good basic information
Chinese Zodiac
lunisolar calendar – calculations for 120 degrees E of Greenwich (East coast of China)
Emperor Huangdi set it in motion in 2637 BC
12 or 13 months
ordinary year = 353, 354, 355 days
leap year = 383, 384, 385 days
12 or 13 Months
New Moon marks beginning of the Month.
60 days = 2 months of 3 x 10-day periods = 2 Lunar Cycles
from start of Month 11 (= Principal Term 11) the Winter Solstice Month, count New Moons.
If there are 13 New Moons in a full year (from beginning of Month 11 to end of Month 10), insert the extra month.
12 Principal Terms
12 Principal Terms = 30 degree increments of the Sun’s longitude
where
0 degrees = Vernal Equinox
90 degrees = Summer Solstice
180 degrees = Autumnal Equinox
270 degrees = Winter Solstice
when Sun’s angle =
330 degrees -> Principal Term 1
0 degrees -> Principal Term 2
30 degrees ->Priinciple Term 3
…
300 degrees ->Principal Term 12
60-Year Cycle
60-year cycle of years
5 x 2 Celestial Stems
12 Terrestrial Branches
10 Celestial Stems
1 Yang (+) or yin(-) component
+ 1 Chinese Element component (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water)
=
Wood (+)
Wood (-)
Fire (+)
Fire (-)
Earth (+)
Earth (-)
Metal (+)
Metal (-)
Water (+)
Water (-)
12 Terrestrial Branches
Rat
Ox
Tiger
Rabbit
Dragon
Snake
Horse
Sheep
Monkey
Rooster
Dog
Pig
Wood (+) Rat begins the cycle.
24 Qi
24 x 15(ish) days
| Translation | Gregorian | |
| 2 | Slight cold | 6 or 7 Jan. |
| 3 | Great cold | 21 or 22 Jan. |
| 5 | Rain water | 19 or 20 Mar. |
| 6 | Waking of insects | 6 or 7 MAr. |
| 8 | Pure brightness | 5 or 6 Apr. |
| 9 | Grain rain | 20 or 21 Apr. |
| 11 | Forming of grain | 21 or 22 May |
| 12 | Grain in ear | 6 or 7 June |
| 14 | Slight heat | 7 or 8 July |
| 15 | Great heat | 23 or 24 July |
| 17 | Limit if heat | 23 or 24 Aug. |
| 18 | White dew | 8 or 9 Sept. |
| 20 | Cold dew | 9 or 10 Oct. |
| 21 | Frost’s descent | 24 or 25 Oct. |
| 23 | Slight snow | 23 or 24 Nov. |
| 24 | Great snow | 7 or 8 Dec. |
