Chinese calendar

A single page of the Chinese calendar of Jiǎwǔnián, which contains the Tibetan and Islamic date

Chinese calendar may refer to any of the official and civil calendars used in China and some neighbouring countries in different periods of history; however, the phrase is generally synonymous with Han calendar.

The official calendar in China today is the Gregorian calendar, which is a solar calendar. It is used for public and business affairs.

The civil calendar in much of China is the Han calendar, which is a lunisolar calendar. It is used for selecting the day of a wedding or funeral, for opening a venture, or a relocation. A similar calendar is used in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam for these purposes. Muslims living in Xinjiang, Ningxia and other parts of northern China use the Islamic calendar, which is a mean moon lunar calendar, as their civil calendar. The civil calendar for Tibet is the Tibetan calendar, which is a lunisolar calendar. The civil calendar for Miao is the Miao calendar, which is a solar calendar.

In China, some public holidays relate to the Gregorian calendar, such as Labor Day and National Day while others relate to the Chinese Calendar, such as Chinese New Year, Duanwu Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival. In specified provinces(Autonomous~) of China, some extra public holidays related to Islamic calendar or Tibetan calendar, such as Islamic New Year and the Major Festival in Ningxia and Xinjiang, Tibetan New Year and Summer Assembly in Tibet.

The Han calendar is a lunisolar calendar, which indicates both the moon phases and the solar terms. In Han calendar, a year usually begins on the second dark moon after the winter solstice but occasionally on the third dark moon after the winter solstice.

The year from January 31, 2014 to February 18, 2015 is a Wǔnián or Mǎnián (Year of the Horse).

File:Chinesecalendar.JPG

An example of a Gregorian calendar and Chinese lunisolar calendar below it

File:Chinese Zodiac Gregorian calendar.jpg

A combination calendar, with Gregorian system below and a Chinese zodiac chart above.

Early Chinese calendars

It is found on the oracle bones of the Shang Dynasty (late 2nd millennium BC), which seem to describe a lunisolar year of 12 months, with a possible intercalary 13th, or even 14th, added empirically to prevent calendar drift. The Sexagenary cycle for recording days was already in use. Tradition holds that, in that era, the year began on the first new moon after the winter solstice.

Early Eastern Zhou texts, such as the Spring and Autumn Annals, provide better understanding of the calendars used in the Zhou dynasty. One year usually had 12 months, which were alternately 29 and 30 days long (with an additional day added from time to time, to catch up with "drifts" between the calendar and the actual moon cycle), and intercalary months were added in an arbitrary fashion at the end of the year.

These arbitrary rules on day and month intercalation caused the calendars of each state to be slightly different, at times. Thus, texts like the Annals will often state whether the calendar they use (the calendar of Lu) is in phase with the Royal calendar (used by the Zhou kings).

Although tradition holds that in the Zhou, the year began on the new moon which preceded the winter solstice, the Spring and Autumn Annals seem to indicate that (in Lu at least) the Yin calendar (the calendar used in Shang dynasty, with years beginning on the first new moon after the winter solstice) was in use until the middle of the 7th century, and that the beginning of the year was shifted back one month around 650 BC.

By the beginning of the Warring States, progress in astronomy and mathematics allowed the creation of calculated calendars (where intercalary months and days are set by a rule, and not arbitrarily). The quarter remainder calendar (traditional Chinese: 四分曆; simplified Chinese: 四分历; pinyin: sìfēnlì), which began about 484 BC, was the first calculated Chinese calendar, so named because it used a solar year of 365¼ days (the same as the 1st-century BC Julian Calendar of Rome), along with a 19-year (235-month) Rule Cycle (Chinese: 章; pinyin: zhāng), known in the West as the Metonic cycle. The year began on the new moon preceding the winter solstice, and intercalary months were inserted at the end of the year.

In 256 BC, as the last Zhou king ceded his territory to Qin, a new calendar (the Qin calendar) began to be used. It followed the same principles as the Sifen calendar, except that the year began at Shíyuè 1(Chinese: 十月朔; pinyin: shíyuèshuò, the closest new moon of the winter beginning). The Qin calendar was used during the Qin dynasty, and in the beginning of the Western Han dynasty. According to the Han Records(traditional Chinese: 漢書; simplified Chinese: 汉书; pinyin: Hànshū)21a, 973, for the moment of unification the Middle kingdoms had 6 different calendars: those of the mythological progenitors Yellow Emperor (traditional Chinese: 黃帝曆; simplified Chinese: 黄帝历) and Zhuanxu(traditional Chinese: 顓頊曆; simplified Chinese: 颛顼历); of the dynasties Xia (traditional Chinese: 夏曆; simplified Chinese: 夏历), Yin (traditional Chinese: 殷曆; simplified Chinese: 殷历), and Zhou (traditional Chinese: 周曆; simplified Chinese: 周历), and Lu state (traditional Chinese: 魯曆; simplified Chinese: 鲁历)of the Zhou Dynasty . Of those, the second was taken to substitute the rest. The Han imperial library is said to contain 82 volumes of descriptions of all those systems (Han Shu 30, 1765-6), now mostly lost.

The two oldest printed Chinese calendars are dated 877 and 882; they were found at the Buddhist pilgrimage site of Dunhuang; Patricia Ebrey writes that it is no surprise that some of the earliest printed items were calendars, since the Chinese found it necessary to calculate and mark which days were auspicious and which were not.

Han and Tibetan Calendar

Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty introduced reforms in the halfway of his administration. His Grand Inception Calendar (traditional Chinese: 太初曆; simplified Chinese: 太初历; pinyin: Tàichū Lì) introduced 24 solar terms which decides the month names. The solar year was defined as 365 ${\tfrac {385}{1539}}$ days, and divided into 24 solar terms. Each couples of solar terms are associated into 12 climate terms. The lunar month was defined as 29 ${\tfrac {43}{81}}$ days and named according to the closest climate term. The mid-climate in the month decides the month name, and a month without mid-climate is an intercalary.

Ever since then, there are over 100 official calendars in Chinese which are consecutive and follow the structure of Tàichū calendar both. There're several innovation in calendar calculation in the history of over 2100 years, such as:

In the Dàmíng Calendar released in Tiānjiān 9(Chinese: 天监九年, 510) of Liáng Dynasty, Zhǔ Chōngzhī introduced the equation of equinoxes.

Actual syzygy method was adopted to decide the month from the Wùyín Yuán Calendar, which was released in Wǔdé 2(Chinese: 武德二年, 619) of Táng Dynasty.

The real measured data was used in calendar calculation from Shòushí Calendar, which was released in Zhìyuán 18(Chinese: 至元十八年,1281) of Yuán Dynasty.

the ecliptic longitude is introduced and adopted to determine the solar term from the Shíxiàn calendar which was released in Shùnzhì 2(1645) of Qīng Dynasty.

• Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese Calendar

Japan adopt her own tradition calendar which follows the algorithm of Táng dynasty from Edo period.

Korea and Vietnam adopts the Han calendar except that Vietnam substitutes the cat for the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac.

• Tibetan Calendar

In the Tubo Dynasty, princess Wencheng and Jincheng brought Han calendar to Tibet. And Tibetan built Tibet calendar with the Tibetan calendar with the characters of phenological, Kalachakra, and Han calendar. The Tibetan calendar was finalized before Yuan Dynasty.

• The specialty of Han and Tibetan calendar

the moon phases, and tidal phenomena is much easier to reckon in the Han calendar, such as spring and neap tides, fall on approximately the same day in each lunar month, and the times of high and low water and the tidal streams experienced in a certain location on a certain day of the lunar month are likely to be similar to those for the same place and lunar day in any month. For many years, therefore, mariners in East and South-East Asia have related their tidal observations to the Chinese calendar, so as to be able to provide quick, rule-of-thumb approximations of tides and tidal conditions from memory, based on the day of the Lunar month, without needing to refer to tide tables. Certain inshore passages on the China coast, for example, where there are strong tidal streams associated with spring tides, were regarded by mariners to be passable on certain days of the lunar month, and impassable on others.

Tibetan calendar is used to forecast the climate and earthquake in Tibetan.

• Current situation

After 1912, the Gregorian Calendar became official calendar, and no authority gave a name for Han calendar. People called Han calendar as the Former Calendar(traditional Chinese: 舊曆; simplified Chinese: 旧历; pinyin: Jìulì), the Traditional Calendar(traditional Chinese: 老曆; simplified Chinese: 老历; pinyin: Lǎolì), the Yin Calendar(traditional Chinese: 陰曆; simplified Chinese: 阴历; pinyin: Yīnlì), etc. In the public media, the Han calendar is usually referred as the Agricultural Calendar(traditional Chinese: 農曆; simplified Chinese: 农历; pinyin: Nónglì). In addition, some regions also call it as Xià Calendar(traditional Chinese: 夏曆; simplified Chinese: 夏历), for it originated from Xià Dynasty.

In January 1, 1912, nascent Republic of China adopted the Gregorian calendar for official business as Japan did during Meiji Restoration. But, the Gregorian calendar wasn't completely official until 1929 for incessant fighting between warlords. The People's Republic of China adopt the Gregorian calendar include year number since 1949.

