Click here for the introduction to the Round and Square series "Calendars and Almanacs"
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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-solar (or "luni-solar" calendar; I call it the "lunar" calendar in order to distinguish it from the kinds of calendars most Westerners use. It has a basic translation and minimal interpretation. Unless you have been studying 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.
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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. You will likely find that several of the translations seem quite "fanciful" in English. I am simply trying to convey that they also sound fairly fanciful in Chinese.
卅
一
五期星
First Month, Thirty-First Day
Friday, January 31
Friday, January 31
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Section Two
Beneficent Stars
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
天天三天
醫喜合貴
Heavenly Nobility
Three Linkages
Heavenly Happiness
Heavenly Physician
醫喜合貴
Heavenly Nobility
Three Linkages
Heavenly Happiness
Heavenly Physician
————
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
吉吉吉
酉巳丑
中
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
吉吉吉
酉巳丑
中