The 24 solar terms are defined by every 15 degrees of the sun's ecliptic longitude, so their dates on the Gregorian calendar only shift by a day or two each year; the lunar month, however, follows the approximately 29.53-day synodic month.
Solar terms, the Chinese almanac, and the auspicious and inauspicious annotations in the calendar - what each of these measures, and why different sources calculate them differently.
The seventh lunar month appears on the Gregorian calendar on different dates each year, sometimes in August, sometimes in July, or even in September. This is not a calendar error but an inevitable result of the two calendar systems operating on their own principles.
Published on 2026-08-04 · ~3 min read
Every year around mid-year, images of 'next year's calendar' start circulating on social media. Is this information accurate? The reality is that different countries and cultural backgrounds have vastly different rhythms for announcing holidays; some don't finalize until the fourth quarter of the preceding year.
Published on 2026-08-04 · ~4 min read
Many people intuitively consider solar terms (節氣) to be part of the lunar calendar, but this is a common misunderstanding. The calculation of solar terms is based on the sun's movement, not the moon's phases. Simply by comparing the date differences of solar terms on the Gregorian and lunar calendars, one can understand the distinction between the two.
Published on 2026-08-03 · ~3 min read
The daily auspicious and inauspicious activities in the Yellow Calendar are not randomly arranged. They are the result of layer-by-layer comparison and filtering through multiple traditional divination systems. Differences between versions often stem from variations in the derivation systems each follows.
Published on 2026-08-03 · ~5 min read