Tong Shu. The name didn’t quite have the right ring to it. 

So they fixed it.

Not by changing the system. By changing what people called it.

Tong Sheng.

And the book survived another thousand years because of it.

Both Names Are Still Used Today

Here’s what confuses people.

Some practitioners still call it Tong Shu. Others call it Tong Sheng (or Tung Shing in Cantonese romanization).

They’re talking about the same thing. Someone asked me yesterday: “Joey, why do some people call it Tong Shu and others call it Tong Sheng?”

Good question.

Because the answer tells you everything you need to know about how deeply the Chinese respect timing.

The Original Name Was Tong Shu

Tong Shu literally means “All-knowing Book.” Tong means “all,” Shu means “book.” 

Simple. Direct. Accurate.

But there was a problem.

In Cantonese and Mandarin, the word for “book” (書) is a homophone for the word “defeated” (輸). 

So when people said “Tong Shu” out loud, it sounded like “Defeated in All Things.”

Not exactly the vibe you want from a book that’s supposed to help you win.

The Rename That Fixed Everything

The name was changed to Tong Sheng (通勝), which means “Victorious in All Things.” 

Same book. Same content. Same formulas.

Different name. Better energy.

And here’s what I love about this story.

The people who made this change understood something most modern people have forgotten:

Words carry energy. Names matter. And if you’re going to use a tool to align with timing, the tool itself better be aligned.

Why This Matters

Most people think names are arbitrary. Marketing. Surface-level branding.

They’re not.

Calling a timing system “Defeated in All Things” would create resistance. Doubt. Bad associations.

Even if the content was perfect, the name would undermine it.

The book that tracks daily energetic conditions. The book that shows you when to act and when to wait. The book that emperors used to run empires and families used to navigate life.

The name difference is regional. Cultural. Linguistic.

But the function? Identical.

What You Need to Know

If you’ve been confused about whether Tong Shu and Tong Sheng are different systems, they’re not.

Same origin. Same formulas. Same purpose.

The only difference is the name. And the name changed because someone understood that even the smallest misalignment – like an unlucky homophone – creates friction.

That’s how seriously traditional practitioners took this work.

They didn’t just optimize the content. They optimized everything around it.

And if the name of your timing system sounds like “defeat,” you’ve already lost before you’ve started.

What I’m Teaching

I don’t care what you call it.

Tong Shu. Tong Sheng. Tung Shing. The Emperor’s Almanac.

What matters is that you understand how it works.

Not the superstitions. Not the folklore. The mechanics.

It’s about reading conditions. Preparing properly. Moving when the energy supports you.

And if you’re tired of doing everything right but still hitting resistance?

You’re probably fighting the wrong days.

Everything is time and energy.

Learn to read both.

Here’re the core modules of the Tong Shu Masterclass:

Module 1: Introduction to Pro Tong Shu

Get the foundation right. You’ll learn how the Tong Shu really works, how it evolved over time, and how to start applying its insights the way pros do – without the guesswork.

Module 2: The Daily Four Pillars

Timing meets clarity. Here’s where you see how the Four Pillars of a day influence outcomes. This gives you context for what that day can support – whether it’s launching, signing, meeting, or just waiting.

Module 3: Attributes of the Day

Every day has its own personality. Some days are wired for action. Others are better for reflection. This module shows you how to read the day’s energy so you can work with it, not against it.

Module 4: Suit & Avoid and Day Stars

This is the heart of date selection. You’ll learn how to match the right type of activity to the right kind of day – and avoid costly mistakes by steering clear of conflicting or “void” days.

Module 5: The Daily Energy Map

Here’s your daily planner. You’ll learn how unseen energy shifts affect daily outcomes – especially useful if you’re integrating this with your Feng Shui or metaphysics work.

Module 6: Monthly Auxiliary Stars

Plan ahead, not just day-by-day. This module gives you a bird’s eye view of the month – perfect if you want to schedule key activities in advance while still syncing with the right energies.

Module 7: Hour Stars

Because the hour matters just as much as the day. You’ll learn how to time your meetings, launches, or personal actions down to the hour that suits you best – based on your chart or your client’s.

Module 8: Black Rabbit Hour & QiMen Special Formations

This is where things get really powerful. You’ll discover how to identify special formations that open up rare windows of opportunity – especially if you’re doing spiritual work, activations, or business-critical steps.

Module 9: Auspicious Marriage Dates

Connecting people at the right time. Whether for marriage, partnerships, or helping others make life-changing connections, this module teaches you how to use the Tong Shu to bring the right people together – and keep them together.