China's Lunar Calendar 2013 04-02

Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"  
Today's calendar date:                                                                                                                                  *

2-9 April 2013

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
(top to bottom; right to left)  
二
日

二期星

Fourth month, second day

Astral Period Two

Tuesday, April2

———————————————— 
Section Two

Beneficent Stars 
(top to bottom, right to left)

德歲歲

日支德

Generational Virtue

Generational Branch

Virtuous Days

—————————————————

Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left) 
申辰子

吉凶中

酉己丑

凶中吉

戌午寅

中吉凶

亥未卯

凶吉吉

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

15:00-17:00 Auspicious
17:00-19:00 Inauspicious
19:00-21:00 In-Between
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

修置買

倉業田

Buying Land

Setting-up Industry

Repairing Granaries

————————————————— 

 Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

廿
二

戊

戌

木
室

危

Twenty-second Day (second lunar month)

Cyclical day: wuxu (35/60)

Phase (element): Wood

Constellation: Room (13/28)

"Day Personality" Cycle: Danger (8/12)

————————————————— 

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

 宜

安立訂

牀約婚

作交納

灶易采

結修裁

綱造衣

取動掃

魚土舍

將陰

月月無
虛煞祿
Appropriate Activities
Marriage Engagements
Grain Payments
Cutting-out Clothing
Sweeping Rooms
Setting-up Appointments
Trade and Commerce
Repairing and Constructing
Moving Soil
Positioning Beds
Stove Work
Binding Nets
Catching Fish

Yin General    

Miscellaneous Information
Without Emolument

Lunar Balefulness

Lunar Vacancy

 ————————————————— 

 Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
人 
Person

————————————————— 

Section Eight 
Miscellaneous Activities

(Top to bottom; right to left) 
房

栖 牀
House
Perch, Bed