The Chinese Calendar
The Chinese calendar is a somewhat complex one, based on lunar months within the solar-based annual cycle of seasons. A report showing the solar and lunar months for the year of the current chart has been included in The Imperial Astrologer for two main reasons:
1) To display the starting dates of the lunar and solar months and when the solar periods fall within the year. Also, by calling up this feature within a reading, it gives a handy reminder of which calendrical system is in use. 2) For purposes of predictive work, in order that the exact timings for the solar and lunar months can be seen.
The following example shows the Chinese calendar months during the year of birth of the Prince Charles (1948).
CHINESE CALENDAR
CHART: PRINCE OF WALES, CHARLES Date/Time: 14 Nov 1948, 9:14 pm (+0:00) Adjusted: 14 Nov 1948, 9:13 pm (LMT +0:00:32)
Calendar Data - Lunar Year 1948 For timezone -8.0 Month 1 = 10 Feb 1948 11:01 am Solar Point 1 = 20 Feb 1948 1:36 am (Rain water) Month 2 = 11 Mar 1948 5:14 am Solar Point 2 = 21 Mar 1948 0:56 am (Spring equinox) Month 3 = 9 Apr 1948 9:16 pm Solar Point 3 = 20 Apr 1948 12:24 pm (Corn Rain) Month 4 = 9 May 1948 10:30 am Solar Point 4 = 21 May 1948 11:57 am (Corn sprouting) Month 5 = 7 Jun 1948 8:55 pm Solar Point 5 = 21 Jun 1948 8:10 pm (Summer solstice) Month 6 = 7 Jul 1948 5:08 am Solar Point 6 = 23 Jul 1948 7:07 am (Great Heat) Month 7 = 5 Aug 1948 12:12 pm Solar Point 7 = 23 Aug 1948 2:02 pm (Heat finishes) Month 8 = 3 Sep 1948 7:21 pm Solar Point 8 = 23 Sep 1948 11:21 am (Autumn equinox) Month 9 = 3 Oct 1948 3:41 am Solar Point 9 = 23 Oct 1948 8:18 pm (Frost descends) Month 10 = 1 Nov 1948 2:02 pm Solar Point 10 = 22 Nov 1948 5:28 pm (Little Snow) Month 11 = 1 Dec 1948 2:44 am Solar Point 11 = 22 Dec 1948 6:33 am (Winter solstice) Month 12 = 30 Dec 1948 5:44 pm Solar Point 12 = 20 Jan 1949 5:08 pm (Great Cold) Month 1 = 29 Jan 1949 10:42 am
A lunar month is a period starting at a new moon and ending at the next new moon. The lunar calendar month is deemed to begin at the beginning of the day during which the exact new moon occurs, regardless of the precise time of day at which it occurs. Therefore each calendar lunar month consists of either 29 or 30 calendar days.
Note that the calendar day during which the new moon occurs varies according to location around the earth. This is due to the fact the new moon occurs at the same instant everywhere, but that it falls at different local times and dates according to the local time zone. The traditional Chinese calendar is based on the dates of new moons according to Chinese Civil Time (eight hours ahead of Greenwich). However, it must be noted that if the calendar were to be based on a different location and time zone, then some differences to the lunar months could occur.
10 2 Background and Basic Concepts
The lunar year is deemed to start on the day of the new moon preceding the Sun’s conjunction with 0° Pisces (330°) in tropical longitude. In other words, the Chinese New Year starts on the new moon of Aquarius, in western astrological terms.
There can be either twelve or thirteen lunar months in each lunar year. In those years in which there are thirteen lunar months, one of those months is called an “intercalary” or “leap” month, and is given the same month number as the previous lunar month. Consequently, the lunar month number is always limited to twelve. The leap month is usually the lunar month during which there is no Solar Point. The following example is for the year 1944, in which there was no Solar Point during the fifth lunar month. Therefore, the fifth lunar month is assigned the same lunar month number as the previous month ie. Month 4.
