In modern times this ambiguity is normally resolved by always displaying a Chinese calendar date in conjunction with a date (or at least a year) in at least one other calendar. Traditionally this ambiguity could be resolved by also displaying a regnal period or regnal year along with the Chinese calendar date. However, such eras are not normally ever used in formatted dates, leading to potential ambiguity about which date is being represented. In principle each cycle can be treated as a separate era. For example:Ĭelestial stems: 甲 jiǎ, 乙 yǐ, 丙 bǐng, 丁 dīng, …Įarthly branches: 子 zǐ, 丑 chǒu, 寅 yín, 卯 mǎo, … The 12 earthly branches correspond to, but do not have the same names as, the 12 zodiac animals associated with them. The year name is formed by combining a celestial stem from a 10-year cycle and an earthly branch from a 12-year cycle. The winter solstice always occurs during month 11, so the new year (and month 1) usually begins on the second new moon after that (Unless month 11 has a leap month added).Īstronomical calculations are based on a meridian of 120° (near Beijing). An astronomical rule determines whether and where it gets inserted in a given year. When an extra intercalary month is needed, it might be inserted after any of the standard months 2-11 (after 11 is unusual) it repeats the numbering of the preceding month, with an extra marker to indicate that it is a leap month (in Chinese this marker ‘闰’ precedes the month number). Months begin at a new moon and are 29 or 30 days long.Ī year consists of 12 or 13 months (determined by the number of new moons between winter solstices).
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