Chinese Calendar

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Chinese calendar, a lunisolar calendar, is formed on the movement of the moon and the sun. It is also called the Lunar calendar, Yin calendar, Xia calendar or the old Chinese calendar. Each Chinese calendar year has a zodiac sign, 12 or 13 months and each month has 29 or 30 days. If there are 12 months, there will be 354 or 355 days in a year; if 13 months, there will be 383 or 384 days. Although China has adopted the Gregorian calendar for official and business occasions, the traditional Chinese calendar is widely used to define 24 solar terms, traditional holidays and helps to choose a lucky day before important activities such as wedding, moving into a new house.
 

How Does the Chinese Lunar Calendar Work

Each time the moon moves into a line with the earth and the sun, a new month begins and this is called 'Chu Yi' or 'Shuo Ri', meaning the first day of a lunar month. When the full moon appears, it is the middle of the month. The time of a full moon circle is a little more than 29 days, so one month has 29 days or 30 days.

There are 12 – 13months in a lunar year. The month with its first day nearest the Beginning of Spring (the first solar term) is the first lunar month, and on that day the Spring Festival is held and this varies between January 20th and February 20th.
 

Leap Month

Just as the Gregorian calendar has a leap year in order to compensate for the fact that the earth does not travel around the sun in exactly 365 days, the Chinese calendar is adjusted so as to ensure that it bears a proper relationship with the apparent movement of the sun between the northern and southern tropics. People in ancient times concluded that there is a 19 year cycle. And within this cycle, certain days will equate with the lunar day. For example, in 1963, 1982, and 2001, May 28th coincided with the sixth day of the fourth month in lunar year.
 

Chinese Lunar Calendar
2023 Chinese Lunar Calendar PDF Download

To decide when a leap month needs to be added to bring the lunar calendar in accordance to the earth's movement around the sun, the 24 solar terms are considered. Most months will have more than one solar term but in those instances where a month has only one, it will be repeated with 29 or 30 days the same as a normal month which means there are 13 months in some years. This phenomenon can occur every two or three years.
 

Chinese Lunar Calendar 2023

According to Chinese calendar, 2023 is Gui Mao Year. It lasts from January 22, 2023 to February 9, 2024 in Gregorian calendar. The zodiac sign is Rabbit.
 

Chinese Calendar Year 2022 - 2031

Year Chinese Calendar Year Chinese Pinyin Zodiac Sign Date in Gregorian Calendar
2022 壬寅年 ren yin nian Tiger Feb. 01, 2022 – Jan. 21, 2023
2023 癸卯年 gui mao nian Rabbit Jan. 22, 2023 – Feb. 09, 2024
2024 甲辰年 jia chen nian Dragon Feb. 10, 2024 – Jan. 29, 2025
2025 已巳年 yi si nian Snake Jan. 29, 2025 – Feb. 16, 2026
2026 丙午年 bing wu nian Horse Feb. 17, 2026 – Feb. 05, 2027
2027 丁未年 ding wei nian Sheep Feb. 06, 2027 – Feb. 25, 2028
2028 戊申年 wu shen nian Monkey Jan. 26, 2028 – Feb. 12, 2029
2029 己酉年 ji you nian Rooster Feb. 13, 2029 – Feb. 02, 2030
2030 庚戌年 geng xu nian Dog Feb. 03, 2030 – Jan. 22, 2031
2031 辛亥年 xin hai nian Pig Jan. 23, 2031 - Feb. 10, 2032

 

What are the Uses of Chinese Calendar?

All traditional Chinese festivals are decided according to the lunar calendar. For example, Spring Festival is the first day of a lunar year, Dragon Boat Festival is on May 5th and Mid-Autumn Festival is on August 15th in lunar calendar.
 

A zodiac year is from the first day to the last day of a lunar year. Every lunar year has a representative zodiac. And it has a 12-year cycle with the order as Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.
 