Calendar Data - Lunar Year 1944 For timezone -8.0 Month 1 = 25 Jan 1944 11:24 pm Solar Point 1 = 20 Feb 1944 2:27 am (Rain water) Month 2 = 24 Feb 1944 9:58 am Solar Point 2 = 21 Mar 1944 1:48 am (Spring equinox) Month 3 = 24 Mar 1944 7:36 pm Solar Point 3 = 20 Apr 1944 1:17 pm (Corn Rain) Month 4 = 23 Apr 1944 4:43 am Solar Point 4 = 21 May 1944 12:50 pm (Corn sprouting) Month 4 = 22 May 1944 2:12 pm Leap Month Month 5 = 21 Jun 1944 0:59 am Solar Point 5 = 21 Jun 1944 9:02 pm (Summer solstice) Month 6 = 20 Jul 1944 1:42 pm Solar Point 6 = 23 Jul 1944 7:55 am (Great Heat) Etc…
A solar month is a period during which the Sun traverses each sign of the tropical zodiac. There are therefore always twelve solar months per year, corresponding to the twelve signs of the zodiac. The dates on which the Sun enters each new sign are called the Solar Points. The first solar month starts at 0° Pisces (330°) in tropical longitude (in contrast to western astrology in which Aries is considered to be the first sign of the zodiac).
As Prince Charles was born on the 14th November, you can see that this occurred in the 10th Lunar Month (1st Nov to 1st Dec), and in the 9th Solar Month (23rd Oct to 22nd Nov).
Further, each day is divided into twelve “double-hours”, each of which is equal in length to two western hours. The first Chinese hour of the day runs from 11pm to 1 am, and subsequent Chinese hours consist of two-hour intervals following this. Consequently, a western time between midnight and 1am is deemed to be in the first Chinese hour of the day, and equally a western time between 11pm and midnight is also deemed to be in the first Chinese hour of the day.
The Chinese calendar is a somewhat complex one, based on lunar months within the solar-based annual cycle of seasons. A report showing the solar and lunar months for the year of the current chart has been included in The Imperial Astrologer for two main reasons:
1) To display the starting dates of the lunar and solar months and when the solar periods fall within the year. Also, by calling up this feature within a reading, it gives a handy reminder of which calendrical system is in use. 2) For purposes of predictive work, in order that the exact timings for the solar and lunar months can be seen.
The following example shows the Chinese calendar months during the year of birth of the Prince Charles (1948).
CHINESE CALENDAR
CHART: PRINCE OF WALES, CHARLES Date/Time: 14 Nov 1948, 9:14 pm (+0:00) Adjusted: 14 Nov 1948, 9:13 pm (LMT +0:00:32)
Calendar Data - Lunar Year 1948 For timezone -8.0 Month 1 = 10 Feb 1948 11:01 am Solar Point 1 = 20 Feb 1948 1:36 am (Rain water) Month 2 = 11 Mar 1948 5:14 am Solar Point 2 = 21 Mar 1948 0:56 am (Spring equinox) Month 3 = 9 Apr 1948 9:16 pm Solar Point 3 = 20 Apr 1948 12:24 pm (Corn Rain) Month 4 = 9 May 1948 10:30 am Solar Point 4 = 21 May 1948 11:57 am (Corn sprouting) Month 5 = 7 Jun 1948 8:55 pm Solar Point 5 = 21 Jun 1948 8:10 pm (Summer solstice) Month 6 = 7 Jul 1948 5:08 am Solar Point 6 = 23 Jul 1948 7:07 am (Great Heat) Month 7 = 5 Aug 1948 12:12 pm Solar Point 7 = 23 Aug 1948 2:02 pm (Heat finishes) Month 8 = 3 Sep 1948 7:21 pm Solar Point 8 = 23 Sep 1948 11:21 am (Autumn equinox) Month 9 = 3 Oct 1948 3:41 am Solar Point 9 = 23 Oct 1948 8:18 pm (Frost descends) Month 10 = 1 Nov 1948 2:02 pm Solar Point 10 = 22 Nov 1948 5:28 pm (Little Snow) Month 11 = 1 Dec 1948 2:44 am Solar Point 11 = 22 Dec 1948 6:33 am (Winter solstice) Month 12 = 30 Dec 1948 5:44 pm Solar Point 12 = 20 Jan 1949 5:08 pm (Great Cold) Month 1 = 29 Jan 1949 10:42 am
A lunar month is a period starting at a new moon and ending at the next new moon. The lunar calendar month is deemed to begin at the beginning of the day during which the exact new moon occurs, regardless of the precise time of day at which it occurs. Therefore each calendar lunar month consists of either 29 or 30 calendar days.
