In traditional Chinese culture, the Ganzhi chronology is a unique and long-standing way of calculating time. This chronology combines astronomy, lunar and folk traditional culture, carries rich historical and cultural customs, and has become the unique perception of the Chinese nation on the flow of time.
First of all, the first step to understand the calculation method of the Ganzhi chronology is to understand its cultural connotation. The Ganzhi chronology uses two symbols: the heavenly stem and the earthly branch.
The heavenly stems include A, B, C, D, E, G, G, XIN, NON, and QI, while the earthly branches include Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai. Combined, these two form a chronological cycle of 60 stem branches.
The origins of the Ganzhi dating method can be traced back to ancient astronomy. By observing celestial phenomena and combining with the changes of the lunar calendar, the ancients divided time into 60 Jiazi cycles (a combination of 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches).
This cycle was known as the "Sixty Jiazi" and was used in the chronology, becoming an important time system in ancient Chinese society. This dating method was first found in the Records of the Historians, where it was applied to the recording of historical events and imperial years.
The application of the Ganzhi chronology method is not only reflected in historical records, but also penetrates more deeply into China's historical and cultural customs. On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, people often greet the new year in the form of 12 zodiac signs.
Each year corresponds to a zodiac sign, such as Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. This way of combining the Ganzhi with the zodiac makes the Ganzhi chronology not only an expression tool of time, but also an important part of folk culture.
In Chinese culture, each zodiac sign has its own unique meaning and symbolism. For example, the Year of the Rat is often seen as a symbol of prosperity and abundance, while the Year of the Dragon represents power and honor.
People often use the Zodiac year as a basis to pray for good fortune, peace and good luck through a series of sacrifices, celebrations and folk activities. This custom is not only a reverence for time, but also a love of life and expectations for the future.
In addition, the Ganzhi chronology also influenced many aspects of cultural expression, such as calligraphy, painting, literature and other art forms. In calligraphy, there are many works with the theme of cadres and branches, and through the artistic treatment of words, they express their feelings about the passage of time and the changes of life.
In paintings, it is common to see patterns based on the Ganzhi, such as dragons, phoenixes, unicorns, and other elements associated with the Ganzhi chronology. These works of art are not only a celebration of time, but also a celebration of traditional culture.
In modern society, although the Gregorian calendar has become the dominant method of time calculation, the Ganzhi chronology is still deeply rooted in Chinese culture. Every Spring Festival, people still welcome the new year with the year of the zodiac, as a way to express the summary of the past year and the expectation for the coming year.
This traditional custom not only retains the ancient cultural tradition, but also integrates into modern life through continuous innovation, becoming a unique business card of Chinese culture.
In general, as a unique time calculation method, the Ganzhi chronology carries a rich historical culture and profound traditional customs. Its combination with the zodiac, art and other aspects makes it not only a mark of time, but also one of the representatives of Chinese culture.
Through the Ganzhi chronology, we can get a glimpse of the crystallization of ancient wisdom, feel the cycle of time, and the immortal charm of Chinese culture in the long river of time.