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 12.................................................June 8..................Monthly Information......... 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)
八六
日月
六期星
Sixth Month, Eighth Day
Astral Period Six
Saturday, June 8
————————————————
Section Two
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
(top to bottom, right to left)
玉王
字日
字日
Kingly Days
Jade Characters
Jade Characters
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
吉中凶
酉己丑
戌午寅
吉凶吉
吉中中
亥未卯
凶中中
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 In-Between
05:00-07:00 In-Between
07:00-09:00 In-Between
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 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)
行種
Activities to Avoid
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
忌
遠栽行種
Planting Crops
Long Journeys
Long Journeys
—————————————————
Section Five
Cosmological Information
Cosmological Information
初
一
乙
巳
一
乙
巳
火
柳
柳
閉
First Day (fifth lunar month)
Cyclical day: yisi (42/60)
Phase (element): Fire
Constellation: Willow (24/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Closed (12/12)
—————————————————
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information)
(top-to-bottom; right to left)
宜
建祭
屋祀
作裁
灶衣
補築
垣堤
塞移
穴徙
重
日
血水
支痕
屋祀
作裁
灶衣
補築
垣堤
塞移
穴徙
重
日
血水
支痕
Appropriate Activities
Venerating Ancestors
Putting-together Clothing
Constructing Dikes
Moving Residences
Establishing Rooms
Stove Work
Patching Embankments
Stopping-up Caves
Repeated Days
Miscellaneous Information
Water Scar
Blood Branch
Venerating Ancestors
Putting-together Clothing
Constructing Dikes
Moving Residences
Establishing Rooms
Stove Work
Patching Embankments
Stopping-up Caves
Repeated Days
Miscellaneous Information
Water Scar
Blood Branch
—————————————————
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(right to left)
白
White
白
White
—————————————————
Section Eight
Miscellaneous Activities
Miscellaneous Activities
(Top to bottom; right to left)
碓
牀 磨
牀 磨
Pestle
Bed, Mortar
Bed, Mortar
No comments:
Post a Comment