BabelStone Blog


Sunday, 24 March 2013

Today's Date in Old Mandarin, Middle Mongolian, Manchu, Jurchen, Khitan, Khitan and Tangut

Last month I had the idea to celebrate the Chinese New Year by creating a javascript-based calendar for the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, but with the calendrical data presented in the Manchu language and script rather than in Chinese. My first step was to borrow some code from the internet (in fact the code that displays the Chinese calendar date at the top right of this page), but after a week spent rewriting and testing it I came to realise that it did not work very well, so I decided it was best to write the code myself from scratch. Rather than try to dynamically calculate the data as some implementations do (far too complicated for me), I chose to use a table-based implementation covering 200 years from 1901 to 2100 inclusively. The result is that the javascript file is quite large, but the code is quite simple, and it should be easy to extend the date ranges if required. I have released the javascript code (calendar.js) under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Over the past few weeks I have written a set of seven pages that utilise this javascript code to display today's date (or any selected date between 1901 and 2100) according to the Chinese lunisolar calendar in Old Mandarin (Phags-pa script), Middle Mongolian (Phags-pa script), Manchu (Manchu script), Jurchen (Jurchen script), Khitan (Khitan Large Script), Khitan (Khitan Small Script), and Tangut (Tangut script) :


Several people have asked for an explantion of calendrical data provided on the above pages and/or further information about the calendrical terms in the various languages and scripts used, and this blog post is an attempt to answer such questions. I am by no means an expert on the Chinese calendar, so I won't go into too much technical detail about calendrical calculations, but I attempt to provide the minimum information necessary to understand the data provided on my "Today's Date in ..." pages.




Chinese Lunisolar Calendar

Each of my "Today's Date in ..." pages provides some or all of the following information for the selected date :


The data for my javascript calendar is derived from the Gregorian-Lunar Calendar Conversion Tables for 1901–2100 provided by the Hong Kong Observatory, as well as the Chinese Calendar, Calendar Converter, Chinese Lunar Calendar pages on the China the Beautiful site. These sources use the official calendrical data calculated using Chinese standard time at a longitude of 120°E, which very occasionally differs from the calculations of the traditional Wannian 萬年 calendars (the lunar dates of August 9th/10th 1953, September 2nd/3rd 1978, and August 1st/2nd 1989 vary between the two calendars).


Lunar Date

Chinese lunar months start on the day of a new moon, and last for 29 or 30 days. The first lunar month starts on the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice, and occurs between January 21 and February 20 inclusively in the 200 years from 1901 to 2100 covered by my javascript calendar. There are normally twelve lunar months in a year, named as the 1st through 12th month. As a lunar cycle is about 29.53 days long and a solar year lasts about 365.2425 days, an intercalary month is inserted every two or three years (approximately seven times every 19 years). When an intercalary month is added, it is the first lunar month of the year that does not contain a midpoint solar term (see Table 4), and it is named after the preceding month (e.g. an intercalary month inserted after the 5th month is called the "intercalary 5th month"). The intercalary month is almost always inserted after one of the 2nd through 8th months, but may very rarely occur after another month. The names of the months and days in the various languages of my javascript calendar pages are listed in Table 2 and Table 3 respectively.


Table 1: Calendrical Terms

English Chinese Old Mandarin Middle Mongolian Classical Mongolian Manchu Jurchen Large
Khitan
Small
Khitan
Tangut
year

nián

ꡋꡠꡋ

nen

ꡆꡞꡙ

ǰil

ᠵᠢᠯ

ǰil

ᠠᠨᡳᠶᠠ

aniya ania

𘲐

ai

𗤒

kjiw
month

yuè

ꡝꡧꡦ

ʼwė

ꡕ ꡘ

za ra

ᠰᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ

sara

ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

biya bia

𘭧

𗼑

lhjị
day

ꡔꡞ

ži

ꡢꡡ ꡋꡡꡢ

qo noq

ᠬᠣᠨᠣᠭ

qonoɣ

ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

inenggi inəŋgi

𘲺

𗾞

njɨ̱
hour

shí

ꡚꡞ

ši

ꡅꡢ

čʽaq

ᠴᠠᠭ

čaɣ

ᡝᡵᡳᠨ

erin fo

𘮗

po

𘝨

zjọ

Table 2: Lunar Month Names

Month Chinese Old Mandarin Middle Mongolian Classical Mongolian Manchu Jurchen Large
Khitan
Small
Khitan
Tangut
1st


zhèng
yuè

ꡆꡞꡃ ꡝꡧꡦ

ǰiŋ
ʼwė

ꡢ ꡎꡟ ꡘꡟꡋ ꡉꡦ ꡘꡞ ꡖꡟꡋ ꡕ ꡘ

qa bu run tʽė ri •un za ra

ᠬᠠᠪᠤᠷ ᠤᠨ ᠲᠡᠷᠢᠭᠦᠨ ᠰᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ

qabur-un terigün sara

ᠠᠨᡳᠶᠠ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

aniya
biya

nienie
bia

𘱘𘭧

nai (HEAD)
MONTH

𗩭

𗼑

tśjow
lhjị
2nd


èr
yuè

ꡔꡞ ꡝꡧꡦ

ži
ʼwė

ꡢ ꡎꡟ ꡘꡟꡋ ꡊꡟꡏ ꡊ ꡊꡟ ꡕ ꡘ

qa bu run dum da du za ra

ᠬᠠᠪᠤᠷ ᠤᠨ ᠳᠤᠮᠳᠠᠳᠤ ᠰᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ

qabur-un dumdadu sara

ᠵᡠᠸᡝ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

juwe
biya

dʒo
bia

𘲝𘭧

TWO
MONTH

𗍫

𗼑

njɨ̱
lhjị
3rd


sān
yuè

ꡛꡏ ꡝꡧꡦ

sam
ʼwė

ꡢ ꡎꡟ ꡘꡟꡋ ꡜꡦ ꡅꡟꡛ ꡕ ꡘ

qa bu run hė čʽus za ra

ᠬᠠᠪᠤᠷ ᠤᠨ ᠡᠴᠦᠰ ᠰᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ

qabur-un ečüs sara

ᡳᠯᠠᠨ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

ilan
biya

ilan
bia

𘯙𘭧

THREE
MONTH

𘕕𗼑

sọ
lhjị
4th



yuè

ꡛꡜꡞ ꡝꡧꡦ

shi
ʼwė

ꡆꡟ ꡋꡟ ꡉꡦ ꡘꡞ ꡖꡟꡋ ꡕ ꡘ

ǰu nu tʽė ri •un za ra

ᠵᠤᠨ ᠤ ᠲᠡᠷᠢᠭᠦᠨ ᠰᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ

ǰun-u terigün sara

ᡩᡠᡳ᠌ᠨ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

duin
biya

duin
bia

𘲂𘭧

FOUR
MONTH

𗥃

𗼑

ljɨr
lhjị
5th



yuè

ꡟ ꡝꡧꡦ

u
ʼwė

ꡆꡟ ꡋꡟ ꡊꡟꡏ ꡊ ꡊꡟ ꡕ ꡘ

ǰu nu dum da du za ra

ᠵᠤᠨ ᠤ ᠳᠤᠮᠳᠠᠳᠤ ᠰᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ

ǰun-u dumdadu sara

ᠰᡠᠨᠵᠠ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

sunja
biya

ʃundʒa
bia

𘬦𘭧

FIVE
MONTH

𗏁

𗼑

ŋwə
lhjị
6th


liù
yuè

ꡙꡦꡟ ꡝꡧꡦ

lėu
ʼwė

ꡆꡟ ꡋꡟ ꡜꡦ ꡅꡟꡛ ꡕ ꡘ

ǰu nu hė čʽus za ra

ᠵᠤᠨ ᠤ ᠡᠴᠦᠰ ᠰᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ

ǰun-u ečüs sara

ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡠᠨ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

