From Round to Square (and back)

For The Emperor's Teacher, scroll down (↓) to "Topics." It's the management book that will rock the world (and break the vase, as you will see). Click or paste the following link for a recent profile of the project: http://magazine.beloit.edu/?story_id=240813&issue_id=240610

A new post appears every day at 12:05* (CDT). There's more, though. Take a look at the right-hand side of the page for over four years of material (2,000 posts and growing) from Seinfeld and country music to every single day of the Chinese lunar calendar...translated. Look here ↓ and explore a little. It will take you all the way down the page...from round to square (and back again).
*Occasionally I will leave a long post up for thirty-six hours, and post a shorter entry at noon the next day.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Lederhosen Pug—Auf Wiedersehen!

Click here for the "Celebrity Commentary" Resource Center—(all posts available)
Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Celebrity Commentary" (coming soon)
This is a "small" (小) post—click here for an explanation of Round and Square post lengths.
***  *** 
One year ago on Round and Square (31 May 2012)—The Accidental Ethnographer: Ocean and Isle (a)
Two years ago on Round and Square (31 May 2011)—Endings: The Death of Captain Cook

[a] Lederpug RF
                         What is the use of running when you are on the wrong road?
                                                                             —Bavarian Proverb

No worries, though—my name is Lederhosen Pug, and I know the way (知道).

And the way today, leads to goodbye.

My contract is up here at Round and Square, and it is time to start back down the Bavarian pug road again. It has been a pleasure telling stories from Grandpa and Grandma Pug about this special little place in the south of Germany. 
[b] Travelin' pug RF

Like my friend French Bulldog Puppy (not to mention other friends such as Liam and Roll Tide Guy), I'll be back occasionally for a guest commentary. 

Round and Square's editorial rules are strict, though. One month—that's it.

And I look forward to welcoming next month's writer. It will be a change from Bavaria, that's for sure.

And, as I head off down the trail, let me say auf wiedersehen. Grandma Pug always told me that "We Bavarians don't say "tschüß." It is too informal. When we say goodbye, we pack in centuries of tradition. 

And in grandma's kitchen hangs a little sign—Tschüß Freie Zone.

Formal Pug.
[c] Goodbye (for now) RF
[Originally posted on July 31, 2014]

China's Lunar Calendar 2014 07-31

Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"  
⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
8/7.........................................................................................................................7/31

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
四期星
Seventh Month, Thirty-First Day
Astral Period Four
Thursday, July 31
———————————————— 
Section Two
Beneficent Stars 
(top to bottom, right to left)
天天母麒
醫喜倉麟
Unicorn
Maternal Granary
Heavenly Happiness
Heavenly Physician
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left
申辰子
中中
酉己丑
戌午寅
吉中吉
亥未卯
23:00-01:00 Inauspicious
01:00-03:00 Inauspicious
03:00-05:00 Auspicious
05:00-07:00 Auspicious

07:00-09:00 In-Between
09:00-11:00 In-Between
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 Inauspicious

15:00-17:00 In-Between
17:00-19:00 Inauspicious
19:00-21:00 Auspicious
21:00-23:00 In-Between

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) 

取開穿詞
魚池井訟
Lawsuits and Litigation
Boring Wells
Opening Ponds
Garnering Fish
—————————————————  
 Section Five 
Cosmological Information 







Fifth Day (Seventh Lunar Month)
Cyclical day: guimao (40/60)
Phase (element):  Metal
Constellation: Well (22/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Completion (9/12)
—————————————————  
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information
(top-to-bottom; right to left)

上開納入
樑市采學
築交嫁會
提易娶友
成修移出
服造徙行
安動醫訂
葬土病婚
煞班
月陽大刀
忌將煞砧
Appropriate Activities
Entering Study
Meeting Friends
Going Out (and about)
Marriage Engagements
Grain Payments
Marriage Alliances

Moving Households
Physician Treatments
Opening Markets
Trade and Commerce
Repairing and Building
Moving Soil
Putting-up Beams
Constructing Dikes
Completing Clothing
Positioning Graves

Classified Balefulness

Baleful Astral Influences
Sword Anvil
Great Balefulness
Yang General
Lunar Taboo
————

  Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars 
(right to left) 

Bifurcation
————

Section Eight
Miscellaneous Information
門 牀 房
Gate, Bed, Edifice

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Lederhosen Pug—Max Planck

Click here for the "Celebrity Commentary" Resource Center—(all posts available)
Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Celebrity Commentary" (coming soon)
This is a "small" (小) post—click here for an explanation of Round and Square post lengths.
***  *** 
One year ago on Round and Square (30 May 2012)—The Accidental Ethnographer: The Isle of Patmos (2)
Two years ago on Round and Square (30 May 2011)—Le Tour de la France: Mère Etienne

[a] Lederpug RF
                         What is the use of running when you are on the wrong road?
                                                                             —Bavarian Proverb

No worries, though—my name is Lederhosen Pug, and I know the way (知道).

And today that way weaves its way through theoretical physics. You see, a little wunderkind was born in Holstein, and moved to Munich as a lad.

[b] Everywhere RF
And now it is hard to turn a corner anywhere in Germany without finding a Max Planck Straße (oder Platz). If you know anything about the history of physics, you know his name, and know well that he and a certain professor named Albert Einstein were colleagues and friends.

