Nine Pitfalls (Jiǔ Kǎn)
In traditional almanacs, an inauspicious star related to water; avoid taking boats, crossing water, building dikes, or releasing water.
Jiǔ Kǎn is an inauspicious star (凶煞) in the traditional calendar, closely tied to water and dike-related activities. In the past, it was taboo to take boats, cross water, build dikes, or open sluice gates, as it was believed to easily lead to waves, capsizing, or flooding. Such taboos were especially observed in areas along rivers, coasts, or near frequent water engineering projects, reflecting the ancients' dual attitude of both utilizing and fearing water resources.