ninggun
biya

niŋgu
bia

𘭬𘭧

SIX
MONTH

𗤁

𗼑

tśhjiw
lhjị
7th



yuè

ꡑꡞ ꡝꡧꡦ

tsʽi
ʼwė

ꡋ ꡏꡟ ꡘꡟꡋ ꡉꡦ ꡘꡞ ꡖꡟꡋ ꡕ ꡘ

na mu run tʽė ri •un za ra

ᠨᠠᠮᠤᠷ ᠤᠨ ᠲᠡᠷᠢᠭᠦᠨ ᠰᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ

namur-un terigün sara

ᠨᠠᡩᠠᠨ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

nadan
biya

nadan
bia

𘲧𘭧

SEVEN
MONTH

𗒹

𗼑

śjạ
lhjị
8th



yuè

ꡎ ꡝꡧꡦ

ba
ʼwė

ꡋ ꡏꡟ ꡘꡟꡋ ꡊꡟꡏ ꡊ ꡊꡟ ꡕ ꡘ

na mu run dum da du za ra

ᠨᠠᠮᠤᠷ ᠤᠨ ᠳᠤᠮᠳᠠᠳᠤ ᠰᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ

namur-un dumdadu sara

ᠵᠠᡴᡡᠨ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

jakūn
biya

dʒakun
bia

𘬌𘭧

EIGHT
MONTH

𘉋

𗼑

•jar
lhjị
9th


jiǔ
yuè

ꡂꡞꡓ ꡝꡧꡦ

giw
ʼwė

ꡋ ꡏꡟ ꡘꡟꡋ ꡜꡦ ꡅꡟꡛ ꡕ ꡘ

na mu run hė čʽus za ra

ᠨᠠᠮᠤᠷ ᠤᠨ ᠡᠴᠦᠰ ᠰᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ

namur-un ečüs sara

ᡠᠶᡠᠨ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

uyun
biya

ujewun
bia

𘬪𘭧

NINE
MONTH

𗢭

𗼑

gjɨ̱
lhjị
10th


shí
yuè

ꡚꡞ ꡝꡧꡦ

ši
ʼwė

ꡝꡦꡟ ꡎꡟ ꡙꡟꡋ ꡉꡦ ꡘꡞ ꡖꡟꡋ ꡕ ꡘ

ʼėu bu lun tʽė ri •un za ra

ᠡᠪᠦᠯ ᠦᠨ ᠲᠡᠷᠢᠭᠦᠨ ᠰᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ

ebül-ün terigün sara

ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

juwan
biya

dʒua
bia

𘰯𘭧

TEN
MONTH

𗰗

𗼑

ɣạ
lhjị
11th



shí

yuè

ꡚꡞ ꡗꡞ ꡝꡧꡦ

ši
yi
ʼwė

ꡝꡦꡟ ꡎꡟ ꡙꡟꡋ ꡊꡟꡏ ꡊ ꡊꡟ ꡕ ꡘ

ʼėu bu lun dum da du za ra

ᠡᠪᠦᠯ ᠦᠨ ᠳᠤᠮᠳᠠᠳᠤ ᠰᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ

ebül-ün dumdadu sara

ᠣᠮᡧᠣᠨ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

omšon
biya


dʒua
əmu
bia


𘰯𘬣𘭧

TEN
ONE
MONTH

𗰗

𘈩

𗼑

ɣạ
lew
lhjị
12th



shí
èr
yuè

ꡚꡞ ꡔꡞ ꡝꡧꡦ

ši
ži
ʼwė

ꡝꡦꡟ ꡎꡟ ꡙꡟꡋ ꡜꡦ ꡅꡟꡛ ꡕ ꡘ

ʼėu bu lun hė čʽus za ra

ᠡᠪᠦᠯ ᠦᠨ ᠡᠴᠦᠰ ᠰᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ

ebül-ün ečüs sara

ᠵᠣᡵᡤᠣᠨ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

jorgon
biya


dʒua
dʒo
bia


𘰯𘲝𘭧

TEN
TWO
MONTH

𗰗

𗍫

𗼑

ɣạ
njɨ̱
lhjị
Intercalary month


rùn
yuè

ꡔꡦꡟꡋ ꡝꡧꡦ

žėun
ʼwė

ꡚꡦꡟꡋ

šėun

ᠱᠦᠨ

šün

ᠠᠨᠠᡤᠠᠨ ᡳ ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

anagan-i
biya


ala-
-xa
bia


𘮧𘲀𘯟𘭧

p.ul.uh
MONTH

𘒹

𗼑

lhu
lhjị

Notes

  1. For all languages in the table except for Mongolian the months are named numerically, but with a special word for the first month: Chinese and Old Mandarin = "principal month"; Manchu = "[new] year month" (alternatively

    ᡨᠣᠪ
    ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

    tob biya "principal month"); Jurchen = "spring month"; Khitan = "head month"; Tangut = "principal month".
  2. There are various systems of naming months in Mongolian (see Brian Gregory Baumann, Divine Knowledge: Buddhist Mathematics According to the Anoymous Manual of Mongolian Astrology and Divination (Brill, 2008) pp. 70–83). Extant Mongolian Phags-pa texts use the system referred to as "Black Chinese Mathematics" in Table IV.8 in Baumann pp. 72–73. In this system, months are named as initial, medial or final Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter month.
  3. The Mongolian Phags-pa word for a leap month is unattested, and has been reconstructed from Classical Mongolian, which is a borrowing via Old Uyghur of the Chinese word rùn 閏. An intercalary month is also called saban sara in Classical Mongolian.
  4. When followed by a date, the Middle Mongolian and Classical Mongolian word for month, za ra/sara is put in the genitive form, za ra yin/sara in.
  5. When followed by a date, the Manchu word for month,

    ᠪᡳᠶᠠ

    biya is put in the genitive form,

    ᠪᡳᠶᠠᡳ

    biyai. Jurchen dates do not show a written genitive form of the word bia "month" before a date.
  6. Jurchen does have single-character words for "eleven" and "twelve", cognate to Manchu omšon and jorgon, and it is possible that the 11th and 12th months were written as omʃo inəŋgi and dʒïrxon inəŋgi during the Jin dynasty. However, no Jurchen inscriptions dating to the Jin dynasty mention the 11th or 12th months, and in Ming dynasty Jurchen texts the 11th and 12th months are written as "ten-one month" and "ten-two month".
  7. The Khitan Small Script numbers one through nine occur in dotted and undotted forms, but only the undotted forms occur before the word "month".

