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.
五
日
三期星
Second Month, Fifth Day
Wednesday, February 5
Wednesday, February 5
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Section Two
Beneficent Stars
Section Two
Beneficent Stars
(top to bottom, right to left)
王天歲
日赦馬
Generational Equinity
Heavenly Amnesty
Kingly Days
日赦馬
Generational Equinity
Heavenly Amnesty
Kingly Days
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Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子
Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left)
申辰子