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 May 22....................................................................................May 15 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.
Solar Calendar Date
(top to bottom; right to left)
十
九
日期星
Fifth month, nineteenth day
Astral Period Sun
Sunday, May 19
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
不三合月
將合日德
將合日德
Lunar Virtue
Linked Days
Three Unities
Not General
Linked Days
Three Unities
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
吉吉吉
酉己丑
戌午寅
吉凶吉
中中吉
亥未卯
凶中凶
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 Auspicious
05:00-07:00 Inauspicious
07:00-09:00 Auspicious
09:00-11:00 Inauspicious
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 In-Between
15:00-17:00 Auspicious
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)
魚獵插種
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
取田時栽魚獵插種
Planting crops
Timely Injections
Field Venery
Garnering Fish
Timely Injections
Field Venery
Garnering Fish
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Cosmological Information
初
十
乙
酉
十
乙
酉
水
房
房
定
Tenth Day (fourth lunar month)
Cyclical day: yiyou (22/60)
Phase (element): Water
Constellation: House (4/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Decide (5/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
安修嫁祭
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
安修嫁祭
牀造娶祀
納動納祈
畜土采福
成上移入
服樑徙學
安修理出
葬倉髮行
不債
上朱死五
兀雀氣離
兀雀氣離
Appropriate Activities
Paying Reverence
Inquiring-into Fortune
Entering Study
Going Out (and about)
Marriage Alliances
Grain Payments
Moving Residences
Patterning Hair
Repairs and Construction
Moving Soil
Erecting Beams
Repairing Granaries
Positioning Beds
Livestock Payments
Putting-together Clothing
Positioning Graves
Debt-Not
Miscellaneous Information
Five Separations
Death Vapor
Vermilion Bird
Upper Amputee
Paying Reverence
Inquiring-into Fortune
Entering Study
Going Out (and about)
Marriage Alliances
Grain Payments
Moving Residences
Patterning Hair
Repairs and Construction
Moving Soil
Erecting Beams
Repairing Granaries
Positioning Beds
Livestock Payments
Putting-together Clothing
Positioning Graves
Debt-Not
Miscellaneous Information
Five Separations
Death Vapor
Vermilion Bird
Upper Amputee
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
人 林
Person, Copse
人 林
Person, Copse
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
(Top to bottom; right to left)
磨 碓 門
Mortar, Pestle, Gate
Mortar, Pestle, Gate
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