From Round to Square (and back)

For The Emperor's Teacher, scroll down (↓) to "Topics." It's the management book that will rock the world (and break the vase, as you will see). Click or paste the following link for a recent profile of the project: http://magazine.beloit.edu/?story_id=240813&issue_id=240610

A new post appears every day at 12:05* (CDT). There's more, though. Take a look at the right-hand side of the page for over four years of material (2,000 posts and growing) from Seinfeld and country music to every single day of the Chinese lunar calendar...translated. Look here ↓ and explore a little. It will take you all the way down the page...from round to square (and back again).
*Occasionally I will leave a long post up for thirty-six hours, and post a shorter entry at noon the next day.

Monday, October 31, 2022

China's Lunar-Solar Calendar 2022 10-31

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦
11/7.................................................................................................................................................10/30


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-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

As for interpreting the translation, 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 tha"it" doesn't "mean" any one thing (almost any "it" you will see). 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 calendarSome of the material is readily accessible; some of it is impenetrable, even after many years. And do not assume that people from China understand the traditional calendar particularly well, either. I have encountered confusion and furrowed brows for countless items in the calendar. It can seem "remote," in other words, from the world we live in these days, and yet it is printed anew every single year.

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.        
                                                       Section One
                                                Solar Calendar Date
                                           (top to bottom, right to left)
一期星
Tenth Month, Thirty-First Day
Monday, October 31
————

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 
(top to bottom, right to left)
合歲
日德
Generational Exemplarity
Linked Days
————

Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left

申辰甲
酉巳丑
戌午寅
亥未卯
23:00-1:00 In-Between
1:00-3:00 Auspicious
3:00-5:00 In-Between
5:00-7:00 Inauspicious

7:00-9:00 Inauspicious
9:00-11:00 Auspicious
11:00-13:00 Auspicious
13:00-15:00 In-Between

15:00-17:00 Inauspicious
17:00-19:00 Auspicious
19:00-21:00 Auspicious
21:00-23:00 Inauspicious
————

Section Four 
Activities to Avoid  
(top-to-bottom; right to left) 


遠理
行髮
Patterning Hair
Distant Journeys
————

Section Five 
Cosmological Information
Seventh Day (Tenth Lunar Month)
Cyclical Day: dingsi (54/60)
Phase (element): Earth
"Constellation Personality" Cycle: Danger (12/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Danger 
(8/12)*
*In a relatively rare occurrence, the "danger" in the constellation cycle is 
matched by the (more auspicious) "danger" in the day personality cycle.
————

Section Six
Appropriate Activities
and Miscellaneous Information
(top-to-bottom; right to left) 
重水
日痕
血上
忌兀
Appropriate Activities
Venerating Ancestors
Marriage Engagements
Positioning Beds
Livestock Payments

Baleful Asterisms
Water Scar
Upper Amputee
Doubled Days
Blood Taboo
————

Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(the Chinese is read from right to left; the English, however, "fits" directly below each character)
白 人
White, Person
————

Section Eight
Miscellaneous Items
(the Chinese is read from right to left; the English,
however, "fits" intuitively in the configuration of characters)
牀 庫
Granary
Bed, Storehouse

Sunday, October 30, 2022

China's Lunar-Solar Calendar 2022 10-30

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦
11/7.................................................................................................................................................10/30


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-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

As for interpreting the translation, 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 tha"it" doesn't "mean" any one thing (almost any "it" you will see). 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 calendarSome of the material is readily accessible; some of it is impenetrable, even after many years. And do not assume that people from China understand the traditional calendar particularly well, either. I have encountered confusion and furrowed brows for countless items in the calendar. It can seem "remote," in other words, from the world we live in these days, and yet it is printed anew every single year.

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.        
                                                       
Section One
                                                Solar Calendar Date
                                           (top to bottom, right to left)
期星
Tenth Month, Thirtieth Day
Sunday, October 30
————

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 
(top to bottom, right to left)
月天
德德
Heavenly Exemplarity
Lunar Exemplarity
————

Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left

申辰甲
酉巳丑
戌午寅
亥未卯
23:00-1:00 Auspicious
1:00-3:00 In-Between
3:00-5:00 In-Between
5:00-7:00 In-Between

7:00-9:00 Inauspicious
9:00-11:00 Auspicious
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 In-Between

15:00-17:00 Inauspicious
17:00-19:00 Auspicious
19:00-21:00 Inauspicious
21:00-23:00 Auspicious
————

Section Four 
Activities to Avoid  
(top-to-bottom; right to left) 


作修
灶厨
Repairing Kitchens
Stove Work
————

Section Five 
Cosmological Information
Sixth Day (Tenth Lunar Month)
Cyclical Day: bingchen (53/60)
Phase (element): Earth
"Constellation Personality" Cycle: Void (11/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Destroy 
(7/12)
————

Section Six
Appropriate Activities
and Miscellaneous Information
(top-to-bottom; right to left) 
龍月
口破
九大
空耗
Appropriate Activities
Destroying Rooms
Smashing Embankments

Baleful Asterisms
Lunar Destruction
Great Squander
Dragon Mouth
Nine Vacancies
————

Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(the Chinese is read from right to left; the English, however, "fits" directly below each character)
丫 鬼
Bifurcation, Ghost
————

Section Eight
Miscellaneous Items
(the Chinese is read from right to left; the English,
however, "fits" intuitively in the configuration of characters)
栖 灶
Kitchen
Perch, Stove

Saturday, October 29, 2022

China's Lunar-Solar Calendar 2022 10-29

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦
10/29..................................................................10/25...........................Monthly Calendar Information


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

As for interpreting the translation, 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 tha"it" doesn't "mean" any one thing (almost any "it" you will see). 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 calendarSome of the material is readily accessible; some of it is impenetrable, even after many years. And do not assume that people from China understand the traditional calendar particularly well, either. I have encountered confusion and furrowed brows for countless items in the calendar. It can seem "remote," in other words, from the world we live in these days, and yet it is printed anew every single year.