Table 3: Lunar Day Names

Month Chinese Old Mandarin Middle Mongolian Classical Mongolian Manchu Jurchen Large
Khitan
Small
Khitan
Tangut
Jin Dynasty Ming Dynasty
1st


chū

ꡅꡟ ꡗꡞ ꡔꡞ

čʽu
yi
ži

ꡋꡞ ꡁꡦꡋ ꡚꡞ ꡋꡦ

ni kʽėn ši nė

ᠨᠢᠭᠡᠨ

nigen

ᡳᠴᡝ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

ice
inenggi

əmu
inəŋgi

itʃə
inəŋgi

𘬣𘲺

ONE
DAY

𘈩

𗾞

lew
njɨ̱
2nd


chū
èr

ꡅꡟ ꡔꡞ ꡔꡞ

čʽu
ži
ži

ꡢꡡ ꡗꡘ ꡚꡞ ꡋꡦ

qo yar ši nė

ᠬᠣᠶᠠᠷ

qoyar

ᡳᠴᡝ ᠵᡠᠸᡝ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

ice
juwe
inenggi

dʒo
inəŋgi


itʃə
dʒo
inəŋgi

𘲝𘲺

TWO
DAY

𗍫

𗾞

njɨ̱
njɨ̱
3rd


chū
sān

ꡅꡟ ꡛꡏ ꡔꡞ

čʽu
sam
ži

ꡢꡟꡘ ꡎꡋ ꡚꡞ ꡋꡦ

qur ban ši nė

ᠭᠤᠷᠪᠠᠨ

ɣurban

ᡳᠴᡝ ᡳᠯᠠᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

ice
ilan
inenggi

ilan
inəŋgi


itʃə
ilan
inəŋgi

𘯙𘲺

THREE
DAY

𘕕

𗾞

sọ
njɨ̱
4th


chū

ꡅꡟ ꡛꡜꡞ ꡔꡞ

čʽu
shi
ži

ꡊꡦꡡꡘ ꡎꡦꡋ ꡚꡞ ꡋꡦ

dėor bėn ši nė

ᠳᠥᠷᠪᠡᠨ

dörben

ᡳᠴᡝ ᡩᡠᡳ᠌ᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

ice
duin
inenggi

duin
inəŋgi


itʃə
duin
inəŋgi

𘲂𘲺

FOUR
DAY

𗥃

𗾞

ljɨr
njɨ̱
5th


chū

ꡅꡟ ꡟ ꡔꡞ

čʽu
u
ži

ꡉ ꡎꡟꡋ ꡚꡞ ꡋꡦ

tʽa bun ši nė

ᠲᠠᠪᠤᠨ

tabun

ᡳᠴᡝ ᠰᡠᠨᠵᠠ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

ice
sunja
inenggi

ʃundʒa
inəŋgi


itʃə
ʃundʒa
inəŋgi

𘬦𘲺

FIVE
DAY

𗏁

𗾞

ŋwə
njɨ̱
6th


chū
liù

ꡅꡟ ꡙꡦꡟ ꡔꡞ

čʽu
lėu
ži

ꡆꡞꡘ ꡢꡡ ꡖꡋ ꡚꡞ ꡋꡦ

ǰir qo •an ši nė

ᠵᠢᠷᠭᠤᠭᠠᠨ

ǰirɣuɣan

ᡳᠴᡝ ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡠᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

ice
ninggun
inenggi

niŋgu
inəŋgi


itʃə
niŋgu
inəŋgi

𘭬𘲺

SIX
DAY

𗤁

𗾞

tśhjiw
njɨ̱
7th


chū

ꡅꡟ ꡑꡞ ꡔꡞ

čʽu
tsʽi
ži

ꡊꡡ ꡙꡡ ꡖꡋ ꡚꡞ ꡋꡦ

do lo •an ši nė

ᠳᠣᠯᠣᠭᠠᠨ

doloɣan

ᡳᠴᡝ ᠨᠠᡩᠠᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

ice
nadan
inenggi

nadan
inəŋgi


itʃə
nadan
inəŋgi

𘲧𘲺

SEVEN
DAY

𗒹

𗾞

śjạ
njɨ̱
8th


chū

ꡅꡟ ꡎ ꡔꡞ

čʽu
ba
ži

ꡋꡗꡞ ꡏꡋ ꡚꡞ ꡋꡦ

nayi man ši nė

ᠨᠠᠢᠮᠠᠨ

naiman

ᡳᠴᡝ ᠵᠠᡴᡡᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

ice
jakūn
inenggi

dʒakun
inəŋgi


itʃə
dʒakun
inəŋgi

𘬌𘲺

EIGHT
DAY

𘉋

𗾞

•jar
njɨ̱
9th


chū
jiǔ

ꡅꡟ ꡂꡞꡓ ꡔꡞ

čʽu
giw
ži

ꡗꡞ ꡛꡟꡋ ꡚꡞ ꡋꡦ

yi sun ši nė

ᠶᠢᠰᠦᠨ

yisün

ᡳᠴᡝ ᡠᠶᡠᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

ice
uyun
inenggi

ujewun
inəŋgi


itʃə
ujewun
inəŋgi

𘬪𘲺

NINE
DAY

𗢭

𗾞

gjɨ̱
njɨ̱
10th


chū
shí

ꡅꡟ ꡚꡞ ꡔꡞ

čʽu
ši
ži

ꡜꡘ ꡎꡋ ꡚꡞ ꡋꡦ

har ban ši nė

ᠠᠷᠪᠠᠨ

arban

ᡳᠴᡝ ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

ice
juwan
inenggi

dʒua
inəŋgi


itʃə
dʒua
inəŋgi

𘰯𘲺

TEN
DAY

𗰗

𗾞

ɣạ
njɨ̱
11th


shí

ꡚꡞ ꡗꡞ ꡔꡞ

ši
yi
ži

ꡜꡘ ꡎꡋ ꡋꡞ ꡁꡦꡋ

har ban ni kʽėn

ᠠᠷᠪᠠᠨ ᠨᠢᠭᠡᠨ

arban nigen

ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᡝᠮᡠ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

juwan
emu
inenggi

omʃo
inəŋgi


dʒua
əmu
inəŋgi


𘰯𘬣𘲺

TEN
ONE
DAY

𗰗

𘈩

𗾞

ɣạ
lew
njɨ̱
12th


shí
èr

ꡚꡞ ꡔꡞ ꡔꡞ

ši
ži
ži

ꡜꡘ ꡎꡋ ꡢꡡ ꡗꡘ

har ban qo yar

ᠠᠷᠪᠠᠨ ᠬᠣᠶᠠᠷ

arban qoyar

ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᠵᡠᠸᡝ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

juwan
juwe
inenggi

dʒïrxon
inəŋgi


dʒua
dʒo
inəŋgi


𘰯𘲝𘲺

TEN
TWO
DAY

𗰗

𗍫

𗾞

ɣạ
njɨ̱
njɨ̱
13rd


shí
sān

ꡚꡞ ꡛꡏ ꡔꡞ

ši
sam
ži

ꡜꡘ ꡎꡋ ꡢꡟꡘ ꡎꡋ

har ban qur ban

ᠠᠷᠪᠠᠨ ᠭᠤᠷᠪᠠᠨ

arban ɣurban

ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᡳᠯᠠᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

