China's Lunar Calendar 2016 03-11

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
3/13......................................................3/9...........Monthly Calendar 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
一

五期星

Third Month, Eleventh Day

Astral Period Five
Friday, March 11

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Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

守三歲
日合支

Generational Branch
Three Linkages
Protected Days
—————

Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left) 
申辰子
凶中中
酉己丑
凶吉吉

戌午寅
凶中凶

亥未卯
吉中吉

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

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

15:00-17:00 Inauspicious
17:00-19:00 Inauspicious
19:00-21:00 Inauspicious
21:00-23:00 Auspicious

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
行放開
喪水渠
Opening Sluices
Putting-into Water
Mourning Visits

—————————————————

Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

初
三
壬
辰
水
鬼
除
Third Day (Second Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: renchen (29/60)

Phase (element): Water
Constellation: Ghost (23/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Discard (2/12)

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

理出
髮行
整上
甲官
掃赴
舍任
結沐
網浴
喪行
天上水
刑兀痕

————
Appropriate Activities
 Going Out (and about)
Promotions to Office
Taking-up Official Position
Bathing and Bubbling
Patterning Hair
Trimming Nails
Sweeping Floors
Binding Nets

Three Mournings

Baleful Astral Influences

Water Scar
Upper Amputee
Heavenly Punishment 
 

Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars

丫 火

Bifurcation, Fire
———— 

Section Eight

Miscellaneous Activities

倉
栖 庫 

Granary
Perch, Storehouse