The Intricate Chinese Lunar Calendar: Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches
The standard Gregorian calendar is generally referred to as the solar calendar in China. The traditional Chinese lunar calendar, also known as the Jiazi calendar, counts the years in sixty-year cycles by combining two series of numbers the 10 Heavenly Stems and the 12 Earthly Branches.
The 10 Heavenly Stems:
(jia) (yi) (bing) (ding) (wu) (ji) (geng) (xin) (ren) (gui)
The (single-character) names of the 10 Heavenly Stems are used as serial numbers.
The 12 Earthly Branches:
(zi) (chou) (yin) (mao) (chen) (si) (wu) (wei) (shen) (you) (xu) (hai)
The 12 characters of Earthly Branches are used in sequential 2-char- acter-combination with the set known as “Tiangan“ (Heavenly Stems) to designate years, forming the Ganzhi sexagenary cycle that starts with Jiazi.
The sixty years of the Jiazi cycle are calculated by combining the ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches in ascending pairs as follows: Jiazi (first-first), Yichou (second-second), Bingyin (third-third), etc., for a total of sixty combinations. This system was used without interruption from 776 BC until the Chinese Nationalist Revolution of 1911 AD. It is the worldÕs oldest and most comprehensive calendar system.
The Twenty - four Solar Terms: Guiding Agricultural Life
The traditional Chinese lunar year is divided into twenty-four solar terms, according to the position of the sun on the ecliptic in relationship to the earth. The solar terms designate agricultural periods, and can predict changing seasonal conditions, temperature, and weather throughout the course of the year. They are extremely important to agricultural production. Changes in the four seasons are determined by eight solar terms: Lichun (Beginning of Spring), Chunfen (Spring Equinox), Lixia (Beginning of Summer), Xiazhi (Summer Solstice, Liqiu (Beginning of Autumn), Qiufen (Autumn Equinox), Lidong (Beginning of Winter), and Dongzhi (Winter Solstice). Changes in temperature are indicated by five solar terms: Xiaoshu (Slight Heat), Dashu (Great Heat), Chushu (Limit of Heat), Xiaohan (Slight Cold), and Dahan (Great Cold). Changing weather conditions are indicated by seven solar terms: Yushui (Rain Water), Guyu (Grain Rain), Bailu (White Dew), Hanlu (Cold Dew), Shuangjiang (FrostÕs Descent), Xiaoxue (Slight Snow), and Daxue (Great Snow). Recurring natural phenomena are indicated by four solar terms: Jingzhe (Waking of Insects), Qingming (Pure Brightness), Xiaoman (Grain Full), and Mangzhong (Grain in Ear).
The Enigmatic Chinese Zodiac: A Symbolic Cycle
The Chinese zodiac consists of a twelve-year cycle, with each year corresponding to one of the twelve Earthly Branches and represented by a different animal. The year in which a person is born is equated with one of these twelve “animal years”. The Chinese terms for the twelve “animal years”. The Chinese terms for the twelve “animal years” of the Chinese zodiac, Shengxiao and Shuxiang, may be translated as “birth-year categories”, indicating that people’s characters are determined to some extent by the year of their birth. The Chinese zodiac has always been very important to the Chinese people, particularly the personal characteristics associated with each of the ani- mal years. Numerous legends and customs concerning the animal years have arisen over the ages, informing the Chinese imagination and ex- ploration of the human condition. The Chinese zodiac is an ancient and important component of China’s folk culture, vividly reflecting the rich psychology of the Chinese people.
Legends Behind the Chinese Zodiac
Each of the twelve years of Chinese zodiac cycle is named after a different animal. There is an old Chinese story concerning the origins of the animal years. It is said that the Yellow Emperor, the legendary ancestor of the Chinese people, decided to hold a competition to select twelve animals to serve as his bodyguards. When this news was announced, it caused a great stir throughout the animal kingdom. Rat was supposed to sign up for cat, but forgot. As a result, cat was unable to compete, and cat and rat have been enemies ever since.
How was the order of the Animal Years determined? According to one legend, ox, as the largest of the twelve selected animals, should have been in first place. However, rat, the cleverest of the animals, cut to the front of the line by hopping onto ox’s back. How the order actually was determined will never be known. The order of the twelve animal years of the Chinese zodiac is as follows: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. The 12 characters of Earthly Branches are also used correspondingly with 12 animals to designate years.
In China, people often ask, “What animal sign were you born un- der? ”The answer would be “I was born in the year of the Ox.” Or: “Mine is the Rat. ”
