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 22....................................................................................May 15 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)
二
十
一期星
Fifth month, nineteenth day
Astral Period One
Monday, May 20
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
德歲
日支
日支
Generational Branch
Virtuous Days
Virtuous Days
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
吉凶吉
酉己丑
戌午寅
吉吉中
吉中吉
亥未卯
凶中吉
01:00-03:00 In-Between
03:00-05:00 Auspicious
05:00-07:00 Auspicious
07:00-09:00 Inauspicious
09:00-11:00 Auspicious
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 In-Between
15:00-17:00 Auspicious
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
十
一
丙
戌
一
丙
戌
土
心
心
執
Eleventh Day (fourth lunar month)
Cyclical day: bingxu (23/60)
Phase (element): Earth
Constellation: Heart-Mind (5/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Grasp (6/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
裁祭
衣祀
理會
髮友
安訂
牀婚
捕納
捉采
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
裁祭
衣祀
理會
髮友
安訂
牀婚
捕納
捉采
復
日
日
重小
喪耗
喪耗
Appropriate Activities
Paying Reverence
Meeting Friends
Marriage Engagements
Grain Payments
Cutting-out Clothing
Patterning Hair
Positioning Beds
Capturing and Seizing
Returning Days
Miscellaneous Information
Small Squander
Return Mourning
Paying Reverence
Meeting Friends
Marriage Engagements
Grain Payments
Cutting-out Clothing
Patterning Hair
Positioning Beds
Capturing and Seizing
Returning Days
Miscellaneous Information
Small Squander
Return Mourning
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
白 地
White, Earth
白 地
White, Earth
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
(Top to bottom; right to left)
廚
栖 灶
Kitchen
Perch, Stove
栖 灶
Kitchen
Perch, Stove
No comments:
Post a Comment