Chinese calendar
Twelve-animal year cycle
The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar system traditionally used in China and other East Asian cultures, combining lunar months with solar year adjustments.
It determines dates for traditional holidays like Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Each year corresponds to one of twelve animals in a repeating cycle: It's the Year of the Dragon.
The calendar remains important for cultural observances even as the Gregorian calendar governs civil life.
Lunar new year celebration
- Mid-Autumn FestivalChinese harvest moon celebration
- Dragon Boat FestivalChinese summer memorial holiday
- Lantern FestivalChinese holiday ending New Year
- mooncakesFestive Chinese filled pastries
reunion · red envelopes · firecrackers · ancestor worship · family gathering · lion dance · dragon dance · holiday
Rodent or informer
- oxCastrated male cattle
- tigerLarge striped Asian feline
- rabbitLong-eared lagomorph
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
snake · horse · goat · monkey · rooster · dog · pig · birth year
Shifting illumination of satellite
- new moonUnlit lunar phase
- full moonCompletely lit satellite phase
- waxingCoating for shine
- waningGradually decreasing in intensity
crescent · gibbous · intercalation · solstice · equinox · conjunction · eclipse · astronomy
Chinese duality symbol
- five elementsFive basic natural principles
- almanacYearly data compilation
- oracle bonesInscribed Shang divination remains
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
emperor · auspicious dates · divination · I Ching · ancient astronomy
Placing seeds in earth
- harvestGathering mature crops
- sowingPlanting for cultivation
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
- rice cultivationGrowing grain in paddies
tea picking · monsoon · farmer's almanac · field work · growing season
Spring Festival
Lunar new year celebration
- Mid-Autumn FestivalChinese harvest moon celebration
- Dragon Boat FestivalChinese summer memorial holiday
- Lantern FestivalChinese holiday ending New Year
mooncakes · reunion · red envelopes · firecrackers · ancestor worship · family gathering · lion dance · dragon dance · holiday
rat
Rodent or informer
dragon · snake · horse · goat · monkey · rooster · dog · pig · birth year · personality
moon phases
Shifting illumination of satellite
waning · crescent · gibbous · intercalation · solstice · equinox · conjunction · eclipse · astronomy · timekeeping
yin-yang
Chinese duality symbol
- five elementsFive basic natural principles
- almanacYearly data compilation
- oracle bonesInscribed Shang divination remains
dynasty · emperor · auspicious dates · divination · I Ching · ancient astronomy
planting
Placing seeds in earth
- harvestGathering mature crops
- sowingPlanting for cultivation
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
rice cultivation · tea picking · monsoon · farmer's almanac · field work · growing season
twenty-four
Number after twenty-three
- timekeepingclock, watch, watches, clocks, timer
- calendardate, day, week, month, year
- calendarsalmanac, almanacs, planners, diaries, datebooks
- Asian astrologyzodiac animals, tiger, rat, goat, monkey
- pregnancy mythsold wives tales, eating for two, mooncalf
- lunar cyclesfull moon, new moon, crescent moon, half moon, waxing crescent
Chinese calendarGregorian calendar
Current global date system
solar calendar · Julian calendar · Roman calendar · Islamic calendar · lunar calendar