When did the year begin and what were the ancient chronological methods

Mondo History Updated on 2024-02-01

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Hello everyone, I am a bookworm from Zhenshui Academy, and I am very happy to share with you the topic of ancient chronology. China's historical tradition is very long, but there are only a few thousand years of written dating methods, the most representative is China's Ganzhi chronology and bamboo book chronology. What else do you know about the dating method, please share it to help more friends who pay attention to the dating culture.

One. What are the ancient dating methods?

There were many ways to date in ancient times, and different civilizations and regions had their own unique dating systems. Here are some of the main ancient dating methods:

Sexagenary branches. One of the dating methods used in ancient China was the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, with a total of ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches, which were combined in a certain order to form sixty different combinations, constituting a sixty-year cycle. This method of dating has been used for thousands of years in Chinese history and is still used in some traditional occasions until now.

The Yellow Emperor. There is also a traditional method of dating in China, which is called the Yellow Emperor Chronicle, which starts with the legendary year of the Yellow Emperor's accession to the throne. It is rumored that the year of the Yellow Emperor's accession to the throne was about 2698 BC, but this dating method is mainly used for historical research and folklore, and is rarely used in modern times.

Imperial era name. In countries such as China and Japan, the name of the emperor is often used in history to mark the year, and the emperor can change the name whenever a new emperor ascends the throne or there is a major event. This method made the year directly linked to the emperor's rule, but with the end of the imperial system, this method of dating was gradually replaced by the modern method of chronology.

Roman Chronology. Ancient Rome used the founding date, which is the year the city was founded, which is traditionally set as 753 BC. Rome also used the Archon Year, which marked the year with the names of two consuls each year.

Olympic year.

Ancient Greece used the Olympic year, which was held every four years to record the year. Each Olympic Games marks the beginning of a new cycle.

Jewish calendar. The Jewish calendar begins with the legendary year of the creation of the world, which is said to be 3761 BC. The Jewish calendar is still widely used today, especially in religious and cultural settings.

Islamic calendar. The Islamic (or Hijri calendar) begins with the year when the Prophet Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina, and this year is known as the "hijra", which corresponds to 622 CE. The Islamic calendar is a pure monthly calendar that is widely used in the Muslim community.

These ancient dating methods not only demonstrate the uniqueness of different cultures, but also reflect the way ancient people understood and recorded time. With the development of globalization and international exchanges, the Gregorian calendar has become the most widely used method of dating internationally.

Two. The Bamboo Book Chronicle of Ancient China

In ancient China, the "Bamboo Book Chronicle" refers to historical documents recorded on bamboo slips, and this method of dating mainly appeared from the Warring States Period to the Han Dynasty. Bamboo slips became an important writing material at that time because of their rich materials and ease of writing. The content of the Bamboo Book Chronicle covers many fields such as history, law, philosophy, and literature, and is of great value for future generations to understand ancient Chinese history and culture.

1.Key features:

Materials and techniques: Bamboo books are made of slender bamboo slices, the characters are engraved or written on the bamboo slips, and then threaded with rope to form a book. This writing material is especially common in the humid southern regions.

Extensive content: Bamboo books include not only chronological records, but also national statutes, historical records, philosophical thoughts, literary works, etc.

Preservation status: Due to the dampness and decay of bamboo books, many bamboo books have deteriorated over time. However, some surviving bamboo books have been found in archaeological excavations, such as Chu Jian, Sleeping Tiger Land Qin Jian, etc.

2.Key findings.

Chu Jian: Chu Jian from the Zhangjiashan Han Tomb in Jingmen, Hubei Province, including important documents such as the Book of Yi Zhou, provides valuable information for the study of the history and culture from the Warring States period to the Han Dynasty.

Qin Slips from Sleeping Tiger Land: Qin Slips excavated in Sleeping Tiger Land on the outskirts of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, include a large number of legal, administrative, and historical records, providing direct evidence for the study of the political, legal, and social life of the Qin Dynasty.

Shangbo Jian: The bamboo slips collected in the Shanghai Museum, mainly from the Chu State, are rich in content, including the early version of the Tao Te Ching and other documents.

3.Academic value.

The Bamboo Book Chronicle provides first-hand information for the study of the history, culture, language, and legal system of ancient Chinese society. Through these precious documents, scholars are able to understand more accurately the face of ancient civilizations, and revise and supplement traditional historical records. In addition, the discovery and study of these bamboo slips have also promoted the development of paleography and ancient history research methods.

The Bamboo Book Calendar, which is often referred to as the Yellow Emperor calendar, is the main reference method for Chinese scholars to study the history of Chinese civilization. What else do you know about the dating methods in our country, and you are welcome to share them to help solve the confusion in the minds of more researchers and learners who care about the calendar and chronology.

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