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Select the month and year based on Gregorian calendar, the converter will show dates of the month with Chinese lunar calendar dates below Gregorian calendar dates. With mouse over a specific day, you will see detailed information.
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An Introduction to the Chinese Lunar Calendar Although the Western (or Gregorian) calendar is used for day to day business across China and the rest of East Asia, the Chinese lunar calendar is still relied upon to set traditional festivals like Chinese New Year, and assign auspicious dates for weddings and openings. But what is the story behind this often mysterious system? The Chinese calendar is actually lunisolar, which means that it incorporates the movements of both the moon and the sun. It was first conceived around 500 BC, and spread across the rest of East Asia. In Chinese it is known as the Xia Calendar (夏历) or Agricultural Calendar (农历). Each month consists of a single cycle of the moon from full to new, which match with the zodiac signs of Western astrology. Because the Chinese lunar year has its first month in late January or early February according to the Gregorian calendar, the first month (zhèng yuè) corresponds to Pisces while the twelfth (shí’èr yuè) matches up with Aquarius. The Chinese calendar coincides with the Gregorian calendar once every 19 years, so Chinese people usually find that their 19th, 38th and 57th birthdays are the same according to both systems. While the Western zodiac applies a different sign to each month of the calendar such as Aquarius, Pisces and Libra, the Chinese calendar assigns zodiac signs on a year by year basis. This means that everyone with a birthday falling between Chinese New Year 2010 and 2011 is born in the Year of the Tiger. The 12 year cycle begins with the Rat, and is followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. |
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The Most Important Festivals in the Chinese Calendar The Chinese calendar has several festivals spread across it, harking back to the country’s long history and rich heritage. Many have their origins in the agricultural and pagan rituals of the Qin Dynasty (221 – 206 BC) and were developed during the culturally rich Tang Dynasty (AD 618 – 907). The festivals fall on different dates of the Gregorian calendar each year, due to the alignment with the Chinese lunar system. Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) 中国新年（春节） The first and most important Chinese holiday is Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, celebrated on the first day of the first lunar month. This corresponds to late January or early February in the Western calendar. People get together with their families, let of fire crackers, exchange red envelopes filled with money (hong bao) and eat dumplings. Lantern Festival 元宵节 Next comes the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month (February or March in the Gregorian system). In celebration of Buddha’s cremation, lanterns are lit and gathered crowds watch them as they sail into the air. Riddles are written inside, and solved by whoever finds them. Qingming Festival 清明节 Qingming or Tombsweeping Day happens on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox - around April 5th in the Western calendar, and is the time when families honour their deceased ancestors by sweeping their graves, offering gifts, and burning paper money. Dragon Boat Festival 端午节 The Dragon Boat Festival is held in honour of the Chu State poet and minister Qu Yuan (340 – 278 BC). On hearing of the fall of his kingdom, Qu threw himself into the river and drowned. People eat zongzi - triangular rice balls wrapped in bamboo leaf – and race dragon boats to commemorate his life and death. Double Seventh Festival 七夕 The Double 7th Festival is the Chinese equivalent to Valentine’s Day, and falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. It celebrates the legend of the cow herd Niu Lang and fairy Zhi Nu. Western Valentine’s Day has caught up in terms of popularity especially in first tier cities, but 7/7th is still celebrated. Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节 Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival, falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, or early October. Mooncakes are exchanged and eaten to honour the moon goddess Chang’e, and people gaze at the full moon. Double Ninth Festival 重阳节 The Double 9th Festival is held on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, which is also Seniors’ Day. The number nine is lucky in China since it sounds the same as the word for “forever”, so the day is said to represent longevity. |
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