The Han calendar remains culturally essential today. For example, most of the traditional festivals, such as Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival, occur on new moons or full moons. The Han calendar, as an element of traditional culture, has much cultural and nationalistic sentiment invested in it. The Han calendar is still used in the more traditional Chinese households around the world to pick 'auspicious dates' for important events such as weddings, funerals, and business deals. A special calendar is used for this purpose, called the Imperial Calendar(traditional Chinese: 皇曆; simplified Chinese: 皇历; pinyin: huánglì), which contains auspicious activities, times, and directions for each day. The calendar follows the Gregorian dates but has the corresponding Chinese dates. Every date would have a comprehensive listing of astrological measurements and fortune elements.

• Holidays according to Han calendar

In China, Korea, Vietnam, there're many traditional festival is base on the Han calendar, such as New Year's Day, Mid-Autumn Festival, etc.; and there're some traditional festival basing on the solar terms, such as Winter Solstice Festival.

Date	English	Chinese; Vietnamese; Korean	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Zhēngyuè 1st	New Year's Day	traditional Chinese: 春節; simplified Chinese: 春节 Vietnamese: Tết Nguyên Đán / 節元旦 Korean: [설날 or 구정] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help); Hanja: [설날 or 舊正] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)	02-07	01-26	02-14	02-03	01-23	02-10	01-31	02-19
Zhēngyuè 15th	Lantern Festival	traditional Chinese: 元宵節; simplified Chinese: 元宵节 Vietnamese: Tết Nguyên Tiêu / 節元宵 Korean: 대보름; Hanja: 大보름	02-21	02-09	02-28	02-17	02-06	02-24	02-14	03-05
Sānyuè 3rd	Shangsi Festival	traditional Chinese: 上巳節; simplified Chinese: 上巳节 Korean: 삼짇날; Hanja: 三짇날	04-08	03-29	04-16	04-05	03-24	04-12	04-02	04-21
Sìyuè 8th	Buddha's Birthday	traditional Chinese: 佛誕; simplified Chinese: 佛诞 Korean: 석가탄신일; Hanja: 釋迦誕辰日	05-12	05-02	05-21	05-10	04-28	05-17	05-06	05-25
Sìyuè 15th		Vietnamese: Lễ Phật Đản / 禮佛誕	05-19	05-09	05-28	05-17	05-05	05-24	05-13	06-01
Wǔyuè 5th	Dragon Boat Festival	traditional Chinese: 端午節; simplified Chinese: 端午节 Vietnamese: Tết Đoan ngọ / 節端午 Korean: 단오; Hanja: 端午	06-08	05-28	06-16	06-06	06-23	06-12	06-02	06-20
Qīyuè 7th	Night of Sevens	Chinese: 七夕 Vietnamese: Thất tịch / 七夕 Korean: 칠석; Hanja: 七夕	08-07	08-26	08-16	08-06	08-23	08-13	08-02	08-20
Qīyuè 15th	Ghost Festival	traditional Chinese: 中元節 or 盂蘭盆節; simplified Chinese: 中元节 or 盂兰盆节 Vietnamese: [Tết Trung Nguyên or Vu-lan] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) / 節中元 or 盂蘭 Korean: [백중날 or 망혼일 or 중원] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help); Hanja: [百中날 or 亡魂日 or 中元] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)	08-15	09-03	08-24	08-14	08-31	08-21	08-10	08-28
Bāyuè 15th	Mid-Autumn Festival	traditional Chinese: 中秋節; simplified Chinese: 中秋节 Vietnamese: Tết Trung thu / 節中秋 Korean: [한가위 or 추석 or 중추절] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help); Hanja: [한가위 or 秋夕 or 中秋節] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)	09-14	10-03	09-22	09-12	09-30	09-19	09-08	09-27
Jǐuyuè 9th	Double Ninth Festival	traditional Chinese: 重陽節; simplified Chinese: 重阳节 Vietnamese: Tết Trùng Cửu / 節重九 Korean: 중양절; Hanja: 重陽節	10-07	10-26	10-16	10-05	10-23	10-13	10-02	10-21
Shíyuè 15th	Spirit Festival	traditional Chinese: 下元節; simplified Chinese: 下元节 Vietnamese: [Lễ mừng lúa mới or Tết Hạ Nguyên] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) / 禮𢜠穭㵋 or 節下元	11-12	12-01	11-20	11-10	11-28	11-17	12-06	11-26
Làyuè 8th	Laba Festival	traditional Chinese: 臘八節; simplified Chinese: 腊八节	2009- 01-03	2010- 01-22	2011- 01-11	2012- 01-01	2013- 01-19	2014- 01-08	2015- 01-27	2016- 01-17
Làyuè 23rd	Preliminary Eve	traditional Chinese: (北方) 祭灶節 or 小年; simplified Chinese: (北方) 祭灶节 or 小年 Vietnamese: Tết Táo Quân / 節񠐹君	2009- 01-18	2010- 02-06	2011- 01-26	2012- 01-16	2013- 02-03	2014- 01-23	2015- 02-11	2016- 02-01
Làyuè 24th		traditional Chinese: (南方) 祭灶節 or 小年; simplified Chinese: (南方) 祭灶节 or 小年	2009- 01-19	2010- 02-07	2011- 01-27	2012- 01-17	2013- 02-04	2014- 01-24	2015- 02-12	2016- 02-02
the last day in Làyuè	New Year's Eve	Chinese: 除夕 Vietnamese: Đêm trừ tịch / 夜除夕 Korean: 대회일; Hanja: 大晦日	2009- 01-25	2010- 02-13	2011- 02-02	2012- 01-22	2013- 02-09	2014- 01-30	2015- 02-18	2016- 02-07
the fifth Wùrì after Vernal Commence	Vernal Sacrifice	Chinese: 春社	03-19	03-24	03-19	03-24	03-18	03-23	03-18	03-23
105th day after Winter Solstice	Cold Food Festival	traditional Chinese: 寒食節; simplified Chinese: 寒食节 Vietnamese: Tết Hàn Thực / 節寒食 Korean: 한식; Hanja: 寒食	04-03	04-03	04-04	04-04	04-03	04-03	04-04	04-04
April 4 or 5	Qingming Festival	traditional Chinese: 清明節; simplified Chinese: 清明节 Vietnamese: Tết Thanh Minh / 節清明 Korean: 청명; Hanja: 淸明	04-04	04-04	04-05	04-05	04-04	04-04	04-05	04-05
the fifth Wùrì after Autumn Commence	Autumn Sacrifice	Chinese: 秋社	09-25	09-20	09-25	09-20	09-24	09-19	09-24	09-19
December 21 or 22	Winter Solstice	Chinese: 冬至 Vietnamese: Đông Chí / 冬至 Korean: 동지; Hanja: 冬至	12-21	12-21	12-22	12-22	12-21	12-21	12-22	12-22

Structure of Han and Tibetan calendar

Solar Day

In Han calendar, a day runs from midnight to midnight, as in the Gregorian calendar. Currently, midnight is based on Chinese Standard Time, the mean solar time at longitude 120° east (equivalent to UTC+08).

In Tibetan calendar, a day runs from dawn to dawn.

Subdivisions of a day

In modern Chinese, the day is divided according to the Western hour-minute-second system, but the older standards are still used in some instances.

True solar time of shí - kè and gēng - diǎn _{(am=ante median, pm=post median)}

Mǎoshí 05:00-07:00

Chénshí 07:00-09:00

Sìshí 09:00-11:00

Wǔshí 11:00-13:00

Wèishí 13:00-15:00

Shēnshí 15:00-17:00

Yǒushí 17:00-19:00

Xūshí 19:00-21:00

Hàishí 21:00-23:00

Zǐshí 23:00-01:00

Chǒushí 01:00-03:00

Yínshí 03:00-05:00

1 kè am

05:02:24

07:12:00

09:07:12

11:02:24

13:12:00

15:07:12

17:02:24

19:12(1 gēng)

21:07:12

23:02:24

01:12(3 gēng 3 diǎn)

03:07:12

2 kè am

05:16:48

07:26:24

09:21:36

11:16:48

13:26:24

15:21:36

17:16:48

19:26:24

21:21:36

23:16:48

01:26:24

03:21:36

3 kè am

05:31:12

07:40:48

09:36:00

11:31:12

13:40:48

15:36:00

17:31:12

19:40:48

21:36(2 gēng)

23:31:12

01:40:48

03:36(4 gēng 3 diǎn)

4 kè am

05:45:36

07:55:12

09:50:24

11:45:36

13:55:12

15:50:24

17:45:36

19:55:12

21:50:24

23:45:36

01:55:12

03:50:24

0 kè pm

06:00:00

08:00:00

10:00:00

12:00:00

14:00:00

16:00:00

18:00:00

20:00:00(1 gēng 2 diǎn)

22:00:00(2 gēng 1 diǎn)

00:00(3 gēng)

02:00:00(3 gēng 5 diǎn)

04:00:00(4 gēng 4 diǎn)

1 kè pm

06:14:24

08:09:36

10:04:48

12:14:24

14:09:36

16:04:48

18:14:24

20:09:36

22:04:48

00:14:24

02:09:36

04:04:48

2 kè pm

06:28:48

08:24:00

10:19:12

12:28:48

14:24:00

16:19:12

18:28:48

20:24(1 gēng 3 diǎn)

22:19:12

00:28:48

02:24(4 gēng)

04:19:12

3 kè pm

06:43:12

08:38:24

10:33:36

12:43:12

14:38:24

16:33:36

18:43:12

20:38:24

22:33:36

00:43:12

02:38:24

04:33:36

4 kè pm

06:57:36

08:52:48

10:48:00

12:57:36

14:52:48

16:48:00

18:57:36

20:52:48

22:48(2 gēng 3 diǎn)

00:57:36

02:52:48

04:48(5 gēng)

• shí - kè system

In ancient, the sundial is used to show time. At first, there are 69 scales on the sundial, which are included in 68% circumference. The circumference was divided into 12 parts later, which are named with 12 Earthly Branches. The time which the shadow of the stile sweep over a part is a shí. So, a shí is 2 hours.

