Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"
⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
12/4.........................................................................................................................11/27
12/4.........................................................................................................................11/27
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.
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
三
十
日期星
Eleventh Month, Thirtieth Day
Astral Period Sun
Sunday, November 30
Sunday, November 30
————————————————
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
月天
恩 德
恩 德
Heavenly Virtue
Lunar Kindness
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
吉中凶
酉己丑
吉凶吉
戌午寅
吉中中
亥未卯
吉中中
亥未卯
凶中中
23:00-01:00 Inauspicious
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 In-Between
05:00-07:00 In-Between
07:00-09:00 In-Between
9:00-11:00 Inauspicious
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 In-Between
15:00-17:00 Auspicious
17:00-19:00 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.
—————————————————
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 In-Between
05:00-07:00 In-Between
07:00-09:00 In-Between
9:00-11:00 Inauspicious
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 In-Between
15:00-17:00 Auspicious
17:00-19:00 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
遠栽
行種
Planting and Cultivating
遠栽
行種
Planting and Cultivating
Distant Journeys
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Section Five
Cosmological Information
初
九
乙
九
乙
巳
火
火
房
破
破
Ninth Day (Tenth Lunar Month)
Cyclical day: yisi (42/60)
Phase (element): Fire
Constellation: House (4/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Destroy (7/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
求
醫
治
病
破
屋
壞
垣
下月
兀破
重大
日耗
求
醫
治
病
破
屋
壞
垣
下月
兀破
重大
日耗
————
Appropriate Activities
Seeking Physicians
Treating Illness
Destroying Rooms
Smashing Walls
Appropriate Activities
Seeking Physicians
Treating Illness
Destroying Rooms
Smashing Walls
Baleful Astral Influences
Lunar Destruction
Great Squander
Lower Amputee
Doubled Days
Great Squander
Lower Amputee
Doubled Days
————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
人 州
Person, Landmass
(right to left)
人 州
Person, Landmass
————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Information
碓
牀 磨
Pestle
Bed, Mortar
Bed, Mortar
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