Note that the calendar day during which the new moon occurs varies according to location around the earth. This is due to the fact the new moon occurs at the same instant everywhere, but that it falls at different local times and dates according to the local time zone. The traditional Chinese calendar is based on the dates of new moons according to Chinese Civil Time (eight hours ahead of Greenwich). However, it must be noted that if the calendar were to be based on a different location and time zone, then some differences to the lunar months could occur.
10 2 Background and Basic Concepts
The lunar year is deemed to start on the day of the new moon preceding the Sun’s conjunction with 0° Pisces (330°) in tropical longitude. In other words, the Chinese New Year starts on the new moon of Aquarius, in western astrological terms.
There can be either twelve or thirteen lunar months in each lunar year. In those years in which there are thirteen lunar months, one of those months is called an “intercalary” or “leap” month, and is given the same month number as the previous lunar month. Consequently, the lunar month number is always limited to twelve. The leap month is usually the lunar month during which there is no Solar Point. The following example is for the year 1944, in which there was no Solar Point during the fifth lunar month. Therefore, the fifth lunar month is assigned the same lunar month number as the previous month ie. Month 4.
Calendar Data - Lunar Year 1944 For timezone -8.0 Month 1 = 25 Jan 1944 11:24 pm Solar Point 1 = 20 Feb 1944 2:27 am (Rain water) Month 2 = 24 Feb 1944 9:58 am Solar Point 2 = 21 Mar 1944 1:48 am (Spring equinox) Month 3 = 24 Mar 1944 7:36 pm Solar Point 3 = 20 Apr 1944 1:17 pm (Corn Rain) Month 4 = 23 Apr 1944 4:43 am Solar Point 4 = 21 May 1944 12:50 pm (Corn sprouting) Month 4 = 22 May 1944 2:12 pm Leap Month Month 5 = 21 Jun 1944 0:59 am Solar Point 5 = 21 Jun 1944 9:02 pm (Summer solstice) Month 6 = 20 Jul 1944 1:42 pm Solar Point 6 = 23 Jul 1944 7:55 am (Great Heat) Etc…
A solar month is a period during which the Sun traverses each sign of the tropical zodiac. There are therefore always twelve solar months per year, corresponding to the twelve signs of the zodiac. The dates on which the Sun enters each new sign are called the Solar Points. The first solar month starts at 0° Pisces (330°) in tropical longitude (in contrast to western astrology in which Aries is considered to be the first sign of the zodiac).
As Prince Charles was born on the 14th November, you can see that this occurred in the 10th Lunar Month (1st Nov to 1st Dec), and in the 9th Solar Month (23rd Oct to 22nd Nov).
Further, each day is divided into twelve “double-hours”, each of which is equal in length to two western hours. The first Chinese hour of the day runs from 11pm to 1 am, and subsequent Chinese hours consist of two-hour intervals following this. Consequently, a western time between midnight and 1am is deemed to be in the first Chinese hour of the day, and equally a western time between 11pm and midnight is also deemed to be in the first Chinese hour of the day.
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