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 April 23.............................................................................April 15 RIGHT
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 OneSolar Calendar Date
(top to bottom; right to left)
廿
三
二期星
Fourth month, twenty-third day
Astral Period Two
Tuesday, April 23
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
大麒
明麟
明麟
Unicorn
Great Luminosity
Great Luminosity
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
吉中中
酉己丑
戌午寅
中吉凶
凶吉吉
亥未卯
凶吉吉
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 Auspicious
15:00-17:00 Auspicious
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)
服倉
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
成開服倉
Opening Granaries
Putting-together Clothing
Putting-together Clothing
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Cosmological Information
十
四
四
己
未
火
尾
平
Fourteenth Day (third lunar month)
Cyclical day: jiwei (56/60)
Phase (element): Fire
Constellation: Tail (6/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Even (4/12)
—————————————————
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
理
髮
田
獵
平
道
飾
垣
死月
神忌
重朱
喪雀
理
髮
田
獵
平
道
飾
垣
死月
神忌
重朱
喪雀
Appropriate Activities
Patterning Hair
Patterning Hair
Hunting Afield
Leveling Roads
Ornamenting Embankments
Miscellaneous Information
Miscellaneous Information
Lunar Taboo
Vermilion Bird
Death Spirit
Repeat Mourning
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
白 州
White, Continent
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
白 州
White, Continent
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
(Top to bottom; right to left)
占
厠 門
Divination
Toilet, Gate
厠 門
Divination
Toilet, Gate
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