China's Lunar Calendar 2015 07-31

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
8/5................................................................................................................7/28

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

五期星

Seventh Month, Thirty-First Day

Astral Period Five
Friday, July 31

———————————————— 

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

不陽
將德
Yang Virtue
Not General

—————————————————

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

中吉凶

戌午寅
中中凶
亥未卯
中吉中

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

07:00-09:00 Auspicious
9:00-11:00 Auspicious
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 Auspicious

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

忌
安置
牀產
Setting-up Production
Positioning Beds

—————————————————

Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

十
六
戊
申
土
鬼
除
Sixteenth Day (Sixth Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: wushen (45/60)

Phase (element): Earth

Constellation: Ghost (23/28)

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

—————————————————  

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

宜

移祭
徙祀
醫嫁
病娶
動理
土髮
牧掃
樣舍

火

星

復猴
喪口

————
Appropriate Activities
 Venerating Ancestors
Marriage Alliances
Patterning Hair
Sweeping Rooms
Moving Households
Physician Visits
Moving Soil
Raising Livestock

Fire Star

Baleful Astral Influences

Monkey Mouth
Repeat Mourning

Section Seven

Inauspicious Stars 
丫 火
Bifurcation, Fire

————

Section Eight

Miscellaneous

房

爐 牀

Edifice
Furnace, Bed

China's Lunar Calendar 2015 07-30

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
8/5................................................................................................................7/28

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

四期星

Seventh Month, Thirtieth Day

Astral Period Four
Thursday, July 30

———————————————— 

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

天聖
貴心
Sagely Heart-Mind
Heavenly Nobility

—————————————————

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
吉吉凶

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 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
行理
喪髮
Patterning Hair
Mourning Visits

—————————————————

Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

十
五
丁
未
水
井
建
Fifteenth Day (Sixth Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: dingwei (44/60)

Phase (element): Water

Constellation: Well (22/28)

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

—————————————————  

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

宜

交祭

易祀

上祈

樑福

建出

屋行

入赴

倉任

土

府

三八

將專

————
Appropriate Activities
 Venerating AncestorsInquiring-into Fortune
Going Out (and about)
Taking-up Office
Trade and Commerce
Raising Beams
Establishing Quarters
Entering Granaries

Earth Palace

Baleful Astral Influences

Eight Specializations
Three Mournings

Section Seven

Inauspicious Stars 
丫 神
Bifurcation, Spirit

————

Section Eight

Miscellaneous

倉

厠 庫

Granary
Toilet, Storehouse

Zweirad Szenen (3)—Warm Willkommen

Click here for the "Fahrrad Szenen" Resource Center (all posts available)
Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Fahrrad Szenen"
This is a "small" (小) post—click here for an explanation of Round and Square post lengths.

***  *** 

On this date on Round and Square's History 

29 July 2014—China's Lunar Calendar (2014 07-29)
29 July 2013—Asian Ethnicities: Dynamics of Ethnicity (k)
29 July 2013—China's Lunar Calendar (2013 07-29)
29 July 2012—The Accidental Ethnographer: Pilgrimage
29 July 2011—Longevity Mountain: Furnace Talk

After the long climb (gradual, and possible—while in good fitness—to speed up the whole route)...it is wonderful to receive a warm welcome into Kalchreuth. It's the top of the hill, and, even though it probably wouldn't even be a fourth category climb in the Tour de France, local cyclists from the entire Nürnberg-Erlangen area all train here (and race past me as I make my own way forward). 

I have the last laugh, though, because I truly embrace the wonderful hug that the little town gives me when I arrive. They just head downhill. I might even stop in for a coffee and a pretzel (heck, maybe even a beer).

While welcomes are not unknown throughout the world, it is less common to have warm and affectionate goodbyes. Stay tuned.

China's Lunar Calendar 2015 07-29

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
8/5................................................................................................................7/28

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

三期星

Seventh Month, Twenty-Ninth Day

Astral Period Three
Wednesday, July 29

———————————————— 

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

六歲
合支
Generational Branch
Six Linkages

—————————————————

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

吉吉凶

戌午寅
吉吉中
亥未卯
吉中中

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 In-Between
17:00-19:00 Auspicious
19:00-21:00 Auspicious
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
作修
灶廚
Kitchen Repairs
Stove Work

—————————————————

Section Five 
Cosmological Information 

十
四
丙
午
水
參
閉
Fourteenth Day (Sixth Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: bingwu (43/60)

Phase (element): Water

Constellation: Gathering (21/28)

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

—————————————————  

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

宜

掃

舍

補

垣

塞

穴

除

服
血上
支兀
陰月
將忌

————
Appropriate Activities
 Sweeping Rooms
Patching Embankments
Plugging Caves
Discarding Clothing

Baleful Astral Influences

Upper Amputee
Lunar Taboo
Blood Branch
Yin General

Section Seven

Inauspicious Stars 
丫 地
Bifurcation, Earth

————

Section Eight

Miscellaneous

廚

碓 灶

Kitchen

Pestle, Stove

Zweirad Szenen (2)—Dear Dairy

Click here for the "Fahrrad Szenen" Resource Center (all posts available)
Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Fahrrad Szenen"
This is a "small" (小) post—click here for an explanation of Round and Square post lengths.

***  *** 

On this date on Round and Square's History 

28 July 2014—China's Lunar Calendar (2014 07-28)
28 July 2013—Asian Ethnicities: Dynamics of Ethnicity (j)
28 July 2013—China's Lunar Calendar (2013 07-28)
28 July 2012—The Accidental Ethnographer: Reading Geil
28 July 2011—Longevity Mountain: Southern Temple Entrance

[a] Moo RL

Oh, and what did I see on one of my rides, just a few days ago (along the canal, near Forcheim)? 

Well, "Wisconsin" turned the corner and rode right toward me before I slammed on the brakes (and took a picture).

Bavaria, Hokkaido, Wsconsin—I always seem to find my way back "home" (to milk and cheese...for better or worse).

[b] Milka RL

China's Lunar Calendar 2015 07-28

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦
7/27................................................................................................................7/21

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

二期星

Seventh Month, Twenty-Eighth Day

Astral Period Two
Tuesday, July 28

———————————————— 

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 

(top to bottom, right to left)

合歲
日德
Generational Virtue
Linked 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
三
乙
巳
火
嘴
開
Thirteenth Day (Sixth Lunar Month)

Cyclical day: yisi (42/60)

Phase (element): Fire

Constellation: Beak of the Turtle (20/28)

"Day Personality" Cycle: Open (11/12)

—————————————————  

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

宜

理入
髮學
安會
門友
作納
灶采
土
潤
溽
暑
地重
火日

————
Appropriate Activities
 Entering Study
Meeting Friends
Grain Payments
Patterning Hair
Positioning Doors
Stove Work

Earth Is Steaming Wet
(the thirty-fifth of seventy-two five-day solar micro-periods on the agricultural calendar)

Baleful Astral Influences

Doubled Days
Earth Fire

Section Seven

Inauspicious Stars 
白 林
White, Copse

————

Section Eight

Miscellaneous

碓

牀 磨

Pestle
Bed, Mortar