After Song Dynasty, each shí is divided into two hour. The halfway point is mid-shí(traditional Chinese: 正時; simplified Chinese: 正时; pinyin: zhèngshí), for example, midday is mid-wǔshí(traditional Chinese: 正午時; simplified Chinese: 正午时; pinyin: zhèngwǔshí). The first hour is ante mid-shí(traditional Chinese: 時初; simplified Chinese: 时初; pinyin: shíchū); and the second hour is post mid-shí(traditional Chinese: 時正; simplified Chinese: 时正; pinyin: shízhèng).

For the purposes of calculating the calendar, a day starts at midnight or mid-zǐshí(traditional Chinese: 正子時; simplified Chinese: 正子时; pinyin: zhèngzǐshí), but people tend to regard a day as starting at from dawn (during 5 gēng). For example, In a familiar couplet for New Year's Eve, it's written as "a night connects double ages, 5 gēng divides two years"(traditional Chinese: 一夜連雙歲,五更分兩年; simplified Chinese: 一夜连双岁,五更分两年)

In the other hand, the water clock was introduced to show time. There're 100 scales(Chinese: 刻; pinyin: kè) on the rule to measure the water level. So, the time between 2 scales is a centiday(Chinese: 刻; pinyin: kè) or 14.4 minutes. A centiday is 60 mils(Chinese: 分; pinyin: fēn). Currently, the word kè is used to denote a quarter of an hour.

The sundial and water clock shows shí and kè together. So, people always described the time with shí and kè together.

Before Song Dynasty, the format is shí + kè, for example, in Section 2, Calendar Records, Yuán History(traditional Chinese: 元史·曆誌二; simplified Chinese: 元史·历志二)

According to the estimation of Shòushí calendar, the sun eclipsed at the 8 kè, Yínshí(04:48). According to the estimation of Dàmíng Calendar, the sun eclipsed at 0 kè, Mǎoshí(05:00). (traditional Chinese: 《授時曆》，食甚寅八刻。《大明曆》，食甚卯初刻; simplified Chinese: 《授时历》，食甚寅八刻。《大明历》，食甚卯初刻)

After Song Dynasty, the format is shí + am/pm + kè, for example, in Section 2, Calendar Records, Yuán History(traditional Chinese: 元史·曆誌二; simplified Chinese: 元史·历志二)

According to the estimation of Shòushí calendar, the sun eclipsed at the 1 kè am, Sìshí(09:07). According to the estimation of Dàmíng Calendar, the sun eclipsed at the 0 kè am, Sìshí(09:00). (traditional Chinese: 《授時曆》，食甚巳初一刻。《大明曆》，食甚巳初初刻; simplified Chinese: 《授时历》，食甚巳初一刻。《大明历》，食甚巳初初刻)

The shí - kè system is exact timing system in ancient.

• gēng - diǎn system

In pre-qin, there're 10 key points within a day, which were name with Heavenly Stems from the sunset. The key points were signaled with drum. The 5 key points in the night were signaled by the night watchman with gong later. And, the key points were named with ordinal number correspondingly, such as, 1 gēng(Chinese: 一更), 2 gēng(Chinese: 二更), 3 gēng(Chinese: 三更), 4 gēng(Chinese: 四更), 5 gēng(Chinese: 五更). The idiom Sāngēng bànyè.(Chinese: 三更半夜) means that in the dead night of 3 gēng.

There're 60 points within a day, which were signaled with bell tone. The point is called as diǎn(traditional Chinese: 點; simplified Chinese: 点). The time between two diǎns is 24 minutes, which is called as diǎn too. A diǎn is 100 fēn(mils). Currently, the word diǎn is used to denote o'clock.

The authorities release time signal with bell and drum till the end of Qīng dynasty. So, people always described the time in night with gēng and diǎn together, for example, in Section 4, Military Records, Yuán History (traditional Chinese: 元史·兵誌四; simplified Chinese: 元史·兵志四)

The curfew rule: after 1 gēng 3 diǎn(20:24) when the bell tone stopped, walking is forbidden; after 5 gēng 3 diǎn (06:00) when the bell tone rang, walking is allowed. (traditional Chinese: 其夜禁之法，一更三點，鐘聲絕，禁人行；五更三點，鐘聲動，聽人行; simplified Chinese: 其夜禁之法，一更三点，钟声绝，禁人行；五更三点，钟声动，听人行)

The gēng - diǎn system is rough timing system in ancient.

• ancient timing device

In Sòng dynasty, Sū Sòng built a water powered armillary sphere and celestial globe tower. There's a composite timing device in the tower. The device releases each shí and kè signal at the top floor, and shows the shí - kè at the second and third floor. And, the device releases each gēng and diǎn signal at the fourth floor, and shows the gēng - diǎn at the fifth floor.

Week

Days are grouped within several kinds of weeks.

• Luminaries week (Chinese: 星期/七曜; pinyin: Xīngqī/Qīyào)

The days are grouped within a 7-days week, which is called a Luminary week. The name of the weekdays are Sun-day (Chinese: 日曜; pinyin: Rìyào), Moon-day (Chinese: 月曜; pinyin: Yuèyào), Mars-day(Chinese: 火曜; pinyin: Huǒyào), Mercury-day(Chinese: 水曜; pinyin: Shuǐyào), Jupiter-day (Chinese: 木曜; pinyin: Mùyào), Venus-day (Chinese: 金曜; pinyin: Jīnyào), and Saturn-day (Chinese: 土曜; pinyin: Tǔyào).

28 mansions

Quadrant	Jupiter	Venus	Saturn	Sun	Moon	Mars	Mercury
East 青龙	Jiǎo 角	Kàng 亢	Dǐ 氐	Fáng 房	Xīn 心	Wěi 尾	Jī 箕
North 玄武	Dǒu 斗	Níu 牛	Nǚ 女	Xū 虛	Wēi 危	Shì 室	Bì 壁
West 白虎	Kuí 奎	Lóu 婁	Wèi 胃	Áng 昴	Bì 毕	Zī 觜	Shēn 參
South 朱雀	Jǐng 井	Guǐ 鬼	Lǐu 柳	Xīng 星	Zhāng 张	Yì 翼	Zhěn 軫

In modern China, the names are identified by ordinal numbers, such as: First-day(Chinese: 星期一; pinyin: Xīngqīyī), Second-day(Chinese: 星期二; pinyin: Xīngqīèr), Third-day(Chinese: 星期三; pinyin: Xīngqīsān), Fourth-day(Chinese: 星期四; pinyin: Xīngqīsì), Fifth-day(Chinese: 星期五; pinyin: Xīngqīwǔ), Sixth-day(Chinese: 星期六; pinyin: Xīngqīlìu). The exception is Sunday, which is known as Sunday(Chinese: 星期日; pinyin: Xīngqīrì).

31 January 2013 is Xīngqīsì (Thursday).

Each 4 weeks are grouped within a 28-days week. the week days of a 28-days week are marked with Twenty-eight mansions(Chinese: 二十八宿; pinyin: Èrshíbāxìu). For example, 31 January 2014 is Níu (牛宿).

• Heavenly Stems week

The days are grouped within a 10-days week, and is called Heavenly stems. The names of the weekdays are Jiǎrì, Yǐrì, Bǐngrì, Dīngrì, Wùrì, Jǐrì, Gēngrì, Xīnrì, Rénrì, and Guìrì.

31 January 2013 is Dīngrì.

Some tradition holiday is established according to Heavenly Stems week. Such as the Vernal/Autumn Sacrifice(Chinese: 春社/秋社; pinyin: Chūnshè/Qīushè) is the fifth Wùrì after the Vernal/Autumn Commence.

• Earthly Branches week

The days are grouped within a 12-days week, which are called Earthly Branches. The names of the weekdays are Zǐrì, Chǒurì, Yínrì, Mǎorì, Chénrì, Sìrì, Wǔrì, Wèirì, Shēnrì, Yǒurì, Xūrì, and Hàirì.

31 January 2013 is Yǒurì.

Some traditional holidays are established according to Earthly Branches week at first. Such as the Shàngsì Festival is the first Sìrì in Sānyuè, and the Duānwǔ Festival is the first Wǔrì in Wǔyuè at first. These festivals are moved to the fixed calendar later. The Shàngsì Festival is fixed to Sānyuè 3rd, and the Duānwǔ Festival is fixed to Wǔyuè 5th.