Max Planck

Max Planck lived through two world wars, and all of the problems (in all sorts of ways) they brought. He changed twentieth century physics, and he now has changed the signage from Berlin to Munich.
[c] Lightspeed RF
[Originally posted on July 30, 2014]

China's Lunar Calendar 2014 07-30

Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"  
⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
7/30.....................................................7/27...........................Monthly Information

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
三期星
Seventh Month, Thirtieth Day
Astral Period Three
Wednesday, July 30
———————————————— 
Section Two
Beneficent Stars 
(top to bottom, right to left)
十五母歲
靈富倉祿
Generational Emolument
Maternal Granary
Five Wealths
Ten Spirits
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left
申辰子

酉己丑
中中
戌午寅
吉中吉
亥未卯
中吉吉
23:00-01:00 Inauspicious
01:00-03:00 Inauspicious
03:00-05:00 Auspicious
05:00-07:00 Auspicious

07:00-09:00 In-Between
09:00-11:00 In-Between
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 Auspicious

15:00-17:00 Inauspicious
17:00-19:00 In-Between
19:00-21:00 Auspicious
21:00-23:00 In-Between

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) 

祈祭放開
福祀水渠
Opening Sluices
Putting-into Water
Venerating Ancestors
Inquiring-into Fortune
—————————————————  
 Section Five 
Cosmological Information 







Fourth Day (Seventh Lunar Month)
Cyclical day: renyin (39/60)
Phase (element):  Metal
Constellation: Mix (21/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Danger (8/12)
—————————————————  
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information
(top-to-bottom; right to left)

安交納入
牀易采學
作修移會
灶造徙友
開動理出
倉土髮行
安上開訂
葬樑市婚
兀上
四 小游九
  耗方亡空鬼土  
Appropriate Activities
Entering Study
Meeting Friends
Going Out (and about)
Marriage Engagements
Grain Payments
Moving Households

Patterning Hair
Opening Markets
Trade and Commerce
Repairing and Constructing
Moving Soil
Putting-up Beams
Positioning Beds
Stove Work
Opening Granaries
Positioning Graves

 Upper Amputee

Baleful Astral Influences
Nine Ghost-Soils
Natatorial Disaster
Small Loss-Void
Four Stalwart-Square
————

  Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars 
(right to left) 

Bifurcation
————

Section Eight
Miscellaneous Information
爐 庫 倉
Furnace, Storehouse, Granary

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Lederhosen Pug—Levi Strauss

Click here for the "Celebrity Commentary" Resource Center—(all posts available)
Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Celebrity Commentary" (coming soon)
This is a "small" (小) post—click here for an explanation of Round and Square post lengths.
***  *** 
One year ago on Round and Square (29 May 2012)—The Accidental Ethnographer: The Isle of Patmos (1)
Two years ago on Round and Square (29 May 2011)—Hurtin' Country: I Wonder How Far It is Over You

[a] Lederpug RF
                         What is the use of running when you are on the wrong road?
                                                                             —Bavarian Proverb

No worries, though—my name is Lederhosen Pug, and I know the way (知道).

And the way today weaves through the business of blue jeans.
[b] Fashioned History RF

A certain Levi Strauss (no, not the French anthropologist with a hyphenated surname) was born right smack dab in Bavaria—up north of Nürnberg, in the Franconian region. And he and a business partner came up with a splendid idea for denim work pants.

Levi Strauss

The rest is both labor and fashion history, but it is fitting that a hard-working Franconian would find success by selling workers tough, hard-working pants.

I wish he would have stayed back here and made lederhosen, but that's just me.
[c] Multi-use RF
[Originally posted on July 29, 2014]

China's Lunar Calendar 2014 07-29

Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"  
⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
7/30.....................................................7/27...........................Monthly Information

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
廿
二期星
Seventh Month, Twenty-Ninth Day
Astral Period Two
Tuesday, July 29
———————————————— 
Section Two
Beneficent Stars 
(top to bottom, right to left)
天月
福恩
Lunar Kindness
Heavenly Fortune
—————————————————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left
申辰子
吉中
酉己丑
戌午寅
中吉吉
亥未卯
23:00-01:00 Inauspicious
01:00-03:00 Inauspicious
03:00-05:00 Auspicious
05:00-07:00 Auspicious

07:00-09:00 In-Between
09:00-11:00 Auspicious
11:00-13:00 Auspicious
13:00-15:00 Inauspicious

15:00-17:00 Auspicious
17:00-19:00 Inauspicious
19:00-21:00 In-Between
21:00-23:00 Auspicious

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) 

造合
酒醬
Mixing Sauces
Making Liquor
—————————————————  
 Section Five 
Cosmological Information 







Third Day (Seventh Lunar Month)
Cyclical day: xinchou (38/60)
Phase (element):  Earth
Constellation: Beak of the Turtle (20/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Destroy (7/12)
—————————————————  
Section Six
Appropriate Activities
(and Miscellaneous Information
(top-to-bottom; right to left)









水月
痕破
朱牛
雀口
Appropriate Activities
Seeking Physicians
Treating Illness
Destroying Rooms
Smashing Walls

Baleful Astral Influences
Lunar Destruction
Ox Mouth
Water Scar
Vermilion Bird
————

  Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars 
(right to left) 
丫 州
Bifurcation, Landmass
————

Section Eight
Miscellaneous Information

厠 灶
Kitchen
Toilet, Stove