juwan
ilan
inenggi

gorxon
inəŋgi


dʒua
ilan
inəŋgi


𘰯𘯙𘲺

TEN
THREE
DAY

𗰗

𘕕

𗾞

ɣạ
sọ
njɨ̱
14th


shí

ꡚꡞ ꡛꡜꡞ ꡔꡞ

ši
shi
ži

ꡜꡘ ꡎꡋ ꡊꡦꡡꡘ ꡎꡦꡋ

har ban dėor bėn

ᠠᠷᠪᠠᠨ ᠳᠥᠷᠪᠡᠨ

arban dörben

ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᡩᡠᡳ᠌ᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

juwan
duin
inenggi

durxon
inəŋgi


dʒua
duin
inəŋgi


𘰯𘲂𘲺

TEN
FOUR
DAY

𗰗

𗥃

𗾞

ɣạ
ljɨr
njɨ̱
15th


shí

ꡚꡞ ꡟ ꡔꡞ

ši
u
ži

ꡜꡘ ꡎꡋ ꡉ ꡎꡟꡋ

har ban tʽa bun

ᠠᠷᠪᠠᠨ ᠲᠠᠪᠤᠨ

arban tabun

ᡨᠣᡶᠣᡥᠣᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

tofohon
inenggi

toboxon
inəŋgi


dʒua
ʃundʒa
inəŋgi


𘰯𘬦𘲺

TEN
FIVE
DAY

𗰗

𗏁

𗾞

ɣạ
ŋwə
njɨ̱
16th


shí
liù

ꡚꡞ ꡙꡦꡟ ꡔꡞ

ši
lėu
ži

ꡜꡘ ꡎꡋ ꡆꡞꡘ ꡢꡡ ꡖꡋ

har ban ǰir qo •an

ᠠᠷᠪᠠᠨ ᠵᠢᠷᠭᠤᠭᠠᠨ

arban ǰirɣuɣan

ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡠᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

juwan
ninggun
inenggi

nixun
inəŋgi


dʒua
niŋgu
inəŋgi


𘰯𘭬𘲺

TEN
SIX
DAY

𗰗

𗤁

𗾞

ɣạ
tśhjiw
njɨ̱
17th


shí

ꡚꡞ ꡑꡞ ꡔꡞ

ši
tsʽi
ži

ꡜꡘ ꡎꡋ ꡊꡡ ꡙꡡ ꡖꡋ

har ban do lo •an

ᠠᠷᠪᠠᠨ ᠳᠣᠯᠣᠭᠠᠨ

arban doloɣan

ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᠨᠠᡩᠠᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

juwan
nadan
inenggi

darxon
inəŋgi


dʒua
nadan
inəŋgi


𘰯𘲧𘲺

TEN
SEVEN
DAY

𗰗

𗒹

𗾞

ɣạ
śjạ
njɨ̱
18th


shí

ꡚꡞ ꡎ ꡔꡞ

ši
ba
ži

ꡜꡘ ꡎꡋ ꡋꡗꡞ ꡏꡋ

har ban nayi man

ᠠᠷᠪᠠᠨ ᠨᠠᠢᠮᠠᠨ

arban naiman

ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᠵᠠᡴᡡᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

juwan
jakūn
inenggi

niuxun
inəŋgi


dʒua
dʒakun
inəŋgi


𘰯𘬌𘲺

TEN
EIGHT
DAY

𗰗

𘉋

𗾞

ɣạ
•jar
njɨ̱
19th


shí
jiǔ

ꡚꡞ ꡂꡞꡓ ꡔꡞ

ši
giw
ži

ꡜꡘ ꡎꡋ ꡗꡞ ꡛꡟꡋ

har ban yi sun

ᠠᠷᠪᠠᠨ ᠶᠢᠰᠦᠨ

arban yisün

ᠵᡠᠸᠠᠨ ᡠᠶᡠᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

juwan
uyun
inenggi

onioxon
inəŋgi


dʒua
ujewun
inəŋgi


𘰯𘬪𘲺

TEN
NINE
DAY

𗰗

𗢭

𗾞

ɣạ
gjɨ̱
njɨ̱
20th


èr
shí

ꡔꡞ ꡚꡞ ꡔꡞ

ži
ši
ži

ꡢꡡ ꡘꡞꡋ

qo rin

ᠬᠣᠷᠢᠨ

qorin

ᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

orin
inenggi

orin
inəŋgi


dʒo
dʒua
inəŋgi

𘬂𘲺

TWENTY
DAY

𗍫

𗰗

𗾞

njɨ̱
ɣạ
njɨ̱
21st

廿

niàn

ꡔꡞ ꡚꡞ ꡗꡞ ꡔꡞ

ži
ši
yi
ži

ꡢꡡ ꡘꡞꡋ ꡋꡞ ꡁꡦꡋ

qo rin ni kʽėn

ᠬᠣᠷᠢᠨ ᠨᠢᠭᠡᠨ

qorin nigen

ᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᡝᠮᡠ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

orin
emu
inenggi


orin
əmu
inəŋgi



dʒo
dʒua
əmu
inəŋgi


𘬂𘬣𘲺

TWENTY
ONE
DAY

𗍫

𗰗

𘈩

𗾞

njɨ̱
ɣạ
lew
njɨ̱
22nd

廿

niàn
èr

ꡔꡞ ꡚꡞ ꡔꡞ ꡔꡞ

ži
ši
ži
ži

ꡢꡡ ꡘꡞꡋ ꡢꡡ ꡗꡘ

qo rin qo yar

ᠬᠣᠷᠢᠨ ᠬᠣᠶᠠᠷ

qorin qoyar

ᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᠵᡠᠸᡝ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

orin
juwe
inenggi


orin
dʒo
inəŋgi



dʒo
dʒua
dʒo
inəŋgi


𘬂𘲝𘲺

TWENTY
TWO
DAY

𗍫

𗰗

𗍫

𗾞

njɨ̱
ɣạ
njɨ̱
njɨ̱
23rd

廿

niàn
sān

ꡔꡞ ꡚꡞ ꡛꡏ ꡔꡞ

ži
ši
sam
ži

ꡢꡡ ꡘꡞꡋ ꡢꡟꡘ ꡎꡋ

qo rin qur ban

ᠬᠣᠷᠢᠨ ᠭᠤᠷᠪᠠᠨ

qorin ɣurban

ᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᡳᠯᠠᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

orin
ilan
inenggi


orin
ilan
inəŋgi



dʒo
dʒua
ilan
inəŋgi


𘬂𘯙𘲺

TWENTY
THREE
DAY

𗍫

𗰗

𘕕

𗾞

njɨ̱
ɣạ
sọ
njɨ̱
24th

廿

niàn

ꡔꡞ ꡚꡞ ꡛꡜꡞ ꡔꡞ

ži
ši
shi
ži

ꡢꡡ ꡘꡞꡋ ꡊꡦꡡꡘ ꡎꡦꡋ

qo rin dėor bėn

ᠬᠣᠷᠢᠨ ᠳᠥᠷᠪᠡᠨ

qorin dörben

ᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᡩᡠᡳ᠌ᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

