The Chinese calendar, also known as the Lunisolar calendar, is based on the movement of the moon and the sun. Each Chinese calendar year has a zodiac sign, 12 or 13 months, and each month has either 29 or 30 days.
A year with 12 months consists of either 354 or 355 days, while a year with 13 months has either 383 or 384 days. Although the Gregorian calendar is used for official and business occasions in China, the traditional Chinese calendar is widely employed to define the 24 solar terms, traditional holidays, and to choose auspicious dates for important events such as weddings and moving into a new house.
How Does the Chinese Lunar Calendar Work?
A new lunar month begins when the moon aligns with the earth and the sun. This day is called ‘Chu Yi’ or ‘Shuo Ri’, which signifies the first day of a lunar month. The middle of the month is marked by the appearance of a full moon. Since a full moon circle takes slightly more than 29 days, each lunar month can either have 29 or 30 days.
A lunar year consists of 12-13 months. The lunar month closest to the Beginning of Spring (the first solar term) is considered the first lunar month, and on that day, the Spring Festival is celebrated, which usually falls between January 20th and February 20th.
Leap Month
Similar to the leap year in the Gregorian calendar, the Chinese calendar adds a leap month to synchronize with the apparent movement of the sun between the northern and southern tropics. Ancient people discovered a 19-year cycle in which certain days correspond to lunar days. For example, in 1963, 1982, and 2001, May 28th coincided with the sixth day of the fourth lunar month.
Chinese Lunar Calendar 2023
According to the Chinese calendar, 2023 is the Gui Mao Year. It lasts from January 22, 2023, to February 9, 2024, in the Gregorian calendar. The zodiac sign for this year is the 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 | 己巳年 | 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 the Chinese Calendar?
- Traditional Chinese Festivals: All traditional Chinese festivals are determined by the lunar calendar. For example, the Spring Festival falls on the first day of the lunar year, Dragon Boat Festival is on the 5th day of the 5th month, and Mid-Autumn Festival is on the 15th day of the 8th month according to the lunar calendar.
- Chinese Zodiac: Each lunar year is associated with a representative zodiac sign. The zodiac cycle consists of Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
- 24 Solar Terms: The Chinese calendar divides a year into 24 equal parts, known as solar terms, based on observations of the sun’s movement. Each solar term represents a specific season or agricultural activity. For example, the Beginning of Spring (Li Chun) symbolizes the arrival of spring, Grain in Beard (Mang Zhong) indicates the time to harvest wheat, and Greater Cold (Da Han) signifies the coldest period of the year.
- Choosing Lucky Dates: Chinese people often consult the Chinese calendar to select auspicious dates for important events such as marriage proposals, weddings, prayers for pregnancy, and travel.
- Heavenly Stems & Earthly Branches: The Chinese lunar calendar uses Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches to calculate years. The 10 heavenly stems (Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui) and 12 earthly branches (Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai) combine to form a unique name for each lunar year. This naming system follows a 60-year cycle.
- Five Elements: Ancient Chinese culture believed in the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. By using their birth date in the lunar calendar, individuals can determine their corresponding element and predict their life horoscope, including suitable career paths and potential life partners.
Chinese Lunar Calendar History
The lunar calendar has a rich history dating back to the Xia (21st century BC – 16th century BC) and Shang dynasties (16th century BC – 11th century BC), spanning over 4,000 years. It is the result of careful observation and exploration, combining astronomy and geography.
Since its creation during the Xia Dynasty, the calendar has undergone modifications by successive rulers. The Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD) introduced the Taichu calendar, and the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD) implemented the Huangji calendar, which was adopted by Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.
Differences between the Chinese and Gregorian Calendars
The Chinese calendar is based on the movement of both the moon and the sun, making it a lunisolar calendar. In contrast, the Gregorian calendar follows the movement of the sun, marking one year as the Earth completes its orbit around the sun. Generally, lunar dates are 20 to 50 days later than the corresponding Gregorian dates.
Culture to Know 