China's Lunar Calendar 2016 01-12

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
1/14................................................1/10........................Monthly Information

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
十
二

二期星

First Month, Twelfth Day

Astral Period Two
Tuesday, January 12

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Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

時玉歲
陰堂馬

Generational Horse
Jade Hall
Timely Yin

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Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left) 
申辰子
吉吉吉
酉己丑
中吉凶

戌午寅
吉中中

亥未卯
凶凶吉

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

07:00-09:00 Auspicious
9:00-11:00 Auspicious
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 Inauspicious

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) 

忌
除遠詞
服行訟
Lawsuits and Litigation
Distant Journeys
Discarding Clothing

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Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

初
三
癸
巳
水
觜
定
Third Day Day (Twelfth Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: guisi (30/60)

Phase (element): Water
Constellation: Beak of the Turtle (20/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Decide (5/12) 

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

宜

動移會
土徙友
上立訂
樑約婚
作交納
灶易采
納修裁
畜造衣
日重
厭死水
對氣痕

————
Appropriate Activities 
Meeting Friends
Marriage Engagements
Grain Payments
Cutting-out Clothing
Moving Households
Making Appointments
Trade and Commerce
Repairing and Building
Moving Soil
Raising Beams
Stove Work
Livestock Payments   

  
Doubled Days

Baleful Astral Influences

Water Scar
Death Vapor
Mutual Loathing

 ———— 

Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars

丫 林

Bifurcation, Copse
———— 

Section Eight

Miscellaneous Activities

占

牀 房

Divination
Bed, Edifice