orin
duin
inenggi


orin
duin
inəŋgi



dʒo
dʒua
duin
inəŋgi


𘬂𘲂𘲺

TWENTY
FOUR
DAY

𗍫

𗰗

𗥃

𗾞

njɨ̱
ɣạ
ljɨr
njɨ̱
25th

廿

niàn

ꡔꡞ ꡚꡞ ꡟ ꡔꡞ

ži
ši
u
ži

ꡢꡡ ꡘꡞꡋ ꡉ ꡎꡟꡋ

qo rin tʽa bun

ᠬᠣᠷᠢᠨ ᠲᠠᠪᠤᠨ

qorin tabun

ᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᠰᡠᠨᠵᠠ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

orin
sunja
inenggi


orin
ʃundʒa
inəŋgi



dʒo
dʒua
ʃundʒa
inəŋgi


𘬂𘬦𘲺

TWENTY
FIVE
DAY

𗍫

𗰗

𗏁

𗾞

njɨ̱
ɣạ
ŋwə
njɨ̱
26th

廿

niàn
liù

ꡔꡞ ꡚꡞ ꡙꡦꡟ ꡔꡞ

ži
ši
lėu
ži

ꡢꡡ ꡘꡞꡋ ꡆꡞꡘ ꡢꡡ ꡖꡋ

qo rin ǰir qo •an

ᠬᠣᠷᠢᠨ ᠵᠢᠷᠭᠤᠭᠠᠨ

qorin ǰirɣuɣan

ᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᠨᡳᠩᡤᡠᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

orin
ninggun
inenggi


orin
niŋgu
inəŋgi



dʒo
dʒua
niŋgu
inəŋgi


𘬂𘭬𘲺

TWENTY
SIX
DAY

𗍫

𗰗

𗤁

𗾞

njɨ̱
ɣạ
tśhjiw
njɨ̱
27th

廿

niàn

ꡔꡞ ꡚꡞ ꡑꡞ ꡔꡞ

ži
ši
tsʽi
ži

ꡢꡡ ꡘꡞꡋ ꡊꡡ ꡙꡡ ꡖꡋ

qo rin do lo •an

ᠬᠣᠷᠢᠨ ᠳᠣᠯᠣᠭᠠᠨ

qorin doloɣan

ᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᠨᠠᡩᠠᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

orin
nadan
inenggi


orin
nadan
inəŋgi



dʒo
dʒua
nadan
inəŋgi


𘬂𘲧𘲺

TWENTY
SEVEN
DAY

𗍫

𗰗

𗒹

𗾞

njɨ̱
ɣạ
śjạ
njɨ̱
28th

廿

niàn

ꡔꡞ ꡚꡞ ꡎ ꡔꡞ

ži
ši
ba
ži

ꡢꡡ ꡘꡞꡋ ꡋꡗꡞ ꡏꡋ

qo rin nayi man

ᠬᠣᠷᠢᠨ ᠨᠠᠢᠮᠠᠨ

qorin naiman

ᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᠵᠠᡴᡡᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

orin
jakūn
inenggi


orin
dʒakun
inəŋgi



dʒo
dʒua
dʒakun
inəŋgi


𘬂𘬌𘲺

TWENTY
EIGHT
DAY

𗍫

𗰗

𘉋

𗾞

njɨ̱
ɣạ
•jar
njɨ̱
29th

廿

niàn
jiǔ

ꡔꡞ ꡚꡞ ꡂꡞꡓ ꡔꡞ

ži
ši
giw
ži

ꡢꡡ ꡘꡞꡋ ꡗꡞ ꡛꡟꡋ

qo rin yi sun

ᠬᠣᠷᠢᠨ ᠶᠢᠰᠦᠨ

qorin yisün

ᠣᡵᡳᠨ ᡠᠶᡠᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

orin
uyun
inenggi


orin
ujewun
inəŋgi



dʒo
dʒua
ujewun
inəŋgi


𘬂𘬪𘲺

TWENTY
NINE
DAY

𗍫

𗰗

𗢭

𗾞

njɨ̱
ɣạ
gjɨ̱
njɨ̱
30th


sān
shí

ꡛꡏ ꡚꡞ ꡔꡞ

sam
ši
ži

ꡢꡟ ꡅꡞꡋ

qu čʽin

ᠭᠤᠴᠢᠨ

ɣučin

ᡤᡡᠰᡳᠨ ᡳᠨᡝᠩᡤᡳ

gūsin
inenggi

guʃïn
inəŋgi


ilan
dʒua
inəŋgi

𘳀𘲺

THIRTY
DAY

𘕕

𗰗

𗾞

sọ
ɣạ
njɨ̱

Notes

  1. Manchu days may use

    ᡩᡝ

    de instead of inenggi.
  2. Middle Mongolian dates do not give the word "day" after the day number, but the 1st through 10th days are followed the word ši nė "new". In narrative contexts the last word of the date is in the dative, but is given in the nominative on my calendar pages.
  3. Jin dynasty Jurchen inscriptions use a mixture of the forms in the "Jin Dynasty" column and the "Ming Dynasty" column, but Ming dynasty Jurchen inscriptions and texts only use the forms in the "Ming Dynasty" column. Ming dynasty Jurchen texts also use the prefix itʃə "new", cognate to Manchu ice, for the 1st to 10th days, but this prefix is not used in any extant Jin dynasty Jurchen inscriptions.
  4. The Khitan Small Script numbers one through nine occur in dotted and undotted forms, but only the undotted forms occur before the word "day".

Solar Terms

The Chinese solar year is divided into 24 equal periods marked by points 15° apart on the ecliptic, known as solar terms 節氣. Twelve of the solar terms, at 30° intervals, are nodes (jiēqì 節氣), and each of these nodes mark the start of a new solar month (see "Cyclical Month" below). The other twelve solar terms are midpoints (zhōngqì 中氣), and these are used in the calculation of intercalary months. Each solar term falls on approximately the same day each year according to the Gregorian calendar.

For the Old Mandarin and Manchu calendar pages the solar term will be displayed in the second column from the left if the selected day falls on a solar term. Solar terms are not displayed in the Jurchen, Khitan, Mongolian and Tangut calendar pages as I do not know what the solar terms are called in these languages.


Table 4: 24 Solar Terms

Ecliptic
Longitude
Type Date Range* Solar Term
Chinese Old Mandarin Manchu
Characters Pinyin English Name Phags-pa Transliteration Manchu Transliteration
315° node February 3rd – 5th