Stem-branches

Jiǎzǐ

Yǐchǒu

Bǐngyín

Dīngmǎo

Wùchén

Jǐsì

Gēngwǔ

Xīnwèi

Rénshēn

Guìyǒu

Jiǎxū

Yǐhài

Bǐngzǐ

Dīngchǒu

Wùyín

Jǐmǎo

Gēngchén

Xīnsì

Rénwǔ

Guìwèi

Jiǎshēn

Yǐyǒu

Bǐngxū

Dīnghài

Wùzǐ

Jǐchǒu

Gēngyín

Xīnmǎo

Rénchén

Guìsì

Jiǎwǔ

Yǐwèi

Bǐngshēn

Dīngyǒu

Wùxū

Jǐhài

Gēngzǐ

Xīnchǒu

Rényín

Guìmǎo

Jiǎchén

Yǐsì

Bǐngwǔ

Dīngwèi

Wùshēn

Jǐyǒu

Gēngxū

Xīnhài

Rénzǐ

Guìchǒu

Jiǎyín

Yǐmǎo

Bǐngchén

Dīngsì

Wùwǔ

Jǐwèi

Gēngshēn

Xīnyǒu

Rénxū

Guìhài

• Stem-branches week

The Heavenly stems and Earthly Branches run together and, when combined, make a 60-day week which is called stem-branches week.

31 January 2013 is Dīngyǒurì.

The earliest evidence of stem-branches week was found on oracle bones dated c. 1350 BC in the Shang Dynasty. The stem-branches week continues to this day, and can still be found on Chinese calendars today.

Although the stem-branches week cannot decide the actual date alone in historical events, it can locate the accurate date along with context and other statement about time, and the difference between versions of the calendar may be neglected. For this reason, the stem-branches week is always used to mark date in the annals. Such as:

Chronicle of Pope Rén, Sòng History (traditional Chinese: 宋史·仁宗本紀; simplified Chinese: 宋史·仁宗本纪)

In the Bǐngyínrì of vernal Zhēngyuè in the first year of Tiānshèng, which is the first day of the month, changed the era name; ...(traditional Chinese: 天聖元年春正月丙寅朔，改元; simplified Chinese: 天圣元年春正月丙寅朔，改元)

In the Wùxūrì of Èryuè, accepted the rule of Gusiluo's annual tribute; in Dīngsìrì, established the portrait of Grand Chris and Grand Pope at Hóngqìng Palace of the Southern Capital (Suiyang); lunched the Monopolizing-Tea-Discount Law at the 13 tea plantations of Huáinán (traditional Chinese: 二月戊戌，許唃廝囉歲一入貢；丁巳，奉安太祖、太宗御容於南京鴻慶宫；行淮南十三山場貼射茶法; simplified Chinese: 二月戊戌，许唃厮啰岁一入贡；丁巳，奉安太祖、太宗御容于南京鸿庆宫；行淮南十三山场贴射茶法)

In the Jiǎxūrì of Sānyuè, established the portrait of Pope Zhēn at Yìngtiān Temple of the Western Capital (Loyang); ...; in the Xīnmǎorì, the Imperial Astronomer present the Chóngtiān Calendar for the approval to issue; ...(traditional Chinese: 三月甲戌，奉安真宗御容於西京應天院；……；辛卯，司天監上《崇天曆》； ……; simplified Chinese: 三月甲戌，奉安真宗御容于西京应天院；……；辛卯，司天监上崇天历； ……)

Lunar phase and lunar month

The lunar phase refers to the shape of the illuminated (sunlit) portion of the Moon as seen by an observer on Earth. The lunar phases corresponds to the celestial longitude difference of the moon and sun. The principal lunar phases are new moon (0° celestial longitude difference), first quarter moon (90° celestial longitude difference), full moon (180° celestial longitude difference) and last quarter moon (270° celestial longitude difference).

The lunar month is the time from a day between two identical syzygies or principal phase (new moons or full moons).

In Han calendar, a lunar month corresponds to a variation cycle (0°~360°) of the celestial longitude difference. So, the month always starts on the day of with a new astronomical moon.

    Synodic month (29.48 days) 2013-01-12 03:43:36   ~   2013-02-10 15:20:06
   + New moon day              2013-01-12 00:00:00   ~   2013-01-13 00:00:00
   - Next new moon day         2013-02-10 00:00:00   ~   2013-02-11 00:00:00
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The month (29 days)        2013-01-12 00:00:00   ~   2013-02-10 00:00:00

    Synodic month (29.52 days) 2013-02-10 15:20:06   ~   2013-03-12 03:51:00
   + New moon day              2013-02-10 00:00:00   ~   2013-02-11 00:00:00
   - Next new moon day         2013-03-12 00:00:00   ~   2013-03-13 00:00:00
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The month (30 days)        2013-02-10 00:00:00   ~   2013-03-12 00:00:00

In Tibetan calendar, a lunar month corresponds to a variation cycle (-180°~180°) of the celestial longitude difference. The variation cycle is divided to 30 sections, and each section corresponds to a lunar day.

The waning half

Celestial longitude difference

-168°

-156°

-144°

-132°

-120°

-108°

-96°

-84°

-72°

-60°

-48°

-36°

-24°

-12°

0°

The moon phase accordingly

Waning gibbous(left)

Third quarter

Waning crescent(left)

New moon

The lunar day accordingly

16th

17th

18th

19th

20th

21st

22nd

23rd

24th

25th

26th

27th

28th

29th

30th

The waxing half

Celestial longitude difference

12°

24°

36°

48°

60°

72°

84°

96°

108°

120°

132°

144°

156°

168°

180°

The moon phase accordingly

Waxing crescent(right)

First quarter

Waxing gibbous(right)

Full Moon

The lunar day accordingly

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

11th

12th

13th

14th

15th

• The days in the month

In Han calendar, the dates in the month are arranged in an orderly row from 1 to 29 or 30, and each date are called with two characters, such as:

Date

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

11th

12th

13th

14th

15th

Pinyin

Chūyī

Chūèr

Chūsān

Chūsì

Chūwǔ

Chūlìu

Chūqī

Chūbā

Chūjǐu

Chūshí

Shíyī

Shíèr

Shísān

Shísì

Shíwǔ

Characters

初一

初二

初三

初四

初五

初六

初七

初八

初九

初十

十一

十二

十三

十四

十五

Date

16th

17th

18th

19th

20th

21st

22nd

23rd

24th

25th

26th

27th

28th

29th

30th

Pinyin

Shílìu

Shíqī

Shíbā

Shíjǐu

Èrshí

Niànyī

Niànèr

Niànsān

Niànsì

Niànwǔ

Niànlìu

Niànqī

Niànbā

Niànjǐu

Sānshí

Characters

十六

十七

十八

十九

二十

廿一

廿二

廿三

廿四

廿五

廿六

廿七

廿八

廿九

三十

In the late Qīng Dynasty, selected yùnmù (韵目, the representative character of the rhymes) are on behalf of the two date characters for telegram use. It was applied into the date in the Gregorian calendar later. For example: Wénxī Fire (Chinese: 文夕大火) is a conflagration on the eve of 1938-11-12 (Evening of 1938-11-12, Chángshā was going to be occupied by the enemy, municipality burnt and fielded the city), Wén (Chinese: 文) is on behalf of 12th and xī(Chinese: 夕) is on behalf of evening.

In Tibetan calendar, the dates in the month are arranged according to the lunar days. If there's a whole lunar day within a solar day, the date is arranged according the lunar day which ends in the solar day first; if there's a whole solar day within a lunar day, the date is arranged according to the lunar day; and if the solar day intersects with the lunar day, the date is arranged according to lunar day which ends in the solar day. For example:

the number of the solar day

1

2

...

9

10

11

12

...

25

26

...

The number of the lunar day

1

2

3

4

10

11

12

13

25

26

27

28

The ending of the lunar day1

→

2:43⅔

↔

57:27½

←

→

53:11⅓

←

→

55:50⅓

←

—

→

0:01⅚

←

→

4:13⅓

←

→

2:48

↔

56:53⅔

←

→

50:59⅓

←

Celestial longitude difference

→

12°

↔

24°

←

→

36°

←

→

120°

←

—

→

132°

←

→

144°

←

→

300°

↔

312°

←

→

324°

←

The date accordingly

1st (skip 2nd)

3rd

10th

11th

lap 11th

12th

25th (skip 26th)

27th

1 The time is remarked according to Tibetan time system. A day is 60 points, a point is 60 sections, and a section is 6 parts

In Tibetan calendar, the month length is decided by the number of the skipped and lapped dates. If there's no skipped and lapped date, it's a lucky month. If there's a skipped date, it's a month with 29 days. If there's a skipped and lapped date, it's a month with 30 days. If there're 2 skipped dates and a lapped date, it's a month with 29 days. If there're 2 skipped and lapped dates, it's a month with 30 days.

The dating method in Han and Tibetan calendar is different, so the date is not the same all the way. But, the bias is within 1.

Solar year and solar term

The ecliptic position of each solar term

Solar term	Date	Longitude	Zodiac
WS, Winter Solstice	Dec 22	270°	Capricornus 270-300°
MC, Moderate Cold	Jan 6	285°
GC, Great Cold	Jan 20	300°	Aquarius 300-330°
VC, Vernal Commences	Feb 4	315°
VS, Vernal Showers	Feb 19	330°	Pisces 330-360°
IA, Insects Waken	Mar 5	345°
VE, Vernal Equinox	Mar 20	360°/0°	Aries 0-30°
BC, Bright and Clear	Apr 5	15°
CR, Corn Rain	Apr 20	30°	Taurus 30-60°
SC, Summer Commences	May 6	45°
CF, Corn Forms	May 21	60°	Gemini 60-90°
CE, Corn on Ear	Jun 6	75°
SS, Summer Solstice	Jun 21	90°	Cancer 90-120°
MH, Moderate Heat	Jul 7	105°
GH, Great Heat	Jul 23	120°	Leo 120-150°
AC, Autumn Commences	Aug 7	135°
EH, End of Heat	Aug 23	150°	Virgo 150-180°
WD, White Dew	Sep 8	165°
AE, Autumnal Equinox	Sep 23	180°	Libra 180-210°
CD, Cold Dew	Oct 8	195°
FF, First Frost	Oct 23	210°	Scorpio 210-240°
WC,Winter Commences	Nov 7	225°
LS, Light Snow	Nov 22	240°	Sagittarius 240-270°
HS, Heavy Snow	Dec 7	255°

A solar year, for general purposes, is the length of time that the Sun takes to return to the same position in the cycle of seasons, as seen from Earth; for example, the time from vernal equinox to vernal equinox, or from winter solstice to winter solstice.

