中华万年历

Chinese Perpetual Calendar

Chinese Perpetual Calendar | 中华万年历

Browse the Chinese perpetual calendar (万年历 Wànnián Lì) with lunar dates, daily almanac readings, and cultural insights. This free online tool combines the Gregorian calendar with the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, helping you explore thousands of years of Chinese timekeeping.

Calendar Features

  • Gregorian and Chinese lunar calendar displayed side by side with accurate lunar date conversion
  • Daily auspicious and inauspicious activities (宜忌 Yí Jì) based on the traditional Chinese almanac
  • 24 Solar Terms (二十四节气 Èrshísì Jiéqì) — the ancient Chinese system that divides the year by the sun's position
  • Chinese zodiac signs (十二生肖 Shí'èr Shēngxiào) — Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig
  • Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches (天干地支 Tiāngān Dìzhī) — the sexagenary cycle used in Chinese astrology and fortune-telling
  • Chinese traditional festivals including Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Lantern Festival
  • Western holiday dates including Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Valentine's Day
  • Lunar-solar date converter for any date between 1900 and 2100

Understanding the Chinese Calendar

The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar that has been used in China for millennia. Unlike the purely solar Gregorian calendar, the Chinese calendar tracks both the moon's phases (lunar months) and the sun's position (solar terms). Each year is associated with one of 12 zodiac animals and one of the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), creating a 60-year cycle known as the Sexagenary Cycle (六十甲子).

The 24 Solar Terms divide the year into segments that reflect seasonal changes, agricultural timing, and natural phenomena. From Lichun (立春, Start of Spring) to Dahan (大寒, Great Cold), these terms have guided Chinese farming and cultural practices for over 2,000 years and were added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016.

Chinese Daily Almanac | 今日黄历

The Chinese Almanac (黄历 Huánglì, also known as Huangli or Tung Shing 通勝) is one of the oldest continuously used reference texts in Chinese culture. Dating back over 4,000 years, it provides daily guidance on auspicious and inauspicious activities based on a complex system of Chinese cosmology, astrology, and numerology.

Daily Almanac Information

  • Auspicious activities (宜 Yí) — favorable actions for the day such as marriage ceremonies, business openings, groundbreaking, and moving house
  • Inauspicious activities (忌 Jì) — activities to avoid, such as funerals, litigation, or long-distance travel
  • Lucky directions and positions (吉方 Jí Fāng) — compass directions considered favorable for important activities
  • Clash and Sha directions (冲煞 Chōng Shā) — directions and zodiac signs to be cautious of
  • Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches for the year, month, day, and hour (四柱 Sì Zhù, Four Pillars)
  • Jianchu Twelve Day Officers (建除十二神 Jiànchú Shí'èr Shén) — the twelve-day cycle that determines each day's nature
  • Nayin Five Elements (纳音五行 Nàyīn Wǔxíng) — a deeper layer of elemental analysis
  • Pengzu's Taboos (彭祖百忌 Péngzǔ Bǎi Jì) — specific prohibitions for each stem-branch combination

While the Chinese almanac is rooted in tradition rather than science, it remains an important part of Chinese cultural life. Millions of people consult it for selecting wedding dates, starting businesses, planning moves, and other life decisions. Understanding the almanac provides deep insight into Chinese philosophy, cosmology, and cultural values.

Chinese Cultural Glossary | 中华文化术语表

Explore traditional Chinese cultural concepts with detailed explanations in English and Chinese. This comprehensive glossary covers the key terms and systems used in the Chinese calendar, almanac, and traditional cosmology, making ancient Chinese wisdom accessible to a global audience.

Glossary Categories

  • Ganzhi System (干支 Gānzhī) — The Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches system, a sexagenary cycle combining 10 stems and 12 branches to count years, months, days, and hours
  • Chinese Zodiac (生肖 Shēngxiào) — The 12 animal signs of the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig
  • 24 Solar Terms (节气 Jiéqì) — The 24 divisions of the solar year used in traditional Chinese agriculture and culture, including Lichun, Yushui, Jingzhe, Chunfen, Qingming, and more
  • Almanac Terms (黄历术语) — Over 80 traditional terms used in the Chinese almanac for daily activity guidance, with pinyin pronunciation and cultural context
  • Five Elements (五行 Wǔxíng) — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water — the fundamental elements in Chinese philosophy and cosmology
  • Chinese Festivals (传统节日) — Major celebrations including Chinese New Year (春节), Lantern Festival (元宵节), Qingming Festival (清明节), Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), Qixi Festival (七夕), Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节), and Double Ninth Festival (重阳节)

Each glossary entry includes the Chinese characters, pinyin romanization, English translation, and a detailed cultural explanation. Whether you're studying Chinese language, planning cultural events, or simply curious about Chinese traditions, this glossary serves as your guide to understanding the rich cultural heritage embedded in the Chinese calendar system.