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
八
二期星
Fifth month, twenty-eighth day
Astral Period Two
Tuesday, May 28
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
進聖官天
神心日赤
神心日赤
Heavenly Crimson
Official Days
Sagely Heart-Mind
Entering Spirits
Official Days
Sagely Heart-Mind
Entering Spirits
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
中中凶
酉己丑
戌午寅
吉中吉
中凶吉
亥未卯
凶吉中
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 Auspicious
05:00-07:00 In-Between
07:00-09:00 In-Between
09:00-11:00 In-Between
11:00-13:00 Inauspicious
13:00-15:00 Auspicious
15:00-17:00 In-Between
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)
厠蓋財倉
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
搭苫出開厠蓋財倉
Opening Granaries
Capital Outflows
Thatched Roofs
Building Outhouses
Capital Outflows
Thatched Roofs
Building Outhouses
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Cosmological Information
十
九
甲
午
九
甲
午
金
室
室
除
Nineteenth Day (fourth lunar month)
Cyclical day: jiawu (31/60)
Phase (element): Metal
Constellation: Room (13/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Discard (2/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
上理訂祭
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
上理訂祭
樑髮婚祀
納醫納祈
畜病采福
除修嫁會
服造婚友
安動移出
葬土徙行
池咸
池咸
陽大大大
將敗時亡空
將敗時亡空
Appropriate Activities
Venerating Ancestors
Inquiring-into Fortune
Meeting Friends
Going Out (and about)
Marriage Engagements
Grain Payments
Marriage Alliances
Moving Residences
Patterning Hair
Doctor Visits
Repairing and Building
Moving Soil
Erecting Beams
Livestock Payments
Discarding Clothing
Positioning Graves
Widespread Reservoir
Miscellaneous Information
Great Void-loss
Great Temporality
Great Defeat
Yang General
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
白
White
白
White
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
(Top to bottom; right to left)
碓 門 占
Pestle, Gate, Divination
Pestle, Gate, Divination
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