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.
Section OneSolar Calendar Date
(top to bottom; right to left)
廿
九
三期星
Fifth month, twenty-ninth day
Astral Period Three
Wednesday, May 29
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
合月
日德
日德
Linked Days
Lunar Virtue
Lunar 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
吉中吉
酉己丑
戌午寅
中凶凶
吉中吉
亥未卯
凶中吉
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 Inauspicious
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 In-Between
15:00-17:00 Auspicious
17:00-19:00 In-Between
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)
喪種
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
行栽喪種
Planting Crops
Mourning Visits
Mourning Visits
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Cosmological Information
二
十
乙
未
十
乙
未
金
壁
壁
滿
Twentieth Day (fourth lunar month)
Cyclical day: yiwei (32/60)
Phase (element): Metal
Constellation: Wall (14/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Fullness (3/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
祭
祀
掃
舍
三月
喪厭
大地
煞火
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
祭
祀
掃
舍
三月
喪厭
大地
煞火
Appropriate Activities
Venerating Ancestors
Sweeping Rooms
Miscellaneous Information
Lunar Repression
Earthly Fire
Three Mournings
Great Balefulness
Venerating Ancestors
Sweeping Rooms
Miscellaneous Information
Lunar Repression
Earthly Fire
Three Mournings
Great Balefulness
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
人
Person
人
Person
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
(Top to bottom; right to left)
碓
厠 磨
Pestle, Toilet, Mortar
厠 磨
Pestle, Toilet, Mortar
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