One of the traditional Chinese calendars is the lunar calendar, also known as the lunar calendar, whose origin can be traced back to the Xia Dynasty, and legend has it that it was founded by Dayu of the Xia Dynasty. The lunar calendar is based on the moon's cycle, and the time is calculated according to the change of the moon's circle and absence, and one month is the synodic month, which requires 295 days to complete a cycle. Each month of the lunar calendar is given a unique name, such as the first month, February, March, etc., and its naming is based on the movement of the moon, and the year is also based on the movement of the moon. The lunar year consists of 12 months, however the length of each month varies because the speed of the moon is uneven.
Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the time it takes for the Earth to revolve around the Sun, it is about 365 days. In ancient China, the lunar calendar played a vital role in agriculture and daily life. Farmers arrange agricultural production according to the lunar solar terms, such as sowing, fertilizing, harvesting, etc. The festivals and Xi of the lunar calendar are also closely related to agricultural production and natural phenomena, such as the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Qingming Festival, etc.
The lunar calendar has also evolved and improved over time. In Chinese history, there have been several versions of the lunar calendar, and the Taichu calendar and the Great Yan calendar are the most famous of them.
The Taichu Calendar is a lunar calendar formulated during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, which for the first time set the length of a year at 365 days and introduced a leap month mechanism to adjust the gap between the lunar and solar calendars.
The Great Lunar Calendar is a lunar calendar formulated by monks in the Tang Dynasty, which uses more accurate astronomical observation data and calculation methods to make the lunar calendar more accurate and scientific.
In summary, the lunar calendar has played an indispensable role in the long history of China, providing a reliable time benchmark for agricultural production and social activities.