In Han calendar, a solar year is the time from a winter solstice to the next. And a solar year is divided into 24 solar terms which correspond to 15° along the ecliptic. A couple of solar terms are associated into a climate term. The start point of the first term in the couple is called as pre-climate (traditional Chinese: 節氣; simplified Chinese: 节气; pinyin: Jiéqì), and the start point of the last term in the couple is called as mid-climate (traditional Chinese: 中氣; simplified Chinese: 中气; pinyin: Zhōngqì). The climate terms are marked with the 12 earthly branches. The time between two mid-climates correspond quite closely to the zodiac. The table right shows the relationship between solar terms, ecliptic positions and the zodiacs.

In the late Spring and Autumn Period (722–481 BC), the former Sìfēn calendar was established, and set the tropical year at 365.25 days, the same length as the Julian calendar which was introduced in 46 BC. The Taichu calendar of 104 BC under Emperor Wu of Han rendered the solar year at roughly the same ( $365{\tfrac {385}{1539}}$).

Many other calendars were established between then and the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), including those established by Li Chunfeng (602–670) and Yi Xing (683–727). In 1281, the Yuan astronomer Guo Shoujing (1233–1316) fixed the calendar at 365.2425 days, the same as the Gregorian calendar established in 1582; this calendar, the Shoushi calendar, would be used in China for the next 363 years. Guo Shoujing established the new calendar with the aid of his own achievements in spherical trigonometry, which he derived largely from the work of Shen Kuo (1031–1095) who established trigonometry in China.

In Tibetan calendar, a solar year is divided into 12 solar months (climate terms) equally. A solar month is about 30.4 days

• Month names

An astronomical year is approximately 365¼ days, a period between 12 and 13 lunar months. So, to keep the pace with the astronomical year in a long term, common years (a year with 12 months) and leap years (a year with 13 months) are interleaved. Generally, in each 19 years, there're 7 leap years and 12 common years. In Han and Tibetan calendar, the month name corresponds to the climate term. The closest climate to the moon decides the month name, and the mid-climate in the month is regarded as the key point to choose the closest climate. Generally, the month with the Vernal Showers is Zhēngyuè or Dangpo (the 1st month), the month with the Vernal Equinox is Èryuè or Gnyispa ( the 2nd month), the month with the Corn Rain is Sānyuè or Gsumpa (the 3rd month), the month with the Corn Forms is Sìyuè or Bzhipa ( the 4th month), the month with the Summer Solstice is Wǔyuè or Lngapa (the 5th month), the month with the Moderate Heat is Lìuyuè or Drugpa ( the 6th month), the month with the End of Heat is Qīyuè or Ddunpa (the 7th month), the month with the Autumnal Equinox is Bāyuè or Brgyadpa (the 8th month), the month with the First Frost term is Jǐuyuè or Dgupa ( the 9th month), the month with the Light Snow is Shíyuè Bcupa (the 10th month), the month with the Winter Solstice is Shíyīyuè or Bcugcigpa (the 11th month), the month with the Great Cold term is Làyuè or Bcugnyispa (the 12th month), and the month without a mid-climate is Rùnyuè (an intercalary month). For example, the table below show the information of 2014.

         Month Date              mid-Climate     Month name (Ordinal)
     A  2014-01-31 ~ 2014-02-28  VC: 2014-02-19  Zhēngyuè(1st)
     B  2014-03-01 ~ 2014-03-30  VE: 2014-03-21    Èryuè(2nd)
     C  2014-03-31 ~ 2014-04-28  CR: 2014-04-20   Sānyuè(3rd)
     D  2014-04-29 ~ 2014-05-28  CF: 2014-05-21    Sìyuè(4th)
     E  2014-05-29 ~ 2014-06-26  SS: 2014-06-21    Wǔyuè(5th)
     F  2014-06-27 ~ 2014-07-26  GH: 2014-07-23   Lìuyuè(6th)
     G  2014-07-27 ~ 2014-08-24  EH: 2014-08-23    Qīyuè(7th)
     H  2014-08-25 ~ 2014-09-23  AE: 2014-09-23    Bāyuè(8th)
     I  2014-09-24 ~ 2014-10-23  FD: 2014-10-23   Jǐuyuè(9th)
     J  2014-10-24 ~ 2014-11-21  N/A              Rùnyuè(leap over)
     K  2014-11-22 ~ 2014-12-21  LS: 2014-11-22   Shíyuè(10th)
     L  2014-12-22 ~ 2015-01-19  WS: 2014-12-22  Shíyīyuè(11th)
     M  2015-01-20 ~ 2015-02-18  GC: 2015-01-20    Làyuè(12th)

In Han calendar, the solar term are calculated with the true sun position from Shùnzhì 2 (traditional Chinese: 順治二年; simplified Chinese: 顺治二年, 1645), and the length of the solar terms are 14.7-15.7 days against 15.2 days. So, there's a possibility of 0.3% that two mid-climates enters the same month. To avoid the skipped month, the month name is arranged in orderly row from then. When there're 12 month between two winter solstice months, the first month without a mid-climate is an intercalary. The month names except the intercalary are Shíyīyuè or Bcugcigpa (the 11th month), Làyuè or Bcugnyispa (the 12th month), Zhēngyuè or Dangpo (the 1st month), Èryuè or Gnyispa ( the 2nd month), Sānyuè or Gsumpa (the 3rd month), Sìyuè or Bzhipa ( the 4th month), Wǔyuè or Lngapa (the 5th month), Lìuyuè or Drugpa ( the 6th month), Qīyuè or Ddunpa (the 7th month), Bāyuè or Brgyadpa (the 8th month), Jǐuyuè or Dgupa ( the 9th month), Shíyuè Bcupa (the 10th month). For example, the table below shows the information of 2032-2035.

 Month Date          mid-Climate             Month name
A 2032/12/03~12/31  WS: 2032/12/21         0  Shíyīyuè(11th)
B 2033/01/01~01/30  GC: 2033/01/20         1    Làyuè(12th)
C 2033/01/31~02/28  RW: 2033/02/18         2  Zhēngyuè( 1st)
D 2033/03/01~03/30  VE: 2033/03/20         3    Èryuè( 2nd)
E 2033/03/31~04/28  GR: 2033/04/20         4   Sānyuè( 3rd)
F 2033/04/29~05/27  GF: 2033/05/21         5    Sìyuè( 4th)
G 2033/05/28~06/26  SS: 2033/06/21         6    Wǔyuè( 5th)
H 2033/06/27~07/25  GH: 2033/07/22         7   Lìuyuè( 6th)
I 2033/07/26~08/24  LH: 2033/08/23         8    Qīyuè( 7th)
J 2033/08/25~09/22  N/A                    9    Bāyuè( 8th)
K 2033/09/23~10/22  AE: 2033/09/23        10   Jǐuyuè( 9th)
L 2033/10/23~11/21  FD: 2033/10/23        11   Shíyuè(10th)
M 2033/11/22~12/21  LS: 11/22 / WS: 12/21  0  Shíyīyuè(11th)
N 2033/12/22~01/19  N/A                    1   Rùnyuè(11th, Intercalary)
O 2033/01/20~02/18  GC: 01/20 / RW: 02/18  2    Làyuè(12th)
P 2034/02/19~03/19  N/A                    3  Zhēngyuè( 1st)
Q 2034/03/20~04/18  VE: 2034/03/20         4    Èryuè( 2nd)
R 2034/04/19~05/17  GR: 2034/04/20         5   Sānyuè( 3rd)
S 2034/05/18~06/15  GF: 2034/05/21         6    Sìyuè( 4th)
T 2034/06/16~07/15  SS: 2034/06/21         7    Wǔyuè( 5th)
U 2034/07/16~08/13  GH: 2034/07/23         8   Lìuyuè( 6th)
V 2034/08/14~09/12  LH: 2034/08/23         9    Qīyuè( 7th)
W 2034/09/13~10/11  AE: 2034/09/23        10    Bāyuè( 8th)
X 2034/10/12~11/10  FD: 2034/10/23        11   Jǐuyuè( 9th)
Y 2034/11/10~12/10  LS: 2034/11/22        12   Shíyuè(10th)
Z 2034/12/11~01/08  WS: 2034/12/22         0  Shíyīyuè(11th)

• Calendric intercalary rule

For Han calendar, Ping-Tse Kao (Chinese: 高平子; pinyin: Gāo, Píngzǐ; 1888-1970, one of the founders of Purple Mountain Observatory) mentioned the calendric intercalary rule. In his the calendric intercalary rule, the month name and intercalary are decided before rounding the month start to day. For example:

