Zao Chu Chou
Construct livestock pens. 'Chou' here refers to enclosures for penned livestock.
Constructing livestock pens is a major event for farm families, directly impacting the health of their animals and agricultural production. In traditional almanacs, selecting an auspicious day for 'Zao Chu Chou' is meant to ensure the pens are sturdy, allowing the livestock to settle peacefully within, less prone to illness or escape. This tabu reflects the importance former agrarian societies placed on raising livestock, as well as the wish for the prosperity of the six domestic animals (horse, ox, goat, chicken, dog, pig). While modern professional ranches and domestic husbandry environments have changed, the related concepts of day selection remain visible in traditional folk customs.