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 30....................................................................................May 23 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)
廿
三
四期星
Fifth month, twenty-third day
Astral Period Four
Thursday, May 23
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
月天天四
恩醫喜相
恩醫喜相
Four Facings
Heavenly Happiness
Heavenly Physician
Lunar Kindness
Heavenly Happiness
Heavenly Physician
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
吉中吉
酉己丑
戌午寅
吉吉凶
中中吉
亥未卯
凶凶吉
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 In-Between
13:00-15:00 Inauspicious
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)
魚回徙訟
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
取遠移詞魚回徙訟
Litigation
Moving Residences
Returning-from Afar
Garnering Fish
Moving Residences
Returning-from Afar
Garnering Fish
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Cosmological Information
十
四
己
丑
四
己
丑
火
斗
斗
成
Fourteenth Day (fourth lunar month)
Cyclical day: jichou (26/60)
Phase (element): Fire
Constellation: Dipper (8/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Completion (9/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
上開出祭
樑市行祀
栽交訂祈
種易婚福
納修納入
畜造采學
安動理會
葬土髮友
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
上開出祭
樑市行祀
栽交訂祈
種易婚福
納修納入
畜造采學
安動理會
葬土髮友
忌歸
厭四無月
對擊祿忌
對擊祿忌
Appropriate Activities
Paying Reverence
Inquiring-into Fortune
Entering Study
Meeting Friends
Going Out (and about)
Marriage Engagements
Grain Payments
Patterning Hair
Opening Markets
Trade and Commerce
Repairing and Building
Moving Soil
Erecting Beams
Planting Crops
Livestock Payments
Positioning Graves
Return Taboo
Miscellaneous Information
Lunar Taboo
Without Emolument
Four Fisticuffs
Mutual Repression
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
丫 山
Bifurcation, Mountain
丫 山
Bifurcation, Mountain
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
(Top to bottom; right to left)
厠 門 占
Toilet, Gate, Divination
Toilet, Gate, Divination
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