Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"
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.
⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
LEFT June 7.....................................................................................................May 31 RIGHT
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 OneSolar Calendar Date
(top to bottom; right to left)
卅
一
五期星
Fifth month, thirty-first day
Astral Period Five
Friday, May 31
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
不十三歲
將靈合支
將靈合支
Generational Branch
Three Linkages
Ten Spirits
Not General
Three Linkages
Ten Spirits
Not 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
中中中
酉己丑
戌午寅
吉中吉
中吉中
亥未卯
凶吉凶
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 In-Between
05:00-07:00 Inauspicious
07:00-09:00 In-Between
09:00-11:00 In-Between
11:00-13:00 Auspicious
13:00-15:00 Auspicious
15:00-17:00 In-Between
17:00-19:00 Auspicious
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)
室置甲髮
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
產修整理室置甲髮
Patterning Hair
Trimming Nails
Repairs and Installation
Housing Additions
Trimming Nails
Repairs and Installation
Housing Additions
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Cosmological Information
廿
二
丁
酉
二
丁
酉
火
婁
婁
定
Twenty-second Day (fourth lunar month)
Cyclical day: dingyou (34/60)
Phase (element): Fire
Constellation: Mound (16/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Decide (5/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
修交嫁出
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
修交嫁出
倉易娶行
納修裁赴
畜造衣任
成動移訂
服土徙婚
安上開納
葬樑市采
至秋麥
上朱死五
兀雀氣離
兀雀氣離
Appropriate Activities
Going Out (and about)
Taking-up Office
Marriage Engagements
Grain Payments
Marriage Alliances
Putting-together Clothing
Moving Residences
Opening Markets
Trade and Commerce
Repairs and Building
Moving Soil
Erecting Beams
Repairing Granaries
Livestock Payments
Putting-together Clothing
Positioning Graves
Autumn Wheat Arrives*
(the twenty-fourth of seventy-two five-day micro-periods in the solar calendar)
*This curious phrasing is different from the standard listing for #24: (小暑至).
A good explanation can be found here.
Miscellaneous Information
Five Separations
Death Vapor
Vermilion Bird
Upper Amputee
Going Out (and about)
Taking-up Office
Marriage Engagements
Grain Payments
Marriage Alliances
Putting-together Clothing
Moving Residences
Opening Markets
Trade and Commerce
Repairs and Building
Moving Soil
Erecting Beams
Repairing Granaries
Livestock Payments
Putting-together Clothing
Positioning Graves
Autumn Wheat Arrives*
(the twenty-fourth of seventy-two five-day micro-periods in the solar calendar)
*This curious phrasing is different from the standard listing for #24: (小暑至).
A good explanation can be found here.
Miscellaneous Information
Five Separations
Death Vapor
Vermilion Bird
Upper Amputee
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
人 林
Person, Thicket
人 林
Person, Thicket
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
(Top to bottom; right to left)
庫 倉 門
Storehouse
Granary, Gate
Storehouse
Granary, Gate
