance: when to plant, when to rest, when to begin a new venture, when to hold still. Living in alignment with cycles reduces the need for intervention.

How the Tong Shu Connects to Seasonal Practice

Each qi node carries its own character. Winter, for example, is a time of inward turning, retreat, and cultivation of yin. It is not a time to initiate or plant — the ground is frozen. The emphasis is on stillness, silence, and internal practices. Healing is amplified through rest, sleep, and dreaming. Winter cultivation builds capacity for wisdom, healing, and right action in future seasons.

Summer brings a different quality. The 90-day summer heat cycle begins two weeks after the Summer Solstice, moving through Little Heat and Great Heat before transitioning to Autumn. Excess summer heat can manifest as reactivity and irritation. Cooling foods — melons, cucumbers — support heat release.

Each two-week period has its own guidance, its own appropriate activities, and its own relationship to the body's internal systems.

The Tong Shu and Self-Cultivation

Liu Ming's teaching — and my own — frames the Tong Shu not as a rigid rulebook but as a living curriculum. The 24 seasonal cycles guide alignment with nature. Following them is a form of self-cultivation: a practice of paying attention, adjusting behavior, and staying in relationship with the world as it actually is.

Modern people often seek healing without changing harmful patterns. Expecting healing while remaining out of alignment with natural cycles creates imbalance. Medicine is not meant to compensate indefinitely for lifestyle dissonance. Part of the healer's role is to reflect reality and guide people toward alignment with life.

The Tong Shu offers a framework for that alignment — not as a gate or a requirement, but as a resource. You do not need a teacher to begin noticing the seasons. You do not need permission to pay attention to the solstice or to rest more in winter. The almanac simply makes explicit what nature is already doing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Tong Shu" mean, and what is it used for?

The Tong Shu is an ancient Chinese almanac that divides the year into two-week periods called qi nodes, and further into days, hours, and even minutes. It indicates appropriate and inappropriate times for activities ranging from plantings and weddings to travel, new ventures, feng shui adjustments, and much more.

How many seasonal divisions does the Tong Shu recognize?

The Tong Shu works with 24 seasonal cycles — biweekly shifts across the year. There are four major pivot points (the solstices and equinoxes), four cross-quarter points, and the finer two-week qi node divisions that together create a detailed map of the year's energetic movement.

How does following the Tong Shu support health?

The basic idea is that when we follow the guidance of the stars, seasons, and nature's cycles, we are in accordance with universal qi, and we maintain health and longevity. Resisting natural forces, seasonal harmony, and physical laws creates disease. Living in alignment with cycles reduces the need for intervention.

Do I need a teacher or special training to use the Tong Shu?

No. The Tong Shu is a resource, not a gate. You can begin by simply noticing the seasons, observing the solstices and equinoxes, and adjusting your behavior accordingly. A teacher can deepen that understanding, but the cycles themselves are available to anyone paying attention.

If you'd like to keep these teachings alive in practice, join me live each week as we move through the entire Tong Shu calendar in Sanctuary.