        Synodic Month                      mid-Climate        Month name    Civil Month
A 2032-12-03 04:52:26 ~ 01-01 18:16:36  WS:12-21 15:55:29  0  Shíyīyuè 2032-12-03 ~ 12-31 
B 2033-01-01 18:16:36 ~ 01-31 05:59:26  GC:01-20 02:32:20  1    Làyuè  2033-01-01 ~ 01-30 
C 2033-01-31 05:59:26 ~ 03-01 16:23:05  VS:02-18 16:33:22  2  Zhēngyuè 2033-01-31 ~ 02-28 
D 2033-03-01 16:23:05 ~ 03-31 01:51:12  VE:03-20 15:22:17  3    Èryuè  2033-03-01 ~ 03-30 
E 2033-03-31 01:51:12 ~ 04-29 10:45:45  CR:04-20 02:12:40  4   Sānyuè  2033-03-31 ~ 04-28 
F 2033-04-29 10:45:45 ~ 05-28 19:36:06  CF:05-21 01:10:30  5    Sìyuè  2033-04-29 ~ 05-27 
G 2033-05-28 19:36:06 ~ 06-27 05:06:36  SS:06-21 09:00:40  6    Wǔyuè  2033-05-28 ~ 06-26 
H 2033-06-27 05:06:36 ~ 07-26 16:12:07  GH:07-22 19:52:21  7   Lìuyuè  2033-06-27 ~ 07-25 
I 2033-07-26 16:12:07 ~ 08-25 05:39:21  EH:08-23 03:01:22  8    Qīyuè  2033-07-26 ~ 08-24 
J 2033-08-25 05:39:21 ~ 09-23 21:39:19  AE:09-23 00:51:12  9    Bāyuè  2033-08-25 ~ 09-22 
K 2033-09-23 21:39:19 ~ 10-23 15:27:58  FF:10-23 10:27:08 10   Jǐuyuè  2033-09-23 ~ 10-22 
L 2033-10-23 15:27:58 ~ 11-22 09:38:40  LS:11-22 08:15:42 11   Shíyuè  2033-10-23 ~ 11-21 
M 2033-11-22 09:38:40 ~ 12-22 02:46:01  WS:12-21 21:45:32  0  Shíyīyuè 2033-11-22 ~ 12-21 
N 2033-12-22 02:46:01 ~ 01-20 18:01:05  GC:01-20 08:26:49  1    Làyuè  2033-12-22 ~ 01-19 
O 2034-01-20 18:01:05 ~ 02-19 07:09:47  VS:02-18 22:29:43  2  Zhēngyuè 2034-01-20 ~ 02-18 
P 2034-02-19 07:09:47 ~ 03-20 18:14:06                     3   Rùnyuè  2034-02-19 ~ 03-19 
Q 2034-03-20 18:14:06 ~ 04-19 03:25:25  VE:03-20 21:17:01  4    Èryuè  2034-03-20 ~ 04-18 
R 2034-04-19 03:25:25 ~ 05-18 11:12:07  CR:04-20 08:03:14  5   Sānyuè  2034-04-19 ~ 05-17 
S 2034-05-18 11:12:07 ~ 06-16 18:25:28  CF:05-21 06:56:24  6    Sìyuè  2034-05-18 ~ 06-15 
T 2034-06-16 18:25:28 ~ 07-16 02:14:47  SS:06-21 14:43:42  7    Wǔyuè  2034-06-16 ~ 07-15 
U 2034-07-16 02:14:47 ~ 08-14 11:52:35  GH:07-23 01:35:51  8   Lìuyuè  2034-07-16 ~ 08-13 
V 2034-08-14 11:52:35 ~ 09-13 00:13:20  EH:08-23 08:47:16  9    Qīyuè  2034-08-14 ~ 09-12
W 2034-09-13 00:13:20 ~ 10-12 15:32:10  AE:09-23 06:39:04 10    Bāyuè  2034-09-13 ~ 10-11 
X 2034-10-12 15:32:10 ~ 11-11 09:15:45  FF:10-23 16:15:57 11   Jǐuyuè  2034-10-12 ~ 11-10 
Y 2034-11-11 09:15:45 ~ 12-11 04:13:56  LS:11-22 14:04:28 12   Shíyuè  2034-11-11 ~ 12-10 
Z 2034-12-11 04:13:56 ~ 01-09 23:02:37  SS:12-22 03:33:30  0  Shíyīyuè 2034-12-11 ~ 01-08 

The calendric intercalary rule reduced the possibility that two mid-climate enters the same month to 0.06%. And, the intercalary is the same using different standard time.

• Month bias in Han and Tibetan calendar

In Han calendar, the climate terms are unequal sections; but in Tibetan calendar, the climate terms are equal sections. So, the month is not the same all the way. But, the bias is within 1.

To sum up the month and date bias, the date in Han and Tibetan calendar is the same, a bias of a day, a bias of a month, or a bias of a month and a day. Such as:

   Feb 28, 1987 is Dangpo 1st, Fire rabbit year or   Èryuè 1st, Dīngmǎonián  with a bias of a month 
   Feb 18, 1988 is Dangpo 1st, Earth dragon year or Zhēngyuè 2nd, Wùchénnián with a bias of a day 
   Feb 27, 1990 is Dangpo 1st, Iron horse year  or   Èryuè 2nd, Gēngwǔnián  with a bias of a month and a day 
   Feb 15, 1991 is Dangpo 1st, Iron goat year  or Zhēngyuè 1st, Xīngwèinián  without bias

Year

A year starts at Zhēngyuè or Dangpo 1st, and always ends at the last day of Làyuè or Bcugnyispa (if there is an intercalary month after Làyuè or Bcugnyispa, the year will end on the last day of the intercalary month).

There are 12 or 13 months in a year. If there are 12 months in year, there are 353, 354 or 355 days in this year. If there are 13 months in a year, there are 383, 384 or 385 days in this year. For example, the current year starts at 2012-1-23 and ends at 2013-02-09. There are 13 months or 384 days.

The year with 13 month is a leap year. The intercalary month of the leap year between 1900 and 2108 in Han calendar is list as below:

Metonic cycle	1900~		1919~		1938~		1957~		1976~		1995~		2014~		2033~		2052~		2071~		2090~
leap 7 or 8	1900	8	1919	7	1938	7	1957	8	1976	8	1995	8	2014	9	2033	11	2052	8	2071	8	2090	8
leap 6	1903	5	1922	5	1941	6	1960	6	1979	6	1998	5	2017	6	2036	6	2055	6	2074	6	2093	6
leap 4	1906	4	1925	4	1944	4	1963	4	1982	4	2001	4	2020	4	2039	5	2058	4	2077	4	2096	4
leap 2 or 3	1909	2	1928	2	1947	2	1966	3	1984	10	2004	3	2023	2	2042	2	2061	3	2080	3	2099	2
leap 6 or 7	1911	6	1930	6	1949	7	1968	7	1987	6	2006	7	2025	6	2044	7	2063	7	2082	7	2101	7
leap 5	1914	5	1933	5	1952	5	1971	5	1990	5	2009	5	2028	5	2047	5	2066	5	2085	5	2104	5
leap 3 or 4	1917	2	1936	3	1955	3	1974	4	1993	3	2012	4	2031	3	2050	3	2069	4	2088	4	2107	4

A representative sequence of common and leap years is lcclcclcclclcclcclc, which is the classic nineteen-year Metonic cycle. Han calendar follows the rule in general.

• Age recognition in China

In China, the age recognition for official use is based on the Gregorian calendar. But, for traditional use, it is based on Han calendar. From birthday to the end of the year, it's one year old. And, add one year old after each New Year Eve. Such as, if one's birthday is Làyuè 29th 2013, he is 2 years old at Zhēngyuè 1st 2014.

• Year name (Chinese: 年份; pinyin: Niánfèn)

The years are named with the era name (which is a name of several years) and ordinal number generally. But, the first year of each era is called as Yuánnián (Chinese: 元年).

For the eras ante Emperor Wǔ of Hàn Dynasty, the regnal names are regard as the era names. such as Yǐngōng 1(traditional Chinese: 隱公元年; simplified Chinese: 隐公元年; pinyin: Yǐngōng Yuánnián, The first year of Duke Yǐn of Lǔ State, 722 BC).

113 BC, Emperor Wǔ of Hàn Dynasty issued the first era name, Jiànyuán (Chinese: 建元), and 140 BC is marked as Jiànyuán 1(Chinese: 建元元年; pinyin: Jiànyuán Yuánnián,140 BC).

In China, the first official era name is Jiànyuán, the last official era name is Xuāntǒng(traditional Chinese: 宣統; simplified Chinese: 宣统).

In Japan, the first era name is Taika ([大化] Error: {{Lang}}: unrecognized language code: jp (help)), the last era name for Han calendar is Keiō ([慶応] Error: {{Lang}}: unrecognized language code: jp (help)). The first era name for the Gregorian calendar is Meiji ([明治] Error: {{Lang}}: unrecognized language code: jp (help)). Current era name is Heisei ([平成] Error: {{Lang}}: unrecognized language code: jp (help)).

After Xuāntǒng Sānnián, the republic authority adopted the Gregorian calendar and establish the next year as the first year. The country name(traditional Chinese: 民國; simplified Chinese: 民国; pinyin: Mínguǒ) is regard as the era name. The time system is used in Taiwan and some overseas Chinese societies still.

