Chinese Calendar

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Chinese Calendar
24 Solar Terms
Customs Concerning the Solar Terms
Heaenly Stems ! "arthly #ranches
Chinese $%&'ear Calendar Circle
Although China has adopted the Gregorian calendar in common (ith most other countries in the (orld
for official and )usiness purposes* the traditional Chinese calendar continues to define the dates of
festials and is used for horoscopes. The calendar has a ery long history going )ac+ to the ,ia -2.st
century #C & .$th century #C/ and Shang 0ynasty -.$th century #C & ..th century #C/. 1t is )ased on a
uni2ue com)ination of astronomy and geography through o)seration and e3ploration. 1t is also referred
to as the 4unar* 'in* ,ia or the old Chinese calendar.
5ollo(ing its creation in the ,ia 0ynasty* succeeding reigns continued to use the calendar )ut modified
it from time to time. The Han 0ynasty rulers instituted the Taichu calendar* (hile during Tang 0ynasty
the Huang6i calendar (as introduced and it (as adopted )y 7apan* 8orea and 9ietnam. :ith the
founding of the ;epu)lic of China in .<.2* the Gregorian calendar (as )rought into use. Although
ethnic groups such as Ti)et and 0ai hae their o(n calendars* in essence they resem)le that of the Han
people. 1slam rec+ons its o(n religion festials according to the 1slamic Calendar.
The calendar has lin+s (ith natural sciences such as agriculture and astronomy* solar terms* the four
seasons and traditional festials such as the Spring 5estial. There are lin+s also (ith the =5ie "lements=
of (hich the ancient Chinese )elieed the physical unierse to )e composed namely* metal* (ood* (ater*
fire and earth. 5inally* of course* is Chinese >odiac & the sym)olic animals associated (ith each year on
a .2&year cycle.
Rules for Calculation
"ach time the moon moes into line (ith the earth and the sun a ne( month )egins and this is called
=Chu 'i= or =Shuo ;i= -the first day of a lunar month/. The longest day of a year or Summer Solstice falls
on the 2.st or 22nd of 7une* and the shortest day is the :inter Solstice on either 0ecem)er 2.* 22* or 2?.
@sing these t(o annual eents the year (as diided into in 24 e2ual parts* each forming the 24 solar
terms. The month (ith its first day nearest the #eginning of Spring -the first solar term/ is the first lunar
month* and on that day the Spring 5estial is held and this aries )et(een 7anuary 2%th and 5e)ruary
2%th.
7ust as the Gregorian calendar has a leap year in order to compensate for the fact that the earth does not
trael around the sun in e3actly ?$A days* so the Chinese calendar is ad6usted so as to ensure that it )ears
a proper relationship (ith the apparent moement of the sun )et(een the northern and southern tropics.
People in ancient times concluded that there is a .< year cycle and (ithin this cycle certain days (ill
e2uate (ith the lunar day. 5or e3ample* in .<$?* .<B2* and 2%%.* Cay 2Bth coincided (ith the si3th day
of the fourth month in lunar year.
To decide (hen a leap month needs to )e added to )ring the lunar calendar in relation to the earth=s
moement around the sun* the 24 solar terms are considered. Cost months (ill hae solar terms and )ut
.
in those instances (here a month has only one* it (ill )e repeated (ith 2< or ?% days the same as normal
month. This phenomenon can occur eery t(o or three years.
2%.4 / 2%.A / 2%.$ China Pu)lic Holiday Calendar
24 Solar Terms
Solar Terms is a calendar of t(enty&four periods and climate to goern agricultural
arrangements in ancient China and functions een no(. As (e hae mentioned the Chinese
calendar is a lunisolar calendar* it ta+es into account the longest and the shortest days and
the t(o days each year (hen the length of the day e2uals that of the night. 1n other (ords*
the significant days are the Summer Solstice* :inter Solstice and the Spring and Autumn
"2uino3es.
Today the year comprises 24 Solar Terms. 0uring the Shang 0ynasty they only used fourD
the >hou 0ynasty -..th century #C & 22.#C/* used eightD )ut it (as in the :estern Han
0ynasty -2%$#C & 24/ that the 24 terms (ere finally decided upon.
