>>> Updated every New Moon <<<January 13, 2002
Dear astrologyTOMORROWtoday (tm) Reader,
The Two Chinese Years
Many people are confused over the so-called ‘Two Chinese years’.
Why is February 4, 2002 the first day of the Lunar Spring Festival
and yet Chinese New Year is celebrated on February 12, 2002?
Strictly speaking, there are no ‘Two Chinese years’.
In trying to interpret eastern values, writers in the English language
(yours truly, included) tend to present ideas in a way that
might help their readers get a handle on the subject.
This process can sometimes lead to quite a bit of confusion.
To add to the confusion, most of us who write in English tend to
NOT be able to read the Chinese text.
And those who CAN read the Chinese text, tend to have a poor
command of the English language.
Writers like myself, depend on our various sources who DO read
the Chinese text, to explain in a combination of Chinese and broken
English, as best as they can, the different Chinese beliefs, systems
and values.
We, who do not read Chinese miss the opportunity of interpreting
the Chinese text for ourselves.
Our job of sharing Chinese Astrological information and knowledge
is twice as difficult as a result of our NOT being able to read Chinese.
Speaking for myself, I have to read up on the subject in English to
give myself a ‘foundation’ on the subject and to familiarize myself
with English terms of Chinese concepts.
Recently, I received an email asking me why I do what I do on
astrologyTOMORROWtoday.
The writer asked whether I do this for “pleasure” or for
“deeper reasons”.
Why I do what I do, like why anybody else does what he/she does,
is anybody’s guess.
I have attempted to explain why I created astrologyTOMORROWtoday
on about astrologyTOMORROWtoday and on about mEinah as well as on
*My* Camino.
I remember adding to the reasons why I bother with this site,
on other pages whenever appropriate.
Every now and then, I get the opportunity to discuss some Chinese
Astrology data I find on the Internet with a family friend (let’s call
him Colleague Three for convenience), who has studied the subject
for several decades in the Chinese language.
He tells me that he cannot fathom some of the Chinese Astrology
stuff on the Internet.
It’s as if, in the attempt to familiarize non-Chinese people with
the subject, some Chinese “masters” have expounded various
oriental theories with a great deal of latitude.
Colleague Three cited the blind year-bright year theory for example.
According to him, too much has been made out of blind and
bright years.
The following is a mini-calendar of bright and blind years.
I wish for you, dear reader, to reflect on the data and decide for
yourself whether the blind and bright years should be factored
into your life’s planning.
1993 had two Li Chuns (two Springs = double bright year).
1994 had no Li Chun (no Spring = double blind year).
1995 had two Li Chuns (two Springs = double bright year).
1996 had one Li Chun (one Spring = blind year).
1997 had no Li Chun (no Spring = double blind year).
1998 had two Li Chuns (two Springs = double bright year).
1999 had one Li Chun (one Spring = blind year).
2000 had no Li Chun (no Spring = double blind year).
2001 had two Li Chuns (two Springs = double bright year).
2002 will have no Li Chun (no Spring = double blind year).
2003 will have one Li Chun (one Spring = blind year).
2004 will have two Li Chun (two Springs = double bright year).
2005 will have no Li Chun (no Spring = double blind year).
2006 will have two Li Chun (two Springs = double bright year).
2007 will have one Li Chun (one Spring = blind year).
2008 will have no Li Chun (no Spring = double blind year).
2009 will have two Li Chun (two Springs = double bright year).
2010 will have no Li Chun (no Spring = double blind year).
2011 will have one Li Chun (one Spring = blind year).
Please see Glossary for Bright and Blind Years definition.
Now, consider this if you will:
Colleague Three is of the opinion that a year with two Li Chuns
(two Springs) is just a Chinese calendar leap year.
The extra leap month in a Chinese calendar (called a runyue), is
the reason for the extra Spring in the year.
To believe that a year with two Springs (a double bright year) is
auspicious, is to believe that a leap year is an auspicious year.
In actuality, a double bright year can be auspicious or not,
depending on the individual Four Pillars.
Likewise, a double blind year can be inauspicious or not,
depending on the individual Four Pillars.
The bottom line?
Blind and bright years are not as significant as some make them to
be in the individual’s life.
Any significance, if at all, should be reserved for the influence they
might exert on the larger picture and/or world events.
February 12, 2002, happens to fall on the first day of the Tiger
month which is also the first month in the Lunar calendar.
This is referred to as the ‘Civil Year’.
I know how confusing this must be as the Tiger is the 3rd animal
in the Chinese sequence of animal signs viz or viz the Rat, Cow,
Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken,
Dog and Pig.
Hence, why should the Tiger month be the Lunar first month?
Chinese New Year will be celebrated on February 12, 2002
because this happens to be the first day of the Tiger month.
Chinese New Year is always, technically, the first day of the
Tiger month.
This is referred to as the ‘Civil New Year’.
The first day of Spring as indicated in the Lunar calendar is known
as the Li Chun.
The Li Chun is sometimes referred to as the 'Seasonal New Year'
or ‘Spring Festival’ as opposed to the 'Civil New Year' which
always falls on the first day of the Tiger month.
The first day of the Tiger month is NOT always the first day of
Spring.
In the year 2002, the Li Chun falls on February 4.
In other years, the Li Chun may fall on February 4 or 5.
The first day of the Tiger month may fall on any day of Spring.
In other words, Chinese New Year may fall on any day of Spring.
What English writers refer to as the ‘Chinese Seasonal New Year’
(Li Chun) starts on the second new moon after the Winter Solstice.
This so-called ‘Seasonal Year’ always begins with the Winter
Solstice (December 21 - 23).
The Chinese month that includes the Winter Solstice day is the
Rat month, as the Rat is the first sign of the Chinese Zodiac.
The ‘Chinese Seasonal Year’ is the year probably used by the
agricultural community.
This ‘Seasonal Year’ usually begins with the ‘Li Chun Spring
Festival’.
In agricultural communities where Chinese New Year might be
celebrated on February 4 or 5 (the Li Chun day), this would be
celebrating the ‘Seasonal’ New Year in addition to the ‘Civil’
New Year.
The first month of the ‘Civil Year’ (Tiger month) comes two
months later than the month that included the Winter Solstice
day (Rat month).
In other words, the *first* month of the ‘Civil Year’ (Tiger month)
always corresponds to the *third* month of the ‘Seasonal Year’
(Tiger month as well).
So you see, there is really only ONE year to contend with.
Both the ‘Civil’ and ‘Seasonal’ are contained within the same year.
Please see related write-up:Two Kinds of Chinese Years.
The following information might be of interest to some of you:
2003’s Chinese New Year (first day of Tiger month) will fall on February 1st .
2004’s Chinese New Year (first day of Tiger month) will fall on January 22.
2005’s Chinese New Year (first day of Tiger month) will fall on February 9.
2006’s Chinese New Year (first day of Tiger month) will fall on January 29.
2007’s Chinese New Year (first day of Tiger month) will fall on February 18.
2008’s Chinese New Year (first day of Tiger month) will fall on February 7.
2009’s Chinese New Year (first day of Tiger month) will fall on January 26.
2010’s Chinese New Year (first day of Tiger month) will fall on February 14.
2011’s Chinese New Year (first day of Tiger month) will fall on February 3.
Until next time, :)
mEinah@astrologyTOMORROWtoday.com