Since 1949, in mainland China, the authority abolished the era name of the ROC, and specified the Chinese of Christ Era as common era (Chinese: 公元; pinyin: Gōngyuán). So, the Gōngyuán is regard as the current era name. In some Chinese society, the Western Era (Chinese: 西元; pinyin: Xīyuán) takes the place of Gōngyuán

Continuous year numbering system

• Calendric epoch and continuous year

There's a epoch for each version of Han Calendar, which is called as Lìyuán(traditional Chinese: 曆元; simplified Chinese: 历元). The epoch is optimal origin of the calendar, and it's a Jiǎzǐrì, the first day of a lunar month, and the dark moon and solstice is just at the mid-night(Chinese: 日得甲子夜半朔旦冬至). And tracing back to a perfect day, such as that the day with magical star sign, there's a supreme epoch(Chinese: 上元; pinyin: shàngyuán). The continuous year base on the supreme epoch is shàngyuán jīnián(traditional Chinese: 上元積年; simplified Chinese: 上元积年). More and more factors was added into the supreme epoch, and the shàngyuán jīnián became a huge number. So, the supreme epoch and shàngyuán jīnián was neglected from Shòushí calendar.

All Han calendar follows the frame of Tàichū calendar. The calendric epoch, the winter solstice of 105BC, may be regarded as the epoch of Han calendar. And it's clear that it will be a neutral epoch.

     The years before 105 BC,       105-Gōngyuán, such as: 2698 BC is 1594th year before the calendar 
     The year of 105 BC,            105-Gōngyuán,           105 BC is    0th year
     The years form 104 BC to 1 BC, 105-Gōngyuán, Such as:   87 BC is   18th year
     The years after 1 BC,          Gōngyuán+104, such as:   2013  is 2117th year

• Yuán-Huì-Yùn-Shì system

Shao Yong (Chinese: 邵雍, 1011–1077, Courtesy name: Yáofū, Posthumous title: Kāngjié, a philosopher, cosmologist, poet and historian who greatly influenced the development of Non-Confucianism in China.) introduced a timing system in his The Ultimate which Manages the World(traditional Chinese: 皇極經世; simplified Chinese: 皇极经世; pinyin: Huángjíjīngshì )

In his time system, 1 round (Chinese: 元; pinyin: yuán), which contains 12'9600 years, is a lifecycle of the world. Each yuán (round) is divided into 12 assembly(traditional Chinese: 會; simplified Chinese: 会; pinyin: huì), which are named with Earthly Branches.

The Hài, Zǐ, and Chǒu are the Remote Ages(Chinese: 太古; pinyin: Tàigǔ),which is the opening of the world (Chinese: 天地之分) just as the winter. The Yín, Mǎo, and Chén are the Early Ages(Chinese: 上古; pinyin: Shànggǔ), which is the evolution of the world (Chinese: 天地之化) just as the spring. The Sì, Wǔ, and Wèi are the Middle Ages(Chinese: 中古; pinyin: Zhōnggǔ), which is the climax of the world (traditional Chinese: 天地之關; simplified Chinese: 天地之关) just as the summer. The Shēn, Yǒu, and Xū are the Late Ages(Chinese: 下古; pinyin: Xiàgǔ, ), which is the closing of the world (天地之合) just as the autumn.

Each assembly is divided into 30 run(traditional Chinese: 運; simplified Chinese: 运; pinyin: yùn), and each run is divided into 12 generation(Chinese: 世; pinyin: shì). So, each generation is equivalent to 30 years.

The Yuán-Huì-Yùn-Shì is corresponded with Nián-Yuè-Rì-Shí. So the Yuán-Huì-Yùn-Shì is called as the major tend or the numbers of the heaven, and the Nián-Yuè-Rì-Shí is called as the minor tend or the numbers of the earth.

The major tend or the numbers of the heaven is far away from people seemingly, but the minor tend or the numbers of the earth is close to people. So the minor tend or the numbers of the earth is adapted by people for predicting destiny or fate. The numbers of Nián-Yuè-Rì-Shí is marked with stem-branches. So the minor tend of the numbers of the earth is show a form of Bāzì, and the four terms are be called as Four Pillars of Destiny

For example, the eight characters of the birth of Emperor Qiánlóng is Xīnmǎo-Dīngyǒu-Gēngwǔ-Bǐngzǐ (辛卯、丁酉、庚午、丙子).

Shào's Huángjíjīngshì recorded the history with stem-branches cycle from the first year of the 180th run or 2149th generation (ARGY 6-30-1-1, 2577 BC) and marked the year with reign title from the Jiǎchénnián of the 2156th generation (ARGY 6-30-8-11, 2357 BC, Tángyáo 1, traditional Chinese: 唐堯元年; simplified Chinese: 唐尧元年).

According to this timing system, 2014-1-31 is ARG/YMD 7-12-10/1-1-1.

• Huángdì Era and other continuous year system

The official year system of China is divided into many division with reign titles. And there's not an official recognition continuous year system. Referring to BC and AD, many reference points were purposed in the earlier 20th century, such as:

   Huángdì Era (traditional Chinese: 黄帝紀年; simplified Chinese: 黄帝纪年), Based on the birth or regal of Huángdì
 Confucius Era (traditional Chinese: 孔子紀年; simplified Chinese: 孔子纪年), Based on the birth or dead year of Confucius
       Yáo Era (traditional Chinese: 帝堯紀年; simplified Chinese: 帝尧纪年), Based on the regnal of Emperor Yao
       Xià Era (traditional Chinese: 夏禹紀年; simplified Chinese: 夏禹纪年), Based on the regnal of Yu of Xia
       Qín Era (traditional Chinese: 秦統一紀年; simplified Chinese: 秦统一纪年), Based on the year when Qin Unified China
      Yuan Era (traditional Chinese: 亡國紀年; simplified Chinese: 亡国纪年), Based on the year when Song lost China completely
    Gònghé Era (traditional Chinese: 共和紀年; simplified Chinese: 共和纪年), Based on Gònghé 1

Generally, no reference date is widely accepted. Huángdì Era has significant public implications in oversea Chinese.

In the 17th century, the Jesuits tried to determine what year should be considered the epoch of Han calendar. In his Sinicae historiae decas prima (first published in Munich in 1658), Martino Martini (1614–1661) dated the royal ascension of Huangdi to 2697 BC, but started the Chinese calendar with the reign of Fu Xi, which he claimed started in 2952 BC. Philippe Couplet's (1623–1693) Chronological table of Chinese monarchs (Tabula chronologica monarchiae sinicae; 1686) also gave the same date for the Yellow Emperor. The Jesuits' dates provoked great interest in Europe, where they were used for comparisons with Biblical chronology. Modern Chinese chronology has generally accepted Martini's dates, except that it usually places the reign of Huangdi in 2698 BC and omits Huangdi's predecessors Fu Xi and Shennong, who are considered "too legendary to include".

Starting in 1903, radical publications started using the projected date of birth of the Yellow Emperor as the first year of Han calendar. Different newspapers and magazines proposed different dates. Jiangsu, for example, counted 1905 as year 4396 (use an epoch of 2491 BC), whereas the Minbao (traditional Chinese: 明報; simplified Chinese: 明报, the organ of the Tongmenghui) reckoned 1905 as 4603 (use an epoch of 2698 BC). Liu Shipei ([劉師培] Error: {{Lang}}: unrecognized language tag: zh-t (help); 1884–1919) created the Yellow Emperor Calendar, now often used to calculate the date, to show the unbroken continuity of the Han race and Han culture from earliest times. Liu's calendar started with the birth of the Yellow Emperor, which he determined to be 2711 BC. There is no evidence that this calendar was used before the 20th century. Liu calculated that the 1900 international expedition sent by eight foreign powers to suppress the Boxer Uprising entered Beijing in the 4611th year of the Yellow Emperor.

At January 2, 1912, Sun Yat-sen declared that the Republic of China adopt the Gregorian calendar, and establish Shíyīyuè 13th 4609 of Huángdì Era as the new year's day of the first year of the Republic of China (traditional Chinese: 中華民國改用陽曆，以黄帝紀元四千六百零九年十一月十三日爲中華民國元年元旦; simplified Chinese: 中华民国改用阳历，以黄帝纪元四千六百零九年十一月十三日为中华民国元年元旦). Sun Yat-sen's choice, which implied an epoch of 2698 BC, was adopted by many overseas Chinese communities outside Southeast Asia such as San Francisco's Chinatown.

      Sun Yat-sen's version 
     Years before 2698 BC not mentioned
     Years before 1 AD   HE=2699-CE
     Years after 1 BC   HE=2698+CE such as 1912+2698=4610, the year after spring festival of 1912 CE is 4610 HE

Cycle of years

• 10-year cycle (Heavenly stems cycle)

The years are grouped within a 10-year cycle which is called the 10 Celestial Stems (or called as 10 Heavenly Stems). The names of each year are: Jiǎnián, Yǐnián, Bǐngnián, Dīngnián, Wùnián, Jǐnián, Gēngnián, Xīnnián, Rénnián and Guìnián.

The current year (2014-1-31~2015-2-18) is Jiǎnián.

Each year corresponds to an element in Wǔxíng. Jiǎnián and Yǐnián is Wood(Chinese: 木; pinyin: Mù), Bǐngnián and Dīngnián is Fire(Chinese: 火; pinyin: Huǒ), Wùnián and Jǐnián is Earth(Chinese: 土; pinyin: Tǔ), Gēngnián and Xīnnián is Metal(Chinese: 金; pinyin: Jīn), Rénnián and Guìnián is Water(Chinese: 水; pinyin: Shuǐ).