These solar terms hae meaningful titles. Some of them reflect the change of seasons such
as the #eginning of Spring* the #eginning of Summer* the #eginning of Autumn* and the
#eginning of :interD some em)ody the phenomena of climate li+e the :a+ing of 1nsects
-7ing >he/* Pure #rightness -Eing Cing/* 4esser 5ullness of Grain -,iao Can/ and Grain
in #eard -Cang >hong/D and some indicate the change of climate li+e ;ain :ater -'u
Shui/* Grain ;ain -Gu 'u/* 4esser Heat -,iao Shu/* Greater Heat -0a Shu/* and so on.
These t(enty&four solar terms each suggest the position of the sun eery time it traels.A
degrees on the ecliptic longitude. 1n each month there are often t(o solar termsD the first
one is generally named =7ie Ei= and the other one =>hong Ei=. Their dates are mirrored )y the
Gregorian calendar* so (e find that during the first half of a year =7ie Ei= is around the $th
day of a solar month* =>hong Ei= around the 2.stD in the second half of a year* =7ie Ei= is
around the Bth and =>hong Ei= around the 2?rd.
The Twenty-four Solar Terms in 2014
Solar Terms Conth0ate Ceaning
4esser Cold -,iao Han/ 7an. Ath 1t is rather cold
Greater Cold -0a Han/ 7an. 2%th The coldest moment of a year
The #eginning of Spring -4i
Chun/
5e). 4th Spring )egins
;ain :ater -'u Shui/ 5e). .<th 1t )egins to rain
The :a+ing of 1nsects -7ing
>he/
Car. $th Hi)ernating animals come to sense
The Spring "2uino3 -Chun Car. 2.st 0ay and night are e2ually long
2
5en/
Pure #rightness -Eing Cing/ Apr. Ath 1t is (arm and )right
Grain ;ain -Gu 'u/ Apr. 2%th ;ainfall is helpful to grain
The #eginning of Summer -4i
,ia/
Cay Ath Summer )egins
4esser 5ullness of Grain -,iao
Can/
Cay 2.st 8ernels plump
Grain in #eard -Cang >hong/ 7un. $th :heat gro(s ripe
The Summer Solstice -,ia
>hi/
7un. 2.st
1t has the longest daytime and the shortest night
of the year
4esser Heat -,iao Shu/ 7ul. Fth Torridity comes
Greater Heat -0a Shu/ 7ul. 2?rd The hottest moment of a year
The #eginning of Autumn -4i
Eiu/
Aug. Fth Autumn )egins
The "nd of Heat -Chu Shu/ Aug. 2?rd Heat hides
:hite 0e( -#ai 4u/ Sep. Bth 0e( curdles
The Autumn "2uino3 -Eiu
5en/
Sep. 2?rd The mid of autumn
Cold 0e( -Han 4u/ Gct. Bth 0e( is ery cold
5rost=s 0escent -Shuang 7iang/ Gct. 2?rd 5rost descends
The #eginning of :inter -4i
0ong/
Ho. Fth :inter )egins
4esser Sno( -,iao ,ue/ Ho. 22ndit )egins to sno(
Greater Sno( -0a ,ue/ 0ec. Fth 1t sno(s heaily
The :inter Solstice -0ong
>hi/
0ec. 22nd
The shortest daytime and the longest night of a
year
Heavenly Stems & Earthly ranches
Ancient Chinese people had the s+ill to calculate the history of fie thousands years and record the
chronological se2uence of eents. They inented a measurement )y t(o sets of signs in a certain
se2uence & Heaenly Stems and "arthly #ranches. As early as a)out 2F%%#C* the ancestor of Chinese
nation* 'ello( "mperor -Huangdi/* sent 0a ;ao Shi to create a calendar system. 0a ;ao Shi e3plored
the rule of changes )et(een s+y and earth* as (ell as that of the four seasons. Then he created ten
heaenly stems and t(ele earthly )ranches to ma+e com)inations representing a se3agenary cycle. A
year can )e represented )y the composition of t(o characters* one from the heaenly set* and one from
the other. That is )elieed to )e the start of the stem&)ranch calendar. Thus came a (ay of counting time
(hich has )een passed do(n through thousands of years.
