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.
Section One
⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ 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.
Solar Calendar Date
(top to bottom; right to left)
十
三
一期星
Fifth month, thirteenth day
Astral Period One
Monday, May 13
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
月生
恩氣
恩氣
Birth Vapor
Lunar Kindness
Lunar Kindness
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
中中吉
酉己丑
戌午寅
凶中凶
中吉吉
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 In-Between
11:00-13:00 Auspicious
13:00-15:00 Auspicious
15:00-17:00 In-Between
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.
—————————————————
Section Four
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
土井
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
動穿土井
Boring Wells
Moving Soil
Moving Soil
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Cosmological Information
初
四
己
卯
四
己
卯
土
張
張
開
Fourth Day (fourth lunar month)
Cyclical day: jimao (16/60)
Phase (element): Earth
Constellation: Drawn Bow (26/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Open (11/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
理入
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
理入
髮學
開會
市友
安出
牀行
入嫁
倉娶
地
囊
上班
兀煞
上班
兀煞
Appropriate Activities
Entering Study
Meeting Friends
Going Out (and about)
Marriage Engagements
Patterning Hair
Opening Markets
Positioning Beds
Entering Granaries
Earth Duffel
Miscellaneous Information
Entering Study
Meeting Friends
Going Out (and about)
Marriage Engagements
Patterning Hair
Opening Markets
Positioning Beds
Entering Granaries
Earth Duffel
Miscellaneous Information
Baleful Grouping
Upper Amputee
Upper Amputee
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
丫 人
Bifurcation, Person
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
丫 人
Bifurcation, Person
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
(Top to bottom; right to left)
占
門 大
門 大
Divination
Gate, Big
Gate, Big
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