Therefore the current year is a Mùnián.

• 12-year cycle (Earthly Branches cycle)

The years are grouped within a 12-year cycle which is called the 12 Earthly Branches. The names of they years are: Zǐnián, Chǒunián, Yínnián, Mǎonián, Chénnián, Sìnián, Wǔnián, Wèinián, Shēnnián, Yǒunián, Xūnián, and Hàinián.

The current year is Wǔnián.

Each cycle year is corresponds to an animal of the Chinese zodiac. Zǐnián to Rat(Chinese: 鼠; pinyin: Shǔ), Chǒunián to Ox(Chinese: 牛; pinyin: Níu), Yínnián to Tiger(Chinese: 虎; pinyin: Hǔ), Mǎonián to Rabbit(Chinese: 兔; pinyin: Tù), Chénnián to Dragon(traditional Chinese: 龍; simplified Chinese: 龙; pinyin: Lóng), Sìnián to Snake(Chinese: 蛇; pinyin: Shé), Wǔnián to Horse(traditional Chinese: 馬; simplified Chinese: 马; pinyin: Mǎ), Wèinián to Goat(Chinese: 羊; pinyin: Yáng), Shēnnián to Monkey(Chinese: 猴; pinyin: Hóu), Yǒunián to Rooster(traditional Chinese: 雞; simplified Chinese: 鸡; pinyin: Jī), Xūnián to Dog(Chinese: 狗; pinyin: Gǒu) and Hàinián to Pig(traditional Chinese: 豬; simplified Chinese: 猪; pinyin: Zhū).

The seal characters of the earthly branches show the figure of the animals. For example, Wǔ shows the figure of the horse face.

Therefore the current year is Mǎnián (Horse).

Main article: Chinese zodiac

Stem-branch of recent years

Jiǎzǐ №[1]	Stem, branch	Gānzhī(干支)	Year of the...	Continuous[2]	Gregorian date
79:26	07,03	Gēngyínnián (庚寅年)	Metal Tiger	4707	Feb 14, 2010-Feb 2, 2011
79:27	08,04	Xīnmǎonián (辛卯年)	Metal Rabbit	4708	Feb 3, 2011-Jan 22, 2012
79:28	09,05	Rénchénnián (壬辰年)	Water Dragon	4709	Jan 23, 2012-Feb 9, 2013
79:29	10,06	Guǐsìnián (癸巳年)	Water Snake	4710	Feb 10, 2013-Jan 30, 2014
79:30	01,07	Jiǎwǔnián (甲午年)	Wood Horse	4711	Jan 31, 2014-Feb 18, 2015
79:31	02,08	Yǐwèinián (乙未年)	Wood Goat	4712	Feb 19, 2015-Feb 7, 2016
79:32	03,09	Bǐngshēnnián (丙申年)	Fire Monkey	4713	Feb 8, 2016-Jan 27, 2017
79:33	04,10	Dīngyǒunián (丁酉年)	Fire Rooster	4714	Jan 28, 2017-Feb 15, 2018
79:34	05,11	Wùxūnián (戊戌年)	Earth Dog	4715	Feb 16, 2018-Feb 4, 2019
79:35	06,12	Jǐhàinián (己亥年)	Earth Pig	4716	Feb 5, 2019-Jan 24, 2020

• 60-year cycle (Stem-branches cycle)

The Heavenly stems cycle and Earthly Branches cycle runs together, and become a 60-year cycle which is called the stem-branches cycle.

The current year is Jiǎwǔnián, also called as Mùmǎnián (Wood Horse).

Around the Han Dynasty, the stem-branches cycle was introduced. In Míng Dynasty and Qīng Dynasty, the stem-branches cycle was used along with the year mark in the Oration to Yellow Emperor. Such as:

Oration to Yellow Emperor at the first year of Wànlì

That, at the first year of Wànlì, which is Guìyǒunián, at Sìyuè started at Gēngxūrì, at 16th day which is Yǐchǒurì, the Emperor sent... (traditional Chinese: 萬曆元年，歲次癸酉，四月庚戌朔，越十六日乙丑，皇帝遣……; simplified Chinese: 万历元年，岁次癸酉，四月庚戌朔，越十六日乙丑，皇帝遣……)

The table right shows the stem/branch year names, correspondences to the Western (Gregorian) calendar, and other related information for the current decade. Alternatively, see this larger table of the full 60-year cycle.

Notes

¹ Regard 2697 BC as 01:00.

² Regard 2698 BC as the first year.

Gregorian, Miao and Chinese-Uighur calendar

From 1912, Chinese adopt Gregorian calendar as the public calendar. Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar.

The Miao calendar is a solar calendar, too. The Miao calendar is used from ten-thousands years ago, and retired at Guāngxù 33 (traditional Chinese: 光緒三十三年; simplified Chinese: 光绪三十三年, 1907). The New Year's Day in Miao calendar is the winter solstice. And Miao calendar is similar with Gregorian calendar.

A year in Gregorian and Miao calendar contains 12 months, which are January(the unformatted month), February(the 0th month), March(the 1st month), April(the 2nd month), May(the 3rd month), June(the 4th month), July(the 5th month), August(the 6th month), September(the 7th month), October(the 8th month), November(the 9th month), December(the 10th month).

In Gregorian calendar, February is an unformatted month, and the length is 29 days in leap year, and 28 days in common year. In Miao Calendar, January is an unformatted month, and the length is 31 days in leap year, and 30 days in common year.

In Gregorian calendar, January/March/May/July/August/October/December(odd in first half, and even in the second half) is 31 days, and April/June/September/November(even in the first half and odd in the second half) is 30 days. In Miao calendar, all odd months(the 1st,3rd,5th,7th,9th month) are 31 days, and all even months(the 0th,2nd,4th,6th,8th,10th month) are 30 days.

In Miao calendar, each Zǐ,Chén,Shēn is leap year. So the intercalary rule is the same as Julian calendar.

There're 6 season in Miao calendar, cold-warm-hot-hot-warm-cold. Each season contains 2 months.

• 84 mansion-branches

The 28 mansions and the 12 earthly branches runs together, and works out 84 mansion-branches. The 84 mansion-branches are used to count the days, just as 60 stem-branches do.

• Chinese-Uighur calendar

In 1258, when both North China and the Islamic world were part of the Mongol Empire, Hulagu Khan established an observatory in Maragheh for the astronomer Nasir al-Din al-Tusi at which a few Chinese astronomers were present, resulting in the Chinese-Uighur calendar that al-Tusi describes in his Zij-i Ilkhani. The 12 year cycle, including Turkic/Mongolian translations of the animal names (known as sanawat-e turki سنوات ترکی,) remained in use for chronology, historiography, and bureaucratic purposes in the Persian and Turkic speaking world from Asia Minor to India and Mongolia throughout the Medieval and Early Modern periods. In Iran it remained common in agricultural records and tax assessments until a 1925 law deprecated its use.

In Chinese-Uighur calendar, the year was computed from the vernal equinox, and each month was determined by the transit of the sun into the corresponding zodiac region. So, the month in Chinese-Uighur calendar is 3 month later than that in Miao calendar, and there're 29-32 days in each month.

Ancient Yi calendars

• Yi 10 months solar calendar

In Yi areas, a 10-months calendar is found in the early 1980s. It's a solar calendar, which contains 10 months of 36 days, and 2/3 transition days before the winter solstice(The minor year) and summer solstice(The major year).The 36 days is named with 12 earthly branches(from tiger to ox) for 3 times.

The 10 months is named with 10 animals(Tiger, Otter, Crocodile, Boa, Pangolin, Muntjac, Bharal, Ape, Panther, and Lizard).The 10 months is divided into 5 seasons, which named with 5 elements(earth, bronze, water, wood, fire).

• Yi 18 months solar calendar

In Yi areas, an 18-months calendar is found in the late 1950s. It's a solar calendar, which contains 18 months of 20 days, and 2/3 transition days before the winter solstice and summer solstice.

The 18 months are named as: wind month, twitter month, sprout month, bloom month, fruit month, drought month, rainy month, freshet month, sunny month, withered month, fallen month, frost month, and celebrate month.

See also

• Culture of China
• Dates in Chinese
• East Asian age reckoning
• Festivals of Korea
• Guo Shoujing, an astronomer tasked with calendar reform during the 13th century
• List of festivals in Vietnam
• Public holidays in China
• Sexagenary cycle

References and further reading

• Cohen, Alvin (2012). "Brief Note: The Origin of the Yellow Emperor Era Chronology" (PDF). Asia Major. 25 (pt 2): 1–13. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

Apps

iPhone app

1. https://itunes.apple.com/in/app/vedicpanchangam/id862232382?mt=8
2. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chinese-calendars/id878174465?mt=8

Android app

1. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yourchineseastrology.chinesecalendar

Mobile App Developers

1. http://www.midgr.com/

External links

Calendars

• Chinese months
• Gregorian-Lunar calendar years (1900–2100)
• Chinese calendar and holidays
• Chinese calendar with Auspicious Events

Calendar conversion

• Western-Chinese calendar converter

Rules

• Mathematics of the Chinese Calendar
• The Structure of the Chinese Calendar