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.        
                                                       Section One
                                                Solar Calendar Date
                                           (top to bottom, right to left)
廿
六期星
Tenth Month, Twenty-Ninth Day
Saturday, October 29
————

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 
(top to bottom, right to left)
五聖六
合心合
Six Linkages
Sagely Heart-Mind
Five Linkages
————

Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left

申辰甲
酉巳丑
戌午寅
中吉
亥未卯
吉吉
23:00-1:00 In-Between
1:00-3:00 In-Between
3:00-5:00 Auspicious
5:00-7:00 Auspicious

7:00-9:00 Inauspicious
9:00-11:00 Inauspicious
11:00-13:00 In-Between
13:00-15:00 Auspicious

15:00-17:00 Inauspicious
17:00-19:00 Inauspicious
19:00-21:00 Auspicious
21:00-23:00 Auspicious
————

Section Four 
Activities to Avoid  
(top-to-bottom; right to left) 


開穿載
池井種
Planting and Cultivating
Boring Wells
Opening Ponds
————

Section Five 
Cosmological Information
Fifth Day (Tenth Lunar Month)
Cyclical Day: yimao (52/60)
Phase (element): Water
"Constellation Personality" Cycle: Maiden (10/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Grasp 
(6/12)
————

Section Six
Appropriate Activities
and Miscellaneous Information
(top-to-bottom; right to left) 
針安祭
灸門祀
成建祈
服屋福
破結冠
土網帶
安捕安
葬捉牀
虛五
咸大月
 池亡空
Appropriate Activities
Venerating Ancestors
Inquiring-into Fortune
Coming of Age Ceremonies
Positioning Beds
Positioning Gates
Establishing Rooms
Binding Nets
Seizing and Capturing
Acupuncture and Moxibustion
Completing Clothing
Ramming Earth
Positioning Graves

Five Voids

Baleful Asterisms
Lunar Taboo
Great Loss-Void
Widespread Pond
————

Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(the Chinese is read from right to left; the English, however, "fits" directly below each character)
丫 山
Bifurcation, Mountain
————

Section Eight
Miscellaneous Items
(the Chinese is read from right to left; the English,
however, "fits" intuitively in the configuration of characters)
門 磨
Pestle
Gate, Mortar

Friday, October 28, 2022

China's Lunar-Solar Calendar 2022 10-28

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

⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦ From right to left: ⇦⇦⇦⇦
10/29..................................................................10/25...........................Monthly Calendar Information


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

As for interpreting the translation, 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 tha"it" doesn't "mean" any one thing (almost any "it" you will see). 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 calendarSome of the material is readily accessible; some of it is impenetrable, even after many years. And do not assume that people from China understand the traditional calendar particularly well, either. I have encountered confusion and furrowed brows for countless items in the calendar. It can seem "remote," in other words, from the world we live in these days, and yet it is printed anew every single year.

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.        
                                                       
Section One
                                                Solar Calendar Date
                                           (top to bottom, right to left)
廿
五期星
Tenth Month, Twenty-Eighth Day
Friday, October 28
————

Section Two
Beneficent Stars 
(top to bottom, right to left)
陽時
德陰
Timely Yin
Yang Exemplarity
————

Section Three
Auspicious Hours
(top to bottom, right to left

申辰甲
酉巳丑
戌午寅
亥未卯
23:00-1:00 In-Between
1:00-3:00 In-Between
3:00-5:00 Auspicious
5:00-7:00 In-Between

7:00-9:00 Inauspicious
9:00-11:00 In-Between
11:00-13:00 Inauspicious
13:00-15:00 Auspicious

15:00-17:00 Inauspicious
17:00-19:00 Auspicious
19:00-21:00 Auspicious
21:00-23:00 In-Between
————

Section Four 
Activities to Avoid  
(top-to-bottom; right to left) 


祭開
祀倉
Opening Granaries
Venerating Ancestors
————

Section Five 
Cosmological Information
Fourth Day (Tenth Lunar Month)
Cyclical Day: jiayin (51/60)
Phase (element): Water
"Constellation Personality" Cycle: Oxen (9/28)
"Day Personality" Cycle: Decide 
(5/12)
————

Section Six
Appropriate Activities
and Miscellaneous Information
(top-to-bottom; right to left) 
————
月死
厭氣
Appropriate Activities
Meeting Friends
Cutting-out Clothing (Sewing and Tailoring)
Positioning Graves

Leaves Turn Yellow and Fall
(the fifty-third of seventy-two five-day solar micro-periods on the agricultural calendar)

Baleful Asterisms
Death Vapor
Lunar Repression
————

Section Seven
Inauspicious Stars
(the Chinese is read from right to left; the English, however, "fits" directly below each character)
丫 火
Bifurcation, Fire
————

Section Eight
Miscellaneous Items
(the Chinese is read from right to left; the English,
however, "fits" intuitively in the configuration of characters)
爐 門
Divination
Furnace, Gate