---
type: Palm Sutra Concept
title: "Annual Fortune / Time Dimension (流年)"
description: "Reading a year by its branch palm star, related to the natal Year pillar — the time dimension."
resource: https://localpapa.com/tools/yizhang.html
category: "Damo Yi Zhang Jing · Annual"
tags: [yizhang, palm-sutra, annual, liu-nian, time]
timestamp: 2026-06-21T00:00:00Z
---

# Annual Fortune · 流年（時間維度）

This tool reads the annual fortune by the "year-branch palm-star" method: each calendar year’s earthly branch fixes one palm star as that year’s star; the branch is then read against **all four natal pillars** — clash, harmony, trine, punishment, harm, destruction or same — to say which part of life the year lands on. Reading it against the Year pillar alone gives nearly everyone the same conclusion for a given year; the four pillars are what tell people apart. Schools differ on decade-luck and annual methods; the method used here is stated explicitly.

## How a year is read

1. Take the target year’s **earthly branch** (e.g., 2026 = 丙午, branch 午).
2. That branch fixes the year’s **palm star** (午 → 天福), read by its general nature.
3. Compare the year branch with **each of the four natal pillars** — clash (沖), harmony (合), trine (三合), punishment (刑), harm (害), destruction (破) or same (比和) — to see which areas of life the year lands on and whether it supports or strains them.

Reading the year against the Year pillar alone gives nearly everyone born in different years the same conclusion for a given calendar year. **The four pillars are what tell people apart.**

## Year ↔ natal relationship

- **Same branch (同宮同氣)** — the year lands on the same palace and palm star as that pillar, amplifying everything that pillar governs — felt strongly; consolidate rather than overreach. On the Year pillar this is the zodiac year (本命年)
- **Harmony (相合)** — the year harmonises with the natal branch — smoother going, with support and cooperation to seize
- **Trine (三合)** — the year forms a trine with the natal branch — allies and resources gather; a good year to build momentum
- **Clash (相沖)** — the year clashes with the natal branch — more upheaval, change or friction; stay adaptable and avoid forcing things
- **Punishment (相刑)** — the year punishes the natal branch — friction arising out of closeness or partnership; keep boundaries and say things up front
- **Harm (相害)** — the year harms the natal branch — hidden chafing where good intentions get in the way; guard against being weighed down by those close
- **Destruction (相破)** — the year breaks with the natal branch — plans change midway and seldom land first time; advance in stages and keep a fallback
- **Neutral (平)** — no special clash or harmony with the natal branch — simply read the year by its palm star’s nature

## Which pillar the year lands on 打在哪一柱

- **年柱 Year Pillar** — *supporting:* lands on the foundation and elders — support from family, seniors or resources already in place；*straining:* lands on the foundation and elders — the base gets shaken, with family or seniors taking energy; consolidate rather than overturn
- **月柱 Month Pillar** — *supporting:* lands on parents, background and the roots of one’s career — work and home both run smoother; a year to lay groundwork；*straining:* lands on parents, background and career roots — change and pressure at work or at home; steady it before pushing on
- **日柱 Day Pillar** — *supporting:* lands on the self and marriage — body and mood run well, with support in relationships and partnerships; a good year to commit；*straining:* lands on the self and marriage — turbulence in health or close relationships; talk more, commit less
- **時柱 Hour Pillar** — *supporting:* lands on children and later fortune — progress with children, juniors or long-range plans; a year to arrange for later；*straining:* lands on children and later fortune — children or long-range plans shift; keep slack and do not commit the back road

> Schools differ on decade-luck (大限) and annual methods in the Palm Sutra; the method used here is the year-branch palm-star reading, stated explicitly. For reference and entertainment.

See also [decade luck](./decades.md) — the ten-year layer above the annual.

See the twelve [palm stars](./stars/index.md). Cast and step through years at <https://localpapa.com/tools/yizhang.html>.

---
*[The four pillars](./pillars/index.md) · [Palm stars](./stars/index.md) · [Palm Sutra knowledge base](./index.md)*