subject: What Is In The Chinese Almanac? [print this page] If you are looking for the best day to get married you might consult the Chinese Almanac or the Tung Shu as it is referred to in the Chinese culture. Used for centuries the Chinese Almanac has been in existence for over 2000 years. The Book of Everything as it is known has 47 sections on just about everything one might encounter in their daily lives.
It was possibly one of the first books ever to be printed using the block printing press in the 7th century AD. It is the longest contiguous book printed for more than 1200 years. In the old days it was often found placed above the main entrance door of Chinese homes. It is said to ward off evil and bring good luck to the family. A new one is purchased every year and the old one is burned.
In Hong Kong alone over a million copies a year are printed and a special ceremony is performed to burn the book from the previous year. Astrologers are sought out to teach people about how to fully understand the book as they have to perform special complex calculations to get the most precise answers.
The sections in the book include Feng Shui, astrology, personal fortune, Chinese Western calendar, joints and qi, auspicious characters, poems, sunrise and sunset, dreams, constellations, fortune telling, childhood influences, auspicious dates, year of your birth, charms, weather and farming, Confucius, etiquette, pronunciation of English words, numerology, writing styles, and family names to name many of them.
The almanac is said to be used on a daily basis to advise people of what the best choices are for their day. Chinese Masters teach the complex lessons found in the almanac. It is thought to include a lot of superstitions but it is actually based largely on science and mathematics. Eclipses both solar and lunar are referenced at the start of each season as well as the weather. There are values and ethics in the book.
The components of Feng Shui are interesting in that they have been around for over 3500 years and originate in astronomy. This explains why in ancient times an astrolabe was used in the placement of structures. The five elements of metal, earth, fire, water and wood play an important part in Chinese design. The goal is to provide balance in the yin and yang force fields.
Most of the Chinese Almanac remains static year after year with only a few of its sections being updated. Farmers still plant their fields according to it. Sunrise and sunset can be found in the book. It has been revised by Taoist, Muslim and Buddhist astrologers. Jesuit missionaries were in charge of the almanac between 1629 and 1687 and the Chinese New Year is still set by the methods they established.
