China's Lunar Calendar 2014 09-30

Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"  

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
10/6........................................................................................................................9/29

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
十

二期星

Ninth Month, Thirtieth Day

Astral Period Two
Tuesday, September 30

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Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

十六歲
靈合德

Generational Virtue
Six Linkages
Ten Spirits

—————————————————

Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left) 
申辰子
中吉凶
酉己丑

吉中吉

戌午寅
凶凶吉
亥未卯

吉吉凶

23:00-01:00 Inauspicious
01:00-03:00 Auspicious
03:00-05:00 Auspicious
05:00-07:00 Inauspicious

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

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

忌
進新開
水船倉
Opening Granaries
New Boats
Entering Water

—————————————————  
 Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

初
七
甲

辰

火
翌
危

Seventh Day Day (Ninth Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: jiachen (41/60)

Phase (element): Fire

Constellation: Wings (27/28)

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

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

宜
安入納
牀宅采
作開裁
灶市衣
捕立合
捉約帳
結交移
綱易居
痕水
天月龍
刑煞口

————
Appropriate Activities

Grain Payments
Cutting-out CLothing
Linking Banners
Moving Residences
Staying Home
Opening Markets
Setting-up Appointments
Trade and Commerce
Positioning Beds
Stove Work
Seizing and Capturing
Binding Nets

Water Scar

Baleful Astral Influences

Dragon Mouth
Lunar Balefulness
Heavenly Punishment
————

  
Section Seven

Inauspicious Stars 
(right to left) 
白 火
White, Fire
————

Section Eight

Miscellaneous Information

門

栖 碓

Gate
Perch, Pestle