China's Lunar Calendar 2015 05-31

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
6/6..............................................................................................................5/30

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
卅
一

日期星

Fifth Month, Thirty-First Day

Astral Period Sun
Sunday, May 31

———————————————— 

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

明守
堂日
Protected Days
Luminous Hall

—————————————————

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

吉吉凶

戌午寅
中吉中
亥未卯
凶吉凶

23:00-01:00 In-Between
01:00-03:00 Inauspicious
03:00-05:00 In-Between
05:00-07:00 Inauspicious

07:00-09:00 In-Between
9:00-11:00 Auspicious
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) 

忌
行理
喪髮
Patterning Hair
Mourning Visits

—————————————————

Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

十
四
丁
未
水

昂

滿

Fourteenth Day (Fourth Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: dingwei (44/60)

Phase (element): Water

Constellation: Pleiades (18/28)

"Day Personality" Cycle: Fullness (3/12)

—————————————————  

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

宜
會
友
結
剛
地月
火忌
三月
喪厭

————
Appropriate Activities
Meeting Friends
Binding Nets

Baleful Astral Influences

 Lunar Taboo
Lunar Repression
Earth Fire
Three Mournings

Section Seven

Inauspicious Stars 
丫

Bifurcation

————

Section Eight

Miscellaneous

倉
厠 庫

Granary
Toilet, Storehouse

China's Lunar Calendar 2015 05-30

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
6/6..............................................................................................................5/30

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
三
十

六期星

Fifth Month, Thirtieth Day

Astral Period Six
Saturday, May 30

———————————————— 

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

合天六歲
日德合支
Generational Branch
Six Linkages
Heavenly Virtue
Linked Days

—————————————————

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

吉吉凶

戌午寅
吉吉中
亥未卯
凶中中

23:00-01:00 Inauspicious
01:00-03:00 Inauspicious
03:00-05:00 In-Between
05:00-07:00 In-Between

07:00-09:00 Inauspicious
9:00-11:00 Auspicious
11:00-13:00 Auspicious
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) 

忌
成除作修
福靈灶廚
Repairing Kitchens
Stove Work
Exorcising Spirits
Completing Clothing

—————————————————

Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

十
三
丙
午
水

胃
除

Thirteenth Day (Fourth Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: bingwu (43/60)

Phase (element): Water

Constellation: Stomach (17/28)

"Day Personality" Cycle: Discard (2/12)

—————————————————  

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

宜
動移訂祭
土徙婚祀
上開納祈
樑市菜福
安交裁入
牀易衣學
栽修理會
中造髮友
將陽
復重大咸
日喪敗池

————
Appropriate Activities
Venerating Ancestors
Inquiring-into Fortune
Entering Study
Meeting Friends
Marriage Engagements
Grain Payments
Cutting-out Clothing
Patterning Hair
Moving Residences
Opening Markets
Trade and Commerce
Repairing and Building
Moving Soil
Raising Beams
Positioning Beds
Planting and Cultivating

Yang General

Baleful Astral Influences

 Widespread Pond
Great Defeat
Repeat Mourning
Returning Days

Section Seven

Inauspicious Stars 
白
White

————

Section Eight

Miscellaneous

庫 灶 廚

Storehouse, Stove, Kitchen

China's Lunar Calendar 2015 05-29

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
5/29..............................................................................................................5/22

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
廿
九

五期星

Fifth Month, Twenty-Ninth Day

Astral Period Five
Friday, May 29

———————————————— 

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

德歲
合月
Generational Lunarity
Virtuous Days

—————————————————

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

吉凶凶

戌午寅
吉中中
亥未卯
凶中中

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

07:00-09:00 In-Between
9:00-11:00 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) 

忌
遠栽
行種
Planting and Cultivating
Distant Journeys

—————————————————

Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

十
二
乙
巳
火

婁
建

Twelfth Day (Fourth Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: yisi (42/60)

Phase (element): Fire

Constellation: Tower (16/28)

"Day Personality" Cycle: Establish (1/12)

—————————————————  

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

宜
移祭
徙祀
醫會
病友
上嫁
樑娶
納納
畜采
水
痕
土下
府兀

————
Appropriate Activities
Venerating Ancestors
Meeting Friends

Marriage Alliances

Grain Payments

Moving Residences

Physician Treatments

Raising Beams

Livestock Payments

Water Scar

Baleful Astral Influences

 Lower Amputee
Earth Palace

Section Seven

Inauspicious Stars 
白 州
White, Landmass

————

Section Eight

Miscellaneous

碓
牀 磨

Pestle
Bed, Mortar

China's Lunar Calendar 2015 05-28

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
5/29..............................................................................................................5/22

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
廿
八

四期星

Fifth Month, Twenty-Eighth Day

Astral Period Four
Thursday, May 28

———————————————— 

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

十陽時
靈德德
Timely Virtue
Yang Virtue
Ten Spirits

—————————————————

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

吉中凶

戌午寅
凶凶吉
亥未卯
凶吉中

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

07:00-09:00 Auspicious
9:00-11:00 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 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) 

忌
針出開
灸財倉
Opening Granaries
Capital Outflow
Acupuncture and Moxibustion

—————————————————

Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

十
一
甲
辰
火

奎
閉

Eleventh Day (Fourth Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: jiachen (41/60)

Phase (element): Fire

Constellation: Asride (15/28)

"Day Personality" Cycle: Closed (12/12)

—————————————————  

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

宜
作交祭
灶易祀
捕建祈
捉屋福
補安移
塞門居
安安立
葬牀約
虛五
陽月血
將煞支

————
Appropriate Activities
Venerating Ancestors
Inquiring-into Fortune
Moving Residences

Setting Appointments

Trade and Commerce

Establishing Structures

Positioning Doors

Positioning Beds

Stove Work

Seizing and Capturing

Patching and Plugging

Positioning Beds
 
Five Voids

Baleful Astral Influences

 Blood Branch
Lunar Balefulness
Yang General

Section Seven

Inauspicious Stars 
白 水
White, Water

————

Section Eight

Miscellaneous

門
栖 碓

Gate
Perch, Pestle