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 February 12...........................................................................................February 4 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)
八
日
六期星
Second Month, Eighth Day
Astral Period Six
Saturday, February 8
Saturday, February 8
————————————————
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
天陽
喜德
Yang Virtue
Heavenly Happiness
Heavenly Happiness
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
凶凶凶
酉己丑
中中吉
凶吉中
中中吉
戌午寅
亥未卯
中吉中
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 In-Between
05:00-07:00 In-Between
07:00-09:00 Inauspicious
09:00-11:00 In-Between
11:00-13:00 Auspicious
13:00-15:00 Auspicious
15:00-17:00 Inauspicious
17:00-19:00 In-Between
19:00-21:00 Inauspicious
21:00-23:00 In-Between
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
除結
服綱
Binding Nets
Discarding Clothing
Discarding Clothing
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
初
九
庚
戌
金
胃
成
九
庚
戌
金
胃
成
Ninth Day (First Lunar Month)
Cyclical day: gengxu (47/60)
Phase (element): Metal
Constellation: Stomach (17/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Completion (9/12)
—————————————————
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
祭
祀
入
學
月犬
厭口
復火
喪星
月犬
厭口
復火
喪星
Appropriate Activities
Venerating Ancestors
Entering Study
Miscellaneous Information
Miscellaneous Information
Canine Mouth
Fire Star
Lunar Repression
Return Mourning
Fire Star
Lunar Repression
Return Mourning
————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
人 水
Person, Water
————
Person, Water
————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Information
(Top to bottom; right to left)
碓
栖 磨
Pestle
Perch, Mortar
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