Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"
This is one in a never-ending series—following the movements of the calendar—in Round and Square perpetuity. It is today's date in the Chinese lunar calendar, along with basic translation and minimal interpretation. Unless you have been studying lunar calendars (and Chinese culture) for many years, you will likely find yourself asking "what does that mean?" I would caution that "it" doesn't "mean" any one thing. There are clusters of meaning, and they require patience, reflection, careful reading, and, well, a little bit of ethnographic fieldwork. The best place to start is the introduction to "Calendars and Almanacs" on this blog. I teach a semester-long course on this topic and, trust me, it takes a little bit of time to get used to the lunar calendar. Some of the material is readily accessible; some of it is impenetrable, even after many years.
As time goes on, I will link all of the sections to lengthy background essays. This will take a while. In the meantime, take a look, read the introduction, and think about all of the questions that emerge from even a quick look at the calendar.
⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
LEFT May 30....................................................................................May 23 RIGHT
This is one in a never-ending series—following the movements of the calendar—in Round and Square perpetuity. It is today's date in the Chinese lunar calendar, along with basic translation and minimal interpretation. Unless you have been studying lunar calendars (and Chinese culture) for many years, you will likely find yourself asking "what does that mean?" I would caution that "it" doesn't "mean" any one thing. There are clusters of meaning, and they require patience, reflection, careful reading, and, well, a little bit of ethnographic fieldwork. The best place to start is the introduction to "Calendars and Almanacs" on this blog. I teach a semester-long course on this topic and, trust me, it takes a little bit of time to get used to the lunar calendar. Some of the material is readily accessible; some of it is impenetrable, even after many years.
As time goes on, I will link all of the sections to lengthy background essays. This will take a while. In the meantime, take a look, read the introduction, and think about all of the questions that emerge from even a quick look at the calendar.
Solar Calendar Date
(top to bottom; right to left)
廿
四
五期星
Fifth month, twenty-fourth day
Astral Period Five
Friday, May 24
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
母月
倉德
倉德
Lunar Virtue
Maternal Granary
Maternal Granary
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
凶吉凶
酉己丑
戌午寅
中中吉
凶中吉
亥未卯
凶吉吉
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 Auspicious
05:00-07:00 Auspicious
07:00-09:00 Auspicious
09:00-11:00 In-Between
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 Auspicious
15:00-17:00 Inauspicious
17:00-19:00 In-Between
19:00-21:00 Inauspicious
21:00-23:00 Inauspicious
The hours above are for Hong Kong. It is up to you if you want to recalibrate or to assume that the cyclicality of the calendar "covers" the rest of the world. This is a greater interpretive challenge than you might think.
—————————————————
Section Four
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
祀土
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
祭動祀土
Moving Soil
Venerating Ancestors
Venerating Ancestors
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Cosmological Information
十
五
庚
寅
五
庚
寅
木
牛
牛
收
Fifteenth Day (fourth lunar month)
Cyclical day: gengyin (27/60)
Phase (element): Wood
Constellation: Ox (9/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Receive (10/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
交出
易行
上嫁
樑娶
成納
服采
安移
葬徙
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
交出
易行
上嫁
樑娶
成納
服采
安移
葬徙
土
符
符
天劫
罡煞
罡煞
Appropriate Activities
Going Out (and about)
Marriage Alliances
Grain Payments
Moving Residences
Trade and Commerce
Erecting Beams
Putting-together Clothing
Positioning Graves
Earth Charm
Miscellaneous Information
Baleful Plunder
Heavenly Dipper-tail
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
丫 鬼
Bifurcation, Ghost
丫 鬼
Bifurcation, Ghost
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
(Top to bottom; right to left)
碓
爐 磨
Pestle
Furnace, Mortar
爐 磨
Pestle
Furnace, Mortar
