Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"
Today's date: *
Today's date: *
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.
Section OneAs 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
六
日
三期星
Third month, sixth day
Astral Period Three
(Wednesday, March 6)
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Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
陰續麒
德世麟
Unicorn
Continued Generations
Yin Virtue
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
申辰子
Auspicious Hours
申辰子
吉中中
酉己丑
凶吉凶
戌午寅
中吉吉
亥未卯
凶中吉
01:00-03:00 Inauspicious
03:00-05:00 Auspicious
05:00-07:00 Auspicious
07:00-09:00 In-Between
09:00-11:00 Auspicious
11:00-13:00 Auspicious
13:00-15:00 In-Between
15:00-17:00 Auspicious
17:00-19:00 Inauspicious
19:00-21:00 In-Between
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.
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Section Four
Activities to Avoid
Activities to Avoid
忌
除造合
除造合
服酒醬
Mixing Sauces
Mixing Sauces
Stove Work
Discarding Clothing
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Section Five
Cosmological Information
廿
Cosmological Information
廿
五
辛
辛
未
土
壁
壁
定
Twenty-fifth day (first lunar month)
Cyclical day: xinwei (8/60)
Phase (element): Earth
Constellation: Room (14/28)
Jianchu Cycle: Decide (5/12)*
*Repeated from yesterday (a relatively infrequent occurrence).
*Repeated from yesterday (a relatively infrequent occurrence).
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Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
宜
動嫁祭
土娶祀
上納祈
樑采福
作移入
灶徙學
上納祈
樑采福
作移入
灶徙學
安開出
葬市行
——————————
氣死
——————————
俱復血
將喪忌
Appropriate Activities
Paying Reverence
Inquiring (into) Fortune
Entering Study
Inquiring (into) Fortune
Entering Study
Going Out (and about)
Marriage Ceremonies
Grain Payments
Moving Residences
Opening Markets
Moving Soil
Moving Soil
Erecting Beams
Stove Work
Stove Work
Positioning Graves
Death Vapors
Miscellaneous Information
Blood Taboo
Repeated Mournings
No-Exceptions General
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Section Seven
Inauspicious Star
白 人
White, Person
Inauspicious Star
白 人
White, Person
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
厠
廚灶
廚灶
Toilet
Kitchen, Stove
Kitchen, Stove
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