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
六
日期星
Fifth month, twenty-sixth day
Astral Period Sun
Sunday, May 26
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
陽時
德德
德德
Timely Virtue
Yang Virtue
Yang Virtue
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
凶中中
酉己丑
戌午寅
吉吉吉
凶中吉
亥未卯
凶中吉
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
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 In-Between
15:00-17:00 Inauspicious
17:00-19:00 Auspicious
19:00-21:00 Inauspicious
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)
水渠
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
放開水渠
Opening Sluices
Emplacement-in Water
Emplacement-in Water
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Cosmological Information
十
七
壬
辰
七
壬
辰
水
虛
虛
閉
Seventeenth Day (fourth lunar month)
Cyclical day: renchen (29/60)
Phase (element): Water
Constellation: Void (11/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Closed (12/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
田
獵
結
綱
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
田
獵
結
綱
___________________
靡
草
死
____________
靡
草
死
____________
復火
喪星
喪星
Appropriate Activities
Field Venery
Binding Nets
Waving Grasses Wither
(the twenty-third of seventy-two five-day micro-periods in the solar year)
Miscellaneous Information
Fire Star
Repeat Mourning
Field Venery
Binding Nets
Waving Grasses Wither
(the twenty-third of seventy-two five-day micro-periods in the solar year)
Miscellaneous Information
Fire Star
Repeat Mourning
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
白 水
White, Water
白 水
White, Water
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
(Top to bottom; right to left)
倉
栖 庫
Granary
Perch, Storehouse
栖 庫
Granary
Perch, Storehouse
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