China's Lunar Calendar 2013 07-09

Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"  

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦

LEFT July 12.......................            ....July 8............ Monthly Information 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 One
Solar Calendar Date
(top to bottom; right to left) 
九
日

二期星

Seventh Month, Ninth Day

Astral Period Two
Tuesday, July 9

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Section Two

Beneficent Stars 
(top to bottom, right to left)

解歲
神祿

Generational Emolument
Released Spirits

—————————————————

Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left) 
申辰子

中凶吉

酉己丑

吉吉凶

戌午寅

吉凶中

亥未卯

凶中中

23:00-01:00 Auspicious
01:00-03:00 Inauspicious
03:00-05:00 In-Between
05:00-07:00 In-Between

07:00-09:00 Inauspicious
09:00-11:00 Inauspicious
11:00-13:00 Inauspicious
13:00-15:00 In-Between

15:00-17:00 In-Between
17:00-19:00 Auspicious
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) 

忌

作修
灶廚

Repairing Kitchens
Stove Work

————————————————— 

 Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

初
二
丙
子
水

翌
執

Second Day (sixth lunar month)

Cyclical day: bingzi (13/60)

Phase (element): Water

Constellation: Wings (27/28)

"Day Personality" Cycle: Grasp (6/12)

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Section Six
Appropriate Activities 
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)

宜
裁
衣
理
髮
赴
任
捕
捉

歸咸
忌池
天上
刑兀

Appropriate Activities
Cutting-out Clothing
Patterning Hair
Taking-up Office
Apprehending Criminals

Miscellaneous Information

Salty Ponds
Upper Amputee
Return Taboo
Heavenly Punishment

 —————————————————  
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars

(right to left)
白 水
White, Water

—————————————————

Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities

(Top to bottom; right to left)
廚
碓 灶

Kitchen
Pestle, Stove