China's Lunar Calendar 2017 04-07

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
4/9..................................................................................................................4/2

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
七
日

五期星

Fourth Month, Seventh Day

Friday, April 7

————

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

不進天母
將神喜倉

Maternal Granary
Heavenly Happiness
Entering Spirits
Not General

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

凶凶吉
亥未卯
中吉凶

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

07:00-09:00 Auspicious
9:00-11:00 In-Between
11:00-13:00 Inauspicious
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 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
動問出開
土卜財倉
Opening Granaries
Cash Outflow
Divinatory Inquiries
Moving Soil 

Section Five 
Cosmological Information

十
一
甲
子
金
鬼
成
Eleventh Day (Third Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: jiazi (1/60)

Phase (element): Metal
Constellation: Ghost: (23/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Completion (9/12)

————

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

宜

安交出祭
牀易行祀
作納裁祈
灶財衣福
納上醫入
畜樑病學
安醞開會
葬釀 市友
囊地
天歸上班
牢忌兀煞
————

Appropriate Activities
Venerating Ancestors
Inquiring-into Fortune
Entering Study
Meeting Friends
Going Out (and about)
Cutting-out Clothing
Physician Treatments
Opening Markets
Trade and Commerce
Cash Payments
Raising Beams
Fermenting Beverages
Positioning Beds
Stove Work
Livestock Payments
Positioning Graves

Earth Duffel     

Baleful Astral Influences

Classified Balefulness
Upper Amputee
Return Taboo
Heavenly Penitentiary

———— 

Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
白 地

White,  Earth
———— 

Section Eight

Miscellaneous Activities

碓 門 占

Pestle, Gate, Divination