二十四节气之冬至
Winter Solstice: The Rebirth of Yang in the Rhythms of Nature
The Xuanyuan Era (轩辕纪年), also known as Huangdi Era（黄帝纪元） is a system of dating based on the year of the Emperor Xuanyuan Huangdi's ascension to the throne, with the first year being the Jiazi year (甲子年) of the Chinese sexagenary cycle. According to calculations, the first year of the Xuanyuan Era corresponds to 2697 BC in the Gregorian calendar, marking the start of the ganzi (天干地支) cycle. The Xuanyuan Era is calculated as the Gregorian calendar year plus 2697 years. Therefore the year 2024 corresponds to the 4721th year.
The Huangdi Era (黄帝纪年) is based on the reign of Huangdi (the Yellow Emperor), which is traditionally said to have begun in 2697 BC when he was 20 years old. It is believed that Huangdi's birth occurred in 2717 BC. According to historical records, Huangdi’s officials, such as Da Rao, developed the calendar system by establishing the ten heavenly stems (干) and the twelve earthly branches (支), which together form the 60-year cycle (六旬). The year 2697 BC marks the beginning of the ganzi calendar system. The Han Chinese (华夏族) are one of the three earliest ethnic groups to create a calendar system.
Chinese Calendar is both Solar and Lunar Calendar
The Chinese Lunar Calendar, also known as the Xia Calendar (夏历), is the oldest calendar still in use today, dating back over 4,000 years to the Xia Dynasty. It is a lunisolar calendar, combining both the solar and lunar cycles. All the Chinese published modern calendar includes both the solar calendar (Gregorian calendar) and the lunisolar calendar, reflecting this ancient tradition.
Zhou's New Year: The Month of Zi (子月)
The Zhou dynasty, which began around 1046 BC, was one of the longest-lasting dynasties in Chinese history. The first month of each year in the Zhou calendar was traditionally known as Ziyue (子月)
The practice of starting the new year on the first day of the first lunar month was formalized during the Han Dynasty. Before Emperor Wu of Han, the new year began on different dates: the Xia calendar set it in the 1st month, the Shang calendar in the 12th month, and the Zhou calendar in the 11th month. In 104 BC, Emperor Wu fixed the new year to the first day of the first month, a practice followed by later dynasties. This practice continued through successive dynasties until 1911.
Time Calculations by Shao Kangjie
Shao Kangjie, a Song Dynasty master, wrote Huangji Jingshi, which includes methods for calculating historical timelines.
Time Units:
1 Day = 12 Hours (Shichen 时辰)
1 Month = 30 Days
1 Year = 12 Months
1 Era (世) = 30 Years
1 Cycle (运) = 12 Eras = 360 Years
1 Epoch (会) = 30 Cycles = 10,800 Years
1 Great Cycle (元) = 12 Epochs = 129,600 Years
Lunar and Solar Calendars: The Foundation of the I Ching
The lunar and solar calendars are foundational to the I Ching. To understand this, study the 12 monthly Hexagrams (辟卦), the square and circular diagrams, and the 64 Hexagrams (卦). Without memorizing and understanding these, researching the I Ching becomes difficult.
In The Commentary on the Appended Phrases (Yi Jing Xici 易经系辞), it states:
“Simplicity of IChing leads to the understanding of universal principles.”“易简，而天下之理得矣”
Each month corresponds to 60 Hexagrams. Occasionally, smaller months of 29 days adjust to align with solar terms.
Monthly Correspondences in the Hexagrams
New Moon (朔): When the moon aligns between the sun and Earth, its dark side faces Earth, marking the first day of the lunar month.
Waxing Crescent（峨眉月）: Appears in the southwest around the 3rd day.
First Quarter (上弦): Around the 7th or 8th day, visible in the southern sky.
Full Moon (望): The 15th day, a pure yang state represented by the Qian Hexagram (乾卦), with the full moon rising in the east.
Waning Crescent（残月）: Around the 22nd or 23rd day.
Last Day (晦): The final day of the lunar month.
Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches
The Earthly Branches (地支) divide the 12 months.
12 Monthly Hexagrams: Each corresponds to a month. For example, in the Zi Month (子月), the hexagram "Earth Thunder Return" (Di Lei Fu 地雷复) represents Winter Solstice, the moment when "one yang is born" (冬至一阳生). The top five lines are yin, while the bottom line is yang.
Seasonal Significance of Zi Month
The previous lunar month was the Hai Month (亥月, 10th month), while this month is the Zi Month (子月, 11th month), marked by the solar terms Major Snow (大雪) and Winter Solstice (冬至).
Shao Kangjie explained:
"At the midpoint of the Winter Solstice, the heart of heaven remains unchanging. The first stirring of yang signals the moment before all life begins to sprout."
“冬至子之半，天心无改移。一阳初动处，万物未生时。”
This concept, known as the "Living Zi Hour" (活子时), reflects a crucial moment of renewal, occurring both daily and yearly.
Yin-Yang Balance in Time and Health Preservation
Each day’s 12 hours and each year’s 12 months embody the cyclical interchanges and growth of yin and yang. Maintaining health involves aligning with these natural rhythms.
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