After observing the sun’s movement, ancients have found the longest day and the shortest day of a year, respectively Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice. Using these two annual events, a Chinese calendar year was divided into 24 equal parts, each forming a solar term. 24 solar terms show people’s understanding of four seasons, climate and the agriculture. For instance, the Beginning of Spring (Li Chun) symbolizes the coming of spring; Grain in Beard (Mang Zhong) means it is time to harvest wheat and Greater Cold (Da Han) signifies the coldest time of a year.
See more Customs Concerning the 24 Solar Terms
 

Choose a Lucky Date

In daily life, Chinese people usually choose a lucky day in Chinese calendar before important activities such as marriage proposal, wedding, praying for pregnancy, and traveling.
 

Based on Chinese lunar calendar, Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches is developed which is used to calculate years. The 10 heavenly stems are Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui and the 12 earthly branches are Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai. Every lunar year has a name combined by 1 heavenly stem and 1 earthly branch. For example, 2022 is Ren Yin year and 2023 is Gui Mao year. When every lunar new year comes, the heavenly stems and earthly branches turn to next one and combine a new name. And it has a 60-year cycle.
 

Ancient Chinese believed the universe was composed of five elements, namely metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Chinese like to find out their element using their birth date in lunar calendar and predict their life horoscope, like what career they are suitable for and what kind of people they are supposed to marry.
 

Over 4,000 Years’ History of Chinese Lunar Calendar

The lunar calendar has a very long history going back to the Xia (21st century BC - 16th century BC) and Shang Dynasty (16th century BC - 11th century BC). Roughly speaking, it has existed for more than 4,000 years. It is based on a unique combination of astronomy and geography through observation and exploration.

Following its creation in the Xia Dynasty, succeeding reigns continued to use the calendar but modified it from time to time. The Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD) rulers instituted the Taichu calendar, while during Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD) the Huangji calendar was introduced and it was adopted by Japan, Korea and Vietnam.
 

Differences between Chinese Calendar and Gregorian Calendar

Chinese calendar is lunisolar calendar which is calculated according to the movement of the moon and the sun. Gregorian calendar is calculated by the movement of sun; when the earth goes around the sun for one circle, it is one year. Generally speaking, lunar calendar is 20 – 50 days later than Gregorian calendar.

- Last updated on Sep. 03, 2023 by Brenda Lian -
Questions & Answers on Chinese Calendar
Asked by Neha from INDIA | Sep. 16, 2023 12:13Reply
Best dates to conceive baby boy?
Please guide best dates to conceive baby boy already have one baby girl now want to complete my family ..
last LMP 11-14 sep
DOB- 4/4/1991
Answers (1)
Answered by Emma | Sep. 18, 2023 00:41
00Reply


You may try to conceive in August and December in Chinese lunar calendar this year, when the success rate is higher. But it's not guaranteed your dream will come true for sure.
Asked by Jo from PHILIPPINES | Sep. 15, 2023 06:00Reply
Is he my one true love?
Guy: 08/15/1981
Me: 07/19/1984
Answers (1)
Answered by Diana | Sep. 17, 2023 20:09
00Reply


Yes, you are highly complementary in love compatibility.
Asked by Jess from SOUTH AFRICA | Sep. 13, 2023 04:52Reply
Marriage
My boyfriend is 9 May 2000 (dragon) and I am 5 August 1999 (Rabbit).

What date I’m the future will be a good for marriage
Answers (2)
Answered by Mia | Sep. 13, 2023 19:14
00Reply


The lucky numbers of you two are 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9. You can choose some dates about these numbers.
Answered by Jess | Sep. 14, 2023 23:11
00Reply


Thank you!
Asked by Jess from SINGAPORE | Sep. 10, 2023 00:33Reply
Best date to marry
DOB bride 22.07.1993
DOB groom 23.03.1993

We only have dates from 21/11/2023 - 25/11/2023 to choose from.

Can you advise? Thanks!
Answers (1)
Answered by Andrew | Sep. 11, 2023 23:25
00Reply


The lucky dates are November 20 and 26, beyond your choice, but very close.
Asked by Hayden from AUSTRALIA | Sep. 01, 2023 07:14Reply
Future successes
What date should i marry on and will it be successful regarding no infedelity and will my bisuness be successsful
Answers (1)
Answered by Molly | Sep. 03, 2023 22:35
00Reply


Please give your birth date. It is hard to predict the specific time and event, and it can only offers a lucky trend.
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