Chinese CalendarsThe Chinese have both a Lunar and a Solar Calendar which when combined together is also known as the Chinese LuniSolar Calendar system.
The Lunar Calendar is based on the moon’s rotation around the earth while the Solar Calendar is based on the earth’s rotation around the sun. Today most parts of the world use the western or Gregorian calendar system. The date of birth of most of us are also expressed the western calendar dates. |
Lunar Calendar
An addition month in 7 out of the 19 years in each cycle, is added to resolve the discrepancy. The additional month takes the name of the lunar month before, and is known as a leap month. Due to this addition month, the 1st day of the 1st lunar month ( also known as Chinese New Year ) varies from year to year between the months of January and February.
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Each lunar month has either 29 or 30 days. When the month has 29 days, it is considered to be small, and when it has 30 days it is considered to be big.
The lunar year is associated with one of the 12 Earthly Branches such as Zi, Chou, Yin, and Mao. For easy identification and reference, an animal such as Rat, Ox, Tiger, and Rabbit is associated with each of the Earthly Branches. This cycle is repeated every 12 years. |
Chinese Solar CalendarSince ancient times, Chinese farmers used the Solar Calendar to plan their work schedules to coincide with the seasonal changes. Chinese solar calendar begins at Li Chun when the Big Dipper points to the 15th degree orientation of the Aquarius Constellation. This happens on either Feb 4th or 5th of every year. The Spring Equinox ( at 0 degree, Aries ) is mid-spring which happens in between the beginning of spring and the beginning of summer. The summer solstice ( at 0 degree, Cancer ) is the mid-point between Li-hsia, beginning of summer, and Li-Chiu, beginning of autumn. The autumn equinox or mid-autumn ( at 0 degree, Libra ) is called Chiu-Fen. The winter solstice ( at 0 degree, Capricorn ) is called Tung chih. Despite the popularity and widespread use of the Gregorian calendar, the traditional Chinese calendar continues to be used for festive celebrations and divination. The calendar has a very long history going back to the Xia ( 21st century BC - 16th century BC ) and Shang Dynasty ( 16th century BC - 11th century BC ). It is based on a unique combination of astronomy and geography through years of observation and exploration. It is also referred to as the Lunar, Yin, Xia or the old Chinese calendar. Following its creation during the Xia Dynasty, succeeding reigns continued to use the calendar but modified it from time to time. The Han Dynasty rulers instituted the Taichu calendar, while during Tang Dynasty the Huangji calendar was introduced and it was adopted by Japan, Korea and Vietnam. With the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1912, the Gregorian calendar was brought into use in China. Although ethnic groups have their own calendars, in essence they resemble that of the Han people's. The calendar has links with natural sciences such as agriculture and astronomy, solar terms, the four seasons and traditional festivals such as the lunar new year or Spring Festival. There are links also with the Five Elements ( Fire, Earth, Water, Metal and Wood ) of which the ancient Chinese believed the physical universe to be composed of. Finally, of course, is the Chinese Zodiac - the symbolic animals associated with each year on a 12-year cycle. |
正月 = 端月
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Zi Wei Dou Shu, a system of Chinese astrology requires your date and time of birth according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar while BaZi or more popularly known as the Four Pillars of Destiny require the date and time according to the Chinese Solar or Hsia Calendar system!
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Basis of CalculationEach time the moon moves into line with the earth and the sun a new month begins, and the first day of the lunar month is called ' Chu Yi ' or ' Shuo Ri '.
The longest day of a year or Summer Solstice falls on the 21st or 22nd of June, and the shortest day is the Winter Solstice on either December 21, 22, or 23. Using these two annual events the year is divided into 24 equal parts or the so-called 24 solar terms. The month with its first day nearest the Beginning of Spring (the first solar term) is the first lunar month, and on that day the Spring Festival is held. This could vary between January 20th and February 20th. |
To decide when a leap month needs to be added to bring the lunar calendar in relation to the earth's movement around the sun, the 24 solar terms are considered. Most months will have more than one solar term, but where a month has only one, it will be repeated with 29 or 30 days. This phenomenon can occur every two or three years.
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To decide when a leap month needs to be added to bring the lunar calendar in relation to the earth's movement around the sun, the 24 solar terms are considered. Most months will have more than one solar term, but where a month has only one, it will be repeated with 29 or 30 days. This phenomenon can occur every two or three years.
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24 Solar TermsThese refer to the twenty-four seasons and climate governing agricultural planning and practices in China. The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar as it takes into account the longest and the shortest days, and the two days each year when the length of the day equals that of the night. These four significant days are commonly known as the Summer and Winter Solstices, and the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes.
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During the Shang Dynasty the Chinese only used four solar terms while eight solar terms were used during the Zhou Dynasty (11th century BC - 221BC). It was during the Western Han Dynasty ( 206BC - 24 BC ) that the 24 terms were finally adopted.
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Solar terms have meaningful connotations. Some reflect the change of seasons such as the Beginning of Spring and the Beginning of Winter; some the phenomena of climate like the Waking of Insects ( Jing Zhe ), Pure Brightness ( Qing Ming ), Lesser Fullness of Grain ( Xiao Man ) and Grain in Beard ( Mang Zhong ); while some reflect the intensities of climatic conditions like Rain Water ( Yu Shui ), Grain Rain ( Gu Yu ), Less Heat ( Xiao Shu ), Greater Heat ( Da Shu ).
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Summer solstice is the “high noon” of the year when Yang reaches its high point, and Yin its low point.
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Each Solar Term suggests the position of the sun as it travels 15 degrees on the ecliptic longitude. In each month there are often two solar terms; the first one is generally named 'Jie Qi' and the other one 'Zhong Qi'. Their dates are mirrored by the Gregorian calendar. During the first half of the year 'Jie Qi' is around the 6th day of a solar month, 'Zhong Qi' around the 21st; while in the second half of the year, 'Jie Qi' is around the 8th and 'Zhong Qi' around the 23rd of a solar month.
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StageOne
Start Date Two Three Four Five Six |
SpringStart of Spring
Feb 3 Rain Water Feb 18 Awakening of Insects Mar 5 Vernal Equinox Mar 20 Clear and Bright Apr 4 Grain Rain Apr 19 |
SummerStart of Summer
May 5 Grain Full May 20 Grain in Ear Jun 5 Summer Solstice Jun 21 Minor Heat Jul 7 Major Heat Jul 22 |
AutumnStart of Autumn
August 7 Limit of Heat Aug 22 White Dew Sep 7 Autumn Equinox Sep 22 Cold Dew Oct 7 Frost Descent Oct 23 |
WinterStart of Winter
Nov 7 Minor Snow Nov 21 Major Snow Dec 6 Winter Solstice Dec 21 Minor Cold Jan 5 Major Cold Jan 19 |
With the onset of Minor Heat, we officially begin a 6-month journey towards the Winter solstice. The Major Heat of summer is yet to come, but don’t let the description fool you.
We have already crossed the boundary from Yang to Yin, and from now on, the power of Yin will increase steadily towards the end of the year. |