立春

lìchūn Start of Spring

ꡙꡞ ꡅꡦꡟꡋ

li čʽėun

ᠨᡳᠶᡝᠩᠨᡳᠶᡝᡵᡳ ᡩᠣᠰᡳᠮᠪᡳ

niyengniyeri dosimbi
330° midpoint February 18th – 20th

雨水

yǔshuǐ Rain Water

ꡝꡦꡟ ꡚꡟꡠ

ʼėu šue

ᠠᡤᠠ ᠮᡠᡴᡝ

aga muke
345° node March 4th – 7th

驚蟄

jīngzhé Awakening of Insects

ꡂꡞꡃ ꡄꡞ

giŋ či

ᠪᡠᡨᡠᠨ ᠠᡧᡧᠠᠮᠪᡳ

butun aššambi
midpoint March 19th – 22nd

春分

chūnfēn Vernal Equinox

ꡅꡦꡟꡋ ꡤꡟꡋ

čʽėun fun

ᠨᡳᠶᡝᠩᠨᡳᠶᡝᡵᡳ ᡩᡠᠯᡳᠨ

niyengniyeri dulin
15° node April 4th – 6th

清明

qīngmíng Clear and Bright

ꡑꡞꡃ ꡏꡞꡃ

tsʽiŋ miŋ

ᡥᠠᠩᠰᡳ

hangsi
30° midpoint April 19th – 21st

穀雨

gǔyǔ Grain Rain

ꡂꡟ ꡝꡦꡟ

gu ʼėu

ᠵᡝᡴᡠ ᠠᡤᠠ

jeku aga
45° node May 4th – 7th

立夏

lìxià Start of Summer

ꡙꡞ ꡜꡨ

li hya

ᠵᡠᠸᠠᡵᡳ ᡩᠣᠰᡳᠮᠪᡳ

juwari dosimbi
60° midpoint May 20th – 22nd

小滿

xiǎomǎn Grain Full

ꡛꡦꡓ ꡏꡡꡋ

sėw mon

ᠠᠵᡳᡤᡝ ᠵᠠᠯᡠᡴᠠ

ajige jaluka
75° node June 4th – 7th

芒種

mángzhòng Grain in Ear

ꡏꡃ ꡆꡟꡃ

maŋ juŋ

ᠮᠠᡳ᠌ᠰᡝ ᡠᡵᡝᠮᠪᡳ

maise urembi
90° midpoint June 20th – 22nd

夏至

xiàzhì Summer Solstice

ꡜꡨ ꡆꡞ

hya ji

ᠵᡠᠸᠠᡵᡳ ᡨᡝᠨ

juwari ten
105° node July 6th – 8th

小暑

xiǎoshǔ Minor Heat

ꡛꡦꡓ ꡚꡦꡟ

sėw šėu

ᠠᠵᡳᡤᡝ ᡥᠠᠯᡥᡡᠨ

ajige halhūn
120° midpoint July 22nd – 24th

大暑

dàshǔ Major Heat

ꡈꡗ ꡚꡦꡟ

tay šėu

ᠠᠮᠪᠠ ᡥᠠᠯᡥᡡᠨ

amba halhūn
135° node August 6th – 9th

立秋

lìqiū Start of Autumn

ꡙꡞ ꡑꡞꡓ

li tsʽiw

ᠪᠣᠯᠣᡵᡳ ᡩᠣᠰᡳᠮᠪᡳ

bolori dosimbi
150° midpoint August 22nd –24th

處暑

chǔshǔ Limit of Heat

ꡅꡦꡟ ꡚꡦꡟ

čʽėu šėu

ᡥᠠᠯᡥᡡᠨ ᠪᡝᡩᡝᡵᡝᠮᠪᡳ

halhūn bederembi
165° node September 6th – 9th

白露

báilù White Dew

ꡌꡗ ꡙꡟ

pay lu

ᡧᠠᠨᠶᠠᠨ ᠰᡳᠯᡝᠩᡤᡳ

šanyan silenggi
180° midpoint September 22nd – 24th

秋分

qiūfēn Autumnal Equinox

ꡑꡞꡓ ꡤꡟꡋ

tsʽiw fun

ᠪᠣᠯᠣᡵᡳ ᡩᡠᠯᡳᠨ

bolori dulin
195° node October 7th – 9th

寒露

hánlù Cold Dew

ꡣꡋ ꡙꡟ

xan lu

ᡧᠠᡥᡡᡵᡠᠨ ᠰᡳᠯᡝᠩᡤᡳ

šahūrun silenggi
210° midpoint October 22nd – 24th

霜降

shuāngjiàng Frost Descent

ꡚꡜꡃ ꡂꡨꡃ

šhaŋ gyaŋ

ᡤᡝᠴᡝᠨ ᡤᡝᠴᡝᠮᠪᡳ

gecen gecembi
225° node November 6th – 8th

立冬

lìdōng Start of Winter

ꡙꡞ ꡊꡟꡃ

li duŋ

ᡨᡠᠸᡝᡵᡳ ᡩᠣᠰᡳᠮᠪᡳ

tuweri dosimbi
240° midpoint November 21st – 23rd

小雪

xiǎoxuě Minor Snow

ꡛꡦꡓ ꡛꡧꡦ

sėw swė

ᠠᠵᡳᡤᡝ ᠨᡳᠮᠠᠩᡤᡳ

ajige nimanggi
255° node December 6th – 8th

大雪

dàxuě Major Snow

ꡈꡗ ꡛꡧꡦ

tay swė

ᠠᠮᠪᠠ ᠨᡳᠮᠠᠩᡤᡳ

amba nimanggi
270° midpoint December 21st – 23rd

冬至

dōngzhì Winter Solstice

ꡊꡟꡃ ꡆꡞ

duŋ ji

ᡨᡠᠸᡝᡵᡳ ᡨᡝᠨ

tuweri ten
285° node January 4th – 7th

小寒

xiǎohán Minor Cold

ꡛꡦꡓ ꡣꡋ

sėw xan

ᠠᠵᡳᡤᡝ ᡧᠠᡥᡡᡵᡠᠨ

ajige šahūrun
300° midpoint January 19th – 21st

大寒

dàhán Major Cold

ꡈꡗ ꡣꡋ

tay xan

ᠠᠮᠪᠠ ᡧᠠᡥᡡᡵᡠᠨ

amba šahūrun

* These are the ranges of possible dates in the Gregorian calendar that the solar terms fall on during the 200 period from 1901 to 2100 that is covered by my javascript calendar.


Cyclical Year

The cyclical year is named according to the sexagenary cycle of 10 heavenly stems (天干) and 12 earthly branches (地支), and repeats every sixty years.


Table 5: The Sexagenary Cycle

jiǎ bǐng dīng gēng xīn rén guǐ
wood fire earth gold water
green red yellow white black
rat 1 13 25 37 49
chǒu ox 2 14 26 38 50
yín tiger 51 3 15 27 39
mǎo rabbit 52 4 16 28 40
chén dragon 41 53 5 17 29
snake 42 54 6 18 30
horse 31 43 55 7 19
wèi goat 32 44 56 8 20
shēn monkey 21 33 45 57 9
yǒu rooster 22 34 46 58 10
dog 11 23 35 47 59
hài pig 12 24 36 48 60

The ten heavenly stems can be divided into five pairs, with each pair corresponding to one of the five elements (五行) and five colours. The Manchu, Jurchen and Khitan sexagenary cycles use the five colours instead of the ten heavenly stems for the first cyclic element, and in the case of Manchu, each colour is subdivided into two shades, each corresponding to one heavenly stem. The Tangut sexagenary cycle has ten terms corresponding to the ten heavenly stems of the Chinese tradition, but these terms are not translations or transliterations of the Chinese terms, but are semantically more closely related to the five elements. The terms corresponding to the 10 heavenly elements used in the various languages are shown in Table 6.

The 12 earthly branches correspond to twelve zodiacal animals, and the Manchu, Jurchen, Mongolian, Khitan and Tangut sexagenary cycles use the names of the zodiacal animals instead of the earthly branches used in the Chinese tradition. The terms corresponding to the 12 earthly branches used in the various languages are shown in Table 7.


