Chinese calendar

Chinese Calendar

The Chinese calendar, also known as the Lunar calendar or Traditional Chinese calendar, is a lunisolar calendar which reckons years, months, and days according to astronomical phenomena. It is used for traditional activities in China and overseas Chinese communities. It determines the Chinese zodiac animals and the timing of festivals.

History

The Chinese calendar has a history dating back to the 14th century B.C. Emperor Huangdi is said to have introduced the first cycle of the zodiac. The calendar was further developed during the Han Dynasty, when astronomers added leap months to adjust for the discrepancy between the lunar year and the solar year.

Structure

The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, meaning it is based on the cycles of both the moon and the sun. A year in the Chinese calendar is divided into 12 months of 29 or 30 days. The calendar is adjusted to the length of the solar year by the addition of extra months at regular intervals.

Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese Zodiac is a 12-year cycle, with each year associated with an animal sign. The cycle starts with the Rat and goes through Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and ends with Pig. Each animal is associated with certain personality traits.

Festivals

The Chinese calendar is used to determine the dates of traditional Chinese festivals, such as Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival. These festivals are an important part of Chinese culture and are celebrated with various customs and traditions.

See also

• Lunar calendar
• Chinese Zodiac
• Chinese New Year
• Mid-Autumn Festival
• Dragon Boat Festival

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