Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"
Today's calendar date: *
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 OneToday's calendar date: *
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)
廿
一
四期星
Third month, twenty-first day
Astral Period Four
(Thursday, March 21)
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
不德歲
將日支
Generational Branch
Virtuous Days
No-General
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
吉凶吉
酉己丑
戌午寅
凶吉中
吉中吉
亥未卯
凶中吉
01:00-03:00 In-Between
03:00-05:00 Auspicious
05:00-07:00 Auspicious
07:00-09:00 Inauspicious
09:00-11:00 Auspicious
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 In-Between
15:00-17:00 Auspicious
17:00-19:00 Inauspicious
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)
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
吃作修
吃作修
犬灶廚
Kitchen Repairs
Stove Work
Eating Dog
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
初
Cosmological Information
初
十
丙
戌
土
角
危
角
危
Tenth Day (second lunar month)
Cyclical day: bingxu (23/60)
Phase (element): Earth
Constellation: Horn (1/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Danger (8/12)
—————————————————
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
動嫁祭
土娶祀
補移祈
捉徙福
栽安出
種牀行
結修訂
綱造婚
不債
天月四
天月四
牢煞擊
Appropriate Activities
Paying Reverence
Inquiring-into Fortune
Going Out (and about)
Marriage Engagements
Marriage Alliances
Moving Residences
Positioning Beds
Repairs and Building
Moving Soil
Capturing and Seizing
Planting Crops
Binding Nets
Debt Not
Miscellaneous Information
Four Fisticuffs
Lunar Termination
Heavenly Penitentiary
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
人
Person
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
人
Person
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
廚
栖 灶
(Top to bottom; right to left)
Kitchen
Kitchen
Perch, Stove
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