Table 6: The 10 Heavenly Stems and 5 Elements

No. Heavenly Stems Colours Elements
Chinese Old Mandarin Middle Mongolian Classical Mongolian Manchu Jurchen Large
Khitan
Small
Khitan
Tangut Old Mandarin Chinese English
1

jiǎ

ꡂꡨ

gya

ga

ᠭᠠ

ga

ᠨᡳᠣᠸᠠᠩᡤᡳᠶᠠᠨ

niowanggiyan green
non.giɛn blue/green

𘰷𘱹𘮄

𘰷𘱹𘰹

s.iau.qu blue/green

𗛴

nẹj seedling

ꡏꡟ

mu

wood
2

ꡖꡞ

•i

ꡗꡞ

yi

ᠶᠢ

yi

ᠨᡳᠣᡥᠣᠨ

niohon greenish

𗼴

ljịj seedling
3

bǐng

ꡎꡞꡃ

biŋ

ꡎꡞꡃ

biŋ

ᠪᠢᠩ

bing

ᡶᡠᠯᡤᡳᠶᠠᠨ

fulgiyan red
fula.giɛn red

𘱄𘱹𘮄

𘱄𘱹𘰹

l.iau.qu red

𘔁

bji (fire-related)

ꡜꡧꡡ

hwo

huǒ fire
4

dīng

ꡊꡞꡃ

diŋ

ꡊꡞꡃ

diŋ

ᠳᠢᠩ

ding

ᡶᡠᠯᠠᡥᡡᠨ

fulahūn redish

𗸃

we (fire-related)
5

ꡏꡟꡓ

muw

u

u

ᠰᡠᠸᠠᠶᠠᠨ

suwayan yellow
so.giɛn yellow

𘮝

𘮞

yellow/gold

𗍗

we black

ꡉꡟ

tʽu

earth
6

ꡂꡞ

gi

ꡂꡞ

gi

ᠭᠢ

gi

ᠰᠣᡥᠣᠨ

sohon yellowish

𗽬

tshjị earth
7

gēng

ꡂꡦꡞꡃ

gėiŋ

ꡂꡞꡃ

giŋ

ᠭᠢᠩ

ging

ᡧᠠᠨᠶᠠᠨ

šanyan white
ʃaŋ.giɛn white

𘬈

𘬉

white

𗯝

lhej to transform

ꡂꡞꡏ

gim

jīn metal/gold
8

xīn

ꡛꡞꡋ

sin

ꡛꡞꡋ

sin

ᠰᠢᠨ

sin

ᡧᠠᡥᡡᠨ

šahūn whitish

𘏡

khie̱j result
9

rén

ꡔꡞꡏ

žim

ꡚꡞꡏ

šim

ᠱᠢᠮ

šim

ᠰᠠᡥᠠᠯᡳᠶᠠᠨ

sahaliyan black
saxa.lia black

𘯍𘲚

𘯍𘮡

yô.ú black

𗋌

nej (water-related)

ꡚꡟꡠ

šue

shuǐ water
10

guǐ

ꡂꡦꡟꡠ

gėue

ꡂꡦꡟꡠ

gėue

ᠭᠦᠢ

güi

ᠰᠠᡥᠠᡥᡡᠨ

sahahūn blackish

𘃠

du̱ to store

Notes

  1. The exact meaning of the secondary manchu colours is not certain. Sometimes they are translated as "light green", "light red", "light yellow", "light white" and "light black".
  2. The Small Khitan words for "gold" and "white" occur in undotted and dotted forms. The undotted forms of "gold" and "white" are most common preceding the name of a zodiacal animal, although dotted forms are occasionally attested before the name of a zodiacal animal, but usage is not consistent in the extant inscriptions. The Small Khitan words for "green", "red" and "black" each occur in two spellings, with different final phonograms. However, there is no consistency in extant inscriptions about when to use which spelling (different spellings of the same colour word may be used before the same zodiacal animal in different inscriptions), and so in my Small Khitan calendar the same colour term is used before all zodiacal animals. The various attested terms for the five colours that occur before names of the zodiacal animals in fifteen Khitan Small Script epitaphs are listed in Table 8.
  3. Although modern Mongolian cyclical terms use the five colours, Classical Mongolian texts generally use transcriptions of the Chinese names for the ten heavenly stems. Cyclical year dates in extant Mongolian Phags-pa inscriptions and manuscripts only give the zodiacal animal, and don't use a stem or colour in naming years, so the Phags-pa spellings for Middle Mongolian in this table are reconstructed from the Classical Mongolian spellings of the ten heavenly stems given in Grøbech and Krueger, An Introduction to Classical (Literary) Mongolian (Otto Harrassowitz, 1976).

Table 7: The 12 Earthly Branches and 12 Animals

No. Earthly Branches Zodiacal Animals
Chinese Old Mandarin Middle Mongolian Classical Mongolian Manchu Jurchen Large
Khitan
Small
Khitan
Tangut Old Mandarin Chinese English
1

