Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"
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
⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
LEFT August 27........................................................................................................August 20 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
二
四期星
Eighth Month, Twenty-second Day
Astral Period Four
Thursday, August 22
Thursday, August 22
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
六歲
合支
合支
Generational Branch
Six Linkages
Six Linkages
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
吉吉中
酉己丑
戌午寅
中吉吉
凶吉凶
亥未卯
凶吉中
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 Inauspicious
05:00-07:00 In-Between
07:00-09:00 Auspicious
09:00-11:00 Auspicious
11:00-13:00 Auspicious
13:00-15:00 Auspicious
15:00-17:00 Auspicious
17:00-19:00 In-Between
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)
土牀
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
動安土牀
Positioning Beds
Moving Soil
Moving Soil
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Cosmological Information
十
六
庚
申
木
奎
建
六
庚
申
木
奎
建
Sixteenth Day (Seventh Lunar Month)
Cyclical day: gengshen (57/60)
Phase (element): Wood
Constellation: Astride (15/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Establish (1/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
納出
財行
安裁
門衣
作沐
灶浴
納掃
畜舍
重
喪
復土
日府
財行
安裁
門衣
作沐
灶浴
納掃
畜舍
重
喪
復土
日府
Appropriate Activities
Going Out (and about)
Cutting-out Clothing
Bathing and Sudsing
Sweeping Rooms
Cash Outflow
Positioning Doors
Stove Work
Livestock Payments
Repeat Mourning
Miscellaneous Information
Cutting-out Clothing
Bathing and Sudsing
Sweeping Rooms
Cash Outflow
Positioning Doors
Stove Work
Livestock Payments
Repeat Mourning
Miscellaneous Information
Earth Palace
Returning Days
Returning Days
————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
丫 鬼
Bifurcation, Ghost
Bifurcation, Ghost
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
(Top to bottom; right to left)
碓
爐 磨
碓
爐 磨
Pestle
Furnace, Mortar
Furnace, Mortar
No comments:
Post a Comment