The Heavenly Stems

6iI yJ )Jng dKng (L 6J gMng 3Kn rNn guJ
7ia 'i #ing 0ing :u 7i Geng ,in ;en Gui
?
"arthly #ranches can )e used to count time of years* months and hours. :hen counting years* people
use them (ith the .2 Chinese Oodiacs and strictly one "arthly #ranch corresponds to one fi3ed Oodiac.
5or e3ample* our ancestors hae diided a day and night into t(ele sections and named each as a =shi
chen=* (hich is e2ual to today=s t(o hours and has a fi3ed "arthly #ranch name. 5rom .. pm at night to
. am is decided to )e the first one & =Oi shi=* then the second t(o hours =chou shi=* on the analogy of this.
The Earthly ranches and Corres!ondin" Chinese #odiac $nimal Si"ns

OJ chPu yQn maP chNn sR (S (eR shMn yPu 3T haR
>i Chou 'in Cao Chen Si :u :ei Shen 'ou ,u Hai
;at G3 Tiger ;a))it 0ragon Sna+e Horse Sheep Con+ey ;ooster 0og Pig
Ta+e the year of 2%%A for e3ample* 2%%A can )e descri)ed as ='i 'ou=* a com)ination of the second sign
in Heaenly Stems and the tenth one in the "arthly #ranches. Then the ne3t year 2%%$ (ill )e =#ing ,u=
& the third sign and the eleenth one=s association.
The 5our Pillar of 4ife -also the "ight Characters of #irth Time or =)a Oi= in Chinese/ (as ery popular
and mostly used in fortune&telling. 1n four pairs of year* month* day* and hour of a person=s )irth* each
pair includes one Heaenly Stems and one "arthly #ranchs. There are compati)ility and incompati)ility
relations among the stems and )ranches. The e3pression of one=s )irth time in this (ay has al(ays )een
ital especially (hen it is used for fortune foretelling.
To +no( the Compati)ility Charts of Chinese >odiac Animal Signs
The %ive Com!ati&ilities of Heavenly Stems U 7ia and 7i* 'i and Geng* #ing and ,in* 0ing and ;en*
:u and Gui
"3planationV :ood is the corresponding element in :u ,ing to 7ia* so is "arth to 7i. :ood gro(s in
earth* so they are compati)le com)ination. The rest can )e e3plained in the same manner.
The Si' Com&inations of Earthly ranches U >i and Chou com)ined into "arth* 'in and Hai
com)ined into :ood* Cao and ,u com)ined into 5ire* Si and Shen com)ined into :ater* :u and :ei
com)ined into the sun and moon
The Three Com&inations of the Early ranches U Shen* ,i* Chen com)ine and form :ater* Hai*
Cao* :ei com)ine and form :ood* 'in* :u* ,u com)ine and form 5ire* Si* 'ou* Chou com)ine and
form Cetal* Chen* ,u* Chou* :ei com)ine and forms "arth.
The follo(ing content is to introduction the )ranches in opposition* listing from strong to (ee+ po(er of
harms.
4
Si' Clashes of the Earthly ranches U >i s :u* 'in s Shen* Cao s 'ou* Chen s ,u* Si s Hai*
Chou s :ei
Earthly ranches !unishment(
Special & 'in s Si* Si s Shen* Shen s 'in
@ngrateful U Chou s ,u* ,u s :ei* :ei s Chou
;udeness U >i s Cao
Self Punishment U Chen s Chen* :u s :u* 'ou s 'ou* Hai s Hai
"arthly #ranches Harm U >i s :ei* Chou s :u* 'in s Si* Cao s Chen* Shen s Hai* 'ou s Hai
$ )0-*ear Cycle
Also named the se3agenary cycle or the stem&)ranch cycle* the Chinese $%&year calendar
cycle is )ased on the com)inations of a cycle of ten heaenly stems and t(ele earthly
)ranches. "ach year is named )y a pair of one stem and one )ranch. The 'ear of 7ia >i -7ia
from the heaenly stems and >i from the earthly )ranches/ is the )eginning of the
se3agenary cycle. The ne3t 7ia >i 'ear (ill come $% years later. 7ia >i has had a figuratie
meaning a full lifespan in ancient times* similarly the =threescore years and ten= in the #i)le.
