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)
廿
二
三期星
Fifth month, twenty-first day
Astral Period Three
Wednesday, May 22
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
不歲歲
將祿德
將祿德
Generational Virtue
Generational Emolument
Not General
Generational Emolument
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
吉吉中
酉己丑
戌午寅
吉吉吉
中凶凶
亥未卯
凶中吉
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 Inauspicious
05:00-07:00 Auspicious
07:00-09:00 Auspicious
09:00-11:00 Auspicious
11:00-13:00 Inauspicious
13:00-15:00 In-Between
15:00-17:00 Auspicious
17:00-19:00 Auspicious
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)
卜業田
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
問置買卜業田
Buying Land
Setting-up Business
Divinatory Questioning
Setting-up Business
Divinatory Questioning
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Cosmological Information
十
三
戊
子
三
戊
子
火
箕
箕
危
Thirteenth Day (fourth lunar month)
Cyclical day: wuzi (25/60)
Phase (element): Fire
Constellation: Banner (7/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Danger (8/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
動嫁祭
土娶祀
上納祈
樑采福
安理會
牀髮友
安修出
葬造行
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
動嫁祭
土娶祀
上納祈
樑采福
安理會
牀髮友
安修出
葬造行
虛五
俱白天
將虎吏
將虎吏
Appropriate ActivitiesPaying Reverence
Inquiring-into Fortune
Meeting Friends
Going Out (and about)
Marriage Alliances
Grain Payments
Patterning Hair
Repairing and Building
Moving Soil
Erecting Beams
Positioning Beds
Positioning Graves
Five Vacancies
Miscellaneous Information
Heavenly Official
White Tiger
Entirely General
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
白 火
White, Fire
白 火
White, Fire
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
(Top to bottom; right to left)
房
碓 牀
House
Pestle, Bed
碓 牀
House
Pestle, Bed
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