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 14..................................................May 10..................................Monthly Information 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.
Section OneSolar Calendar Date
(top to bottom; right to left)
十
日
五期星
Fifth month, tenth day
Astral Period Five
Friday, May 10
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
不歲
將祿
將祿
Generational Emolument
Not General
Not General
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
中凶吉
酉己丑
戌午寅
吉吉吉
吉凶中
亥未卯
凶中中
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 In-Between
05:00-07:00 In-Between
07:00-09:00 Inauspicious
09:00-11:00 Auspicious
11:00-13:00 Inauspicious
13:00-15:00 In-Between
15:00-17:00 In-Between
17:00-19:00 Auspicious
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)
灶廚
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
作修灶廚
Kitchen Repairs
Stove Work
Stove Work
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Cosmological Information
初
一
一
丙
子
子
水
鬼
鬼
危
First Day (fourth lunar month)
Cyclical day: bingzi (13/60)
Phase (element): Water
Constellation: Ghost (23/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Danger (8/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
______________________
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
______________________
日
環
食
______________________
香
港
區
不
見
______________________
蚯
蚓
出
______________________
復重
日喪
環
食
______________________
香
港
區
不
見
______________________
蚯
蚓
出
______________________
復重
日喪
Sun's Orb Eaten
(total lunar eclipse)
Not Seen in the Hong Kong area
Worms Come Forth
(the twentieth of seventy-two five-day micro-periods in the solar year)
Miscellaneous Information
Repeated Mourning
Returned Days
Returned Days
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
白 火
White, Fire
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
白 火
White, Fire
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
(Top to bottom; right to left)
廚
碓 灶
Kitchen
Pestle, Stove
Pestle, Stove
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