Xiaoshi (Lesser Hour)
An inauspicious deity grouped with Dashi (Greater Hour); traditionally avoided for travel and marriage.
Xiaoshi is an inauspicious deity belonging to the same group as Dashi (Greater Hour), but its malignancy is believed to be weaker. In traditional almanacs, its primary taboos were travel and marriage, as handling such matters on its designated days was thought to incur minor obstacles or bad luck. The classification of such deities reflects the traditional system of auspicious timing, which makes fine distinctions between levels of fortune and misfortune, allowing people to choose the appropriate level of avoidance based on the importance of their affairs.