Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"
Today's calendar 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.
Today's calendar 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.
Solar Calendar Date
(top to bottom; right to left)
三
十
十
六期星
Third month, Thirtieth day
Astral Period Six
(Saturday, March 30)
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
陰時續天
德陰世貴
Heavenly Nobility
Continued Eras
Timely Yin
Yin Virtue
Timely Yin
Yin Virtue
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
吉吉吉
酉己丑
戌午寅
凶凶凶
吉中吉
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 Auspicious
09:00-11:00 Inauspicious
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 In-Between
15:00-17:00 Auspicious
17:00-19:00 Inauspicious
19:00-21:00 Auspicious
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)
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
成動裁栽
服土衣種
Planting Crops
Cutting-out Clothing
Moving Soil
Putting-together Clothing
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Cosmological Information
十
九
九
乙
未
金
女
女
定
Nineteenth Day (second lunar month)
Cyclical day: yiwei (32/60)
Phase (element): Metal
Constellation: Woman (10/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Decide (5/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
安赴出祭
牀任行祀
作開訂祈
灶市婚福
安堅出入
門柱火學
醞上入會
釀樑宅友
——————
電始
牀任行祀
作開訂祈
灶市婚福
安堅出入
門柱火學
醞上入會
釀樑宅友
——————
電始
——————
重死地短
重死地短
喪氣囊星
Appropriate Activities
Paying Reverence
Inquiring-into Fortune
Entering Study
Meeting Friends
Going Out (and about)
Marriage Engagements
Building Fires
Entering Residences (staying home)
Traveling to (new) Jobs
Opening Markets
Solidifying Pillars
Erecting Beams
Positioning Beds
Stove Work
Positioning Doors
Fermenting Beverages
First Lightning
(the twelfth of seventy-two five-day micro-periods in the solar calendar—the 七十二候)
Miscellaneous Information
Miscellaneous Information
Short Star
Earth Duffel
Death Vapors
Repeated Mourning
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
白人
White, Person
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
白人
White, Person
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
厠 磨 碓
(Top to bottom; right to left)
Toilet, Mortar, Perch
Toilet, Mortar, Perch
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