ꡒꡜꡞ

dzhi

ꡢꡟ ꡙꡟ ꡢ ꡋ

qu lu qa na

ᠬᠤᠯᠤᠭᠠᠨ᠎ᠠ

quluɣana

ᠰᡳᠩᡤᡝᡵᡳ

singgeri
ʃïn.gə

𘳆𘲲

?.hu

𘋇

xjwi

ꡚꡦꡟ

šėu

shǔ rat, mouse
2

chǒu

ꡅꡞꡓ

čʽiw

ꡖꡦꡟ ꡁꡦꡘ

ʼėu kʽėr

ᠦᠬᠡᠷ

üker

ᡳᡥᠠᠨ

ihan
weixa.an

𘭌

uni

𗵊

mju̱

ꡃꡞꡓ

ŋiw

niú ox
3

yín

ꡗꡞꡋ

yin

ꡎꡘꡛ

bars

ᠪᠠᠷᠰ

bars

ᡨᠠᠰᡥᠠ

tasha tasxa

𘭅𘭂𘯢

qa.ha.as

𗱈

le

ꡜꡟ

hu

tiger
4

mǎo

ꡏꡓ

maw

ꡉꡓ ꡙꡗꡞ

taw layi

ᠲᠠᠤᠯᠠᠢ

taulai

ᡤᡡᠯᠮᠠᡥᡡᠨ

gūlmahūn gulma

𘬦𘰎𘯺

tau.lí.a

𗍍

tser

ꡉꡟ

tʽu

rabbit, hare
5

chén

ꡚꡞꡋ

šin

ꡙꡟ

lu

ᠯᠤᠤ

luu

ᠮᡠᡩᡠᡵᡳ

muduri
mudu.r

𘰐

lu

𗵃

we

ꡙꡦꡟꡃ

lėuŋ

lóng dragon
6

ꡕꡜꡞ

zhi

ꡏꡡ ꡢꡡꡗꡞ

mo qoyi

ᠮᠣᠭᠠᠢ

moɣai

ᠮᡝᡳᡥᡝ

meihe
mei.xə

𘰗𘭞𘯶

mu.ho.o

𗀋

phio

ꡚꡠ

še

shé snake
7

u

ꡏꡡ ꡘꡞꡋ

mo rin

ᠮᠣᠷᠢᠨ

morin

ᠮᠣᡵᡳᠨ

morin
mori.in

𘲜𘰣

mo.ri

𘆽

gjij

ma

horse
8

wèi

ꡓꡞ

wi

ꡢꡡ ꡋꡞꡋ

qo nin

ᠬᠣᠨᠢᠨ

qonin

ᡥᠣᠨᡳᠨ

honin xoni

𘱑𘯺

iam.a

𘍂

mjo

ꡗꡃ

yaŋ

yáng goat, sheep
9

shēn

ꡚꡞꡋ

šin

ꡎꡦ ꡅꡞꡋ

bė čʽin

ᠪᠡᠴᠢᠨ

bečin

ᠪᠣᠨᡳᠣ

bonio
mo.non

𘮧𘯶𘯶

p.o.o

𘂶

wjị

ꡣꡞꡓ

xiw

hóu monkey
10

yǒu

ꡗꡞꡓ

yiw

ꡉ ꡁꡞ ꡗ

tʽa kʽi ya

ᠲᠠᠬᠢᠶ᠎ᠠ

takiya

ᠴᠣᡴᠣ

coko tixo

𘰺𘯛𘯺

te.qo.a

𗿼

dźjwow

ꡂꡦꡞ

gėi

rooster, hen
11

ꡛꡦꡟ

sėu

ꡋꡡ ꡢꡡꡗꡞ

no qoyi

ᠨᠣᠬᠠᠢ

noqai

ᡳᠨᡩᠠᡥᡡᠨ

indahūn
inda.xoŋ

𘰕𘯛

ńi.qo

𗗻

na

ꡂꡜꡞꡓ

ghiw

gǒu dog
12

hài

ꡣꡗ

xay

ꡢ ꡢꡗꡞ

qa qayi

ᠭᠠᠬᠠᠢ

ɣaqai

ᡠᠯᡤᡳᠶᠠᠨ

ulgiyan ulja

𘱆

ui

𗘅

gju

ꡆꡦꡟ

ǰėu

zhū pig

Notes

  1. The Khitan large script words for rabbit, snake and monkey may also be written with the two characters ligated together vertically to fit a single character space.
  2. The Mongolian Phags-pa spellings for "goat" and "pig" are not attested, and have been reconstructed from Classical Mongolian. The Mongolian Phags-pa word for "ox" is only attested once, where it is spelled

    ꡜꡦꡟ ꡁꡦꡘ

    hėu kʽėr; but hėu is not used in Mongolian Phags-pa orthography, and is probably a mistake for ʼėu (Junast takes it as a mistake for hu, which seems less plausible to me).

Table 8: Attested Khitan Small Script Colour Names

Zodiacal Animal
jiǎ bǐng dīng gēng xīn rén guǐ
wood fire earth gold water
green red yellow white black
rat

𘳆𘲲

𘰷𘱹𘰹

?

𘮝

𘬈

𘯍𘲚

chǒu ox

𘭌

𘰷𘱹𘮄

?

𘮝

? ?
yín tiger

𘭅𘭂𘯢

𘰷𘱹𘮄

𘱄𘱹𘮄

𘮝

𘬈


𘬉

?
mǎo rabbit

𘬦𘰎𘯺

𘰷𘱹𘮄

?

𘮝

? ?
chén dragon

𘰐

?

𘱄𘱹𘮄

𘮝

𘬈

𘯍𘮡

snake

𘰗𘭞𘯶

? ? ?

?
horse

𘲜𘰣

𘰷𘱹𘮄

𘱄𘱹𘰹

𘮞

𘬈


𘬉

?
wèi goat

𘱑𘯺

𘰷𘱹𘰹


𘰷𘱹𘮄

?

𘮝

? ?
shēn monkey

𘮧𘯶𘯶

?

𘱄𘱹𘮄

? ?

𘯍𘲚


𘯍𘮡

yǒu rooster

𘰺𘯛𘯺

𘰷𘱹𘮄

𘱄𘱹𘮄

𘮝

𘬈

𘯍𘲫

dog

𘰕𘯛

𘰷𘲼𘰹


𘰷𘱹𘮄


𘱄𘬛𘮄

? ?

𘯍𘲚

hài pig

𘱆

?

𘱄𘱹𘮄

𘮝

? ?

Cyclical Month

The cyclical month is named according to the sexagenary cycle of 10 heavenly stems (天干) and 12 earthly branches (地支), and repeats every sixty months. There are two different and incompatible systems for determining the cyclical month, although in both systems a year is spanned by twelve cyclical months which overlap to a certain extent. In one system (not used in my javascript calendar) a cyclical name is assigned to each lunar month (an intercalary lunar month has the same cyclical name as the preceding lunar month, so there are only twelve cyclical months in a year), whereas in the other system (which is used in my javascript calendar) the cyclical months do not coincide with lunar months, but correspond to the length of time covered by two consecutive solar terms (i.e. twelve solar months). A new solar month commences at the time that a transition to one of the solar periods at 30° intervals on the ecliptic occurs (i.e. on transition to chūnfēn, gǔyǔ, etc.), and lasts the length of that jiēqì and the following zhōngqì (e.g. the period of chūnfēn and qīngmíng corresponds to one solar month). As the transition to the new solar period occurs sometime after the start of the day of the solar term, the day of the solar term is included in the previous month in the calendar, and the first day of the solar month according to the calendar is the day after the solar term (even though technically the month started sometime during the previous day).


Cyclical Day

The cyclical day is named according to the sexagenary cycle of 10 heavenly stems (天干) and 12 earthly branches (地支), and repeats every sixty days.


Cyclical Hour

The calendrical "hour" actually lasts two hours, with each day and night divided into twelve equal-lengthed "hours". The cyclical hours are named according to the sexagenary cycle of 10 heavenly stems (天干) and 12 earthly branches (地支), and repeats every sixty hours (i.e. every five days). Within each day, the same zodiacal animal corresponds to the same "hour".


Table 9: The Twelve Hours

Time Branch Animal
23:00 – 01:00

hour of the rat
01:00 – 03:00

chǒu hour of the ox
03:00 – 05:00

yín hour of the tiger
05:00 – 07:00

mǎo hour of the rabbit
07:00 – 09:00

chén hour of the dragon
09:00 – 11:00

hour of the snake
11:00 – 13:00

hour of the horse
13:00 – 15:00

wèi hour of the goat
15:00 – 17:00

shēn hour of the monkey
17:00 – 19:00

yǒu hour of the rooster
19:00 – 21:00

hour of the dog
21:00 – 23:00

hài hour of the pig


Daily Calendars for the Song, Liao & Jin, and Western Xia dynasties

I have created the following daily calendars for the Song, Liao (including Northern and Western Liao), Jin, and Western Xia dynasties. For each day the calendar gives the corresponding date in the Julian calendar, the cyclical year and the cyclical day (common across all calendars), the calendrical date (i.e. era name and era year, calendrical month, and day of month) for each dynasty as appropriate, and certain astronomical information recorded in the dynastic histories (solar eclipses, lunar eclipses, and comets). The calendars are very large (135,894 rows for the Liao/Jin calendar, and 71,583 rows for the Western Xia calendar), so are available for download as zipped Excel spreadsheets or tab-separated text files:

See A Chronology of Khitan Inscriptions for more details about the Liao calendar.



Last modified: 2020-02-26

If Tangut characters do not display correctly, please download and install the Tangut Yinchuan font.



Tags:

Javascript | Jurchen | Khitan | Manchu | Mongolian | Phags-pa | Tangut

Index of BabelStone Blog Posts