Four Exhaustions (sì qióng)
Inauspicious days at the end of each season, traditionally avoided for weddings, travel, and opening businesses.
The Four Exhaustion Days are specific inauspicious days occurring at the tail end of each season. Traditional Chinese date selection (zérì) believes that during seasonal transitions, the cosmic energy (qì) becomes chaotic and unstable. At the end of a season, energy wanes, making it unsuitable for initiating activities or those requiring stability. Consequently, the tradition advises against conducting weddings, travel, or business openings on these days, as matters started then are thought to easily encounter obstacles, struggle to develop smoothly, and may even lead to financial difficulties.