People (ould )e o)iously )lessed if they can meet the second 7ia >i in life. Therefore* a
$%&year cycle is also called a 7ia >i.
Ta&le of a )0-*ear Cycle
Ho.
Stem/
#ranch
Gregorian
'ear
>odiac
Sign
:u
,ing

Ho.
Stem/
#ranch
Gregorian
'ear
>odiac
Sign
:u
,ing
. 7ia >i .<24 ;at :ood ?. 7ia :u .<A4 Horse :ood
2 'i Chou .<2A G3 :ood ?2 'i :ei .<AA Sheep :ood
? #ing 'in .<2$ Tiger 5ire ?? #ing Shen .<A$ Con+ey 5ire
4 0ing Cao .<2F ;a))it 5ire ?4 0ing 'ou .<AF ;ooster 5ire
A :u Chen .<2B 0ragon "arth ?A :u ,u .<AB 0og "arth
$ 7i Si .<2< Sna+e "arth ?$ 7i Hai .<A< Pig "arth
F Geng :u .<?% Horse Cetal ?F Geng >i .<$% ;at Cetal
B ,in :ei .<?. Sheep Cetal ?B ,in Chou .<$. G3 Cetal
< ;en Shen .<?2 Con+ey :ater ?< ;en 'in .<$2 Tiger :ater
.% Gui 'ou .<?? ;ooster :ater 4% Gui Cao .<$? ;a))it :ater
.. 7ia ,u .<?4 0og :ood 4. 7ia Chen .<$4 0ragon :ood
.2 'i Hai .<?A Pig :ood 42 'i Si .<$A Sna+e :ood
.? #ing >i .<?$ ;at 5ire 4? #ing :u .<$$ Horse 5ire
.4 0ing Chou .<?F G3 5ire 44 0ing :ei .<$F Sheep 5ire
.A :u 'in .<?B Tiger "arth 4A :u Shen .<$B Con+ey "arth
.$ 7i Cao .<?< ;a))it "arth 4$ 7i 'ou .<$< ;ooster "arth
.F Geng Chen .<4% 0ragon Cetal 4F Geng ,u .<F% 0og Cetal
.B ,in Si .<4. Sna+e Cetal 4B ,in Hai .<F. Pig Cetal
.< ;en :u .<42 Horse :ater 4< ;en >i .<F2 ;at :ater
A
2% Gui :ei .<4? Sheep :ater A% Gui Chou .<F? G3 :ater
2. 7ia Shen .<44 Con+ey :ood A. 7ia 'in .<F4 Tiger :ood
22 'i 'ou .<4A ;ooster :ood A2 'i Cao .<FA ;a))it :ood
2? #ing ,u .<4$ 0og 5ire A? #ing Chen .<F$ 0ragon 5ire
24 0ing Hai .<4F Pig 5ire A4 0ing Si .<FF Sna+e 5ire
2A :u >i .<4B ;at "arth AA :u :u .<FB Horse "arth
2$ 7i Chou .<4< G3 "arth A$ 7i :ei .<F< Sheep "arth
2F Geng 'in .<A% Tiger Cetal AF Geng Shen .<B% Con+ey Cetal
2B ,in Cao .<A. ;a))it Cetal AB ,in 'ou .<B. ;ooster Cetal
2< ;en Chen .<A2 0ragon :ater A< ;en ,u .<B2 0og :ater
?% Gui Si .<A? Sna+e :ater $% Gui Hai .<B? Pig :ater
* A ne( 7ia >i )egins from .<B4* and so on.
* The Gregorian year is appro3imate here. The accurate diision is the #eginning of Spring
-first of the 24 Solar Terms/* although some online calendars adopt Chinese He( 'ear=s
0ay as the diision.
$